Chapter 37: Dilemma

Ji Chen and Ceng Yue stood back-to-back, scanning the surroundings vigilantly.

Those Black Cloaked People appeared silently like ghosts, surrounding them, like an airtight net.

The air seemed to have frozen, so oppressive it was hard to breathe.

Ji Chen tried to capture a trace of a flaw in their eyes, but found only deep darkness under the cloaks, like a bottomless abyss, making one shudder.

The positioning of these guys seemed casual, but actually hid mysteries, like a precision-running killing machine, ready to go, waiting only for an order.

"Tsk, this formation—are you guys playing cosplay here?" Ji Chen complained in a low voice, the corners of his mouth curling into a disdainful arc.

He could feel the dangerous aura permeating the air, like the calm before a storm, making one feel suffocated.

Ceng Yue remained cold as frost, her body radiating a biting chill, as if wanting to freeze the surrounding air.

She tilted her head slightly and said in a voice only Ji Chen could hear: "Be careful, they aren't easy to deal with."

Just then, a Black Cloaked Person wearing a cloak significantly different from the others walked out; his cloak was embroidered with strange patterns, seemingly the leader of this group of mysterious people.

He slowly raised his head, and the eyes under the cloak were like poisonous snakes, flickering with cold light.

"Hand over the things you just obtained," his voice was low and hoarse, as if from the depths of hell, "otherwise, today is your death day."

Hearing this, Ji Chen almost laughed out loud.

This line had almost been used to death by villains; couldn't they change to something more novel?

However, he remained calm on the surface, shrugged, revealed a punchable smile, and refused directly: "Want it? Come get it yourself."

The leader's eyes darkened instantly, and the killing intent spread like substance, making one's chest feel tight.

"I gave you face!" He snorted coldly, his tone full of threats, "Since that's the case, don't blame us for being impolite!"

Ceng Yue was also too lazy to talk nonsense, directly revealing her supernatural ability; the chill around her body erupted instantly, and a thin layer of frost began to form on the ground.

She was prepared for battle, Ice Blades condensing on her palms, ready to launch a thunderous strike at any moment.

"Hehe, looks like a good show is about to be staged tonight." The leader looked at Ji Chen and Ceng Yue, emitting a cold laugh, and slowly raised his hand.

The leader waved his palm violently, and the Black Cloaked People rushed toward Ji Chen and Ceng Yue like beasts off the leash.

Their attack methods were strange and varied; some sprayed ink-green poison, some wielded sharp daggers, and others released invisible Mental Shockwaves, cooperating seamlessly, simply like having "Teamwork" hacks on.

Ji Chen swung his fists, every strike carrying the power to split mountains and crack rocks, but found these Black Cloaked People were as slippery as loaches, impossible to hit accurately.

He could feel the supernatural energy within his body consuming rapidly, and fine beads of sweat began to seep from his forehead.

He glanced at Ceng Yue beside him; the chill around her body was still biting, but her brows were slightly furrowed, and a hint of worry flashed in the depths of her eyes.

"Holy crap, are these guys in 'Infinite Firepower' mode? They won't die!" Ji Chen couldn't help but curse, and his clothes had several more holes cut by daggers.

He could feel that these attacks were not only consuming supernatural ability but also constantly eroding his physical strength.

Ceng Yue's Ice Blades danced, and every attack could freeze a Black Cloaked Person into an ice sculpture.

But these Black Cloaked People seemed endless; as soon as one batch was solved, another would surge up, simply like playing "Whack-a-Mole."

She knew that if this continued, they would eventually exhaust their strength and fall into an even more dangerous situation.

"No, we can't keep going like this!" Ji Chen suddenly stopped attacking and defending, jumping up with all his might.

His move stunned everyone, and the Black Cloaked People were clearly somewhat flustered, the originally tight encirclement showing a trace of a flaw.

"Is this guy crazy?" A Black Cloaked Person shouted subconsciously.

Seeing Ji Chen's move, Ceng Yue froze for a moment, then immediately reacted, understanding Ji Chen's intention.

Taking advantage of the moment the Black Cloaked People were stunned, she erupted with supernatural ability with all her might, and a huge Ice Wall rose from the ground, blocking a portion of the Black Cloaked People, buying a line of breathing room for herself and Ji Chen.

"Tsk, interesting." The leader looked at Ji Chen's move, a playful smile appearing on his face. He didn't stop him, instead folding his arms, looking like he was watching a show.

He wanted to see what kind of tricks this little guy was trying to play.

"Ah! —" Just then, a scream tore through the night sky.

Ji Chen's speed was as fast as lightning; in the blink of an eye, he rushed before that Black Cloaked Person.

He swung a fist violently, hitting the Black Cloaked Person's chest squarely.

With a crisp "crack," the bones in the Black Cloaked Person's chest shattered instantly, and the whole person flew backward like a kite with a broken string, falling heavily to the ground without movement.

"One-shot? Are they this fragile?" Ji Chen raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised by this person's weakness; it seemed he had picked a soft persimmon to squeeze.

He walked to the Black Cloaked Person's side, squatted down, and rummaged through him, and he really found a stone emitting strange light.

"What is this thing?" Ji Chen played with the stone; it was warm to the touch, and a pure energy surged into his body along his palm. He felt his supernatural ability instantly improve by a large margin.

"Holy crap, is this the legendary 'Charging Treasure'?" His eyes lit up, and the corners of his mouth curled into an excited smile.

The original oppression was swept away, replaced by full confidence.

Just then, a dagger stabbed silently toward Ceng Yue's back.

At the critical moment, Ji Chen turned suddenly, grabbed the attacker's arm, and twisted it hard. With a "crack," the attacker's arm broke on cue.

The attacker let out a scream, and the dagger fell to the ground.

However, the poison attached to the dagger still scratched Ceng Yue's arm, and the wound turned black rapidly, spreading.

"Ceng Yue!" Ji Chen was frantic, hurriedly sticking the "Charging Treasure" in his hand onto Ceng Yue's wound.

The energy on the stone surged into Ceng Yue's body rapidly, the wound recovered at a speed visible to the naked eye, and the black toxin gradually receded.

"I'm fine." Ceng Yue looked at Ji Chen's anxious expression.

"You scared me to death." Ji Chen breathed a sigh of relief and gripped Ceng Yue's hand tightly.

The two smiled at each other, an invisible tacit understanding flowing between them.

Ji Chen and Ceng Yue joined forces, like two sharp blades, shuttling back and forth in the crowd of Black Cloaked People.

With the blessing of the "Charging Treasure," Ji Chen's supernatural ability was endless, his combat power off the charts, simply like a human bulldozer; wherever he went, people fell and horses flipped.

Ceng Yue's Ice Blades were also sharper; every swing could take away a batch of Black Cloaked People.

Seeing the Black Cloaked People becoming fewer and fewer, the leader finally couldn't sit still.

He stomped his foot violently, and a powerful energy fluctuation erupted from his body, forming a translucent shield, protecting him firmly within it.

"Oh? Looks like you're about to use a major move?" Ji Chen looked at the leader's Energy Shield, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly, "Then let me see how hard your turtle shell is!"

"Wait..." Ceng Yue suddenly pulled Ji Chen, her gaze fixed solemnly on the leader's Energy Shield, "This energy... something's not right..." ===== CHAPTER 38 =====