Chapter 262

The Nebula Sage suddenly exclaimed, took out a metal box wrapped in layers from his bosom, and opened it carefully.

Inside the box lay a black stone slab the size of a palm, covered with dense runes, extremely similar to the runes on the barrier, only more complex and ancient.

"This is... something I found in the depths of the nebula; at the time, I felt it was extraordinary, so I kept it with me."

The Nebula Sage held the stone slab up to everyone.

"Look, the runes on this, and those on the barrier..."

Everyone immediately gathered around, carefully comparing the runes on the stone slab and the barrier.

The Starry Wanderer widened his eyes, his rough voice also becoming soft:

"It really is... almost exactly the same! Could this thing be the key to opening this ghost place?"

The Messenger of Light also leaned in to observe carefully, a look of contemplation appearing on his holy face:

"There must be some connection between the two; perhaps this stone slab is the key to unlocking the barrier."

Zhang Cheng held Kelinda's hand tightly, felt the temperature of her palm, and a spark of hope ignited in his heart.

He looked at the Nebula Sage and asked in a deep voice:

"Sage, do you know how to use this stone slab?"

The Nebula Sage didn't answer immediately, but examined the stone slab back and forth, wise light flashing in his eyes.

He extended his finger, gently stroking the runes on the stone slab, feeling the ancient power contained within.

"I need a little time to study,"

He said slowly, his voice deep and firm.

"Perhaps... perhaps we really can find a way out."

He raised his head, his gaze falling on the barrier, a flash of brilliance in his eyes.

The Nebula Sage picked up the stone slab and walked toward the barrier...

The Nebula Sage brought the stone slab close to the barrier, and the runes on the barrier flickered with deep blue light, as if responding to the ancient power on the stone slab.

Everyone held their breath, watching this scene nervously, as if time had stopped.

Only the faint light of the barrier runes flickering and the rapid breathing of the group echoed in the space.

The Starry Wanderer scratched his hair irritably and complained in a low voice:

"Is this old man really capable? How long have we been wasting time here?"

The Messenger of Light shook his head gently, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness:

"Wait patiently, the Sage is doing his best."

His gaze fell on Zhang Cheng, his eyes carrying a hint of worry.

Although Zhang Cheng was calm on the surface, his clenched fists showed his inner anxiety.

The Mysterious Elf curiously circled the Nebula Sage, emitting laughter like silver bells, seemingly full of curiosity about everything before her.

She would occasionally land on Zhang Cheng's shoulder, watching him with her crystal-clear eyes, seemingly exploring something.

Time passed minute by minute, and everyone's power was gradually consumed.

The Blue Star Guardian's face was pale, his body trembling slightly; clearly, he was almost unable to hold on.

The Star Spirit walked to his side silently, emitting a soft power to help him stabilize his breath.

Despair began to spread among the group.

The Starry Wanderer smashed his fist against the wall, emitting a muffled sound:

"Damn it! We're all going to be trapped to death here!"

Just then, Zhang Cheng, who had been silent, suddenly spoke:

"Sage, look at these two runes; although their shapes are similar, their arrangement order is completely opposite, could it be..."

He pointed to two runes on the stone slab and the barrier; although his tone carried a hint of questioning, it was exceptionally firm.

The Nebula Sage raised his head abruptly, a flash of brilliance in his eyes.

He carefully compared the two runes Zhang Cheng pointed out, and a look of excitement gradually appeared on his aged face.

"You're right!"

His excited voice echoed in the space.

"These two runes are indeed the key!"

He brought the stone slab close to the barrier again and began to form complex seals with his hands...

The Nebula Sage's fingers danced rapidly on the stone slab, chanting words.

The runes on the stone slab emitted dazzling light, echoing with the runes on the barrier.

Powerful energy fluctuations permeated the air, pressing on everyone's nerves.

"No!"

The Nebula Sage lowered his hands dejectedly, his face even paler.

"My power is not enough to completely crack these runes."

Despair surged into everyone's hearts like a tide.

Just then, Zhang Cheng stood out, his eyes firm and calm.

"Sage, look at these two runes; although their structures are similar, the direction of their energy flow is completely opposite. If we can reverse the energy flow direction of one of the runes, perhaps we can crack this barrier."

Zhang Cheng's words were like a bomb, exploding in everyone's hearts.

The Nebula Sage was stunned for a moment, then a flash of brilliance crossed his eyes.

"You're right! Why didn't I think of that!"

He grabbed Zhang Cheng's hand excitedly.

"Young man, your observation skills are truly amazing!"

The Nebula Sage readjusted the arrangement of the runes on the stone slab according to Zhang Cheng's hint.

This time, the stone slab emitted even more dazzling light, and a powerful force surged from the stone slab, rushing straight toward the barrier.

