System: Infinite Evolution into Qilin Bloodline

Zhang Hao, Wu Tianzhen, Fatty, and Zhang Qilin lay hidden in the dimly lit house, their eyes gleaming as they intently watched the villagers' every move through the mottled windowpanes. Thunder roared, its sound like war drums resonating in everyone's hearts. The villagers, some squatting, some sitting, their faces grave, seemed to tremble with the rhythm of the thunder.

As the sky gradually quieted down and the thunder subsided, the villagers slowly got up, brushed the dust off their clothes, and prepared to go home.

Just as this silence was about to be broken, a sudden gunshot shattered the tranquility of the night, like a sharp blade piercing taut nerves.

A group of men, dressed in black with cold expressions, silently surrounded the entire village, leaving no room for escape.

Zhang Hao and the other three exchanged glances, a complex emotion flashing in their eyes—a mixture of curiosity and a barely perceptible hint of anger.

They exchanged a glance, needing no further words, both understanding that this sudden turn of events was perhaps intricately connected to the purpose of their trip.

The villagers were terrified and fled in all directions, only to be forced back to their original spot by men in black pointing guns at them.

Whispers rose and fell, but no one dared to make a sound, for fear of becoming the next target.

The men in black moved swiftly and methodically, gathering the villagers one by one until all eyes were fixed on the village chief's aged face.

The cold muzzle of the gun was pressed against the village chief's forehead. The air seemed to freeze, and only the sounds of heartbeats and breathing could be heard.

"Speak! Where is the entrance to the Holy Land?"

The leader of the men in black spoke in a deep, powerful voice, each word like a heavy hammer striking the hearts of everyone present.

The village chief's lips trembled, his eyes filled with both fear and determination. He murmured a few words, among which the three words "Phoenix Feather" exploded in the ears of Zhang Hao and the other three like thunderclaps.

Instantly, their hearts raced, and all their guesses and doubts were answered—the phoenix feather they had been searching for was hidden in the sacred place of this seemingly ordinary village.

And that legendary phoenix feather was precisely the purpose of their journey.

Zhang Hao and the other three exchanged glances and remained silent in tacit agreement.

The holy site seems to be a secret of this village, and they won't easily reveal it. Why not use these men in black to find out the location of the holy site's entrance?

However, each of these men in black was ruthless and cruel; in their eyes, human life was worthless.

The leader held a gun to the village chief's head and raised his other hand to check the time.

“My patience is limited. I will kill one person every minute. I will not hesitate to kill you all. We will find the entrance to the Holy Land eventually.”

"Uncle, you must stop them from indiscriminately killing innocent people!"

Seeing the scene outside the window, Wu Tianzhen couldn't bear it and pleaded with Zhang Hao.

Little did he know that his voice was overheard by the men in black outside.

With a single glance from the leader of the men in black, four or five men in black immediately guarded the entrance to the small house where Zhang Hao and his companions were.

"Those inside, get out now, or you'll face the consequences!"

Zhang Hao shook his head. It seemed the plan had to be changed; obtaining information about the entrance to the Holy Land through these men in black was no longer an option.

He looked at the people around him and said, "Since we've been discovered, let's get out."

Under the cover of night, Zhang Hao, Wu Tianzhen, Fatty, and Zhang Qilin calmly stepped out of the dimly lit house, like four beams of light illuminating the surrounding gloom.

The leader of the men in black swept his gaze over them, a disdainful sneer curling at the corner of his mouth. His voice was tinged with amusement and mockery: "Heh, it's quite rare that this remote and impoverished place can actually welcome a few uninvited guests."

Presumably, they came for the secrets of that sacred place, right?

"In that case, let me escort you there, to save you any further trouble."

After saying that, he waved his hand lightly, and a single glance was enough to convey endless killing intent.

Instantly, the men in black around them seemed to be controlled by an invisible hand, raising their guns and pointing the dark muzzles at Zhang Hao and his companions. The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder and the palpable sense of impending death.

Despite the sudden attack, Zhang Hao and his three companions showed no sign of panic.

A faint smile appeared on Zhang Hao's lips, and his eyes gleamed with wisdom.

The fat man, on the other hand, looked fearless, with his arms crossed, as if all of this was within his expectations.

Zhang Qilin moved with the agility of a cheetah, instantly leaping in front of the crowd. The Black Gold Ancient Blade in his hand seemed to come alive, transforming into a black lightning bolt that drew dazzling trajectories in the night sky.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!" Gunshots rang out one after another, but every bullet that touched the dense net woven by the black and gold ancient sword was as if it had encountered an invisible barrier and was bounced off, scattering all over the ground.

This scene left all the men in black present wide-eyed in shock, staring in disbelief at the young man who had single-handedly withstood all the attacks. "This...how is this possible?!"

The leader of the men in black was filled with disbelief. He had never seen such amazing martial arts skills, which could even easily block bullets. This was simply beyond his comprehension.

His expression shifted rapidly in shock, his eyes flashing with a complex light—fear, anger, and a hint of cunning.

He knew that the four people in front of him were no ordinary people, especially Zhang Qilin, who wielded the Black Gold Ancient Blade and whose strength was beyond imagination.

However, to become the leader of this group of men in black, he must have some unknown trump cards and methods.

"Hmph, a few mere brats dare to swagger in front of me."

The leader of the men in black feigned composure, but in reality, his heart was churning with turmoil.

He deliberately slowed down his speech to buy time, while his hands silently formed a hand seal in the blind spot of Zhang Hao and the others. A faint but eerie blue light danced at his fingertips, which was the unique source of his power as a Gu Master.

In ancient legends, Gu masters could control the spirits of all things, using insects, snakes, birds and beasts as mediums to unleash spells that terrified people.

And this leader of the men in black is one of the inheritors of this ancient technique.

He silently chanted a spell, and an indescribable, chilling aura surrounded him, as if even the air itself had frozen.

As the incantation deepened, a sinister smile crept onto the leader of the men in black. He suddenly opened his mouth, and a chilling scene unfolded.

A black snake, its entire body jet black and its eyes gleaming with an eerie green light, slowly emerged from his mouth. The snake's body was entwined with intricate patterns, as if it contained boundless power and venom.

"Go ahead, show them what you're capable of!"

The leader of the men in black gave a low shout, and the black snake seemed to receive the command, instantly transforming into a black lightning bolt and heading straight for Zhang Qilin.

A strong stench and unease filled the air. Seeing this, the men in black revealed expressions of excitement and anticipation. They knew that their leader's trump card was enough to turn the tide of the battle.