Chapter 230: Shouldering the Mission

"Boom!"

The monster's massive body crashed down, kicking up clouds of dust. Zhang Cheng barely dodged the attack, his heart pounding wildly. This sudden assault made him realize that this seemingly tranquil forest was by no means a safe place.

"What the hell is this thing?" Ailiya said, still shaken, the staff in her hand flickering with dangerous light.

"Careful, its strength is formidable!" Kelinda drew her long whip, her expression grave.

Zhang Cheng dared not let his guard down. He gripped the longsword in his hand and circulated the stellar energy within his body to its utmost. The monster lunged again with a roar, its sharp claws tearing through the air, carrying waves of foul wind.

"Ha!"

Zhang Cheng roared and swung his sword to meet the attack. The blade clashed against the sharp claws, letting out an earsplitting metallic screech. The monster's strength was unexpectedly powerful, numbing Zhang Cheng's grip and forcing him to retreat again and again.

In the heat of battle, Zhang Cheng was surprised to find that this strange energy fluctuation was actually having a wondrous effect on his own stellar power. Every time he clashed with the monster, he could feel the stellar power within his body grow more active, as though greedily absorbing the surrounding energy.

"Could it be that the energy on this planet can help me increase my strength?" This thought flashed through Zhang Cheng's mind, lifting his spirits.

The prolonged stalemate gradually made the monster more agitated. It threw back its head and roared, and a visible wave of energy rapidly rippled outward from it in all directions.

"Not good, it's an area attack, get out of the way!" Kelinda cried out in alarm, pulling Ailiya as she swiftly retreated.

Zhang Cheng reacted a beat too slow and was caught by the energy wave. His entire body was sent flying like a kite with a severed string, crashing heavily onto the ground in the distance.

"Cough, cough…" Zhang Cheng struggled to stand, only to find his qi and blood surging chaotically and a metallic sweetness rising in his throat.

"Zhang Cheng!" Kelinda wanted to rush forward anxiously, but Ailiya held her back. "Wait, something's wrong!"

After releasing the energy wave, the monster did not continue its attack. Instead, it let out a roar of unwillingness, and its massive body actually began to slowly dissipate, ultimately dissolving into specks of starlight that scattered into the air.

"What happened? Why did it disappear?" Ailiya asked in confusion.

Kelinda did not answer. She looked at Zhang Cheng with concern, only to find that he had his eyes tightly shut, brows deeply furrowed, as though enduring tremendous pain.

A powerful surge of energy erupted from within Zhang Cheng's body, enveloping him entirely. Kelinda could sense that within this energy fluctuation lay a force that made one's heart palpitate.

"He's about to break through!" an aged voice suddenly rang out behind Kelinda.

Kelinda whipped around and saw an elderly man dressed in a gray robe, his hair and beard entirely white, who had appeared behind them at some unknown time. The old man's gaze was profound, as though it could see through everything. He looked at the energy-wrapped Zhang Cheng, a meaningful smile forming at the corners of his lips.

"Young man, seize this opportunity. Your future goes far beyond this…" the old man murmured to himself. Then his figure gradually turned transparent and finally vanished, as though he had never appeared at all.

Kelinda paid no attention to the old man. Her gaze remained fixed on Zhang Cheng, her heart filled with worry and anticipation.

Meanwhile, atop a mountain peak thousands of miles away, a middle-aged man in a blue robe was gazing in the direction where Zhang Cheng was, a complex look flashing through his eyes.

"This aura… could it be him?"

The light gradually faded, and Zhang Cheng slowly opened his eyes. In his deep black pupils burned a light like that of stars. He could feel that the stellar power within his body was more condensed and powerful than before, as though it had undergone a thorough baptism.

"Congratulations, you've broken through." A gratified smile appeared on Kelinda's face, and Ailiya clapped her hands happily as well.

Zhang Cheng stood up, feeling the power surging within him, a confident smile curving his lips. He knew this was only the beginning; he still had to grow stronger to protect the people he wanted to protect.

"Where are we now?" Zhang Cheng looked around and found that this was an unfamiliar forest. The surrounding trees towered into the clouds, lush with leaves and branches, and the air was suffused with a fresh fragrance.

"I'm not sure either. We were probably transported here by that energy wave." Kelinda shook her head, a trace of worry flashing through her beautiful eyes. "The energy fluctuations here are very peculiar. We need to be careful."

"Mm." Zhang Cheng nodded, gripped the longsword in his hand, and warily observed the surroundings.

"Oh, the flowers here are so pretty!" Ailiya suddenly exclaimed, running over to a cluster of blooming flowers and examining them curiously.

"Careful!" Kelinda was about to stop her, but she saw that Ailiya had already reached out to pick the flower.

