117: Thunderous Strike Repels Enemy, Fragment of Map Unraveled

The three Cultivators from Black Fiend Valley attacked with ruthless speed.

Three condensed strands of Black Fiend Devilish Qi, carrying a bone-chilling cold that corroded the Divine Soul, instantly sealed off all retreat paths for Lin Xuan and Qu Feiyan!

Other Cultivators in the marketplace retreated one after another, fearing they would be caught in the crossfire, yet no one intervened; they all watched coldly from the sidelines.

"Seeking death!"

Qu Feiyan's charming eyes were filled with malice.

She had already been restless due to the environment of the Nether Abyss, and now, being provoked, her rage was instantly ignited!

A blood lotus bloomed with a boom beneath her feet.

The enchanting demonic sound was no longer a temptation but transformed into sharp sonic blades, meeting one of the strands of Devilish Qi!

Simultaneously, she waved her jade hand, and several strands of pink peach blossom miasma moved like spirit snakes leaving their cave, entangling the other Mid-stage Golden Core Cultivator.

The miasma not only contained deadly poison but could also bewitch one's heart and mind.

Facing the strongest attack from the leader in black, Lin Xuan moved!

He didn't even draw his frost silence sword; he simply took a step forward.

Gripping his right hand into a fist, a scorching, explosive, crimson-gold Qi and blood, carrying the aura of majestic Heaven and Earth authority, soared into the sky!

On his fist, dense golden electric arcs crackled!

"Boom!"

He threw a punch straight out.

Without any fancy tricks, the pure force drew upon the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, and the air emitted a sonic boom wherever his fist wind passed!

That seemingly sinister and powerful Devilish Qi, the moment it made contact with the crimson-gold fist energy, actually reacted like it had met its nemesis, emitting "chi chi" sounds as it rapidly melted and dissipated!

The Nine Revolutions Golden Body Art's extremely Yang and extremely rigid Qi and blood, fused with his insights into the fragments of the "chapter of the blazing sun" and a trace of the true meaning of thunder, had an Innate restraint against such sinister Devilish Qi!

"What?!"

The leader in black's expression changed drastically.

He felt that his Demonic Technique was incredibly fragile in the face of the opponent's scorching Qi and blood and thunder power!

An irresistible, massive force came through the dissipating Devilish Qi, shaking his Qi and blood into turmoil, forcing him to retreat several steps!

On the other side, Qu Feiyan's demonic sound and peach blossom miasma also successfully held off the other two.

Although she couldn't win immediately, they were evenly matched.

The outcome was immediately clear!

A chorus of gasps sounded throughout the marketplace.

No one expected that this seemingly steady young man would have such formidable strength, forcing back the Late Golden Core Stage leader of Black Fiend Valley with a single punch!

The leader in black steadied himself, his single eye filled with shock and disbelief.

He stared fixedly at the golden electric arcs that hadn't completely dissipated on Lin Xuan's fist: "Extremely Yang Qi and blood... and the power of thunder?! Who exactly are you?!"

Lin Xuan stood with his hands behind his back, his breathing steady, as if he had just swatted away a fly.

He looked at the leader in black with calm eyes and said indifferently: "Who I am is not important. What is important is that this fragment of the map is mine now. Do you still want to fight for it?"

His tone was flat, yet it carried an unquestionable majesty.

The leader in black's face turned pale and then green.

He could feel that the opponent hadn't even used his full strength.

The three of them here would likely not gain any advantage and might even lose their lives.

He gritted his teeth and said fiercely: "Fine! Very well! Your Excellency has high-level methods; my Black Fiend Valley has noted this! Let's go!"

After speaking, he didn't hesitate at all, taking his two unwilling subordinates and quickly exiting the marketplace, disappearing into the gray fog.

The conflict came and went quickly.

Qu Feiyan dispersed the blood lotus and peach blossom miasma, walked to Lin Xuan's side, and said in a surprised, low voice: "Junior Brother Lin, that punch of yours... seems to have improved again?"

