Chapter 1095
A Sweep Away the Clouds
Shi Ji smiled slightly, her eyes revealing confidence. "Then let's begin. Let's see if your strength matches your boast."
Without another word, the black-armored warrior moved abruptly, pouncing on Shi Ji like a cheetah. His first attack was swift and fierce, his spear whistling through the air as it aimed directly at Shi Ji's heart.
Shi Ji was prepared and nimbly dodged the attack. His sword flashed, and he swiftly counterattacked, the tip tracing a graceful arc as it aimed straight for the black-armored warrior's throat.
However, the black-armored warrior reacted just as quickly. He snorted coldly, sweeping his spear to deflect Shi Ji's attack. At the same time, he changed his footing, appearing like a ghost beside Shi Ji, his spear once again creating a whooshing sound as it swept towards Shi Ji's waist.
Shi Ji twisted his body, dodging the attack once again. He took a deep breath, his eyes becoming even more serious.
The black-armored warrior's attacks came wave after wave without stopping. He sneered, his spear drawing a sharp arc in the air, and his second move followed. This time, he changed his attack strategy, the tip of his spear drawing a complex pattern in the air, as if containing some ancient power.
"Try my move, 'Wind Sweeps Away Clouds'!" The black-armored warrior roared, his spear suddenly accelerating, sweeping towards Shi Ji with a whistling sound that tore through the air.
Shi Ji's expression turned serious. He sensed the power of this move and dared not be careless in the slightest. He quickly adjusted his breathing, his sword flashing as he prepared to counterattack. However, the black-armored warrior's spear seemed to possess a spirit, turning in mid-air to avoid Shi Ji's sword and heading straight for his vitals.
Shi Ji was startled and quickly dodged to the side, but even so, the residual force of the spear still grazed the hem of his clothes, leaving a deep tear. He steadied himself, a hint of seriousness flashing in his eyes.
"What a brilliant move, 'Wind Sweeps Away the Clouds'! It truly lives up to its name." Shi Ji took a deep breath, trying to calm her inner turmoil.
"Hmph, you're the first one to dodge my 'whirlwind' attack." The black-armored warrior's voice carried a hint of approval, but was mostly cold. "However, don't be too happy yet. My third move won't be so easy to deal with."
Shi Ji smiled slightly, her eyes revealing determination. "Then let me see your third move. I, Shi Ji, am not so easily defeated."
Upon hearing this, the black-armored warrior sneered and brandished his spear once more. This time, his movements were even more swift, as if he were concentrating all his power into this single strike.
"Take this, 'Dragon Soars to the Nine Heavens'!" The black-armored warrior roared, and the spear in his hand seemed to transform into a giant dragon, rushing towards Shi Ji with a thunderous sound.
Shi Ji's expression turned serious. He sensed the terrifying power of this attack, but he did not back down. He took a deep breath, and the sword in his hand flashed again. This time, he was prepared to go all out to meet this blow.
Sword light and spear shadows clashed in mid-air, producing a deafening roar. Shi Ji and the black-armored warrior's figures constantly intersected in the air, each collision seemingly tearing the air apart.
However, despite Shi Ji's best efforts, he still felt the terrifying power of the black-armored warrior's attack. His sword light was constantly being shattered by the spear, and his figure was being forced back continuously.
"Hmph, it seems you do have some skill." The black-armored warrior's voice carried a hint of coldness. "However, you're still too green. My move, 'Dragon Soars to the Nine Heavens,' isn't so easy to deal with."
Forced to retreat by the black-armored warrior's "Dragon Soaring to the Nine Heavens," Shi Ji's sword light gradually dimmed. Finally, after a fierce collision, he swayed and involuntarily fell to the ground. A sharp pain shot through his chest. Looking down, he saw that his clothes had been torn by the residual force of the spear, leaving a bloody gash.
"Hmph, how was it? How did my 'Dragon Soaring to the Nine Heavens' taste?" The black-armored warrior looked coldly at Shi Ji lying on the ground, his tone laced with sarcasm.
Shi Ji gritted his teeth, enduring the excruciating pain in his chest. He looked up at the black-armored warrior, his eyes still filled with determination: "I...I haven't lost yet! As long as I have a breath left, I will not admit defeat!"
