Chapter 265: Welcome to My Labyrinth

Gloom-blue runes danced like ghost fire, flickering erratically amid the pile of treasure and casting eerie shadows.

The crowd, previously excited, fell silent at once; a tense atmosphere permeated the air.

"These runes… I've never seen them before."

Xingyun Zhizhe knitted his brows tightly; he tried to probe them with mental force, but it was like a clay ox entering the sea—no response at all.

"This power is ancient and mysterious. We must be careful."

Xingling's expression also turned grave.

"These runes appear to be a kind of seal, protecting the treasure, but they may also harbor great danger."

He reached out a hand to stop the eager Guangming Shizhe,

"Don't act rashly. We still don't understand the power of these runes."

"Are we just going to give up like this?"

Xingji Xiake was unwilling to accept it; he looked at the treasure filling the cabin, greed gleaming in his eyes.

"Of course not."

Zhang Cheng calmly surveyed the surroundings, his gaze settling on those flickering runes.

"We need to find a way to break them."

He turned to look at the Blue Star Guardian,

"Lord Guardian, you are well-traveled and knowledgeable—have you ever seen similar runes?"

The Blue Star Guardian shook his head, his expression grave.

"I have never seen this kind of rune either, but one thing is certain: this is no ordinary thing. We must act with caution, or the consequences will be unimaginable."

Just then, Kelinda, who had been standing quietly to the side, suddenly cried out,

"Zhang Cheng, careful!"

The previously dim runes suddenly blazed with light, and a powerful force surged forth from the treasure, sweeping through the entire cabin like a shock wave.

Caught off guard, everyone retreated one after another, watching the scene before them with shock and uncertainty.

The mysterious Elf, having been too severely injured before, was struck by the force of the runes when they activated; she collapsed to the ground in pain, her face pale and her body trembling slightly.

"Elf!"

Zhang Cheng rushed to her side at once and helped her up,

"How are you?"

The mysterious Elf shook her head weakly, pointed at the runes, and said with difficulty:

"These runes… are… are…"

Before she could finish, she passed out.

Zhang Cheng looked at the unconscious mysterious Elf, then at the runes flickering with eerie light, and a sense of foreboding rose in his heart… Kelinda gripped Zhang Cheng's hand tightly, her eyes full of worry.

Zhang Cheng gently set the mysterious Elf down in a safer spot to the side, then stood up and looked around.

Xingji Xiake paced back and forth with an anxious look, muttering:

"What do we do now, what do we do now…"

Guangming Shizhe knelt on one knee, pressed his hands together, and whispered a prayer for the Goddess of Light's protection.

Xingyun Zhizhe kept flipping through the ancient book in his hands, trying to find a single clue.

The Blue Star Guardian patted Zhang Cheng on the shoulder, his tone heavy:

"It seems we've run into a real challenge this time."

His words were full of helplessness, yet also like a silent pressure weighing on Zhang Cheng's young shoulders.

By contrast, Kelinda held tightly to Zhang Cheng's hand, her eyes full of worry.

She said nothing, silently transferring her own power to Zhang Cheng, hoping to give him some support.

Sensing Kelinda's concern, Zhang Cheng took a deep breath and tried hard to calm himself.

He closed his eyes, recalling everything he had seen and heard during his interstellar adventures, as well as the various forms of knowledge he had acquired.

Time passed second by second, and the atmosphere grew ever more grave.

Xingji Xiake could not help but speak up:

"Zhang Cheng, do you have any ideas? We can't stay trapped here forever, can we?"

His tone carried a trace of doubt and impatience, as if Zhang Cheng were their only hope and also the sole culprit.

Zhang Cheng paid no heed to Xingji Xiake's urging and continued to immerse himself in thought.

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck his mind—he remembered an ancient runic system that bore a striking resemblance to the runes before him.

He snapped his eyes open, pointed at one of the runes, and said:

"This rune… I think I've seen it somewhere before…"

As he spoke, he carefully observed the patterns on the rune and compared them with the runic system in his memory.

Gradually, his eyes grew brighter and brighter, and a faint smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.

"I've got it!"

he exclaimed excitedly,

"These runes are an ancient seal. Their purpose is to protect the treasure, but they also conceal the key to unlocking it!"

Hearing Zhang Cheng's words, everyone's hope was instantly rekindled.

Xingyun Zhizhe excitedly grabbed Zhang Cheng's hand and asked:

"Really? You really know how to break these runes?"

His tone was full of expectation, as if grasping at a lifeline.

