I dominated the game from the start with cards.

Chapter 104 The Appearance of Magical Treasures Brings Another Crisis

"With my blood, I offer...the Soul-Sacrificing Banner!" Shadow Fiend roared, spraying crimson blood onto the crystal ball, instantly turning it pitch black, as if swallowing all light. A chilling wave spread out from Shadow Fiend, distorting space and cracking the ground, as if the end of the world had arrived. From the black crystal ball, a black banner slowly rose. Embroidered with hideous ghost faces, the banner fluttered in the eerie wind, emitting a piercing shriek that sent chills down one's spine. This was Shadow Fiend's magic weapon—the Soul-Sacrificing Banner. The moment the Soul-Sacrificing Banner appeared, the world changed color. A chilling, dark power surged forth like a tidal wave, instantly engulfing the entire battlefield. Li Xuan felt a bone-chilling cold, as if his soul was about to be frozen. Bai Yao's face was pale, gripping Lin Yu's arm tightly, her eyes filled with fear. Although Lin Yu tried to appear calm, the way he gripped his weapon betrayed his tension. "Watch out!" Li Xuan shouted, pushing Bai Yao behind Lin Yu before facing the dark power head-on. His body shimmered with golden light, attempting to resist the soul-corroding chill. However, the power of the Soul-Sacrificing Banner far exceeded Li Xuan's expectations. The dark power was like a leech, penetrating every crevice. Li Xuan's golden shield only held for a moment before being completely devoured by the dark power. "Ah!" A scream rang out as Mu Yang was struck by the dark power. His body felt as if pierced by countless sharp needles; the intense pain caused him to collapse to his knees, his face turning deathly pale, large beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. His body trembled, as if he might collapse at any moment. "Mu Yang!" Li Xuan cried anxiously, wanting to rush to help Mu Yang, but was blocked by an invisible barrier. He pounded on the barrier fiercely, but to no avail. "Hahaha!" Shadow Fiend laughed wildly, "Feel despair! The power of the Soul-Sacrificing Banner is not something you ants can withstand!" He waved the black banner in his hand even more frantically, and the dark power intensified accordingly, making Mu Yang's pain even more intense. Bai Yao and Lin Yu watched anxiously from the sidelines, but were powerless to help. They were suppressed by the dark power and could not get close to Mu Yang at all. Lin Yu gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with anger and resentment. Just then, a figure suddenly appeared on the battlefield. He was dressed in white, with a handsome face, and exuded a mysterious aura. It was Ling Feng. "Ling Feng!" Li Xuan saw Ling Feng appear and a glimmer of hope ignited in his heart. Ling Feng did not speak, but simply waved his hand, and a soft white light enveloped Mu Yang. Mu Yang's pain immediately lessened, and his trembling body gradually calmed down. When Shadow Fiend saw Ling Feng's appearance, his expression changed slightly, and a trace of fear flashed in his eyes. "You...you are..." Ling Feng ignored Ying Sha and turned to Li Xuan, saying calmly, "I've come to lend you a hand." Li Xuan looked at Ling Feng, then at the pained Mu Yang, took a deep breath, and a resolute glint flashed in his eyes. He had to find a way to break the Soul-Sacrificing Banner as soon as possible, otherwise they would all perish here. "Ling Feng, do you know how to break this Soul-Sacrificing Banner?" Li Xuan asked in a deep voice. Ling Feng smiled slightly and said meaningfully, "The weakness of the Soul-Sacrificing Banner is..." He suddenly stopped, turning his gaze to the distance, a subtle strangeness flashing in his eyes. "In...what?" Li Xuan pressed. Ling Feng didn't answer, but slowly stretched out his hand and pointed in the direction of the Soul-Sacrificing Banner... Ling Feng's finger pointed to the top of the banner, where an almost imperceptible golden rune appeared faintly. "It's right there." His tone was low, as if containing some profound meaning. Li Xuan looked in the direction Ling Feng was pointing, and the golden rune flashed by; he almost thought he was seeing things. "What is that?" "The source of the Soul-Sacrificing Banner's power, and also its weakness," Lingfeng explained. "Once that rune is destroyed, the Soul-Sacrificing Banner's power will dissipate." "But the rune vanished in a flash, and the dark power surrounding the Soul-Sacrificing Banner is so strong that we can't get close at all." Li Xuan frowned, extremely anxious. Mu Yang was still enduring immense pain; he had to find a solution as soon as possible. Just then, Li Xuan's spiritual perception suddenly warned of a strong danger about to befall Mu Yang. Without thinking, he flashed forward like an arrow, rushing towards Mu Yang. "Li Xuan!" Bai Yao exclaimed, trying to stop him, but it was too late. A more concentrated dark power suddenly surged from the surface of the Soul-Sacrificing Banner, heading straight for Mu Yang. At the critical moment, Li Xuan arrived beside Mu Yang, his hands forming a seal, and a strange spiritual fluctuation spread out, briefly interfering with the Soul-Sacrificing Banner's attack direction.

