The leader of the black-robed men was struck by Lin Yang's "Star Shattering Void," his body flying backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood. His eyes were filled with terror and resentment, his previously confident expression now completely gone.
Lin Yang's attack not only severely injured the leading black-robed man but also greatly shook the morale of the other black-robed figures. Seeing their leader wounded, their attack rhythm immediately became somewhat disrupted. The allied forces seized this opportunity, their morale soaring, and they unleashed even stronger spells, charging towards the group of black-robed men.
Seizing the opportunity, the elders of the Xuanfeng Sect unleashed the sect's most powerful technique, the "Mysterious Wind Raging Waves Technique." A fierce wind arose, and an invisible raging wave seemed to surge through the valley, engulfing the black-robed figures. The black-robed men struggled in the gale, many being lifted up and slammed to the ground.
The protector of the Flame God Sect was not to be outdone. He gathered all his fiery power and unleashed the "Flame God's Descent Spell." A gigantic phantom of the Flame God appeared behind him, wielding a flaming spear, and thrust it towards the black-robed man. Wherever the flaming spear struck, the black-robed man was scorched by the intense heat, letting out painful screams before his body instantly turned to ashes.
Su Ran then unleashed the ultimate ice magic skill, "Ice Extreme Meteor Shower." Countless enormous ice meteorites appeared in the sky, crashing down towards the black-robed man with a whooshing sound. The ice meteorites struck the ground, triggering violent explosions, and the powerful impact sent the black-robed man staggering from side to side.
Disciples from other sects also displayed their unique abilities, and for a time, the man in black robes was in dire straits. However, just when the allied forces thought victory was in sight, an unexpected event occurred.
The black-robed leader, who had been lying on the ground severely injured, suddenly struggled to his feet, his eyes flashing with a crazed light. He rapidly formed hand seals and chanted incantations, and the dark power within him quickly recovered in a bizarre way, becoming even more intense than before.
"You think this will stop us? How naive! The Dark Ritual must go on, and you will all die!" the leader of the black-robed figures roared madly. As his voice fell, the dark aura in the valley grew even denser, surging in from all directions and converging on him.
Lin Yang inwardly cried out in alarm. He knew the man in black robes must have used some forbidden magic in a final, desperate struggle. "Everyone be careful, he's going to fight to the death!" Lin Yang shouted a warning to everyone.
As expected, the dark power emanating from the black-robed man coalesced into a massive black sphere of light, its surface shimmering with eerie runes and radiating an aura of destruction. The black-robed man raised the black sphere with both hands and hurled it forcefully towards the allied team.
"Get out of the way!" Lin Yang shouted, simultaneously activating his "Star Shield" to try and block the black sphere's attack. However, the power of the black sphere far exceeded expectations, and the Star Shield shattered like glass the moment it touched the sphere.
The members of the united team unleashed their respective defensive spells, but the black sphere was simply too powerful, rendering their defenses utterly ineffective. Like a miniature black hole, the black sphere distorted space and swallowed everything in its path.
Just when everyone was in despair, Lin Yang suddenly remembered the five-colored bead in his hand. Previously, when facing the black-robed man's self-destruction, the five-colored bead had released light to protect everyone. Perhaps it could play a role again now.
Lin Yang hurriedly took out the Five-Colored Bead and infused it with his own stellar power. Sensing the infusion of stellar power, the Five-Colored Bead shone brightly, releasing a soft yet powerful five-colored light curtain that enveloped the allied team.
The black sphere of light collided with the multicolored light barrier, producing a deafening roar. The barrier trembled violently, but thanks to the powerful force of the multicolored beads, it did not shatter. The two powerful forces clashed, resulting in a stalemate for a time.
Lin Yang knew this couldn't continue; he had to find the black-robed man's weakness as soon as possible and defeat him completely. He maintained the power of the five-colored beads while observing the black-robed man's movements. He noticed that after casting this forbidden spell, the black-robed man's body had become extremely weak. Although his dark power was strong, a hint of weariness was evident in his eyes.
Lin Yang's heart stirred, and he shouted to the crowd, "Everyone, attack the man in black robes! He's weak now, this is our chance!" Upon hearing this, everyone stopped defending and unleashed their strongest attack spells, charging towards the man in black robes.
The Xuanfeng Sect's "Mysterious Wind Raging Waves Technique," the Yanshen Sect's "Flame God's Descent Curse," Su Ran's "Ice Extreme Meteor Shower," and various other powerful spells from disciples of other sects poured down on the black-robed man like a storm. Under such a fierce attack, the black-robed man could no longer withstand it. He let out a desperate roar, and his body gradually dissipated under the impact of the various spells.
