I dominated the game from the start with cards.

Ye Ling struggled to get up, his whole body aching as if it were falling apart. Shu Yao's sobs echoed in his ears, like a needle piercing his heart.

He forced a smile to comfort the still-shaken Shu Yao, but inside he was filled with resentment and anger.

He had to find the source of the Blood Demon and the Shadow's power! He took a deep breath, enduring the excruciating pain in his body, and took out several cards that were gleaming faintly from his pocket.

These cards are the result of supernatural objects that he has painstakingly collected and refined over this period of time.

With a light tap of the fingertip, the card transforms into starlight, silently blending into the surrounding environment.

A hidden spiritual energy detection array quietly took shape, enveloping the entire cave.

This formation is a technique he recently mastered, which allows him to detect spiritual energy fluctuations more accurately, but it is also extremely fragile. If he is not careful, it will be destroyed by the powerful spiritual energy impact, let alone be discovered by the Blood Demon and the Shadow.

Ye Ling's expression was solemn; he knew he was walking on a knife's edge.

Just then, the clear sound of bells grew louder as the spirit girl Qingyue and a cold-looking man dressed in black, wielding two blades, arrived together.

The man in black was named Yingfeng. He was Qingyue's friend and a highly skilled Spirit Clan assassin.

"Ye Ling, are you alright?" Qingyue asked anxiously, her heart filled with even more worry upon seeing Ye Ling's pale face. "I'm fine."

Ye Ling shook his head, but his gaze remained fixed on the depths of the cave. "We must find the source of power as soon as possible."

Yingfeng scanned the surroundings with sharp eyes and said in a deep voice, "The auras of Blood Demon and Shadow still linger here. They should be nearby."

Ye Ling's heart tightened; he knew time was of the essence. He turned to Qingyue and Yingfeng and said in a deep voice, "Qingyue, take Yingfeng to distract the Blood Demon. I need time to probe the source of the power."

Although Qingyue was worried about Ye Ling's injuries, she also understood the importance of the matter and nodded solemnly: "Be careful!"

After saying that, he and Yingfeng ran off in another direction, the clear sound of bells gradually fading away, like bait luring prey.

Ye Ling watched their departing figures, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes.

He knew it was dangerous, but in order to find the source of power, he had to take the risk.

The formation had already begun to operate, and the invisible fluctuations of spiritual energy were captured by the formation and gathered on another card in Ye Ling's hand.

The image on the card gradually became clearer, and a blurry area slowly emerged. Suddenly, Qingyue's exclamation came from afar.

Ye Ling's heart tightened; he knew Qingyue must be in danger. He suppressed his worry and continued to focus on the cards in his hand.

Just then, a powerful dark force swept in, and the card in Ye Ling's hand trembled violently, almost shattering. He looked up abruptly and saw the Blood Demon's figure appear at the cave entrance, his eyes flashing with bloodlust.

"Found you!" The Blood Demon grinned maliciously, approaching Ye Ling step by step. Ye Ling's expression turned solemn; he knew he had been exposed.

He glanced at the card in his hand; the design was almost complete, and the location of the power source was also determined. He took a deep breath, put the card away, and then looked up at the Blood Demon, his eyes flashing with unwavering determination.

"Even if it costs me my life, I will stop you!" In the distance, Qingyue's painful groans could be heard. She was being corrupted by the dark power of the Blood Demon, and her body was beginning to weaken.

Ye Ling's heart sank. He knew he had to act quickly. "Do you think you still have a chance?" The Blood Demon laughed wildly, raising his black blade and slashing down fiercely at Ye Ling.

At the critical moment, a cold voice suddenly rang out: "Stop!" A woman dressed in white with a cold face appeared out of thin air and stood in front of Ye Ling. In her hand she held a long sword that exuded a chilling aura, the tip of which was pointed directly at the Blood Demon.

"Who are you?" the Blood Demon asked warily. The woman glanced at him coldly, but did not answer. She simply uttered two words: "Shuanghua."

At the same time, from another direction, a starlight flashed, and a figure silently appeared beside Qingyue, helping her up.

"You are..." Qingyue asked weakly. The man did not answer, but simply reached out his hand, and a warm power slowly flowed into Qingyue's body, repairing her damaged body. "Stardust..." he whispered, his voice as mysterious and unpredictable as the stars in the night sky.

The card in Ye Ling's hand flickered, eventually settling on a blurry area.

He ignored the excruciating pain all over his body and the threat of the Blood Demon; his eyes were only on that area.

He knew the truth was there. He jumped up and ran in that direction. The Blood Demon panicked when he saw Ye Ling's actions.

