Chapter 84: Counterattack in a Desperate Situation, A New Path at Dawn

The men in black surged like a tide, the sharp blades in their hands gleaming with ghostly cold light, trapping Ji Chen in the core area of the abandoned factory—beside a small smelting furnace.

The air was filled with the pungent smell of machine oil and blood, nauseating.

On the steel floor, the mottled bloodstains appeared particularly shocking under the dim light, like totems of hell.

Ji Chen looked around; the circle of encirclement was getting smaller and smaller, and the cramped space made him feel that even breathing was somewhat difficult.

But there was no trace of fear on his face; instead, he revealed a cold smile, his deep eyes flickering with firm light.

He silently calculated the number of enemies, analyzing their positioning and weapons, his brain operating at high speed like a precision computer, calculating the best breakthrough plan.

"Hehe, you are Ji Chen? You really have some ability to be able to kill your way here." A cold voice broke the stalemate.

A tall, imposing man slowly walked out from the crowd.

He wore a black trench coat, his face cold, his eyes like a hawk's staring fixedly at Ji Chen, as if wanting to see through him.

"You are the black hand behind the scenes?" Ji Chen's tone was cold.

"Black hand behind the scenes? Hehe, you think too highly of yourself; you are just a chess piece in our plan." The man's tone was contemptuous, as if looking at an ant. "Now, your value has been used up."

"Is that so? Who will have the last laugh is not certain yet!" Ji Chen's lips curled into a cold smile, and a powerful aura erupted from him, like a sleeping lion finally waking up.

A flash of surprise flickered in the man's eyes, then he sneered: "Still tough-talking when you're about to die! Get him!"

As soon as the man finished speaking, he retreated violently, disappearing into the crowd.

Ji Chen's gaze condensed, thinking to himself: "Want to run? Not that easy!" He took a deep breath, preparing to fight with all his might...

Suddenly, the iron door of the smelting furnace made a harsh "creak" sound and slowly opened...

After the iron door of the smelting furnace opened, there was no secret weapon or escape route as Ji Chen had expected; only a more scorching heat wave rushed toward him, making him feel as if he were in a furnace.

At the same time, the men in black also stopped approaching, instead opening up the distance, and began to gather energy balls flickering with various colors in their hands.

Are they going to use their ultimate moves?

Ji Chen cursed "insidious" in his heart, but his feet didn't dare to hesitate in the slightest, his body dodging the incoming energy attacks in the narrow space like a ghost.

"Boom, boom, boom!"

The energy balls exploded one after another, the deafening roar echoing in the factory, and the shockwave from the explosion made Ji Chen feel as if his internal organs were about to shift.

His clothes had long been torn by the aftermath of the explosion, and his exposed skin was covered with small wounds, blood seeping out and mixing with sweat, burning with pain.

"Heh, worthy of being Ji Chen, to be able to dodge so many attacks." The man hiding behind the crowd sneered, a flash of ruthlessness in his eyes. "However, your good luck ends here!"

Following the man's order, the attacks of the men in black became even more violent, energy balls smashing toward Ji Chen like raindrops, the fire of the explosion illuminating the entire factory like daylight.

Ji Chen's movements gradually slowed down, and his breathing became rapid; long-term high-intensity combat had already exhausted his physical strength.

Just then, Ji Chen suddenly felt a powerful energy surging within his body; this energy fused with his own supernatural ability, forming a brand-new power.

He opened his eyes wide, brilliance shooting out, his lips curling into a confident smile.

"It's time to end this farce!"

Ji Chen roared in a low voice, and a powerful energy fluctuation spread from him to the surroundings.

The surrounding men in black didn't even react to what was happening before they were shaken away by this energy, falling heavily to the ground like kites with broken strings, wails filling the air.

"This... how is this possible?!" The man hiding behind the crowd widened his eyes, full of disbelief.

Ji Chen didn't pay attention to the man's shock, but slowly walked toward him. Every step felt like stepping on the man's heart, making him feel suffocating fear.

"You... what do you want to do?" The man's voice trembled.

Ji Chen walked to the man, looking down at him from above, his lips curling into a cold smile: "I said, who will have the last laugh is not certain yet!"

He reached out, grabbed the man's collar, and lifted him up...

"Tell me, who ordered you?"

The man's eyes flickered, his lips tightly shut, refusing to reveal a single word.

Ji Chen sneered, applying slight force to his hand, and the man instantly felt difficulty breathing, his face flushing red.

"Not talking? Then go to hell!" Ji Chen

Just then, a figure suddenly appeared, blocking in front of the man.

"Stop!"

The person who came was none other than Ceng Yue.

Her eyes were cold, and she held a gleaming dagger in her hand, pointing straight at Ji Chen.

"Ceng Yue, what are you doing?" Ji Chen frowned.

"Let him go." Ceng Yue's tone was cold, without a trace of emotion.

"You..." Ji Chen felt a pain in his heart; he didn't expect Ceng Yue to block in front of him for this man.

"I said let him go!" Ceng Yue repeated, her tone even colder.

Ji Chen took a deep breath and slowly loosened his hand from the man.

"Why?" His tone was low.

Ceng Yue didn't answer, but turned to look at the man.

"You go." Her tone was cold, as if speaking to a stranger.

The man looked at Ceng Yue deeply, then turned and disappeared into the night.

Ji Chen watched Ceng Yue's back, his heart filled with doubt and pain.

He didn't know why Ceng Yue wanted to do this, nor did he know what she was thinking in her heart.

"Why did you let him go?" His tone was low.

Ceng Yue slowly turned around, looking at Ji Chen with complex eyes.

"Because he... is my brother."

Ji Chen was stunned; he didn't expect this man to be Ceng Yue's brother.

"I..." He opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.

Ceng Yue looked at Ji Chen deeply, preparing to turn and leave, leaving Ji Chen with a lonely back.

"Wait!" Ji Chen caught up to Ceng Yue and grabbed her wrist.

"Do you still believe in me?" Ceng Yue's eyes were filled with tears. Ji Chen felt surprised and heartbroken; this was the first time he had seen Ceng Yue cry.

"Of course! Even if you attacked me with your brother just now!" Ji Chen said without hesitation, pulling Ceng Yue into his arms.

Ceng Yue also tightly hugged Ji Chen's waist. "Let him go this once; I promise he won't come again."

Ji Chen nodded, warmth and tacit understanding permeating around the two.

He stood on the ruins, looking at the strange light in the sky, his eyes solemn.

"A new challenge?" He muttered to himself, clenching his fists. ===== CHAPTER 85 =====