Yin Fiend Spring

The team, led by Martial Uncle Xuan Ji, cautiously advanced along the outer edge of Burial Demon Valley, heading towards the source of the malevolent energy indicated by the compass.

The deeper they went, the more hostile the environment became.

The grey-black mist grew denser, obscuring their vision. The Yin Fiend death energy permeating the air had almost solidified, constantly attempting to erode the protective spiritual light surrounding everyone.

The ground beneath their feet turned into muddy marshland, with murky bubbles rising and releasing a nauseating stench of decay.

Mo Yuan fully circulated his spiritual power, faint purple-gold lightning flowing around his body, dispelling and purifying the encroaching Yin Fiend energy.

His divine sense was highly concentrated, like the most precise radar, constantly scanning their surroundings.

Thanks to the insights from his advanced Aura Concealment and Shape Hiding Art and that sliver of ethereal flowing wind intent, his presence was minimized, as if he had merged seamlessly with the environment.

"Halt."

Martial Uncle Xuan Ji suddenly raised his hand, signaling the team to stop. He stared at the compass in his hand, its needle trembling violently, pointing towards a rocky forest shrouded in dense black fog to their front left.

"The energy fluctuations ahead are extremely violent. The concentration of Yin Fiend energy is far higher than elsewhere, and there are traces of a formation. This is likely where the 'Yin Fiend Spring' we're looking for is located, or at least a significant stronghold."

His gaze swept over everyone as he quickly gave orders: "Chen Feng, Zhao Gan, you two will flank from the left and right to scout and confirm the outer perimeter defenses. Mo Yuan, you will accompany me to approach from the front, maintain stealth, and probe the formation's weaknesses. The rest will remain here on standby, ready to provide support."

"Yes!" everyone acknowledged.

Chen Feng and Zhao Gan flickered and vanished into the darkness on either side like phantoms.

Martial Uncle Xuan Ji gestured to Mo Yuan, and the two of them suppressed all their auras, becoming like wisps of smoke as they silently crept towards the rocky forest.

The further they approached, the more intensely the bone-chilling malevolent energy weighed upon them. Mo Yuan could even faintly hear a mournful wailing, like that of ten thousand ghosts, emanating from the depths of the black fog, disturbing the mind.

He firmly guarded his spiritual platform, the Soul Cleansing Banner vibrating slightly in his sea of consciousness, emitting a clear radiance to protect his soul from corruption.

Soon, the two reached the edge of the rocky forest.

Through the thinner patches of black fog, they could see the scene within—several massive, dark red stone pillars, as if stained with blood, stood in a mysterious arrangement. Black energy swirled between the pillars, forming a faint formation shield. Within the shield, a spring gurgled, spewing out water as black as ink and chilling to the bone.

More complex and sinister runes were carved around the spring. Dozens of Black Robe Cultists sat cross-legged around it, continuously channeling their evil power into the runes, seemingly maintaining something or performing a ritual.

Directly above the spring floated a shadowy silhouette of a black banner, several times smaller but still radiating a heart-stopping aura—it was a replica or a remnant of the Ten Thousand Souls Banner that Mo Yuan and Uncle Nine had destroyed in the Provincial City.

It was greedily absorbing the pure Yin Fiend energy surging from the spring, the pained faces on its surface appearing clearer and more distorted.

"It really is the Yin Fiend Spring. They're using this place's Yin veins to reform the Ten Thousand Souls Banner!" Martial Uncle Xuan Ji transmitted, his voice icy. "Judging by the solidity of the banner's shadow and the number of cultists around, there's at least one Foundation Establishment stage evil cultivator in charge here."

Just then, the transmissions from Chen Feng and Zhao Gan arrived almost simultaneously.

"Three sentries discovered on the left, eliminated."

"Five patrolling cultists found on the right, Qi Refining mid-stage, dealt with."

The situation was becoming clear, but also more dangerous.

"We can't wait any longer. We must destroy the spring's node and disrupt the reformation of the Ten Thousand Souls Banner before their ritual is complete!" Martial Uncle Xuan Ji decided decisively. "Mo Yuan, you will charge the frontal formation node with me to draw their attention. Chen Feng, Zhao Gan, you will seize the opportunity to attack from the flanks, disrupt the cultists, and create chaos! The rest will provide support from the outer perimeter and block any potential reinforcements!"

"Action!"

The moment the order was given, Martial Uncle Xuan Ji stopped hiding his power. His formidable Foundation Establishment mid-stage aura erupted. He produced an ancient Peach Wood Sword, its body blazing with golden light. Chanting incantations, a pure Yang lightning bolt, as thick as a child's arm and incredibly condensed, burst from the sword's tip. It descended like divine punishment from the heavens, striking fiercely at the core of the formation formed by the dark red stone pillars.

"Mao Shan's Xuan Ji is here! Evil cultists, perish!"

Almost simultaneously with Martial Uncle Xuan Ji's move, Mo Yuan also acted. He knew his task was to draw attention and share the pressure, so he unleashed one of his strongest techniques.

He executed the Heavenly Thunder Pacing the Stars under his feet, advancing like lightning. Simultaneously, his hands formed seals rapidly, and the spiritual power within him, a fusion of Geng Metal Thunderous Evil and Primordial Thunder Essence Qi, surged madly.

"Nine Heavens' decree, talismans take form! Purple Firmament Thunder Dragon, appear!"

He actually condensed a talisman from his own spiritual power. A thunder dragon phantom, more solid and larger than the one from the arena, with scales and claws lifelike, its eyes flickering with platinum malevolent lightning, roared and charged towards another key stone pillar. This was his new application of the Purple Firmament Thunder Talisman after comprehending the Grand Codex of the Nine Heavens Thunder Talismans.

