Just as Qingxu Temple, Mysterious Mechanism Holy Land, and Flaming Sun Sect formed a delicate standoff before the Ten Thousand Laws Palace plaza, each studying the shut palace doors, none noticed that at the edge of this small world, in a seemingly ordinary void with twisted light and shadow, unusual fluctuations were occurring.
It was in the Hundred Herb Garden area, near the edge formation barrier in a dark corner. The spiritual energy here was relatively thin, growing some unremarkable thorny spiritual plants with weak paralytic toxicity, having little value, so Xiao Qi and Mu Qingfeng hadn't paid much attention when exploring earlier.
Now, the shadow beneath these thorns began to writhe and deepen like a living thing. The air filled with an extremely thin cold demonic energy being vigorously masked by the rich life force here. Then, that shadow tore open like silk, silently parting to reveal a pitch-black hole only large enough for one person, constantly twisting and rotating.
Inside the hole wasn't a solid passage, but a strange fissure filled with chaotic spatial turbulence and pure demonic energy.
First to emerge from the hole was a foot clad in silver-scaled combat boots. Then the Silver-Faced Envoy's cold figure fully manifested. His silver mask reflected dim light, his aura seeming even more restrained than when intercepting at the basin, but that Nascent Soul stage pressure was like an abyss, held in check. His gaze swept this unfamiliar medicine garden area, a trace of imperceptible fatigue and pain flashing in his eyes.
To forcibly open this temporary passage, he had not only used a precious void-breaking treasure but also spared no expense, sacrificing over ten elite subordinates, using their flesh and soul power as offerings to barely tear open this briefly existing gap in the core palace's barrier. The price was undeniably heavy.
Immediately after, five more figures slid out like ghosts from that pitch-black hole. These five were the strongest remaining elites of Shadow Snake Pavilion's infiltration into the secret realm, apart from the Silver-Faced Envoy. Two had thick auras and fierce eyes—clearly late Golden Core cultivation. The other three had ethereal forms with concealed auras, skilled in assassination and tracking, all outstanding among mid Golden Core cultivators.
This six-person demon cultivator squad was Shadow Snake Pavilion's all-or-nothing move for this operation.
After the last person left, that pitch-black hole violently twisted several times, then dissipated like foam, as if it had never existed. The surrounding shadows also returned to normal, leaving only that wisp of demonic energy so thin it was almost undetectable slowly dissipating in the rich life force.
"Envoy, we're in!" a late Golden Core demon cultivator lowered his voice, his tone carrying excitement and lingering fear. The experience of forcibly crossing the spatial fissure wasn't pleasant.
The Silver-Faced Envoy slightly raised his hand, signaling silence. He closed his eyes, carefully sensing this world's energy, especially... that purification power he remembered keenly and craved infinitely.
After a moment, he opened his eyes, his cold gaze投向 a direction—precisely where the Ten Thousand Laws Palace was located. "Sensed it... that disgusting aura is in that direction, and... it seems there's more than one powerful spiritual energy fluctuation."
"Those righteous disciples? They arrived faster than us?" another late Golden Core demon cultivator asked in surprise.
The Silver-Faced Envoy snorted coldly: "Seems someone among them indeed mastered the normal method to enter this place. However, that's fine..." A calculating light flashed in his eyes. "The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Let them explore the path, let them fight for it. We need only wait in the shadows for the best opportunity."
He swept his gaze over his five subordinates and ordered: "Conceal all auras. Use 'Shadow Stealth' and follow. Without my command, no one makes a move! Our target is that kid with the Purification Source, and... any treasures in this core palace that could enhance our holy path's power!"
"Yes!" The five demon cultivators responded in low unison. Their forms flickered as demonic energy withdrew, seeming to merge with surrounding shadows and light, their auras becoming almost imperceptible—Shadow Snake Pavilion's secret top-tier concealment technique: Shadow Stealth.
The Silver-Faced Envoy similarly blurred, becoming an almost imperceptible faint shadow, first to drift toward the Ten Thousand Laws Palace direction. The other five followed like his shadows.
This demon cultivator squad, like venomous snakes slipping into water, used the Hundred Herb Garden's complex terrain and rich life force as cover, silently approaching the plaza. Their movements were extremely cautious, avoiding possible restriction traps in the garden, yet their speed was not slow at all.
Soon, they reached the Hundred Herb Garden's edge, hiding behind several rockeries and lush spiritual plants' shadows, from afar seeing the three confronting righteous teams on the plaza, and that tightly shut Ten Thousand Laws Palace door emanating heart-palpitating energy.
"Qingxu Temple, Mysterious Mechanism Holy Land, Flaming Sun Sect... all here," the Silver-Faced Envoy hid in shadow, his cold gaze like the most precise ruler sweeping over everyone on the plaza, finally locking firmly on the seemingly ordinary youth standing behind Mu Qingfeng in the Qingxu Temple group—Tang Xiao Qi.
He licked his somewhat dry lips, a cruel and greedy smile appearing on his face beneath the mask.
It was him! The source of that pure and disgusting purification aura was on this kid! Though his aura was currently restrained, the Silver-Faced Envoy, with his Nascent Soul stage keen perception and previous combat experience, would never mistake it.
"Wait for it, kid... and you self-righteous righteous fools..." the Silver-Faced Envoy sneered inwardly. "When you've fought to mutual destruction, or opened these palace doors, that will be when I collect the fruits!"
He signaled his subordinates to completely hide, like the most patient hunters, waiting for the moment the prey revealed a weakness.
On the plaza, Mu Qingfeng, Mu Xue, Yan Feng, and others were still bitterly pondering how to open the palace doors, completely unaware that a pair of malicious and greedy eyes had already fixed on them from the shadows—especially the youth holding the greatest secret among them. Crisis, like a gradually tightening net, quietly enveloped this seemingly peaceful plaza.