Too many female prisoners, a special forces soldier transmigrates and marries wildly.

The rock wall closed silently behind us, completely blocking out the last ray of sunlight.

Thick darkness, carrying the earthy and sulfurous smell, instantly engulfed Lin Feng and his group. Only their suppressed breathing and the rustling of their clothes could be clearly heard in the narrow passageway.

"bass."

Several short torches, half-wrapped in strips of cloth, were lit, their dim yellow light barely illuminating the surrounding area for a few feet. The passageway was rough, barely wide enough for two people to walk side by side, and no more than ten feet high. The rocks on both sides and overhead were jagged and damp, seeping water droplets, and the air was hot and humid.

The path descends steeply. The ground is uneven, often with loose stones and protruding rocks, requiring careful navigation.

After walking about a hundred paces, the faint sound of flowing water could be heard ahead. The passageway forked here; one path continued downwards, while the other was gentler and turned to the right, the sound of flowing water seemingly coming from the right.

Lin Feng crouched down and carefully examined the ground at the fork in the road. The footprints on the path leading downwards were messy and fresh, with clear drag marks, as if heavy objects had been moved. On the flatter path to the right, the footprints were shallower but more concentrated, and in a single direction.

"Going down leads to deeper areas, while the right side might lead to a water source or another exit," Bai Xiaohe whispered.

"Let's go down and take a look first," Lin Feng decided, and led the way into the passageway.

After descending for about several dozen feet, the passageway abruptly ends at a protruding rock platform. The platform is small, only large enough for a few people to stand on, and there is a dark opening in the rock wall next to it, which seems to be the entrance to another passageway.

"Look here." Bai Xiaohe pointed with her dagger at the rock wall at the edge of the cave entrance, where there were some recent carvings, like directional marks pointing into the cave.

"They went in through here." Lin Feng walked to the cave entrance. A cool breeze blew out from inside. He listened intently, and from deep within the cave, there seemed to be extremely faint sounds... not the sound of water, nor the sound of wind, but more like... the hushed conversation of many people? And the slight clanging of metal objects?

Found them! The Akabane clan, or the "Akabuchi," are in this fork in the road! And there are quite a few of them!

"Prepare for battle," Lin Feng shouted in a low voice. After the perilous journey, they were finally approaching their target!

He gently drew his Broken Mountain Blade, signaling everyone to extinguish most of the torches, leaving only two at the very front and the very back, using his body to block the light.

The group silently slipped into the cave entrance. The passage inside was relatively wide and flat, clearly the main passage. There were simple lamps on the rock walls on both sides, but they were not lit.

The sounds of conversation and objects became clearer, interspersed with heavy footsteps, as if someone was moving something. Light also peeked out from around the corner ahead.

Lin Feng gave a hand gesture, and the team immediately pressed themselves against the rock walls on both sides, holding their breath and focusing intently. He stealthily moved to the corner like a ghost, cautiously peeking out a little to look inside.

Beyond the corner lay a massive, man-made underground grotto. Several cracks in the grotto's ceiling allowed sunlight filtering in from the valley above, along with torchlight, to illuminate the interior. Dozens of Akabane warriors and a small number of "Akabiku" guards, dressed in black similar to the assassins of the Ghost Market, were busy at work.

In the center of the grotto, a simple altar, about the height of a person, has been built with huge stones and wood. Several items are placed on the altar, but they are covered by a cloth, so the details cannot be seen.

Behind the altar was a massive, smooth, black rock wall. Carved into this wall was a breathtakingly large mural! At its center was a colossal fireball, seemingly about to burst through the wall, hurtling towards a winding mountain range. Within the mountain range was a striking, eye-like swirling mark, presumably the "Eye of the Fallen Dragon"! Around the mural were carved numerous distorted human figures, strange birds and beasts, and various incomprehensible symbols and scenes.

On one side of the altar stood several people. Among them was an old man dressed in the robes of the Crimson Feather tribe chief, wearing a colorful feather crown and with his face painted. He was holding a scepter that was dark red all over and inlaid with a large red gemstone at the top—presumably the "Crimson Feather Divine Staff"—and talking in a low voice to someone next to him.

