I dominated the game from the start with cards.

The ghost's body had just dissipated, and the surrounding air was still filled with a nauseating dark aura, as if an invisible giant beast was lurking in the shadows, waiting for its chance to strike.

Suddenly, a chilling voice rang out behind them, like a whisper from hell: "You think this is the end?"

The sound pierced the brief silence like a sharp knife. Ye Ling turned around abruptly, the card in his hand flashing, reflecting his solemn face. Qingyue also immediately became alert, her sword humming softly, while Shu Yao subconsciously took a step back, the light of the luminous pearl trembling slightly in her hand.

A figure slowly emerged from the darkness, its form elusive and shifting, seemingly blending into the surrounding darkness. It was a woman, pale-faced, with deep, dark eyes, and a chilling smile playing on her lips—it was Youying. "Youying!" Qingyue gritted her teeth, spitting out the name, her eyes burning with fury.

She flashed forward, brandishing her sword, and charged towards the shadowy figure like lightning. The sword flashed, slicing through the air with a sharp whistling sound. However, the shadowy figure's attacks were like phantoms, elusive and unpredictable.

Her figure was elusive, weaving through Qingyue's sword light like a ghost. Qingyue's attacks missed time and time again, and she was forced to retreat repeatedly by Youying's cold aura. Seeing this, Ye Ling threw out the card in his hand without hesitation.

The cards spun in the air, transforming into streaks of golden light that coiled around the shadowy figure like serpents. The shadowy figure, however, let out a cold laugh, its form shifting as it easily broke free from the light's grasp.

Even more shockingly, she actually deflected these rays of light back, faster and more powerful than before. "Watch out!" Shu Yao exclaimed, trying to warn Ye Ling, but it was too late. The golden rays shot towards Ye Ling like arrows released from a bow. He couldn't dodge in time and was struck in the chest by one of the rays.

Ye Ling's body trembled, a trickle of blood flowed from the corner of his mouth, and his face instantly turned pale. Shu Yao was frantic, wanting to rush over to help Ye Ling, but was blocked by the chilling aura released by You Ying. She felt as if she were stuck in quagmire, unable to move an inch, and could only watch helplessly as Ye Ling was injured, her eyes filled with pain and worry.

The shadowy figure looked at Ye Ling lying on the ground and let out a cold laugh: "You overconfident brat, I want your ability!" She slowly stretched out her hand and walked towards Ye Ling... The golden light struck Ye Ling's chest hard, knocking him back several steps.

He groaned, his body slamming heavily against the wall behind him, spiderweb-like cracks spreading across the surface. A mouthful of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, staining his clothes crimson, starkly bright in the light of the luminous pearl. Shu Yao's heart clenched, her eyes filled with pain and worry.

She wanted to rush over, help the injured Ye Ling up, and heal him, but the chilling aura emanating from Youying acted like an invisible barrier, trapping her firmly in place. She could only watch helplessly as Ye Ling curled up on the ground in pain, a feeling that tore at her heart.

"Ye Ling!" Qingyue called out anxiously, her sword flashing even more fiercely as she tried to break through Youying's obstruction to help Ye Ling. However, Youying's attacks were unpredictable and Qingyue couldn't get close at all. Every attack she launched was easily neutralized by Youying, and she was even countered, gradually accumulating more wounds on her body.

A sharp, cold laugh escaped the shadowy figure as she stared at the writhing Ye Ling, her eyes flashing with cruelty. "Is this all you've got? So pathetic!" She closed in on Ye Ling step by step, like a bloodthirsty demon, preparing to deliver the final blow. Ye Ling struggled to lift his head, his eyes filled with pain and resentment. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his gaze falling on the cards scattered on the ground.

These cards are the source of his power, his only reliance in this perilous supernatural world. But now, he is injured by his own cards, which makes him feel incredibly ironic and helpless.