Just then, the seemingly delicate and beautiful flower suddenly opened a bloody maw, revealing sharp teeth inside, and bit at Ailiya's fingers.

"Ah!" Ailiya went pale with fright and shrieked as she stumbled backward.

"Careful!" Zhang Cheng reacted swiftly, pulling Ailiya back while simultaneously swinging his sword down at the man-eating flower.

A flash of sword light, and the man-eating flower was cleaved in two. A dark green fluid gushed out, giving off a nauseating stench.

"That was close!" Ailiya patted her chest, still shaken, staring with lingering fear at the man-eating flower that had been split in two.

"The plants here all carry a eerie quality. We'd best stay on guard," Kelinda reminded them.

"Mm." Zhang Cheng nodded, his gaze falling on the green fluid the man-eating flower had sprayed out. A thought stirred in his mind. "Perhaps we can use the plants here to recover from our injuries."

Kelinda and the Lan Xing Guardian had also realized this. They began searching the planet for plants with healing properties. Soon, they discovered that many of the plants on this planet possessed astonishing healing effects.

The mysterious Elf was full of curiosity about this planet. Like a happy little bird, she explored everywhere in the forest. She found a faintly glowing lake with water so clear she could see the bottom, where colorful corals and aquatic plants grew, and schools of beautiful fish swam about.

"Wow! It's so beautiful!" The Elf clapped her hands excitedly. Suddenly, as though she had discovered something, her eyes lit up and she quickly ran behind a boulder by the lake. There, hidden away, was an ancient ruin.

The ruin's gate was tightly shut, carved with mysterious patterns and exuding an ancient, powerful aura. The Elf curiously reached out and gently touched the pattern on the gate.

Just then, the gate let out a dull rumble and slowly opened, and a breath of ancient mystery wafted forth…

At the same time, Zhang Cheng stood beneath a towering tree, gazing at the distant sky, a cold gleam flashing through his eyes. He knew that although the hidden experts of the Blood Night Demon Family had not been transported to this planet with them, the grudge between them was far from settled, and he had to grow stronger.

"One day, I will settle all of this with my own hands…" Zhang Cheng clenched his fists, his tone firm.

Zhang Cheng stood beneath the giant tree, looking up at the starry sky, his thoughts swirling. He knew that even after coming to this unknown planet, the threat of the Blood Night Demon Family still shadowed him everywhere.

"Blood Night Demon Family…" Zhang Cheng murmured to himself, a cold light flashing through his eyes. "One day, I will make you pay!"

"What are you saying?" Kelinda walked over and handed Zhang Cheng a cup of herbal tea that gave off a delicate fragrance. "I brewed this with herbs I found. It's very helpful for restoring your strength."

Zhang Cheng took the herbal tea and took a small sip. A warm current immediately flowed through his entire body. He looked at Kelinda gratefully and said, "Thank you, Kelinda."

"Between us, there's no need for thanks." Kelinda smiled gently. "Your task right now is to recover well, and then, grow stronger."

Zhang Cheng nodded. He knew Kelinda was right. Only by growing stronger could he protect the people he wanted to protect and take revenge on the Blood Night Demon Family.

Over the next few days, Zhang Cheng used the strange plants on the planet to heal his injuries while training hard to increase his strength. This planet was suffused with rich stellar power, and the environment here seemed to have an inexplicable boosting effect on cultivation. Zhang Cheng could feel his strength steadily improving.

One day, Zhang Cheng was training in the forest as usual when he suddenly sensed a strange energy fluctuation coming from not far away. The fluctuation was very faint, yet it caused the stellar power within his body to resonate slightly.

Curiosity drove Zhang Cheng to follow the direction from which the energy fluctuation came, with Kelinda and the Lan Xing Guardian trailing behind him. They pushed through the dense jungle and arrived before a mountain valley.

A faint mist permeated the valley, giving it an unfathomable, mysterious feeling. Zhang Cheng could sense that the strange energy fluctuation was coming from deep within the valley.

"This place… seems rather unusual," the Lan Xing Guardian said in a low voice, a note of caution in his tone.

Zhang Cheng nodded, signaled Kelinda and the Lan Xing Guardian to stay on guard, and then strode into the valley.

As Zhang Cheng went deeper, the strange energy fluctuation grew stronger and stronger, and the stellar power within his body also began to fluctuate violently, as though responding to something.

Finally, Zhang Cheng arrived before an ancient altar. The altar was built from massive stone blocks, covered in mysterious runes, and exuded a weathered, ancient aura.

Zhang Cheng walked to the altar, carefully observing the runes on it. He discovered that these runes seemed to have some connection with the Mysterious Power inside him; when his gaze touched a particular rune, the star power within him began to fluctuate violently.

