Chapter 233: Success or Failure in This One Move

The black vortex spun wildly, emitting a heart‑pounding howl. Zhang Cheng struggled within it, like a lone boat tossed by a raging storm. He looked up and saw the golden guardian formation teetering, like a dying candle in the wind, ready to be extinguished at any moment.

"Is it really ending?" Despair spread through his heart, but he quickly suppressed it, and his gaze hardened again.

"No, I can't give up yet!" Zhang Cheng clenched his fists, and the lingering resentment deep within him turned into blazing fire, fueling his will.

At that moment, he suddenly recalled the Mysterious Power within his body. Since acquiring it, he had never been able to fully control it; it was more like a sleeping dragon inside him, occasionally stirring and revealing a hint of its might.

"If I could harness this power..." A sliver of hope ignited in Zhang Cheng's heart, but it was so faint it resembled a lone firefly in the night, ready to be swallowed by darkness at any moment.

Time was running out! The formation was about to collapse; when that happened, not only would the core be destroyed, even he himself would be torn apart by that terrifying force.

"All or nothing!" Zhang Cheng gritted his teeth, deciding to go all in. He closed his eyes, cast all distracting thoughts aside, and let his consciousness sink inward to sense the presence of the Mysterious Power.

The power was boundless, like an endless star‑filled sky—deep and mysterious. Zhang Cheng approached cautiously, trying to touch and communicate with it using his own will.

Second by second, time slipped away; the formation's light grew dimmer, the cracks widened, and collapse could occur at any instant.

At that critical moment, Zhang Cheng suddenly felt the Mysterious Power opening a tiny fissure to him, establishing a faint connection.

"Now!" Zhang Cheng rejoiced wildly in his heart, mustering all his will and, like a moth to flame, surged forward toward that slit without hesitation.

Boom!

An indescribably powerful force surged into Zhang Cheng's body in an instant; he felt as if he had become a tiny star, drawn into an endless sea of stars.

In that moment, he seemed to touch the very origin of the universe, sensing the mysteries of time and space.

"I... can control it now!" Zhang Cheng snapped his eyes open, his gaze flashing with unprecedented light.

He slowly raised his hand, and the surrounding space seemed to freeze at that instant; even the wildly spinning black vortex appeared to have been paused, becoming utterly still.

In the distance, a hidden strongman of the Blood Night Demon Family watched the scene, his face showing an incredulous expression: "How is this possible?!"

The Lan Xing Guardian and Kelinda were equally shocked, watching Zhang Cheng; they could feel a force so overwhelming it threatened to choke them, now awakening!

Zhang Cheng ignored their astonishment, lowered his head to his hands, feeling the surging power within, and a faint smile curved his lips: "Come on, let this farce finally end..."

He took a step forward, his form turning into a streak of light...

Ghostly creatures emitted sharp screeches, like wails from the abyss, while black mist churned violently as if boiling lava. A faint golden aura surrounded Zhang Cheng, a protective shield formed by the Mysterious Power, repelling all attacks.

His gaze remained steady, ignoring everything around him, and he charged headlong toward the core of the black vortex. Each step felt like stepping on the hearts of those ghostly beings, provoking ever more mournful shrieks.

"Stop him! Quickly stop him!" The hidden strongman of the Blood Night Demon Family roared hysterically, a mix of terror and anger.

Countless ghostly creatures obeyed the command, surging toward Zhang Cheng like a black tide, trying to devour him. Yet Zhang Cheng had changed beyond recognition; he seemed to become an indestructible sword, each swing cleaving a gap in the black tide.

Amid the flickering golden light, those ghostly beings melted like falling snow, turning into black smoke that dissipated into the air.

Zhang Cheng's speed kept increasing, and in the blink of an eye he was already closing in on the core area.

"Roar—"

A deafening roar echoed from the core, and the entire black vortex shuddered violently.

A massive ghostly behemoth thrust its head out of the vortex, its blood‑red eyes fixed on Zhang Cheng, its gaping maw spitting out a column of black light.

Zhang Cheng neither flinched nor dodged, allowing the beam to strike him. The golden aura rippled slightly but held firm, blocking the attack.

"You think you can stop me?" Zhang Cheng sneered, his form turning into a flash of gold as he surged instantly before the ghostly behemoth and delivered a punch!

"Boom!"

A deafening blast rang out, as if the very space were being torn apart. The ghostly behemoth let out a mournful scream, its massive body blasted away and slammed heavily into the black mist, raising clouds of dust.

Zhang Cheng paused not a moment, charging straight toward the core. He knew success or failure hinged on this very move!

The black mist grew thinner, and the view of the core area cleared. It was a massive black sphere, its surface covered with strange runes, exuding a heart‑pounding aura.

"Break it for me!"

Zhang Cheng summoned all the power within, hammering the black sphere with a single punch!

"Boom—"

A deafening explosion rang across the heavens, and the black vortex shuddered violently, as if it could collapse at any moment...

In the distance, Kelinda, the Lan Xing Guardian, and the mysterious Elf watched Zhang Cheng anxiously, knowing this was their only hope...

