Hunt in the Shadows

The End Times Cult's outpost was like a ferocious tumor embedded deep in the barren, deathly land of the Netherworld. Ghostly green flames flickered throughout the camp like phantoms, as if whispering of the place's strangeness and mystery. They illuminated the distorted figures of patrolling cultists and corrupted creatures. A faint, nauseating Filthy Aura, of the same origin as the "Rule Tumor," hung in the air.

Hidden behind a massive black boulder, Su Yan and the others held their breath as they carefully observed the camp's layout. The camp was sizable. Its perimeter was enclosed by crude wooden fences wrapped in thorns brimming with corrosive energy. Sharp-eyed cultists stood atop several watchtowers, holding bone bows that emitted black mist. Inside the camp stood rows of tents, while a bone altar in the central area could vaguely be seen radiating ominous spatial fluctuations.

"We definitely can't force our way in," Mo Hen said in a low voice. A miniature mechanical spider in his hand projected the camp structure it had scouted onto the ground. "The patrols pass every fifteen breaths. The watchtowers have overlapping blind spots, but the defenses inside the camp are unknown. Especially around that altar—the energy readings are intense."

Su Yan nodded and closed his eyes, slowly pouring his Spiritual Power into the Compass in his hand. The Compass, restored to 60%, held its silver glow inward as the function of [Star Track Deduction] quietly activated. In an instant, a miniature model of the camp seemed to form in his mind. The patrol routes of those cultists, the nodes of varying energy intensity, even the intermittent fluctuation patterns of the energy thorns on the fences all appeared as clearly as a data stream.

"The patrols will meet at the northeast corner in three breaths, leaving a gap of seven breaths. The shadow beneath the southwestern watchtower is a blind spot that lasts ten breaths. Every twenty breaths, the energy thorns on the fence enter a brief trough..." Su Yan rapidly relayed the results of his deduction.

A bold plan for stealthy infiltration quickly took shape.

Using the Netherworld's uniquely tangible, slowly drifting mist of resentment, along with the ruined walls and crumbling remnants outside the camp that appeared to be left behind by some ancient Netherworld town, the four people and one pet began moving like hunters blending into the shadows.

Mo Hen took the lead. His figure moved like a ghost as he used mechanisms to create faint noises that drew the attention of distant guards, while spreading specially made [Silencing Powder] to muffle any sounds the group might make while moving. Su Yan followed closely behind, the faint glow of the Compass flickering in his palm as he constantly adjusted their route and avoided energy detection and sweeping lines of sight.

After Xing Xuan's evolution, not only had its attack power surged, but its control over energy had also become far more refined. When they needed to swiftly cross an open stretch of ground, the crystal on its forehead flickered faintly and the star vortex at its tail vibrated at a unique frequency. An invisible force field quietly enveloped a small group of approaching [Corrupted Wandering Souls]—[Star Vortex Imprisonment]! The wandering souls' movements instantly became incredibly sluggish, as though they had sunk into a swamp. They could only watch helplessly as Su Yan and the others silently slipped past them.

Bai Zhi pinched a willow leaf between her fingertips. She restrained her gentle purifying Buddhist light to the utmost, reducing it to a nearly imperceptible golden thread that curled around the group. It quietly purified the faint aura of The Living on them, as well as the minor spiritual energy fluctuations inevitably produced by their movements, preventing Netherworld creatures sensitive to the scent of the living from detecting them.

Yun Ji walked at the rear. She did not attack directly, but the clouds and mist around her seemed to achieve a strange balance with the Netherworld's yin death aura. From time to time, she flicked out an almost transparent talisman that landed on simple restrictions capable of triggering alarms, temporarily disabling them.

The entire operation flowed as smoothly as water, their coordination flawless. With the Compass's precise predictions and the team's exquisite cooperation, the outer patrols and fixed sentry posts were silently eliminated one by one. Mo Hen's poisoned hand crossbow, Su Yan's precise shots of [Soul Chasing Talisman: Erosion], and Xing Xuan's lightning-fast pounces ensured every battle ended without a sound. Afterward, Bai Zhi immediately used miniature purification arrays to dispose of the corpses and dissipating resentful energy, leaving no trace.

With scalpel-like precision, they successfully infiltrated the camp and approached a crude stone house built from black rocks that appeared to be a command post.

Two level 36 elite cultists stood guard outside the stone house, their eyes alert. There was no way around them this time.

Su Yan made a gesture. Xing Xuan understood, and [Star Vortex Imprisonment] activated once more, freezing both cultists at once! Though its duration was extremely brief, it was more than enough for the prepared group! Mo Hen's bolts and Su Yan's talismans arrived almost simultaneously, striking their vital points with precision! Bai Zhi's purifying Buddhist light followed immediately, preventing any soul fluctuations from leaking out.

After swiftly dragging the bodies into the shadows, the four slipped into the stone house.

The room was simply furnished, containing only a stone table and several bone stools. Several rolls of beast-hide paper lay scattered across the table. Su Yan immediately stepped forward to examine them.

One was a rough map of the ritual area, marking their current outpost and a core area deeper within called Yin Soul Ravine. Arrows from several directions pointed toward Yin Soul Ravine, seemingly representing the routes used to transport "sacrifices."

Another was an order, written in twisted script: "...All divisions are to accelerate the collection of 'Living Souls.' Before the Yin Year, Yin Month, Yin Day, nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine Living Souls filled with resentment must be gathered and delivered to the 'Blood Pool'... There must be no error in the ritual. Those who disobey will have their souls scattered and destroyed! —Netherworld Palace Lord."

