I dominated the game from the start with cards.

Before Zi Ling could finish speaking, a suffocating sense of oppression suddenly descended. To everyone's horror, the mysterious elder who had fled had returned. He hovered in mid-air, his hands raised high, chanting incantations, and a massive black magic circle slowly unfolded beneath his feet. At the center of the circle, a blinding crimson light was gathering, radiating a chilling aura of destruction. "Not good! He's about to unleash a destructive spell!" Elder Zhang exclaimed, his face turning deathly pale. The light of the destructive spell grew stronger and stronger, the surrounding space began to distort, and the air was filled with a scorching smell. Everyone felt as if they were in a giant furnace, sensing the approaching breath of death. "Get out of the way!" Li Xuan shouted, shielding Bai Yao behind him. However, the power of the destructive spell came too quickly and too fiercely, giving them no chance to dodge. The crimson light, like a burst dam, instantly swept through the entire cave. "Ah!" A scream rang out as Mu Yang, to protect Lin Yu, resolutely stood in front of him, taking the direct hit of the spell. His body instantly turned to dust, leaving only glimmers of starlight dissipating into the air. Lin Yu witnessed this, overwhelmed with grief. He knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his face, calling out Mu Yang's name in heart-wrenching sobs. Bai Yao held Li Xuan tightly, her body trembling, her eyes filled with fear and despair. Li Xuan's expression also became extremely solemn. He clutched the bead Zi Ling had given him, feeling utterly powerless. Ling Feng's face was cold and stern, a gleaming dagger appearing in his hand as he vigilantly observed the changes around him. The aftershocks of the destructive spell continued to rage, the cave walls began to collapse, and rubble rained down. The group struggled to hold on amidst the chaos, as if they would be swallowed up by this destructive force at any moment. Old Zhang, severely injured, leaned against a boulder, his eyes filled with resentment and despair. Zi Ling floated in the air, emitting a faint glow, seemingly resisting the corrosive effects of the destructive spell. "Are we... all going to die here?" Bai Yao's voice trembled, tinged with despair. Li Xuan gritted his teeth, a resolute glint in his eyes. He couldn't give up like this; he still had an unfinished mission. He had to avenge Mu Yang's death, he had to uncover the truth behind his sect's destruction! At this critical moment, Li Xuan suddenly felt a strange power surge into his mind. His mental perception was amplified infinitely; he seemed to see the flow of the destructive spell's power, to see its hidden weak points... Li Xuan abruptly raised his head, his gaze locking onto the blood-red sphere of light at the center of the magic array. "That's it!" Li Xuan thought to himself. He took a deep breath, mobilizing all the power within him, and then... Li Xuan took a deep breath, mobilizing all the power within him, his eyes flashing with resolute light. He charged towards the center of the magic array, his figure as fast as lightning, leaving a trail of afterimages amidst the collapsing rubble and billowing dust. Ignoring the raging energy currents around him and the deafening roar in his ears, his target was singular—the blood-red sphere of light pulsating with destructive energy at the center of the magic array. He clearly sensed that the energy fluctuations in the lower right corner of the sphere were unusually weak; that was its weak point! "I'll risk it all!" Li Xuan roared, gripping the bead given to him by Zi Ling tightly in his hand. The bead emitted a soft light, as if responding to his resolve. He concentrated all his strength into a single point and slammed it fiercely into the weak point of the sphere. "Boom!" A deafening roar shook the entire cave. The blood-red sphere of light fluctuated violently, its destructive energy surging wildly like an enraged beast. However, at the very center of this raging energy, there was a pause, a moment of hesitation. Li Xuan's attack had worked! The power of the destructive spell paused briefly, giving everyone a chance to catch their breath. Old Zhang struggled to lift his head, a glimmer of hope flashing in his eyes. Lin Yu also stopped crying, watching this scene in disbelief. Bai Yao clutched her chest tightly, silently praying for Li Xuan's safety. However, this brief pause didn't last long. The mysterious elder, suspended in mid-air, let out an angry roar. His hands rapidly changed hand seals, and he chanted incantations. An even more powerful dark energy surged from his body. "Damn brat, how dare you disrupt my spell!"

