Chapter 220

The golden light flashed and disappeared, the old man and the hidden powerhouse fighting together. Terrifying energy fluctuations raged like a storm, the space shaking violently under the intersection of the two, as if it would collapse at any moment. Zhang Cheng was shaken far away by this force, falling heavily into the ruins.

"Cough cough..." Zhang Cheng struggled to stand up, only to find that even breathing had become incomparably difficult, an invisible force seemingly raging within his body, continuously impacting his meridians. Blood surged continuously from the corner of his mouth, staining the clothes on his chest.

"Zhang Cheng!" An anxious shout came from afar, the Star Guardian's voice full of worry and powerlessness. At this moment, his power had been exhausted, and he could only watch helplessly as Zhang Cheng fell into a crisis.

The hidden powerhouse's attack arrived again, the target pointing straight at Zhang Cheng who had fallen to the ground. The Star Guardian's eyes split with rage, fighting with his last bit of power, turning into a stream of light, blocking in front of Zhang Cheng.

"Boom!"

With a loud noise, the Star Guardian was hit and sent flying like a kite with a broken string, falling heavily to the ground, raising a sky full of dust. He lay powerlessly on the ground, the originally dazzling star light already dimmed, his aura weak, as if it would be extinguished at any moment.

"Overestimating yourself!" The hidden powerhouse snorted coldly, his eyes full of disdain.

Just at this critical moment, a mysterious force suddenly descended, forming an invisible barrier in front of Zhang Cheng, blocking the hidden powerhouse's attack.

"Hmm?" The hidden powerhouse frowned slightly, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes.

However, although this mysterious force was powerful, it couldn't block the hidden powerhouse's attack for long. The invisible barrier trembled violently, ripples appearing on the surface, as if it would shatter at any moment.

"Break for me!" The hidden powerhouse roared, terrifying energy erupting again, and the invisible barrier finally couldn't bear the burden, shattering with a "crack" sound.

The hidden powerhouse's attack landed on Zhang Cheng without any obstruction.

"Pfft!"

Zhang Cheng spat out another mouthful of blood, his body flying out like a cannonball, falling heavily into the ruins in the distance. He felt as if his internal organs had been displaced, the intense pain making him almost faint.

"Zhang Cheng!" An exclamation from Duo Yun came from afar.

The Blood Night Demon Family envoy saw this scene, a cruel smile appearing on his face. He walked slowly to Zhang Cheng's side, looking down at him, his tone full of mockery:

"Is this your strength? It's really disappointing..."

The envoy raised his hand, terrifying energy condensing in his palm, preparing to give Zhang Cheng the final blow.

"Stop!"

An old voice suddenly sounded...

"Stop!" The old voice exploded like thunder, carrying unquestionable majesty.

The Blood Night Demon Family envoy's movements paused, a look of dissatisfaction appearing on his face, but he still slowly lowered his hand, turning his head to look in the direction from which the voice came.

"Elder, what do you mean by this?" The envoy's tone was unhappy, carrying a hint of questioning.

The Elder of the Blood Night Demon Family leaned on his cane, walking staggeringly to Zhang Cheng's side, his turbid eyes flashing with shrewd light; he looked down at Zhang Cheng who was on the verge of death, a meaningful smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Young man, don't be impulsive," the Elder said slowly, his voice deep and hoarse. "He is still useful."

"Useful? Just by him?" The envoy looked full of disdain. "He is already at the end of his rope, unable to even stand up, what use can he still have?"

The Elder ignored the envoy's mockery, instead squatting down, extending his withered fingers, and gently touching Zhang Cheng's wound, a weak energy fluctuation probing into Zhang Cheng's body along his fingertips.

"Mmm..." Zhang Cheng groaned, his brows locked tightly; he could feel a strange force wandering within his body, making him feel very uncomfortable.

"Sure enough..." The Elder withdrew his fingers, a flash of intense light crossing his eyes. "He has what we want on him."

"What thing?" The envoy was confused.

"News about Kelinda." The Elder's tone was calm, but it hit the envoy's heart like a heavy hammer.

"What?!" The envoy exclaimed. "How is this possible? He and Kelinda..."

"Don't forget," the Elder interrupted him, "he comes from Lan Xing, that place that has intricate connections with Kelinda."

The envoy was silent; he knew what the Elder said was the truth. Ever since Kelinda went to Lan Xing, her temperament had changed drastically, and she even didn't hesitate to break with the family to protect that place called Lan Xing.

The Elder stood up slowly, looking at Zhang Cheng who had a weak aura on the ground, his eyes flashing with calculating light.

"Take him back and 'entertain' him well." The Elder ordered. "I want to see how long he can keep his mouth shut."

"Yes!" The envoy responded respectfully, a flash of cruel light crossing his eyes.

Zhang Cheng lay on the ground, his consciousness gradually blurring, the vague dialogue of the enemies coming to his ears, but he was already powerless to think about what they were saying.

Kelinda's figure appeared before his eyes, her smile so beautiful, so warm.

"Kelinda..." Zhang Cheng used his last bit of strength, whispering her name lightly.

He remembered his mission, remembered Kelinda was still waiting for his rescue, his heart filled with regret and unwillingness...

"I... cannot fall..."