As the black-robed figure vanished, the black sphere of light, having lost its power, slowly dissipated into the air. The darkness in the valley began to recede, and sunlight once again bathed everyone in its glow. The united team had successfully defeated the black-robed figure, but they knew the real crisis was far from over.
The group walked towards the black altar deep in the valley. As they approached, they discovered that the altar was covered with mysterious runes, which flickered with an eerie light, as if telling ancient and evil secrets. In the center of the altar sat a black crystal ball, from which dark power surged, and countless souls seemed to struggle within.
"This crystal ball seems to seal the souls of those missing cultivators; we must destroy it." Lin Yang stared at the crystal ball, his eyes filled with rage.
However, when Lin Yang tried to touch the crystal ball, it suddenly released a powerful backlash, causing him to stumble back several steps. "This crystal ball has a powerful restriction; we need to find a way to break it," Lin Yang said.
The group began searching the altar for clues to break the seal. Qin Yue carefully observed the runes on the altar, trying to decipher their secrets. After some effort, she discovered that the runes seemed to form a complex puzzle; only by activating the runes in a specific order could the seal on the crystal ball be broken.
Just as Qin Yue was struggling to decipher the rune puzzle, a commotion suddenly erupted outside the valley. Immediately afterward, a group of men in black surged into the valley. It turned out that these men in black were reinforcements from a mysterious force; they had come to help after learning of the black-robed men's defeat.
"Oh no! The mysterious forces are here! We must break the seal and destroy the crystal ball as soon as possible!" Lin Yang shouted. The combined team immediately split into two groups: one group stayed behind to assist Qin Yue in solving the rune puzzle, while the other group went to defend against the attack of the men in black.
Lin Yang, the Xuanfeng Sect elder, and the Yanshen Sect protector led a group of disciples to meet the men in black. The men in black were numerous, wielding sharp blades and emanating a dark aura, surging towards the allied force like a tide.
Lin Yang unleashed his "Starry Sky-Splitting Slash," his sword energy crisscrossing and repelling the approaching men in black. An elder of the Xuanfeng Sect brandished his whisk, casting the "Gentle Breeze Dance Spell," transforming the gentle breeze into countless sharp blades that weaved through the group of men in black, causing them to scream in pain as they were cut. A guardian of the Yanshen Sect spewed out a mouthful of flame, forming a wall of fire that blocked the advance of the men in black.
However, disregarding casualties, the men in black charged relentlessly towards the allied forces. They seemed to be controlled by some force, losing their reason and only knowing how to attack frantically. Although the allied forces were powerful, they gradually began to struggle under the overwhelming numbers of the men in black.
While fending off the men in black, Lin Yang kept a close eye on Qin Yue's situation. He saw that Qin Yue's forehead was covered in sweat as she concentrated intently on solving the rune puzzle. Suddenly, a look of surprise flashed in Qin Yue's eyes, and she shouted, "I've found the solution!"
Lin Yang was overjoyed. He shouted to the group fighting off the men in black, "Hold on a little longer! Once Qin Yue breaks the seal and destroys the crystal ball, these men in black might lose their source of power!" Hearing this, the group's morale soared, and they unleashed even stronger spells to resist the men in black's attack.
Following the specific order of the runes, Qin Yue activated them one by one on the altar. As the runes were activated, the light from the restriction on the crystal ball gradually dimmed. Finally, when the last rune was activated, the restriction on the crystal ball was completely lifted.
Seizing the opportunity, Lin Yang, wielding the Starry Golden Sword, unleashed the "Starry Annihilation Slash." A golden sword aura, imbued with world-destroying power, slashed towards the crystal ball. The sword aura struck the crystal ball, causing it to emit a dazzling light before shattering with a loud "bang."
As the crystal ball shattered, a powerful force erupted from it, completely dispelling the darkness in the valley. The black-clad figures who had been frantically attacking collapsed to the ground the instant the crystal ball shattered, losing their ability to move.
The united team successfully destroyed the crystal ball, averting the crisis of the Dark Ritual. However, they knew this was only a partial victory in their struggle against the mysterious forces. These forces would not give up easily, and many more challenges awaited them in the future.
Looking at the devastation in the valley, Lin Yang understood that the peace of the cultivation world was still under threat. He said to everyone, "Although we successfully stopped the Dark Ritual this time, the mysterious force is still there, and we cannot let our guard down. We must return to our respective sects, strengthen our defenses, and continue to investigate the whereabouts of the mysterious force to completely eradicate it."
Everyone nodded in agreement. Thus, the united team, filled with the joy of victory and apprehension about the future, left the mysterious valley. Upon returning to their respective sects, they recounted their experiences in detail to their superiors. Realizing the power and danger of the mysterious force, the various sects strengthened their defenses and organized their disciples to undergo even more rigorous training.
