Chapter 30: Source of Death Energy? I'll Lead the Way!

Liao Chen’s warning made the atmosphere of the Third Squad instantly heavy. Zhao Lie dared not delay, quickly directing his team members to collect valuable materials from the wolf king and briefly treating their injuries, before immediately leading the squad to withdraw from the Black Wind Ridge area.

Along the way, everyone remained silent, vigilantly watching the movements around them. Although that cold, ghostly death energy had only flashed by for an instant, it hung over everyone’s heart like a shadow.

Lin Xuan followed in the team, but his spiritual sense was like an invisible tentacle, quietly extending toward the direction from which the death energy had come. However, that area seemed to be shrouded in a layer of invisible mist; his spiritual sense probed into it like a stone sinking into the sea, only able to feel a deep darkness and deathly silence, unable to peek at the details inside.

"System, deep scan that area!" Lin Xuan ordered in his heart.

[Ding! Consuming 3% energy, deep scan initiated... Warning! High-intensity energy interference and signs of spatial distortion detected! Scan obstructed, unable to obtain detailed information! Preliminary judgment: This area contains a powerful restriction or a natural forbidden zone, highly consistent with the fluctuations of Netherworld cultivation techniques!]

As expected, there is something strange! What are the people from the Netherworld Sect doing there? Setting a trap? Or did they discover something?

Lin Xuan’s eyes flickered, curiosity and vigilance coexisting in his heart. He had a premonition that this area was likely related to the abnormal beast tide, and perhaps even the "ancient secret" mentioned by the Four Seas Firm.

After returning to the temporary camp, Zhao Lie immediately reported the encounter with the Netherworld death energy to his superiors. The camp was shaken; the higher-ups clearly attached great importance to this, and orders soon came down, requiring each squad to pay special attention to traces of Netherworld Sect activity during their clearing missions and to investigate their purpose as much as possible.

After resting for half a day, the Third Squad received a new mission—to head to the "Ghostly Ravine" area adjacent to Black Wind Ridge to investigate. According to intelligence, there had been abnormal energy fluctuations near the Ghostly Ravine recently, and low-level cultivators had been going missing from time to time.

And the location of the Ghostly Ravine happened to be on the periphery of the direction from which that previous Netherworld death energy had come!

"It seems that if it is a blessing, it is not a disaster; if it is a disaster, it cannot be avoided." Lin Xuan understood in his heart that this mission was clearly aimed at the Netherworld Sect.

Setting off again, the atmosphere of the team was even more stifling than before. Ghostly Ravine—just hearing the name, it was clearly not a place of good fortune.

The closer they got to the Ghostly Ravine, the more eerie the environment became. The light grew dim, the surrounding trees gradually became twisted and withered, and a faint, rotting stench permeated the air; even the chirping of insects and the calls of birds had almost vanished.

"Everyone be careful, the energy here is not right; there might be poisonous miasma or a maze array," Zhao Lie warned, signaling the team to slow down.

Lin Xuan keenly felt that although the death energy here was thin, it was everywhere, originating from the same source as the previous explosive Netherworld death energy, only diluted and masked by some kind of power.

"System, continuously monitor the concentration and composition of the environmental death energy."

[Ding! Environmental monitoring initiated... Death energy concentration is slowly increasing. Composition analysis: Contains faint soul fragments and corrosive energy; long-term exposure may lead to the loss of vitality and mental instability.]

It really is the work of the Netherworld Sect! Are they modifying the environment?

Just then, the scout who had been scouting ahead returned again. This time, his face was even uglier, even carrying a trace of terror.

"Captain! Ahead... ahead we found a cave! There are residual traces of an array at the entrance, and inside... inside it is emitting very strong death energy! And... I found this at the entrance!" The scout handed over a torn piece of clothing, stained with blood that had already turned black, and embroidered with a blurred emblem—it was exactly the mark of one of the missing rogue cultivators!

Everyone’s heart sank.

Zhao Lie took the piece of clothing, looked at it carefully, and said in a deep voice: "It seems that the missing people have likely met with misfortune. That cave is very likely a stronghold of the Netherworld Sect!"

He looked at everyone: "Mission changed! Investigate the cave and find out the purpose of the Netherworld Sect here! If you encounter resistance, kill without mercy! Lin Xuan, your spiritual sense is stronger, come with me to scout the path ahead. Everyone else, maintain formation and follow cautiously!"

Having been named, Lin Xuan felt helpless in his heart, but on the surface, he nodded solemnly: "Yes, Captain."

He knew that this scouting job carried the greatest risk, but it was also the best opportunity to obtain first-hand information.

The two of them restrained their energy and crept silently toward the cave pointed out by the scout. The closer they got to the cave, the more intense that cold, deathly feeling became; even the light seemed to be swallowed, and the surroundings were pitch black.

