Knowing the urgency of the situation, Lin Yang and his companions took a brief rest before immediately leaving the ancient temple. They rushed back to the Demon-Suppressing Alliance and informed the major sects within the alliance of the crucial news they had discovered in the Shadow Valley temple: a mysterious force attempting to gather dark artifacts and awaken the ancient dark god to rule the cultivation world.
Immediately, panic gripped the Demon-Suppressing Alliance, with the leaders of various sects realizing the gravity of the situation. After an emergency meeting, it was decided that each sect would dispatch elite disciples to form multiple search teams, each heading to the possible locations where the dark artifact discovered by Lin Yang might exist.
Lin Yang, Su Ran, Ling Feng, and others were naturally also part of the search team. Their group was assigned to a mysterious ruin in the Linghuan Mountains—the Shadowless Ancient Land. It is said that this place was once the battlefield of a great war between darkness and light in ancient times, filled with an eerie atmosphere and fraught with danger, but it is also rumored to hold many mysterious treasures, and dark artifacts may very well be hidden there.
As they stepped into the Spirit Illusion Mountains, they felt a suffocating atmosphere wash over them. A thin mist hung in the air, and within the mist seemed countless eyes to be watching their every move. The surrounding trees were of various shapes, their twisted branches resembling the claws of demons, trying to seize them tightly.
"Everyone be careful, something feels off about this place," Lin Yang said in a low voice, while gripping the Starry Golden Sword tightly. The sword trembled slightly, as if it too sensed the hidden danger around it.
Su Ran nodded slightly, a faint layer of icy blue light emanating from her body. This was a defensive spell she had cast in advance to deal with unexpected situations. If any danger approached, this light would react quickly.
Ling Feng cautiously observed his surroundings, his eyes sharp, not missing a single abnormality. "I have a feeling that something is following us," Ling Feng said, frowning.
The group proceeded cautiously, each step taken with utmost care. Suddenly, a chilling wind swept through, and the fog instantly thickened, completely obscuring their vision. Immediately afterwards, eerie roars echoed from all directions, their sharp, piercing sounds seemingly trying to penetrate their very souls.
"It's a Shadow Wolf!" Based on his rich combat experience, Lin Yang immediately identified the attacker. The Shadow Wolf was quite similar to the Shadow Wolf he had encountered in Shadow Valley, but it was much stronger and adept at concealing itself in the mist to launch surprise attacks.
Lin Yang swiftly unleashed his "Starry Shadow Step," his figure flashing like a meteor through the mist, attempting to locate the Shadow Wolf. Su Ran, meanwhile, used "Ice Storm," releasing an extremely cold storm centered on herself. Wherever the storm passed, the mist instantly froze into ice, and the surrounding temperature plummeted.
Ling Feng and the other disciples also unleashed their signature skills. Ling Feng's swordsmanship was like a sudden storm, sharp and swift, each strike carrying powerful spiritual energy fluctuations as it thrust towards the direction from which the roar came. Some of the other disciples used earth-based spells to summon sharp rocks from the ground and shoot them towards where the Shadow Wolves might be hiding; others used magical artifacts to release powerful light, attempting to dispel the thick fog.
However, the Shadow Wolves were extremely cunning. They moved nimbly through the mist, constantly changing positions, making it difficult for the group to attack accurately. One Shadow Wolf seized an opportunity and pounced on a disciple. The disciple reacted quickly, immediately casting a defensive shield, but the Shadow Wolf's impact was too great. The shield shattered instantly, and the disciple was sent flying, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
Seeing this, Lin Yang's heart tightened. He channeled the power of the stars, unleashing an enhanced version of the "Starry Night Intertwined Slash," the "Starry Night Intertwined Sky-Splitting Slash." Streams of sword energy, imbued with the dual power of stars and darkness, shot out like lightning, shattering the mist wherever they passed. Accompanied by several shrill screams, several Shadow Wolves were struck by the sword energy, falling to the ground and vanishing in a puff of black smoke.
Following Lin Yang's attack, the other Shadow Wolves seemed to sense the threat and withdrew their attacks. Their roars gradually faded into the distance, and the mist began to dissipate. The crowd quickly gathered around the injured disciple, casting healing spells to stabilize his injuries.
"Is everyone alright?" Lin Yang asked with concern. Everyone nodded, but their faces were all grave. After this brief exchange, they knew that this expedition would be fraught with hardship.
After a short rest, the group continued their journey. After a long trek, they finally arrived at the entrance to the Shadowlands. The entrance was a massive stone gate, covered with ancient runes and mysterious patterns. The runes shimmered with a faint light.
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