Consciousness gradually disappeared, darkness drowning him like a tide, Zhang Cheng feeling as if he were trapped in an endless nightmare. He tried hard to open his eyes, but his eyelids were as heavy as if they had been filled with lead. The pain in his body had become numb, only that strong regret and unwillingness in his heart burning his soul like a raging fire.

"Kelinda... I haven't... saved you yet..." Zhang Cheng repeated this sentence over and over in his heart, his voice so weak that even he himself could barely hear it. He remembered Kelinda's clear eyes, remembered her warm smile, remembered the promise between them. How could he fall just like this? He still had his mission, he still couldn't give up!

Just at this moment, a powerful aura descended on the battlefield, the surrounding space seeming to solidify. The Elder and envoy of the Blood Night Demon Family both stopped their movements, looking vigilantly in the same direction.

A man dressed in a black robe, his face handsome but abnormally cold, appeared out of thin air in mid-air. He had a pair of deep eyes like stars, but exuded heart-stopping coldness. He just stood there quietly, but seemed to control the life and death of the entire battlefield.

"Duo Yun Lord!" The Elder and envoy of the Blood Night Demon Family both saluted respectfully, their tone carrying a hint of fear.

"Duo Yun..." Zhang Cheng muttered this name in his heart; he remembered that meeting with Duo Yun in the interstellar arena before. At that time, he was high-spirited and full of hope, while now he was like a stray dog, at the mercy of others.

Duo Yun's gaze scanned the battlefield, finally falling on Zhang Cheng. There was not the slightest pity in his eyes, only cold indifference.

"War will always have winners and losers," Duo Yun's voice was like one from the Nine Nether Abyss, bone-chillingly cold. "The loser must accept the arrangement of fate."

"But..." Zhang Cheng wanted to say something, only to find he couldn't make any sound.

Duo Yun ignored him, instead turning his head to look at the Elder of the Blood Night Demon Family, saying lightly: "He has already lost the ability to resist, life and death are at your disposal."

After saying this, Duo Yun's figure gradually became transparent, finally disappearing into the air, as if he had never appeared at all.

The Elder of the Blood Night Demon Family looked at Zhang Cheng, a cruel smile appearing on his face. "Take him away!"

Several Blood Night Demon Family warriors walked up, roughly picking Zhang Cheng up from the ground. Zhang Cheng struggled powerlessly a few times, but couldn't break free from their control at all. He could only watch helplessly as he was taken away from this battlefield, his heart filled with despair and powerlessness.

"Kelinda... wait for me..." Zhang Cheng prayed silently in his heart; he knew he was in great danger this time, but he still didn't give up hope, because he believed Kelinda must be waiting for him somewhere, waiting for him to return to save her...

And just as they were about to leave, in the sky in the distance, a dazzling golden light suddenly appeared...

The golden light flashed and disappeared, but the people of the Blood Night Demon Family became vigilant, the Elder waving his hand to signal to take Zhang Cheng away first, and the envoy taking a few people to fly toward the direction where the golden light appeared.

"No need to waste effort," the hidden powerhouse of the Blood Night Demon Family looked at that disappearing golden light, laughing coldly. "Just some bugs struggling in death, and they dare to come and ruin my good deeds?"

Saying this, he grabbed Zhang Cheng's collar, lifting him up like a chick. Zhang Cheng hung his head with dull eyes, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, smashing into tiny blood flowers on the dusty ground.

"Let's go, I want to see what kind of fool dares to interfere in the affairs of our Blood Night Demon Family." The hidden powerhouse said, taking Zhang Cheng and tearing the space, disappearing in place.

Only a messy battlefield was left in place, Zhang Cheng's companions lying in a mess on the ground, life or death unknown. The once prosperous city had turned into ruins, the broken walls telling the tragedy of the battle.

Zhang Cheng felt as if he had been thrown into a bottomless abyss, his body falling continuously, but never able to touch the bottom. Darkness all around, cold, lonely, desperate, various negative emotions entwined around him like maggots on tarsal bones, devouring his last bit of will.

I don't know how long it had passed, the feeling of falling finally stopped. He was thrown heavily to the ground, emitting a muffled groan.

"Awake?" A cold voice sounded in his ear. "I thought you were already dead."

Zhang Cheng struggled to open his heavy eyelids, but before his eyes was still darkness. He tried hard to see the appearance of the speaker, but could only vaguely see a tall figure standing before him.

"Who are you? What is this place?" Zhang Cheng's voice was hoarse and powerless, as if from a ghost from hell.

"Hehe, you will know soon." The voice carried a hint of mockery. "But I can kindly remind you, you had better pray that you can leave here alive."

"You..." Zhang Cheng wanted to ask something else, but was roughly interrupted by the other party.

"Shut up! Now, stay honestly!"

Then, a heavy sound of footsteps went away, and darkness swallowed Zhang Cheng again. He didn't know where he was, nor did he know what kind of fate was waiting for him. But he knew he must never give up; for Kelinda, for everyone who cared about him, he had to live!

"Kelinda... wait for me..." He recited silently in his heart, as if this could bring him a glimmer of strength, a glimmer of hope.

Suddenly, a cold wind blew, bringing a nauseating stench of rot. Zhang Cheng felt something approaching him, a chilling coldness that made one's hair stand on end, as if it were a demon from the depths of hell...

"Don't... don't come over..."