324: If you didn't know better, you'd think it was background music.

Following Chen Nian as he strolled forward.

The crowd behind him followed closely.

The ground beneath their feet still retained the glassy texture left behind by the scorching flames.

A faint smell of charring lingered in the air.

But as they continued deeper into the Soul Burial Valley, the purified sense of freshness gradually disappeared.

Replacing it was a deeper, more condensed sense of darkness and malice.

The blood clouds overhead hung lower and heavier, seeming as if they might drip viscous blood rain at any moment.

The gravity and sense of direction of the entire space also became more chaotic.

"Be careful, everyone, the space is becoming increasingly unstable!" Captain Wang Zhen reminded them in a deep voice, the Psionic Detector in his hand emitting a piercing alarm.

Fairy Ling Shuang also furrowed her delicate brows, her Protective Sword Qi automatically circulating, isolating the blood mist that attempted to infiltrate:

"The concentration of resentment has increased by at least threefold, and it's purer... as if deliberately refined by some kind of power."

Sword Without Trace tightly gripped the Ancient Sword in his hand, his Sword Intent poised: "The energy fluctuations ahead are extremely violent, and... filled with the scent of resentment!"

Old Daoist Zhang Mingyuan performed calculations with his fingers, his expression growing graver: "The geomancy here has completely transformed into the 'Nine Netherworld Absolute Malice.' Every step is a killing trap; gentlemen, you must be careful not to take a single wrong step!"

However, Chen Nian, walking at the front, seemed completely oblivious to the changes in the surrounding environment.

He even had the leisure to observe the twisted human faces carved into the rock walls, occasionally nodding as if evaluating their artistic merit.

"The sculpting level here is a bit better than outside; at least the expressions are richer."

Chen Nian commented softly, his tone as casual as if he were wandering through a slightly frivolous art exhibition.

Everyone: "..."

Just at this moment—

"Buzz—!!!"

Dozens of dark purple light points suddenly lit up in the passage ahead!

Immediately afterward, those light points violently expanded and stretched.

Transforming into semi-transparent barriers constructed purely of curse energy!

Almost at the same time!

"Roar—!!!"

"For the glory of the Lord!"

"Let my broken body transform into an eternal curse!"

Roars, screams, and frantic chanting echoed from all directions!

Dozens of Abyssal Demons appeared, blocking their path!

They varied in form, but their eyes all burned with a hysterical, almost self-destructive light of madness.

They no longer cared about formations or tactics, acting simply like martyrs.

Shouting and screaming, using their bodies, their claws, and every bit of Evil Energy they could muster.

They formed walls of flesh and energy, sworn to block the path forward until death.

"ants! This road is closed!"

"If you dare to trespass here, you will all die!"

"The Abyss is Eternal! Kill—!!!"

The fanatical shouts converged into a heart-stopping sound wave, mixed with overwhelming Evil Energy.

It pressed down upon Chen Nian and his group!

That Aura even carried a sense of tragedy and ferocity.

Captain Wang Zhen, Fairy Ling Shuang, Sword Without Trace, and the others, their expressions instantly tensed.

Almost reflexively, they once again activated their Spiritual Power, and the light of their Magic Treasures shone brightly.

Facing such a resolute multitude of enemies.

Even knowing Chen Nian was leading the way.

Their instincts as warriors still kept them ready to plunge into bloody battle at any moment.

However, their nervousness hadn't even fully surged—

Chen Nian, who was ahead, simply flicked his finger casually toward the surging horde of Demonic Evils.

"Whoosh—!"

A pale green beam condensed to the extreme—the Nether Shock—shot out from his hand.

The beam was small at first, but the moment it left his hand, it suddenly expanded and divided.

It instantly transformed into dozens of streams of green light!

Like a swarm of precisely guided death bees, it rapidly penetrated the most densely packed area of the Demonic Evils.

Immediately following—

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The continuous explosions were deafening.

Green lights continuously bloomed within the horde of Demonic Evils.

Any Demonic Evil touched by the light, whether the roaring Ferocious Beast Type in the front row or the spell-chanting Mage Type in the back.

Their bodies were instantly blasted to smithereens, not even a trace of residue remaining.