However, just when Youying thought victory was assured, Ye Ling's eyes suddenly hardened. He took a deep breath, enduring the excruciating pain, and slowly reached out to gather the scattered cards from the ground. He gripped several cards tightly in his hand, and a powerful, supernatural force surged from within him, enveloping the cards in his hand. The cards continuously fused together in his hand, emitting a dazzling light, and finally, formed a longsword radiating supernatural power.

The sword was completely transparent, with golden patterns flowing across its blade, radiating a chilling aura. Holding this spirit sword formed from the fusion of cards, Ye Ling slowly stood up, his sharp eyes fixed on You Ying, like a war god reborn from the ashes.

He stopped dodging and instead launched an attack, his figure flashing like lightning as he charged towards the shadowy figure. The shadowy figure's phantom attacks were completely ineffective against the spirit sword; the sword light flashed, piercing directly through the shadowy figure's illusion and striking her body hard. "Ah!" The shadowy figure let out a piercing scream. Her body was torn apart like paper by a sharp blade, a deep wound appearing, from which black liquid gushed out, emitting a nauseating stench.

She clutched her wound, staring at Ye Ling in disbelief, her eyes filled with shock and fear. "How could this be... You actually..." Ye Ling ignored her shock, his spirit sword flashing once more, its light dancing like a silver serpent, enveloping the shadowy figure within.

After being injured, Shadow's eyes grew even more sinister. She chanted an ancient incantation in a low voice, and the surrounding space began to distort... "Foolish human, feel the forbidden art of the Ghost Clan!" After being injured, Shadow let out a piercing scream, a sound so sharp it seemed to shatter eardrums and send chills down one's spine. She continued to mutter incantations, ancient and obscure spells escaping her lips, the surrounding space began to distort, and a suffocating sense of oppression filled the air.

The once clear cave walls became blurry and indistinct, swaying like reflections in water, and the ground seemed to have turned into a soft swamp, making it difficult to stand. Ye Ling, Shu Yao, and Qing Yue felt as if they were in a chaotic world.

Their movements were severely restricted; every step felt like walking on cotton, light and weightless. Meanwhile, the Shadow moved freely through the distorted space like a phantom, its black form appearing and disappearing, constantly launching attacks. Black mist emanated from the Shadow, spreading towards the three like tentacles. Wherever the mist passed, the air became icy cold, carrying a nauseating stench.

"What the hell is this?" Qingyue covered her nose, her face pale. She brandished her sword, trying to dispel the black mist, but found that the sword couldn't touch it at all, as if cutting into thin air, completely ineffective. Ye Ling's spirit sword emitted a dazzling light, forming a protective barrier that kept the black mist out.

"Be careful, this is a forbidden technique of the Ghost Clan. It can distort space and disrupt our senses."

Shu Yao gripped the medicine bottle tightly in her hand, her face grave. She tried to stabilize the surrounding space with her spiritual power, but found that this distorted force was exceptionally strong, and her spiritual power was like a mud ox sinking into the sea, unable to budge it in the slightest.

The shadowy figure let out a chilling laugh, its form flickering erratically in the distorted space, drifting like a ghost. "In this space, I am the ruler! You will all obediently accept your fate and die!" The black mist grew thicker and thicker, almost completely enveloping the space.

Ye Ling and the others' vision grew increasingly blurry; they could only rely on their faint spiritual energy to pinpoint the shadow's location. The shadow's attacks became even more unpredictable, appearing sometimes behind Ye Ling, sometimes in front of Shu Yao, and sometimes above Qing Yue's head, making it impossible to defend against. Qing Yue looked at Ye Ling, her eyes filled with worry. She leaned closer to him and whispered, "Brother Ye Ling, you must be careful."

Her body trembled slightly, and Ye Ling could feel her tension. He reached out and gently patted Qingyue's shoulder, giving her a reassuring look.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine," Ye Ling's voice was firm and strong. He held his spirit sword horizontally in front of him, vigilantly watching the surrounding changes, ready to deal with the shadowy figure's attack at any moment. The shadowy figure suddenly appeared in front of Ye Ling, her sharp claws reaching for his chest like lightning. Ye Ling reacted quickly, dodging the attack to the side, and slashed at the shadowy figure with his spirit sword.

