Chapter 18

After enduring countless hardships, Lin Chen and his companions finally set foot on the summit of Lingfeng Mountain. Yet the scene unfolding before their eyes resembled a panorama straight from hell, causing them to draw in a sharp breath. A vast, empty circular plaza lay before them, its ground paved with black flagstones that exuded a cold and oppressive aura. Right in the center of the plaza stood a solemn and mysterious altar, ancient runes flickering with an eerie light across its surface as if whispering untold dark secrets. Surrounding the altar, a group of core Shadow Cult members in black robes stood as still as ghosts, their figures half-hidden in the dim light. They radiated a nauseatingly evil aura, resembling demons crawled up from the abyss. At the very center of the altar, a huge crystal ball emitted a dazzling glare—a light that symbolized neither warmth nor hope, but was instead filled with distortion and madness. Inside the crystal ball, energy swirled like a vortex, frantically gathering strength for the impending evil ritual.