Chapter 176: Probing the Mysterious

Ji Chen's brows were knitted into a "chuan" character, his gaze as sharp as a falcon's, staring straight at the area shrouded in shadows in the distance.

That ripple of power was like an invisible hand in the darkness, stirring the calm surface of a lake, making one feel an inexplicable sense of unease.

He had just been immersed in the joy of victory, like finishing a satisfying ranked match, only for a "high energy ahead" warning to suddenly pop up, instantly sobering him.

The cheers around him gradually dissipated, as if a mute button had been pressed.

Those Ability Users who had just been hugging and celebrating were now all on high alert, their bodies tense as they vigilantly observed their surroundings.

A suffocating sense of oppression permeated the air, like the calm before a storm, casting a haze over everyone's hearts.

Ceng Yue stood by Ji Chen's side, her cold, clear eyes also filled with gravity.

"This feeling... it's not right." Ji Chen muttered to himself. He could clearly feel that power constantly strengthening, like a balloon inflating, ready to burst at any moment.

A strong desire to investigate surged in his heart; this feeling was like an unknown area in a game, full of temptation yet dangerous.

"Let's go, let's take a look." Ji Chen's voice was low and firm as he took a step, walking toward the direction of the power fluctuations.

The ground beneath his feet gradually became damp and cold, as if stepping on rotting corpses, sending shivers down his spine.

The surrounding trees also became twisted and strange, like demons baring their fangs and brandishing claws, peering at them from the darkness.

The air was filled with a scent of decay that made one want to retch.

The path ahead became fraught with crises; bottomless traps would appear on the ground from time to time, and sharp wooden spikes would unexpectedly emerge beneath their feet, much like "campers" in a game, making them impossible to guard against.

There were also invisible disturbances that would occasionally create hallucinations in their minds, like watching a horror movie, making one's heart race with fear.

Ji Chen walked cautiously, his body tense like a precision instrument, paying attention to every slight movement around him.

His perception was fully activated, attempting to capture any trace of a dangerous signal.

Suddenly, Ji Chen stopped, his brows locked tight. He raised his right hand, stopping Ceng Yue, who was trying to get closer behind him.

Ceng Yue followed Ji Chen's gaze to the front—it was an empty clearing, nothing there. Just as she was feeling puzzled, a meaningful smile appeared on the corner of Ji Chen's mouth. He said softly, "Interesting."

The corners of Ji Chen's mouth lifted slightly, a confident smile blooming on his face, like a player in a game who had successfully dodged all the traps; the sense of achievement was simply off the charts.

He strode forward, walking as if strolling in a garden, easily avoiding the hidden traps on the ground, his feet light as if he had activated "Sprint," incredibly agile.

Every seemingly casual step precisely avoided the hidden dangers, leaving the Ability Users behind him dumbfounded.

They had been so nervous they didn't dare breathe just a moment ago, but now they were shocked by Ji Chen's maneuvers, casting looks of admiration as if watching a god-tier performance.

The tense atmosphere eased slightly, and everyone involuntarily relaxed their nerves; after all, having a big shot leading the way felt different.

The scent of decay in the air grew stronger, as if they were in a giant landfill, and the nauseating feeling became increasingly intense.

Yet, Ji Chen's brows relaxed instead.

When they reached the edge of an area shrouded in thick fog, Ji Chen stopped.

He raised his hand, signaling the crowd behind him to halt.

His gaze was sharp as a knife, scanning the area ahead that looked like a black hole; the fluctuations of that mysterious power were emanating from exactly there.

"Wait for me outside." Ji Chen turned to look at Ceng Yue beside him, his tone carrying a trace of unquestionable firmness.

Ceng Yue's willow brows arched slightly, a flash of displeasure crossing her cold, clear eyes.

She had never liked being ordered around, but she understood that at this moment, Ji Chen's decision must have its reasons.

Although somewhat reluctant, she nodded, choosing to follow Ji Chen's arrangement.

The surrounding Ability Users saw this scene and all revealed puzzled expressions.

Logically speaking, at a time like this, shouldn't everyone be attacking together?

Why was Ceng Yue, who was stronger, left outside instead?

This move was a bit hard to understand!

Ji Chen ignored the crowd's confusion. His gaze turned back to the front; that area shrouded in thick fog was like a giant vortex, drawing him closer step by step.

He took a deep breath, like a warrior in a game who had prepared himself, a mysterious arc forming on his lips, and then he strode forward without hesitation, walking into the depths of the fog.

"A bit interesting..." he murmured in a low voice.

Ji Chen's figure vanished into the thick fog, like a pebble thrown into a bottomless lake, disappearing without a trace in an instant.

The thick fog rolled like ink, carrying a bone-chilling cold, like countless icy hands trying to swallow him whole.

Ji Chen felt as if he were in a giant pressure cooker; the surrounding power was pervasive, crazily squeezing his body, making him feel as if every inch of his skin was about to be torn apart.

He gritted his teeth, beads of sweat the size of beans seeping from his forehead and sliding down his cheeks.

The oppressive feeling of this power far exceeded his previous imagination, like playing a game with extremely high difficulty; a moment of carelessness would lead to failure.

He could feel the blood in his body boiling, and his bones were emitting groans of being unable to bear the load.

Just when he felt he was about to collapse, an inexplicable power suddenly surged within him, like rain after a long drought, making his body feel a sense of comfort.

He was astonished to discover that the rampant power around him was actually being absorbed by the power within his body and rapidly converted into his own strength!

Ji Chen's heart pounded, as if he had won the jackpot, instantly switching from hell mode to heaven mode.

This feeling was simply exhilarating!

He no longer resisted the surrounding pressure, but instead actively began to absorb those powers.

As the absorption continued, Ji Chen felt as if his body had been reforged; every cell was filled with power.

The Supernatural Ability within him was like a wild horse that had broken its reins, beginning to grow crazily; the ability that was originally only at the Initial Stage was actually improving at a speed visible to the naked eye.

His body surface began to emit a faint glow; this light was like a lighthouse in the darkness, dispelling the surrounding haze and causing that suffocating sense of oppression to dissipate along with it.

At this moment, Ji Chen was like a superhero, his aura fully unleashed, his coolness factor off the charts.

He knew that the source of this power was definitely not simple; there must be some good things waiting for him inside, like a hidden treasure in a game, and he had to explore it to the end.

Just as he was about to take a step to delve deeper, a powerful suction force suddenly came from the depths of the fog, like a giant vortex, crazily pulling at his body. He felt as if he were a fallen leaf caught in a tornado, completely unable to control himself...

"Damn it!" he exclaimed in a low voice. ===== CHAPTER 177 =====