Yin Fiend Spring

Led by Martial Uncle Xuan Ji, the group cautiously advanced along the outskirts of Burial Demon Valley toward the source of fiendish energy indicated by the compass.

The deeper they went, the harsher the environment became.

The gray-black mist grew denser, obscuring their vision. The yin fiend deathly aura permeating the air had nearly solidified, constantly attempting to corrode the protective spiritual radiance around them.

Muddy swampland began to appear beneath their feet, bubbling with murky blisters and giving off a nauseating stench of rot.

Mo Yuan circulated his spiritual power at full force. Faint purple-gold lightning flowed across his body, dispersing and purifying the yin fiend aura trying to invade him.

His divine sense was intensely focused, constantly scanning the surroundings like the most precise radar.

Thanks to his insights into <Concealing Breath and Hiding Form Technique (Advanced)> and that trace of ethereal flowing-wind intent, his presence had been reduced to the absolute minimum, as though he had blended into the surrounding environment.

"Stop."

Martial Uncle Xuan Ji suddenly raised a hand, signaling the group to halt. He stared at the compass in his hand. Its needle trembled violently, pointing toward a rocky grove shrouded in dense black mist to their front left.

"The energy fluctuations ahead are exceptionally intense. The concentration of yin fiend aura far exceeds that of other places, and there are traces of an array. This is very likely the Yin Fiend Spring we are searching for, or at least an important stronghold."

His gaze swept across the group as he swiftly gave his orders. "Chen Feng, Zhao Gan, circle around from the left and right to investigate. Confirm the strength of the outer guard.

"Mo Yuan, approach from the front with me. Stay concealed and probe the array. Everyone else, remain on alert here and be ready to provide support at any time."

"Yes!" everyone answered.

Chen Feng and Zhao Gan flashed away, disappearing into the darkness on either side like ghosts.

Martial Uncle Xuan Ji gestured to Mo Yuan. The two restrained every trace of their aura and slipped silently toward the rocky grove like wisps of green smoke.

The closer they got, the heavier the bone-chilling fiendish aura became. Mo Yuan could even hear faint shrieks from deep within the black mist, like the wails of ten thousand ghosts, disturbing his mind.

He guarded his spiritual platform tightly. The Soul Cleansing Banner trembled faintly within his sea of consciousness, radiating clear light that protected his soul from corrosion.

Before long, the two reached the edge of the rocky grove.

Through a thinner patch of black mist, they could make out the scene within—several enormous dark-red stone pillars, as though soaked in blood, stood according to some profound formation.

Black qi coiled between the stone pillars, forming a faint array barrier. Within it, they could vaguely see a spring that continuously spewed pitch-black, icy water.

Even more complex and sinister runes had been carved around the spring. Dozens of Black Robe Cultists sat cross-legged around it, continuously pouring their evil power into the runes, seemingly maintaining something or conducting some kind of ritual.

Directly above the spring floated a black banner phantom, several times smaller than before but still radiating a heart-palpitating aura. It was clearly an imitation or surviving fragment of the Ten Thousand Souls Banner that Mo Yuan and Uncle Nine had destroyed in the Provincial City.

It greedily absorbed the pure yin fiend aura gushing from the spring. The anguished faces on the banner seemed clearer and more twisted than before.

"It truly is the Yin Fiend Spring. They are using the yin vein here to condense the Ten Thousand Souls Banner again!"

Martial Uncle Xuan Ji transmitted coldly, "Judging by how solid that banner phantom is and the number of cultists around it, there is at least one Foundation Establishment-stage evil cultivator stationed here."

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

"Three hidden sentries found on the left. Eliminated."

"Five patrolling cultists found on the right, all mid-stage Qi Refinement. Dealt with."

The situation was clear, but it had also become more dangerous.

"We cannot wait any longer. We must destroy the spring's array node and disrupt the condensation of the Ten Thousand Souls Banner before their ritual is fully completed!"

Martial Uncle Xuan Ji made his decision at once. "Mo Yuan, strike the frontal array node with me and draw their attention. Chen Feng, Zhao Gan, seize the chance to attack from the flanks. Disrupt the cultists and create chaos! Everyone else, provide support from the perimeter and stop any reinforcements that may appear!"

"Move!"

The moment the order was given, Martial Uncle Xuan Ji stopped concealing himself. The powerful aura of a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator erupted with a roar.

An ancient Peach Wood Sword appeared in his hand, its blade blazing with golden light. As he chanted, a condensed bolt of pure yang lightning as thick as a child's arm burst from its tip, striking fiercely at the core of the array formed by the dark-red stone pillars like punishment descending from the nine heavens.

"Xuan Ji of Maoshan is here! Evil fiends, die!"

Almost at the same moment Martial Uncle Xuan Ji made his move, Mo Yuan moved as well.

He knew his task was to draw attention and share the pressure, so he immediately unleashed one of his strongest techniques.

He stepped forward with Heavenly Thunder Pacing the Stars, shooting ahead like lightning. At the same time, his hands rapidly formed seals as the spiritual power within him, fused with Geng Metal Thunderous Evil and Primordial Thunder Essence Qi, surged wildly.

"By the decree of the Nine Heavens, thunder talismans take form! Purple Firmament Thunder Dragon, appear!"

He actually formed a talisman in midair using his own spiritual power.

A thunder dragon phantom, more solid and immense than the one he had used in the arena, roared toward another crucial stone pillar. Its body was purple-gold, its scales and claws vividly defined, and white-gold fiendish lightning danced in its eyes.

