I dominated the game from the start with cards.

The thick darkness, like a giant beast, devoured all light, and the stench of blood permeated the air, making one want to vomit.

Ye Ling gripped the card tightly, his heart pounding. He desperately searched for the "glimmer of hope" Elder Ling had spoken of, but all he could see was the Blood Demon's hideous face looming in the darkness, like a demon from hell, closing in step by step. "Where? Where?" Ye Ling murmured, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

The old man's voice was right next to my ear, yet it was as if I were looking through a thin veil, ethereal and indistinct.

He looked around, but there was nothing but suffocating darkness.

Could it be that Elder Ling had misjudged the situation? Or was this so-called "sustainable chance" just a cruel joke? Just as he was almost in despair, a card in his hand warmed slightly. It was a "Gentle Breeze Talisman," which he had obtained from a wind-attribute demon.

At that moment, the faint warmth was like a lifeline, rekindling his hope.

He suddenly remembered what Elder Ling had said: "Feel with your heart... the power in your heart..." He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, threw all distracting thoughts to the back of his mind, focused on the cards in his hand, and focused on the beliefs in his heart.

Meanwhile, Shu Yao nestled beside Ye Ling, her pretty face deathly pale. Although frightened, she held Ye Ling's hand tightly, offering him silent support.

She recalled every moment she had shared with Ye Ling since they met: gathering herbs together in the dark forest, keeping each other warm in the freezing mountain cave... All the fear and anxiety she had felt before had now turned into sweet memories.

A faint smile appeared on her face, as if she had temporarily forgotten the danger around her and was immersed in the wonderful time she had spent with Ye Ling.

Qingyue clutched her sword tightly, vigilantly observing her surroundings, ready to deal with any sudden danger. Yingfeng stood beside her, like a solid barrier, protecting her behind him.

Although he was taciturn, his eyes were filled with determination, as if telling Qingyue that no matter what happened, he would protect her safety.

Just then, the "Gentle Breeze Talisman" in Ye Ling's hand suddenly burst into a dazzling light, and a powerful stream of air surged out from the card, dispelling some of the surrounding darkness. Under the light, Ye Ling saw a portal shimmering with a faint golden light appear not far away.

"That's it!" Elder Ling's voice rang out again, with a hint of relief. "Go in quickly!" Ye Ling pulled Shu Yao and Qing Yue towards the teleportation portal without hesitation, with Ying Feng following closely behind.

The moment they entered the portal, the Blood Demon clone let out an angry roar, but it was unable to stop them from leaving.

The portal transported them to a tranquil valley. The valley was filled with birdsong, fragrant flowers, and babbling brooks, a stark contrast to the dark world they had just entered.

Ye Ling turned to look at Elder Ling, only to find him vanished, leaving behind a single sentence that echoed through the valley: "Child, enjoy this moment of peace; greater challenges await you..." Ye Ling looked around, and after confirming it was safe, he let out a long sigh. He looked at Shu Yao beside him, a warm feeling welling up in his heart.

He held Shu Yao tightly and whispered in her ear, "With you here..." "With you here, I'm not afraid of anything."

Ye Ling held Shu Yao tightly and whispered in her ear, his warm breath brushing against her ear, bringing a tingling sensation.

Shu Yao's delicate body trembled, as if an electric current had spread throughout her body.

She raised her head, her eyes filled with love and adoration. Her clear gaze, like a mountain spring, washed away Ye Ling's weariness and unease.

She stretched out her slender fingers and gently stroked Ye Ling's face, feeling the warmth of his skin, and said softly, "As long as I'm with you, that's enough."

At that moment, it was as if only the two of them remained in the world, and everything around them became blurry and unreal.

Qingyue looked at the two of them snuggling together, a smile of envy on her face. Yingfeng stood silently to the side, his gaze deep, as if he were deep in thought.

Suddenly, Elder Ling's voice rang out again, like a morning bell and evening drum, echoing through the valley: "The Blood Demon's clone fears the sunlight, and now, the sun is about to rise."

Upon hearing this, everyone looked up towards the east. Sure enough, the sky was beginning to lighten, and golden rays of light pierced through the clouds, illuminating the earth.

