Chapter 256: Riding Out the Storm

Xingji Xiake's hand had barely touched the barrier when a powerful force flung him back, and he staggered several steps before steadying himself.

"Hss—"

He shook his hand, his palm flushed bright red,

"The energy of this barrier is even stronger than imagined!"

Everyone was shocked. The barrier emitted a faint, ghostly glow, like a dormant behemoth that made one shudder at the sight.

The mysterious Elf looked at Zhang Cheng with worry and said softly:

"This barrier, I'm afraid it won't be easy to pass."

Xingyun Zhizhe stroked his beard and said meaningfully:

"Young man, recklessness won't do."

His words carried a hint of warning, seemingly suggesting that Zhang Cheng's strength was insufficient.

The Blue Star Guardian fought through the pain in his body and said:

"Let me try again."

He took an unsteady step forward, but just as he extended his hand, he let out a muffled grunt and his face instantly grew even paler.

Beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down his forehead. He clenched his teeth, unwilling to show weakness in front of everyone.

Seeing this, Kelinda's eyes filled with worry. She gently held the Blue Star Guardian's hand and said softly:

"Lord Guardian, please don't push yourself."

Zhang Cheng looked at the barrier flickering with an eerie glow before him, his mind racing with countless thoughts.

He carefully observed the patterns of the energy barrier's fluctuations. The light flickered on and off, like breathing, concealing some kind of rhythm.

A strange feeling welled up in his heart—he seemed to have caught onto something…

"Wait,"

Zhang Cheng suddenly spoke up,

"I think I've found something."

Zhang Cheng took a deep breath and pointed to an almost imperceptible node on the barrier, saying:

"The barrier's energy fluctuations aren't evenly distributed. Look here—its energy fluctuation is at its weakest, and it displays a rhythmic pulsation. If we can synchronize with this pulsation, we can pass through the barrier with minimal resistance."

He reached out and gently touched that node with his fingertip; the impact of the energy was negligible.

Xingyun Zhizhe narrowed his eyes and carefully observed the spot Zhang Cheng had pointed out. After a moment, he stroked his beard, and a glint of admiration flashed in his eyes:

"Young man, what sharp eyes! To be able to detect such subtle energy changes."

Even the usually arrogant Xingji Xiake had to admire Zhang Cheng's powers of observation. He scratched his head and grinned:

"Impressive, brother! Looks like we're counting on you this time."

Zhang Cheng then directed everyone:

"Everyone follow my rhythm and approach the barrier together. Remember, you must stay perfectly synchronized—whatever you do, don't lose your footing."

He took the lead, each step precisely timed to the instant when the energy fluctuation was at its weakest. The others followed closely, carefully controlling their own pace.

The barrier's energy impact still existed, but compared to before, it had weakened considerably.

As the last person passed through the barrier, everyone couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Kelinda looked at Zhang Cheng with eyes full of admiration, and the Blue Star Guardian also cast him an approving gaze.

Xingji Xiake went so far as to clap Zhang Cheng on the shoulder and laughed heartily:

"Good lad, you've really got what it takes! Now we've made it past this hurdle!"

After passing through the barrier, everyone found themselves in a strange space.

A soft glow permeated the surroundings, and the air was filled with peculiar energy. This energy seemed to resonate with their bodies, making them feel incomparably comfortable.

However, within this seemingly tranquil space, dangerous energy turbulence lay hidden as well. Like lurking undercurrents, they could erupt at any moment.

The mysterious Elf curiously reached out her hand, feeling the energy fluctuations around her. Suddenly, her expression changed and she cried out:

"Careful…"

The mysterious Elf's cry had not yet fully faded when several swirling masses of energy materialized in the space, rapidly coalescing into monsters of various forms.

They flickered with unstable light, emitted piercing shrieks, and brandished claws formed of pure energy as they lunged fiercely at everyone.

Xingji Xiake bore the brunt of the charge. He roared, both fists wrapped in interstellar energy, and slammed them viciously into an energy monster shaped like a giant wolf.

However, the moment his fists made contact with the monster, the interstellar energy seemed to be absorbed, vanishing without a trace.

The giant wolf monster let out a smug howl, its body actually swelling a size larger, its attacks growing even more ferocious.

"These monsters can absorb energy attacks!"

Xingji Xiake hastily retreated, narrowly dodging the giant wolf monster's claws, and reminded everyone with a grave expression.

At that critical moment, Guangming Shizhe raised his staff high and chanted an ancient incantation.

A holy beam of light shot from the top of the staff, enveloping the energy monsters.

Wherever the light reached, the monsters' energy fluctuations visibly weakened, and their movements became sluggish.

"My power of purification can temporarily suppress their strength, but it cannot completely destroy them!"

Guangming Shizhe said in a deep voice,

"We need to find their weakness!"

Kelinda stayed close by Zhang Cheng's side. She held his hand, drawing strength and a sense of security from it.

Zhang Cheng gently squeezed back, giving her a reassuring look.

His gaze burned like a torch as he scanned these energy monsters, trying to find their vulnerabilities.

Xingyun Zhizhe stroked his beard and murmured thoughtfully:

"These monsters are composed of pure energy, yet they possess the ability to launch physical attacks. There must be something peculiar going on."

Zhang Cheng suddenly noticed that although these energy monsters came in various forms, at each of their cores was a tiny black vortex, as if it were some kind of convergence point for energy.

"Perhaps their weakness lies right there!"

Zhang Cheng said, pointing at the black vortex at the monsters' cores.

Just as everyone was about to focus their attacks on the monsters' weak point, a low roar echoed from the depths of space... the air seemed to freeze solid.

That low roar was like that of an ancient behemoth, carrying a heart-palpitating pressure that reverberated through the space.

The originally restless energy monsters seemed to have been startled; their attacks grew hesitant, and they neighed uneasily.

"What is that sound?"

The mysterious Elf tightly grasped the Blue Star Guardian's sleeve, her voice trembling slightly.

The Blue Star Guardian's expression was grave. He shielded the mysterious Elf behind him and said in a deep voice:

"I'm afraid the guardian of this space has been disturbed."

The Xingji Xiake clenched his fists, a glint of excitement flashing in his eyes:

"A stronger opponent? Just what I wanted!"

The Guangming Shizhe's brow was tightly furrowed, and the light from the scepter in his hand flickered unsteadily:

"I hope it is not an enemy rather than a friend."

The Xingyun Zhizhe looked up toward the direction the sound had come from, a glint of wisdom flashing in his eyes:

"This roar contains an ancient and powerful force. We must respond with caution."

Zhang Cheng felt Kelinda's hand trembling slightly. He gripped her hand tightly and comforted her in a low voice:

"Don't be afraid. I'm here."

Kelinda looked up at Zhang Cheng's resolute eyes, and the fear in her heart receded slightly. She nodded and gripped the weapon in her hand tightly.

Just then, one of the energy monsters seemed unable to withstand the pressure from the roar any longer. It let out a shrill scream, its body violently burst apart, and dissolved into scattered starlight that dispersed in the air.

"They're afraid."

Zhang Cheng said in a deep voice.

"No, they are... raising an alarm."

The Xingyun Zhizhe's tone was grave. His gaze was fixed on the depths of space as he slowly uttered a few words:

"It's here."

As that roar drew closer, the surrounding energy turbulence grew even more violent. Everyone found it difficult to breathe, as if being oppressed by an invisible force.

The Xingji Xiake suddenly shouted:

"Careful!"

He violently shoved the Guangming Shizhe beside him out of the way.