As Wang Quan and the group ventured deeper into the valley, the air grew colder, with the heavy, oppressive energy of death surrounding them. The thick gray mist hung over everything like a shroud, and the eerie silence was broken only by occasional gusts of strange, unsettling wind, which made the group shiver.
Just as they continued moving forward, the sound of intense battle erupted from somewhere up ahead. Accompanied by surges of spiritual energy and the unmistakable clash of forces, the deathly atmosphere around them was momentarily disturbed, and the mist began to scatter.
"Someone's fighting up ahead," Wang Quan said, his brow furrowing. He gripped his sword tightly, scanning the path ahead with caution.
Daoist Feng Ming raised his hand to halt the group. "Stay hidden, and let's see who it is," he ordered, his eyes narrowing as they approached the source of the commotion.
As they crept closer, the sound of battle became clearer. In the distance, several cultivators were locked in combat with a swarm of evil spirits. Spiritual energy clashed with the dark, deathly aura of the spirits, creating a storm of energy that whipped through the air. Wang Quan soon realized the identities of the cultivators—they were disciples of Yunlan Mountain, their robes unmistakable.
"Yunlan Mountain's people," Wang Quan thought, recognizing them as the team sent by Yunlan Mountain to hunt evil spirits in this valley.
The disciples of Yunlan Mountain were engaged in fierce combat with several mid-level evil spirits. Though outnumbered, they held their ground with impressive strength, led by a Foundation Establishment cultivator whose swordsmanship was precise and deadly. Each strike from his sword caused the evil spirits to disintegrate in bursts of dark energy.
Wang Quan and his group remained hidden, watching the battle unfold. Soon, the Yunlan Mountain disciples managed to dispatch the surrounding spirits, and the battlefield fell into a tense silence.
At that moment, Wang Quan noticed something behind the area where the fight had taken place—a hidden underground tunnel. The entrance to the tunnel was surrounded by dense, swirling death energy, giving it the appearance of a dark abyss leading into the unknown.
The Yunlan Mountain disciples had also spotted the tunnel. The leader of the group, the Foundation Establishment cultivator, approached the tunnel entrance cautiously, scanning the surroundings with sharp eyes. "This tunnel… It might lead to some kind of treasure," he muttered.
"An underground tunnel?" Wang Quan's thoughts raced. Given the presence of so many evil spirits, this valley must be hiding something powerful. The tunnel could very well lead to an ancient ruin or secret realm, attracting the spirits to guard it.
Daoist Feng Ming saw the tunnel as well. His eyes flickered with interest as he stepped forward, signaling for his group to reveal themselves.
The Yunlan Mountain cultivators quickly noticed Wang Quan and his group approaching. Their leader frowned, his expression cold as he addressed Feng Ming, "So, the people from Wind and Thunder Cave have shown up. It seems you're after this place too."
Daoist Feng Ming smiled calmly, clasping his hands in a friendly gesture. "No need to be hostile. Since we've both discovered this treasure trove, how about we explore it together?"
The Yunlan Mountain disciples were clearly not eager to cooperate. Their leader, a tall, stern Foundation Establishment cultivator, shot a sharp glance at Feng Ming. "This valley was found by Yunlan Mountain first, and now you scattered cultivators want a share of the spoils?" His voice carried a tone of irritation.
Feng Ming, unfazed by the hostility, smiled faintly. "Treasure belongs to those with the ability to claim it. Besides, you've just had a difficult battle with those evil spirits. You've likely expended a good deal of your strength. If something more dangerous lies within the tunnel, are you sure your group alone can handle it?"
Though his words were blunt, they struck a nerve. The Yunlan Mountain cultivators had indeed lost a significant amount of spiritual energy in the recent battle. If they encountered something more formidable in the tunnel, they might struggle to survive.
The leader of the Yunlan Mountain group clenched his jaw, his expression darkening. He glanced over at Feng Ming and Wang Quan's group, weighing his options. After a moment of tense silence, he finally relented. "Fine. For now, we'll cooperate. But remember—whatever we find inside, each person claims what they can by their own strength."
Daoist Feng Ming nodded with a smile. "Naturally. The treasures will go to whoever is worthy."
Wang Quan stood quietly by, observing the tension between the two groups. This temporary alliance was clearly fragile, and he knew that once they entered the tunnel, things could easily take a turn for the worse. With treasure at stake, Yunlan Mountain and the scattered cultivators were bound to clash eventually.
With an uneasy agreement reached, the two groups moved toward the tunnel entrance.
As they neared the entrance, Wang Quan felt an oppressive aura pushing down on him, as though something immensely powerful was waiting in the depths of the tunnel. His spiritual energy flowed steadily through his body as he remained on high alert.
Several low-level evil spirits hovered near the entrance, their ghostly forms faintly glowing with dark energy, as though guarding the tunnel. The leader of the Yunlan Mountain group snorted in disdain, raising his sword and sending a sweeping arc of energy forward. The spirits were instantly obliterated, their forms vanishing into black smoke.
"Stay alert. It's likely much more dangerous inside," Feng Ming warned, his voice low as he followed the Yunlan Mountain cultivators into the tunnel.
The tunnel stretched deep into the earth, its walls lined with ancient symbols glowing faintly with a strange, eerie light. The air inside was thick with the stench of death, and every step they took seemed to draw them closer to something dark and powerful.
Wang Quan kept his sword ready as he extended his spiritual senses, trying to detect any signs of danger. He knew this tunnel wasn't just a simple passage; it could easily hide deadly traps or even more powerful evil spirits.
The Yunlan Mountain cultivators led the way, their leader's sword glowing faintly to illuminate the path. Feng Ming and the others followed closely behind. Though they were allies for now, the tension between the two groups was palpable, and Wang Quan kept a close eye on their surroundings.
As they descended further into the tunnel, the deathly aura thickened, and Wang Quan could feel a heavy presence looming ahead. Whatever lay at the end of this tunnel, it was something dangerous—perhaps even ancient.
"What exactly is this place…" Wang Quan wondered. This tunnel seemed to be part of a forgotten ancient ruin, buried deep within the valley for countless years. If not for the appearance of the evil spirits, it might have remained hidden forever.
His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden sound—a faint, eerie whispering echoing from the depths of the tunnel. It was as if something was lurking just out of sight, waiting for them to come closer.
"Something's coming!" the Yunlan Mountain leader snapped, his expression tense as he raised his hand to halt the group. Everyone immediately stopped, their senses heightened as they prepared for whatever might be approaching.
A chilling wave of death energy surged through the tunnel, and with it came a deep, guttural growl. From the darkness ahead, a massive evil spirit slowly emerged. Its enormous form radiated an intense black light, and its spiritual body was so dense that it looked nearly solid. Its glowing red eyes fixed on the group with a malevolent glare.
"It's another high-level evil spirit!" Feng Ming called out, his voice calm but urgent as he raised his sword to strike.
Wang Quan wasted no time, summoning the full power of his Five Elements technique. His sword blazed with golden fire, the combined energy of the gold and fire elements illuminating the dark tunnel as he prepared to attack. He knew this battle would be far more dangerous than anything they had faced so far.
As the evil spirit advanced, the tunnel's oppressive atmosphere grew heavier, and an intense battle was about to erupt in the heart of the darkness.