"Netherworld Palace Lord!" Mo Hen's pupils contracted. "So it really is a big catch! Living Souls... They're actually capturing Living Souls in large numbers as sacrifices!"

"Yin Year, Yin Month, Yin Day... There isn't much time left." Su Yan's expression darkened. After calculating, he found that less than half a month remained until that date.

Just as they were absorbing this shocking intelligence—

A cold, sinister divine sense like a venomous snake swept through the entire stone house without warning, instantly locking onto them!

"Not good! We've been discovered!" Yun Ji was the first to notice, and the clouds and mist around her surged violently.

The stone house's door exploded apart! A figure draped in a pitch-black cloak appeared in the doorway like a ghost, holding a chained scythe wrapped in countless wailing phantoms. His face beneath the hood was indistinct, with only two scarlet points burning like eyes. A powerful level 38 pressure radiated from him, along with an icy pulling force directed straight at the soul!

[Soul Reaper: Shadow Scythe] (Elite Boss) Level: 38

"Hehehe... A few restless little rats actually dared to sneak into the Palace Lord's camp." His hoarse, piercing voice scraped like metal directly through their minds, bringing waves of dizziness. "Perfect. My soul-reaping scythe still needs a few powerful Living Souls for decoration!"

Before he finished speaking, the chained scythe in his hand had already swung out! It seemed to ignore the distance through space, appearing before Su Yan in an instant with a soul-stealing shriek, its target aimed directly at his soul!

"Starlight Barrier!" Su Yan reacted swiftly. Silver light bloomed from the Compass, and a starlight barrier instantly unfolded!

Clang!

A collision like the tolling of an enormous bell erupted on the level of the soul! Su Yan let out a muffled groan, his face turning pale as the starlight barrier shook violently. Though it blocked the strike, it consumed a tremendous amount of Spiritual Power. This Soul Reaper Envoy's attacks could actually strike directly at the soul!

"Disrupt him!" Mo Hen shouted. Countless hair-thin [Spirit-Breaking Needles] shot toward the Soul Reaper Envoy like a rainstorm, attempting to interrupt his casting rhythm. Bai Zhi's Buddhist light spread out as she fought with all her strength against the all-pervading soul-reaping demonic sound and the force tugging at their souls.

Xing Xuan roared and lunged forward in a streak of silver light, aiming [Star Vortex Sky Rend Strike] at the enemy's vital point! Yet the Soul Reaper Envoy's body seemed to have no substance as it twisted strangely. The scythe whirled back and collided with Xing Xuan's claws, producing a piercing screech. Xing Xuan was forced several steps back by a chilling force.

Yun Ji formed hand seals with both hands, sending out streams of clear radiance in an attempt to disrupt his connection to the surrounding yin death aura. Yet the effect was not obvious. This Soul Reaper Envoy's level of power and bizarre abilities far surpassed any enemy they had encountered before.

The battle instantly became a bitter struggle. The Soul Reaper Envoy's attacks were elusive and unpredictable, targeting their souls and leaving them unable to guard against them. Their spiritual energy and Spiritual Power were rapidly draining away. The rest of the camp had also been alerted, and chaotic footsteps and roars were swiftly closing in.

"We can't drag this out!" Su Yan's eyes turned sharp. Seizing the brief stiffness after the enemy swung his scythe, he compressed the Star Power within his body more frantically than ever before. A [Lightning Talisman], far more condensed than before and carrying golden light that dispelled evil, shot forth with fierce force! He had fused a trace of the remaining Buddhist Power from the Vajra Demon Subduing Talisman into the lightning!

Crack!

Though the golden lightning was still suppressed by the laws of the Netherworld, it carried an awe-inspiring righteous force as it struck the Soul Reaper Envoy's scythe with precision! The Power of Thunder, Extreme Yang and Extreme Strength, clashed violently against Netherworld ghost energy, unleashing a series of explosive blasts! The Soul Reaper Envoy gave a pained shriek, his movements visibly stalling as even the black mist around him thinned somewhat!

"Now! Xing Xuan!"

No words were needed. Xing Xuan, whose mind was linked with Su Yan's, erupted with all its strength! The Star Map Veins across its body seemed to ignite, while the star vortex at its tail spun madly at an unprecedented speed and suddenly expanded—[Star Burst]! A devastating starlight shockwave smashed viciously into the Soul Reaper Envoy's chest!

Boom!

The Soul Reaper Envoy was blasted backward, his cloak torn apart to reveal a twisted, rotten face covered in black patterns beneath it. His aura was weak; he had clearly suffered grave injuries.

"Bastard!" He shot Su Yan a venomous glare before turning into a stream of black smoke and fleeing deeper into the camp. His voice drifted back from afar. "The Palace Lord has been waiting! Your souls will become the most beautiful adornments of the ritual!"

The powerful enemy had temporarily retreated, but an even greater crisis had arrived. The entire outpost had been thoroughly alerted, and countless cultists and corrupted creatures were pouring in from every direction! Their location and strength had been completely exposed.

"Go!" Without hesitation, Su Yan grabbed the map and orders from the table and charged out with the others in the direction opposite the Soul Reaper Envoy's escape route!

In their first battle in the Netherworld, they had obtained crucial intelligence, but they had also fallen into an even larger encirclement. And the name "Netherworld Palace Lord" hung over every heart like heavy storm clouds.