Chapter 226: Deadlock

The long sword hovered in midair, its blade trembling violently, letting out a buzzing roar as if responding to Zhang Cheng's summons. At the same time, Zhang Cheng's body was enveloped in a layer of golden light that grew ever brighter, ultimately transforming into a pillar of light shooting skyward, piercing straight through the clouds!

"In my name, I awaken your slumbering power — Star Fall!"

With Zhang Cheng's explosive shout, the long sword in the air blazed with light, transforming into a burning golden meteor trailing a long tail of flame as it hurtled toward the black flames with a howl!

Boom—!

The golden meteor and the black flames collided, erupting in a deafening roar. Terrifying energy fluctuations swept in all directions, as if about to tear the entire space apart!

"Fall back!" The Blue Star Guardian's expression changed. This energy fluctuation was too terrifying — even he did not dare to take it head-on. He hastily activated his golden light barrier and retreated.

However, at this moment, a sudden change occurred!

"Ah—!"

A mournful scream rang out. The hidden expert of the Blood Night Demon Family, who had originally wanted to flee in the chaos, was struck by a beam of black light. A massive bloody hole appeared in his chest, blood gushing wildly as his body fell powerlessly from midair.

"Not good — it's that monster!" Kelinda cried out in alarm, her face pale.

That evil creature, after withstanding the golden meteor's attack, still had enough energy left to strike at others — a testament to how terrifying its strength truly was!

"Damn it!" Seeing this, the Blue Star Guardian roared and was about to rush forward to save the man.

"Don't worry about me, just go!" Though severely wounded, the hidden expert of the Blood Night Demon Family was still conscious. He endured the intense pain and shouted, "That monster's target is you — don't sacrifice yourselves in vain!"

"You want to leave? Not a single one of you is going anywhere!" The evil creature let out a cold roar, its massive body rising into the air once more as it lunged toward Zhang Cheng and the others!

"Zhang Cheng, watch out!" Kelinda cried out in alarm. Just as the evil creature was about to reach Zhang Cheng, the Blue Star Guardian's figure suddenly appeared before him, golden light wrapping around his entire body to form an indestructible barrier...

"Boom!"

The evil creature's claws, carrying world-destroying power, slammed heavily onto the golden barrier the Blue Star Guardian had constructed. The barrier trembled violently, letting out a groan of unbearable strain, and the golden light dimmed by several shades. The Blue Star Guardian let out a muffled grunt, a thread of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, but he still gritted his teeth and held firm, using his own body to block that fatal blow for Zhang Cheng behind him.

"Lord Guardian!" Zhang Cheng's eyes were about to split with rage. He had never imagined that this expert who had protected Lan Xing for countless years would pay such a devastating price to protect him.

"Go! Don't worry about me — get everyone out of here!" The Blue Star Guardian's voice rang like a great bell, but a trace of weakness seeped through his tone. "This monster is not something you can handle!"

"You want to leave? Too late!" The evil creature let out a vicious laugh. Its enormous body pressed forward once more, like a moving mountain, about to crush everyone into dust.

"Kelinda, save him, I'm begging you!" Zhang Cheng was frantic with worry. He knew Kelinda possessed powerful healing abilities — perhaps she could save the Blue Star Guardian.

Kelinda clenched her teeth, her beautiful eyes filled with anxiety. She rapidly formed hand seals with both hands, murmuring incantations, attempting to cast a healing spell. However, an invisible evil power permeated the surroundings, interfering with her spell and preventing her from casting it successfully.

"It's useless — before my power, all healing is futile!" The evil creature's voice was full of mockery and cruelty. It was reveling in the despair and helplessness of the ants before it.

"Damn it!" Kelinda trembled with rage, but she was powerless to do anything. The evil creature's power was too overwhelming — she simply could not break through its interference.

As the evil creature's attack came once more, the Blue Star Guardian was no longer able to withstand it. At this critical moment, a figure appeared beside the Blue Star Guardian like a phantom, a gentle power enveloping him and narrowly avoiding the attack.

"Senior!" Zhang Cheng was overcome with joy and surprise — the newcomer was none other than the mysterious old man who had been observing from the shadows all along.

"Sigh..." The old man shook his head gently, his face full of helplessness and anxiety. He looked at Zhang Cheng and the others, then at the domineering evil creature, and finally his gaze settled on Kelinda. "Girl, your healing spell — could you..."

However, before he could finish, he was interrupted by Kelinda's anguished cry: "No! Lord Guardian, he..."

Kelinda's anguished cry struck like a heavy hammer, smashing brutally into everyone's hearts. The Blue Star Guardian's once resolute face had now turned utterly bloodless. The front of his robes was soaked through with blood, staining red his golden armor that symbolized protection and glory.

