34: Tracing the Demonic Runes, a Terrifying Journey Through the Passage

The mind-bewitching Demonic Sound was like maggots clinging to bone, constantly assaulting the mental defenses of the four people. The light of the pure heart purifying talisman flickered violently under the sharp sound waves, seeming ready to shatter at any moment. The Demon Palace gate was tightly shut, and Demonic Creatures surrounded them; forcing a Breakthrough would be suicidal.

"We must leave here immediately!" Lin Xuan made a decisive move, controlling the white bone boat to prepare for retreat.

"Wait!" Su Wanqing suddenly spoke, her cold eyes fixed on the collapsed ruins near the Demon Palace gate. Amidst the stained and Demonic Rune-covered wreckage, she keenly sensed an extremely faint energy trace that differed from the circulating Devilish Qi nearby. "There... seems to be some kind of hidden pattern, different from the demonic runes of the main Demon Palace structure."

Hearing this, Lin Xuan's Divine Sense immediately focused on the area. Sure enough, in the direction Su Wanqing pointed, deep within the gaps formed by several massive black foundation stones, some strange, ancient, and dim patterns were faintly visible, subtly radiating a sense of order. These patterns were covered by heavy Demonic Grime; had Su Wanqing not been extremely sensitive to energy signatures, they would have been almost undetectable.

"It's an ancient Formation pattern!" Qu Feiyan also saw the clue, a hint of surprise flashing in her charming eyes. "Judging by its direction, it seems to point deep into the ruins... Is there another entrance?"

This discovery lifted everyone's spirits. Lin Xuan no longer hesitated, immediately controlling the white bone boat to cautiously approach the area, using the debris of the ruins for cover.

The closer they got, the weaker the influence of the mind-bewitching Demonic Sound seemed to become, as if the Devilish Qi in that area was different from elsewhere. The white bone boat silently slid into the shadows formed by the massive foundation stones.

Lin Xuan jumped off the white bone boat and approached the hidden pattern. He reached out and brushed away the heavy Demonic Grime, revealing a clearer pattern underneath. The pattern twisted and turned, forming a broken symbol resembling a keyhole, within which faintly remained a trace of almost dissipated spatial fluctuation.

"This is a discarded or hidden Teleportation Formation Pattern, but its energy has long been depleted, and... it seems to require a specific 'key' to activate." Lin Xuan concluded after careful sensing, his brows slightly furrowed. Without energy or a key, this pattern was useless.

"A key..." Gongsun Yu muttered softly, her gaze involuntarily falling upon the immortal abode pivot token mark on Lin Xuan's palm. This item always seemed to be related to these ancient ruins.

Lin Xuan's heart stirred as well. He tried injecting a trace of Spiritual Energy into the mark on his palm while simultaneously moving it closer to the center of the keyhole-shaped pattern.

The moment the immortal abode pivot token drew near, an anomaly occurred!

The originally dim pattern suddenly rippled with faint spatial waves, like water disturbed by a thrown stone! Although there was still no energy support and teleportation could not be initiated, this reaction undoubtedly confirmed the connection between the immortal abode pivot token and this pattern!

"It reacted!" Gongsun Yu exclaimed in surprise.

"It seems the 'key' really is on you." Qu Feiyan looked at Lin Xuan, her charming eyes sparkling with wonder.

However, the problem remained unsolved. The pattern lacked energy, like a machine without fuel; even with the key, it couldn't be activated.

Just as everyone was contemplating how to replenish the pattern's energy, Lin Xuan's gaze swept over the surroundings and suddenly fixed on the thick, black Demonic Grime covering the pattern beneath their feet. A bolder, even crazy, idea flashed through his mind.

This Demonic Grime was essentially a mixture of highly condensed Devilish Qi and dust, containing immense Dark Energy. Ordinary Cultivators avoided it, let alone utilizing it. But he was different; he possessed the Nine Revolutions Golden Body Art, a supreme Yang Cultivation Technique, along with Golden Core cultivation and Immortal Abode Authority. Perhaps... he could try using himself as a bridge to guide and convert the energy within this Demonic Grime to forcefully activate the pattern?

This method was extremely perilous, equivalent to inviting a wolf into the house. If control was lost, he would suffer a backlash from the Devilish Qi and fall into the Demonic Path. But currently, there seemed to be no better option. The time limit for the pure heart purifying talisman was ticking away.

"I have a method that might be worth a try, but I need you Three women to act as Protectors for me, and absolutely ensure I am not disturbed!" Lin Xuan looked solemnly at the Three women and explained his idea.

Hearing this, intense emotional fluctuation appeared on Su Wanqing's cold face for the first time. She grabbed Lin Xuan's arm and anxiously said, "It's too dangerous! Devilish Qi corrosion is no small matter!"

Qu Feiyan also dropped her charming demeanor and said solemnly, "Junior Martial Brother, have you thought this through? A slight mistake with this method, and you'll be doomed forever!"

Gongsun Yu was so anxious she was almost crying: "Big Brother Lin, let's think of another way!"

Lin Xuan felt warmth in his heart looking at their worried expressions, but his gaze grew firmer: "This is the only chance we currently have to infiltrate the Demon Palace. Trust me, I know what I'm doing."