As the mysterious elder chanted his incantation, more shadowy figures surged from the cave's depths. Their faces were ferocious, emitting chilling roars, and they swarmed towards Li Xuan like a tide. Simultaneously, several enormous, mysterious creatures emerged from the ground, their bodies covered in hard scales, their eyes gleaming with savage light, joining the attack on Li Xuan. Li Xuan was instantly surrounded. He brandished his weapon, charging left and right, barely managing to fend off the enemy's attacks with his agility and precise judgment. However, the enemies were numerous and powerful, and his strength gradually waned, wounds beginning to appear on his body. Just then, a flash of cold light appeared, and Ling Feng appeared beside Li Xuan. His dagger danced like a serpent, slaying the approaching shadowy figures one by one. "I've come to help you!" Ling Feng said in a deep voice. The two fought side by side, and for a time, they managed to suppress the enemy's offensive. However, the number of enemies was simply too great, and they continued to increase. Li Xuan and Ling Feng gradually felt their strength waning; their movements became sluggish, and their wounds multiplied. Just then, a seductive figure silently appeared behind Bai Yao. It was the mysterious woman! A sinister glint flashed in her eyes, and a sharp dagger suddenly appeared in her hand, stabbing fiercely into Bai Yao's back. Caught off guard, Bai Yao was struck again, letting out a painful groan… “Bai Yao!” Li Xuan’s eyes widened in horror, but he was powerless to help. A sinister smile appeared on the mysterious elder’s lips: “It’s over…” The blood-red sphere of light expanded to its limit, unleashing destructive energy. The cave trembled, and debris rained down. The shockwave from the explosion hurled Li Xuan away, causing him to crash heavily to the ground. His vision blurred, and a metallic taste filled his mouth. He struggled to stand, but found his body numb and wracked with excruciating pain. The surrounding shadows, like sharks attracted by blood, swarmed towards him, their sharp claws tearing at his flesh. Li Xuan gritted his teeth, wielding his weapon to barely withstand the enemy's attacks, but he knew he couldn't hold on much longer. Ling Feng's figure moved like a ghost among the shadows, each swing of his dagger taking a life. He tried to get closer to Li Xuan to share the burden, but the enemies were too numerous; he was surrounded and unable to break through. "Li Xuan! Hold on!" Ling Feng's voice was particularly weak in the chaotic battlefield. Hearing Ling Feng's voice, a glimmer of hope surged in Li Xuan's heart, but he knew that even Ling Feng couldn't change their desperate situation. He saw Bai Yao lying on the ground, her life hanging in the balance, and the anger and despair in his heart erupted like a volcano. "Bai Yao!" he roared, his eyes bloodshot, trying to rush to her side, but he was blocked by the surging tide of enemies. He brandished his weapon, frantically attacking the surrounding enemies, struggling desperately like a trapped beast. "Ah!" Li Xuan roared, unleashing the last bit of strength within him, repelling the surrounding enemies. He staggered towards Bai Yao, each step feeling like walking on a knife's edge. Just then, the mysterious woman reappeared, her dagger gleaming coldly as she lunged towards Li Xuan's back. At the critical moment, Ling Feng shielded Li Xuan, the dagger piercing his chest. "Ling Feng!" Li Xuan watched helplessly as Ling Feng fell, his heart filled with grief and self-reproach. The mysterious elder let out a chilling laugh: "Overestimating yourself!" He raised his staff high, a black beam of energy shooting straight towards Li Xuan. Li Xuan closed his eyes in despair, awaiting death. At that moment, images flashed through his mind—scenes of him and Mu Yang overcoming challenges together, supporting each other, facing danger side-by-side. Mu Yang's hearty laughter and resolute gaze echoed in Li Xuan's mind. "Mu Yang..." Li Xuan murmured, his hatred burning like a raging fire. He suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with unwavering resolve. He suddenly noticed a strange mark on the mysterious elder's body, a mark like an ancient rune, radiating an eerie aura. "What is that?" Li Xuan was filled with doubt. He sensed that this mark seemed to hide a greater secret, a secret related to the destruction of his sect. Just then, the mysterious elder's attack descended... Li Xuan's figure was swallowed by darkness. What would become of him? "I... saw it..." Li Xuan's voice was weak, yet carried an eerie calm. The dark energy pillar engulfed Li Xuan. He felt as if he had been drawn into a giant vortex, his consciousness beginning to blur. In the moment before losing consciousness, Mu Yang's figure appeared unusually clearly in his mind. They first met at the initial level of the Infinite Flow Space. At that time, Li Xuan was alone, facing ferocious monsters, almost in despair. It was Mu Yang, this taciturn man, who extended a helping hand to him. "Let's go together?" Mu Yang only said these three words at the time, but they gave Li Xuan immense courage. Afterwards, they fought side by side, escaping death countless times. Mu Yang's calm and composed personality complemented Li Xuan's cunning and wit. Together they solved puzzles, fought enemies, and gradually built a deep friendship. Li Xuan remembered Mu Yang teaching him how to use a special weapon, remembering Mu Yang bandaging his wounds when he was injured, remembering the encouraging look Mu Yang gave him when he was lost… Those memories flashed through Li Xuan's mind like a movie. “Mu Yang… I will definitely avenge you!” Li Xuan shouted in his heart, the flames of hatred burning fiercely within him. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself miraculously alive. The mysterious elder's attack, though powerful, hadn't completely killed him. He struggled to lift his head; before him lay a scene of devastation, the aftershocks of the explosion still raging, the cave teetering on the brink of collapse. Bai Yao lay not far away, her fate unknown; Ling Feng's figure had vanished, his condition unknown. The surrounding shadows continued their frenzied attacks on the survivors, screams echoing everywhere. An atmosphere of despair permeated the air, as if the end of the world had arrived. Just then, Li Xuan's gaze fell upon the mysterious elder. He clearly remembered seeing the strange mark on the mysterious elder's body before losing consciousness. The mark, like an ancient rune, exuded an eerie aura and was deeply imprinted in his mind. "What...what exactly is that mark?" Li Xuan stared intently at the mysterious elder, trying to find a clue to break free from their current predicament. The battle around them continued fiercely; the shadowy figures' attacks grew increasingly violent, and fewer and fewer people remained. Li Xuan sensed a powerful force emanating from the mysterious elder—a destructive force capable of reducing everything here to ashes.

He realized that if they couldn't find a way to break the curse soon, they would all die here. "We must... find the secret of that mark..." Li Xuan gritted his teeth, his gaze fixed on the mark on the mysterious elder, silently chanting in his heart. He reached out, as if trying to grasp that elusive hope... "Like... the sect's..."