The Blood Demon clone seemed to sense the threat of the sunlight, becoming restless and letting out low growls as it slowly retreated. Its hideous face appeared even more terrifying under the sunlight, like a melting demon struggling to escape this land of light.

As the sunlight grew stronger, the Blood Demon clone finally let out a resentful roar, transformed into a cloud of black mist, and disappeared into the morning sunlight.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, their tense nerves finally relaxing.

Ye Ling gently pushed Shu Yao away, looking at her slightly pale face, his heart filled with pity.

He gently tidied her slightly disheveled hair and said softly, "It's alright."

Shu Yao nodded gently, a sweet smile on her face. She nestled beside Ye Ling, feeling his warmth and sense of security, as if all her fear and anxiety had vanished. However, just as everyone was immersed in the joy of surviving the ordeal, a figure suddenly appeared at the entrance of the valley.

He was tall and exuded a powerful aura, like a god descended from the heavens.

"Although the Blood Demon clone has temporarily retreated, everyone knows that this is only a temporary peace."

The mysterious powerful figure's voice was deep and powerful, carrying an undeniable air of authority: "The Blood Demon will not give up easily; we must improve our strength as soon as possible."

Ye Ling frowned slightly. He glanced at Qingyue beside him. Her face was pale and her breath was weak, clearly indicating that she had suffered considerable injuries in the previous battle.

He turned to the mysterious expert and said firmly, "Qingyue needs rest and treatment, we cannot..."

"Womanly sentimentality!" The mysterious expert interrupted Ye Ling, his tone tinged with displeasure. "Now is not the time for sentimentality. The most urgent task is to improve our strength in order to cope with the challenges ahead!"

Ye Ling's face darkened, and a hint of anger flashed in his eyes.

He was about to retort when he saw the mysterious expert suddenly stretch out his hand and point into the distance... "What is that?" The light of dawn spread across the valley, dispelling the lingering chill and illuminating Qingyue's pale face.

She leaned against Shu Yao's chest, her breath weak, bloodstains still visible on her clothes. Ye Ling's gaze fell on her, filled with worry and self-reproach.

"Womanly sentimentality!" The mysterious expert's tone was icy, tinged with disdain. "Now is not the time for sentimentality. The most urgent task is to improve our strength in order to meet the challenges ahead!"

Ye Ling suddenly looked up, his eyes sharp as knives. "Qingyue was injured while protecting us; she needs rest and treatment!"

Even if we improve our strength, it's not something that can be done overnight. Are we going to let her continue fighting with serious injuries? His voice was filled with suppressed anger, and his clenched fist trembled slightly.

The mysterious expert snorted coldly, "Indecisiveness! In this dog-eat-dog world, only strength is the only guarantee."

"Do you think the Blood Demon will give you a chance to breathe? It will only devour you completely when you are weak!" The atmosphere between the two was tense, as if the air itself was filled with the smell of gunpowder. Shu Yao gently held Ye Ling's hand, trying to calm him down.

She understood Ye Ling's concerns, but also knew that the mysterious expert's words were not without reason.

Just then, Elder Ling spoke slowly, his voice like the tolling of an ancient bell, carrying a calming power.

"There's no need for you two to argue. Improving your strength is important, but you must also consider the safety of your companions."

The Blood Demon is powerful, but not invincible. This world possesses many powers that can counter demonic spirits; we simply need to find and utilize them.

Elder Ling's words were like a clear spring, extinguishing the anger between the two. Ye Ling took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.

He understood Elder Ling's intention and knew that he had acted impulsively just now.

“This world is far more complex than you imagine,” Elder Ling continued, his gaze deep and distant. “In some special places, ancient and powerful forces are hidden.”

For example, the Frozen Abyss in the far north contains the power of extreme yin and cold, which can effectively suppress the fire power of demons.

"Furthermore, the Crimson Flame Volcano in the south contains the power of extreme yang and heat, which can purify the filth of demonic spirits..." Ye Ling listened attentively, keeping Elder Ling's words firmly in mind.

He began to ponder how to deal with the Blood Demon, the special places Elder Ling had mentioned constantly flashing through his mind. Suddenly, a figure appeared from the entrance of the valley.

