I dominated the game from the start with cards.

"Break!" Ye Ling roared, and the rare card "Demon-Slaying Talisman" burst forth with dazzling light, a golden beam shooting straight at the Blood Demon.

However, the Blood Demon merely smiled contemptuously, and with a flick of his sleeve, a thick layer of black mist completely swallowed the golden light.

The power of the exorcising talisman was like a tickle to the Blood Demon.

Seeing the mysterious expert lying in a pool of blood, Ye Ling was extremely anxious. He understood that with his current strength, directly confronting the Blood Demon would be tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock.

But he couldn't just sit and wait to die; he had to find the Blood Demon's weakness.

He suppressed his fear and fixed his gaze on the Blood Demon, carefully observing its every move.

Around the Blood Demon's dark magic, the tadpole-like runes still flickered with an eerie light, twisting and writhing in the black mist, as if they were some kind of evil incantation.

Ye Ling's heart skipped a beat; perhaps these runes were the key! "Qingyue, Shuyao, attack from both sides to distract him!" Ye Ling made a quick decision. He knew that only by creating an opportunity could he possibly get close to the runes. Qingyue and Shuyao exchanged a glance and carried out Ye Ling's order without hesitation.

Qingyue unleashed a talisman, which transformed into several beams of silver light that shot towards the Blood Demon; Shuyao, on the other hand, swung her pestle, releasing bursts of healing green light in an attempt to weaken the Blood Demon's power.

The Blood Demon snorted coldly, seemingly disdainful of their attacks. He separated a portion of his dark power, transforming it into a sturdy shield that easily blocked Qingyue and Shuyao's attacks.

At the same time, he waved his other hand, and a black beam of light shot towards Ye Ling like a venomous snake.

Ye Ling was prepared and quickly drew out a defensive card to block in front of him.

However, the Blood Demon's power far exceeded his expectations. The card shattered instantly, and Ye Ling was also blasted away, crashing heavily to the ground.

"Ye Ling!" Qingyue was frantic when she saw Ye Ling being knocked away. Ignoring her own danger, she immediately rushed towards Ye Ling to check on his injuries. Seeing this, the Blood Demon's lips curled into a cruel smile.

He seized the opportunity to launch another attack, a black beam of light striking Qingyue's back. "Ah!" Qingyue cried out in pain, collapsing to the ground, her clothes stained crimson with blood. Shuyao tried to save Qingyue, but was trapped by the Blood Demon's dark aura, unable to move.

As she watched Qingyue fall, her heart was filled with despair and fear.

The Blood Demon approached step by step, its chilling voice echoing in the air: "Insolent little insects who overestimate themselves must all die!"

He raised his hand, and black energy gathered in his palm, as if it would completely devour them in the next moment... Ye Ling struggled to stand up, but felt powerless all over.

He looked at Qingyue lying in a pool of blood, his eyes gradually turning cold.

“Damn it…” he spat out the two words through gritted teeth.

Ye Ling's vision blurred and his ears were ringing, but he could still feel the moment Qingyue fell, as if his heart was being squeezed tightly by an invisible hand.

He struggled, futilely twisting his body like a stranded fish, but could not move an inch.

Qingyue lay in a pool of blood, her consciousness fading. She struggled to open her eyes, wanting to see Ye Ling, but only saw a blurry figure.

She tried to speak, but no sound came out; only a faint whimper escaped her throat, like that of a wounded animal. Bright red blood soaked through her clothes, spreading across the gray ground like a bewitching spider lily.

She felt her life force slowly draining from her body, and the scene before her eyes grew increasingly dim.

She tried to reach out and grab something, but ultimately her hand fell limply to the ground.

Shu Yao was extremely anxious, watching helplessly as Qing Yue collapsed.

The Blood Demon's dark aura trapped her like a giant cage.

She struggled with all her might to break free of her restraints, but it was all in vain. Despair and fear surged into her heart like a tidal wave, engulfing her. She closed her eyes in anguish, tears silently streaming down her face.

At this critical moment, the mysterious and powerful figure who had been silent all along suddenly let out a low roar.

His previously dim eyes suddenly burst forth with dazzling light, and a powerful force erupted from his body. He abruptly stood up, as if his wounds had ceased to exist, breaking free from the suppression of the blood magic, and charged towards the blood demon like an arrow released from a bow.

His hands released a powerful chain of spiritual energy, like giant golden pythons, which coiled around the Blood Demon, temporarily binding him.

This sudden turn of events caught the Blood Demon off guard. He roared angrily and struggled frantically, trying to break free of the chains binding him.

His strength relentlessly battered the chains, producing a piercing metallic scraping sound. The mysterious powerhouse's face gradually paled, and large beads of sweat appeared on his forehead; he was clearly on the verge of collapse.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Ye Ling endured the excruciating pain and struggled to his feet. He took a deep breath, adjusted the power of the cards within his body, and concentrated all his power on one card.

This card radiates a dazzling light, and is engraved with complex runes. It is his strongest attack card - "Heavenly Thunder Rune".

He threw the card at the tadpole-like runes on the Blood Demon's body.

"Heavenly Thunder Descends!" Ye Ling roared. The card transformed into a golden lightning bolt, striking the runes on the Blood Demon's body with pinpoint accuracy.

However, the Blood Demon's dark magic was not completely destroyed; the tadpole-like runes only dimmed slightly and still flickered with an eerie light.

The Blood Demon's struggles grew increasingly violent, the golden light on the chains flickering erratically, as if they might snap at any moment… “Hold on!” Ye Ling shouted to the mysterious powerhouse, his gaze firm and resolute. “I need more time!”

The mysterious expert gritted his teeth, his face growing paler, but he still held on tenaciously, without the slightest sign of retreat.

