I was so scared that I put all my points into health.

Wang Xiaoyi slowly opened the black notebook, the rustling of the pages echoing clearly in the quiet environment. The notebook was filled with densely packed notes about the Dark Cult, the words carrying a chilling aura. It explicitly stated that the Dark Cult had been meticulously searching for items possessing special powers. These were no ordinary items; each contained a mysterious and immense power. Once they gathered all these items, it would be like completing a terrifying jigsaw puzzle, capable of breaking the long-sealed seal on the Great Evil God. Once the seal was broken, a dark power capable of destroying the world would surge forth, bringing utter annihilation to the entire world.

Wang Xiaoyi grew increasingly horrified as he looked around, the attack from earlier that day replaying in his mind. His brow furrowed, a deep suspicion creeping into his eyes. He thought that today's attack might just be a carefully orchestrated ruse. The Dark Cult's true purpose might be to exploit this seemingly accidental conflict in the seemingly ordinary food street, searching for some special item they coveted, or perhaps a unique clue that could guide them to the key.

The more Wang Xiaoyi thought about it, the more likely it seemed. He couldn't wait to tell President Winnie his thoughts. Upon hearing this, President Winnie's relaxed expression instantly turned serious. Her brows furrowed tightly, and her eyes were filled with worry about the unknown danger. She took a deep breath and slowly said, "What you said makes a lot of sense. The food street has a long history, having weathered countless changes over the years. It's like a treasure box full of secrets. In this long process, perhaps what they need is truly hidden. We can't be careless; we must carefully examine this place."

Under Guild Master Winnie's arrangement, the adventurers quickly divided into several groups and began a thorough search of the food street. Alpha took the lead, guiding a team towards the ancient shops. The shops' architecture was rustic and mysterious, their signs swaying gently in the breeze, as if telling stories of the past. Alpha's eyes shone with determination as he meticulously examined every corner of the shops, leaving no stone unturned in searching for any possible hiding places. Allen was not to be outdone; he led another group searching the corners of the food street and beneath the streets. They bent over, carefully examining every brick and stone, occasionally tapping them with their hands, trying to find hidden compartments or passages.

Wang Xiaoyi followed President Winnie to an ancient fountain in the center of the food street. This fountain appeared to have existed for a very long time, the years bearing deep marks. The water no longer flowed, and the bottom of the pool was covered with moss, as if imprinted by time itself. Strange runes were carved into the fountain, like mysterious marks left by ancient elves, radiating an enigmatic aura. Wang Xiaoyi cautiously approached the fountain, bending down to carefully examine the runes. His eyes were focused, not missing a single detail. He discovered that the runes seemed to follow a certain pattern, like a sequence of hidden codes, pointing in a specific direction.

Guild Master Winnie also noticed the anomaly of the runes. She quietly stepped forward, closed her eyes, and concentrated her magic. She extended her slender fingers and slowly touched the runes with her magic. As she touched them, the runes seemed to awaken, emitting a faint glow. Suddenly, a slight sound came from the bottom of the fountain, followed by the slow opening of a hidden compartment. Inside the compartment was a box emanating a faint dark aura. That dark aura, like an invisible snake, quietly crept into everyone's nostrils, causing a chill to run down their spines.

Just as everyone was holding their breath, staring intently at the box that emitted a faint aura of darkness, a sinister laugh suddenly erupted from the surroundings. The laughter was like a cold electric current, instantly piercing their eardrums, or like the whisper of a demon from the depths of hell—cold and terrifying. Each note felt like a sharp claw, gently grazing their hearts, sending chills down their spines.

The crowd looked up in terror, their eyes widening instantly. A figure in black robes appeared before them without a sound, like a ghost emerging from endless darkness. He was like a dark mountain, pressing heavily on their hearts, emanating a powerful, suffocating oppression, as if he could crush everything around him into the endless darkness with a mere wave of his hand. Beside him were several powerful members of the Dark Cult, like a pack of walking corpses completely corrupted by darkness. Their eyes were cold and cruel, like tangible icicles, making no attempt to conceal their greed and murderous intent towards those around them, like a pack of hungry wolves waiting for their prey to step into their trap.

"Thanks, that piece of trash Loren searched for so long and still couldn't find it." The black-robed man's lips curled into a wide grin, revealing a set of white teeth that exuded utter disgust. He laughed wildly and unrestrainedly. The laughter was like a swarm of demons celebrating, echoing wildly in the air. Every laugh was filled with disdain and mockery, as if in his eyes, everyone except himself was an ant. "You troubled me with such a trivial matter." He shook his head, scanning his surroundings with the same disdainful gaze one would show to ants. His words were full of contempt, revealing a blind confidence in his own strength, as if all difficulties and opponents in the world were as fragile as paper before him.

His steps were light yet steady, each one seemingly provoking the enemy's nerves. His eyes were sharp as knives, scanning the surroundings as if they could pierce through all defenses and strike straight at the enemy's heart. Every movement of his was full of power and skill, as if he were performing a dance of death.

Under his control, dark forces surged like a tidal wave, devouring everything that dared to stand in his way. His figure flashed in different locations, each appearance accompanied by screams of terror and wails of despair.

The black-robed leader's movements were not only swift and precise, but also carried an indescribable sense of intimidation. Every subtle gesture of his seemed to speak of his boundless ambition and ruthless methods, sending chills down one's spine.

"Give it to me, and I'll leave you a whole corpse." The man in black robes stopped in front of President Vinnie, his voice as calm as still water, utterly devoid of emotion, yet his words were cruel beyond measure, each syllable a pronouncement from hell, chilling enough to freeze one's soul. The black-robed leader was like a ghost in the darkness, his movements as unpredictable and dangerous as a whirlwind. With a light leap, as if crossing the boundaries of time and space, he instantly appeared in the center of the food street plaza. His hand was like the scythe of death, capable of taking countless lives with a single swing.

President Winnie reacted with lightning speed, like a nimble cheetah, instantly lunging forward. An invisible force seemed to surround her, creating a slight ripple in the air. She tightly shielded the box emanating a dark aura behind her, and the box's dark energy seemed to sense the approaching danger, trembling slightly. Her expression was serious and cold, her eyes filled with vigilance, like a fully drawn bowstring, ready to face any impending peril.

She turned to look at Wang Xiaoyi, her gaze filled with undeniable authority, and said rapidly but clearly, "You step back. This man in black is very strong. I'll handle him." Her voice was calm, yet like a steady drumbeat, each word conveying a firm resolve, as if no difficulty was insurmountable before her.

The black-robed leader snorted coldly, his voice like a chilling gust of wind, sending shivers down one's spine. His gaze, like two icy swords, mercilessly pierced President Vinnie, scrutinizing every detail of her. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, fleeting like a shooting star across the night sky. He hadn't expected that such a powerful figure would still exist in the now-declining city of Elparan. This discovery stirred a hint of curiosity within his previously contemptuous heart. A slight smile played on his lips, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, carrying a cruel mockery. However, this level of strength was far from enough for him. He thought to himself, "Perfect timing, I'll find some amusement to toy with this arrogant woman, just like a cat always plays with a mouse before devouring it."

The atmosphere was incredibly tense, like a string stretched to its limit, as if the air itself had been magically frozen solid. President Winnie stood there, her usual composure seemingly swept away by a gust of wind, leaving no trace. Her palms were now drenched in sweat, beads of perspiration like glistening pearls gathering on her trembling hands. She knew perfectly well that the group of black-robed figures before her, especially the one in the middle, were incredibly powerful. She hadn't encountered such formidable enemies in a long time.