He knew that if Ye Ling found the source of his power, everything would be over. He abandoned his attack on Qingyue and turned to chase after Ye Ling.

"Don't even think about it!" he roared, waving his hands. Countless dark monsters surged out from behind him, swarming towards Ye Ling like a black tide. These monsters had ferocious faces and emitted piercing screams. They were extremely fast, and in the blink of an eye, they surrounded Ye Ling.

Ye Ling gritted his teeth, his cards flashing in his hand. One of the cards, "Blazing Inferno," transformed into a raging inferno, burning the surrounding monsters to ashes.

Another "Frozen" card transformed into a shower of frost, freezing the remaining minions into ice sculptures. However, the number of minions was simply too great, and even with Ye Ling's powerful cards, it was difficult to completely withstand the onslaught.

Some small monsters broke through the blockade of fire and frost and pounced on Ye Ling, their sharp claws tearing at his flesh.

Ye Ling groaned, enduring the excruciating pain, and continued running forward.

Seeing this, Youying joined the chase. Her figure was elusive, like a ghost, constantly harassing Ye Ling and trying to slow him down.

She brandished a black dagger, each attack carrying a chilling aura that intensified the pain in Ye Ling's wounds.

However, Ye Ling's will was unwavering. He knew he couldn't fall; he had to find the source of his power to protect Shu Yao, Qing Yue, and everyone he wanted to protect.

A resolute light gleamed in his eyes, and his speed increased rather than decreased. Surrounded and intercepted by the monsters and shadows, he sped towards his target area like a bolt of lightning. The panic of the Blood Demon and the Shadows further convinced Ye Ling that he had found the right direction.

He sensed a powerful force beckoning him from ahead, a force that was the truth he had been searching for.

In the distance, Shuanghua and Xingchen joined the battle. Shuanghua's swordsmanship was incredibly sharp, each strike carrying a chilling aura that froze any approaching monsters into ice blocks.

Stardust is even more mysterious and unpredictable. His figure is elusive, like a star in the night sky. Each appearance is accompanied by a dazzling light, turning large numbers of monsters into ashes.

Ye Ling finally saw the entrance to the target area, which was a cave hidden in the mountain wall, with a faint glow emanating from the entrance.

A surge of joy filled him, and he quickened his pace. "Stop him!" the Blood Demon roared. He knew that if Ye Ling entered the cave, it would be too late.

Countless monsters swarmed towards Ye Ling again, trying to stop him from entering the cave. Ye Ling took a deep breath, and a golden card appeared in his hand. This card emitted a dazzling light, and an ancient rune was engraved on it. "This is..." The Blood Demon's expression changed drastically upon seeing this card. A resolute glint flashed in Ye Ling's eyes as he raised the card high above his head, "Divine Protection!"

Golden light erupted from the card, enveloping Ye Ling and forming a massive golden shield. The shield was unbreakable, keeping all the smaller monsters at bay. Ye Ling stepped into the cave and vanished into the darkness. The Blood Demon roared and charged towards the cave recklessly, only to be blocked by the golden shield.

He attacked the shield frantically, but couldn't budge it an inch. From deep within the cave came Ye Ling's voice: "You think this will stop me?"

Inside the cave, it was dark and deep, with only a faint light coming in from the entrance barely illuminating the way ahead.

As Ye Ling stepped inside, he felt a chilling aura wash over him, causing him to shiver involuntarily. The golden shield's light gradually faded, and everything around him was shrouded in a hazy mist.

Outside the cave, Shu Yao saw Qingyue injured. She rushed over without hesitation, hugged Qingyue tightly, and tears streamed down her face. "Qingyue, how are you?" Her voice trembled, filled with deep worry and anxiety.

Qingyue's face was pale, and a trace of blood seeped from the corner of her mouth, but she still managed to force a weak smile at Shuyao. "I'm fine, Sister Shuyao, don't worry."

Shu Yao gently laid Qingyue flat on the ground, circulated her spiritual power, and a soft green light emanated from her palm, slowly flowing into Qingyue's body.

Qingyue felt a warm power flowing through her body, and the pain gradually lessened. Yingfeng fought alongside the mysterious powerhouse, together battling the endless stream of dark monsters.

The mysterious powerful figure, cloaked in black, obscured his face. He formed hand seals and chanted incantations, from which golden runes flew out, piercing the monsters' bodies like sharp swords.

Yingfeng moved among the monsters like a ghost, his dagger flashing coldly, each swing taking a life.

The two worked in perfect harmony, clearing out the monsters as quickly as a whirlwind.