The Blood Demon's roar was deafening. His scarlet eyes were fixed on Ye Ling, filled with hatred and killing intent.

He suddenly opened his mouth wide, and a surge of black energy condensed within... "Not good!" Elder Ling exclaimed in alarm. The Blood Demon, bound by golden chains, struggled frantically like a trapped beast.

His bloodshot eyes blazed with fury, and he roared so loudly that the surrounding trees trembled.

The black aura surrounding him churned like boiling magma, constantly impacting the chains and producing a piercing metallic scraping sound. The golden light on the chains began to flicker, as if they might break at any moment.

The mysterious strongman maintaining the chains grew increasingly pale, his forehead covered in large beads of sweat, and his body trembled slightly, clearly at his limit.

Although Ye Ling's Heavenly Thunder Talisman struck the tadpole-shaped runes on the Blood Demon's body, causing them to dim slightly, it did not completely destroy them.

The runes still shimmered with an eerie light, and the Blood Demon's dark magic continued to operate.

A chilling aura emanated from the runes, coiling around Ye Ling like venomous snakes, eroding his body and spirit.

Trapped in the darkness, Shu Yao looked at Ye Ling with tears streaming down her face. Her eyes were filled with helplessness and worry, her lips trembling slightly as she silently called out Ye Ling's name. She wanted to break free of the darkness and go to Ye Ling's side, but she was powerless to move.

Looking at the trapped Shu Yao, Ye Ling felt a mix of guilt and love.

He recalled the first time he met Shu Yao; she was like an angel, gentle and kind, healing the pain in his heart.

He had promised to protect her, yet now he had placed her in such a dangerous situation. He clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his flesh, and silently vowed to rescue Shu Yao, no matter the cost.

"Hold on!" Ye Ling shouted to the mysterious expert, his voice hoarse. "I need more time!" He endured the excruciating physical pain and mental torment, trying to mobilize the power of the cards within his body, attempting to find a way to break the Blood Demon's dark magic.

Suddenly, the Blood Demon let out a sharp howl, his body began to tremble violently, and black energy erupted like a volcano.

The mysterious expert let out a muffled groan, his body swayed violently, the golden light on the chains completely extinguished, and the chains broke inch by inch.

"Not good!" Elder Ling exclaimed, his expression changing drastically.

The Blood Demon's body twisted and deformed continuously in the black mist, eventually splitting into several smaller Blood Demon clones.

These clones inherited the Blood Demon's evil power, their faces were ferocious, and they exuded a chilling killing intent.

They rushed towards Ye Ling, the mysterious expert, Qing Yue, and Shu Yao like arrows released from a bow.

Ye Ling stared blankly at the oncoming Blood Demon clones. He didn't know how to deal with them, nor whether they could survive this crisis.

The image of his first encounter with Shu Yao flashed through his mind. At that time, her smile was like the warm sun in winter, illuminating his gloomy world... "Ling..." Elder Ling's voice trembled, with a hint of despair, "Be careful..." The Blood Demon clones swarmed like locusts, but Ye Ling's thoughts returned to a few months ago.

He was seriously injured at that time and lay dying in the dilapidated temple.

A figure entered his line of sight, light as a butterfly, carrying a faint medicinal fragrance.

Shu Yao, like an angel descended to earth, used her gentle hands to heal his wounds and warm his cold heart. Her clear eyes were filled with reverence for life and compassion for all people.

"I will protect you," Ye Ling whispered in her ear, his tone as firm as a rock.

But now, he could only watch helplessly as she was trapped in the Blood Demon's dark magic.

The promise still echoed in his ears, but reality was so cruel, like a sharp blade, tearing his heart apart.

The Blood Demon clone drew closer, its狰狞 (zhengning - ferocious) face filled with a bloodthirsty desire.

Ye Ling suddenly came to her senses, her heart filled with self-blame and anger.

He couldn't just give up like this; he had to protect Shu Yao and fulfill his promise.

"Qingyue, take Shuyao away!" Ye Ling roared, his voice hoarse.

Although Qingyue was frightened, she gritted her teeth and rushed towards the trapped Shuyao. She knew that hesitation at this moment would only harm everyone.

Ye Ling took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He quickly drew several cards from his card pack. Netherworld Fire, Ancient Tree, Shield of Ice... these cards shimmered with various colors in his hand, as if they were his last hope.

"Come forth, my companions!" Ye Ling roared, hurling the card into the air. The card spun and danced in the air, materializing to form a defensive barrier that blocked the Blood Demon clone.

The ghostly flames emitted a shrill shriek, scorching the blood demon clone's body; the branches of the ancient tree coiled around the blood demon clone like giant pythons, restricting their movements; the icy shield emitted a bone-chilling cold, freezing the blood of the blood demon clone.

However, the power of the Blood Demon clones far exceeded Ye Ling's expectations. They attacked the defensive barrier frantically, the Netherworld Ghost Fire gradually died down, the branches of the ancient tree began to break, and cracks appeared on the Ice Shield.

Despite being injured, the mysterious expert forced himself to continue preparing new spells.

He formed hand seals and chanted incantations, a powerful spiritual energy surging around him.

"Hold on, Ye Ling!" the mysterious expert said through gritted teeth. "I need some time!" Ye Ling gritted his teeth as well. He knew that they had reached a critical juncture of life and death.

He had to hold on, even if there was only a sliver of hope, he had to fight with all his might.

The Blood Demon clone broke through the defensive barrier and pounced towards the group. "Elder Ling..." Ye Ling looked at Elder Ling, his eyes filled with determination.

Elder Ling understood Ye Ling's meaning, and he said in a deep voice, "Fight to the death!"