284: remains

The shadows of the Dead Silence Mountain Range, like congealed ink, heavily pressed upon the hearts of every Demon General.

The lead-grey sky hung low, seemingly within reach, and the air, permeated with the scent of decay and rust, mixed with a deeper, dead silent chill originating from the mountain range itself, more unsettling than the bloody Evil Qi from outside.

Xiao Zhuo, leading over seventy Black Peak Demon Generals, moved like blades merging into the shadows, stealthily advancing along a wide, dry riverbed towards the heart of the mountain range.

On both sides of the riverbed were steep, knife-cut, dark red rock walls, covered with enormous claw marks and weapon slashes, silently narrating ancient, brutal events.

"Leader, there are strong spatial fluctuation remnants ahead, and also... resentment (resentment) remnants," a Demon General skilled in perception whispered, pointing to a large, inwardly concave rock wall at the end of the riverbed.

Xiao Zhuo focused his gaze, seeing that the rock wall was not naturally formed; its edges were smooth, bearing traces of being torn apart by immense force, like a gateway violently breached.

Beyond the gateway, the outline of a largely collapsed hall was vaguely visible, with massive broken stone pillars slanted into the ground, and tattered murals flickering in the gloom, depicting a glory long since vanished.

"A ruin!" came several suppressed gasps from the team.

Ancient ruins often implied potential treasures or Legacy.

"Be careful," Xiao Zhuo's voice was low, and an invisible World Power silently permeated, enveloping the entire team, forming a barrier against external Evil Qi and potential mental assaults. "The space here is unstable, and residual Restrictions might be triggered. Five people per group, cover each other in shifts, and investigate the interior!"

The team quickly changed formation and cautiously stepped into the collapsed hall.

A wave of malevolent Qi, a hundred times colder and stickier than outside, rushed forth, as if countless vengeful spirits were wailing mournfully in their ears, attempting to bore into their Sea of Consciousness.

If not for Xiao Zhuo's World Power providing isolation, some Demon Generals with weaker cultivation might have instantly lost control of their minds.

"Hoo... gurgle..." Deep within the hall, it was not as empty as expected, but piled high with skeletons!

These skeletons varied in form; some were humanoid, some beast-like, and there were even strange races with bone wings. They did not move like the Corpse Soldiers on the plains, but in the depths of each skeleton's eye sockets, a faint yet exceptionally condensed ethereal blue Soul fire burned, like scattered ghost flames, illuminating the dim hall with an eerie glow.

"These are... the remains of ancient powerhouses! Their lingering Souls and obsessions have been nourished by the Evil Qi here, forming 'Vengeful Spirit Bones'!" an experienced Old Demon General said with a hint of fear. "Don't disturb them! Individually, they might not be strong, but their resentments are interconnected; once they erupt, they are enough to assault the Divine Soul and trigger residual Restrictions!"

Just then, the General's plaque in Xiao Zhuo's hand vibrated slightly, and Ban Xuanji's urgent voice came through: "Primal Beginning! My unit has discovered a broken giant Sword Peak to the southeast! The peak body retains terrifying Sword Intent, possibly with a Saint-Grade sword buried deep within! But powerful Death Qi lurks beneath the peak, at least a top-tier Corpse General comparable to a Half-step Demon Lord! We've been targeted and currently cannot approach!"

A Saint-Grade sword! Even a fragment would be invaluable!

Xiao Zhuo's eyes narrowed: "Big Brother Ban, hold your ground, do not act rashly! I've found an ancient hall ruin here, and the situation is also unclear. Maintain constant contact, and if there's any unusual activity, call for help immediately!"

Almost as Xiao Zhuo ended his call, another cold Divine Thought fluctuation came from the General's plaque in his hand, from Hei Fang Tianyu: "Leader Primal Beginning, my unit has discovered a peculiar Evil Spring deep within the northwestern canyon. The spring eye seems to have spatial fluctuations, possibly leading to a lower-level Secret Realm. No immediate danger, currently attempting to investigate."

Hei Fang Tianyu's tone was calm and unperturbed, but the unease in Xiao Zhuo's heart suddenly intensified.

No danger? In this dead land?

He was almost certain that Hei Fang Tianyu was hiding something!

