The deeper they ventured into the forest, the darker it became. Ancient trees intertwined their roots and vines wrapped around everything, nearly blocking out the sky. The faint demonic energy, like a candle flame luring moths in darkness, was faint yet always pointing the way. Xiao Qi focused intently, the jade pendant on his chest emitting a clear, cool sensation, allowing him to precisely trace the ominous traces in the air.
Liu Yun and Mu Qingfeng flanked Xiao Qi on both sides, protecting him in the center. The three of them held their breath, footsteps light as geese feathers, not daring the slightest carelessness. The forest was deathly silent—even insect chirps and bird calls had vanished, leaving only the rustling of wind through leaves, adding to the uncanny atmosphere.
After walking for roughly the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, Xiao Qi suddenly stopped, raising his hand in warning. He crouched down, brushing aside layers of thick humus and fallen leaves, revealing a rock beneath with a slightly darker color, cool and damp to the touch. There were subtle gaps between the rock and the surrounding ground; without careful observation, it could easily be overlooked.
"There's something strange here." Xiao Qi murmured softly, condensing a thread of weak purification power at his fingertip and gently touching the edge of the rock. A soft hissing sound came out, and a wisp of black energy escaped from the crevice, carrying a more intense stench and chaotic thoughts.
"It's a disguised entrance." Liu Yun's eyes sharpened, signaling Mu Qingfeng to be vigilant. She extended a sword finger, a condensed sword qi point landing on the rock. She didn't force it open but carefully sensed instead. "There's space beneath, and... faint signs of life, very chaotic and filled with fear."
Mu Qingfeng nodded, transmitting via voice: "Looks like we found it. The demonic cultivators are cunning, setting their base in such a place. Liu Yun and I will force open the entrance. Xiao Qi, be ready—if any demonic cultivators rush out, your purification power may counteract them."
Xiao Qi took a deep breath, gripping the frying pan, allowing spiritual power to flow slowly through his body. The faint golden purification force surged in his meridians, ready to strike.
Liu Yun and Mu Qingfeng exchanged glances, displaying perfect coordination. Mu Qingfeng placed both palms on either side of the rock, thick earth-attribute spiritual power surging out to stabilize the surrounding ground, preventing collapse. Liu Yun formed a sword with her fingers, and a brilliant sword light like a cold star burst forth from her fingertips, precisely piercing into the crevice of the rock!
"Break!"
With a soft cry, the seemingly solid rock, under the sword qi, was cut like tofu, silently turning to dust and revealing a dark opening just large enough for one person to descend. An even more concentrated, blood-tinged and rotting stench, mixed with pure demonic energy, a chilling wind rushed out from the cave, making one retch.
Almost the instant the cave opened, several sharp whistling sounds came from within! Poisoned crossbow bolts!
"Hmph!" Mu Qingfeng was prepared, sleeves sweeping to create a soft spiritual barrier at the entrance, blocking all those crossbow bolts, which clattered to the ground.
"Charge!" Liu Yun didn't hesitate, transforming into sword light, first to rush into the cave. Mu Qingfeng followed closely. Xiao Qi gritted his teeth, gripping the frying pan, and followed in.
The opening led to an artificially carved, roughly descending stone stairway, damp and slippery. The walls were covered with some moss emitting a ghostly green glow, barely providing illumination. Chilling wind howled, mixed with faint, ghost-like whimpering sounds from the depths.
After descending less than ten zhang, the scene suddenly opened up—a massive natural cavern appeared before the three. The cavern had been transformed; at its center was a sunken blood pool, dark red viscous liquid churning within, constantly bubbling, emitting rich bloody odor and yin-evil power. Around the blood pool, complex demonic cultivation symbols were carved; those symbols squirmed like living things, drawing power from the pool, emanating terrifying fluctuations.
Even more hair-raising were several large iron cages standing in the corners of the cavern! Inside the cages, clearly imprisoned, were more than a dozen ragged villagers, pale-faced, with empty, desperate eyes! These were the missing young adults from Kaoshan Village! Most huddled together, some with fresh bloodstains on their bodies, their breath faint, as if most of their life force had been drained.
And by the blood pool stood three Shadow Snake Pavilion cultivators in black robes with snake patterns on their sleeves! Two were at the late Qi Refining stage, forming incantation gestures with their hands, maintaining the blood pool formation. The third was at the early Foundation Establishment stage, holding a White Bone Banner, its surface shrouded in black energy, with numerous pain-twisted faces flickering within—clearly refining some soul-corrupting evil artifact!