She could feel that Lin Xuan's control over his own power was more harmonious, and the meaning of thunder contained within that extremely Yang Qi and blood made even her feel a trace of palpitations.

Lin Xuan nodded slightly without saying much.

After the trip to the Thunder Emperor Palace and refining a trace of the power of the thunder source crystal marrow, his Nine Revolutions Golden Body Art and his understanding of thunder had indeed deepened.

"Let's leave this place first."

The two did not linger.

Amidst the complex gazes of many Cultivators, they quickly left the Abyss-side Market and found a relatively hidden cave to stay temporarily.

After setting up a simple isolation Formation, Lin Xuan finally took out the incomplete animal skin map.

"System, fully analyze this map fragment, focusing on cracking the meaning of the nether scripts and patterns on it."

【Command confirmed. Mobilizing Advanced computing power, combining with the 'nether ghost seal' and ancient underworld information stored in the database for deep analysis... Analyzing...】

A moment later, the System's feedback arrived.

【Analysis completion rate: 42%.】

【Main information is as follows:】

【1. The material of the map fragment is confirmed to be the belly skin of a 'nether weasel', and its characteristics can point the way. After injecting pure Yin spiritual power or Taiyin Power, faint light paths pointing to specific Yin Qi gathering points will appear on the blank spaces of the map fragment. (Hint: Target Su Wanqing or Wangshu can activate it)】

【2. Partially cracked the meaning of the nether scripts. Connecting them points to a dangerous place in the middle layer of the Nether Abyss called the 'Hundred Ghosts Night Walk Plank Road'. There is a suspected ancient 'Soul-Guiding Altar' at the end of the plank road.】

【3. The patterns are severely damaged, but the core symbols are strongly correlated with the concepts of 'key' and 'Seal core'. Comprehensively judging, the 'Soul-Guiding Altar' pointed to by this map fragment is very likely one of the key locations for finding or unsealing the 'nether ghost seal'.】

【Warning: The Hundred Ghosts Night Walk Plank Road has a high danger Rank. Known information indicates the presence of a large number of invisible vengeful spirits, spatial traps, and unknown weirdness. It is recommended to make full preparations.】

"Hundred Ghosts Night Walk Plank Road... Soul-Guiding Altar..."

Lin Xuan muttered to himself and told Qu Feiyan the results of the System's analysis.

After listening, Qu Feiyan's charming face also revealed a grave expression: "The middle layer of the Nether Abyss... that's a place where even Nascent Soul old monsters dare not easily set foot. And this map fragment needs Taiyin Power to activate... It seems we might have to find a way to contact Sister Su."

There was a trace of imperceptible sourness in her tone, but with the big picture at stake, she knew the priorities.

Lin Xuan nodded.

Su Wanqing's Supreme Yin Body was indeed the best candidate to activate the map fragment.

Moreover, he didn't know what was happening with the Qinglan Sect.

He took out the communication jade talisman to contact Su Wanqing, injected his Divine Thought, briefly explained his experiences after Tianshu City, the clues to the nether ghost seal, and his current needs, and asked about her situation.

After doing all this, Lin Xuan looked at the rolling gray fog outside the cave, his eyes deep.

The Guixu Cult and Black Fiend Valley were both looking for the nether ghost seal; this object must be of great importance.

They must get there first.

"Before Wanqing replies, let's meditate here and adjust our state to the best. At the same time, System, continue to scan and analyze the energy flow patterns of the outer edge of the Nether Abyss, and try to build a more accurate local model."

【Command confirmed.】

Qu Feiyan looked at Lin Xuan's focused profile, leaned gently against him, and did not speak, just accompanied him quietly.

She knew that the road ahead was destined to be more dangerous, but as long as she could stand by his side, she would have nothing to fear.

The cave temporarily returned to silence, with only the long breathing sounds of the two and the eternal, whimpering wind from the Nether Abyss outside the cave.