Chapter 195: Energy Gathering

The gale howled, whipping up fallen leaves from the ground, emitting a "rustling" sound like countless tiny whispers.

The air was filled with a strange energy fluctuation, sometimes strong and sometimes weak, rising and falling like a heartbeat, full of oppression.

Ji Chen pulled Ceng Yue, running wildly along the direction of the energy gathering, his speed as fast as lightning.

The scenery along the way retreated rapidly, blurring into streaks of light and shadow.

"This energy... is a bit outrageous!" Ji Chen couldn't help but complain, feeling the surrounding energy fluctuations becoming increasingly intense, even making the supernatural ability within him restless, like a wild beast that had been teased, wanting to break out of its cage.

Ceng Yue was as sparing with her words as ever, only silently gripping Ji Chen's hand. The warm sensation from her palm was like a warm current injected into Ji Chen's heart, gradually calming his previously agitated mood.

"Don't worry, I'm here." These four short words were more reassuring than a thousand others.

As they approached the center of the energy gathering, the surrounding air seemed to begin to tremble, and the trees shook violently, emitting "creaking" sounds, as if they would break at any moment.

An invisible pressure enveloped them, making it hard to breathe.

Finally, they reached their destination.

Before them was a massive energy barrier, emitting dazzling light, like a giant bowl turned upside down, enveloping everything in front of them.

The surface of the barrier was colorful and ever-changing, yet it gave people a feeling of being indestructible.

"Damn, what is this thing?" Ji Chen couldn't help but curse.

Without the slightest hesitation, Ji Chen mobilized all his supernatural ability and slammed a punch into the energy barrier.

"Bang!"

With a loud noise, Ji Chen was bounced back by a powerful reactive force, falling heavily to the ground; his throat felt sweet, and a mouthful of blood sprayed out.

"Cough, cough..." He struggled to stand up but felt weak all over, his internal organs feeling as if they had been displaced, the pain unbearable.

Ceng Yue hurriedly stepped forward to support him. "Are you okay?"

Ji Chen wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and waved his hand, his face somewhat pale.

"I'm fine, just a small scene... hiss..."

He took a deep breath, suppressing the surging blood in his body, and looked up at the immovable energy barrier.

"It seems... hard-charging won't work..." Ji Chen said in a low voice, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness.

Ceng Yue did not speak, only standing quietly by his side, her gaze firm, as if telling him that no matter what happened, she would be by his side.

Ji Chen's gaze slowly swept over the surrounding environment, his brows locked in deep thought...

Suddenly, his gaze stopped on a tiny flickering point on the barrier...

"Wait..."

Ji Chen wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and took a deep breath, suppressing the surging blood.

If hard-charging won't work, then he would take it by wit!

He narrowed his eyes like a hunting hawk, his gaze scanning the energy barrier in front of him sharply.

This thing looked solid as a rock, but it must have its weaknesses!

The surface of the barrier was colorful, and the energy fluctuations were sometimes strong and sometimes weak, as if it were breathing.

Ji Chen held his breath and focused, carefully observing the flow of energy, trying to find a pattern within it.

Suddenly, his gaze froze; a tiny flickering point on the barrier caught his attention.

This flickering point was very hidden; if he hadn't been fully focused, it would have been difficult to detect.

"Wait..." Ji Chen said in a low voice, his tone carrying a hint of excitement.

He reached out his hand, his fingertips gently touching that flickering point, and a strange energy fluctuation spread through his whole body along his fingertips.

This energy resonated with his own supernatural ability, causing the ability within him to begin to stir.

Ji Chen's heart moved, and he immediately activated his unique method of supernatural ability absorption and conversion.

He saw the energy around that flickering point begin to flow slowly toward his fingertips, being absorbed and converted by him into his own strength.

"It worked!" Ji Chen was secretly happy.

He felt his own supernatural ability rapidly strengthening, as if a powerful force were continuously pouring into his body.

The oppressive atmosphere around him also began to dissipate, replaced by a feeling of ease and joy.

Ceng Yue had been standing silently by Ji Chen's side, watching his every move.

Seeing that Ji Chen had hope for a breakthrough, a faint smile, rarely seen on her eternal ice-mountain face, appeared.

She leaned gently on Ji Chen's shoulder.

Feeling Ceng Yue's deep affection, Ji Chen became even more determined to break through.

He continued to absorb the barrier's energy, his speed becoming faster and his efficiency higher.

The flickering point on the barrier also became more obvious, the light becoming more dazzling.

The surrounding air seemed to begin to boil, and a powerful energy fluctuation spread outward with Ji Chen as the center.

"Almost there..." Ji Chen said in a low voice, excitement flashing in his eyes.

He felt that he was only one step away from breaking through the barrier.

Just then...

"Who dares to trespass on the Forbidden Land!" A shout exploded like a thunderclap.

A shout, like thunder on a clear day, made Ji Chen's eardrums buzz.

Holy crap, who is this, so rude!

Inside the barrier, black figures emerged, sweeping toward Ji Chen and Ceng Yue like a tide.

They were dressed in black, their faces cold, exuding cold killing intent.

Guardians?

They looked more like thugs!

"Who goes there, state your name!" The leader's voice was like a bell, making the surrounding trees tremble.

"And who are you?" Ji Chen retorted without showing weakness, while shielding Ceng Yue behind him.

Are you kidding, having finally found a breakthrough, how could he give up easily?

The Guardians clearly hadn't expected Ji Chen to be so tough, and without further ado, they launched an attack.

Energy beams rained down; Ji Chen dared not be slow, hurriedly activating his supernatural ability to form an energy shield.

"Bang, bang, bang!" The deafening roar of energy collisions made the surrounding air seem to freeze.

"Chen, I'll help you!" Ceng Yue's voice was cold and firm.

Her figure flashed, joining the battle.

He saw her hands flying, and ice blades shot toward the Guardians like arrows released from a bow, their speed so fast they were hard to track with the naked eye.

Ji Chen and Ceng Yue cooperated tacitly, like two sharp swords, weaving back and forth in the Guardians' camp.

Ji Chen took the lead in attacking, Ceng Yue provided support; the two were both offensive and defensive, and for a time, they actually forced the Guardians to retreat step by step.

"Their weakness is the energy hub at their waists!" Ji Chen spotted the Guardians' flaw with his sharp eyes.

"Received!" Ceng Yue understood, and her ice blades precisely struck the hubs at the Guardians' waists.

"Boom, boom, boom!" The hubs were shattered, and the Guardians were like deflated balloons, instantly losing their fighting ability.

Ji Chen seized the opportunity, mobilized all his supernatural ability, and launched his strongest strike.

A dazzling light flashed, and cracks appeared on the energy barrier, spreading like a spiderweb.

"Just a little more!" Ji Chen felt encouraged; the dawn of victory was right before his eyes.

However, the moment they broke through the barrier, a suffocating sense of fear rushed toward them.

Inside the barrier, a massive dark core floated in the air, emitting a hair-raising aura...

"This... what is this thing..." Ji Chen's voice trembled, his gaze locked tightly onto that dark core. ===== CHAPTER 196 =====