Chapter 339: New Crisis

Ao Li and Lín Jìn had just learned the great secret of the Spirit Source from the secret chamber, and before they could think further, the lurking danger pressed down on them like a shadow. In the chamber, a horde of ghostly creatures exuding dark aura lunged, claws out, their forms fleeting and speed extreme, instantly closing the distance to Ao Li and Lín Jìn.

Ao Li quickly spread Inheritance Power over her body, her longsword flashing with dazzling light. She aimed at a ghost creature's charge, swung fiercely, a sharp Sword Qi whistled out and sliced the ghost in half. Yet the split ghost turned into two black wisps, paused briefly, then re‑coalesced and continued to pounce.

"These guys are a bit tricky!" Ao Li frowned and shouted.

Lín Jìn swiftly formed seals with both hands, a powerful energy surged from his palms, forming an energy barrier that temporarily blocked the ghosts' assault. "They seem highly resistant to physical attacks; we need another method!"

The two countered the ghosts while pondering tactics. Ao Li noticed that each time the ghosts coalesced, a faint red light flickered at their chest, seeming to be a vital point.

"Lín Jìn, attack the red glow on their chests! That might be the weak point!" Ao Li timed it, thrusting her sword at a ghost's chest. The longsword pierced the black mist, striking the flickering red light precisely; the ghost let out a sharp wail and turned into a wisp that dissipated in the air.

Hearing this, Lín Jìn immediately changed his attack, concentrating his energy into sharp beams that shot toward the ghosts' chests. Under their combined assault, each ghost was eliminated, but before they could relax, a gloomy laugh suddenly echoed in the chamber.

"Hmph, finding the ghost guard's weak point shows some skill. But this is only the beginning." A cold voice reverberated in the chamber, seeming to come from all directions, making its source indiscernible.

Ao Li and Lín Jìn stood back‑to‑back, watching the surroundings warily. They could clearly feel a mysterious force watching them from the shadows, the dangerous aura thickening, as if an invisible net were slowly tightening.

"Who's there? Sneaky, show yourself!" Ao Li shouted loudly, her voice echoing through the chamber.

Yet only the gloomy laugh answered. Then the walls of the chamber suddenly displayed bizarre images: strange creatures performing an evil ritual, darkness pervading, and at the ritual's center a crystal sphere similar to the one seen in the temple, now emitting an eerie black light.

"It seems this mysterious force is inseparable from the Spirit Source's imbalance," Lín Jìn said, his face solemn as he watched the images.

At that moment, the ground began to quake violently, massive rocks fell from the ceiling. Ao Li and Lín Jìn dodged the falling stones while searching for an exit, but the chamber's door had somehow already closed, and the surrounding walls had become unusually hard, as if to trap them forever.

"We can't just wait to die! Let's look for another exit!" Ao Li shouted.

The two scoured the chamber, leaving no corner unchecked. On one side they found a section whose wall texture differed from the rest. Ao Li pushed it; the wall slowly slid, revealing a narrow passage.

"Quick, go through here!" Lín Jìn urged.

As soon as they entered the passage, the entrance slammed shut. Inside was pitch black, hand could not see a finger. Ao Li's longsword glowed, lighting their way forward. Yet after a short distance, a fork appeared ahead.

"Which way should we go?" Lín Jìn looked at the two passages, brow furrowed.

While they hesitated, a faint rustle came from the left passage, as if something was rapidly approaching, while the right passage emitted a faint putrid smell.

"The left seems to have a living thing, the right's odor is off," Ao Li analyzed.

Danger pressed on, leaving little time to think. Ao Li gritted her teeth, "Take the left!"

They rushed down the left passage; it narrowed, and the ceiling lowered. Suddenly a swarm of spider‑like monsters erupted from the walls and ceiling, huge—over a person tall—with eight eyes flashing blood‑thirstily and fangs dripping green venom.

"Looks like we chose a challenging path," Lín Jìn said with a wry smile, but his eyes showed no fear.

Ao Li gripped her longsword, "Since we're here, we'll stay and destroy them!"

A fierce battle erupted in the cramped passage. Ao Li moved nimbly, weaving among the monsters, her sword slashing continuously. Lín Jìn supported from the side, releasing powerful energy waves that repelled approaching monsters, giving Ao Li better openings.

Yet the monsters seemed endless, wave after wave. During the fight, a monster's venom splashed onto Ao Li's arm, a sharp pain shot through, and her arm went numb instantly.

"Ao Li!" Lín Jìn saw this, rushed to her side, repelling monsters while checking her wound.

"I'm fine, finish these monsters first!" Ao Li endured the pain and continued fighting.

In this trap‑laden passage, can Ao Li and Lín Jìn break free from the monster onslaught and find a way out? What purpose does the mysterious force have? What fate awaits them on this mysterious continent? All remains unknown and suspenseful…