The Eve of the Ritual

Lin Qin and Aileen lurked in the shadows at the edge of the valley like two silent rocks, carefully observing the activity around the altar. The three Saint Realm dark practitioners remained standing in front of the altar, conversing in low voices as if confirming the final preparations.

"The stability of the Soul Vortex is still lacking; it requires more 'fuel'." The voice of the high priest holding the skull scepter was hoarse, like metal grinding against metal. The "fuel" he spoke of clearly referred to the controlled sacrifices.

"The 'nutrients' from the periphery are arriving one after another. By tomorrow night, when the moon is full, the energy will reach its peak." The gaunt Necromancer replied, his eyes flickering with a ghostly green light. "At that time, the Great Existence will be able to use this power to tear through the seal and descend into this world!"

"The O'Brien Empire's spies have been active lately; we need to accelerate our progress." The Shadow Assassin, shrouded in darkness, said coldly, his voice drifting and indistinct. "The defensive array of the altar must be ensured to be foolproof."

"Rest assured." The high priest waved his scepter confidently. "With the three of us presiding, plus this Ten Thousand Soul Bone-Eroding Array, even if the Rock Sword Saint of the O'Brien Empire were to arrive in person, he wouldn't be able to easily disrupt the ritual!"

Their conversation was clearly captured by Lin Qin. Tomorrow night at the full moon—time was running out!

"They are going to launch the ritual tomorrow night." Lin Qin whispered to Aileen. "We must act tonight."

Aileen nodded nervously. "I need some time to prepare Deep Water Touch. This magic can infiltrate silently and disintegrate the energy structure from within, but the preparation time is quite long, and it cannot be interrupted."

"I will buy you time." Lin Qin's gaze swept over the guards patrolling around the altar and the three Saint Realm powerhouses. "Do you see those bone pillars on the east side of the altar that are lighter in color? They appear to be secondary nodes for energy transmission, and their defenses might be relatively weak. Start there."

"Okay." Aileen noted the location and began to close her eyes, concentrating fully on channeling her mana as her hands slowly traced complex and hidden magic runes in front of her chest. Pale blue water elements gathered at her fingertips, yet she suppressed their fluctuations with all her might, like an undercurrent in the deep sea, ready to strike.

Lin Qin, like the most patient hunter, calculated the gaps in the guards' patrols and the distribution of the three Saint Realm experts' attention. He was waiting for the perfect moment.

Time ticked by, and the atmosphere in the Silent Valley grew increasingly oppressive. The gray mist seemed to thicken, and the Soul Vortex above the altar accelerated its rotation, emitting a teeth-grinding wail.

At midnight, the opportunity finally arrived. The Shadow Assassin seemed to receive some kind of message; his figure flickered, turning into a faint black shadow, and vanished toward the valley entrance, likely to handle perimeter security. Meanwhile, the Necromancer walked to the other side of the altar, beginning to check the status of the kneeling sacrifices.

Only the high priest remained standing directly in front of the altar, his back to Lin Qin and Aileen, looking up at the Soul Vortex and chanting, seemingly adjusting something.

"Now!" Lin Qin whispered sharply.

Aileen suddenly opened her eyes, a flash of blue light within them, and the magic she had been preparing for so long was released instantly! Several strands of blue water, as thin as hair and almost completely transparent, moved like living tentacles, silently clinging to the ground and rapidly spreading toward the target bone pillars on the east side of the altar!

"Move!" Lin Qin acted at the same time! He did not charge toward the high priest; instead, his figure erupted like a cannonball, lunging straight at the isolated Necromancer who was checking the sacrifices!

Capture the leader first? No, his goal was to create enough chaos to buy time for Aileen! Attacking the Necromancer would inevitably draw the high priest to intervene, causing him to overlook the subtle changes at the edge of the altar!

"Enemy attack!" The Necromancer's reaction was lightning-fast; he sensed the danger the moment Lin Qin moved! He spun around violently, his gaunt fingers tracing rapidly, and a shield made of ghastly white bones instantly appeared before him! At the same time, he let out a sharp hiss, summoning the surrounding dark creatures!

"Boom!"

Lin Qin's fist, imbued with the terrifying power of the earth laws, slammed heavily into the bone shield! The bone shield emitted a sound of unbearable cracking, and the Necromancer was sent stumbling back, his eyes filled with shock: "Saint Realm?!"

"Who goes there?!" The high priest in front of the altar was also startled by the sudden attack; he spun around, pointing his skull scepter at Lin Qin, and a powerful dark binding field instantly enveloped him!

Yet, in that split second, the Deep Water Touch released by Aileen had successfully made contact with the target bone pillars! The highly concentrated water elements, possessing corrosive properties, acted like maggots on bone, rapidly infiltrating the energy circuits inside the pillars!

"Crack... crack..."

Subtle, almost inaudible cracking sounds came from inside the bone pillars. The ghostly green light flowing on the surface of those pillars suddenly stalled, flickering unsteadily, and the flames burning at their tops swayed violently! A trace of imperceptible disorder appeared in the energy fluctuations of the entire altar!

"What is happening?!" The high priest immediately sensed the anomaly in the altar. He looked toward the bone pillars in shock and rage, just in time to see fine cracks beginning to appear on their surfaces!

"There are accomplices! They are destroying the bone pillars!" The high priest roared, his scepter immediately changing direction, and a powerful dark shockwave blasted toward the position where Aileen was lurking!

"Your opponent is me!" Lin Qin would not let him succeed! He braced himself against the dark binding field, the power of the earth beneath his feet erupting as he instantly broke free, throwing another punch at the high priest and forcing him to turn back to defend!

"You're courting death!" The high priest was both shocked and furious, joining forces with the Necromancer to attack Lin Qin! Dark magic and necromancy intertwined, forming a zone of death that enveloped Lin Qin.

Meanwhile, the Shadow Assassin had also been alerted by the commotion in the valley and was rushing back!

After releasing her magic, Aileen had long since followed the plan, quickly changing her position to dodge the high priest's dark shockwave. She looked at the bone pillars on the altar that were now cracked and flickering with chaotic light, feeling a surge of joy—she knew the attack had worked! But she dared not linger, immediately beginning to prepare her next attack, targeting the other bone pillars!

Inside the valley, the battle erupted instantly! Lin Qin fought one against two, facing the combined assault of the high priest and the Necromancer. He responded steadily, pushing the defense and power of his Thick Earth Seal to the limit, holding the two Saint Realm practitioners firmly in place like a rock, preventing them from having any chance to interfere with Aileen.

The sounds of roaring, magical explosions, shattering bones, and the wailing of souls... the entire Silent Valley was completely shattered at this moment!