Zhang Cheng nodded and pointed at several key runes, saying:

"As long as we activate these runes in the specific order, we can break the seal…"

He reaches out and touches one of the runes…

Zhang Cheng's fingertip contacts the cold rune, and a strange energy ripple instantly spreads outward.

Just as he prepares to activate the next rune in the order he has deduced, an anomaly suddenly erupts.

A powerful suction bursts from the depths of the treasure, like a beast opening a gaping maw, intent on devouring everyone.

Ah!

Xingji Xiake is caught off guard, lets out a startled cry, and his body involuntarily slides backward.

Guangming Shizhe's praying voice abruptly stops, and his face turns deathly pale.

The ancient tome in Xingyun Zhizhe's hand is swept away by the suction, flips a few pages in the air, then vanishes into the darkness.

Even the usually steady Blue Star Guardian staggers a few steps, his expression solemn.

"Hold onto me!"

Kelinda lets out a sharp cry, unfurls massive demonic wings behind her, and firmly grasps a protruding rock.

A flash of red light glints in her eyes, a powerful force erupts from her, forming an invisible barrier that envelops everyone, repelling the terrifying suction.

"Kelinda!"

Zhang Cheng feels warmth in his heart, sensing Kelinda's power; he becomes even more resolute in his belief.

He quickly readjusts his stance, steadies his body, and simultaneously channels part of his power to the others, helping them resist the suction.

"Damn! What the hell is this place!"

Xingji Xiake's face turns pale, clinging tightly to Kelinda's power barrier, and shouts in terror.

Kelinda furrows her brows, fine beads of sweat seep from her forehead, clearly indicating that maintaining this power is not easy for her.

She bites her teeth and says in a low voice:

"Everyone hold on! This suction… seems about to disappear…"

The suction lasts for about a minute, then recedes rapidly like a tide.

The group collapses on the ground, gasping heavily, still shaken.

Kelinda also retracts her wings, her complexion slightly pale.

Cough…

Xingyun Zhizhe coughs a few times, struggles to rise from the ground, and says with lingering fear:

"This… this is too terrifying…"

Zhang Cheng looks around and finds that the surroundings have undergone a massive change.

The original treasure entrance has vanished, replaced by a deep passage leading into unknown dark depths.

"It seems… we were sucked in…"

Zhang Cheng says in a low voice, a hint of gravity flashing in his eyes,

"Be careful, here… may be even more dangerous…"

He grips Kelinda's hand tightly and slowly walks toward the deep passage…

"Let's go."

The deep passage extends into a spacious underground chamber, the air filled with the scent of dust.

The group looks around and discovers they are in a complex maze.

Strange runes are carved on the walls, flickering with faint light, illuminating a small area around them.

"Looks like we fell into a trap."

Xingji Xiake says softly, watching the surroundings warily.

"Watch out!"

Blue Star Guardian suddenly shouts, and an energy beam shoots from the runes on the wall straight toward Xingji Xiake.

Xingji Xiake reacts quickly, sidesteps the attack, and the beam grazes his arm, leaving a scorch mark.

"These runes are traps!"

Zhang Cheng says in a low voice,

"Everyone be careful, try not to touch the walls."

The group proceeds cautiously through the maze, occasional energy beams, darts, poison arrows and other attacks strike from all directions.

Guangming Shizhe chants a spell, and holy light shields block the attacks, protecting the group.

"These traps seem to trigger randomly,"

Xingyun Zhizhe observes the runes on the wall,

"We must find the pattern to pass safely."

Kelinda releases demonic power, forming a barrier that blocks a barrage of dense arrows.

"Continuing like this won't work; we must find an exit."

The mysterious Elf gently waves the staff in hand, and a sphere of green light illuminates the road ahead.

"This path seems safer."

Zhang Cheng grips Kelinda's hand tightly, his gaze steadfast.

"We go."

The group follows the road guided by the mysterious Elf, the maze's passages tangled like a massive spiderweb.

They walk for a long time yet never find an exit, instead feeling they delve deeper into the maze's core.

A strange aura pervades the air, oppressing the group to the point they can barely breathe.

Suddenly, Zhang Cheng stops. He feels the surrounding air seem to solidify, an inexplicable sense of danger rising in his heart.

"What's wrong, Zhang Cheng?"

Kelinda asked.

Zhang Cheng gave no reply; he slowly raised his hand, signaling everyone to stop.

At that moment, an eerie laugh echoed from the depths of the maze, reverberating through the open space... then it abruptly stopped.

The sinister laugh resonated through the maze like a ghostly whisper, sending chills down the spine.

