I dominated the game from the start with cards.

The cloying sweetness in the air grew stronger, almost drowning them. A seductive figure slowly emerged from the shadows, swaying her hips as she approached Li Xuan and the others. She wore a tight black dress that accentuated her shapely figure, and her long, jet-black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, obscuring half her face, revealing only her scarlet lips and a pair of venomous eyes. "Shadow's partner, Shadow Princess," Old Zhou recognized her at a glance, his tone grave. Shadow Princess giggled, her voice as clear as a silver bell, yet carrying a chilling edge: "I didn't expect you old man to still remember me. It seems you little insects aren't entirely useless after all." Before she finished speaking, she flicked her slender hand, and a cloud of pink smoke instantly filled the air. Li Xuan and the others felt a blur before their eyes, the surrounding scenery began to distort and warp, and strange sounds filled their ears, as if they were in a bizarre and fantastical dream. "It's a hallucination spell!" Mu Yang shouted, struggling to stay awake as he endured the dizziness in his head. However, Shadow's hallucination spell was clearly extraordinary. Li Xuan saw the devastation of his sect before his eyes, raging flames engulfing everything, the screams of his master and fellow disciples echoing in his ears, tearing his heart apart. Mu Yang, on the other hand, was plunged into endless darkness, as if abandoned in the cold depths of the universe, surrounded by loneliness and fear. Shadow seized the opportunity, his figure flashing, reappearing in front of Mu Yang. The sharp blade in his hand sliced ​​through the air, aiming straight for Mu Yang's abdomen. Unable to dodge in the hallucination, Mu Yang groaned, blood gushing from his abdomen. "Mu Yang!" Li Xuan cried out in alarm, wanting to rush over to help, but found his body as if filled with lead, unable to move. Lin Yu gritted his teeth, struggling to break free from the control of the hallucination. He roared and charged towards Shadow, trying to stop him from harming Mu Yang further. However, the ribbon in Shadow Princess's hand flew out like a serpent, wrapping around Lin Yu's legs and tripping him to the ground. "You overconfident brat," Shadow Princess chuckled, her eyes filled with mockery. The shadowy figure approached the fallen Lin Yu step by step, the sharp blade in her hand raised high, about to fall. Sister Wu cried anxiously, "Lin Yu, be careful!" But she was also trapped in the illusion and couldn't help. Old Zhou, enduring the pain, tried to stand, but collapsed helplessly to the ground. Shadow Princess chuckled and said, "You'll all just obediently accept your deaths." Li Xuan angrily tried to break free of the illusion, his heart struggling with the fear within it. He knew that if he couldn't escape the illusion quickly, they would all die here… His fists clenched tightly, his nails digging deep into his flesh. Shadow Princess chuckled and said, "You'll all just obediently accept your deaths." The laughter was sharp and piercing, like the cry of an owl, echoing in the distorted space. Before Li Xuan's eyes still burned fiercely, his master's kind face distorted and twisted in the flames before finally turning to ashes. Despair and pain surged like a tidal wave, almost engulfing him. But he gritted his teeth, his nails digging deep into his palms, using the pain to fight against the erosion of the illusion. He knew he couldn't fall; he had to live and avenge his sect! "Ah!" Lin Yu screamed. The shadow's blade didn't fall, but instead kicked him hard in the abdomen. Lin Yu curled up, groaning in pain. "Stop!" Old Zhou struggled to stand up, but fell again due to his severe injuries. He looked at the dying Lin Yu, his heart filled with grief and anger. He knew that if he didn't act now, Lin Yu would surely die. Old Zhou mustered all his strength, gathering the last bit of power within him, and lunged at the shadow. He grabbed Shadow's leg, hoarsely shouting, "Run! Lin Yu, run!" Shadow was startled by Old Zhou's sudden action. He tried to break free, but found Old Zhou's grip unusually tight. Seeing this, Shadow Maiden's ribbon flew out like a serpent, wrapping around Old Zhou's neck. "Old man, you're asking for death!" Shadow Maiden sneered, pulling hard on the ribbon. Old Zhou's face instantly turned red, and he struggled to breathe. He stared intently at Shadow Maiden, his eyes filled with defiance and anger. Lin Yu struggled to his feet, looking at Old Zhou being strangled by Shadow Maiden, his heart filled with guilt and pain. He wanted to rush over to help, but the intense pain in his abdomen prevented him from moving. "Old Zhou..." Lin Yu's voice trembled, tears blurring his vision. Li Xuan's heart roared. He watched helplessly as Old Zhou was in danger to save Lin Yu, powerless to do anything. He felt as if his soul had been torn in two, one half immersed in endless pain, the other struggling desperately to break free from the illusion's hold. "Ah!" Li Xuan roared, his mental energy erupting like a volcano. Cracks appeared in the distorted surroundings, and the piercing sounds gradually faded. He saw Old Zhou's pained expression, Lin Yu's despairing eyes, and the sinister smiles of Shadow Princess and Dark Shadow. He concentrated, struggling to control his raging mental energy. A strange feeling surged within him; he seemed to be able to perceive everything around him, including Shadow Princess and Dark Shadow's next move… He saw it: Shadow Princess's ribbon was about to sever Old Zhou's neck, and Dark Shadow's dagger was aimed at Lin Yu's heart… "No…" Li Xuan murmured, his eyes flashing with a cold light. Li Xuan's mental energy spread like a spiderweb, sensing everything around him. Shadow Princess's ribbon drew a graceful arc in the air, yet carried a deadly intent. The shadowy dagger gleamed coldly, like a venomous snake's tongue, ready to deliver a fatal blow at any moment. Li Xuan's mind raced, analyzing the two's movements, searching for an opening. At this critical moment, Sister Wu, enduring her pain, chanted incantations and formed a strange hand seal. A pale green light emanated from her, brushing over everyone like a spring breeze. This light carried a strange energy, gradually dispelling the illusions that enveloped them. The flames before Li Xuan's eyes gradually faded, and his master's kind face vanished. He suddenly regained his senses, his eyes filled with determination and resolve. He saw Old Zhou being strangled by Shadow Maiden's ribbon, his face turning bluish-purple, while Lin Yu lay helplessly on the ground, his life hanging in the balance.

