The Invincible constitution : Rise of the Supreme One

Chapter 67: Shadows

"The Shadow Clan."

The very name sent a ripple of dread through the crowd. Eli Shan noticed the trembling in their eyes and the palpable fear in the air, but he couldn't understand why. The men in dark clothes seemed mysterious, yes, but terrifying? They were just men. What was everyone so afraid of?

Unlike Eli Shan's calm curiosity, Wen Lun and Jian Wu stood with an intense focus. Their expressions were unreadable, yet their hands gripped their swords with a readiness that betrayed their inner tension. They were prepared for battle, their eyes locked on the shadows who loomed over them like an ominous storm.

The shadows, however, showed no such urgency. They stood with a casual arrogance, as if the cultivators before them were insignificant insects. One of the shadowy figures stepped forward, his movements sluggish but confident. He stopped just before Wen Lun, his presence suffocating, as though the very air thickened around him.

"Hand over the heart," the shadow's voice was smooth, almost lazy, but it carried a weight that silenced the world around them, "and I'll let you live."

Wen Lun tightened his grip on the box-shaped artifact, his gaze locking onto the shadow's abyssal eyes without a hint of fear. His voice, steady and cold, sliced through the tension like a blade. "You can try to take it."

The shadow paused, staring deep into Wen Lun's unwavering eyes. A slow grin spread across his hidden face, and he turned to his comrades with a chuckle that soon erupted into mocking laughter. "Hahaha, such arrogance from ants... amusing."

Before anyone could react, the artifact vanished from Wen Lun's hand, reappearing instantly in the grasp of the shadow. The air crackled with disbelief as the crowd fell into stunned silence. The shadow's grip tightened around the artifact, his voice dripping with dark amusement.

"As you wished, I took it. But for making me exert extra effort, you'll have to pay."

A heavy silence fell within the cave, thick and oppressive. No one dared to move, hardly even breathe, for fear of drawing the attention of the shadows. The very air seemed to freeze, as if time itself was holding its breath. Even the Emperors, with all their power and prestige, were left dumbfounded, unable to comprehend how the artifact had vanished from Wen Lun's grasp. If those at the pinnacle of cultivation couldn't follow the shadow's movements, what hope did the others have?

Wen Lun, the second strongest among all the sects, had been on high alert, yet even he had failed to protect the box. The realization hit everyone like a cold wave: if even Wen Lun couldn't prevent their actions, what chance did the others have against such formidable beings?

For the first time, even Eli Shan regarded these figures with true seriousness. His previously casual demeanor shifted as he quietly invoked his invisible universal strength, probing the shadows' cultivation realms.

"Huh?" The results left him flabbergasted. His eyes widened slightly, but his expression quickly turned serene, masking the shock within.

"Every single one of them... above the Emperor realm?" Eli Shan thought, his brow furrowed as he reassessed the situation.

This was no time to stand idle—these people were just too terrifying! With a swift motion, Eli Shan positioned himself between Wen Lun and the shadows, his presence a silent declaration of protection. Jian Wu moved in tandem, stepping up to stand beside his brother, their combined aura creating a formidable barrier.

"Return the artifact," Jian Wu's voice was low but laced with a deadly promise, "or I won't hold back anymore."

The shadowy figure locked eyes with Jian Wu, an icy chill emanating from him. "We are the Shadow Clan, the strongest in the universe. Even the combined strength of all sects couldn't flinch us, who do you think you are to challenge us?"