The group looked around warily, yet could not locate the source of the sound.

The mysterious Elf's green light trembled slightly, reflecting her somewhat pale face.

"That laugh... feels very unsettling."

The Xingji Xiake tightened his grip on his light sword, his expression solemn.

"Be careful; this maze likely contains more than just traps."

The Blue Star Guardian moved to the front of the party, cautiously scouting the road ahead.

"I'll lead the way; everyone stay close to me."

He said in a low voice, a hint of unease in his tone.

He stepped forward gingerly, then another step.

Suddenly, the ground trembled lightly, and an inconspicuous rune on the wall flashed.

Before the Blue Star Guardian could react, countless spikes shot out from all directions.

"Watch out!"

Zhang Cheng shouted in alarm.

The Blue Star Guardian reacted swiftly, instantly dodging.

He avoided most of the spikes, but his left arm was still slashed, and blood instantly stained his sleeve.

He let out a muted grunt, his complexion turning somewhat pale.

"Damn, this trap is hidden so well!"

Kelinda hurried forward, asking with concern:

"Are you alright?"

The Blue Star Guardian shook his head, clenching his teeth.

"I'm fine, just a minor wound."

He tore off a strip of cloth, loosely bandaging the wound, his gaze growing even more serious.

The Xingyun Zhizhe approached the triggered mechanism, carefully examining the rune on the wall.

"It seems these traps aren't merely physical attacks; they also incorporate some kind of energy fluctuation—hard to defend against,"

The Guangming Shizhe radiated a gentle light, seemingly dispelling the surrounding chill.

"Everyone be careful; this maze is far more dangerous than we imagined,"

His tone heavy, his gaze toward Zhang Cheng carried a hint of worry.

"Zhang Cheng, protect Kelinda."

The Xingling spoke slowly, his voice deep and resonant.

"The guardian of this maze doesn't seem to welcome us."

He looked up toward the maze's depths, a barely perceptible glint flashing in his eyes.

Zhang Cheng clenched Kelinda's hand, feeling the cold of her palm.

He knew Kelinda must be terrified now, but he had to stay calm to lead everyone out of the maze.

"Don't be afraid; I will protect you."

He said softly, his tone firm yet gentle.

Suddenly, the eerie laugh sounded again, clearer than before and even more chilling.

"Jie jie jie... welcome to my maze..."

"Jie jie jie... welcome to my maze..."

The laugh echoed between the maze's walls, as if countless specters whispered, piercing everyone's minds and bringing waves of bone‑chilling cold.

We had thought the maze's traps were merely physical—spikes, pitfalls—but didn't expect this kind of mental intimidation.

An invisible pressure weighed on everyone's hearts, and even the usually boisterous Xingji Xiake couldn't help but swallow.

The mysterious Elf's complexion grew even paler, the green light in her hand flickering erratically, as if it could extinguish at any moment.

"That laugh... it seems to be affecting my spirit power..."

The Guangming Shizhe furrowed his brows, his radiance dimming slightly.

"This power... is wicked; everyone be careful!"

Fear spread through the team like a plague, each person's breathing growing rapid.

At that moment, Zhang Cheng stepped forward.

He closed his eyes, inhaled deeply, and his powerful perception surged like a tide, swiftly detecting the maze's energy fluctuations.

"The spikes' attacks follow a pattern,"

Zhang Cheng opened his eyes, his tone steady and composed,

"Follow me; I can guide everyone to evade the attacks,"

Having said that, he led the way forward.

Whenever the rune on the wall flickered, about to trigger a trap, he could sense it in advance and swiftly guide the group to change course, avoiding the deadly spikes.

His movements were fluid as clouds and water, as if he had already fathomed the maze's secrets.

"Impressive!"

Xingji Xiake couldn't help but exclaim,

"I didn't expect this kid's perception to be so sharp!"

Even the usually composed Blue Star Guardian cast an approving gaze.

"Zhang Cheng, you did well."

Kelinda tightly grasped Zhang Cheng's hand, her eyes full of gratitude and affection. She knew that in this peril‑filled maze, Zhang Cheng was her only reliance.

Under Zhang Cheng's leadership, the group successfully evaded wave after wave of attacks, and the previously tense atmosphere gradually eased.

"It seems we've already grasped the maze's pattern,"

Xingyun Zhizhe stroked his beard, a faint smile appearing on his face,

"As long as we're careful, we should soon find the exit."

Xingling's gaze remained solemn; he looked up toward the maze's depths and whispered:

"Hope it is so…"

Before he finished speaking…

…a deafening roar echoed from the maze's depths, and the ground shuddered violently.