The sudden intruders shocked the three demonic cultivators.
"Qingxu Temple dogs! How did you find this place!" The Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator exclaimed in shock and fury, waving the White Bone Banner. A wisp of black energy transformed into a ferocious ghost head, howling as it rushed toward Liu Yun in the lead.
"Demons and heretics, die!" Liu Yun's face was cold as frost, sword light surging like the Milky Way falling, instantly shredding the ghost head. She followed her sword, charging straight at the Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator.
"Protect the villagers!" Mu Qingfeng low-toned, his figure flashing to block the two Qi Refining demonic cultivators trying to rush toward the cages, seemingly wanting to use the villagers as hostages. He didn't use killing moves, but with exquisite footwork and thick spiritual power, he firmly entangled the two, not letting them approach the cages even a bit.
Xiao Qi's gaze swept across the churning blood pool and the trembling villagers in the cages. A surge of fury rose straight to his crown. It was these demonic cultivators, for that so-called "ritual," who wantonly abducted mortals, extracted souls, refined evil objects! He roared, not going to help Liu Yun or Mu Qingfeng, but rushing straight toward the demonic symbols around the blood pool!
He could see—this blood pool and formation was the core of this place, the source continuously tormenting and draining the villagers' vitality! It must be destroyed!
"Seeking death!" The Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator saw Xiao Qi rushing toward the blood pool, cried out in fury, but was kept busy by Liu Yun's sword light and couldn't stop him.
Xiao Qi reached the edge of the blood pool; the rich bloody odor and yin-evil power nearly choked him. Struggling against the discomfort, he fully activated the faint golden purification force within his body, converging it in his palm, then slapped violently toward those squirming demonic patterns on the ground!
"Purify!"
Sss—!
Like cold water dripping into boiling oil, the moment the golden light touched the black demonic patterns, violent erosion sounds erupted. That area of demonic patterns rapidly dimmed, twisted, then like ignited paper, turned to wisps of blue smoke and dissipated! The churning of the blood pool also stagnated.
Effective! Xiao Qi's spirit soared; ignoring spiritual power consumption, he slapped continuously with both palms. Faint golden purification light continuously sparkled; wherever it passed, demonic patterns collapsed in succession.
"Dammit!" The two Qi Refining demonic cultivators maintaining the formation, seeing the formation destroyed, were shocked and furious, trying to break free from Mu Qingfeng's entanglement to stop Xiao Qi. But how could Mu Qingfeng let them succeed? Palm wind like mountains suppressed the two firmly.
The Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator, seeing the formation destroyed, was anxious. He bit his tongue sharply, spitting a mouthful of essence blood onto the White Bone Banner. The banner's black light surged brilliantly; a condensed, Foundation Establishment-level massive demonic shadow burst from the banner surface, pouncing toward Liu Yun.
Liu Yun coldly snorted, sword style changing from to ethereal. Sword light differentiated like snowstorms filling the sky, weakening and freezing the demonic shadow layer by layer.
Seizing this opportunity, Xiao Qi had already purified most of the demonic patterns around the blood pool. With the formation's support lost, the liquid in the blood pool stopped churning, and that uncanny force draining vitality vanished.
"Quick! Break the cages!" Xiao Qi shouted toward the cages while swinging the frying pan filled with spiritual power, violently smashing the lock of the nearest cage.
Dang! A heavy boom, the thick iron lock broke under the frying pan's tremendous force!
The villagers in the cages were first terrified, then realizing someone had come to rescue them, erupted with survival hope, rushing out of the cages.
At this moment, Liu Yun finally found her chance. An extremely condensed sword thread flashed, piercing through the Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator's protective demonic energy, leaving a blood line at his throat. The cultivator widened his eyes in disbelief, clutching his throat, and slowly fell.
The remaining two Qi Refining demonic cultivators, seeing their leader killed, formation destroyed, villagers rescued, completely lost fighting will, and were easily subdued by Mu Qingfeng.
In the cavern, temporarily restored to calm—only the occasional bubbling of the blood pool and the survivors' choked sobs remained.
Xiao Qi looked at the rescued villagers, then at the destroyed blood pool and demonic formation, breathing a sigh of relief, but his mood remained heavy. This was just a temporary base, yet already so evil. For that "Ten Thousand Souls Return to Dust" ritual, who knew how many such demonic lairs Shadow Snake Pavilion had established, how many innocent lives harmed.
They must quickly find their main ritual site and completely stop them!