After returning to his sect, Lin Yang did not slack off in the slightest. He handed the five-colored beads to the sect leader, suggesting that he keep them safe as the sect's most prized treasure. At the same time, he began seclusion to cultivate, hoping to further improve his strength in order to cope with any potential future crises.
During his seclusion, Lin Yang devoted himself day and night to studying the application of stellar power. Combining this with the mysterious inheritance he had obtained in the ruins, his mastery of stellar power reached a new level. He attempted to fuse stellar power with his own swordsmanship, creating an even more powerful sword technique—the "Stellar Sword Manual." This sword technique blended the vastness and mystery of stellar power with the sharpness and versatility of swordsmanship, resulting in astonishing power.
After returning to Zixiao Palace, Su Ran also began her secluded cultivation. She delved into the fusion of ice magic and dark elements, attempting to create even more powerful spells. After countless trials and failures, she finally succeeded in creating a new spell—"Dark Ice Prison Burial." This spell perfectly combines the coldness of ice magic with the eerie power of dark elements. Once cast, it can instantly trap the enemy in a space composed of darkness and ice, subjecting them to the dual corrosive effects of icy cold and dark power.
Disciples from other sects such as the Xuanfeng Sect and the Yanshen Sect are also diligently cultivating to improve their strength. After this crisis, the entire cultivation world is gripped by a tense yet highly motivated atmosphere.
However, just as everyone was preparing to deal with the mysterious force, the force did not give up. In a dark corner, a group of men in black robes gathered together, led by a tall, cold-faced man. His eyes revealed endless anger and resentment.
"This plan has failed! It's all those damned guys' fault for ruining our plans!" the leader said angrily.
"Chief, what should we do? They must be on guard now. It will be even more difficult for us to carry out our plan again," a man in black robes said cautiously.
"Hmph, difficulties? So what! We've prepared for so long, how can we give up because of this one failure?" A ruthless glint flashed in the leader's eyes. "We must revise our plan. This time, we will make them pay a heavy price!"
“But, leader, our forces suffered heavy losses in this operation and will be difficult to recover in a short time,” another man in black robes said worriedly.
"Don't worry, I have a plan." A sinister smile appeared on the leader's lips. "We can go and find those sealed evil forces and use their power to strengthen ourselves. Moreover, I've heard that deep within the Spirit Illusion Mountains, there is an ancient ruin that hides powerful magical treasures and cultivation techniques. If we can obtain them, we will have enough strength to contend with those sects."
“However, that ruin is said to be fraught with danger, with many powerful restrictions and guardian beasts,” the man in black robes said.
“That’s not a problem. We can send out some scouts to gather intelligence about the ruins first, and then we can formulate a detailed plan,” the leader said. “From now on, everyone will split up and work separately to gather enough intelligence in the shortest possible time.”
"Yes, leader!" the men in black robes responded in unison. Then they dispersed and began to carry out their leader's orders.
Meanwhile, in the cultivation world, although the major sects had strengthened their defenses, they were completely unaware of the mysterious force's new plan. Lin Yang and the others were still diligently cultivating and improving their strength; they were oblivious to the fact that an even greater crisis was quietly approaching.
In the days that followed, spies from the mysterious force scoured the Spirit Illusion Mountains. They carefully evaded the eyes and ears of the major sects, delving into every corner of the mountains to gather intelligence on the ancient ruins.
Meanwhile, during his secluded cultivation, Lin Yang gradually sensed a subtle threat. He didn't know where this threat came from, but his intuition told him that danger was approaching. Therefore, he decided to end his seclusion early and inform the sect leader and other sects of his feelings.
After emerging from seclusion, Lin Yang immediately went to the sect leader's residence. He recounted in detail the threats he had sensed during his seclusion. Upon hearing this, the sect leader's expression became extremely grave.
"Lin Yang, what you've said is no small matter. It seems the mysterious forces haven't given up on their conspiracy and are likely planning a new operation," the sect leader said.
"Sect Master, I think we can't just sit here and wait to die. We should take the initiative, continue investigating the whereabouts of the mysterious force, and eliminate them completely before they can act," Lin Yang said.
“You’re right, but we can’t act blindly. We need to communicate with other sects first and discuss countermeasures together,” the sect leader said.
Therefore, the sect leader immediately sent people to the other major sects to invite their sect leaders and elders to come and discuss the matter. Soon, representatives from all the major sects gathered again at Lin Yang's sect.
Lin Yang explained in detail to everyone the threat he felt and his speculations about the mysterious force's possible new plans. Everyone agreed after listening.
"It seems the mysterious force is still up to its old tricks; we must take action as soon as possible," Xuan Fengao said.
“That’s right, but we currently know nothing about the mysterious force’s new plans. We need to gather intelligence first,” Yanlong said.