Stones rained down from above, dust billowed, obscuring everyone's view.

"What's happening?!"

Xingji Xiake shouted in alarm; before his words ended, a massive silhouette slowly emerged from the dust.

It was a monster resembling a giant lizard, its body covered in ink‑green scales that glistened with nauseating slime.

Its blood‑red eyes were like twin ghost‑flames, emitting a chilling glow.

It gaped its blood‑filled maw, revealing knife‑sharp fangs, and a suffocating stench instantly spread.

"My god… what kind of monster is this!"

The mysterious Elf retreated in terror, the green light in its hand trembling violently.

Xingyun Zhizhe's expression grew serious:

"This aura... is far stronger than those previous mechanical traps!"

"This guy looks hard to deal with…"

Even the usually optimistic Xingji Xiake couldn't help but furrow his brow.

He knew that against such a monster, even his prideful speed might not give him an advantage.

Blue Star Guardian shielded Zhang Cheng and Kelinda behind him and said gravely:

"Everyone, be careful; this monster is extraordinary!"

Fear spread like a tide, and everyone's breathing grew rapid.

At that moment, Xingji Xiake shouted loudly:

"What are you scared of! I'll go beat it first!"

Before his words finished, his figure flashed, charging at the monster like an arrow released from a bow.

The light blade in his hand sliced the air, emitting a sharp whoosh, leaving several deep wounds on the monster.

"Well done!"

Guangming Shizhe praised,

"Xingji Xiake truly lives up to being a hero of the stars!"

Xingji Xiake's bravery inspired the others, and the mysterious Elf mustered courage, turning the green light in its hand into a sharp arrow aimed at the monster.

The monster let out a painful roar, its blood‑red eyes fixed on Xingji Xiake, filled with rage.

It swung its massive claws violently, stirring a foul gust that slammed toward Xingji Xiake.

Xingji Xiake's agile body dodged the attack, and the light blade struck again, leaving a deep, bone‑visible wound on the monster's other claw.

"Looks like this monster isn't invincible!"

Xingji Xiake laughed heartily, his eyes brimming with fighting spirit.

Yet before his laughter faded, a strange black energy surged from the monster, and the surrounding space began to warp... Xingling's expression changed abruptly:

"Bad! It's about to…"

Xingling's words were cut off as the black energy on the monster erupted suddenly, the space around warping even more violently, as if to devour everything.

"Space collapse!"

Xingyun Zhizhe shouted,

"Retreat quickly!"

The group scrambled backward, but the speed of the spatial distortion far exceeded their expectations.

Xingji Xiake was the first to be hit; he felt his body being pulled by an invisible giant hand, hard to control.

"Help!"

He shouted in terror, his voice drifting oddly within the warped space.

Guangming Shizhe, seeing this, immediately released a holy light, trying to steady Xingji Xiake's body.

"Hold on!"

He shouted.

Yet this power was negligible before the space collapse. Xingji Xiake's body continued to be pulled, seemingly about to be swallowed.

"I'm coming!"

Zhang Cheng shouted loudly, a massive surge of energy erupting from his body.

He rushed to Xingji Xiake's side, grabbed his hand, trying to pull him back.

"Zhang Cheng, be careful!"

Kelinda shouted anxiously.

Zhang Cheng clenched his teeth, using all his strength to pull the Xingji Xiake.

The twisted force of the space grew stronger, and he felt his body was about to give out.

At that critical moment, the Xingling suddenly acted.

He formed seals with both hands, muttering incantations, and a mysterious power surged forth, temporarily stabilizing the warped space.

"Quick! While now!"

The Xingling shouted.

Zhang Cheng and the Guangming Shizhe combined their efforts, finally pulling the Xingji Xiake back.

The others, still shaken, watched the space gradually calm, and couldn't help letting out a long sigh.

"That was close…"

The Xingji Xiake, still trembling, patted his chest,

"Thank you all for saving my life."

"This monster's skill is too bizarre,"

the Blue Star Guardian said gravely,

"We must quickly find a way to counter it, or the consequences will be unimaginable."

The Xingyun Zhizhe pondered briefly, and said:

"This spatial collapse seems linked to some energy fluctuation; perhaps we can start from that angle."

The mysterious Elf also said:

"I feel a secret hidden in this maze; perhaps uncovering it will reveal a way to deal with the monster."

Zhang Cheng nodded, his gaze firm:

"No matter what, we must persevere and find the maze's exit!"