I dominated the game from the start with cards.

The golden sword light dissipated, and Ye Ling stared in disbelief at the unharmed Dark Soul, a chill running from the soles of his feet straight to his heart.

This invisible shield, like an insurmountable chasm, rendered all their efforts futile. "What's going on? How did her defense suddenly become so strong?"

Qingyue also stopped her attack, her delicate face filled with astonishment. The sword in her hand emitted a low hum, seemingly uneasy about this sudden turn of events. Shuyao's brows furrowed, her pale fingers dancing rapidly in the air, several spirit needles shimmering with a pale green light swirling at her fingertips. "It seems we'll have to think of another way..." Before she could finish speaking, Anhun let out a chilling laugh, like the cry of a night owl, sending shivers down everyone's spine.

She extended her pale finger, pointing at Ye Ling and the others, her eyes filled with contempt.

"Overestimating yourself!" Ye Ling took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. He knew this wasn't the time to panic. He quickly scanned his surroundings, his mind racing as he considered a solution.

Elder Ling once said that every defense has its weakness; the key is to find it. "Qingyue, increase your attack speed and try to disrupt her vision!"

Ye Ling said in a deep voice, while the cards in his hand flew around. One of the "Swift Wind Talismans" turned into a blue whirlwind that surrounded Qingyue, instantly doubling her speed.

Qingyue charged at Anhun once more, her sword gleaming with a cold light. Her figure was as elusive as a ghost, each attack cunning and swift, the tip of her sword slicing through the air with a sharp whistling sound.

However, no matter how fast they were, each strike to the Dark Soul's shield only produced a burst of black sparks, like moths drawn to a flame, utterly futile. The Dark Soul, behind the shield, emitted eerie laughter, as if mocking their overestimation of their abilities. Shu Yao also changed her strategy, no longer attempting to attack the Dark Soul directly, but instead scattering her spirit needles around her, forming a peculiar array.

Pale green light flowed within the array, and a gentle power slowly seeped out, seemingly trying to weaken the Dark Soul's defenses.

Ye Ling stared intently at Dark Soul, trying to find a weakness in her defense. His gaze was as sharp as a hawk's, not missing a single detail.

He noticed that whenever Qingyue attacked Dark Soul's shield, a slight ripple would appear on the shield. Although it was fleeting, he caught it.

"Qingyue, attack her left shoulder!" Ye Ling suddenly shouted. Qingyue carried out Ye Ling's command without hesitation, her sword transforming into a silver lightning bolt, piercing straight for Anhun's left shoulder.

This time, the fluctuations on the shield were more pronounced, and even a slight crack appeared. Dark Soul's laughter abruptly stopped, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes.

"You..." "You..." Before Dark Soul could finish speaking, Qingyue's sword pierced through the shield again, striking the crack in it. With a "crack," the shield shattered like broken glass, and Dark Soul let out a shrill scream, his figure becoming ethereal. Ye Ling was frantic with worry upon seeing this.

He knew this was the perfect opportunity to defeat Dark Soul. He gritted his teeth, increased the power output of his cards, and unleashed several attack cards in quick succession.

Fireballs, ice arrows, lightning—the power of various elements intertwined, raining down on Dark Soul like a storm. However, at that moment, a sudden change occurred.

A sinister glint flashed in Dark Soul's eyes. She suddenly opened her arms, and a powerful dark force surged out from her body, forming a black shockwave that completely engulfed Ye Ling's attack.

Immediately afterward, this dark power transformed into a black lightning bolt, striking Ye Ling directly in the chest. "Ye Ling!" Shu Yao and Qing Yue exclaimed in unison.

Ye Ling felt a sharp pain in his chest, and his body flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily to the ground. A mouthful of blood flowed from the corner of his mouth, staining his clothes red. He struggled to stand up, but felt weak all over, and his vision blurred.

Dark Soul let out a smug laugh as she slowly approached Ye Ling, her eyes filled with killing intent. "It's over, kid." Shu Yao quickly arrived beside Ye Ling, gently placing her hand on his chest, and a soft green light flowed into his body. Ye Ling felt his pain instantly lessen, and his strength returned. He stood up, looking at Shu Yao with gratitude in his eyes.

"Thank you, Shu Yao." Ye Ling's voice was weak. Shu Yao shook her head, her eyes filled with worry. "This isn't the time to talk about this. We need to find a way to get out of here."

Just then, a deafening roar came from afar. The Blood Demon appeared in everyone's sight, his body radiating a blood-red light, like a demon from hell, his eyes filled with savagery and a bloodthirsty desire.

"Dark Soul, what are you doing? Why haven't you dealt with them yet?" Blood Demon's voice echoed through the air like thunder. Dark Soul's expression changed slightly. She glanced at Ye Ling and the others, then at the approaching Blood Demon, a hint of hesitation flashing in her eyes. Ye Ling and the others also realized the urgency of the situation.

Their strength had been significantly depleted in the previous battle, and the Blood Demon and Dark Soul were far superior to them. If the fight continued, they would likely be wiped out by the Blood Demon and Dark Soul.

"We have to find a way to break through!" Ye Ling said in a deep voice. "But we're no match for them right now," Qingyue said, her voice tinged with despair. Ye Ling's gaze fell on Shu Yao; he knew that Shu Yao's healing abilities were their only hope.

"Shu Yao, how much longer can you hold on?" Shu Yao bit her lip, her face pale. "I... I can hold on for a while longer."

Ye Ling took a deep breath, a resolute glint in his eyes. "Alright, let's fight!" Several more cards appeared in his hand, shimmering with light, ready to be unleashed... But Ling Lao's voice suddenly rang in Ye Ling's mind: "Child, don't be reckless..." "Child, don't be reckless..." Ling Lao's voice echoed in Ye Ling's mind, but was drowned out by his anxious emotions.