The Blood Demon pounded frantically on the golden shield, but couldn't budge it an inch. He watched helplessly as Ye Ling disappeared into the cave, his heart filled with resentment and rage. "Damn it!"

He roared and slammed his fist into the ground, instantly creating a huge crack.

Deep within the cave, Ye Ling proceeded cautiously. He felt a powerful force beckoning him from ahead, and he knew the truth lay there. He passed through a narrow passage, and suddenly the space opened up before him, revealing a vast underground space.

In the center of the space, a massive blood-red crystal floated in the air, emitting an eerie light. Ye Ling's heart stirred; he knew this was the source of the Blood Demon and the Shadow's power.

He stepped forward, wanting to approach the crystal, but found an invisible force blocking his way. He felt as if he were stuck in a quagmire, unable to move an inch. Ye Ling took a deep breath, mobilizing all his spiritual power, trying to break through this invisible barrier. Cards flew in his hand, "Power Amplification," "Speed ​​Boost," "Defense Enhancement"... Each card transformed into beams of light, merging into his body. His power continuously increased, his speed grew faster, and his defense became even more solid.

However, that invisible force remained incredibly powerful. Ye Ling felt like a trapped beast, unable to break free no matter how hard he struggled.

Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his breathing became rapid. Just then, images of Shu Yao, Qing Yue, Elder Ling... familiar faces flashed through Ye Ling's mind. Their encouraging eyes and warm smiles gave him boundless strength.

He recalled every moment he and his companions had shared, all the laughter, tears, and battles they had fought together, all of which transformed into a powerful force surging within him.

"I can't give up!" Ye Ling shouted in his heart, his eyes flashing with determination. He once again mobilized all his spiritual power and rushed towards the crystal.

With a soft "click," a tiny crack appeared on the barrier.

"Not enough!" Ye Ling gritted his teeth and continued to attack the barrier.

The cracks grew larger and denser until finally, with a loud "boom," the barrier shattered, and Ye Ling rushed to the crystal.

However, at that moment, a cold voice rang out behind him: "You've finally come..." The crystal emitted an eerie, blood-red light, illuminating Ye Ling's resolute face. The cold voice echoed behind him, but it did not shake his resolve in the slightest.

A warm feeling welled up in my heart, and fragments of memories flooded back like a tide.

He recalled the confusion and fear he felt when he first entered the supernatural world, the gentle healing light of Shu Yao, the radiant smile and encouragement of Qing Yue, the earnest teachings of Elder Ling, and the scenes of fighting alongside Ying Feng...

Every moment is so clear, and every partner is so important.

It was they who gave him a sense of belonging and the strength to move forward in this crisis-ridden world. He was no longer alone; behind him were companions worth protecting and a future worth fighting for.

"I must sever the source of this evil power!" Ye Ling vowed silently in his heart. He turned around, his gaze piercing, and looked directly at the source of the voice.

There, a figure slowly emerged from the darkness. Tall and shrouded in a black robe, his face was obscured, only a pair of eyes gleaming with a cold light could be seen.

Ye Ling took a deep breath, banishing all distracting thoughts, and refocused his attention on the blood-red crystal in front of him. A powerful force emanated from the crystal, forming an invisible barrier that separated him from it.

This barrier is as solid as an impregnable fortress. How can we break through it?

Ye Ling frowned; he knew brute force wouldn't work. He drew a card called "Eye of Detection" from his deck and activated it.

The card transformed into a streak of light and shot towards the barrier. The moment the light touched the barrier, it vanished without a trace, like a clay ox sinking into the sea, without causing any ripples.

Ye Ling tried several different cards, but the result was the same: the power of the cards was completely absorbed by the barrier.

He realized that this barrier was not a simple defensive enclosure, but a special entity capable of absorbing energy. Ordinary attack methods were completely ineffective against it.

He looked around, trying to find another way in. The underground space was completely empty except for the enormous crystal in the center and the surrounding rock walls.

The rock face was smooth and flat, without any cracks or gaps. Was there really no way to fix it?

Just as Ye Ling was at his wit's end, he suddenly sensed a faint energy fluctuation coming from beneath the crystal. He crouched down and examined it closely, discovering a tiny hole at the bottom of the crystal, almost imperceptible.

The hole emitted energy fluctuations completely different from those of crystal, seemingly some kind of special energy channel. A thought struck Ye Ling: Could this be the breakthrough?

He drew a card called "Spirit Probe" from his deck.

This card can condense spiritual energy into tiny probes to detect subtle changes in energy. He activated the card, and the probes slowly extended towards the hole at the bottom of the crystal... Just as the probes were about to touch the hole, a hand landed on his shoulder.

"Young man, what are you doing?" a deep voice sounded in his ear.