343: Chapter 343 Infiltration

Tian Xin's eyes welled up with tears once again. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but nothing would come out.

Just then, a sudden sound of footsteps came from outside the cultivation room. The door was pushed open, and Luo Li, Su Ning, Chu Lan, Yao Guang, and Lin Yue filed in, clearly having been waiting outside for some time.

Luo Li walked over to Tian Xin, knelt down, gently took her hand, and said, "We heard everything."

Tian Xin was startled, her face flushing slightly. She hadn't expected her secret to be heard by so many people.

Luo Li looked at her and said seriously, "Tian Xin, your business is our business. If you want revenge, we'll go with you."

Su Ning also nodded and said, "My Spatial Magic can help us infiltrate the Shadow Realm and also help us retreat."

Chu Lan said, "My Spirit Plant Array can trap enemies and provide supplies for everyone. The Time Holy Vine will also come in handy."

Yao Guang said, "I can provide healing to ensure everyone stays safe."

Lin Yue grinned and said, "Leave the fighting to me! My Rock Demon Phantom is very tough!"

Tian Xin looked at them, at each of their sincere faces, and tears burst from her eyes once more. But this time, they were tears of gratitude.

She had never imagined she would meet such a group of people—a group willing to risk their lives for her, willing to accompany her to face a Golden Core expert.

"Thank you... thank you all..." she choked out, her voice breaking into sobs.

Gao Feng waited until her emotions had calmed down a bit before speaking. "However, we can't be reckless about this. Shadow Venerable is at the second layer of the Golden Core stage and has operated in the Shadow Realm for many years; he's bound to have many subordinates. We need to gather intelligence first, figure out his movements and strength, and then formulate a detailed plan."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Over the next few days, everyone began to act separately.

Through Elder Ling Zhan's connections, Gao Feng obtained information about the Shadow Realm and Shadow Venerable from the Wuxiang Sect's intelligence network. The Shadow Realm was located in the Void Realm fifty thousand miles north of the Meteor Realm. It was a world shrouded in darkness, never seeing sunlight, with air permeated by dense Soul power. It was the lair of the Shadow Demon Clan, making it extremely dangerous for outsiders to enter.

Shadow Venerable was one of the Elders of the Shadow Demon Clan, with strength at the Early Stage of the second layer of the Golden Core. He specialized in assassination and Soul attacks. He had hundreds of Shadow Demon Clan elites under him, scattered throughout the Shadow Realm. His own movements were unpredictable, but according to intelligence, he spent most of his time in closed-door cultivation within the 'Shadow Castle' deep in the Shadow Realm.

Luo Li, through her connections with the Tianyin Pavilion, heard some rumors about Shadow Venerable. It was said that he was extremely cautious, rarely went out, and had set up numerous traps and Formations in his castle, making it impossible for outsiders to enter.

Chu Lan and Su Ning were responsible for studying the terrain and defenses of the Shadow Realm. Su Ning used Spatial Magic to deduce that there were powerful Spatial Imprisonments around the Shadow Realm, and a forced Breakthrough would be detected. From the perspective of spirit plants, Chu Lan researched how to grow special plants in the darkness for lighting and early warning.

Lin Yue was in charge of practicing battle Formations. His Rock Demon Phantom, combined with Tian Xin's Assassination Techniques—one open and one hidden—could produce unexpected effects.

Yao Guang refined a large number of healing Medicinal Pills and detoxification pills for emergencies.

Tian Xin wasn't idle either. Using her own dark Bloodline as a catalyst, she drew dozens of 'Shadow Tracking Talismans.' These Talismans could sense the aura of the same Bloodline; as long as they were within a certain range of Shadow Venerable, they would automatically heat up and point the way.

"With these Talismans, we'll be able to find Shadow Venerable's position in the Shadow Realm," Tian Xin explained. "However, they can only sense the general direction; we'll have to find the exact location ourselves."

Gao Feng took a Talisman, looked at it carefully, and said, "That's enough."

After everything was ready, everyone gathered one last time to discuss the details of their departure.

Gao Feng said, "This trip to the Shadow Realm isn't for a head-on clash, but for revenge. Our target is Shadow Venerable, not the entire Shadow Demon Clan. So, infiltrate if we can, assassinate if we can, and try not to alert too many people."

Tian Xin nodded and said, "I understand."

Luo Li said, "Su Ning and I can provide support on the periphery. If anything goes wrong, we can use music and Spatial Magic to create chaos and cover your retreat."

Chu Lan said, "I can set up some spirit plants at the entrance of the Shadow Realm. If things go south, they can be used to cover the rear."

Yao Guang said, "I'll bring enough healing Medicinal Pills to ensure that any injuries can be treated immediately."

Lin Yue grinned and said, "I'll be responsible for taking the hits. Whoever dares to hit me, I'll squash them with my Rock Demon Phantom."

Everyone was amused by his words, and the atmosphere instantly lightened up significantly.

Two days later, the seven of them left the Meteor Realm and headed north.

Su Ning used Spatial Magic to set up a small teleportation array under everyone's feet, greatly shortening the journey. Even so, by the time they reached the Void Realm where the Shadow Realm was located, more than half a day had passed.

Before them was a world shrouded in darkness.