After some discussion, it was decided that some elite disciples would be dispatched to form intelligence-gathering teams to penetrate deep into the Spirit Illusion Mountains and other possible locations to collect intelligence on the mysterious force. Meanwhile, the major sects continued to strengthen their defenses to prevent a sudden attack from the mysterious force.
Lin Yang volunteered to join the intelligence gathering team. He led a group of elite disciples from different sects back into the Spirit Illusion Mountain Range. They cautiously traversed the mountains, leaving no possible clue unchecked.
In a remote valley of the Spirit Illusion Mountains, Lin Yang and his companions discovered some strange footprints and traces. These footprints and traces were somewhat similar to those found in the Mysterious Valley before, and seemed to have been left by a mysterious force.
"It seems we've found the right place. These traces were likely left by spies from a mysterious force," Lin Yang said.
Following the trail, the group discovered a camp hidden inside a cave. Several men in black robes were stationed there, discussing something. Lin Yang and the others quietly approached, attempting to eavesdrop on their conversation.
“The leader has pinpointed the location of the ruins. We must gather more information about them as soon as possible, especially about the restrictions and guardian beasts within,” said a man in black robes.
"I've heard that a magical artifact capable of controlling all the dark forces in the world is hidden within those ruins. If we can obtain it, those sects will no longer be a match for us," another man in black robes said excitedly.
“That’s right, but the restrictions and guardian beasts in the ruins are extremely powerful, so we must proceed with caution. The leader has already sent some experts to deal with the guardian beasts, and our mission is to gather information on how to break the restrictions,” the man in black robes said.
Upon hearing this, Lin Yang and the others were greatly alarmed. They had never imagined that the mysterious force was searching for a magical artifact capable of controlling the dark power of the world. If they succeeded, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"We must send this message back as soon as possible so that all the major sects can prepare," Lin Yang said in a low voice.
Just then, a man in black robes seemed to sense something was wrong and shouted, "Who goes there? Come out!"
Knowing they had been exposed, Lin Yang and the others revealed themselves, no longer hiding. "You evil bastards, today is your doomsday!" Lin Yang shouted, wielding the Starry Golden Sword.
The black-robed men's expressions changed drastically upon seeing Lin Yang and his group. They hadn't expected to encounter them here. "Hmph, you've come at the right time, saving us the trouble of searching for you again." With a wave of his hand, the other black-robed men drew their weapons and pounced on Lin Yang and his companions.
Another fierce battle erupted. Lin Yang unleashed sword techniques from the "Starry Sky Sword Manual," causing the sword to shine brightly. The power of the stars and sword energy were perfectly integrated, and each strike carried immense power, repelling the approaching black-robed men.
Elite disciples from other sects also displayed their unique skills, engaging in a fierce battle with the black-robed man. Disciples of the Xuanfeng Sect unleashed the "Gentle Breeze Sword Technique," their sword moves as gentle as a breeze, yet concealing deadly intent; disciples of the Yanshen Sect unleashed the "Flame Burst Sword Technique," their swords blazing with flames, each strike triggering a violent explosion.
During the battle, Lin Yang discovered that these black-robed figures were stronger than those he had encountered before, and they seemed to have undergone special training, resulting in more seamless teamwork. It appeared that the mysterious force had made ample preparations to obtain the magical artifacts within the ruins.
"Everyone be careful, these men in black robes are tough to deal with. We need to concentrate our forces and take down the leader first," Lin Yang shouted.
Upon hearing this, everyone charged towards the leader of the black-robed figures. A flicker of panic crossed the leader's eyes as he saw the onslaught. He hastily cast spells to defend himself, but under the combined attack of Lin Yang and the others, he gradually found himself overwhelmed.
Just as Lin Yang and the others were about to defeat the leader of the black-robed men, suddenly, a black figure shot out from afar. This person was extremely fast, arriving in front of them in an instant. He held a black longsword in his hand, the blade radiating a dense aura of darkness.
"You bastards, how dare you ruin our plans!" the black-clad figure said coldly.
Lin Yang looked at the black figure before him and sensed a powerful dark force. This person was far stronger than the black-robed figures he had encountered before; he was likely a master from a mysterious force.
"No matter who you are, don't even think about stopping us today!" Lin Yang said.
"Hmph, let's see if you have the ability!" The black-clad figure waved his hand, and a black sword aura slashed towards Lin Yang and the others. Wherever the sword aura passed, space seemed to be torn apart, emitting a series of ear-piercing sounds.
Lin Yang and the others hurriedly cast defensive spells to resist, but the power of the black sword energy was simply too great, and their defenses proved utterly ineffective. The black sword energy struck them, forcing them to stagger back several steps.
"Is everyone alright?"
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