I dominated the game from the start with cards.

The anticipated calm didn't arrive the moment the runes shattered. An even more bizarre suction force, like an invisible behemoth opening its blood-red maw, frantically devoured everything around them. The group, already expending immense energy, were now further weakened, teetering like candles in the wind. Li Xuan felt his power draining away like a flood, even his prized mental perception began to falter, the world before him distorted like a kaleidoscope. He gritted his teeth, desperately resisting the suction, trying to steady himself, only to find himself sinking deeper into quagmire with each struggle. Mu Yang wasn't in much better shape; his face was pale, large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, and he clung tightly to a protruding rock beside him, barely managing to avoid being sucked away. "Elder Zhou!" Li Xuan exclaimed in horror, seeing Elder Zhou's body swaying precariously under the suction, like a withered leaf. The old man's once ruddy complexion had turned ashen, his life force seemingly being stripped away bit by bit, a look of pain on his face. Sister Wu anxiously tried to step forward to help him, but she was also firmly bound by the suction force, and could only watch helplessly as Old Zhou's life force gradually slipped away. "I... my power..." Li Xuan managed to squeeze out a few words through his teeth, feeling his consciousness gradually fading.

He tried hard to gather his strength, but found that his body was empty, like a dried-out fruit shell.

Lin Yu and Ling Feng are in relatively better condition, but not much better.

Lin Yu, with his strong physique, could barely hold on, but the look of terror on his face remained. Ling Feng, shrouded in his cloak, couldn't see his expression, but his slightly trembling body showed that he wasn't entirely unaffected either. "Give up...give up resisting..." a weak voice came from the crowd, "Perhaps...perhaps the rune will stop once it's saturated..." This suggestion was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples. Some agreed, while others vehemently opposed. "No! We absolutely cannot give up!" Mu Yang gritted his teeth, his voice hoarse, "Who knows what will happen when it's saturated? What if..." "But...how much longer can we hold on?" another person cried out in despair, "If this continues, we'll all die here!" The crowd was caught in a dilemma, and despair permeated the air. Just then, Ling Feng suddenly moved. He slowly raised a hand, and in the shadows beneath his cloak, a strange light could be faintly seen flickering. "It's not over yet..." Ling Feng's voice was low and hoarse, like a whisper from hell, "The real test... has only just begun..." Ling Feng's words exploded in everyone's ears like a thunderclap. Give up resistance? Let this strange suction devour their life force? This was tantamount to slow suicide! "No! I will never give up!" Mu Yang roared, veins bulging, struggling to steady himself. He gritted his teeth, large beads of sweat mixed with dust, leaving streaks on his face. His resolute gaze swept over everyone, as if conveying an indomitable will. Although Lin Yu was afraid, seeing Mu Yang's determination, he also gritted his teeth, trying to control his trembling body. "Yes! Fighting to the death is better than waiting to die!" Sister Wu hugged Old Zhou tightly, the old man's breathing growing weaker and weaker, her heart aching, yet powerless. Despair spread through her heart, but she still did not give up, she held Old Zhou's hand tightly, as if trying to transfer her strength to him. Li Xuan's mind raced. He suppressed the chaos in his senses, desperately searching for a solution. Give up? Absolutely not! He still had an unfinished mission; he still needed to find the truth behind his sect's destruction, he still needed revenge! Suddenly, a bold idea flashed through his mind. Since the runes could absorb power, why couldn't they do the opposite, concentrating more power and actively rushing towards the runes? Perhaps, this was the key to breaking the deadlock! "I have a way!" Li Xuan's voice was weak, but exceptionally firm. He shared his idea with everyone. This idea was undoubtedly crazy, like moths to a flame, but at this moment, they had no other choice. "Worth a try!" Mu Yang supported Li Xuan's suggestion without hesitation. Lin Yu hesitated for a moment, but seeing the determination of Li Xuan and Mu Yang, he nodded as well. "Alright! Let's go for it!" Sister Wu glanced at the unconscious Old Zhou, a resolute glint in her eyes. She gently placed Old Zhou on the ground, stood up, and prepared to join them. Lingfeng remained silent, but his outstretched hand from beneath his cloak revealed his readiness. "Ready!" Li Xuan took a deep breath, gathering his remaining strength. The group formed a circle, their hands clasped together, and streams of energy converged into a surging river. "Charge!" Li Xuan commanded, and the group released their combined power, creating a powerful energy flow that surged towards the rune. Sensing this immense force, the rune trembled violently, its suction intensifying. The two sides were locked in a stalemate, like a tug-of-war. "Give it your all!" Li Xuan shouted, his face flushed, having poured all his strength into it. A tense atmosphere filled the air; everyone gave it their all, daring not to slacken. Victory or defeat hinged on this moment! Suddenly, Lingfeng's voice rang out again, low and hoarse: "Be careful..." Before Lingfeng could finish speaking, the rune's suction suddenly intensified, like a giant vortex threatening to engulf everyone. Li Xuan felt a powerful pulling force dragging him backward. He gritted his teeth, resisting the suction with all his might. His mental perception was pushed to its limit at this moment. In the chaotic scene, he vaguely saw some unusual fluctuations at the bottom of the rune. Just then, Ling Feng's voice came again, low and urgent: "Li Xuan, the bottom of the rune! Attack its bottom!" Li Xuan's heart skipped a beat. Ling Feng's words were like a beacon in the darkness, illuminating the way forward. He immediately understood Ling Feng's meaning; the bottom of the rune was likely its weakness! Without the slightest hesitation, Li Xuan shouted, "Change direction, attack the bottom of the rune!" Upon hearing this, everyone immediately adjusted the direction of their power, concentrating all their energy on the bottom of the rune. This required extremely high tacit understanding and cooperation; the slightest carelessness would lead to failure. Fortunately, they had already experienced countless life-and-death trials before, and an unspoken understanding had long been formed between them. Mu Yang took the lead, unleashing all the power within him, forming a sharp sword aura that pierced straight at the bottom of the rune. Lin Yu followed closely behind, wielding his giant axe and cleaving fiercely at the base of the rune. Although Sister Wu wasn't skilled in attack, she still channeled her power into a beam of light, shooting it towards the base of the rune. Li Xuan's mental perception played a crucial role at this moment; he constantly adjusted the direction of everyone's attacks, ensuring each strike hit the rune's weak point. He was like a conductor, leading everyone in a stirring battle symphony. Under the fierce onslaught, the rune trembled even more violently, its suction reaching its peak. It seemed to be making a final struggle, attempting to devour everyone. However, the group's determination and strength were like an unbreakable rock, unshakable no matter how it attacked. Ling Feng's figure flickered in the air, his staff radiating dazzling light, streams of mysterious power continuously flowing into the rune, intensifying its vibrations. He was like an experienced doctor precisely removing the lesion. "Boom!" With a deafening roar, the rune finally succumbed to the onslaught, shattering into countless fragments that dissipated into the air. The surrounding suction force vanished, and everyone felt a sudden lightness in their bodies, as if a tremendous burden had been lifted. A warm current surged through their bodies, and they felt their strength increase and their spirits become more invigorated. This was the energy released after the runes shattered, which they absorbed.