The so-called "peculiar Evil Spring" and "spatial fluctuations" were very likely the ambush location he had planned for him!

Northwest, deep within the gloomy canyon.

Hei Fang Tianyu closed the token communication, a cold arc forming at the corner of his mouth.

He stood beside a spring eye where viscous, ink-like Evil Qi surged, the dense Death Qi almost solidifying into black mist.

At the center of the spring eye, faint spatial ripples indeed undulated, emanating an ancient, heart-pounding aura.

"Fourth Uncle, will Primal Beginning come?" Hei Fang Jin's face was still pale; the after-effects of his forced Breakthrough left his Qi slightly unstable, but the hatred in his eyes burned like a fierce flame.

"No matter how cunning he is, the allure of this Evil Qi spring eye, coupled with my deliberate mention of spatial fluctuations, is enough to distract him, and he might even come to investigate personally," Hei Fang Tianyu chuckled sinisterly, holding a palm-sized, entirely black ancient ding (tripod) in his hand, its surface inscribed with countless profound runes.

The ding's body emitted a faint aura of suppressing all heavens and imprisoning all realms—it was precisely the secret treasure, the world-controlling tripod, brought from the Black Demon Clan Chief!

"The Evil Qi here is extremely dense, naturally suppressing Divine Sense perception. This 'Soul-Devouring Evil Spring' can even temporarily interfere with token communications," Hei Fang Tianyu surveyed the jagged, grotesque rocks and pervasive black mist around them, like a monstrous maw waiting to devour. "I have already set up the 'Seven Absolutes Space-Locking Array.' Although it cannot completely isolate his zizai world, it is enough to suppress the spatial fluctuations to the minimum when the world-controlling tripod exerts its power, delaying Ban Xuanji's detection and rescue time!"

His gaze swept over the six Black Demon Clan Demon Generals beside him, whose Qi was condensed and whose eyes were fierce, finally resting on Hei Fang Jin: "Jin'er, compose yourself, suppress your injuries. Once Primal Beginning steps into this valley, I will unleash the world-controlling tripod! Only three breaths! Within three breaths, his World Origin will be suppressed, reverting to its original form! At that time, you seven will join forces to execute the 'Black Demon God-Slaying Array,' ensuring a single, fatal strike! Do not give him any chance to breathe!"

"Understood!" the seven shouted in unison, their killing intent palpable.

Seven powerful streams of Devilish Qi subtly intertwined and connected within the Evil mist, forming an invisible killing formation, quietly awaiting the arrival of their prey.

Hei Fang Jin took a deep breath of the thick Evil Qi, forcibly suppressing the surging Qi and blood. His fingers gripped the hilt of the Saint-Grade demonic blade at his waist, his eyes now filled only with bone-deep malevolence: "Primal Beginning... this place will be your burial ground! I will use your blood to wash away my humiliation!"

Inside the canyon, there was dead silence, only the gurgling sound of the Evil Spring bubbling, like a death countdown.

The thick, impenetrable Evil mist churned, perfectly swallowing and concealing all killing intent and schemes, awaiting the eruption of that fatal moment.

Meanwhile, deep within the collapsed hall, Xiao Zhuo's gaze penetrated the scattered ethereal blue Soul fires, landing on a figure seated on a giant skeletal throne at the far end of the hall.

That figure was not a skeleton, but an almost complete mummified corpse! Dressed in tattered dark golden immortal armor, its head hung low, its hands propped up a broken greatsword plunged before it.

Though devoid of life, it exuded a heavy pressure that made one's Soul tremble, as if it were sleeping, or perhaps guarding something.

At the chest of the mummified corpse, a faint yet exceptionally pure golden light stubbornly shone through the cracks in the broken armor.

Xiao Zhuo's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason.

That golden light... caused a subtle resonance within his zizai world! This was no ordinary remains!

At the same time, on Ban Xuanji's side, the Corpse Evil Qi emanating from beneath the Sword Peak grew thicker and thicker, like an awakening primordial beast, locking onto their intruding team.

Ban Xuanji gripped the crystal long spear in his hand, cold sweat beading on his forehead, his eyes fixed on the deep, abyssal cave in the middle of the Sword Peak.

Three teams, three paths, under the shadows of the Dead Silence Mountain Range, each advancing towards unknown dangers and opportunities.