Chapter 244: Like Ants

A black energy sphere, bearing a breath of destruction, surged straight toward Kelinda. At that hair‑trigger moment, a dazzling golden light split the darkness from the heavens, like dawn breaking, tearing the thick night. A figure bathed in the golden light slowly descended. He wore golden battle armor, held a holy staff, his wings spread, like a deity.

Stop!

The voice, bearing irresistible authority like a deity's proclamation, echoed through space. The black energy sphere halted abruptly a hair's breadth from Kelinda, then vanished into nothingness.

Guangming Shizhe descends!

Where he went, the shadow assassins' dark power melted as quickly as ice meeting scorching sun. The space pirates were blinded by the sudden light, howling in pain. The black shadow let out an angry roar and recoiled, seeming extremely wary of Guangming Shizhe.

Guangming Shizhe ignored the surrounding chaos, gently waved his holy staff, and a warm healing force brushed like spring wind, enveloping the wounded Xingji Xiake, Blue Star Guardian, Kelinda, and the mysterious Elf. The Xingji Xiake's dim light sword reignited with dazzling brilliance, the Blue Star Guardian's wounds healed swiftly, Kelinda's weary expression vanished, and even the Elf's near‑broken magical shield re‑stabilized, emitting a soft glow.

"Light will eventually dispel darkness!" Guangming Shizhe's voice was booming yet tinged with pity, "You petty scoundrels, retreat at once!"

The space pirates had already been cowed by Guangming Shizhe's presence; hearing his warning now, they fled in terror, scrambling their ships away. The shadow assassin, seeing the unfavorable turn, turned into a black wisp and vanished into the boundless void.

The black shadow wore a grim face; he knew today's plan had failed. He gave Guangming Shizhe a deep stare, his eyes full of wariness and hatred.

"Guangming Shizhe, we shall meet again!" the black shadow spat, then vanished.

Guangming Shizhe surveyed the surroundings, and after confirming the danger had passed, turned his gaze to the still‑trapped Zhang Cheng. He walked slowly toward Zhang Cheng, the light at the tip of his holy staff gathering, as if probing something.

"This power..." Guangming Shizhe murmured softly, his brows slightly furrowing.

Trapped Zhang Cheng, who had already sunk into despair, now felt a warm force surge into his body. That force resonated with Guangming Shizhe's power, and the power within him began to stir. The intense light that bound him started to crack in thin fissures. His strength was slowly recovering…

Guangming Shizhe seemed to notice Zhang Cheng's change; surprise flashed in his eyes before he turned to Kelinda and said slowly, "The power on his body..." "The power on his body..." He paused, his gaze deep as if he could see through everything, "... is extraordinary."

Kelinda stared anxiously at Zhang Cheng, her heart in her throat. She could feel the fluctuations of his inner power, yet worried it might spiral out of control. "He... what's happened to him?"

Guangming Shizhe did not answer immediately, but kept observing Zhang Cheng's transformation. The intense light that bound Zhang Cheng now resembled a spiderweb riddled with cracks, ready to shatter. Zhang Cheng shut his eyes tightly, brows knit, beads of sweat rolling from his forehead. The power within him surged like a raging river, battering the cage that restrained him.

"This power..." Guangming Shizhe spoke again, his tone tinged with doubt, "seems unlike any power I know. It is primal, wild, yet full of vitality."

At that moment, the fleeing space pirates realized they could not escape the area by any means. An invisible barrier trapped them in place, like birds caged in terror.

"What's happening? Why can't we get out?" a pirate shouted in panic.

"It's Guangming Shizhe! He set up a barrier!" another pirate said, pointing at the distant Guangming Shizhe, voice trembling.

Guangming Shizhe ignored the pirates' panic, his focus remaining on Zhang Cheng. He slowly raised his holy staff, the light at its tip blazing brighter, like a miniature sun. The light was not scorching but gentle, shining on Zhang Cheng and accelerating the recovery of his inner power.

"This..." Kelinda gasped, covering her mouth, she could clearly feel Zhang Cheng's inner power changing, growing stronger and more stable.