The spirit sword clashed with the sharp claws, producing a crisp metallic clang. The shadowy figure was forced back several steps, a look of surprise on its face.

She hadn't expected that Ye Ling could withstand her attack even in such unfavorable circumstances. "You..." Youying was about to speak when she suddenly felt a powerful force erupt from Ye Ling. That force, like a tidal wave, instantly dispersed the surrounding black mist. "Youying, your game ends here!" Ye Ling's voice was cold and ruthless, the spirit sword in his hand radiating a dazzling light. "I will make you pay the price!" He took a sudden step forward, the spirit sword in his hand transforming into a streak of light, aimed straight for Youying's throat.

The shadowy figure was forced back, its face filled with disbelief. Yet, a painful memory flashed in Ye Ling's sharp eyes. The grotesque face of the demon, the suffocating feeling of despair, surged into his heart once more.

That moment of helplessness nearly cost him his life. He gripped the spirit sword tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms, feeling the real pain, reminding himself not to repeat the same mistake. "This time, I will never back down!" he silently vowed, his eyes as resolute as iron.

The figures of Shu Yao and Qing Yue appeared in his eyes, their trusting gazes filling him with strength. He would protect them, he would never let them be harmed. The light of the spirit sword shone even brighter, as if echoing his resolve. Just as You Ying thought victory was assured and prepared to launch another attack, Shu Yao suddenly spoke: "Wait! I think I've discovered something!" Her gaze was fixed on the distorted space, her brows furrowed, as if trying to detect some subtle change. After a moment, a glint flashed in her eyes, "Found it! This space has a weak point!"

Shu Yao quickly sat cross-legged, her hands forming a mudra, and she chanted incantations. Soft white light emanated from her body, flowing gently towards Ye Ling and Qing Yue like a trickle. This was her unique ability as a descendant of a spiritual healer—the power of spiritual healing, which could heal injuries and also enhance the strength of allies, stabilizing their spiritual power.

"Ye Ling, Qing Yue, catch my power!" Shu Yao's voice was weak, but full of determination. Ye Ling and Qing Yue immediately felt a warm power surge into their bodies, and their previously chaotic spiritual energy gradually calmed down, becoming stronger and more stable. They looked at each other and saw a glimmer of hope in each other's eyes.

"Now!" Ye Ling shouted, his spirit sword bursting forth with unprecedented light, like a bolt of lightning piercing the night sky, slashing fiercely at the weak point Shu Yao had pointed out. Qing Yue also swung her sword at the same time, pouring all her spiritual power into it, and a sharp sword aura followed closely behind, striking the same spot.

With a deafening boom, the distorted space shattered like a broken mirror, revealing the original cave scene. Youying let out a terrified scream; she hadn't expected Ye Ling and Qingyue to be able to break her forbidden technique. Knowing she was now at a disadvantage, she dared not linger and turned to flee.

"Trying to run? Not so easy!" Ye Ling wasn't about to let her go. He flashed forward, chasing after her like a cheetah. The shadowy figure moved incredibly fast, weaving through the cave like a black lightning bolt.

Ye Ling pursued relentlessly, wielding his spirit sword constantly, forcing You Ying to dodge left and right, leaving her in a sorry state. Just as Ye Ling was about to catch up with You Ying, she suddenly let out a strange laugh and then vanished into thin air.

Ye Ling abruptly stopped, warily scanning his surroundings, but there was no sign of Youying. He didn't know where Youying had gone, and his heart was filled with vigilance, fearing she might attack again. He slowly walked to the spot where Youying had disappeared, carefully searching the area. Suddenly, his gaze fell on a strange symbol on the ground… This symbol exuded an evil aura, as if silently telling a story.