Chapter 237: Dark Haze

Zhang Cheng struggled to rise from the ground, the burning sensation in his chest making every breath painful. The Blood Night Demon King, a name that had loomed over Lan Xing like a nightmare, now stood before him as reality. He looked up at the massive black silhouette in the sky—the Blood Night Demon King's mount, a snarling black warship, hanging above like a Damocles sword, bringing a suffocating pressure. This power far exceeded any enemy he had faced before, even surpassing any challenge encountered on interstellar battlefields.

Kelinda supported Zhang Cheng, worry filling her eyes. Her slender fingers gently brushed the wound on his chest, a warm energy slowly flowing in, trying to ease his pain. Mo Yi stood nearby, fists clenched, jaw tight, hating his own lack of strength that left him unable to contend with the Blood Night Demon King, forced to watch helplessly as his sister and Zhang Cheng fell into danger.

Blue Star Guardian stepped to Zhang Cheng's side, his expression solemn. "This is a calamity for our Lan Xing, and a cataclysm for the universe. The Blood Night Demon King's target is not only Lan Xing; his ambition spans the entire cosmos." He inhaled deeply, a steadfast light flashing in his eyes, "Even if the power gap is vast, we must fight to the end!"

A lithe figure landed beside the group, the mysterious Elf who had appeared earlier. She curiously surveyed Zhang Cheng, her emerald eyes flashing with strange light. "You are special," she whispered, her voice crisp as a silver bell, "on you seems to hide a power even I cannot fathom."

Zhang Cheng strained to steady the surging Qi in his body, knowing this was not the time to question the Elf's origins. He had to restore his strength quickly and prepare for the upcoming battle. He felt the terrifying pressure emanating from the Blood Night Demon King, realizing in his heart that this was a fight almost impossible to win. Their power, compared to the Blood Night Demon King's, was like firefly light competing with a bright moon.

"We must find a way," Zhang Cheng gritted his teeth, bearing the pain, "we cannot meet force with force; we must locate his weakness."

He tried to analyze the black shadow's origin and weakness, focusing his mind to sense the surrounding energy fluctuations. Yet the eerie aura emitted by the shadow disrupted his perception, like a veil of mist shrouding his consciousness, preventing him from obtaining any accurate information. The world before his eyes began to warp, low whispers reaching his ears as if ancient demons were murmuring.

Kelinda sensed Zhang Cheng's abnormality and quickly clasped his hand. "Zhang Cheng, what's wrong?"

Zhang Cheng snapped his eyes open, a flash of terror crossing them. He saw the Blood Night Demon King slowly raising his battle axe, the blade glinting with a dim light as if the gates of hell were about to open.

"Prepare to meet…" the Blood Night Demon King's voice was low and hoarse, tinged with a cruel smile, "the arrival of death…"

Zhang Cheng clenched his teeth, struggling to resist the invasive eerie aura. His consciousness wavered between chaos and clarity, the world before him alternating between sharp and blurred, demonic whispers echoing in his ears like countless tiny insects crawling through his mind, gnawing at his sanity. He tried to focus, sensing the surrounding energy fluctuations to locate the shadow's weakness, only to find his perception completely disrupted, as if sunk in a thick, dense fog, unable to discern direction.

"We can't keep going like this!" Blue Star Guardian said gravely, noting Zhang Cheng's abnormality and feeling the heart‑pounding pressure. "We must first find a place to hide, observe the black shadow's movements, then devise a response strategy."

Kelinda looked at Zhang Cheng with worry, gently supporting his shoulder. "Zhang Cheng, can you still hold on?"

Zhang Cheng inhaled deeply, forcing himself to stay calm. "I'm fine," he shook his head, his voice hoarse, "let's find a place to hide first; we can't wait here to die."

Mo Yi also nodded in agreement, his grip tight on his weapon, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily, ready to meet any sudden danger.

The mysterious Elf watched everything with keen interest, seemingly especially fascinated by Zhang Cheng's reaction, her emerald eyes flashing strange light. "Interesting, truly interesting," she murmured, "this kind of power—I've never seen before."

