Chapter 288: Yijing inside the portal

Ji Chen and Ceng Yue held hands and stepped into the portal in one stride.

The world before their eyes changed abruptly; the intense light faded, replaced by a suffocating dimness.

The air was filled with a pungent smell of sulfur, mixed with a certain rotten, fishy stench that made one want to retch.

"Ugh, what kind of hellhole is this? The smell is so strong!" Ji Chen couldn't help but complain, subconsciously covering his nose.

Visibility in this place was extremely low; one couldn't even see their own fingers, and they could only vaguely make out the uneven, pitted ground beneath their feet.

A viscous liquid flowed across the ground, making a "gurgling" sound that was hair-raising.

"Be careful, this place is a bit sinister." Ji Chen whispered a warning, simultaneously letting go of Ceng Yue's hand and condensing energy in both palms to form two balls of light, illuminating the surrounding environment.

Under the dim, yellowish light, the surrounding scene appeared even more eerie.

The ground was covered with strangely shaped rocks, resembling the skeletons of some giant beast, exuding a gloomy aura.

In the distance, some tall buildings could be seen in the shadows, but they were all shrouded in darkness, making it impossible to see their specific appearance.

"This place... why does it feel like a horror movie set?" Ceng Yue's voice trembled slightly; she gripped Ji Chen's arm tightly, as if only then could she gain a shred of security.

Suddenly, the ground beneath their feet shook, and with a "Boom—", a huge quicksand pit appeared before them.

Ceng Yue was caught off guard; with a cry of alarm, her body sank instantly.

"Ah!" Ceng Yue struggled desperately, but the quicksand rapidly submerged her legs; the cold grit rubbed against her skin, causing her to feel a bone-chilling cold.

Fear surged into her heart like a tide; she felt as if she were being swallowed by a merciless abyss.

"Ceng Yue!" Ji Chen's expression changed drastically. "Hold onto me!" Ji Chen was quick-witted and fast-handed; his supernatural ability erupted instantly, and a golden energy rope shot out like lightning, wrapping around Ceng Yue's waist.

He exerted force with both arms and pulled hard, dragging Ceng Yue out from the engulfing quicksand.

"Phew, that was close!" Ceng Yue was still shaken, her face pale as she gasped for air.

The fear of surviving a disaster made her cling tightly to Ji Chen, as if a drowning person had grabbed a life-saving straw.

"It's okay, it's okay." Ji Chen gently stroked Ceng Yue's hair, comforting her in a soft voice.

He looked down at the beauty in his arms, and a strong sense of protectiveness surged in his heart.

This girl, usually so cold and aloof, still had to rely on Brother at critical moments!

"Th-thank you." Ceng Yue's voice trembled; the brush with death just now made her realize that in this strange world, Ji Chen was her only reliance.

Ji Chen chuckled and said in a relaxed tone, "Small matter, small matter. Just follow Brother from now on, and I guarantee you'll eat well and live well, never having to worry about falling into a sand pit again!"

Ceng Yue rolled her eyes at him and chided, "What time is it, and you're still in the mood to joke!"

"Why so nervous? Brother has been through a hundred battles; what kind of big storms haven't I seen?" Ji Chen patted his chest, looking full of confidence. "A mere sand pit, what can it do to me?"

As he spoke, he condensed energy again, making the surrounding environment even brighter.

Suddenly, his gaze fixed, and his expression turned serious.

"Wait, did you hear something?" Ji Chen asked in a low voice, his eyes scanning the surroundings vigilantly.

Ceng Yue also pricked up her ears to listen carefully; a moment later, her expression also changed.

"It seems... something is coming..." She gripped Ji Chen's arm tightly, her body trembling slightly.

A low roar came from the darkness, getting closer and clearer.

The ground also began to shake, as if some behemoth were approaching.

Ji Chen took a deep breath, shielded Ceng Yue behind him, and said in a deep voice, "Get ready for battle!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a pair of scarlet eyes suddenly appeared in the darkness, emitting a hair-raising cold light...

The scarlet eyes leaped in the darkness like ghost fire, and the roaring sound became clearer, like a funeral bell from hell, striking their eardrums.

"Damn it, what the hell is this!" Ji Chen couldn't help but curse as he saw a group of creatures resembling oversized lizards slowly emerging from the darkness.

Their entire bodies were covered in hard black scales, their limbs were thick and sturdy, their sharp claws glinted with cold light, and viscous liquid dripped from their mouths, emitting a foul stench.

These lizard monsters were numerous, surrounding Ji Chen and Ceng Yue in a dense pack, sealing off all their escape routes.

"Damn, this is big!" Ji Chen's heart sank. He shielded Ceng Yue behind him, his eyes scanning the surroundings sharply, looking for a chance to break out.

However, these lizard monsters didn't seem to intend to give them a chance; they closed in step by step, their roars becoming more urgent, and the pressure in the air soared instantly.

"Don't panic, stay close to me!" Ji Chen shouted in a low voice and took the initiative.

He clenched his fists, his energy erupted instantly, and raging golden flames ignited on his fists, as dazzling and eye-catching as two small suns.

With two "Bang!" sounds, he was the first to repel two lizard monsters, opening a gap for the two of them.

Ceng Yue also reacted quickly, condensing several ice blades in her hands and stabbing directly at the lizard monsters' vital points.

However, these lizard monsters had thick skin and flesh, and their defense was extremely strong; the ice blades only left a few shallow white marks on them.

The lizard monsters were thoroughly enraged; they let out even more violent roars, and their sharp claws rained down upon them.

Ji Chen swung his fists, continuously repelling the attacking lizard monsters; every collision made a dull sound, and his arms ached faintly.

Ceng Yue also outputted with all her might, and her Ice Power froze a layer of frost on the surrounding ground, but the number of lizard monsters was simply too high, and their attacks were becoming increasingly dense; both of them felt a bit overwhelmed.

"Damn, this won't work!" Ji Chen felt anxious; he felt the energy in his body consuming rapidly, while these lizard monsters seemed endless.

He suddenly remembered the giant worm he had encountered outside the portal, which seemed to fear strong light.

A flash of inspiration struck him, and he decided to try it.

"Ceng Yue, cover me!" Ji Chen roared, simultaneously taking a deep breath and mobilizing all the energy in his body.

Instantly, his body became like a huge luminous object, emitting an incomparably dazzling light.

The golden light was as scorching as the sun, instantly illuminating the entire dim space.

Those lizard monsters seemed to fear this intense golden light extremely; they all let out ear-piercing screams and retreated like a receding tide.

Originally arrogant and domineering, they were now like beaten dogs, fleeing into the darkness in a sorry state.

Ji Chen and Ceng Yue were able to catch their breath for a moment; the surroundings fell back into dimness, leaving only the sound of their heavy breathing.

"Phew, finally drove those ghost things away!" Ji Chen wiped the sweat from his forehead; his back was already soaked with cold sweat.

He looked at the direction the lizard monsters had fled with lingering fear, but his heart felt even heavier.

This place was truly too sinister; it had only just begun, and they had already encountered such tricky enemies. What unknown dangers would be waiting for them next?

Ceng Yue looked at Ji Chen quietly, a complex light flashing in her eyes. She suddenly spoke: "What ability did you use just now?" ===== CHAPTER 289 =====