That darkness was not an ordinary night, but a darkness so thick it had almost condensed into a physical substance. It suspended in the Void Realm like a massive black beast, its mouth wide open, waiting to devour any living creature that dared to approach.

Even with a Cultivator's vision, they could only see clearly within a hundred yards. Any deeper was complete darkness, where nothing could be seen.

The air was thick with Soul power, the unique aura of the Shadow Demon Clan. This Soul power was mixed with various negative emotions—hatred, fear, despair, malice... Just standing on the edge made one feel waves of heart palpitations.

"This is the Shadow Realm," Tian Xin said softly, a complex look flashing in her eyes.

Gao Feng looked at her and asked, "Are you ready?"

Tian Xin took a deep breath and nodded.

Each person employed their own methods as they stepped into the Shadow Realm.

Tian Xin immediately took out several Dark Concealment Talismans and distributed them. Once attached to the body, these Talismans could completely hide a person's aura, blending them into the surrounding darkness. Even for the Shadow Demon Clan, it would be difficult to detect their presence without seeing them with their own eyes.

Su Ning added a Spatial Barrier to herself just in case. Chu Lan hid several special spirit plant seeds in her sleeves, ready to activate them at any time. Luo Li held the flowing sound zither in her arms, her fingers pressed against the strings. Yao Guang gripped a jade bottle filled with Medicinal Pills. Lin Yue silently operated the Rock Demon Prison-Suppressing Array, ready to summon the Rock Demon Phantom at any moment.

Gao Feng walked at the front, gripping his vajra sword, his gaze alertly scanning the surroundings.

Tian Xin held the Shadow Tracking Talisman and walked in the middle of the group, guiding the way. The Talisman in her palm grew slightly warm, pointing toward the depths of the darkness.

"This way," she whispered.

The seven of them followed the direction indicated by the Talisman, advancing into the depths of the Shadow Realm.

Along the way, the surrounding darkness grew thicker, and the Soul power in the air became stronger. That Soul power whispered in their ears, trying to corrode their minds. But the group was well-prepared; Luo Li occasionally played a few notes of the Pure Heart Melody, dispersing all those distracting thoughts.

After traveling dozens of miles, a faint sound of footsteps suddenly came from ahead.

Everyone instantly became alert and hid themselves. Tian Xin activated the Dark Concealment Talismans to completely mask everyone's aura.

A moment later, a squad of Shadow Demon Clan soldiers emerged from the darkness.

These soldiers were slender with pale faces, surrounded by a faint black mist. They held pitch-black daggers and moved with light steps, making almost no sound. Their blood-red eyes flickered in the dark, scanning everything around them.

There were eight soldiers in total, all with strength around the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment.

They patrolled along a fixed route, maintaining a set distance from each other. Their Formation was loose but not chaotic, clearly well-trained.

Gao Feng did not rush to act. He made a gesture, signaling everyone to wait.

The squad of soldiers passed less than ten yards from where they were hiding, completely failing to notice anything unusual. They gradually moved away and disappeared into the darkness.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and continued forward.

But they hadn't gone far before they encountered a second patrol squad.

This time, the group decided to take action.

Tian Xin was the first to strike. Covered by the Dark Concealment Talisman, she silently crept behind the last soldier in the squad. Before the soldier could react, a dark figure covered his mouth and nose, dragging him into the darkness.

At the same time, Su Ning formed hand seals, and a Spatial Barrier instantly took shape around the patrol, completely isolating the eight soldiers from the outside world! The soldiers discovered to their horror that they could not transmit any messages, nor could they escape!

Luo Li plucked the zither strings, and an invisible sound wave spread out, suppressing the soldiers' Soul power and dulling their reactions.

Chu Lan waved her hand and scattered several seeds. The moment they hit the ground, they took root and sprouted, turning into countless vines that tightly entangled the soldiers' legs!

Lin Yue summoned the Rock Demon Phantom; the massive stone giant blocked the soldiers' path, cutting off their retreat!

The soldiers were terrified, struggling desperately to cast Spells and fight back. But their movements were too slow and too sluggish; they simply couldn't make it in time!

Gao Feng made his move.

He turned into a golden streak of light, rushing into the soldiers. The vajra sword in his hand transformed into streaks of sword light; with every strike, a soldier fell!

One strike, two strikes, three strikes...

In less than ten breaths, all eight soldiers were dead, none escaping!

"Cleaned up," Gao Feng said, sheathing his sword and looking at the others.

Su Ning withdrew the Spatial Barrier, and the soldiers' corpses fell from mid-air. Chu Lan activated several spirit-devouring vines, which absorbed all the dark energy from the bodies, leaving not a trace behind.

The group continued their advance.

Along the way, they encountered seven or eight more patrol squads, resolving each in the same manner. Tian Xin's Dark Concealment Talismans allowed the group to come and go like ghosts, Su Ning's Spatial Barriers isolated all noise, Luo Li's musical suppression dulled the enemies' reactions, Chu Lan's spirit plants trapped the enemies to prevent escape, Lin Yue's Rock Demon Phantom covered the rear to prevent accidents, Yao Guang's healing was ready for rescue at any time, and Gao Feng's sword was responsible for the final harvest.

The seven of them coordinated perfectly, like a precisely functioning machine, silently eliminating every group of enemies they encountered.