The Mao hour approached.
The world was filled with the deepest darkness before dawn.
The gray-black miasma in the core area of Black Wind Mountain Range seemed to have become even more thick, like congealed ink, devouring all light and sound.
Outside the Shadow Snake Pavilion stronghold, in the shadows at the junction of two menacing stone mountains, six figures almost indistinguishable from the darkness crouched quietly.
It was precisely Xiaoqi is group, preparing to act.
Everyone had changed into night clothes, still wrapped in breath-concealing cloaks outside.
Even their breathing was adjusted to the weakest state.
Xiaoqi stared tightly at that silent building cluster outline below and the invisible energy field emanating faint black light.
His palms were soaked with cold sweat.
Success or failure hinged on the next few breaths.
The patrol team has completed the transition.
The window period has begun.
Second Senior Brother Luo Feng, responsible for monitoring, transmitted the information to everyone through a bone conduction device connected to a miniature detection artifact.
Prepare.
Liu Yun is voice was cold and clear, like a sword before unsheathing.
Xiaoqi took a deep breath, expelled all distracting thoughts, and activated the thread of pale golden purification power within his dantian with all his might.
The light coursed through his meridians, gathering in his palms.
Slowly, he raised his hands, pointing at a spot about ten zhang ahead where the energy field met the ground.
That was the location he had repeatedly sensed and determined to be where energy flow was relatively stagnant.
This was the moment.
Open.
Xiaoqi is heart low shouted, both palms suddenly pressed forward.
There was no earth-shattering roar, only a pure and gentle pale golden aura, like ripples on water, spreading from his palms.
It precisely enveloped that area.
The moment the pale golden light touched the dark energy field, a faint yet unpleasant erosion sound occurred.
That area of the energy field fluctuated violently.
The black light rapidly dimmed and became disordered, like a disturbed lake surface.
The center actually formed a gap just wide enough for one person to pass through, extremely unstable and tiny.
Go.
Almost simultaneously with Xiaoqi is move, Mu Qingfeng low.
His hands quickly formed seals.
The thick earthy yellow spiritual energy wrapped the entire team of six people along with the rabbit spirit.
Earth Escape, Shadow Concealment.
Everyone only felt their bodies sink, as if integrating into the earth.
The surrounding rocks and soil were no longer obstacles but became media for passage.
Mu Qingfeng controlled the escape light, along the brief gap Xiaoqi had opened, like a fish entering water, silently slipping inside the energy field is perimeter.
Then, hugging the ground, they hurried toward the edge of the building cluster.
The entire process was lightning fast.
From the energy field is gap appearing to the team escaping underground was merely two or three breaths of time.
Just as they escaped underground, that tiny gap forcibly propped open by purification power rapidly closed amid violent energy ripples, returning to its original state.
It was as if nothing had ever happened.
Underground, Mu Qingfeng fully maintained the escape technique, his forehead seeping fine sweat.
Traveling through the earth, especially in an area with dense demonic energy and widespread formations, consumed enormous spiritual energy and mental focus.
He had to precisely avoid other detection prohibitions that might exist underground, while also ensuring the correct direction.
About half a tea is time later, Mu Qingfeng controlled the escape light to slowly ascend.
When everyone felt the air again, they were already under the shadows of a tall, menacing building.
They had successfully crossed the outermost warning and entered the interior of the Shadow Snake Pavilion stronghold.
A demonic energy more than ten times richer than the periphery, almost making one suffocate, rushed toward them.
It was mixed with an indescribable soul fluctuation, full of pain and despair.
Everyone quickly concealed their forms and warily observed their surroundings.
The buildings here were mostly constructed of pitch-black huge stones, with a rough and evil style, covered with various twisted demonic runes.
The streets were empty, but the oppression permeating the air made one is heart shudder.
The jade pendant at Xiaoqi is chest had become ice-cold and biting.
That powerful demonic energy source was not far ahead.
Following his sense, he looked.
Between two tallest stone halls deeper in the building cluster, a massive valley entrance was visible.
Dense, almost materialized black demonic energy rose like smoke from a thousand houses.
At the valley entrance, the air even slightly distorted from the powerful energy.
There, was the final direction the jade pendant guided, and the core of this stronghold is demonic energy Demon Rune Valley.
Let is go there.
Liu Yun made a decisive decision.
The team, like night cats, using the shadows of buildings, silently moved toward that valley entrance.
The closer they got, the clearer that painful moan at the soul level became.
It was as if countless living beings were enduring eternal torment in the valley.
The air began to appear faint, semi-transparent twisted faces.
Those were phenomena formed by overly intense resentment and soul power condensing.
Finally, they infiltrated near the valley entrance, hiding behind a huge black stone tablet covered with demonic runes.
Carefully looking down, they took one glance, and everyone, including the most composed Liu Yun, instantly narrowed their pupils.
A chill traveled from the soles of their feet straight to their heads.
Below was a valley of immense size.
The valley floor was not earth but was smoothly carved into a massive formation covering the entire valley floor.
The formation is patterns were outlined by dark red, as if molten liquid formed from blood and some metal, like earth is blood vessels, constantly pulsing, emanating destructive energy fluctuations.
And at several key nodes of the formation those vortex-like formation eyes instead of spirit stones or magical artifacts, countless living souls struggling in agony, with twisted faces.
There were humans, there were demon beasts.
Their bodies presented semi-transparent states, tightly wrapped by dark red energy chains, unable to escape.
They silently shrieked, their wide-open mouths emitting no sound.
Only the overwhelming resentment and despair, like a substantial impact, fiercely collided with the hearts of those watching.
These imprisoned mortal souls were precisely the fuel for the Myriad Souls Devouring Spirit Formation to operate.
And this huge valley, which had already begun drawing soul power and yin evil energy, was the location of this formation is main eye.
The Shadow Snake Pavilion is madness and cruelty were displayed in full within this Demon Rune Valley.