Upon hearing this, the black-armored warrior frowned slightly, surprised by Shi Ji's stubbornness. He sneered and raised his spear once more: "Fine, then I'll grant your wish and show you my true strength!"
However, at that moment, Hou Yi and his junior sister, who had been watching from the sidelines, stepped forward. Hou Yi brandished his staff, and a wall of flames instantly blocked the black-armored warrior and Shi Ji, while his junior sister quickly stepped forward and stuffed a healing pill into Shi Ji's mouth.
"Stop!" The junior sister's voice was filled with anxiety and determination. She quickly stood beside Shi Ji, her eyes blazing as she stared directly at the black-armored warrior. "This contest was meant to prove our strength, not to fight to the death. Shi Ji has already shown his resilience. Now, we should work together to explore the forbidden area, instead of continuing this pointless struggle."
Hou Yi seized the opportunity to step forward, the flames on his staff burning even brighter, as if ready to face the next attack from the black-armored warriors. "We have no intention of being your enemy, but if you insist on fighting, we will not back down. Don't forget, we have not yet shown our full strength."
The black-armored warrior gazed at the scene before him, a flicker of hesitation crossing his mind. He had truly not expected these three outsiders to possess such unwavering will and formidable strength. After a moment of silence, he finally lowered his spear, a complex emotion flashing across his eyes.
"Hmph, consider yourself lucky," the black-armored warrior said coldly, but his tone carried a hint of barely perceptible approval. "But remember, the forbidden area is fraught with danger, and your test has only just begun."
Shi Ji was still weak. He barely managed to stand and said, panting, "Thank you, Han Feng, Liu Yan. If it weren't for you, I'm afraid I wouldn't have made it this far."
Liu Yan gently patted Shi Ji's shoulder, her tone gentle yet firm: "You are our companion, we will not let you face danger alone. Now you rest well, leave the rest to us."
Han Feng nodded, his gaze still warily fixed on the black-armored warrior: "We need to work together to successfully pass the test of the forbidden area. Shi Ji, you must conserve your energy; we haven't even seen all the dangers here yet."
Seeing this, the black-armored warrior sneered, "You guys are quite loyal. However, the trials in this forbidden area cannot be overcome by loyalty alone. You had better be prepared to face more challenges."
Shi Ji gritted her teeth and nodded: "We understand. No matter how dangerous it is ahead, we will persevere to the end."
A hint of approval flashed in the black-armored warrior's eyes. He turned and walked deeper into the forbidden area, waving his hand: "Come on, I hope you'll make it to the end."
The black-armored warrior led Shi Ji, Han Feng, and Liu Yan deeper into the forbidden area with steady steps. Along the way, the light gradually dimmed, and a suffocating atmosphere filled the surrounding air, as if unseen eyes were watching them from the shadows.
"Black-armored warrior, what kind of trials are hidden in this forbidden area?" Han Feng couldn't help but ask, his voice particularly loud in the silence. The black-armored warrior didn't turn around, but answered in a deep voice, "The trials vary, testing the strength, wisdom, and teamwork of those who enter. Some are simple and direct, while others are complex and subtle. Each challenge is designed to select the truly qualified individuals."
Liu Yan looked at Shi Ji with concern and asked softly, "Then what preparations should we make?"
"Prepare?" The black-armored warrior sneered. "The best preparation is to remain calm, trust your own judgment, and..." He paused, "...not to easily trust anyone, including me."
These words stirred something within the three of them, but they said nothing more and simply followed silently.
Finally, they arrived at a spacious hall. In the center of the hall sat an elderly man in a long robe, his eyes seemingly able to see into people's hearts, and an indescribable air of authority surrounding him. This was the elder of the forbidden area.
The elder slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping sharply over the black-armored warrior, Shi Ji, Han Feng, and Liu Yan. He nodded slightly, his voice deep and authoritative: "You have been able to come here, which means you have passed the initial test. But the real trial has only just begun."
The black-armored warrior bowed respectfully: "Elder, these three are outsiders with extraordinary potential. I believe they can pass the trial."
The elder smiled slightly and turned his gaze to Shi Ji and the others: "Outsiders, your courage is admirable. However, the trials here not only test your strength, but also your hearts."