"Boom! Crackle!"

Martial Uncle Xuan Ji's pure Yang lightning technique and Mo Yuan's Purple Firmament Thunder Dragon struck the formation nodes almost simultaneously. The dark red stone pillars trembled violently, the sinister runes on their surfaces instantly dimmed and cracked. The formation shield enveloping the spring let out a groan of unbearable strain, flickering and dimming, with several clear cracks appearing.

"Enemy attack!!"

"It's people from Mao Shan! Hold them off!"

The Black Fiend Sect cultists within the formation descended into chaos, rising one after another. Various evil arts, poison darts, and malevolent spirits surged towards Xuan Ji and Mo Yuan like a tide.

At the same time, Chen Feng and Zhao Gan also attacked from the left and right flanks. Sword light flashed, and spells exploded, instantly felling several unprepared cultists and disrupting their formation.

Martial Uncle Xuan Ji's Peach Wood Sword danced, golden light like a curtain, blocking all incoming attacks. With a flick of his wrist, several lightning talismans were unleashed, sending several cultists flying and tumbling.

His gaze, sharp as lightning, locked onto the core of the spring eye, preparing to launch a more powerful assault.

Meanwhile, Mo Yuan was surrounded by multiple cultists.

He wielded the Thunder Dragon Evil-Slaying Spear with airtight defense, its shadow like a dragon, purple lightning crisscrossing, shattering incoming attacks one after another.

Occasionally, a stray attack would slip through, but it was automatically dispersed by the Geng Metal Thunderous Evil emanating from his body.

He even found time to hurl several newly drawn "Thunder Arc Flash" talismans. Dazzling electric snakes leaped through the crowd, causing widespread paralysis and casualties, eliciting screams.

His combat style was fierce and efficient. The Geng Metal Thunderous Evil had an extremely significant counteracting effect on evil techniques. Even ordinary late-stage Qi Refining cultists could barely withstand a few exchanges before him.

For a time, he single-handedly held off seven or eight cultists, creating an opportunity for Martial Uncle Xuan Ji.

However, just as Martial Uncle Xuan Ji was about to attack the spring eye's core again, a chilling, heart-palpitating pressure suddenly rose from behind the spring.

"Hmph! You damn Mao Shan brat, how dare you ruin my Holy Cult's good deeds!"

A dark figure flashed out like a ghost, blocking the space between Martial Uncle Xuan Ji and the spring eye.

This person was also wearing a black robe, but the hem was embroidered with dark golden, bizarre patterns. Their face was shrouded in shadow, revealing only a pair of ghastly green eyes like ghost fire.

Their aura was vast and chilling; it was clearly an early-stage Foundation Establishment evil cultivator.

Furthermore, judging by the condensation of their spiritual power, they were by no means an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator, but an expert from the Netherworld organization.

"Finally, you're out!"

Martial Uncle Xuan Ji's eyes narrowed, showing no fear. His Peach Wood Sword pointed directly at the opponent, "Netherworld's Beguilers and Sprites dare to show themselves?"

"Killing you is enough!"

The Netherworld Foundation Establishment cultivator sneered, rubbing his hands together. A skull head, flickering with green ghost fire, appeared out of thin air, emitting a shrill cry. It carried a terrifying aura that corroded the soul and spiritual power, pouncing towards Martial Uncle Xuan Ji.

The two Foundation Establishment cultivators instantly engaged in battle.

Golden light collided with ghost fire, thunder intertwined with ghostly wails, and waves of energy rolled, forcing the surrounding low-level cultists to retreat repeatedly.

The pressure on Mo Yuan's side increased dramatically.

The appearance of the Netherworld Foundation Establishment cultivator seemed to embolden the remaining cultists. They lunged forward like rabid dogs, among them were two Black Robe minor leaders at the ninth level of Qi Refining, their attacks sharp and fierce.

Mo Yuan's eyes turned icy. He knew he couldn't hold back any longer.

He slammed the Thunder Dragon Evil-Slaying Spear into the ground, formed hand seals, and the Soul Cleansing Banner in his sea of consciousness shone brightly.

"Pure Law Domain, Bind Spirit!"

A powerful force of salvation and restraint spread out from him.

The charging cultists immediately felt their Soul Power stagnate, their movements slow, and a moment of confusion appeared in their eyes.

"Now! Thunder Dragon Evil-Slaying, Sweep Through a Thousand Armies!"

Mo Yuan leaped up, gripping his spear. He moved with the spear, transforming into a violent thunderous whirlwind, sweeping outwards.

"Pfft, pfft, pfft, pfft!"

Like cutting through melons and vegetables, five or six cultists were instantly shredded by the thunderous spear light.

The two ninth-level Qi Refining minor leaders were also sent flying backward, spitting blood, from this sudden burst of power.

However, just as his old strength was exhausted and new strength had not yet arisen, an extremely hidden, lightning-fast dark shadow, like a long-dormant venomous snake.

It suddenly darted out from a shadow to his side and rear. A dagger, coated with a faint blue, potent poison, aimed directly for his back.

This strike was extremely cunning and vicious in timing, angle, and speed.

The attacker's stealth skills far surpassed others, and their strength was definitely at the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining, or even half a step into Foundation Establishment.

It was an assassin from the Netherworld organization! They had actually ambushed one more person.

Mo Yuan's hair stood on end. A sense of mortal danger instantly enveloped his entire body.

He was currently in mid-air, his strength spent, and he couldn't completely dodge.