Chapter 249: The Weakness Lies in the Roots

Zhang Cheng noticed that, although the vines' attacks were fierce, they seemed to follow a certain pattern.

They always attacked tentatively at first, then launched a fierce assault.

Moreover, the interval between each attack was almost identical.

He swung his sword sharply, striking precisely at the root of a vine.

The vine let out a sharp hiss, withered quickly, and turned to ash.

"Their weakness is at the root!"

Zhang Cheng shouted excitedly,

"Attack their roots!"

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately changed tactics, focusing attacks on the vines' roots. As expected, the vines' defensive power dropped dramatically, and a large swath was quickly eliminated.

Kelinda had been silently observing the surroundings.

She noticed that whenever the vines launched an attack, the energy flow within the Xingyun would fluctuate.

A thought stirred in her mind, and a bold idea rose.

"Wait!"

Kelinda called out weakly,

"I think I've discovered something!"

The others halted their attacks, looking at her with confusion.

Kelinda took a deep breath and said:

"The source of these vines' power seems linked to the Xingyun's energy flow."

"The Xingyun's energy flow?"

Blue Star Guardian frowned,

"What does that mean?"

"If we can find the key to controlling the energy flow, perhaps we could control these vines, and even..."

Kelinda paused, a hint of hope flashing in her eyes,

"... even leave this Xingyun!"

The mysterious Elf flew to Kelinda's side and asked curiously,

"You mean the Xingyun is a huge cage?"

Kelinda nodded:

"Very likely. We're all trapped in this cage, and these vines are the jailers."

Xingji Xiake punched a nearby rock and said angrily,

"Damn it! Who trapped us here?"

Guangming Shizhe thought for a moment and said:

"Perhaps this Xingyun wasn't formed naturally, but was artificially created."

Zhang Cheng walked to Kelinda's side and asked concernedly,

"Are you alright?"

Kelinda gave a faint smile:

"I'm fine, just a bit weak. We must find the key to controlling the energy flow quickly, otherwise..."

Before she could finish, a violent tremor suddenly echoed from deep within the Xingyun.

The ground began to shake, and the surrounding vines grew even more ferocious, surging wildly toward the group.

"Bad!"

Blue Star Guardian's complexion changed,

"Something's coming!"

A massive black silhouette slowly rose from the depths of the Xingyun, blotting out the sky, bearing a suffocating sense of oppression...

The silhouette gradually clarified, revealing a gigantic Xingyun Beast, its massive body covered in scales that glittered like stars, each emitting a chilling energy ripple.

The beast let out a deafening roar, and a powerful shockwave surged forward, forcing everyone to muster their strength to resist.

"What... what kind of monster is this?!"

Xingji Xiake steadied himself, staring in horror at the colossal creature before him.

Blue Star Guardian squinted, carefully observing the Xingyun Beast and the changes in the surrounding energy flow.

"I understand!"

He suddenly said,

"This Xingyun itself is a massive energy entity, and this beast is the guardian of the Xingyun's energy!"

"Guardian?"

Zhang Cheng repeated the word, a faint insight dawning in his mind,

"You mean this Xingyun might contain an energy core?"

Blue Star Guardian nodded:

"Exactly! If my speculation is correct, as long as we locate and destroy that energy core, we can break the Xingyun's shackles and leave here!"

Hearing this, a resolute glint flashed in Xingji Xiake's eyes as he struggled to stand up,

"I'll go find it! I must locate that energy core!"

His frail body swayed, as if he could collapse at any moment.

"No!"

The mysterious Elf hurriedly flew to his side and steadied him,

"You're too weak right now; this is too dangerous! Moreover, it could be a trap..."

Xingji Xiake clenched his fists unwillingly,

"But..."

At that moment, Guangming Shizhe stepped forward, a gentle radiance emanating from his body,

"I can protect him."

He said calmly,

"My power can resist the erosion of nebula energy; I can go with Xingji Xiake to find the energy core."

He paused briefly, his gaze sweeping over everyone,

"But this requires others to fend off the attacks of mysterious creatures outside..."

Zhang Cheng tightened his grip on his sword, his eyes resolute.

"I'll go!"

Zhang Cheng stepped forward without hesitation,

"I will lead everyone to repel these monsters!"