"How could this happen..." Kelinda covered her mouth, tears streaming from her eyes. She could not believe it, did not want to believe it — that this hero who had protected Lan Xing for countless years would fall in such a way.

"Damn it!" The mysterious old man roared, a powerful pressure erupting from him that made the surrounding space distort slightly. He wanted to act, wanted to save the Blue Star Guardian, but an invisible force bound him firmly, rendering him unable to move even an inch.

"Damn it! What kind of power is this, that it can even restrain the senior?!" Zhang Cheng's heart sank to rock bottom. He had never seen the mysterious old man so powerless before, and it filled him with deep fear and despair.

"Hahaha, it's useless! You're all going to die!" The evil creature let out a smug, crazed laugh. It savored the joy of victory, relishing the thrill of toying with these ants in the palm of its hand.

"Shut up!" Zhang Cheng snapped his head up, his eyes bloodshot, fury blazing in his heart. He looked at the Blue Star Guardian lying in a pool of blood, at the grief-stricken Kelinda, at the bound mysterious old man — and an unprecedented power surged from the depths of his heart.

"Ah!" Zhang Cheng roared at the sky. He mobilized every ounce of power within his body, including that unfathomable mysterious force, flooding it madly into his meridians and converging on his fists. Around his body, winds howled and lightning flashed, as if a world-destroying power was about to erupt.

"Die!" Zhang Cheng roared, transforming into a bolt of lightning and charging at the evil creature. He poured every last bit of his power into this single strike without reservation — he would avenge the Blue Star Guardian, he would protect Kelinda, he would guard this land!

However, facing Zhang Cheng's all-out strike, the evil creature merely gave a contemptuous smile. It did not dodge or evade, letting Zhang Cheng's fist slam into its body.

With an earth-shattering boom, Zhang Cheng felt as though he had struck an immovable mountain. A powerful recoil force sent him flying.

"You think you can hurt me?" The evil creature was completely unscathed. It slowly opened its bloody maw, revealing the sharp fangs within, a foul stench rushing at his face. "Now, it's your turn!"

It lunged at Zhang Cheng like a starving tiger pouncing on its prey, about to devour him utterly. Zhang Cheng was sent flying by a massive force, crashing heavily into the rubble. A surge of metallic sweetness rose in his throat, but he no longer had time to tend to his wounds. The evil creature's enormous body pressed down upon him like a small mountain, the foul stench nearly drowning him, the shadow of death enveloping his heart.

He tried to struggle to his feet, but that last strike had exhausted all his power. Right now, even moving a finger had become incomparably difficult.

"It's over..." Despair spread through Zhang Cheng's heart. He closed his eyes powerlessly, awaiting the arrival of death.

"Roar!" The evil creature let out an ear-splitting roar, its bloody maw opened to its fullest, sharp fangs glinting with cold light, as if about to tear Zhang Cheng to shreds.

Kelinda let out a heart-rending scream, wanting to rush over, but was held back tightly by the mysterious old man.

"Let me go! I need to save him!" Kelinda struggled desperately, tears blurring her eyes.

"Calm down! Going over there now will only get you killed in vain!" the mysterious old man sternly shouted, but his eyes were also filled with worry and helplessness.

Just as the evil creature's bloody maw was about to bite into Zhang Cheng, time seemed to freeze in this moment. Zhang Cheng could feel the foul wind rushing at his face, could even see the nauseating saliva inside the evil creature's mouth.

"Am I going to die?" This was the last thought that flashed through Zhang Cheng's mind.

However, at this critical moment, a dazzling light suddenly erupted from Zhang Cheng's body. The light was so powerful that it instantly illuminated the entire sky and earth.

"What?!" The evil creature was startled by this sudden turn of events and instinctively shut its mouth, retreating.

Within that light, Zhang Cheng still lay on the ground in his fallen position, but his body was enveloped in a layer of golden radiance. A mysterious and powerful force was awakening.

"This power is..." The mysterious old man's eyes went wide, filled with disbelief. "How is this possible?!"

"Roar!" The evil creature seemed to sense the threat and let out another furious roar. Its massive body lunged at Zhang Cheng once more — this time, it would utterly destroy this unknown power!

"You shall not succeed!" A deep voice reverberated between heaven and earth, as if coming from beyond the nine heavens, carrying supreme authority.

An invisible force descended from the sky, slamming violently into the evil creature's body and sending it flying once more.

As the dust settled, a figure slowly appeared before Zhang Cheng, blocking the evil creature's attack.

"Senior?!" Zhang Cheng lifted his head with difficulty, looking at the familiar figure before him, his eyes filled with surprise and disbelief. "You..."

"Now is not the time for words," the mysterious old man turned his head, gazing deeply at Zhang Cheng. "Next, it's up to you..."