With a wave of his hand, the surrounding air suddenly became heavy, and an invisible pressure enveloped them, as if the entire hall was squeezing them. Shi Ji gritted his teeth, cold sweat beading on his forehead, but he remained standing tall, his eyes resolute.
Han Feng felt immense pressure; his staff trembled slightly, but he steadied himself and tried to remain calm: "Elder, is this trial meant to test our willpower?"
The elder nodded: "Indeed, every trial in the forbidden area tests your limits. Only those who can remain calm in dire situations and support each other can truly pass."
As soon as the elder finished speaking, Shi Ji swayed violently, his face turning even paler. His breathing became rapid, and his legs trembled slightly; he was clearly nearing his limit. Liu Yan immediately supported him, her eyes filled with worry: "Shi Ji, hold on! We can't fall here!"
Shi Ji gritted her teeth and forced a smile: "I... I'm fine, I just... need some time."
Seeing this, the black-armored warrior frowned slightly and turned to the elder, saying, "Elder, they have demonstrated sufficient willpower. Is it possible to temporarily alleviate this pressure?"
The elder pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "Alright, give them a chance to catch their breath." With a wave of his hand, the pressure around them immediately lessened considerably.
Shi Ji was finally able to relax a little. He took a deep breath and regained some strength. Han Feng seized this opportunity, stepped forward, and said firmly to the elder, "Elder, please give us some more guidance. We will do our best to pass the trial."
The elder nodded, a hint of approval in his eyes: "Very good. In that case, I will give you some more hints." He pointed to a corner of the hall, "On the stone wall over there, there is a set of hidden runes. Only by achieving perfect harmony of mind and spirit can you decipher their mysteries."
Liu Yan helped Shi Ji along as they walked in the direction the elder had indicated. Han Feng followed closely behind, his staff glowing faintly, ready to respond to any unexpected situations.
As they approached the stone wall and carefully examined the seemingly chaotic runes, Han Feng suddenly frowned and whispered to Liu Yan and Shi Ji, "These runes... I've studied ancient rune literature, but they don't seem to conform to any known rune logic. The elder's words may not be entirely accurate."
Upon hearing this, a hint of doubt flashed in Liu Yan's eyes: "Are you saying that the elder is lying to us? But everything in this trial ground seems so mysterious and unpredictable."
Despite her discomfort, Shi Ji said in a low voice, "The elder's words may be misleading. We cannot be easily fooled; we must remain vigilant."
Han Feng nodded: "That's right. These runes may seem chaotic, but they actually conceal some kind of pattern. We need to analyze them calmly and find the real solution."
Liu Yan frowned in thought, then suddenly her eyes lit up: "Perhaps we can try to interpret these runes from another angle. Maybe they are not arranged according to the conventional rune logic, but rather some kind of graphic code."
Shi Ji managed to stand firm, leaning against the stone wall to observe carefully: "You're right, Liu Yan. These runes seem to form some kind of pattern, but we haven't found the right angle yet."
Han Feng drew a sliver of light from his staff, illuminating the runes and creating a faint halo. He carefully adjusted the angle, trying to discern the hidden patterns. Liu Yan, meanwhile, gently touched the runes with her fingers, sensing the subtle changes within them.
Suddenly, Liu Yan's finger stopped on a rune: "Something's not right about this rune." She pressed it down hard, and the rune actually sank slightly, making a soft sound.
The moment Liu Yan pressed the rune, a soft sound echoed in their ears. This was followed by a strong sense of dizziness, and their vision blurred rapidly. Han Feng, Liu Yan, and Shi Ji felt as if the world was spinning, as if they were trapped in an endless vortex.
When they awoke again, they found themselves in a small cage. The surroundings were dark and damp, filled with the stench of decay. The three looked at each other, trying to figure out what had happened.
Han Feng was the first to curse under his breath: "Damn it, we're trapped."
Liu Yan rubbed her temples, trying to recall the scene before she fainted: "After pressing the rune just now, it seems to have triggered some kind of mechanism."
Shi Ji struggled to sit up, leaning against the iron bars of the cage, panting: "Elder... he knew there would be such a mechanism all along and deliberately kept it from us."
Han Feng frowned, a flash of anger in his eyes: "The elder is toying with us; this was all part of his plan. He knew the true purpose of these runes all along." (End of Chapter)