With just a single flick of his finger.

That massive, death-charging torrent of Demonic Evils was forcibly erased.

[Ding! Killed a Sixth-Tier Demonic Evil, gained 22,891 points!]

[Ding! Killed a Sixth-Tier Demonic Evil, gained 24,117 points!]

[Ding! Killed a Seventh-Tier Demon, gained 36,891 points!]

...The System's broadcast flowed through Chen Nian's mind like running water.

Chen Nian didn't even glance at the wreckage, acting as if he had merely flicked away a bothersome insect.

He did not stop his steps, walking straight ahead without saying a single word.

Everyone: "..."

The breath they had just drawn was stuck halfway, lodged in their chests.

The Battle Intent they had fostered and the Spell Arts they had prepared were all frozen in place.

Watching Chen Nian casually walk through the dissipating Annihilation Energy Dust.

They exchanged glances, and in the end, they could only put away their stances in shock, mixed with a degree of numbness, and quickly follow.

The rest of the journey was also exceptionally bizarre.

Along the way, Demonic Evils continuously lunged out from the shadows, launching suicidal attacks.

Various malicious and strange Curse Spells, Corrosive Energy Spheres, and Shadow Tentacles attacked from every tricky angle like a sudden storm.

Those Demonic Evils had blood-red eyes, their faces filled with madness and resolve.

Shouting slogans such as "For the Lord!", "The Abyss is Eternal!", and "Blasphemers die!"

Charging forward fearlessly.

And then... there was no 'then' to speak of.

Chen Nian's method of handling these obstructing enemies was outrageously simple.

Sometimes, he simply held his fingers together like a sword and swiped them casually.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh—!!!!!!!!"

Hundreds and thousands of condensed Blood-colored Silk Threads appeared out of thin air.

Sweeping past like a living Death Storm.

Instantly slicing the lunging Demonic Evils into uniform pieces, splattering organs and blood across the ground.

Sometimes, he simply raised his hand and pressed down.

"Rumble rumble rumble—!"

A bolt of purple Heavenly Thunder struck down precisely.

Blasting those Demonic Evils, along with their hiding places, into flying ash.

Lightning snakes crawled, and the air filled with the smell of ozone and charring.

Sometimes, groups of Demonic Evils attempted to cast spells together, condensing powerful Evil Energy Shields or Destruction Light Waves.

Chen Nian didn't even bother looking, simply spreading his five fingers.

His palm instantly unleashed a low, yet supremely majestic, Dragon Roar.

"Roar—!!!!!"

Invisible sound waves mixed with Mental Shock erupted ferociously.

The Demonic Evils' spellcasting was instantly interrupted, and they cried out miserably, clutching their heads.

Immediately afterward, their bodies burst open as if struck by an invisible giant hammer, their Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering.

Sometimes, some Demonic Evils tried to release large-scale poison mist or corrosive energy.

Chen Nian merely flipped his palm, and the dark red Heaven-Burning Flame roared forth.

Like a Taotie Colossal Beast, it incinerated all the poison mist and Evil Energy, along with the casters themselves, purifying everything.

Furthermore, facing certain Giant Demonic Evils that were thick-skinned and seemingly astonishingly defensive.

Chen Nian didn't even bother using skills.

He simply threw out a straightforward punch, or casually delivered a kick.

That seemingly understated attack contained a terrifying, immense force capable of Collapsing Mountains and Splitting Seas.

The struck Demonic Evils, whether covered in thick Bone Armor or composed of energy.

Without exception, they all instantly exploded into a mist of blood, dying completely, as if struck by a high-speed Starship!

[Ding! Killed a Fifth-Rank Demonic Evil, gained 15,164 points!]

[Ding! Killed a Fifth-Rank Demonic Evil, gained 19,198 points!]

[Ding! Killed a Sixth-Tier Demonic Evil, gained 24,117 points!]

[Ding! Killed a Sixth-Tier Demonic Evil, gained 28,891 points!]

[Ding! Killed a Seventh-Tier Demon, gained 35,552 points!]

...The System's notification sounds in Chen Nian's mind had practically merged into Background Music.

The numbers on the points counter jumped frantically at an unprecedented speed.