The newcomer, dressed in a black, close-fitting outfit, was agile and wiry; he was none other than Qingyue's friend, Yingfeng. His expression was grave, and he carried a package as he walked straight up to Ye Ling.

“Ye Ling,” Ying Feng’s voice was deep and powerful, “I have brought some defensive magic treasures from the Spirit Clan, which may be of some help to you.”

He opened the package, inside which were several oddly shaped items.

Yingfeng picked up one of the items, a palm-sized bronze mirror with intricate runes engraved on its surface.

He pointed the bronze mirror at a huge rock beside him and chanted incantations. "Break!" A dazzling light shot out from the bronze mirror and struck the boulder.

With a deafening roar, the boulder shattered instantly, scattering into countless fragments across the ground. The onlookers were astonished; the power of this magical artifact far exceeded their expectations.

Yingfeng's gaze swept over everyone, and he said in a deep voice, "This is just one of them..." Yingfeng continued to show off the other magical treasures.

A jade bracelet, when infused with spiritual power, can form an indestructible shield; a string of wind chimes, when shaken, can release sound waves that disturb the mind; and a short dagger, so sharp that it can cut through iron like mud.

Each magical artifact displayed immense power, causing everyone's tense nerves to relax slightly, as if they had grasped a lifeline.

Ye Ling, in particular, understood that these magical treasures would play a crucial role in the upcoming battle. "These magical treasures are powerful, but they must be used with caution,"

Yingfeng's expression was serious. "They all require a lot of spiritual power, and each magic weapon has its limitations."

A bronze mirror possesses powerful offensive capabilities, but requires a long preparation time; a jade bracelet offers excellent defense, but its duration is limited; a wind chime can disrupt an enemy's mind, but its effect on powerful foes is minimal; a short dagger, while sharp, is extremely risky in close combat.

Ye Ling listened attentively to Ying Feng's explanation, memorizing the characteristics and usage of each magical artifact.

He knew these magical artifacts were crucial to their fight against the Blood Demon, and they had to make the most of them. However, Qingyue's injuries cast a shadow over this brief moment of joy. She remained unconscious, her face frighteningly pale.

Shu Yao stayed by her side the whole time, trying her best to heal her wounds, but with little effect.

Large tears slid down Shu Yao's cheeks, dripping onto Qing Yue's hand. "Qing Yue, you must wake up," Shu Yao choked, her voice trembling, "We still need you, you can't leave us like this..." Ye Ling tenderly put his arm around Shu Yao's shoulder, gently stroking her back, silently comforting her.

Although he was extremely anxious, he also understood that he needed to remain calm and not lose his composure.

Elder Ling walked to Qingyue's side and carefully examined her injuries. His brows were furrowed, and his expression was grave.

"Qingyue's injuries are severe, not only external wounds, but her spiritual meridians have also been damaged," Elder Ling said slowly. "Ordinary spiritual healing techniques will be difficult to cure her; she will need some special spiritual medicines." "What kind of spiritual medicines?" Ye Ling asked hurriedly, "I'll go find some!"

Elder Ling pondered for a moment, “We need a thousand-year-old snow lotus and a ten-thousand-year-old lingzhi mushroom. Both of these medicinal herbs grow in extremely dangerous places, and obtaining them is not easy.”

Ye Ling's eyes were resolute, "No matter how dangerous it is, I'm going to give it a try!"

Just then, a strange howling sound came from afar, like the wailing of ghosts and wolves, sending chills down one's spine. The sound grew clearer and clearer as it approached, as if something terrifying was drawing near.

Everyone immediately became alert, grabbing their weapons and cautiously scanning their surroundings. After the whooshing sound, the area fell into a deathly silence.

Ye Ling cautiously released the "Night Owl" card. A jet-black night owl silently flew into the night sky, its sharp eyes scanning everything around it, but it found nothing unusual. "What's going on?"

Ye Ling felt uneasy. "Could it be..." Before he could finish speaking, Elder Ling's expression suddenly changed drastically. He abruptly looked up at the sky and cried out in horror, "No! It's..."