"Damn it!" Li Xuan cursed under his breath, his heart filled with rage. He quickly looked around, searching for anything he could use. His gaze fell on a pile of rubble not far away, and a daring plan formed in his mind. "Mu Yang, help me!" Li Xuan shouted, running towards the rubble. Although Mu Yang didn't understand Li Xuan's intentions, he followed without hesitation. Li Xuan quickly arranged the rubble into a simple trap, covering it with some withered branches and leaves, disguising it cleverly. He signaled Mu Yang to hide in the shadows, then deliberately made some noise to attract the attention of Ying Ji and An Ying. Hearing the noise, Ying Ji and An Ying immediately chased after Li Xuan. They hadn't noticed the trap Li Xuan had set; they were only focused on getting rid of this troublesome guy as soon as possible. "Kid, let's see where you can run now!" Ying Ji said with a sneer, her ribbon lashing out at Li Xuan like a venomous snake. A cold smile appeared on Li Xuan's lips. He pretended to be panicked and ran towards the trap. Seeing this, Shadow Princess and Dark Shadow sped up even more, completely unaware of the approaching danger. Just as they were about to catch up with Li Xuan, he suddenly slammed on the brakes, stopping at the edge of the trap. Due to inertia, Shadow Princess and Dark Shadow couldn't stop in time and stepped directly into the trap. "Ah!" With a scream, the spikes in the trap sprang out, tearing Shadow Princess and Dark Shadow's skin. Blood instantly stained the ground red, and Shadow Princess and Dark Shadow fell to the ground in pain, their eyes filled with anger and resentment. Li Xuan and Mu Yang emerged from the shadows, looking at Shadow Princess and Dark Shadow lying on the ground, a victorious smile on their faces. "I said we would win," Li Xuan said calmly, his eyes full of confidence. However, at this moment, a strange aura suddenly emanated from Shadow Princess and Dark Shadow, their wounds healed at a visible speed, and their eyes became even colder. "You...you all have to die!" Shadow Princess said hoarsely, her voice filled with resentment. Shadow remained silent, a ball of black energy coalescing in his hand, emanating a chilling aura… Shadow Princess's lips curled into a strange smile, and a dagger gleaming with an eerie light appeared in her hand. The trap's spikes pierced deeply into the flesh of Shadow Princess and Shadow, blood gushing out, staining the withered branches and leaves at the bottom of the trap crimson. The intense pain caused both to scream in agony; Shadow Princess's delicate makeup was contorted with agony, and a hint of ferocity appeared on Shadow's cold face. Li Xuan and Mu Yang emerged from the shadows, watching the two struggling in the trap, victorious smiles on their faces. "It seems your performance is over," Li Xuan said coldly, with a hint of mockery. "Don't be too happy!" Shadow Princess said through gritted teeth, her eyes flashing with venomous light, "This is just the beginning!" Shadow didn't speak, only silently circulating the remaining energy within his body, trying to suppress the pain in his wounds. He looked up at Li Xuan, his eyes filled with murderous intent. Suddenly, a strange black aura surged from Shadow Princess and Dark Shadow, their wounds healing at a visible speed, even their clothes, torn by the spikes, were restored to their original state. They slowly stood up, their eyes growing even colder, like demons from hell. "This... how is this possible?" Mu Yang exclaimed, unable to believe what he was seeing. Li Xuan frowned, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart. He felt the surrounding air become unusually oppressive, a powerful force slowly awakening. His mental energy scanned his surroundings like radar, trying to find the source of this power. A strange smile curved Shadow Princess's lips, and a dagger gleaming with an eerie light appeared in her hand, its blade flowing with black energy, radiating a chilling aura. "Now, the game truly begins!" Shadow Princess's voice drifted through the air like a ghost. Dark Shadow remained silent, his hands clasped together, chanting incantations. A ball of black energy condensed in his palm, gradually expanding, radiating a suffocating pressure. This energy surge was stronger than ever before, seemingly threatening to devour everything. Li Xuan took a deep breath, knowing a fierce battle was inevitable. He turned to Mu Yang and said in a low voice, "Be careful, they're going all out!" Mu Yang nodded, his eyes resolute, gripping his weapon tightly, ready for battle. Sister Wu, enduring the pain, began chanting healing spells to support the others. Although severely injured, Old Zhou struggled to stand and join the fight. Shadow Princess and Dark Shadow stood back to back, an even denser dark energy gathering around them, like a giant vortex enveloping them. The air was thick with the aura of death, as if foreshadowing an impending catastrophe. "With my blood, I awaken..." Dark Shadow's voice was low and hoarse, tinged with madness.