The three of them rushed toward Holy Sage Peak, and as they drew closer, the smell of blood and burning flesh became increasingly pronounced. The ground was littered with the scars of battle, with charred trees and shattered stones scattered everywhere. Many lifeless bodies began to appear along the way, whether they were Demons or Cultivators from the Hidden Clan, lying silently in pools of blood, as if silently narrating the brutality of this conflict.
Li Ming, Master Han, and Chen Yao's steps grew heavier, their hearts filled with sorrow and anger. Suddenly, Chen Yao let out a cry that shattered the silence. She quickly ran to a nearby corpse, kneeling beside it, her eyes brimming with tears and shock.
It was a woman clad in a hooded cloak, wearing attire similar to Chen Yao's; it was clear she was an assassin from the same clan. Her body was covered in sword wounds and burns, evidently having endured a fierce battle. The hood partially obscured her face, but one could still discern the resilience and determination she had in life.
"Li'er..." Chen Yao's voice trembled as she gently caressed the woman's cheek, tears streaming down silently.
Li Ming and Master Han approached, their hearts heavy at the sight. Li Ming softly asked, "Chen Yao, was she your companion?"
Chen Yao nodded, her voice choked with emotion. "She was my sister who grew up with me. We trained together and undertook missions together. I never expected to find her here..."
Master Han sighed, a flicker of sorrow crossing his eyes. "This battle has brought us too much pain and sacrifice. Chen Yao, my condolences. We must continue forward—for those who have fallen and for the entire Hidden Realm."
Li Ming stepped closer and gently patted Chen Yao's shoulder, his tone comforting. "Chen Yao, we will avenge her. We must grow stronger to protect more people."
Wiping away her tears, Chen Yao nodded and stood up. "You’re right. We must move on; we cannot let their sacrifices be in vain."
The three continued toward Holy Sage Peak, determination shining in Chen Yao's eyes. Each step they took was on the blood of innocent victims, their hearts filled with resolve and courage. As they advanced, more corpses and remnants came into view; both enemies and allies had lost their lives in this battle.
Li Ming felt the Chaos Pearl within him vibrating as if responding to the wails of this battlefield. He knew that this fight was not over; the true challenge awaited them ahead. Clenching his fists, he silently vowed to protect this land and safeguard these innocent lives at all costs.
As they drew nearer to Holy Sage Peak, the stench of blood and burning flesh intensified. Li Ming, Master Han, and Chen Yao were filled with sorrow and anger, but they understood that now was not the time to strike. Patrol squads of Demons began to appear along the way; these patrols were highly alert, their sharp gazes scanning for potential enemies.
The three of them cautiously hid behind the ruins, quietly waiting for the patrol team to pass. They were unwilling to act rashly, so despite their hearts being filled with a burning desire for vengeance, they suppressed the impulse to strike. Li Ming held his breath, feeling the flow of Spiritual Energy within him, striving to keep his emotions calm.
Master Han fixed his gaze on the patrol team, a vigilant light flickering in his eyes. He knew that these patrols were just the tip of the iceberg; the real enemy was still waiting ahead. When the last patrol team disappeared from sight, Master Han subtly signaled, and the three of them swiftly and silently continued forward.
As they drew closer to Holy Sage Peak, the surrounding scenery grew increasingly grim. Ruined buildings and charred ground were everywhere, remnants of battle littering the landscape. Li Ming felt the Chaos Pearl within him vibrating, as if responding to the wails of this battlefield. He clenched his fists, silently vowing to protect this land and safeguard these innocent lives at all costs.
When they finally approached the summit of Holy Sage Peak, the sight before them sent a shock through their hearts. The Council Hall of Holy Sage Peak lay in ruins, thick smoke billowing around them, with collapsed structures and shattered statues scattered about. The once magnificent statues of the Three Great Families were now so destroyed that they were unrecognizable, as if narrating the brutality and mercilessness of this conflict.
Master Han stood before the ruins, his gaze fixed on the distant Council Hall, his voice heavy with sorrow and anger: "This was once a symbol of Hidden Realm, a testament to the glory and majesty of the Three Great Families, yet now it has fallen to such a state. The ambitions of the demon race are truly lawless!"
Chen Yao looked at the scene before them, her eyes filled with rage and determination: "We must drive the demon race out of Hidden Realm and restore peace to this land."
Li Ming tightened his fists, feeling the surge of Spiritual Energy within him: "We cannot let these sacrifices be in vain; we must bring peace back to Hidden Realm."
The three advanced slowly, using the remnants of walls to carefully conceal their figures. They were currently unaware of the situation and could only move stealthily to see if they could gather any intelligence—at least to know how many troops the demon race had. Master Han led the way, alertly observing their surroundings while Chen Yao followed closely behind Li Ming, who brought up the rear; together they maintained a perfect silence.
As they got closer to the Council Hall, the devastation around them intensified; ruins and charred earth were omnipresent, and the air was thick with a heavy scent of blood and smoke. Each step they took felt like treading upon remnants of battle, amplifying their sense of heaviness.
Li Ming tightly gripped the Chaos Pearl, sensing its faint vibrations; unease began to rise within him. He knew that the power of Chaos Pearl was responding to the malevolent energy present in this land. Suddenly, Master Han stopped in his tracks, furrowing his brow as he concentrated on sensing the atmosphere around them.
"What is it, Master Han?" Li Ming whispered.
Master Han shook his head slightly, a note of caution in his voice: "I sense a strong evil energy deep within the Council Hall that matches what we encountered at the portal on Earth."
Hearing this, Chen Yao's expression grew serious. "This means the Demon Clan may have set up similar portals here, or this could be their base."
Li Ming nodded, a glimmer of determination in his eyes. "We need to understand the situation here before we can formulate our next plan."
They hid behind a broken statue as Master Han whispered, "We must find a safe place to closely observe the movements of the Demon Clan. The patrols indicate they take this area seriously; we cannot act recklessly."
Li Ming nodded again, glancing toward the nearby Council Hall. "We can circle around from here and look for a higher vantage point. Perhaps we can gather more intelligence."
Chen Yao agreed. "Alright, let's do that. But we must remain concealed and avoid detection."
The three set off once more, maneuvering around the patrols and using the crumbling buildings and ruins to shield their movements. They found a higher ruin from which they could clearly see the situation at the Council Hall.
Master Han focused again, sensing the malevolent energy. "There is indeed a powerful energy source here; it feels very similar to the previous portal. This might be one of their command centers."
Li Ming nodded, silently noting this information. "We need to figure out their specific plans and troop deployments so we can find a way to respond."
Chen Yao looked at Master Han, concern evident in her voice. "What should we do? The situation here is more complicated than we imagined."
Master Han pondered for a moment before saying, "We need more intelligence. Li Ming, Chen Yao, we will split up and keep in touch. Remember, under no circumstances should we expose ourselves."
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