The genius who counterattacked the mainland

Although the crisis in the alien space has subsided, Xu Tiancai and others returned to the alliance camp and before they had time to rest properly, a thick haze quietly enveloped them again.

Outside the camp, the once peaceful and tranquil forest had recently become eerily silent, as if cursed by some evil spirit. The lush branches no longer rustled in the wind, the birds were silent, and even the presence of insects and ants was hard to find. A thick, inky mist, as if alive, snaked its way out from the depths of the forest, tangling around the camp fence in strands, as if testing and spying. The mist was chilling, and wherever it passed, flowers and plants withered and withered, leaving the ground covered in frost. It was as if a realm of death and silence was relentlessly encroaching on the vibrant camp.

Xu Tiancai got up early in the morning to practice swordplay. Just as he reached the edge of the camp, he felt a chill on his neck. He looked up and saw a dark shadow flickering in the thick fog. It looked like a ghost and was so fast that only its afterimage remained. When he wanted to chase it, the shadow had already disappeared into the mist, leaving only a string of creepy shrill laughs echoing in his ears, which seemed to be mocking and threatening.

"There might be trouble at camp, everyone, be alert!" Xu Tiancai hurried back to the camp and gathered everyone, his expression solemn. Ah Gang gripped his battle axe, his muscles tense. "I knew this peace wouldn't last long. Those scoundrels in the shadows must be causing trouble again!" His words were filled with anger and fighting spirit. Lin frowned slightly, her staff glowing faintly as she tried to use wind to dispel the evil fog, but found the power was like a drop in the ocean. The fog only dissipated briefly before surging back again.

The Ice Princess stood aside, her ice-blue eyes gazing into the distance, "This aura is somewhat similar to the remnant of the demon god, but it is more obscure and unpredictable. I'm afraid that an evil creature of the same origin is at work." Su Yao gently stroked the guqin, and the sound of the guqin trembled slightly. She tried to use sound waves to detect danger, but as soon as the sound waves entered the fog, they seemed to be swallowed up and there was no response.

After some discussion, the group decided to delve into the forest to investigate the source. Stepping into the fog, their vision was obstructed for only a few feet. All around them was a silence broken only by the sounds of breathing and footsteps. Suddenly, the ground shook, the mud churned, and several dark purple vines burst forth from the earth, emitting a pungent, fishy smell and lashing at the group like long whips. Ah Gang roared, swirling his battle axe and slashing. His golden fighting spirit collided with the vines, splashing a sticky sap that resembled rancid blood. Lin controlled her wind blade to cut, only to see the vines instantly regenerate from the broken part, growing even thicker and more ferocious.

After struggling to resist the vines, they reached the heart of the forest, where an ancient ruin suddenly emerged. Its gate was half-closed, a faint light shone through the crack, like a trapped soul fire, struggling and twisting. The door was engraved with runes, twisting like evil ghosts, emitting a corrupted magic power, causing the surrounding mist to surge wildly, like a demonic cave with its mouth gaping, ready to devour everything.

Xu Tiancai leaned in to examine the rune. As soon as he felt a whiff of its aura, visions flashed through his mind. It felt like an ancient battlefield, where demons raged, countless lives were decimated, and screams and howls shook his soul. He steeled his composure, "This ruins must hold secrets, perhaps related to the current disaster. Let's go in, but proceed with caution." Everyone nodded, and with trepidation, they pushed open the door and stepped into this unknown, mysterious place shrouded in deadly danger.

The space within the doorway was dark and eerie, the walls flickering with an eerie blue light, illuminating a series of murals: figures in black robes offering their souls to the demon god in exchange for forbidden power. The demon god's figure in the painting bore some resemblance to the remnant he had encountered before, though even more sinister and complete. Countless lives were then devoured by darkness, leaving only a desolate land. The Ice Princess shuddered. "This... is a dark sacrifice? Could someone be attempting to recreate the demon god's power?"

Continuing deeper, the stone slabs on the ground occasionally triggered traps, sending spikes and hidden arrows raining down. Everyone used Dou Qi to block the attacks, or used wind to deflect them. They reached a large hall, where a black crystal ball hovered in the center. A thick dark shadow seemed to be sealed within, charging at the prison with bared fangs and claws, emitting a dull roar that shook the air with every sound. Inside the hall, a stone platform was filled with decaying ancient books. Upon turning the pages, magical patterns flickered, recording unholy methods to awaken demons and control the forces of darkness. The words seemed alive, twisting and darting into the viewer's eyes, bewitching them.

Xu Tiancai attempted to shatter the crystal ball with his Star Sword, but the moment he approached, he was pulled by a powerful suction force, his body hurled forward uncontrollably. The sword's light was suppressed by darkness, dimming and fading. Seeing this, Ah Gang leaped forward, grabbed Xu Tiancai by the waist, and yanked him back, his feet plowing deep furrows in the ground. Lin and the Ice Princess joined forces, unleashing wind blades and icicles at the crystal ball, weakening its suction. Su Yao played the soothing melody of the qin, calming the restless dark forces.

After a hard fight, the suction weakened slightly, but the dark shadow within the crystal ball grew increasingly violent. Stones on the temple's roof crumbled, the ground cracked, and the ruins seemed poised to collapse. At this moment, a mysterious old man emerged. He waved his staff, and a curtain of light shielded everyone. "This place is dangerous. Do not act rashly. This is part of the Dark Pope's conspiracy. He wants to use the ruins to unlock the full power of the ancient demon god. We must find a way to purify him!" With these words, the old man formed hand seals, and ancient runes floated from his palms, forming a protective shield around the crystal ball, delaying the dark shadow from breaking the seal.

Everyone followed the old man to find a stone platform in the corner of the ruins. The groove on the platform matched the hilt of Xu Tiancai's Star Sword. He embedded the sword into the stone platform, and the light shone brightly, illuminating the hidden chapters in the ancient books. It recorded the method of using spiritual objects of heaven and earth and pure soul power to balance the power of the devil. It was necessary to find Lingxi grass, Bingxin jade, Yanhun crystal and other things, and refine them with a special magic circle to purify this evil.

"Without delay, we must leave the ruins immediately, follow the map, gather the artifacts, and stop the Dark Pope's plot!" Xu Tiancai's gaze was resolute. With the elder's assistance, the group broke through the dense fog and emerged from the forest, embarking on a perilous treasure hunt that hinged on the fate of the world. Along the way, they faced constant threats of prying eyes from the shadows, and mysterious assassins attacked them from time to time, casting dark magic and unleashing deadly poison. Fighting as they advanced, they raced towards the artifact's location, their figures gradually receding into the wilderness. The road ahead was uncertain, and life and death hung in the balance.