The cave entrance was not large, hidden behind several huge, craggy rocks; it would be very difficult to discover if not searched carefully. There were indeed residual fluctuations of an array at the entrance; although it had been destroyed, one could still feel its original concealment and protective functions.

Zhao Lie made a gesture, signaling Lin Xuan to be on alert, while he himself was the first to step into the cave cautiously.

Lin Xuan followed closely behind. The moment he stepped into the cave, he immediately felt a thick, almost tangible death energy rushing toward him! At the same time, the system’s warning sounded in his mind:

[Warning! Entering a high-concentration Netherworld death energy field! Physical vitality is being slightly eroded! It is recommended to activate protective spiritual light!]

[Detected strong energy reactions and spatial fluctuations ahead!]

The interior of the cave was much more spacious and deep than imagined. The passage sloped downward, and the rock walls were embedded with stones emitting a miserable green glow, reflecting the entire passage like a ghost realm. From time to time, one could step on scattered dry bones, some human, some from demonic beasts.

The two held their breath and focused, slowly moving deeper along the passage. After walking for about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, faint voices and spiritual power fluctuations came from ahead!

Zhao Lie stopped immediately, signaling Lin Xuan to hide.

The two hid in the shadows at a corner, quietly looking forward.

They saw that at the end of the passage was a huge underground grotto! In the center of the grotto, a large and complex blood-colored array was carved. Dark red light flowed through the patterns of the array, emitting a thick, bloody stench and death energy. Dozens of disciples dressed in Netherworld Sect attire were busy, throwing some captured low-level demonic beasts and even... human corpses into the array!

Above the array, a fist-sized, constantly pulsing black heart-shaped object was suspended, emitting an evil fluctuation that made one’s heart palpitate! The essence of flesh and blood being thrown into the array was being greedily absorbed by this "heart"!

And beside the array stood three powerful figures in black robes! Two of them were the Netherworld Deacon and another Golden Core Elder who had appeared during the siege of Black Wind Stronghold! And the leader, whose aura was even deeper and more obscure, with death energy almost solidified around his body, was shockingly a powerhouse at the late stage of Golden Core!

"Netherworld Blood-Refining Grand Array! They are refining a 'Netherworld Blood Core'!" Zhao Lie gasped, his voice carrying uncontrollable shock and anger. "These lunatics! Do they want to use this blood core to pollute the earth veins and create a large-scale deathly forbidden zone?!"

Lin Xuan was also struck with awe. He had seen records of the Netherworld Blood-Refining Grand Array in the system’s miscellaneous knowledge; it was an extremely vicious evil array that condensed a Netherworld Blood Core by sacrificing the flesh, blood, and souls of a large number of living beings, used to cultivate evil arts or pollute a region, turning it into a ghost realm suitable for the Netherworld Sect to cultivate in!

No wonder the demonic beasts in the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain were restless; they were likely stimulated by the death energy and bloody stench emitted by this grand array!

"Elder You Wang, the blood core is about to take shape. Shall we begin to guide the energy of the earth veins?" The Netherworld Deacon respectfully asked the leader, the late-stage Golden Core cultivator.

The black-robed man known as Elder You Wang made a hoarse sound like a night owl: "Hmm... speed it up! Although this place is remote, the commotion is too great; it will be discovered by the Imperial Court sooner or later. We must complete the initial pollution and welcome the power of the 'Sacred Object' to descend before they can react!"

Welcome the power of the Sacred Object? Lin Xuan’s heart stirred. Could it be that they still wanted to recreate that black statue here?

Just then, Elder You Wang seemed to sense something and turned his head abruptly. His scarlet gaze, like two beams of tangible blood light, shot toward the corner where Lin Xuan and Zhao Lie were hiding!

"Two little mice, you hide quite deep! Since you've come, stay and become nourishment for the blood core!"

Before the words had even finished, he flicked his sleeve, and a black bone spear, condensed to the extreme and carrying a shrill ghostly wail, instantly tore through the air and shot toward where the two were hiding! The speed was astonishing!

"Exposed! Retreat!" Zhao Lie’s face changed drastically. He pushed Lin Xuan away while thrusting his long spear out violently, attempting to block it!

"Boom!"

The black bone spear collided with the long spear, emitting a deafening roar! Zhao Lie groaned, and he and his spear were sent flying back, crashing heavily into the rock wall, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth!

Late-stage Golden Core, the gap in strength was too great!

And after that bone spear repelled Zhao Lie, it did not lose its momentum, splitting into several smaller bone spikes that shot toward Lin Xuan like maggots on a rotting bone!

The crisis arrived in an instant!

(End of Chapter 30)