Chapter 287: Mysterious portal

The mysterious portal emitted ghostly light, like the eye of a giant beast, quietly watching everything in this world.

Ji Chen and Ceng Yue looked at each other, both seeing gravity in each other's eyes.

"Go, go take a look." Ji Chen took Ceng Yue's hand, his tone firm.

The two flew toward the portal, their speed fast as lightning.

As the distance closed, that strange light became more intense, and the surrounding air began to distort, emitting bursts of buzzing sounds.

An invisible pressure came toward them, as if wanting to push them away.

"Careful!" Ji Chen shouted in a low voice, shielding Ceng Yue behind him.

They continued to advance, that pressure growing larger and larger, like a giant mountain pressing on their bodies, breathing becoming difficult.

"Interesting." Ji Chen's mouth curled into a cold smirk, his eyes burning with fighting spirit.

Suddenly, a powerful repulsive force erupted, pushing them away fiercely.

"Damn it!" Caught off guard, Ji Chen slammed his back heavily against a giant rock, a sharp pain shooting through him.

He let out a muffled groan, feeling as if his internal organs had been displaced.

Ceng Yue was also sent flying by this force, but she reacted quickly, stabilizing her form in mid-air and landing to the side.

"Are you alright?" She walked quickly to Ji Chen's side.

"I'm fine, just a small matter." Ji Chen waved his hand, struggling to stand up, and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

He looked up at the portal, "Come again!" A powerful energy fluctuation radiated from Ji Chen, and the surrounding air began to tremble...

Ji Chen took a deep breath, the giant beast dormant within his body finally awakening.

He could clearly feel the energy surging in the surrounding air, being drawn into his body like a trickling stream and transformed into surging power.

He felt as if his body were a bottomless pit, greedily devouring everything.

The parts of him injured by the shock were also recovering rapidly under the nourishment of this energy.

"It seems the guy behind this door is playing a game of 'I won't let you in'." Ji Chen's mouth curled up. A faint halo radiated from his body, and every step he took seemed to land on invisible stairs, walking steadily toward the portal step by step.

That repulsive force struck again, trying to push Ji Chen away.

Yet this time, he stood firmly in place like a nail; no matter how that force impacted him, it could not shake him in the slightest.

A confident smile appeared on Ji Chen's face; he felt as if he had divine help, his body seemingly containing endless power.

"Hmph, you think you can stop me with just this? Not a chance!" He roared in his heart and pushed back with his hand, forcing that repulsive force to retreat.

The suffocating pressure around the portal was also dispelled somewhat by his action.

He successfully stood before the portal, his eyes filled with a sense of challenge.

Seeing this, the heart Ceng Yue had been holding in her throat finally settled slightly.

She walked quickly to Ji Chen's side and reached out with slender fingers to gently touch the injured area on his back.

"Fool, do you not want your life anymore?" Ceng Yue's tone carried reproach, but it was filled with even more concern.

Ji Chen took the opportunity to pull her into his arms, holding her tightly.

"It's fine, this little injury will be gone in a moment." Ji Chen gently rubbed his chin against the top of her head, smelling the faint fragrance on her, his heart at peace.

Their eyes met, and the affection in each other's gaze intertwined at this moment.

Everything around them seemed to become unimportant, as if only the two of them remained.

The air was filled with an ambiguous atmosphere; the distance between the two kept closing, and the ambiguous mood between them continued to heat up.

Just as their passion reached its peak, the portal suddenly emitted a blinding glare, and within the glare, a blurred image flickered in and out of existence...

The intense light exploded suddenly, like the brightest star in the universe detonating, almost swallowing them both.

Amidst the light, a blurred image slowly emerged, its outline gradually becoming clear. It looked like a mysterious person cloaked in a cape; their face could not be seen, but their voice sounded like an ancient bell, carrying a warning: "Those who trespass into the Forbidden Land shall die!"

"Geez, you've got a big mouth!" Ji Chen sneered, tightening his arm around Ceng Yue, "We're just curious passersby, just looking at the scenery. Big brother, don't be so tense."

"Ignorant human, retreat at once, or suffer the consequences!" The mysterious image's voice was even more majestic, carrying a hint of unquestionable pressure.

"What's that? If I don't retreat, what will you do? Bite me?" Ji Chen was not afraid at all, wearing an expression of "what can you do to me," his inherent unyielding spirit completely ignited.

This provocative tone was like adding fuel to the fire, causing the mysterious image's anger to erupt instantly.

The image solidified instantly, turning into a warrior holding a long sword, and sharp sword Qi swept over like a gale.

"Bring it on, who's afraid of whom!" Ji Chen shielded Ceng Yue behind him, his energy surging as he prepared to fight.

The warrior's attacks were unpredictable, the sword light flashing as fast as lightning.

Ji Chen dared not be careless, relying on his special ability to absorb energy to continuously neutralize the attacks.

For a time, blades flashed and swords shimmered, energy surged, and the surrounding air seemed to be torn apart, emitting shrill whistles.

"Interesting!" Excitement flashed in Ji Chen's eyes; he discovered that whenever the intense light flashed, the warrior's attacks would pause briefly.

This was an opportunity!

He held his breath and focused, waiting for the next flash of intense light.

Finally, the intense light appeared again, and the warrior's movements showed a hint of lag.

Ji Chen seized this fleeting moment, mobilized all his energy, and threw a punch!

"Boom!"

With a loud bang, the warrior was knocked away, the light vanished, and the entrance to the portal was finally fully revealed.

However, the aura emanating from within the portal made one feel a sense of palpitation, like a whisper from the abyss, cold and eerie.

"Be careful..." Ceng Yue gripped Ji Chen's hand tightly, her tone filled with a hint of worry.

Ji Chen nodded, took a deep breath, and said with a firm gaze: "Let's go!"