Li Xuan slowly opened his eyes. Looking at the scene around him, he was filled with emotion.

They finally overcame the powerful rune and successfully averted the crisis.

However, he knew that this was only the beginning.

Lingfeng's figure slowly descended, his voice low and hoarse: "Next, even greater challenges await us..."

He raised his head, gazing into the distance, a glint of light flashing in his eyes. "They've come..." Under the combined attack of the group, the runes emitted a deafening roar, shattering like glass, bursting forth with dazzling light before finally turning to dust and vanishing without a trace. The suffocating suction vanished instantly, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief, collapsing to the ground, panting heavily. Li Xuan felt a warm current surge from his dantian, rapidly flowing throughout his body; every cell rejoiced, greedily absorbing this pure energy. He felt his mental strength become more solid, and his perception range expanded considerably. He slowly stood up, clenching his fist, feeling the surging power within him; an unprecedented sense of power welled up within him. Mu Yang also stood up; his previously pale face was now much rosier, his eyes sparkling with excitement. He drew his longsword, and with a gentle swing, a sharp sword aura pierced the air, several times more powerful than before. "Haha, we did it!" Lin Yu roared excitedly, wielding his giant axe as if to unleash all his joy. Sister Wu smiled gently. Although she wasn't skilled in combat, she clearly felt a significant improvement in her mental strength, which would greatly help her future medical relief work. Old Zhou stroked his beard, looking at everyone with satisfaction, his eyes filled with admiration: "Well done, you all did very well." Ling Feng's figure slowly descended. He put away his staff, a faint smile on his face: "Congratulations on successfully breaking through this barrier. This power is formed from the essence of runes, which can greatly enhance your strength. Make good use of it." Everyone was immersed in the joy of victory, celebrating each other's achievements and sharing their feelings after the breakthrough. They knew this victory was hard-won, the result of their concerted efforts. However, a sense of unease lingered deep within Li Xuan's heart. He knew this was only the beginning; even greater challenges awaited them. The mastermind behind the destruction of their sect remains at large. He must find them as soon as possible and avenge his sect. "We cannot let our guard down," Li Xuan said solemnly. "The real enemy has not yet appeared. We must be prepared to face even greater challenges." Mu Yang nodded; he understood Li Xuan's meaning. Their victory this time, while encouraging, had also exposed their strength, potentially attracting even more powerful enemies.

Just as everyone was preparing to discuss their next plan, a dark cloud suddenly appeared in the distance, churning like a giant vortex and slowly approaching them.

A powerful, malevolent aura emanated from the dark clouds, sending chills down one's spine.

Ling Feng's expression changed. He looked up at the dark cloud, a hint of seriousness flashing in his eyes.

"They...have arrived..."