The person he was talking to had his back to Lin Feng. He was tall and thin, wearing a large black cloak embroidered with dark gold flame patterns, and his face seemed to be wearing a ferocious bronze beast mask—it was "Earth Fire"! At his feet was a square object covered with a black cloth, about the same size as the "Ghost Chariot Statue".

Prince Lin is not here!

Lin Feng's heart pounded. They'd finally found it! And at the crucial moment when the enemy was completely unprepared and preparing for the sacrifice!

Lin Feng pointed to himself and Bai Xiaohe, then to "Earthfire" and the Crimson Feather Clan Chief, making a capture gesture. He then pointed to several crossbowmen, signaling them to immediately suppress the area around the altar and any possible reinforcement routes. The rest were responsible for clearing out the outer guards and creating chaos.

The crowd's eyes instantly sharpened like knives as they silently checked their weapons and adjusted their breathing.

Success or failure hinges on this!

He took a deep breath, bringing himself to peak condition, and the Broken Mountain Blade gleamed with a chilling killing intent in the dim light. Just as he was about to signal his attack—

"Who goes there?!"

A sharp shout suddenly came from the other side of the cave, from a passageway they hadn't noticed! Immediately afterward, a series of hurried, chaotic footsteps and the sound of weapons being drawn rang out!

They've been discovered! Not from their side, but someone from another passage came in and happened to see their shadows pressed against the corner rock wall!

"Enemy attack!!" The Akabane warriors and "Akabiku" guards inside the cave instantly erupted in panic, grabbing their weapons and scanning the various passageways with alarmed and suspicious eyes.

"Earthfire" and the Crimson Feather Clan Chief also turned around suddenly, their eyes flashing like lightning as they shot towards the corner where Lin Feng and the others were hiding!

The plan has been exposed! A stealthy assault is no longer possible!

A fierce glint flashed in Lin Feng's eyes. Without hesitation, he roared, "Kill!!"

Before he finished speaking, he shot out from around the corner like an arrow, his Broken Mountain Blade transforming into a black lightning bolt that tore through the darkness, heading straight for the "Earth Fire" beside the altar! Bai Xiaohe followed closely behind, her soft sword moving like a serpent emerging from its hole, aiming straight for the Crimson Feather Clan Chief!

At the same time, a barrage of crossbow bolts rained down on the area around the altar and the passageways from which reinforcements might emerge! Caught off guard, several Akabane warriors fell to the ground, struck by arrows, their screams echoing through the air.

"Stop them! Protect the sacred artifacts and the altar!" "Earthfire's" hoarse, low voice rang out, tinged with shock and anger. He retreated rapidly, simultaneously drawing a pair of jet-black, crescent-shaped, sharp-edged weapons from his sleeve to parry Lin Feng's slashing "Mountain-Slaying Blade!"

"clang--!!"

A piercing clang of metal clashing echoed through the cave! Sparks flew everywhere! "Earthfire's" weapon struck the side of the Broken Mountain Blade, but Lin Feng felt a strange, sinister force that deflected his powerful strike slightly! "Earthfire's" martial arts were far superior to any opponent he had encountered before!

On the other side, the Crimson Feather Clan Chief roared and slammed his Crimson Feather Staff into the ground. The crimson gem at the top of the staff flashed and hummed! Several elite Crimson Feather warriors beside him roared and rushed towards Bai Xiaohe, their blades flashing like snow!

A chaotic battle erupted instantly in this mysterious and eerie underground cave! Although the Duan Yue Guards were fierce and brave, they were outnumbered and in an unfamiliar environment, and were immediately plunged into a bitter battle.

Lin Feng knew he had to finish the fight quickly. If he got bogged down, and more enemies poured out from other passages, they would all die here!

"Sever the Mountain - Slash!!" He held nothing back, his power surging within him, and the Severing Mountain Blade erupted with an unprecedentedly fierce killing intent. The blade light was like a waterfall, completely enveloping the "Earth Fire" and the surrounding space of several feet!

Almost simultaneously, he caught sight of the square object covered by the black cloth, not far from "Earthfire's" feet. And the Crimson Feather Staff was in the hands of the Crimson Feather Clan Chief!

Seize the sacred relics, disrupt the ritual! This is the only chance to turn the tide of the battle!