Chapter 31

Ji Chen and Ceng Yue stared at the ink-colored mass getting closer on the horizon, their eyes like solidified steel.

This thing didn't look like anything good!

"Let's go, let's go take a look." Ji Chen was concise, holding Ceng Yue's hand, and the two turned into two streams of light, heading straight for the dark aura.

As the distance closed, that suffocating sense of oppression became increasingly intense.

The air was filled with a strange smell, like rotten stinking eggs mixed with the smell of rust, making one's head ache.

The surrounding temperature plummeted, as if they had instantly entered an ice cellar.

"This thing is a bit evil!" Ji Chen couldn't help but complain.

Ceng Yue did not speak, but silently gripped the weapon in her hand, her body exuding a biting chill, ready to fight at any moment.

After approaching the dark aura, they discovered that this power was not a dead object, but rather like it possessed life, constantly wriggling and rolling.

It was like a giant black octopus, waving invisible tentacles, greedily devouring all the energy in the surroundings.

Suddenly, a black energy beam shot out from the dark aura, striking straight at Ji Chen!

"Holy crap!" Ji Chen hurriedly mobilized his supernatural ability, forming an energy barrier in front of him.

"Boom!"

The black energy beam collided with the energy barrier, emitting a loud noise.

Ji Chen only felt a powerful force impact him, shaking his internal organs until they were churning.

What shocked him even more was that his own energy barrier was actually being eroded by the dark energy!

Just like ice meeting a raging fire, the edges of the barrier began to sizzle and dissolve at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"What the hell is this thing?!" Ji Chen's expression changed drastically.

He had never encountered such a situation; his own supernatural ability was actually being devoured!

"Retreat!" Seeing this, Ceng Yue shouted decisively.

The two quickly retreated, widening the distance from the dark aura.

Ji Chen looked at his slightly trembling hands, his heart filled with shock and unease.

This dark power was far more powerful than they had imagined.

"It seems we've encountered a tough nut to crack..." Ji Chen took a deep breath, his gaze fixed firmly on the rolling darkness, "However, what the hell are we afraid of! Let's just do it!"

The dark aura surged even more violently, like a giant beast baring its fangs and brandishing its claws, pressing in step by step.

Ji Chen and Ceng Yue fought while retreating, only to find that the surrounding space seemed to have turned into sticky glue, binding their movements.

Even though their speed had not decreased, it felt like slow-motion playback, making every step difficult.

"Can this ghost thing even affect space?" Ji Chen spat, feeling as if he had fallen into a quagmire, his whole body feeling uncomfortable.

Ceng Yue frowned, the long sword condensed from ice in her hand waving with great force, yet it was like hacking into cotton, unable to cause substantial damage to the dark aura.

"This can't go on!" Ceng Yue's voice carried a trace of imperceptible trembling.

Her cool-headed nature rarely revealed such emotions.

This showed just how severe the situation before them was.

The emotion of despair spread like a tide, tightly wrapping around the two.

They were like prey trapped in a spider web, watching the giant spider approach step by step, yet unable to resist.

Just at this moment, Ji Chen made a shocking move.

He stopped resisting and let the dark aura erode a portion of his own supernatural ability.

"Ji Chen! Are you crazy?!" Ceng Yue exclaimed, wanting to stop him, but it was already too late.

The black mist, like maggots on a bone, wrapped around Ji Chen's arm, emitting a "sizzling" sound.

The intense pain made Ji Chen's face turn deathly pale instantly, but he gritted his teeth and didn't make a sound.

In his eyes, a crazy light flickered.

"I'm gambling..." Ji Chen's voice was hoarse and low, "Gambling on something big!"

The dark aura seemed to be confused by Ji Chen's actions as well; the speed of erosion slowed down significantly, and the surging mist gradually calmed down.

The surrounding air became stagnant, as if time itself had stopped.

A strange silence shrouded this space.

Ji Chen closed his eyes, feeling the dark power coursing through his body, attempting to understand its composition and find its weakness.

A massive flow of information surged into his mind, making him feel as if his head were splitting.

"It's done..." Ji Chen opened his eyes abruptly, a sharp light shooting from them, "I know what to do now..."

Ji Chen opened his eyes abruptly, a sharp light shooting from them, like a sword piercing through the darkness.

"It's done..." he whispered, his tone filled with confidence.

He had discovered the core weakness of the dark power, which would be the key to their turning defeat into victory.

"Ceng Yue, listen to me." Ji Chen's voice was firm and powerful; he quickly told Ceng Yue the key information he had discovered.

Ceng Yue frowned, listening carefully, the expression on her face gradually changing from shock to understanding and determination.

Their gazes met, and an atmosphere of confidence permeated between them; the oppressive feeling in the surroundings seemed to be gradually dispelled by this glimmer of firm light.

Ceng Yue held Ji Chen's hand tightly, her eyes sparkling with trust and worship.

In this crisis-ridden environment, her reliance made a trace of warmth surge in Ji Chen's heart; their love permeated the air, forming an invisible bond, giving each other endless strength and courage.

"With you here, I'm not afraid." Ceng Yue's voice was firm and gentle, as if everything would be alright.

However, just at this warm moment, the dark aura suddenly changed, converging into a giant dark creature.

This creature was like a nightmare from a dream, emitting a terrifying aura that made one's heart palpitate.

Its eyes were like bottomless black holes, as if they wanted to devour all light.

The appearance of the dark creature made the situation that had originally eased become tense again; a new danger was right before their eyes.

"Are you ready?" Ji Chen's voice was low and powerful, his eyes flickering with the light of battle.

Ceng Yue smiled slightly, gripped the ice long sword in her hand, and the two stood side-by-side, facing the upcoming challenge.

"Of course." Ceng Yue's voice carried firmness, her eyes full of the desire for battle.

She gently patted Ji Chen's hand, signaling him to prepare for action.

The dark creature approached slowly, the air filled with a suffocating silence, with only the sound of the two's heartbeats echoing in their ears.

At this moment, their heartbeats seemed to merge into one, jointly welcoming the upcoming challenge.

Ji Chen took a deep breath, his eyes revealing fearless determination, and he whispered: "This time, we must win." After finishing, the two turned into two streams of light, rushing toward the giant dark creature to welcome this life-and-death duel.