Chapter 318: Something is coming

Just as everyone was still pondering the answer, that person's sinister laughter drifted over from afar once again: "Hehehe, not bad, you actually managed to finish off my pet. But if you think this is the end, then that is far too naive."

Following this, the originally clear sky suddenly turned even darker. A new threat, hidden somewhere, was waiting...

The next second, the ground began to tremble slightly. A strange and dense rustling sound came from all directions; the sound was low yet hair-raising, as grating as a blade scraping against stone. The three of them immediately tensed up.

"Something is coming!" Wang Zhenqiu warned with a frown, then drew the short blade at his waist, shielding Lin Xuan and Xiao Qing behind him.

Countless insectoid creatures suddenly burrowed out from the cracks in the ground—giant beetles spread wings that shimmered with a metallic luster, venomous spiders spat out green mist, and centipede-like multi-legged creatures writhed forward; they quickly surrounded the three of them.

Lin Xuan widened his eyes, "Damn it! These damned things actually dared to come out?"

Xiao Qing, meanwhile, forced herself to stay calm, grabbing Lin Xuan's arm and asking nervously: "What do we do? So many monsters attacking us at once..."

"Stay calm!" Wang Zhenqiu roared in a low voice, "Find an opportunity to break through first! This kind of monster usually isn't without weaknesses." As he spoke, he pointed his blade tip at a giant beetle nearby, carefully observing its shell structure and movements. "See that? That gap there could be our breakthrough point."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a spider shot out a stream of thick venom, heading straight for the three of them. Xiao Qing instinctively blocked in front, but was pulled away by Wang Zhenqiu, and the venom splashed at their feet, instantly corroding a pit that sent up white smoke.

"Can you watch your life, please!" Although Wang Zhenqiu's tone was irritable, it still carried a trace of concern. He turned his head and ordered Lin Xuan: "Provide cover, watch your left side, don't let the poison darts hit your face!"

"Don't worry, brother!" Lin Xuan licked his dry lips, gripped his weapon tightly with both hands, and leaped forward a few steps to meet the enemy. His speed was extremely fast; he actually dodged a giant cockroach-type monster that was chasing him with lightning-like agility. Then, he turned abruptly and punched, blasting its head to pieces!

At the same time, Xiao Qing was not idle. She was the team's spellcaster, and at this moment, blue light was condensing in her hands. She muttered incantations, and the surrounding Spirit Qi continuously gathered toward her. "Flame Barrier! Activate!" She swung her hands forward, and a sheet of scorching flames rose up, surrounding the three of them; those smaller insects were scorched the moment they got close.

"Not bad." Wang Zhenqiu nodded, but his gaze remained vigilant. The raging fire before them could only temporarily stop a portion of the creatures from closing in, but more enemies seemed to be gathering strength in the shadows.

Time passed slowly, the flames gradually extinguished, and the breathing of the three had become slightly disordered. At this moment, they heard a more bizarre sound coming from not far away—"Click, click, click."

Lin Xuan was the first to react, looking up to find that several giant mantis-like creatures were slowly appearing, each one taller than an adult man, and their entire bodies were covered in sharp sickle blades that radiated a cold glint.

"Boss, we're in trouble now." Lin Xuan swallowed a mouthful of saliva. "These guys don't look easy to deal with... and the number seems quite terrifying..."

"How would you know without trying." Wang Zhenqiu's lips curled up, revealing an unruly smile. "Given the current situation, I'd like to gamble and see what exactly is special about them. If we can't even solve these few mantises, what's the point of talking about saving the world?"

Having said that, Wang Zhenqiu lunged directly at the nearest giant-sickle mantis without hesitation. This action left the other two companions somewhat stunned, and Lin Xuan hurriedly shouted: "Hey! Don't you think playing with your life like this is too crazy! What if we lose?"

But no one paid him any mind at this moment, because the situation was too urgent; Xiao Qing also joined in a support state, beginning to manipulate her mental power to try and interfere with the mantis's movements.

As the fierce confrontation unfolded, Wang Zhenqiu displayed astonishing combat power; every slash he made could precisely sever the target's body parts. He quickly succeeded in killing one, then nimbly retreated to adjust his stance and fight again.

But the situation on the other side was not looking good—when another mantis launched a charging assault, it nearly broke through the defensive perimeter Xiao Qing had set up, almost costing them their lives. Fortunately, at the critical moment, Lin Xuan came to the rescue in time, using all his strength to block it.

Just as they were catching their breath, everyone suddenly heard a mocking sneer come from afar: "You really are useless after all."

Everyone followed the sound to look, and under the dark night sky, a figure wearing magnificent robes and holding a folding fan stood quietly, a smug curve etched on his lips. "Since you are so easily crushed... perhaps preparing a Final Judgment for you few is also an interesting thing." The other party said, opening the fan and waving it twice.

"Damn humanoid narcissist monster... are you showing yourself again?" Lin Xuan roared back angrily.

"Smart kid. The real test begins now—I hope you all can manage to live a little longer." The figure laughed lightly and dissipated, leaving a faint, lingering scent of blood permeating the entire scene.

Lin Xuan clenched his fists and gritted his teeth: "Just you wait! We'll beat you to the ground sooner or later! Hey, Captain? How do we figure out his next plan?"

Wang Zhenqiu, who had been silent, looked up and scanned the surroundings, his eyes as sharp as swords. "It's simple, chase after him and just get it done."

"What? Chase after him?"

"That's right." Wang Zhenqiu squinted and said, "Follow the scent, find his lair, and end this game once and for all."

Xiao Qing interjected weakly: "That sounds very dangerous..."

Before she could finish, Lin Xuan was already rubbing his hands and standing in a combat position. "Ha! That's the excitement! Finally, we don't have to be on the receiving end every day!" "Fine. But remember the lesson from just now," Wang Zhenqiu said firmly, patting both of them on the shoulder. Just like that, accompanied by their mutual tacit cooperation, the atmosphere gradually climbed as they stepped into the path of unknown challenges to explore the possibilities of a new journey.

The edges of the Dark Forest echoed once again with provocative words—

"Welcome, everyone, to the depths of the Desperate Paradise. Struggle to your heart's content, enjoy this feast of pain! Hahahahahaha..."

At the edge of the Dark Forest, the bizarre laughter gradually dissipated, yet the surroundings remained shrouded in a thick, eerie atmosphere. Vines grew madly from the ground, like countless green tentacles waving in the air, emitting a "rustling" sound.

Wang Zhenqiu clenched his fists, his gaze as cold as a blade, "What the hell is this? So many! Are they really trying to trap us here to die?" His muscles were tense, clearly having prepared for battle.

Lin Xuan appeared calmer; he quickly scanned the area, his gaze steady and sharp, "Don't panic, there should be a flaw in this environment. Xiao Qing, you are responsible for support and observing the dynamics; pay attention to the patterns of these vines as they move."

Standing between them, Xiao Qing nodded, her pupils emitting a faint, ghostly light. This was an ancient power infusion that allowed her to see plant life for a short time.