Chapter 235: A Thread of Hope

In the distant sky, a heavy streak of blood spreads at astonishing speed, as if heralding the onset of apocalypse; the mysterious elf's face changes dramatically, she mutters words, her tone urgent and frantic, as if warning of something.

"It's too late…" the elf girl Yin Ya clenched her teeth, a flash of resolve in her emerald eyes. She turned, her slender finger lightly touched Zhang Cheng's brow, a pure energy slowly infused into his body. After doing this, she seemed to have exhausted her strength, her form becoming somewhat translucent.

"Hope… may arrive in time…"

As soon as the elf girl's words fell, a pained groan came from the Blue Star Guardian in the distance. He was entangled by countless massive vines, which, though once as hard as iron, now seemed alive, greedily siphoning the Guardian's power. He struggled fiercely, to no avail; the vines tightened, nearly strangling him.

"Damn it!" The Blue Star Guardian felt his power draining rapidly, his breathing growing difficult, yet he still refused to give up. He gritted his teeth, trying to summon the last ounce of strength within, sending a distress signal outward.

However, the vines seemed to sense his intent, twisting even more wildly, while a bizarre force invaded his body, sealing his meridians. The Guardian's vision blackened, consciousness fading; he felt as if trapped in the deep sea, powerless and sinking…

"Could it be… that I will meet my end here today…" Despair filled the Guardian's heart as he laboriously opened his eyes, looking at the still‑unconscious Zhang Cheng, his gaze full of worry and unwillingness.

He still had many words left for Zhang Cheng, many deeds undone; he could not accept dying like this, nor entrust the future of Lan Xing to a comatose person…

Just as he was about to lose hope, he suddenly felt the vines wrapping him tremble; a scorching aura rose from the vines, warming his previously icy body.

The warmth arrived suddenly, yet sparked a sliver of hope in the Guardian's heart. He forced his eyes open, carefully sensing the surroundings. Soon, he noticed the vines clinging to him quiver slightly; those near his body, affected by his heat, were slowly retreating.

"Could it be…" a bold speculation flashed in his mind—could the vines fear high temperature?

To test his guess, the Guardian endured excruciating pain, mustering the last ounce of strength. He laboriously formed a seal with both hands, murmuring an ancient incantation.

"Flame of Burning Heaven, hear my command, ignite!"

With a low roar, a ball of crimson flame ignited before his chest. Though small, it radiated terrifying heat, warping the surrounding space.

The moment the flame appeared, the vines convulsed like electrified, emitting a harsh screech. They scrambled to flee the fire, yet the Guardian held them tightly, unable to escape.

"Burn them!" A fierce glint crossed the Guardian's eyes as he directed the flame toward the vines.

The flame spread swiftly, soon engulfing the vines. The vines writhed in pain, emitting a sour "sizzle" that seemed to bear immense agony.

As the fire burned, the green glow on the vines dimmed, the once resilient vines turned blackened and brittle. Finally, under the blaze, the vines loosened, freeing the Guardian from their shackles.

Yet just as the Guardian thought he had escaped danger, the vines abruptly recoiled underground, vanishing without a trace.

"What's happening?" A startled shock rose in the Guardian's mind, a bad omen swelling.

Before he could react, the ground beneath his feet violently shook, as if something was about to burst forth…

"Watch your step!" The elf girl's urgent voice suddenly rang in the Guardian's ear…

The elf girl's warning struck like thunder; without hesitation the Guardian leapt, narrowly evading the vine thorns sprouting from the ground. These vines seemed sentient, evading the flame's edge, targeting the Guardian's weak defenses.

"Damn it!" The Guardian cursed, his spell constantly shifting to sustain the Flame of Burning Heaven while also dodging the underground assault. His stamina, already depleted, now neared its limit. Beads of sweat rolled from his forehead, yet he dared not relax, for he knew any lapse would invite death.

"Hold on, Blue Star Guardian!" the elf girl shouted anxiously beside him, "I've already notified Lady Kelinda; they will soon return with the antidote!"

"Hope still arrives in time…" the Guardian gasped, fatigue evident in his voice. The flame in his hand grew unstable, flickering, as if ready to extinguish.

"Roar!"

At that moment, accompanied by a deafening roar, a colossal vine several times thicker than any before erupted from the ground, charging straight at the Guardian. This vine was covered in sharp barbs, exuding a nauseating stench, clearly brimming with lethal toxin.

The Guardian's pupils narrowed sharply; he tried to dodge, but found his body immobilized. The Flame of Burning Heaven's continuous blaze had drained his final strength; now he was like prey spotted by a hunter, forced to watch death approach.

"No—"

The elf girl let out a desperate scream, closing her eyes in anguish.

Just as the massive vine was about to strike, a dark silhouette descended from the sky, interposing before the Guardian. The figure wielded a black longsword emitting a faint glow; with a powerful swing, a sharp sword aura instantly cleaved the vine in two.

The giant vine emitted a mournful wail, its broken limbs falling limp, oozing ink‑green sap that reeked of rot.

The dark figure slowly turned, revealing a handsome, stern face.

"Are you alright?" he asked the Guardian, his tone tinged with concern.

"Mo Yi…" the Guardian stared at the newcomer, eyes full of shock and confusion, "How did you end up here?"

Mo Yi gave no answer, merely scanning the surroundings with a faint frown.

"Seems we're late…" he murmured, his gaze landing on a writhing black mass nearby, a hint of solemnity flashing in his eyes, "It appears the true enemy is about to emerge…"

As soon as his words fell, the black mass violently churned, as if something were about to break through the earth…

Black mist spewed from the writhing mass, bearing a suffocating pressure, rapidly spreading outward. The black longsword in Mo Yi's hand buzzed intermittently, its surrounding glow flickering, as if fearing something.

"Not good, it's coming out!" Mo Yi's complexion changed, he shouted low, crossing his black sword before him, dark energy surging around him, attempting to block the mist's intrusion.

"Run! I'll hold it here!" Mo Yi bellowed at the Guardian, his voice laden with undeniable authority.

The Guardian also knew there was no time for hesitation; he gave Mo Yi a deep glance, said little, and turned to run toward the elf girl. He understood that staying would only make him a burden to Mo Yi; only by leaving quickly could he buy Mo Yi more time.

"Think you can leave? Not so easy!" a chilling voice emerged from the black mist, sending shivers down the spine.

As soon as the words faded, countless black vines slithered from the mist like poisonous snakes, sweeping toward the Guardian and the elf girl. Their speed was extreme and their agility uncanny, making defense impossible.

The Guardian swung his flaming longsword, desperately repelling the vines, but his stamina was severely depleted, his movements growing slower. The elf girl frantically cast various support spells, yet to little effect.

"Ah!"

A scream rang out as the Guardian failed to dodge, a vine coiling around his ankle, its sharp barbs piercing his armor, spraying a spray of blood.

"Blue Star Guardian!" the elf girl cried, trying to rush forward to help, but more vines forced her back.

Just as the Guardian was about to be dragged into the black mist by the vines, a sudden tearing sound split the sky.

"Stop!"

Kelinda's urgent voice echoed from the sky, accompanied by a flash of dazzling golden light; Kelinda and the mysterious elf appeared above the battlefield. Kelinda instantly spotted the Guardian ensnared by vines and Zhang Cheng lying on the ground, her expression turning extremely grim.

"Release them!" Kelinda roared, gathering a sphere of scorching golden flame, hurling it fiercely at those vines…