Ye Shunguang

The three of them pressed deeper into the Mine Ancient Array, and the Ethereals that had appeared only sporadically grew more numerous.

As the group's fighter, Liuyin naturally took the lead. The ring ricocheted back and forth in her hands, destroying an Ethereal with every strike.

Belle and Griseo hung back a few steps, dutifully playing the part of people who "couldn't hurt a fly."

Watching the endless stream of Ethereals, Belle turned to Griseo. "Something's definitely wrong here. Can you sense anything?"

"Mm."

Griseo nodded and looked down at their feet. "There's an area underground with an extremely high concentration of Corruptive Breath, but an array is suppressing it."

She could sense something like the array's focal point directly above the concentrated Corruptive Breath.

"They just keep coming!"

Up ahead, Liuyin frowned and destroyed two more Ethereals, but the number pouring out of the mine tunnel showed no sign of falling.

After all, she had to take time off from her TOPS customer service job to carry out missions as a Black Branch member.

At this rate, her vacation would go to waste.

Determined not to squander it, Liuyin made up her mind: end the fight quickly.

She tapped the ground with her toes and sprang lightly into the air, lunging at the point where the Corruptive Breath was thickest. Raising her ring high, she smashed it down at the source.

Destroying the Corruptive Breath node would bring the Ethereals to a halt. But in the next instant—

[You've heard the voices of countless dead. Why not listen to your own heart?]

[Save me—save me!]

A seductive whisper sounded in Liuyin's mind, mingled with countless anguished cries and wails. They stabbed deep into her consciousness like hundreds of icy needles.

"Urgh—!"

Liuyin shuddered, her attack freezing in midair.

The