Spring Eye Collapses

Uncle-Master Xuan Ji stood before the Yin Fiend Spring, his expression solemn. The spiritual energy around him surged like a boiling river, all of it being channeled into the ancient peach wood sword in his hand.

On the sword's body, the normally restrained golden light now blazed like the sun. Countless intricate Mount Mao runes appeared and flowed along the sword's spine, emitting a low hum.

A magnificent sword intent, righteous and pure, capable of purging malevolent spirits, shot towards the heavens, temporarily dispelling the dense, gray-black mist surrounding them.

"Heavenly righteousness, eternal and vast! Mount Mao's true inheritance, reveal the righteous and destroy the evil! Enact!"

He spoke with a voice like thunder, and the peach wood sword in his hand thrust forward sharply!

It didn't strike the spring directly, but its tip pointed towards the core of the crimson stone pillars maintaining the formation, and the phantom image of the Ten Thousand Souls Banner hovering above the spring!

A brilliant sword aura, condensed to its absolute limit, like molten gold, erupted from the sword's tip!

Where the sword aura passed, the air warped and tore with a sharp sound like ripping silk. The dark Yin Fiend energy that tried to block it met its nemesis, instantly evaporating and dissolving!

"RUMBLE--!!!"

The crimson-gold sword aura struck with pinpoint accuracy at the connection point between the formation's core and the Ten Thousand Souls Banner's phantom image!

A deafening roar, as if the heavens and earth were collapsing, ensued!

The crimson stone pillars could no longer withstand this supremely yang and supremely rigid destructive energy. The malevolent runes on their surfaces cracked inch by inch, and the pillars themselves became riddled with fissures. Then, amidst a blinding flash of intermingled gold and black light, they exploded, turning to dust!

Deprived of the formation's support, the phantom image of the Ten Thousand Souls Banner above let out a shrill, desperate cry. It writhed and distorted violently, the countless pained faces on its surface struggling to break free, but ultimately, like a fleeting illusion, it completely dissipated with a "bang," transforming into pure Yin Fiend energy. This energy was then thoroughly purified and dispelled by the subsequent surge of crimson-gold sword intent!

Simultaneously, the Yin Fiend Spring, which had been continuously gushing black water, suffered a fatal blow.

The malevolent runes around the spring dimmed and shattered as they were swept by the sword aura's residual waves.

The spring itself suddenly faltered, then, as if its throat had been choked, it let out a strange "gurgling" sound. The gushing spring water abruptly ceased, leaving only wisps of black gas to dissipate. It finally dried up completely, leaving behind only an ugly crater covered in cracks.

The concentration of Yin Fiend energy within the entire rocky forest began to decrease at a visible rate.

Although the environment here remained harsh, the core that had been continuously supplying pure Yin Fiend power had been utterly destroyed.

Uncle-Master Xuan Ji slowly sheathed his sword, his face slightly pale and his breathing somewhat uneven.

That single strike had nearly exhausted more than half of his spiritual energy. It was one of Mount Mao's secret killing techniques, immensely powerful but equally draining.

He looked at the destroyed spring and the dissipated banner phantom, a flicker of relief flashing in his eyes.

"The node is destroyed. The Yin Fiend energy within a hundred-mile radius of this place will gradually stabilize. For the time being, the Black Fiend Sect and the Netherworld cannot exploit this location to cause trouble."

Uncle-Master Xuan Ji said gravely, his gaze sweeping over the corpses of the Black Robe Cultists scattered on the ground. "Clear the battlefield and withdraw quickly! The commotion here was too great; it might attract other troubles."

Chen Feng, Zhao Gan, and the others immediately sprang into action, quickly checking the unconscious or dead cultists, finishing them off to confirm their demise, and searching for any valuable intelligence or tokens.

Mo Yuan also suppressed the slight discomfort within his body, caused by forcibly activating his life essence and executing the Swift Lightning Step, and joined the cleanup.

On the Netherworld assassin he had killed, he found a black token, neither gold nor wood, and chilling to the touch. The front of the token was engraved with a distorted ghoul's head, while the back bore a complex serial number. There was nothing else. He handed the token to Uncle-Master Xuan Ji.

"Netherworld Kill Token..."

Uncle-Master Xuan Ji took the token, his gaze growing colder. "Those who hold this token are all core assassins of the Netherworld.

It seems they are determined to capture you.

I will take this item back to the sect; perhaps we can trace some clues from it."

Soon, the battlefield was cleared. Apart from the Netherworld Kill Token, not much valuable information was found. Most of the Black Fiend cultists only carried low-level evil magic materials and a small amount of spirit stones.

"Let's go!" Uncle-Master Xuan Ji wasted no more time, calling out to everyone, and they rapidly retreated along the path they had come.

