Chapter 161: Clearing the Cave

Down below, the female Shadow organization members who had received the order to execute the plan moved like phantoms in the forest.

Their presence was undetectable as they glided between trees and boulders, blending effortlessly into the night.

Each assassin had a specific target, and their movements were swift as they shuttled through the rows of trees, reaching their assigned positions.

The moon hung high in the sky, casting a faint glow over the dense forest surrounding the cave.

The evil cultivators stationed outside stood lazily at their posts, their guard down.

They didn't think anyone would come for them since they had been discreet and never revealed themselves to the world before.

But they had no idea that death was creeping toward them, silent and unseen.

The Shadow members began their approach from the shadows. Clad in dark robes, the female assassins moved closer to their targets without being noticed.

Each assassin was focused, knowing exactly where they needed to strike. Their mission was clear: eliminate every sentry, guard, and evil cultivator before they even knew what hit them.

The first Shadow member emerged from behind a thick tree, her body blending perfectly with the darkness.

She moved like a whisper, her footsteps so light they didn't disturb the leaves beneath her feet.

Her eyes locked onto a sentry standing near the cave entrance, oblivious to the approaching threat.

With a swift motion, she drew her blade, the faintest glimmer of spiritual qi coating the edge.

The blade flashed through the air with a barely audible swish, slicing cleanly through the sentry's neck.

Blood sprayed silently as the evil cultivator's eyes widened in shock, but no sound left his lips. He slowly fell to the ground, dead before he even realized what had happened.

The first group of Shadow members made their way through the dimly lit corridors, their footsteps silent on the stone floor.

Ahead, a small group of evil cultivators was stationed near the entrance, keeping watch over the formation.

They chatted quietly, laughing as they discussed their daily lives without caring about the deaths of the citizens in the city they were planning to sacrifice.

But they didn't see the Shadow members approaching them until it was too late.

SWISH

The lead assassin struck first, her blade slicing through the air without any unnecessary movement. The first evil cultivator fell with a thud; his throat slit before he could even draw breath to scream.

The other Shadow members followed suit, their blades cutting down the remaining enemies like marionettes having their strings cut.

The evil cultivators barely had time to reach for their weapons before their hands were struck down, and then either their throats were slit, or blades impaled their hearts.

Deeper into the cave, the Shadow members continued their deadly advance. Every room, every corridor they passed through, was quickly cleared of enemies.

In one chamber, a group of evil cultivators meditated, focusing on cultivating and recovering their energy before the sacrifice started.

They never even opened their eyes as the assassins moved among them, blades flashing as they ended each life with silent efficiency.

In another section of the cave, an evil cultivator was mixing a batch of pills meant to aid in the ritual and another set of recovery pills for the main evil cultivators who would start the event.

Her hands never trembled as she worked, entirely focused on the task at hand.

She didn't even hear the footsteps behind her until it was too late. A Shadow member appeared behind her, a blade coated in spiritual qi flashing through the air.

The cultivator's head dropped into the bubbling cauldron in front of her with a dull splash, the potion turning dark with blood as a peculiar smell started to leak out of the cauldron.