The Ancient Gods' Whisper

The twisted Stone Statue Trees danced like a chaotic gathering of demons, stretching to the edges of the mist.

Hasegawa Shinichi stood at the altar's forefront, speaking in a grim tone: "Ladies and gentlemen, the moment of life and death has arrived. As you all know, the Qilin Immortal Palace is about to open, and the Ether Association is planning to cleanse the Black Cloud City. We are all Fallen, listed on the Association's kill-on-sight order. Under the fallen nest, not a single egg remains intact—you all understand this truth."

The man was shadowy and emaciated, a gruesome scar resembling a centipede crawling across his face. Below his neck, a white exoskeleton covered his body, revealing clear signs of deformation.

He gripped a long sword, his gaze chilling: "Although we've dealt with the first wave of the Association's lapdogs, given their methods, the most ferocious retaliation is imminent. We are too many to flee; escape is impossible."

"Evolution is our only way out."

He paused: "Once the Master's power awakens, we can embrace… true evolution!"

The members of the Grave Digger Organization knelt to the ground, slicing their wrists with daggers.

"For true evolution!"

Droplets of fresh blood flowed onto the desiccated earth, forming an ancient and bloody matrix. Strange lines sprawled out, shining with an eerie crimson radiance—a sinister, unnatural presence!

Beyond the Grave Digger members, there were others bound by their hands and feet, forced to kneel.

Among them was a short-haired girl, struggling in her kneeling position, her blood-stained face exuding a wild, untamed beauty.

Their wrists were also slashed open, blood pouring forth.

Not just blood.

Spirituality as well!

Within the blood matrix, everyone's spirituality ebbed away, leaking alongside the flowing blood.

Amid the roaring sounds, the parched earth cracked open. Blood surged like molten lava, flowing relentlessly into the darkness ahead.

The destination marked the forbidden zone—the entrance to the Qilin Immortal Palace.

Only those above Superdimensional Level could approach the taboo land.

In the depths of darkness, faint and eerie breathing resounded, like the wheezing of a broken bellows.

It felt as though a monster was stirring.

Hasegawa Shinichi watched the scene unfold, his eyes ablaze with insanity.

"Finally, the day has come."

He whispered hoarsely.

Beside the altar, a man cloaked in black robes and wearing a mask calmly asked, "Mr. Hasegawa, I'm curious. The entity inside the Immortal Palace—what kind of existence is it? A Divine Servant? Or a high-level Fallen?"

Hasegawa Shinichi raised a hand to his lips, shushing him: "Do not discuss it—it may be overheard. In any case, this endeavor owes its success to the intel you provided. The evolution I promised will also be fulfilled as scheduled."

The masked man smiled faintly: "Then I shall look forward to it."

At that moment—BOOM!

Flames erupted into the skies, rolling forth with charred corpses of the Fallen in its wake.

The masked man seemed to sense something: "Oh?"

Hasegawa Shinichi suddenly turned, his gaze brimming with murderous intent.

As expected, they still came!

Footsteps echoed, and one by one, Fallen heads were severed, rolling across the ground like discarded balls.

A young man in a white suit rushed forward with his team, his cold eyes brimming with frost.

Yan Ye spread his arms wide, the elements within the underground palace frantically converging overhead, swirling like storm clouds. Wild winds mixed with hail, flames, and sand ravaged the air, brewing a terrifying aura.

Heavenly Master Path—the core ability of a Second Rank Magician: Element Control!

"Attack."

He commanded: "Leave none alive."

BOOM!

Yan Feng led the charge into the enemy ranks, ripping off the metal pendant around his neck.

Steel flowed like liquid across his body, enveloping him entirely before solidifying abruptly.

In an instant, the War Armor was equipped!

Raising his right hand, the metallic liquid condensed into a massive axe. With a surge of Qi Force, he swung fiercely!

The blast of energy ruptured flesh and sent blood spraying endlessly.

Meanwhile, the remaining investigators joined the fray.

BOOM!

A whirlwind of four elements coalesced above the altar before exploding violently!

The devastating blast killed an untold number of Fallen instantly.

One enraged Grave Digger member lifted a sniper rifle and immediately began firing!

BANG! The gun roared, its muzzle spitting fire that vanished in an instant!

Yan Ye stood motionless. The gravel beneath his feet rose autonomously, assembling into an impervious shield that effortlessly blocked the incoming bullet.

At some point, he had donned a pair of sunglasses, their black lenses flickering with streams of data.

Most likely, it was through this that he predicted the shot in advance.

"May Holy Light protect you."

Mu Ziqing closed her eyes in prayer, beams of Holy Light precisely descending upon her allies, healing their wounds.

Simultaneously, she deployed a barrier of Holy Light, neutralizing all psychic attacks.

Yan Feng led the team's charge at the forefront.

Yan Ye and Mu Ziqing maintained control from the rear.

The only one detached from the team was one individual.

Li Xun.

Stripped of supplies, he was left with scarce spirituality, wandering outside the formation.

Besieged by various Fallen, he barely survived, beaten and bedraggled.

Overall, however, the investigators leveraged their ambush to seize the initiative.

Yan Ye, as the team leader, displayed true leadership: not only securing critical intelligence but also penetrating deep into the forbidden zone.

At a crucial moment, they managed to halt the blood sacrifice.

"The young master of the Yan family, is it?"