The bodies calmed after the shadows released from them disappeared from the light. Master Liaorahat it would only work for a short while, and they would definitely e back to attack the team if they still lingered in this pce. Depending on how long these bodies had been made into these soul tainers, and the ditions of their “maintenance”, it could take them a few hours to days.

  If he destroyed the spikes, it would free these bodies from the terrible torment. But without proper materials to build a ralization or sing ritual or array, these bodies would only be wildcards to their quest here, if not ht obstacles and additional hindrances.

  The downward stairs behind the arch were designed with some deliberate, malicious i - the stairs were further apart than normal, which would lead to anyone desding them taking their legs further apart. He k down to take a more careful look at the material that made the stairs - buried inside each step was bck t mixed with gss shards and lime s - a set up to slowly drain Yang energy from people as they walked, the wider their steps, the more profit the drain. This would be retively iive out there, as its effects would no doubt be amplified by the dark energy roaming in every er of this pce. He then ted the number of steps, it was in total 79 before he would hit a turn - an inauspicious number.

  Without further dey, he glided dowuo search for the rest of the team. To his relief, exactly as he instructed, the eeam was waiting for him at a spacious turn iunnel.

  “Wait - what’s the name of your first official student who could stay iemple!?” Marcus raised his hand at Master Liaoran.

  “His name now is Wuzui, his inal name was Bai Gu.” Master Liaoran stopped and Marcus with an approving smile, theuro Gloria, who was standing beside Marcus: “What’s your name? And what’s your mentor’s favorite choice of code words?”

  “My name is Gloria Lee, my mentor’s name is Luoshan Zi, her favorite choice of code word is holiday specials in her cafe.” Gloria responded.

  “Okay.” Master Liaoran and the team each other: “It’s great that you are all safe. How are you feeling? Did you see anything? Feel anything?”

  “This tunnel drains our energy as we go down, so we came slower and took frequent breaks. It does seem to help a bit.” Gloria sighed: “But looks like there is still a long way to go.”

  “It won’t be too long. And also - when you go dowher jump across the stairs or hop with ys closed.” Master Liaoran shook his head: “This is a - an old and dirty trick to weaken the oppos. ”

  The team went down three more flights of stairs before their path widened and ended with another arch. Out of the arch en area with tens if not hundreds of boulder-size gems and minerals ying about. The gems and minerals were glowing different colors, providing some dim lighting to their surrounding areas. The rest of the space was lit up by some flickering lights lined up like a circle around the wall.

  Master Liaoran fixed his eyes forward, and instantly saw the shadows of armed individuals in tactical suits moving at a distahe gems and minerals were protected by reinforced gss cages, there were also metal rails and bars at the lower parts of the gss cages. Should they eh these people, these gems would no doubt be useful as barricades.

  “We have enemies in there, this monk will not be able to cover for you all the way.” Master Liaoran walked in front of the team, traces of golden glow crawled through all of his exposed skin, from his face to his fiips.

  Marcus’ mouth moved a little, but finally just let out a blessing and caution: “Be careful, master.”

  “Don’t worry about me.” As Master Liaorahrough the ard into the open space.

  Lights over their heads were turned on, for a moment none of the civilians were able to open their eyes, even Marcus, Gloria and Keryn had trouble seeing clearly. When they saw the armed men in bck moving their way with guns pointing at them, they had but one choice - grab the civilians and hide behind the gss cages.

  Somewhat strangely, those men in bck did not open fire at all. Instead, they moved to surround everyone, log them in the lines of suppressive fire. These were the same kind of troop the team aside from Master Liaoran entered earlier - same kind of rifles and same kind of tactical armors.

  “Hang ohis monk buy you an opportunity and some time to escape!” Master Liaoran waved his palms and was ready to unleash a powerful strike.

  “Or, maybe you would like to resider that.” The guopped. The same two voices in unison came from the middle position of those armed men in bck. Their formation split from the middle, and the same figure in a full dark red suit came out: “Master Liaoran, we meet again. Or should we call you, Luosha Yuwen, the first and st student of Master Jiewang, and the renowned Dark Bde Ranger?”

  The air froze for a brief moment, Marcus exged looks with Gloria and Keryn - none of them knew what these names meant. The only oh a hint of rea was Tae Kuo, who, though still uo open his eyes fully, appeared to be utterly shocked.

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