Lin Ye slowly stepped into the secret passage, the darkness before him nearly swallowing all light, and the silence around him was suffocating.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPZKkkolNE
Each step felt like it landed on a silent abyss, and the air was filled with a strange, unsettling aura.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRN93mPGOR
Even though he circulated his demonic energy to sense his surroundings, his sharp perception could only detect faint energy fluctuations within the dense darkness.
This passage was clearly hidden with great care. Ancient runes were embedded along the walls on both sides, emitting a faint glow.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPwQAuOFgP
The light did not come from ordinary spiritual energy, but from a strange force, as if trying to convey a silent warning to Lin Ye.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYl3NUWhl4
Cautiously, he moved forward. The doubts and fear in his heart grew deeper, but he clenched his teeth and pressed on, determined to reach the end of the passage and uncover the truth hidden within.
I. The Deep Passage
The narrow, winding tunnel forced Lin Ye to move at a painstakingly slow pace, and the sense of oppression in the air grew heavier.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUeQr6N5nB
Every few steps, he could feel an evil presence creeping closer. This aura seemed to resonate with the altar energy he had sensed deep within the mine, making his heart shudder involuntarily.
"This aura... what exactly is it?" Lin Ye frowned deeply. He could clearly feel that the secret path ahead led to some unspeakable abyss, and within that abyss lay an unimaginable secret.
Even so, he did not stop. Everything he had gone through told him that only by uncovering the truth could he gain power—perhaps even find the mastermind who had killed his parents.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtyzaSqvpH
This secret passage seemed to be the key to it all.
Suddenly, at a bend in the path, Lin Ye stopped in his tracks.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOXdlSnizK
He heard faint sounds, like soft moaning.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGipea2n7zN
Following the source, he quietly approached a stone chamber on the left.
II. The Imprisoned Mine Slaves
The scene inside the stone chamber sent a jolt through Lin Ye’s heart. What he saw made him gasp.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanEwoGaMfJ
In the dim light, rows of mine slaves came into view. Each one was emaciated, eyes hollow, their faces filled with helplessness and pain.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mKwslb8XH
They looked as though they had endured endless torture and torment. Their bodies were covered in deep wounds, and on some of the injuries, the marks of having been burned by flames were still faintly visible.
What shocked Lin Ye even more was that there seemed to be no trace of life left in these slaves. It was as if their souls had been stripped away, leaving only empty shells.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDkCI064Hn
He could sense faint traces of energy within them, but even that was fading, like withering flowers.
He lowered his head, eyes falling upon a familiar figure—Old Wang.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELFPmogaYd
That once wise and resilient face was now pale as paper. His eyes were slightly open but vacant, his breath weak.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhQXkQ6KaE
Lin Ye's heart trembled, and he quickly stepped closer.
Old Wang seemed to notice something; his eyelids fluttered but did not fully open. Lin Ye called his name softly, his voice low and urgent:267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPK2BVRqMs
"Uncle Wang, are you alright?"
Old Wang finally opened his eyes slightly, a faint look of surprise flickering within them. In a hoarse voice, he said,267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpihnxsd0HN
"Lin Ye... why are you here? This... this place..."
"Are you okay? I'm getting you out of here." Lin Ye spoke softly, placing his hand on Old Wang's shoulder, trying to help him up.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzr9njkrnG9
But he quickly realized that Old Wang was extremely weak, barely able to respond.
"They... these mine slaves..." Old Wang said between labored breaths,267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSMs9YnLi0
"are tools... used by the Tianyuan Sect... for sacrificial rituals. They... they use spirit crystals to offer..."267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhJ4pzEaI4
Before he could finish, Old Wang seemed to lose strength and fell unconscious.
Lin Ye took a deep breath. The rage and pain in his heart surged like a tidal wave.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5ND1TAtaQ
The scene before him filled him with an unprecedented shock. He now realized that the dark side of the Tianyuan Sect was far more terrifying than he had imagined.
III. The Sacrificial Site
Lin Ye pressed on, his growing fury sharpening his focus.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYUJv9Vrny
As he ventured deeper, the space ahead gradually opened up.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUdaYTA7ow
Eventually, he arrived at a vast underground chamber—the very altar he had sensed within the mine.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuMICv2J27
This altar was even larger and more complex than the one he had seen before.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehlssMrQy6
It was surrounded by a ring of black runes that shimmered with eerie light, exuding a soul-trembling energy.
In the center of the altar was a massive pile of spirit crystals.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB04FhNM9AI
The surface of the crystals radiated a chilling energy wave, identical to the energy Lin Ye had felt in the mines.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IKwE2jsEU
This energy carried a dark, evil power that inspired deep fear.
Around the altar stood a group of Tianyuan Sect disciples clad in black robes.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ449LeuKRK
They stood straight, expressionless, their eyes hollow, as if conducting some sort of abnormal ritual.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUXtRaHKUw
Lin Ye could feel the overwhelming, unsettling aura of the ceremony.
He realized that this was no ordinary cultivation event—it was a forbidden, evil ritual.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyfveeyxxF
The inner sect, perhaps even the entire Tianyuan Sect, seemed to be entangled in a massive conspiracy.
IV. Closing
Lin Ye’s heart pounded wildly.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6E7lCuKLG
What he saw filled him with rage, shock, and despair.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAK9WYf9dO
Everything the Tianyuan Sect was doing far exceeded his worst expectations.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyn1osmQDxY
Those mine slaves might soon become sacrifices in this horrific ritual.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaYDFvLCJg
And Old Wang had likely long been dragged into this nightmare, just another part of their plot.
Lin Ye took a deep breath, clenched his fists tightly, and made a silent vow.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiePYmAScOi
He understood now—this altar and the spirit crystals were not cultivation resources, but pieces of the Tianyuan Sect’s deeper, sinister plan.
He had to save Old Wang.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NZlOJIdUf
He had to stop this ritual.267Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2v4uwlqbEs
He had to reveal every shadowed corner of the Tianyuan Sect.
"I won’t let you succeed," Lin Ye muttered under his breath, eyes gleaming with unwavering determination.
ns216.73.216.141da2
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