He said no more, immediately sitting cross-legged before the pattern, his hands lightly pressing on the rune-covered Demonic Grime. He first fully circulated the Nine Revolutions Golden Body Art; the supreme Yang Qi and blood surged within his body, forming a solid internal defense. Afterward, he cautiously activated the immortal abode pivot token's authority, attempting to establish a deeper connection with the ground beneath his feet and the pattern.

Having completed these preparations, he fiercely gritted his teeth and separated an extremely minute wisp of Golden Core spiritual energy, like a probe, stabbing it into the thick Demonic Grime!

"Buzz—!"

It was as if he had kicked a hornet's nest! The dormant Demonic Grime was instantly agitated, and vast, filthy Devilish Qi surged madly toward Lin Xuan's body, following that wisp of spiritual energy as if it had found an outlet!

Intense pain! Coldness! Corrosion! All sorts of negative sensations instantly struck! Lin Xuan's body shook violently, his face instantly turning ashen, and black demonic runes even faintly appeared on his skin!

"Lin Xuan!"

"Junior Martial Brother!"

The Three women cried out in alarm, their hearts in their throats.

Su Wanqing did not hesitate, immediately transferring pure Taiyin Power into Lin Xuan's body to help him stabilize his mind and resist the Devilish Qi's impact on his Divine Soul. Qu Feiyan also swiftly acted, her pink Charming Essence Power, though not skilled at directly confronting Devilish Qi, cleverly wrapped around the invading Devilish Qi, disrupting its flow and slowing its corrosive speed. Gongsun Yu, meanwhile, fully activated the thunder light silver ring, setting up a layer of lightning net around the four of them, vigilantly guarding against Demonic Creatures that might be attracted by the energy fluctuations.

Lin Xuan desperately maintained the last trace of clarity in his Spiritual Platform, maneuvering like a small boat amidst raging waves. He guided the violent Devilish Qi, not absorbing it into himself, but using it as fuel to forcefully inject it into the incomplete pattern below!

This was an extremely delicate and dangerous process, requiring extraordinary control over energy. Only with his Golden Core Spiritual Sense, the assistance of the immortal abode pivot token, and the Nine Revolutions Golden Body Art's absolute control over his Physical Body, did he dare attempt such a risky move.

Under the infusion of vast energy, the pattern began to emit an unbearable hum. The ancient patterns lit up one by one, emitting unstable, dark red light. The spatial fluctuation grew increasingly intense!

"It's almost done!" Lin Xuan roared, a trickle of black blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, clearly suffering immense pressure.

Finally, when the last pattern was filled with energy, the entire Array Diagram burst forth with dazzling blood-red light! A dark, unstable opening, just wide enough for one person to pass through, suddenly appeared above the pattern!

"The passage is open! Get in quickly!" Lin Xuan endured the surging Devilish Qi inside him and the burning pain in his Meridians, shouting hoarsely.

Seeing this, Su Wanqing knew there was no time to lose. She pulled up the slightly stunned Gongsun Yu and was the first to plunge into the dark opening. Qu Feiyan also did not hesitate, flashing in like a red shadow.

Lin Xuan took one last look at the agitated Demonic Creatures around them and the Demon Palace gate from which the mind-bewitching Demonic Sound continuously emanated. He abruptly withdrew his Spiritual Energy, and his figure transformed into a stream of gold and black light, shooting into the opening!

The moment he entered, the Teleportation Opening, deprived of energy support, violently twisted and then slammed shut! The violent Devilish Qi that had been drawn out lost its target and exploded on the spot, turning the ruins into a mess and attracting the roars of more Demonic Creatures.

Lin Xuan and the four of them had vanished from the spot, having stepped into a Secret Passage leading into the interior of the Demon Palace.

The passage was pitch black, filled with an impossibly thick mix of Devilish Qi and dust. The steps underfoot were wet and sticky, extending continuously downwards, as if leading to the depths of Hell.

The moment he landed, Lin Xuan could no longer hold on. He violently spat out a mouthful of Filthy Blood containing Devilish Qi. His body swayed, and his face was as pale as paper. Forcibly guiding the Devilish Qi had been too great a burden.

"Lin Xuan!"

"Junior Martial Brother!"

The Three women hastily supported him, their faces etched with worry.

Lin Xuan waved his hand, signaling that he could still hold on. He took out a "Pure Essence Pill" gifted by Daoist Shoujing, specifically used to expel Devilish Qi, swallowed it, and sat cross-legged to regulate his breathing.

"Did we... actually get in?" Gongsun Yu looked at the pitch-black darkness around them, her voice tinged with fear.

A cluster of moonlight-white cold flames jumped up on Su Wanqing's fingertip, barely illuminating the surrounding square inch of space. The passage walls were covered in slippery moss and twisted carvings, and the air was foul.

"We got in, but I'm afraid... we've only stepped from one Desperate Place into another, even more dangerous one." Qu Feiyan felt the heart-pounding, oppressive aura emanating from the depths of the passage; there was no trace of ease left on her charming face.

Lin Xuan slowly opened his eyes while regulating his breathing, gazing into the bottomless darkness. He knew the real challenge had only just begun. Where would this Secret Passage lead them inside the Demon Palace?