The intense light binding Zhang Cheng finally could not withstand the power's impact; with a "Ka‑cha" sound it shattered completely. Zhang Cheng snapped his eyes open, two golden beams shooting from them, illuminating the surrounding starry sky. He rose slowly, feeling the surging power within, a faint smile curling his lips.

"I... I'm back." Zhang Cheng's voice was hoarse, yet full of power.

Guangming Shizhe looked at Zhang Cheng, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes. "Your inner power is extraordinary. Use it well; it will become the sword that protects everything for you."

Zhang Cheng nodded, looked at Kelinda, his gaze full of tenderness. He knew that for Kelinda, for Lan Xing, he must become stronger.

Suddenly, Guangming Shizhe's expression changed; he snapped his head toward the distance, eyes blazing. "It's coming!"

Kelinda and Zhang Cheng both felt a powerful pressure, even greater than the threat the black shadow had posed earlier. Following Guangming Shizhe's gaze, they saw a group of black shadows rapidly approaching in the distance.

"It's shadow assassins..." Kelinda's voice trembled.

Under Guangming Shizhe's mighty power, the shadow assassins seemed to undergo a change. Their forms began to warp, as if losing control; their once fluid movements became sluggish and clumsy. The darkness surrounding them grew chaotic, flickering like a flame about to go out.

The light of Guangming Shizhe's holy staff flared, and he stepped forward, positioning himself between Zhang Cheng and Kelinda. His voice was low and firm: "Don't worry, I will protect you."

As soon as his words fell, one shadow assassin let out a mournful scream; its body began to swell, deform, and finally… burst apart, turning into a cloud of black smoke that dissipated in the air. The other shadow assassins followed suit, their bodies seeming infused with a ferocious force, uncontrollably expanding and deforming, ultimately exploding into black smoke.

The light of Guangming Shizhe's holy staff gradually dimmed; he watched the vanishing shadow assassins, his brows slightly furrowed. "It seems the one controlling them is stronger than I imagined."

Kelinda watched everything unfold, her heart filled with awe. She could feel the sacred power emanating from Guangming Shizhe, which not only purified the shadow assassins but also elevated the demonic power within her. She felt her inner power erupt like a volcano, an unprecedented strength flooding her entire body.

"Guangming Shizhe..." Kelinda inhaled deeply, her gaze resolute, "Please lend me a hand!"

Guangming Shizhe turned his head toward Kelinda, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes. "Your demonic power has been purified by my light, and now it will become your force against darkness."

Guangming Shizhe slowly lifted his holy staff, a dazzling light enveloping Kelinda. Kelinda closed her eyes, feeling the fusion of light and demonic power. She sensed that these two once opposing forces now coexisted harmoniously, complementing each other to form an even greater power.

When Kelinda opened her eyes again, they shone with battle intent. The demonic power within her was no longer a destructive darkness but a vibrant, life‑filled energy. She clenched her fists, feeling the surging power inside, leapt forward, and charged at the distant black shadow.

"Kelinda!" Zhang Cheng tried to stop her, but Guangming Shizhe blocked him.

"Let her go," Guangming Shizhe said, watching Kelinda's back, confidence in his eyes, "She now possesses the power to confront darkness."

Zhang Cheng watched Kelinda's figure battling the black shadow, his heart full of worry. He knew Kelinda was strong, but the black shadow's strength was even more unfathomable. He clenched his fists, silently vowing to master his inner power quickly so he could better protect Kelinda.

Kelinda's battle with the black shadow was exceptionally fierce, the massive energy fluctuations shaking the surrounding starry sky. Her attacks were swift and fierce, each strike infused with potent demonic power, yet she could not wound the black shadow at all. The shadow's form drifted like a phantom, her blows always missing.

"Useless," the black shadow's voice was cold and mocking, "Your power before me is as weak as ants."

Kelinda ignored the shadow's taunt, continuing her assault, her attacks growing faster and more ferocious. She knew she had to buy more time for Zhang Cheng.

