Chapter 111

Ji Chen and Ceng Yue looked at each other and, without the slightest hesitation, stepped side-by-side into the entrance of the Inheritance Ground.

In an instant, a dazzling light swallowed them, as if they had traveled through a space-time tunnel to another world.

Everything around them had changed; it was no longer a ruin of broken walls, but a peaceful and serene space. The air was filled with a sacred aura that inspired awe.

"Damn, these special effects, ten out of ten!" Ji Chen couldn't help but exclaim; this Inheritance Ground was way too flashy!

Although Ceng Yue didn't speak, a flash of surprise crossed her eyes.

This place was even more mysterious than she had imagined.

The Inheritance Ground was not a smooth path; layers of trials awaited them.

The first thing that caught their eyes was a long staircase leading into the depths shrouded in clouds and mist.

On both sides of the staircase, ancient runes flickered with a faint light, seemingly containing powerful energy.

"This feeling, it's a bit like a level-based game!" Ji Chen rubbed his hands, eager to try.

The moment they stepped onto the stairs, an invisible pressure descended, as if a thousand-pound boulder were pressing on them, making even breathing difficult.

Ceng Yue frowned slightly; this pressure acted not only on the body but also on the spirit, as if it wanted to crush their will completely.

"Interesting!" Ji Chen gritted his teeth, every step taken with extreme difficulty.

He felt the surrounding space constantly compressing, trying to force them back.

Ceng Yue was calmer; she mobilized the supernatural ability within her to form a protective shield to resist the external pressure.

Even so, she could feel the power of this force, far exceeding any opponent she had encountered before.

One step, two steps, three steps...

They climbed upward slowly and firmly, one footprint at a time.

Sweat soaked their clothes, and their breathing became rapid, but they did not give up, their eyes shining with an unyielding light.

After walking for who knows how long, the view suddenly opened up.

The clouds and mist dispersed, and a magnificent palace appeared before them, resplendent and imposing.

"Finally here!" Ji Chen let out a long breath, feeling his body much lighter.

However, the moment they prepared to enter the palace, the surrounding runes suddenly lit up, and a powerful force pushed them back.

"What's going on?" Ji Chen looked bewildered.

Ceng Yue's expression was grave, her gaze falling on a stone stele at the palace entrance.

The stele was carved with ancient characters, emitting an eerie aura.

"It seems to say something on here..." Ji Chen squinted, trying hard to identify the characters.

Suddenly, the characters on the stele seemed to come alive, twisting and deforming until they finally turned into an eerie symbol.

"Not good!" Ceng Yue's expression changed, "This power..."

"Something's not right..." Before Ji Chen could finish his sentence, the symbol suddenly erupted with a blinding light...

The blinding light instantly swallowed them, like a bottomless black hole, wanting to grind everything to pieces.

Ji Chen only felt a powerful force pouring into his body, then being forcibly torn out; his internal organs felt as if they had shifted, making him feel so uncomfortable he wanted to vomit blood.

"Damn! What the hell is this!" Ji Chen couldn't help but curse; was this Inheritance Ground trying to kill him?

Ceng Yue was no better off; her energy shield was battered by that force until it was on the verge of collapse, her face as pale as a sheet of paper.

She gritted her teeth, struggling to maintain the shield so as not to be swallowed by the darkness.

The dark power was like a surging tide, crashing against them wave after wave, as if it wanted to crush them completely.

The surrounding runes also became dim and lusterless; the original peaceful atmosphere was gone, replaced by a suffocating sense of oppression.

"This power, something is wrong!" Ji Chen felt the energy within him also churning violently, as if it wanted to break free from its restraints.

He frowned, struggling to suppress the restless energy inside him.

He mobilized his internal power again, and a warm current flowed through his entire body; his meridians felt as if they had been cleared, an indescribable comfort.

He could clearly feel that this power was purifying the dark energy within him and converting it into his own strength.

"Heh, looks like my skills have leveled up again!" The corners of Ji Chen's mouth rose slightly, his heart filled with pride.

As the purification effect intensified, he felt the surrounding dark power being gradually dispelled. The originally dim runes began to glow again, and the powers of light and darkness intertwined to form a peculiar vortex.

"I feel like this power has been purified!" Ji Chen said excitedly to Ceng Yue, his tone full of confidence.

Ceng Yue looked at Ji Chen; she could feel the power within him becoming increasingly strong, like a bottomless black hole, devouring everything.

The retreat of the dark power did not make them feel relaxed; instead, they became even more vigilant.

They knew this was only the beginning, and greater challenges were waiting for them ahead.

"This place seems to be getting more and more interesting." Ji Chen looked at the resplendent palace again.

Suddenly, he noticed that Ceng Yue's face was even paler, as if she were about to collapse at any moment.

Ji Chen hurriedly grabbed her hand, "Ceng Yue, are you okay?"

Ceng Yue shook her head and didn't speak, just looking at Ji Chen quietly.

Ji Chen held Ceng Yue's hand tightly, feeling her cold fingertips.

A wave of anxiety washed over him, but Ceng Yue still stood firmly, despite her face being as pale as paper.

She took a deep breath and formed hand seals; a warm supernatural energy slowly flowed from her hands into Ji Chen's body.

"I don't have much energy left, you should absorb it quickly." Ceng Yue's voice was low but full of determination.

Ji Chen felt Ceng Yue's power flowing into him, instantly feeling a warm current run through his entire body; his previously exhausted body gradually regained its vitality.

His vision gradually cleared, and the pressure in his ears lessened significantly.

He smiled slightly, his heart filled with warmth and gratitude.

"Ceng Yue, you're amazing," he said softly, a firm light shining in his eyes.

Ceng Yue nodded slightly, and the two cooperated tacitly, resisting the dark power that kept surging toward them.

The power surging within them gradually increased, and the tide of darkness retreated bit by bit before them, replaced by light and hope.

The runes gradually regained their original glow, and the surrounding air became fresh again.

"We're about to win!" Ji Chen shouted excitedly, his voice echoing in the space.

In an instant, the entire Inheritance Ground was enveloped by a powerful energy; their bodies were nourished by this force, filled with unprecedented excitement and vitality.

The palace's light became even more brilliant, illuminating the entire space.

However, just as they were immersed in this joy, a powerful force from an unknown space suddenly sensed their change.

This force was like a sharp sword, stabbing fiercely at them, and a suffocating sense of oppression filled the air.

Ji Chen and Ceng Yue immediately became alert. They looked at each other, held hands tightly, and stood ready to face the new challenge.

Ji Chen took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "No matter what it is, we can face it together!"