After the group reached consensus, Blue Star Guardian immediately began searching for a suitable hideout. He surveyed the surroundings, his gaze finally landing on a nearby peak. The mountain was steep and densely vegetated, and its mid‑section seemed to contain a natural cave that could serve as a temporary shelter.

"Follow me!" Blue Star Guardian shouted low, sprinting first toward the mountain.

The others followed closely, racing through the dense jungle toward the mid‑mountain cave. All the while they remained on high alert, constantly watching their surroundings for any sign that the black shadow might notice them.

The cave entrance was hidden behind thick vines; without careful observation it would be hard to spot. Blue Star Guardian pushed aside the vines, revealing a narrow opening.

"Enter!" he whispered, diving into the cave first.

The group entered in single file, the cave interior a sheet of darkness where even a hand could not be seen. Kelinda emitted a gentle light, illuminating the interior. It was not a very large cave; the space was relatively narrow, the floor strewn with broken stones and mud, and a damp scent pervaded the air.

The group found a relatively flat spot deep within the cave, sat down, and began discussing their next plan. Yet at that moment, the rocks surrounding the cave began to tremble slightly, as if something was approaching…

"Wait," Zhang Cheng suddenly lifted his head, his face solemn, "do you feel… the ground shaking?"

His words barely left his mouth when the rocks around the cave began to quake violently, shards of stone cascading down, the fissures in the ceiling widening, and unsettling black aura seeping through the gaps like slender poisonous snakes slithering through the air.

"Bad! It's found us!" Mo Yi's complexion changed abruptly, his grip on his weapon tightening.

Kelinda looked at Zhang Cheng with worry, softly asking, "Zhang Cheng, what should we do?"

Zhang Cheng inhaled deeply, a resolute flash in his eyes. "Hiding isn't the answer; we must strike proactively!" He rose slowly, channeling all his internal power, a massive energy wave radiating from him outward, dispelling the cave's darkness. "Better to gamble than sit and wait for death!"

Blue Star Guardian furrowed his brow, speaking gravely, "Zhang Cheng, this is too dangerous! The black shadow's power is unfathomable; we still know nothing of its nature, and rash action will only …"

"I know," Zhang Cheng cut him off, his gaze steady, "but we can't keep hiding; it will find us sooner or later. Rather than being passively battered, we should act, perhaps there's still a sliver of hope."

The mysterious Elf examined Zhang Cheng with keen interest, her eyes flashing strange light. "Courage is commendable," she chuckled lightly, "but do you truly have confidence in defeating it?"

Zhang Cheng gave no reply, merely clenching his fists and stepping toward the cave entrance. He knew this was a gamble, but he had no other choice.

He pushed aside the vines and emerged from the cave. Outside, night was as black as ink, a thick black aura pervading the air, shrouding everything around in a grim, terrifying atmosphere.

The black shadow hovered in mid‑air, like a massive black vortex, exuding a suffocating pressure. It seemed to sense Zhang Cheng's arrival, slowly rotating, fixing its "gaze" on him.

Just as Zhang Cheng prepared to engage, the black shadow suddenly burst forth a dazzling white light, as searing as the noon sun, instantly engulfing Zhang Cheng.

Within the intense light, Zhang Cheng felt his body bound by a tremendous force, unable to move. A series of booming sounds rang in his ears, his vision a white void, nothing visible. He strained to resist the force, only to find his own power minuscule before the blinding light, like a grain of sand in the ocean.

Inside the cave, Kelinda saw the scene, her heart frantic, trying to rush out, but Blue Star Guardian grabbed her firmly.

"Don't act rashly!" Blue Star Guardian said gravely, "going out now would only bring death!"

Kelinda struggled, her eyes full of worry and anxiety. She gazed at the Zhang Cheng cloaked in the bright light, tears blurring her sight.

After the bright light persisted for several seconds, it gradually faded. Zhang Cheng's figure reappeared before the group. He swayed as if about to collapse, his body seeming ready to fall at any moment, yet he still clenched his teeth, refusing to give in; the long sword in his hand hummed, as if responding to his will. "I…" he managed to speak, his voice hoarse.