This was his new application of the Purple Firmament Thunder Talisman after comprehending the Nine Heavens Thunder Talisman Grand Codex.

Boom! Crack!

Martial Uncle Xuan Ji's pure yang lightning technique and Mo Yuan's Purple Firmament Thunder Dragon struck the array nodes almost simultaneously.

The dark-red stone pillars shuddered violently. The sinister runes on their surfaces instantly dimmed and cracked apart.

The array barrier covering the spring let out an overloaded wail. It flickered erratically as several clear cracks appeared across its surface.

"Enemy attack!"

"They're from Maoshan! Stop them!"

The Black Fiend Sect cultists inside the array immediately fell into chaos. Evil techniques, poisoned darts, and yin spirits surged toward Xuan Ji and Mo Yuan like a tidal wave.

At the same time, Chen Feng and Zhao Gan charged in from the left and right. Sword light flashed sharply, spells exploded, and several unprepared cultists were instantly cut down, throwing their formation into disarray.

Martial Uncle Xuan Ji swung his Peach Wood Sword. Golden light spread like a curtain, blocking every incoming attack. With a backhand motion, he sent several thunder talismans flying, blasting multiple cultists off their feet.

His eyes flashed like lightning as he locked onto the core of the spring, preparing to unleash an even stronger attack.

Mo Yuan, meanwhile, had been surrounded by numerous cultists.

He wielded the Thunder Dragon Evil-Slaying Spear in an impenetrable dance. Spear shadows coiled like dragons, purple lightning streaked in every direction, and every incoming attack was shredded apart.

The occasional attack that slipped through was automatically dispersed by the Geng Metal Thunderous Evil erupting from his body.

He even found time to throw out several newly drawn Thunder Arc Flash talismans. Blinding lightning serpents leaped through the crowd, causing widespread paralysis and devastation amid screams.

His fighting style was fierce and efficient. Geng Metal Thunderous Evil had an exceptionally strong suppressive effect against evil arts, and even ordinary late-stage Qi Refinement cultists could barely withstand a few exchanges against him.

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

However, just as Martial Uncle Xuan Ji was about to attack the core of the spring again, a chilling pressure that made hearts tremble suddenly rose from behind it.

"Hmph! You Maoshan mongrels dare ruin the plans of my holy sect!"

A black shadow flashed out like a ghost, blocking the space between Martial Uncle Xuan Ji and the spring.

This person also wore black robes, but strange dark-gold patterns were embroidered along the hem. His face was hidden in shadow, revealing only a pair of sickly green eyes like ghostfire.

His aura was vast and icy. He was clearly an early-stage Foundation Establishment evil cultivator.

Moreover, judging by how condensed his spiritual power was, he was far from an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator. He was clearly an expert from the Netherworld organization.

"So you finally came out!"

Martial Uncle Xuan Ji's gaze sharpened. Fearless, he pointed his Peach Wood Sword directly at the man. "You Netherworld demons dare show yourselves?"

"Killing you will be enough!"

The Netherworld Foundation Establishment cultivator sneered and rubbed his hands together. A skull wreathed in dancing green ghostfire appeared out of thin air, releasing a shrill scream as it lunged at Martial Uncle Xuan Ji with a terrifying aura capable of corroding souls and spiritual power.

The two Foundation Establishment cultivators clashed in an instant.

Golden light collided with ghostfire. Lightning intertwined with eerie howls. Shockwaves rolled outward, forcing even the surrounding low-level cultists to retreat again and again.

The pressure on Mo Yuan's side suddenly increased.

The appearance of that Netherworld Foundation Establishment cultivator seemed to embolden the remaining cultists. They lunged at him like mad dogs, including two black-robed minor leaders at the ninth level of Qi Refinement whose attacks were especially fierce.

Mo Yuan's eyes turned cold. He knew he could not hold back any longer.

He slammed the Thunder Dragon Evil-Slaying Spear into the ground, formed seals with both hands, and the Soul Cleansing Banner in his sea of consciousness burst with clear radiance.

"Pure Domain, Bind Spirits!"

A powerful force of purification and restraint spread outward from him.

The charging cultists immediately felt their soul power become sluggish. Their movements slowed, and a momentary daze appeared in their eyes.

"Now! Thunder Dragon Slays Evil, Sweep Through the Army!"

Mo Yuan shot up from the ground, gripping his spear. Man and spear moved as one, transforming into a violent whirlwind of lightning that swept outward.

Puff! Puff! Puff! Puff!

As easily as chopping melons and vegetables, five or six cultists were instantly shredded by the lightning spear radiance.

The two ninth-level Qi Refinement minor leaders were also sent flying with blood spraying from their mouths by the sudden outburst.

However, just as his old strength was spent and his new strength had yet to arise, an extremely concealed black shadow shot out from a patch of shadow at his rear flank like a venomous snake that had been lying in wait for a long time.

A dagger coated in dark-blue poison stabbed straight toward his heart from behind.

The timing, angle, and speed of this strike were all viciously precise.

The attacker's concealment technique far surpassed that of the others. His strength was absolutely at the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refinement, perhaps even half a step into Foundation Establishment.

It was an assassin from the Netherworld organization! They had actually hidden another person in ambush.

Every hair on Mo Yuan's body stood on end as a deadly sense of crisis instantly enveloped him.

He was in midair, his force already spent. There was no way for him to evade completely.