Zhang Cheng, watching the battle from the side, anxiously searched for a breakthrough. He knew he had to find a way to counter the black shadow quickly, or Kelinda would be in danger.

Suddenly, he felt someone gently tug his sleeve. He turned and saw the mysterious Elf.

The mysterious Elf pointed at the distant black shadow, speaking in a strange language. Zhang Cheng couldn't understand her words, but he sensed the urgency and excitement in her tone.

At that moment, the Blue Star Guardian also came to Zhang Cheng's side. He seemed able to understand the Elf's language, and he looked at the Elf, surprise in his eyes.

"Is what you said true?" the Blue Star Guardian asked.

The mysterious Elf nodded vigorously, then pointed at the black shadow's chest and repeated the words she had just said.

The Blue Star Guardian took a deep breath, turned his gaze to Zhang Cheng, a hint of resolve flashing in his eyes.

"Zhang Cheng," the Blue Star Guardian said gravely, "I now know what to do..."

The Elf's slender finger pointed to the black shadow's chest, where, illuminated by Guangming Shizhe's staff light, a tiny, crack‑like mark was faintly visible. Previously hidden by the shadow's dense darkness, the weakness now emerged amid the clash of light and dark. She spoke quickly, her voice crisp like a wind chime, yet tinged with unmistakable urgency.

After hearing the Elf, the Blue Star Guardian's complexion changed sharply. He fully understood the significance of the weakness—it was the sole hope to crush the black shadow. "I see," he murmured, "No wonder it has always cloaked itself in darkness, to hide this fatal flaw."

Although Zhang Cheng couldn't understand the Elf's language, he sensed the seriousness from the Blue Star Guardian's solemn expression and the Elf's urgent gestures. Pointing at the crack on the shadow's chest, he asked the Blue Star Guardian, "There, is that its weak point?"

The Blue Star Guardian nodded gravely: "Yes, the Elf said that is the source of the shadow's power and its most vulnerable spot. Hitting there will completely dismantle its strength."

At that moment, the black shadow seemed to notice its weakness being exposed. It let out a deafening roar, causing the surrounding starry sky to tremble. Its previously vague form solidified, swelling into a massive black sphere, dense darkness roiling like thick smoke, spewing outward and blotting out the heavens.

"Bad, it's going all out!" Guangming Shizhe's expression darkened, the light of his holy staff flaring, forming a massive light barrier to try to block the shadow's attack.

Kelinda was knocked back by the black shadow's overwhelming force; she staggered back to Zhang Cheng's side, her face pale: "Zhang Cheng, be careful! Its power is several times stronger than before!"

The black shadow's energy kept accumulating, the surrounding space beginning to warp and deform, as if about to collapse. A destructive aura spread, pressuring everyone present.

"We must stop it!" Zhang Cheng gritted his teeth. He knew that if the dark shadow was allowed to complete this attack, the consequences would be unimaginable.

The mysterious Elf waved her arms anxiously, pointing at the dark shadow's weakness, then pointing at Zhang Cheng and the Blue Star Guardian, her mouth ceaselessly saying something. She seemed to be urging them to act quickly.

A flash of resolve passed through the Blue Star Guardian's eyes. He grabbed Zhang Cheng's arm and said in a deep voice, "Zhang Cheng, we must join forces. Only when our two powers are combined can we break through the dark shadow's defense!"

Zhang Cheng felt a powerful force transmit from the Blue Star Guardian's hand. He nodded, his eyes burning with fierce battle intent. "Good! Let's do it together!"

The Blue Star Guardian took a deep breath, and a long sword shining with blue radiance appeared in his hand. He pointed the long sword at the dark shadow, and the blade emitted a humming vibration, as if thirsting for battle. He turned to look at Zhang Cheng, his gaze firm. "Are you ready?"

Zhang Cheng clenched his fists, feeling the surging power within his body, and said word by word, "Always ready!"

The Blue Star Guardian abruptly raised the long sword, and a dazzling blue light shot straight into the sky. "Now..."