The group moved in silence through the desolate and dead land on the outskirts of Burial Demon Valley, moving faster than they had on their way in.

Everyone knew clearly that after destroying such an important stronghold, the Black Fiend Sect and the Netherworld would not let this matter rest. They had to leave this place of trouble as quickly as possible.

As Mo Yuan traveled, he silently contemplated the "Swift Lightning Step" he had comprehended during the moment of life and death.

This new footwork, which integrated Heavenly Thunder Pacing the Stars, Ghost Shadow Footwork, the essence of ethereal flowing wind, and his profound understanding of lightning's speed, not only possessed astonishing speed but also incorporated unpredictability and stealth. At critical moments, it could turn the tide of battle.

He felt that as he continued to master and refine it in the future, it might become a formidable trump card for his survival and surprise attacks.

At the same time, he also began to tentatively study the Yi Wood Longevity Art (Fragment).

Although it was only a fragment, the profound principles of life, spiritual energy nourishment, and wound healing methods contained within it perfectly compensated for his shortcomings in physical recovery.

Combined with the strand of unextinguished life essence he had yet to fully absorb, he felt his survivability had been greatly enhanced.

"System, sign in."

[Ding! Sign-in successful! Congratulations to the host for obtaining: Medium-Grade Spirit Stone x40, Diamond Talisman (Enhanced) x5, Turtle Breath False Death Art Secrets x1, Residual Aura of the Primordial World: A trace of condensed thick earth essence!]

[Diamond Talisman (Enhanced)]: Provides stronger physical and energy defense.

[Turtle Breath False Death Art Secrets]: Conceals all life aura, simulating a state of death, allowing evasion of divine sense detection, useful for stealth or survival.

[A trace of condensed thick earth essence]: Contains the profound dao of the earth's thickness and endurance, can slightly increase defense and spiritual energy recovery speed, and aids in comprehending earth-elemental spells.

The rewards were still practical. The Diamond Talisman enhanced defense, the Turtle Breath False Death Art provided an additional means of survival, and the thick earth essence would solidify his foundation.

Mo Yuan silently noted these gains, intending to digest them once they were in a safe location.

The group dared not delay. After several hours, they finally left the oppressive confines of Burial Demon Valley and returned to the relatively normal barren mountain terrain. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Uncle-Master Xuan Ji took out the Azure Wood Boat. The group boarded the boat, which transformed into a green light and sped towards Mount Mao.

On the flying boat, the atmosphere was no longer as silent as it had been on the journey there.

After a bloody battle fought side-by-side, the bonds between the team members had clearly strengthened significantly.

Chen Feng, Zhao Gan, and the others now looked at Mo Yuan with genuine recognition and admiration.

To be able to counter-kill a half-step Foundation Establishment assassin while only at Qi Refining Layer 8, and then quickly recover, his strength and resolve had completely won them over.

"Junior Brother Mo, that footwork just now was truly miraculous!" Chen Feng couldn't help but exclaim.

"And that counter-attack with the spear was simply brilliant!" Zhao Gan chimed in, any lingering resentment from before having vanished.

Mo Yuan responded with a few humble words, but didn't elaborate.

Uncle-Master Xuan Ji, seeing the harmonious atmosphere among his disciples, showed a hint of softness on his usually stern face.

He said to Mo Yuan, "Your contribution to this mission was immense. When we return, I will personally report to the Sect Master Brother and request a commendation for you. However, after this incident, you have been thoroughly targeted by the Netherworld organization, so you must be even more careful from now on."

"Disciple understands. Thank you, Uncle-Master," Mo Yuan nodded.

He looked out at the rapidly receding sea of clouds beyond the flying boat, not feeling much relief.

Although the trip to Burial Demon Valley had successfully destroyed a stronghold, it was like poking a hornet's nest, causing the hidden enemies to reveal their fangs more clearly.

The Netherworld organization, the Black Fiend Sect, and their true purpose in seeking the "Yin Fiend Spring"... all of it loomed like a massive mystery and shadow ahead.

Yet, his Dao heart had become even more resolute and pure through these repeated crises and battles.

"Come on, let me see just how turbulent this chaotic era of the Dharma's end can become!" Mo Yuan's eyes flashed with sharp anticipation.

His path of cultivation was destined to be far from peaceful; only amidst storms could he soar to the highest heavens!

The Azure Wood Boat cut through the sky, carrying everyone and the dust of their journey, speeding back towards Mount Mao.

And behind them, deep within Burial Demon Valley, the escaped Netherworld Foundation Establishment cultivator knelt before a hidden cave, reporting the failure of this operation to a vague and terrifying figure shrouded in darkness