He unleashed several cards, flames surged, frost condensed, and lightning roared, but they were swallowed up by the dark power surging around Dark Soul, like a clay ox sinking into the sea. After several unsuccessful attacks, Ye Ling and the others gradually felt their strength waning.

The cards' light gradually dimmed, and Shu Yao's healing power began to weaken, causing everyone's breathing to become rapid. Meanwhile, Dark Soul, like a perpetual motion machine, churned with dark power around her, showing no signs of diminishing.

"This can't go on!" Ye Ling wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, enduring the excruciating pain in his chest. Their strength was being rapidly depleted, while the enemy remained unscathed. Continuing like this would only lead to total annihilation.

Qingyue looked at the injured Ye Ling, her eyes filled with worry and affection. She came to Ye Ling's side, gently wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with her slender fingers, and whispered, "Brother Ye Ling, you can't be so reckless anymore. I'll be very sad if something happens to you."

Her eyes glistened with tears, and her body trembled slightly as she moved closer to Ye Ling, as if seeking solace and security. Ye Ling took Qingyue's hand, giving her a reassuring look, but his heart felt even heavier. He understood Qingyue's worries, and he knew how dangerous their situation was.

Abandoning the attack would mean all previous efforts were wasted; continuing the attack would likely result in being wiped out by the Blood Demon and Dark Soul. Caught between a rock and a hard place, Ye Ling felt unprecedented pressure.

In the distance, the Blood Demon's roar grew closer, like a death knell, oppressing everyone's nerves. A cruel smile curled at the corner of Dark Soul's lips, as if he had already foreseen their fate.

A sense of despair began to spread through everyone's hearts. Were they really going to give up? Were they really going to perish here? Ye Ling recalled Elder Ling's previous advice and realized he might have overlooked some crucial information. Elder Ling had once said that the power of the Dark Soul originated from darkness, and darkness was not invincible… He quickly searched his mind for Elder Ling's words, trying to find a way to break through the Dark Soul's defenses.

“Darkness…the source…” Ye Ling murmured to himself, when suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him.

He remembered that Elder Ling had once mentioned a special spiritual herb that could purify dark power, perhaps… Just as Ye Ling was deep in thought, Dark Soul suddenly launched a powerful attack. Black energy swept in like a giant wave, directly breaking through their defenses and heading towards Shu Yao. “Shu Yao!” Ye Ling was shocked. He pushed Qing Yue aside and flashed to stand in front of Shu Yao.

Dark Soul's attack struck Ye Ling hard in the back. He groaned and flew out like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily to the ground and losing consciousness.

"Ye Ling!" Shu Yao exclaimed, rushing to Ye Ling's side, tears streaming down her face. Qing Yue also staggered to Ye Ling's side, her heart aching as she looked at the unconscious Ye Ling.

Dark Soul let out a chilling laugh and slowly walked towards them, his eyes flashing with bloodlust.

"It's over..." His consciousness drifted in the darkness, and Ye Ling felt as if he had fallen into an abyss. Elder Ling's warning, Shu Yao's worried gaze, and Qing Yue's trembling shoulders flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern. He struggled to grasp something, but could only feel endless emptiness and powerlessness.

"Child, darkness is not invincible. Only by finding the source can we break this deadlock..." Elder Ling's voice, like a morning bell and evening drum, resounded in the chaotic consciousness. The source, the source... what is that? Ye Ling's brain raced, trying to grasp at this lifeline.

He recalled every meeting, every conversation, and every detail with Elder Ling.

The flickering candlelight in the cave, the old spirit's profound gaze, and that yellowed ancient book... "Dark Soul, a dark spirit, lives by devouring negative emotions, with astonishing defensive power..." The words on the ancient book appeared before his eyes.

It devours negative emotions... its defenses are astonishing... wait! Ye Ling suddenly remembered that Elder Ling had pointed to an obscure passage in the book and explained: "The defenses of dark spirits are closely related to their energy sources. Finding the energy source is finding their weakness."

Just then, a sharp pain pulled him back to reality. He jerked his eyes open and saw Dark Soul's twisted and ferocious face. Black energy gathered in her hand, flicking its tongue like a venomous snake, aimed directly at Shu Yao, who was standing close by. "Shu Yao!" Ye Ling roared, trying to get up, but found himself unable to move.

Dark Soul's attack was already upon them, and Shu Yao's face was filled with terror and despair. In the nick of time, Ye Ling instinctively channeled his remaining spiritual power into a card in his hand. "Shield of Gale!" The card flashed, and a cyan wind shield instantly appeared in front of Shu Yao, barely blocking Dark Soul's attack.

The wind shield trembled violently, as if it would shatter at any moment. Ye Ling's heart was in his throat. He knew this was just a temporary measure and could not withstand the Dark Soul's next attack. "It's useless, struggling is futile."

Dark Soul's cold laughter was like a chilling wind from hell, piercing everyone's nerves. "Your negative emotions will only make me stronger!" In the distance, Blood Demon's roar grew closer, and the ground began to tremble.

A sense of despair spread like a plague. Qingyue clung tightly to Shuyao, her body trembling. Ye Ling gritted his teeth, enduring the excruciating pain, and struggled to stand up.

He had to do something; he couldn't just sit and wait to die! He began to carefully observe Dark Soul, trying to find her energy source. Dark Soul was surrounded by thick dark energy, like a giant black vortex, making it impossible to glimpse its inner secrets. Suddenly, Ye Ling's gaze fell on a gem shimmering with a dark red light on Dark Soul's chest. The gem beat rhythmically like a heart, emitting a chilling energy fluctuation. Could it be… Dark Soul's energy source? "Shu Yao, Qing Yue…" Ye Ling's voice was hoarse and weak, "that gem…"