"Could it be…" Zhang Cheng thought, perhaps this altar is related to the Mysterious Power inside him?

Zhang Cheng took a deep breath, extended his hand, and slowly touched the rune that resonated with the star power in his body.

Boom!

A massive wave of energy erupted from the altar, instantly enveloping Zhang Cheng. He only felt a thunderous sound in his mind, and a huge flow of information surged into his brain.

"This is…"

When Zhang Cheng opened his eyes again, a faint glimmer flashed in his eyes. He felt that the Mysterious Power inside him seemed to have broken another seal, his strength had risen noticeably, and his senses became sharper.

However, as his strength increased, he also sensed that a dangerous aura seemed to be hidden on this planet, and this aura appeared to have some connection with the Mysterious Power inside him…

"Be careful…" the Lan Xing Guardian said suddenly in a deep voice, his eyes watching the surroundings warily, "I sense…" "Be careful…" the Lan Xing Guardian said suddenly in a deep voice, his eyes watching the surroundings warily, "I sense…" He paused, his brows furrowed, "A powerful dark force is reviving; it seems linked to the origin of this planet, yet it carries a hint of evil aura…"

Kelinda also sensed the anomaly; she tightened her grip on the long whip, and a trace of solemnity appeared on her delicate face: "This aura… makes me uneasy; it seems to be calling something…"

Zhang Cheng closed his eyes and heightened his perception to the extreme. He could feel that this dangerous aura was like a beast lurking in the deep sea; although it had not yet shown its fangs, it already sent a chilling shiver. It seemed to be responding to the Mysterious Power within him, yet it also bore a hint of repulsion and hostility.

"What exactly is it?" Zhang Cheng's heart was full of questions; the emergence of this power made the already puzzling mystery of his lineage even more complex. He vaguely felt that behind this power might hide a huge secret, a secret concerning his origin, perhaps even the fate of the entire universe.

"We need to leave here as soon as possible," the Lan Xing Guardian said in a deep voice, "this power is too strong; staying here is too dangerous."

Zhang Cheng nodded; he knew the Lan Xing Guardian was right. Though his strength had improved, facing this unknown mighty power he still seemed too insignificant. Moreover, Kelinda had not fully recovered, and he had to ensure her safety.

However, just as Zhang Cheng was about to lead Kelinda and the Lan Xing Guardian out of the valley, he suddenly felt that the dangerous aura became clearer, stronger, as if it were right beside them, no, more like… inside him!

Zhang Cheng abruptly opened his eyes, a flash of horror passing through his pupils. He saw that on his right arm, black markings had appeared, these markings moved across his skin like living things, exuding a cold, evil aura.

"This is…" Zhang Cheng thought, startled; this aura was exactly the dangerous aura he had sensed before!

"Zhang Cheng!" Kelinda shouted, she had never seen Zhang Cheng in such a state; the black markings made her feel unfamiliar and fearful.

The Lan Xing Guardian's face grew solemn; he stepped forward, standing in front of Kelinda, and said in a deep voice, "Zhang Cheng, the power within you…"

"I know." Zhang Cheng took a deep breath, suppressing the burning pain from his arm, and said in a deep voice, "I feel it is guiding me to a place…"

He lifted his head, his gaze fixed on the distance, where the dangerous aura was strongest, also the darkest and most mysterious place on this planet—Dark Valley!

"Zhang Cheng, you must not go!" the Lan Xing Guardian grabbed Zhang Cheng's shoulder, his tone full of worry, "It's too dangerous there, we…"

However, Zhang Cheng had already made his decision; he turned his head, his eyes steadfastly meeting the Lan Xing Guardian's, and said word by word, "I must go; there… perhaps lies the answer I seek…"

His voice was low and resolute, carrying an unquestionable power. The Lan Xing Guardian, looking at Zhang Cheng's eyes, knew he could no longer stop him.

"Zhang Cheng…" Kelinda's eyes were full of worry; she wanted to say something but didn't know where to start.

Zhang Cheng turned his head toward Kelinda, gave her a reassuring look, then he stepped forward, walking toward the direction of Dark Valley; each step was firm and steady, as if nothing could hinder his stride.

The Lan Xing Guardian watched Zhang Cheng's departing silhouette, his eyes filled with complex expression. He knew that Zhang Cheng's departure would inevitably face great danger, yet he also believed Zhang Cheng would surely overcome everything, because he bore the mission of guarding the universe!

"We…" Kelinda looked at Zhang Cheng's back, her eyes full of worry and reluctance; she wanted to follow, yet feared becoming his burden.

The Lan Xing Guardian gently patted Kelinda's shoulder, and said in a deep voice, "We believe in him…"