The dark force grazed past Mu Yang's body, leaving a deep trench in the ground. "Quick, go!" Li Xuan pulled Mu Yang up and pushed him towards Bai Yao and Lin Yu. Although Mu Yang was out of danger, his face was still pale and his body weak. He looked at Li Xuan gratefully, his eyes filled with admiration. "Li Xuan, are you alright?" Bai Yao asked with concern. Li Xuan shook his head, indicating that he was fine. His mental energy was greatly depleted, and his face was also somewhat pale, but he still forced himself to persevere, his eyes fixed on the Soul-Sacrificing Banner. Just then, Bai Yao suddenly exclaimed, "I've discovered it! Although this magic weapon is powerful, after each attack, there is a momentary energy return, and the golden rune will reappear at that moment!" Upon hearing this, Li Xuan's spirits lifted. This was undoubtedly a golden opportunity! "Lin Yu, prepare!" Li Xuan said in a deep voice. Lin Yu had already been unable to restrain himself. Upon hearing Li Xuan's command, a glint flashed in his eyes, and the long sword in his hand emitted a crisp dragon's roar. Seizing the moment the energy of the Soul-Sacrificing Banner flowed back, he leaped forward like a tiger descending a mountain, charging towards Shadow Fiend. "Overestimating yourself!" Shadow Fiend sneered, waving the banner and sending several black figures flying from its surface, blocking Lin Yu's path. These figures were hideous, emanating a nauseating stench—dark creatures Shadow Fiend had created using the Soul-Sacrificing Banner. At the same time, Ling Feng moved. He rapidly formed hand seals, chanting incantations, and beams of white light shot from his hands, engaging the dark creatures in combat. "Li Xuan, it's up to you now!" Ling Feng's voice rang in Li Xuan's ears. Li Xuan took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the top of the Soul-Sacrificing Banner. He knew that success or failure hinged on this… He slowly raised his hand, and a ball of golden light gradually condensed in his palm… The golden light coalesced into a light sword in Li Xuan's palm, its blade flowing with mysterious runes, radiating a chilling energy fluctuation. His gaze was piercing, fixed on the fleeting golden runes at the top of the sacrificial banner, awaiting the perfect moment. Lin Yu, like a raging beast, wielded his longsword with impenetrable speed, the flashes of blades weaving a dazzling curtain of light. He fiercely slashed at the hideous dark creatures, each swing imbued with boundless fury. However, these dark creatures seemed endless, surging towards him relentlessly, blocking his advance. Ling Feng's figure flickered across the battlefield like a ghost. His hands constantly shifted through hand seals, his mouth chanting ancient incantations, beams of white light shooting out like arrows, crushing the dark creatures one by one. However, the number of dark creatures was simply too great, and even with Ling Feng's high magical power, he gradually felt overwhelmed. Bai Yao stood to the side, her beautiful eyes fixed on Li Xuan, filled with worry and love. She knew that Li Xuan was under immense pressure, yet he remained calm and collected, searching for the key to breaking the deadlock. She clenched her fists slightly, silently praying for his safety. Her eyes seemed to say, "You'll find a way." The energy fluctuations of the Soul-Sacrificing Banner grew increasingly intense, as if the surrounding air had solidified. Suddenly, the banner trembled violently, and a powerful energy wave spread outwards. At the same time, the golden runes at the top of the banner reappeared, shimmering with dazzling light. "Now!" Li Xuan shouted inwardly, his figure shooting out like lightning, his lightsaber pointing directly at the golden runes at the top of the Soul-Sacrificing Banner. Ying Sha's expression changed drastically upon seeing this; he hadn't expected Li Xuan to seize this fleeting opportunity. He hurriedly waved the banner, trying to stop Li Xuan's attack. However, Li Xuan's speed was too fast, arriving before the Soul-Sacrificing Banner in the blink of an eye. Just as Li Xuan's lightsaber was about to touch the golden runes, Ying Sha suddenly let out a chilling laugh: "Trying to destroy my magic weapon? Not so easy!" He swung the banner, and the banner suddenly cracked open, revealing a dark hole. A powerful suction force emanated from the cave entrance, drawing everything around it in. Li Xuan felt a strong pull on him, his body involuntarily flying towards the cave entrance. Startled, he hurriedly circulated his internal energy, trying to resist the suction. "Li Xuan!" Bai Yao cried out, wanting to rush to his rescue, but Lin Yu grabbed her arm. "Don't be impulsive, going now will only be a death sentence!" Lin Yu said in a deep voice. Bai Yao was extremely anxious, but she knew Lin Yu was right. She could only watch helplessly as Li Xuan was sucked into the cave, her heart filled with worry and despair. Just then, a flash of inspiration struck Li Xuan. He remembered a similar magical artifact his sect had mentioned, which required finding its energy core to destroy. "Energy core..." Li Xuan murmured to himself, his gaze sweeping across the cave, searching for the energy core. The cave was pitch black, so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. Li Xuan could only rely on his weak spiritual perception to explore his surroundings little by little. Suddenly, his spiritual power sensed a powerful energy fluctuation ahead. A surge of joy filled him, and he hurriedly flew towards the direction from which the energy fluctuations were coming… “Found it!” Li Xuan thought to himself, a glint of light flashing in his eyes. He slowly reached out his hand, probing towards the direction from which the energy fluctuations were coming… “What is this?” Li Xuan’s hand touched a warm, smooth sphere, and a surge of pure energy instantly coursed through his body. He knew that this was the energy core of the Soul-Sacrificing Banner. Fragments of memory flooded his mind, memories of his master explaining ancient magical treasures. “Remember, the core of these kinds of magical treasures is hidden extremely deep. Find it, and you can control the entire treasure!” His master’s voice echoed in his ears, as if it were yesterday. Li Xuan gripped the energy core tightly, a powerful force surging in his hand. Outside the cave, Bai Yao was anxious, pacing back and forth. “Li Xuan, you must come out safely!” she prayed softly, tears welling in her eyes. Lin Yu patted her shoulder, comforting her, “Don’t worry, Li Xuan is a lucky man.” Mu Yang, on the other hand, calmly observed the changes in the Soul-Sacrificing Banner, trying to find other flaws. Ling Feng frowned, his hands forming increasingly complex hand seals, seemingly preparing something. The suction of the Soul-Sacrificing Banner suddenly weakened, and the black hole on its surface began to shrink. Ying Sha's expression changed drastically; he felt his connection to the Soul-Sacrificing Banner weakening. "What's going on?" he exclaimed, a flicker of panic in his eyes. Just then, a golden light shot out from the black hole, and Li Xuan appeared before everyone. He held a dazzling energy core in his hand, his gaze resolute and confident.

