Chapter 257: Dissolved into Nothingness

A massive shadow slowly emerged from the depths of space, accompanied by a suffocating pressure.

It was shaped like a giant dragon, its scales gleaming with a dark, eerie light, its wings blotting out the sky and sun, each beat sending tremors through space.

Xingling had appeared.

After shoving Guangming Shizhe aside, Xingji Xiake was struck by the chaotic energy currents himself, staggering several steps as a trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

"This power… is impossible to withstand!"

He growled low, barely managing to steady himself.

The mysterious Elf let out a painful moan amidst the chaotic energy currents; her power began to dissipate, her body gradually turning transparent, as if she could vanish at any moment.

"I… I'm about to…"

She reached out weakly, trying to grasp something, but her hand ultimately fell limp.

"Elf!"

Kelinda cried out in alarm, wanting to rush forward to help, but was held back by Zhang Cheng.

"If we go over now, we'll only be throwing our lives away for nothing."

Zhang Cheng's voice was low, yet exceptionally firm.

The mysterious Elf's gaze fell upon Zhang Cheng, a glimmer of hope flashing in her eyes:

"I hope… you can find… the way out…"

Her voice grew weaker and weaker, finally disappearing into the raging energy currents.

The Blue Star Guardian's expression was grave; the longsword in his hand hummed, as if thirsting for battle, yet he forcibly suppressed it.

"We must find a way to leave this place, otherwise…"

He did not continue, but everyone understood his meaning.

Xingling let out an ear-splitting roar, and the surrounding energy currents grew even more violent, as if about to devour everything.

Its enormous eyes swept over everyone, finally settling on Zhang Cheng, a barely perceptible flash of… curiosity in its gaze?

Zhang Cheng drew a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

He recalled the secrets of Xingyun that Xingyun Zhizhe had recounted earlier, along with his own observations along the way, and a sudden flash of insight sparked in his mind.

He noticed that within the raging energy currents, there existed a relatively calm region—small, yet like a sliver of hope for survival…

Zhang Cheng's gaze locked tightly onto that relatively calm region, a nameless certainty surging in his heart.

"There!"

He pointed at that region, his tone firm and forceful,

"We're going there!"

Everyone looked in the direction Zhang Cheng was pointing, a glimmer of hope igniting in their eyes.

The Blue Star Guardian made a snap decision:

"Fine! I'll trust you this once!"

Kelinda tightly gripped Zhang Cheng's hand, giving him silent support.

Xingji Xiake wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, battle spirit rekindling in his eyes:

"Kid, don't lead us into a dead end!"

Zhang Cheng ignored Xingji Xiake's skepticism; he took the lead and charged toward that region, with everyone following close behind.

The raging energy currents were like roaring behemoths, constantly battering their bodies, yet that region miraculously maintained its relative calm, as if it were a safe harbor in a storm.

They made it!

In the nick of time, they reached that region, evading Xingling's most ferocious attack.

Everyone looked at Zhang Cheng, their eyes filled with admiration.

"Good kid, you've got some skills!"

Xingji Xiake clapped Zhang Cheng on the shoulder, praising him sincerely.

The Blue Star Guardian also gave a slight nod, a glimmer of approval flashing in his eyes.

Kelinda, meanwhile, held Zhang Cheng tightly, her face brimming with the joy of surviving a catastrophe.

However, just as everyone breathed a slight sigh of relief, the massive shadow fully materialized; with a heaven-shaking roar, Xingling finally appeared before them all.

It radiated a suffocating pressure, as if the entire space was under its control.

Xingling's enormous eyes swept over everyone, an icy light gleaming in its gaze; just as it was about to speak and drive them away, Xingyun Zhizhe suddenly stepped forward.

"Xingling, please hear me out."

Though his voice was not loud, it clearly spread throughout the entire space.

Xingyun Zhizhe recounted everyone's ordeal in detail, describing how they had been drawn into this space and their desperate wish to leave.

Xingling listened quietly, the icy light in its eyes gradually fading, replaced by a hint of contemplation.

"You… did not enter intentionally?"

Xingling's voice was deep and resonant, carrying a trace of doubt.

Xingyun Zhizhe nodded:

"That is exactly so."

Xingling fell silent for a moment, then slowly said:

"Stay."

However, just then, the surrounding energy fluctuated once more, and several beast-shaped energy monsters burst from the currents, lunging straight at the group.

Xingling let out a low growl and swung its massive claws; a strange ripple of energy spread outward, instantly shattering those energy monsters.

Zhang Cheng's gaze was fixed on Xingling's method of attack, his heart stirring…

Xingling's enormous claws swept through the air, each strike trailing strange energy ripples that shattered those energy monsters.

These ripples were not simple energy shocks, but oscillations containing a certain pattern, as if able to resonate with space itself (resonantewith translated as

"to resonate with..."

).

The moment the monsters touched the ripples, they shattered like foam and dissipated into nothingness.

"So powerful!"

Xingji Xiake could not help but exclaim in awe; he prided himself on having seen many experts, but a being like Xingling who could control the power of space with every casual gesture still left him shaken.

The Blue Star Guardian's gaze was equally grave; Xingling's power far exceeded his imagination.

Zhang Cheng, however, stared closely at Xingling's movements, a flash of understanding in his eyes.

He noticed that every time Xingling attacked, its claws pointed at certain specific points in space, and these points seemed closely tied to the stability of space.

"Could it be..."

A bold conjecture surfaced in his mind.

Just then, another wave of energy monsters surged forth, and Xingling struck again.

Zhang Cheng's gaze followed Xingling's claws closely, trying to capture the positions of those key points.

In the lull of battle, Kelinda gently healed the injured Xingji Xiake.

Her slender fingers radiated a soft light, soothing wounds and warming hearts alike.

"Thank you, Kelinda."

Xingji Xiake said gratefully.

Kelinda smiled faintly, her gaze turning to Zhang Cheng, her eyes full of concern.

After the battle ended, Xingling's massive form stood before the group; though it had stopped attacking, its tone still carried a trace of warning:

"You may stay for now, but remember, do not touch those energy sources flashing with red light."

Xingling's enormous claws pointed toward regions deep in space that flickered with an ominous crimson glow.

Doubt filled everyone's hearts—what exactly were these energy sources?

And what secrets did they hide?

After speaking, Xingling vanished from the spot, leaving everyone staring at one another.

Under Xingling's watchful gaze, the group began to explore this strange space, searching for clues related to leaving.

Based on the attack patterns he had observed earlier, Zhang Cheng began trying to find those key points in space.

He discovered that these points seemed to correspond to certain special runes within the space.

Suddenly, Zhang Cheng's gaze was drawn to a rune flickering in a corner.

He was about to step closer to examine it when he felt a chill behind him, as if a pair of eyes were watching them from the dark.

"Wait..."

Zhang Cheng said in a low voice, his gaze sweeping the surroundings vigilantly.