In the war between humans and demons, it's not unreasonable for me to absorb demonic energy, is

The whispers brought by the black light, like the tolling of an ancient bell, echoed in the hearts of Fan Tong and his companions.

The phrase "a greater challenge..." was like a seed that took root and sprouted in their hearts, igniting an endless desire for exploration.

The joy of victory gradually faded, replaced by anticipation for the unknown journey ahead.

They knew that the real test had just begun.

Deep inside the cave, a cold, damp wind blew against their robes.

The patterns on the surrounding stone walls became increasingly obscure and difficult to understand, as if they were claw marks left by an ancient behemoth.

The black light slowly receded, guiding them in the direction they were heading.

The air became stagnant and oppressive, making even breathing seem difficult.

Fan Tong took the first step, resolutely heading deeper into the cave.

Old Camel followed closely behind, his honest face filled with unease. He kept looking back as if some unknown danger was lurking behind him.

Lan Xing and Han Xinru exchanged a glance, their eyes flashing with curiosity and vigilance. They stood guard on either side of each other, providing security for the team.

They walked along the winding path for a long time, and the surroundings became increasingly dark, with a putrid smell permeating the air.

Suddenly, a wide-open space appeared before them, and a huge circular array appeared out of nowhere.

The formation was composed of countless complex lines, which shimmered with a ghostly blue light, revealing an air of mystery and unpredictability.

"What...what is this?" Old Camel's voice trembled slightly, his eyes fixed on the formation, as if he had seen something terrifying.

"This formation looks unusual; I think it's best not to touch it lightly."

Fan Tong stared intently at the formation. He vaguely sensed that it contained some kind of powerful force, which might be the "greater challenge" the treasure had mentioned.

“No, Old Camel,” Fan Tong’s voice was unusually firm, “Now that we’re here, there’s no reason for us to back down. How will we know what’s hidden here if we don’t try?” He took a step forward, about to reach out and touch the formation.

Old Camel quickly grabbed Fan Tong's arm and said anxiously, "Fan Tong, it's too dangerous! What if there are traps or mechanisms inside? Wouldn't we all be wiped out?"

"It is precisely because of the danger that it is worth exploring." Fan Tong's eyes gleamed with confidence. "If we don't even dare to face this little bit of danger, how can we gain a foothold in this fantasy world?"

"But..." Old Camel wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Fan Tong's words.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing!" Fan Tong pried open the old camel's hand, a resolute glint in his eyes, and slowly reached out towards the formation...

Just as Fan Tong's fingers were about to touch the formation, a sudden change occurred!

A blinding light erupted from the center of the formation, and the entire cave began to shake violently.

The ground was cracked, gravel flew everywhere, and dust kept falling from the cave ceiling.

At the same time, countless dark blue phantoms surged out from the formation, emitting sharp howls, and pounced on Fan Tong and the others like hungry wolves.

"Watch out!" Fan Tong shouted, shoving the old camel aside and brandishing his longsword to meet the phantoms.

The sword flashed, its chilling aura scattering several approaching phantoms.

However, there were simply too many phantoms; they surged forth like a tidal wave, making it difficult to resist.

Although the old camel was pushed away, he was also startled by the sudden change. He stood there, stunned and at a loss for what to do.

Lan Xing and Han Xinru reacted quickly, each unleashing their magical weapons and joining the battle.

Lanxing's weapon was a dagger that gleamed with a cold light. She was agile and moved freely among the phantoms. With each swing of the dagger, she took away a phantom.

Han Xinru used a long whip, its whip flashing and dancing like a serpent, repelling the approaching phantoms.

However, these phantoms are not physical entities, but are made of some kind of energy, and ordinary attacks can only cause limited damage to them.

Despite Fan Tong and the others' valiant resistance, they gradually began to feel overwhelmed.

Just then, a phantom bypassed Fan Tong's sword and suddenly crashed into Han Xinru.

Han Xinru was unable to dodge in time and was hit on the shoulder by the phantom, letting out a muffled groan.

She staggered back a few steps, her face turning pale instantly, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

"Xinru!" Upon seeing this, Fan Tong's heart tightened, and he hurriedly wanted to go over to check on Han Xinru's injuries.

However, Blue Star stopped him.

Instead of immediately treating Han Xinru as usual, she stared intently at the formation, her brows furrowed, as if deep in thought.

“Lan Xing, you…” Fan Tong looked at Lan Xing anxiously, not understanding why she was behaving so strangely.

Lan Xing ignored Fan Tong. She took a deep breath, a glint of light flashing in her eyes, and said in a deep voice, "These phantoms are not random. They... they seem to be mimicking our movements!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was taken aback and began to observe the phantoms around them.

Sure enough, the movements of those phantoms were strikingly similar to their moves, only faster and more ferocious.

"In other words..." the old camel muttered to himself, "as long as we stop attacking..."

Lan Xing suddenly raised his head, his eyes flashing with determination: "That's right! Stop attacking and observe the changes in the formation!"

Upon hearing Lan Xing's words, Fan Tong and Lao Tuo immediately ceased their attack, and the phantoms also came to a standstill.

After a brief silence, Fan Tong seized the opportunity and launched the first attack, with Lao Tuo following closely behind.

Sword shadows and fist winds roared out, cleverly countering the illusions according to the patterns discovered on Blue Star.

However, the phantom's attacks grew increasingly fierce, and the eerie blue light stung the eyes.

A sharp whistling sound filled the entire cave, as if it were about to pierce everyone's eardrums.

Fan Tong could feel his back soaked with sweat, and the sword in his hand had become somewhat slippery, requiring even more force to swing it each time.

Old Camel's breathing became heavy and rapid, and the sound of his fists and feet carrying his exhaustion was evident.

Just as they were getting overwhelmed, Elder Gu suddenly appeared to their side.

He crossed his arms and watched quietly as Fan Tong and the others fought a fierce battle with the phantom, showing no intention of helping.

This undoubtedly increased the pressure on everyone. Although Fan Tong had doubts and dissatisfaction, he had no time to think about it.

Lan Xing kept her eyes fixed on the formation. Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and she shouted, "Fan Tong, attack the northwest corner of the formation with all your might!" Without hesitation, Fan Tong concentrated all his strength into a single sword strike and thrust it fiercely towards the northwest corner of the formation.

With a loud bang, the array shone brightly before vanishing instantly, and the phantoms disappeared without a trace.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and admired Lan Xing's intelligence. Joy spread throughout the team.

However, Elder Gu slowly walked towards them, his expression solemn, and said, "Don't be too happy yet, something even more terrible awaits you ahead." His voice was like a cold stone striking their hearts, and the joy that had just risen was instantly shrouded in gloom.

Fan Tong took a deep breath, gripped his sword tightly, and looked ahead with a determined gaze.

Elder Gu raised an eyebrow slightly as he looked at Fan Tong, then turned and walked forward.

Fan Tong and the others exchanged glances and cautiously followed.