A steadfast light flickered in his eyes, and an intangible aura of leadership rose naturally.

Kelinda looked at him with concern and gently grasped his hand,

"Zhang Cheng, be careful."

Zhang Cheng returned the grip on Kelinda's hand, giving her a reassuring look,

"Don't worry, I will protect everyone."

He turned to the Blue Star Guardian and the mysterious Elf,

"Guardian elder, Elf, we must set up a powerful defensive formation to fend off the nebula beasts and those mysterious creatures. Do you have any suggestions?"

Blue Star Guardian pondered for a moment, pointing at several massive meteorites nearby,

"We can use these meteorites as barriers to construct a triangular defensive position. Elf, your speed is the greatest; you can handle roaming support."

The mysterious Elf nodded, her slender fingers flicking lightly, and several strands of silver light shot out, forming an energy shield between the meteorites.

"This can temporarily block part of the attack, but it won't last long."

"Enough,"

Zhang Cheng said,

"We need to buy time so that Guangming Shizhe and Xingji Xiake can locate the energy core."

His gaze burned like a torch as he scanned the crowd,

"Everyone, prepare yourselves; the battle could start at any moment!"

Guangming Shizhe nodded at Zhang Cheng, expressing gratitude for his trust.

He turned his head toward Xingji Xiake,

"Let's go."

Xingji Xiake clenched his teeth, suppressing his weakness, and followed behind Guangming Shizhe as the two flew toward the presumed direction of the energy core.

Kelinda's demonic power surged around her, forming a dark red shield.

Blue Star Guardian brandished a long sword, standing ready in strict formation.

The mysterious Elf's figure darted back and forth among the meteorites, arranging an even more intricate energy shield.

Zhang Cheng inhaled deeply, and his long sword emitted a humming sound.

In the distance, the roar of the nebula beast grew louder, accompanied by waves of heart‑pounding energy.

Suddenly, Zhang Cheng felt the ground beneath his feet begin to tremble; he jerked his head up, his pupils snapping shut.

"It's coming!"

Xingji Xiake and Guangming Shizhe rushed headlong into the depths of the nebula, flying toward the presumed location of the energy core.

"Careful!"

Guangming Shizhe suddenly grabbed Xingji Xiake, and an invisible energy blade skimmed almost along Xingji Xiake's shoulder.

Xingji Xiake broke out in a cold sweat,

"Thanks!"

They pressed on, repeatedly encountering various energy traps.

At times the ground collapsed, revealing bottomless dark fissures; at other times space warped, causing them to lose their bearings; and occasionally energy storms surged, pushing them toward the nebula's edge.

"The defense of this energy core is truly tight,"

Xingji Xiake wiped the sweat from his face,

"It seems we guessed right; the key to escaping the nebula lies here."

Meanwhile, the meteorite defensive position teetered on the brink of collapse.

Mysterious creatures surged like a tide; Zhang Cheng swung his long sword, sword qi streaking across, slashing the approaching beasts one by one.

The shield formed by Kelinda's demonic power also began to crack.

"We can't keep going like this; they haven't returned, and we won't hold out much longer!"

Blue Star Guardian said in a deep voice.

The mysterious Elf's face turned pale; she had already exhausted herself maintaining the energy shield, but the nebula beast's attacks grew ever more ferocious.

Huge fissures appeared across the meteorite shield.

"Believe in them!"

Zhang Cheng clenched his teeth, his gaze steadfast.

The light of his long sword intensified, and streaks of sword qi, like meteors, sliced through the night sky, driving back a nebula beast attempting to breach the defense.

"You have to hold on!"

Xingji Xiake and Guangming Shizhe finally arrived at the location of the energy core.

A huge sphere radiating dazzling light floated in the center of the Xingyun, surrounded by countless beams of energy like guardian swords.

"This is it!"

A flash of excitement lit Guangming Shizhe's eyes.

"Are you ready?"

Xingji Xiake took a deep breath,

"Come on!"

Both released their strongest power simultaneously, the two streams of energy intertwining to form a dazzling pillar of light that shot straight at the energy core…

Everyone anxiously awaited news from Xingji Xiake and Guangming Shizhe. Suddenly, a violent energy fluctuation erupted in the distance…