"Now!"

The Nebula Sage shouted.

"Everyone, inject your power into this prop together!"

Everyone injected their own power into a crystal ball handed over by the Nebula Sage one after another.

The crystal ball shone brightly, shooting out a dazzling beam of light that hit the runes on the barrier.

The runes on the barrier began to tremble violently, and cracks appeared one after another.

"Hurry! Put in more effort!"

The Starry Wanderer shouted excitedly.

Everyone gritted their teeth and injected their last bit of power into the crystal ball. The cracks on the barrier grew larger and larger, and it looked like it was about to shatter completely.

"Crack—"

With a loud noise, the barrier finally shattered.

But just as everyone was cheering, several energy beams suddenly shot out from the cracks...

"Careful!"

The Messenger of Light shouted.

The energy beams darted out like poisonous snakes, heading straight for the group.

The Starry Wanderer shouted, his long sword dancing into a screen of light, blocking all the beams attacking him and the Messenger of Light.

"Everyone be careful, these beams are strange!"

Before he finished speaking, several beams grazed his arm, instantly burning a charred hole in his clothes, and a bloodstain was also scratched onto his skin.

The Messenger of Light summoned a light shield, blocking all the remaining beams.

"These beams contain powerful corrosive energy!"

His expression was grave, and traces of corrosion even appeared faintly on the surface of the light shield.

A beam flew past Zhang Cheng's ear, and the scorching aura made his heart tighten.

At the critical moment, Kelinda exclaimed and threw herself onto Zhang Cheng, protecting him tightly.

"Zhang Cheng!"

Her eyes were full of terror, her voice trembling.

Zhang Cheng came to his senses and patted Kelinda's back gently.

"I'm fine, don't worry."

He comforted her softly, feeling Kelinda's trembling, and a warm current surged in his heart.

"Everyone be on guard!"

The Blue Star Guardian reminded in a deep voice, a long halberd emitting blue light appearing in his hand, looking around vigilantly.

The Mysterious Elf hid behind the Star Spirit, curiously poking her head out to observe the situation around them.

The Nebula Sage took this opportunity to continue manipulating the stone slab, trying to completely disintegrate the barrier.

"Just a little more!"

Sweat beads seeped from his forehead, his expression focused.

The cracks on the barrier grew larger and larger, and the light became brighter and brighter, as if it would collapse at any moment. Just then, the Nebula Sage shouted:

"Done!"

Accompanied by a loud noise, the barrier shattered completely, and the scene before everyone suddenly opened up.

However, before they could relax, a chill rose from the soles of their feet... The Star Spirit suddenly raised his hand, pointed forward, and a deep voice sounded:

"Careful..."

The moment the barrier shattered, the oppressive energy fluctuations receded like a tide, and everyone couldn't help but take a deep breath.

"Finally..."

The Starry Wanderer wiped the sweat from his forehead, his tone carrying a hint of relief.

The Messenger of Light dispersed the light shield and looked around, still maintaining vigilance:

"Looks like we succeeded."

"Not over yet."

The Star Spirit's voice was deep and calm; he pointed forward, and only then did everyone notice that behind the barrier was not a smooth path, but a deep space, with intricate patterns covering the ground, flickering with strange light.

"This is... some kind of array?"

The Blue Star Guardian narrowed his eyes, the blue light of the halberd in his hand becoming a few points brighter.

"Watch your step."

The Nebula Sage reminded weakly; breaking the barrier had cost him a great deal of energy.

Zhang Cheng helped Kelinda up, his gaze sweeping over the patterns on the ground, and a sense of unease rose in his heart.

"These patterns... look like some kind of trigger mechanism."

The Mysterious Elf poked her head out from behind the Star Spirit, curiously examining everything around her; she floated lightly above a pattern and curiously extended her finger to touch it.

"Don't touch!"

Zhang Cheng hurriedly shouted to stop her, but it was already too late.

The pattern the Mysterious Elf touched lit up instantly; immediately after, the ground around them began to shake, and several sharp blades shot out from the walls, heading toward the group.

"Hurry and dodge!"

The Starry Wanderer roared, pulling the Messenger of Light to dodge to the side.

Zhang Cheng picked up Kelinda and narrowly dodged a blade.

The Blue Star Guardian swung his halberd, knocking away the incoming blades, and said in a deep voice:

"This is just the beginning..."

Before he finished speaking, a crack suddenly opened on the ground, and a burst of scorching magma surged out.

The Star Spirit raised his hand, and an invisible barrier blocked the eruption of magma; he looked at the group with a grave expression:

"This place... is more dangerous than imagined."

He paused, his gaze falling on the increasingly complex patterns on the ground, and said in a low voice:

"Retreat, everyone retreat..."