"Zhang Cheng..." Kelinda murmured, her eyes full of worry and anticipation.

The Lan Xing Guardian gripped his long sword tightly, his voice low: "It must succeed..."

The mysterious Elf looked up at the violently churning black vortex, a complex expression flashing in his eyes, and whispered: "What exactly is this power..."

The black vortex churned violently, like an enraged beast thrashing wildly. At the core, the massive black sphere emitted an even brighter glow, tinting everything around it with an eerie black hue.

Kelinda clenched her fists tightly, her beautiful face awash with worry. Her gaze never left the figure darting through the black storm, and she prayed silently: "Zhang Cheng, you must succeed..."

The Lan Xing Guardian stood there, sword in hand, immovable as a mountain. In his deep gaze shone steadfast light; he knew Zhang Cheng was their last hope, and he would protect him no matter what!

The mysterious Elf hovered mid‑air, slender fingers lightly touching his lips, bright eyes filled with curiosity and anticipation. What exactly is this overwhelming power? Why does the Elf feel a hint of familiarity?

Just as Zhang Cheng was about to reach the core, a sudden anomaly erupted!

Countless ghostly creatures let out mournful shrieks, their bodies twisting and warping in the black mist until they merged into a massive black skull that slammed violently toward Zhang Cheng!

"Bad!" the Lan Xing Guardian's complexion changed as he shouted.

This was the ghostly creatures' final frenzy, and also their strongest blow!

"Get out of my way!" Zhang Cheng roared, golden light erupting from his body, forming an indestructible barrier.

Deafening crash echoed, and the entire space shuddered violently. Zhang Cheng let out a muted grunt as the massive impact shoved him back dozens of meters, a trickle of blood spilling from his mouth.

"Zhang Cheng!" Kelinda cried, trying to rush forward to help, but the Lan Xing Guardian blocked her.

"Believe in him!" the Lan Xing Guardian said gravely, "He can do it!"

Zhang Cheng wiped the blood from his mouth, his gaze even more resolute. He knew this was the final test, and he could not fall here!

He inhaled deeply, summoned all the power within, turning into a bolt of golden lightning that surged again toward the black sphere.

"Stop him! Quickly stop him!" the terrified voice of the hidden strongman of the Blood Night Demon Family echoed from the core.

But it was all too late.

Zhang Cheng moved at lightning speed, breaking through every obstacle in an instant, and stood before the black sphere. He stretched out his hand, fingers splayed, reaching to grasp the sphere...

"No—"

A desperate howl rang out.

Zhang Cheng's hand finally touched the core, and an incomparably powerful surge of energy burst from the sphere, sweeping the entire space. The black mist melted like ice and snow, and those ghostly creatures let out mournful screams, turning into black smoke that dissipated into the air…

However, just as the dawn of victory was about to arrive, Zhang Cheng's body trembled, his eyes slowly closed, and he fell straight down…

"Zhang Cheng!" Kelinda shouted, rushing forward recklessly…

The black mist melted like ice and snow, and those originally ferocious and terrifying ghostly creatures let out mournful wails, turning into strands of black smoke that finally vanished without a trace. This space, shrouded in darkness, at last welcomed long‑awaited light.

Zhang Cheng's hand drooped helplessly, and the black sphere that had once emitted an eerie glow now dimmed, lying there quietly as if it were an ordinary stone that had lost all its energy.

"Zhang Cheng!" Kelinda let out a wail, breaking through the Lan Xing Guardian's obstruction without hesitation and sprinting to Zhang Cheng's side.

She gently lifted Zhang Cheng's body; the chest that had once brimmed with power was now unusually calm, without any rise or fall. Kelinda felt as if her own heart were being clutched tightly by an invisible giant hand, making it almost impossible to breathe.

"Zhang Cheng, wake up! Don't scare me!" Crystal‑clear tears slid from Kelinda's eyes, falling onto Zhang Cheng's face, yet they could not awaken him.

The Lan Xing Guardian also came to Zhang Cheng's side, reached out to feel Zhang Cheng's breath, then placed his hand on his pulse, his brows knitting tightly.

"How is it?" Kelinda asked anxiously, her voice trembling slightly.

The Lan Xing Guardian was silent for a moment, then said slowly, "He is merely exhausted and unconscious; there is no danger to his life."

Hearing this, Kelinda's constantly tense nerves finally relaxed; she collapsed weakly onto the ground, clutching Zhang Cheng tightly in her arms, as if fearing that if she let go, he would vanish.

The mysterious Elf hovering in midair also descended slowly, curiously surveying the unconscious Zhang Cheng. She could sense a powerful energy surging within Zhang Cheng's body, an energy that felt both familiar and alien to her.

"It's good that he's okay..." the mysterious Elf murmured, her eyes flashing with complex light, "But… can he really withstand that power?"

The Lan Xing Guardian looked up at the mysterious Elf, then glanced at the unconscious Zhang Cheng, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes. He reached out to touch Zhang Cheng, but halted mid‑air.

He felt a tremendous power awakening within Zhang Cheng's body, a power that made his heart race…