"Shadow Demon, your magic weapon ends here!" Li Xuan raised the energy core high, and a powerful energy wave spread outwards.

The Soul-Sacrificing Banner trembled violently, the black hole on its surface vanished completely, and the surging dark creatures turned to ashes. Shadow Fiend's face was pale, his eyes filled with resentment and rage. "No! My Soul-Sacrificing Banner!" he roared, his figure flashing as he lunged at Li Xuan. "Careful!" Bai Yao cried out, wanting to help, but Lin Yu stopped her. "Trust Li Xuan, he can handle it," Lin Yu said firmly. A cold smile appeared on Li Xuan's lips; he had expected Shadow Fiend to act desperately. The energy core in his hand shone brightly, a golden beam shooting towards Shadow Fiend. Unable to dodge in time, Shadow Fiend was struck by the golden light, letting out a scream as he flew backward. "Cough cough..." Shadow Fiend struggled to his feet, his eyes filled with venom. "Li Xuan, you destroyed my magic weapon, I will make you pay the price!" Li Xuan ignored his threat, turning his gaze to the energy core in his hand. He felt the energy core gradually dimming; he knew it wouldn't last much longer. He needs to find a way to break the Soul Sacrifice Banner as soon as possible; otherwise, once the energy core is exhausted, the Soul Sacrifice Banner may be activated again, with unimaginable consequences.

Li Xuan carefully observed the patterns in Ying Sha's use of magical artifacts. He sensed that the energy core seemed to be hidden deep within the artifact's radiance, but he couldn't pinpoint its exact location. His gaze fell upon the intricate patterns carved on the pole of the Soul-Sacrificing Banner…