Published at 2nd of August 2024 10:00 am

Chapter 2231 Venerable Darkness

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"True Gods, huh?" Yun Lintian echoed, curiosity piqued. "So they're competing too?"

Huang Ba chuckled. "Of course. Not all True Gods hole themselves up in the Holy Lands. We could use our masters' influence to secure direct entry, but where's the fun in that?" He shrugged, a hint of recklessness glinting in his eyes. "Besides, a little competition never hurt anyone, right?"

Huang Ba eyed Yun Lintian with a flicker of suspicion. "With your obvious prowess, victory in this competition would be a mere formality. Your background must be far from ordinary. Why choose such an inconspicuous mode of travel?"

Yun Lintian answered casually. "I couldn't find a token."

Surprise flickered across Huang Ba's face. Yun Lintian's nonchalant response shattered his earlier assumption of an illustrious background. This unexpected revelation piqued Huang Ba's curiosity even further.

"First time in the Central Region, then?" Huang Ba inquired, a hint of intrigue lacing his voice.

Yun Lintian offered a simple, "Indeed." There was no point in hiding it.

Huang Ba grinned, a spark of camaraderie igniting in his eyes. "Been there a few times myself. How about I show you around? There are some hidden gems I wouldn't mind sharing."

"Sure." Yun Lintian found himself readily agreeing. Perhaps it was Huang Ba's unfazed demeanor or his surprisingly open invitation, but a sense of camaraderie bloomed within him.

In the distance, Long Jingxia observed the scene, bewildered. This sudden shift from near-hostility to newfound friendship left her completely perplexed.

Gu Bingning, ever stoic, couldn't help but be intrigued. For the first time in her life, a flicker of curiosity burned brightly – a desire to unravel the mysteries surrounding this enigmatic stranger.

***

The black profound ark's basement reeked of depravity. Dim light struggled to penetrate the oppressive gloom, only revealing snatches of a horrifying tableau. Grotesque laughter mingled with bone-chilling screams, a symphony of sadistic revelry echoing through the fetid air.

The burly man, following the scarred man down the damp steps, wrinkled his nose in disgust. His eyes darted around, trying to adjust to the oppressive darkness.

Then, his gaze landed on a scene that froze the blood in his veins. In the distance, several figures were engaged in unspeakable acts on women. Their faces, contorted in a grotesque parody of pleasure, were illuminated by the flickering torches held by their monstrous companions. The women, their pleas for mercy swallowed by the suffocating atmosphere, writhed in hopeless agony.

Even for a hardened criminal like the burly man, the scene was enough to send a shiver down his spine. This wasn't cruelty – it was a descent into the darkest abyss of human depravity.

A cruel smile twisted the scarred man's lips. "Frightened?"

The burly man swallowed hard, the metallic tang of fear thick in his throat. "What's the task?" he rasped.

As if summoned by the question, the cloaked figure materialized from the shadows, its form a wraith in the dim light.

"See those figures over there?" The voice, devoid of warmth, echoed in the cavernous space.

The two men flinched, their eyes darting towards the direction indicated. Several unconscious figures lay sprawled on the cold floor, stripped bare.

"Your job," the cloaked figure continued, its tone dripping with menace, "is to extract their Divine Cores. Flawless specimens only. Any damage, and you'll dearly regret it."

"Yes, master." The scarred man, ever the pragmatist, barked a quick acknowledgement, the burly man following suit in a choked murmur. Without further ado, the two rushed towards their gruesome task.

The cloaked figure, its mission complete, melted back into the shadows, reappearing moments later in a dimly lit chamber.

A middle-aged man, clad in a black robe, sat languidly in a plush chair, a steaming cup of tea held in his manicured hand. He didn't turn as the cloaked figure entered, his voice a smooth purr.

"How many souls this time?" he inquired, his gaze fixed on some unseen scene beyond the window.

"Thirteen thousand on board, Venerable Darkness," the cloaked figure, Chi Du, replied with a bow. "A few appear to be of noble descent."

Venerable Darkness finally turned, his eyes glinting with a cold light. "A touch greedy, wouldn't you say, Chi Du?"

Chi Du's blood ran cold. He dropped to his knees, his voice a desperate plea. "Forgive me, My Lord! Greed clouded my judgment."

A flicker of amusement crossed Venerable Darkness' face. "Not them," he said, gesturing dismissively. "The young man in white. You brought a High God aboard without even realizing it."

Chi Du's jaw slackened. He'd always pegged Yun Lintian for a powerful Divine Emperor at most.

"What should we do, My Lord?" he rasped, panic clawing at his throat.

A humorless chuckle escaped Venerable Darkness' lips. "For now, nothing. He seems uninterested in our…operations. However," his voice hardened, "those three meddling children – they hold a certain potential. Extract it from them."

"Yes, My Lord," Chi Du breathed, a tremor of fear and a flicker of dark anticipation lacing his voice.

***

**

*

Outside the hut, Yun Qianxue stood transfixed before the shimmering golden barrier. Two months had crawled by, yet the barrier remained stubbornly inert, offering no hint of Yun Lintian's fate. Worry gnawed at her, an insatiable hunger for news of her brother.

A gentle hand settled on her shoulder. Lin Xinyao materialized beside her, her voice a soothing balm. "Lintian will be alright, Sister Qianxue. He's weathered worse storms than this."

Yun Qianxue pivoted, her gaze searching Lin Xinyao's serene countenance. "How can you be so composed?" she demanded, a tremor of frustration lacing her voice.

"Among all of us," she continued, her voice dropping to a pained whisper, "you were by his side the longest." The implication hung heavy in the air – Lin Xinyao's bond with Yun Lintian was undeniably deeper. "Shouldn't his absence affect you the most?"

Lin Xinyao met her gaze steadily, her eyes reflecting a quiet strength. "Don't mistake my composure for indifference, Sister Qianxue," she said softly. "The truth is, fear claws at me constantly. But deep within, I possess an unwavering certainty. We've been separated before, only to find our way back to each other. This time will be no different."

Yun Qianxue fell silent upon hearing this.

A sudden voice broke the silence. Han Bingling materialized behind them. "Sisters," she announced, "we have confirmation. The gate on Earth can still be opened by us."

Yun Qianxue whirled around, a flicker of hope igniting in her eyes. "That's good news," she breathed, her voice trembling with relief. Could this be a sign that Yun Lintian was safe after all?

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