PFC Chapter 123: All Minor Injuries
Chapter 123: All Minor Injuries
A chilling aura, like the flicking tongue of a venomous snake, silently coiled around Zhuang Yu's heart.
He suddenly opened his eyes, and golden light burst forth from them, illuminating the chaotic space around him.
The once gentle power now became violent and restless, churning within him like boiling magma.
"What's going on?" Zhuang Yu's heart sank, and he stopped absorbing the power.
The surrounding space shook even more violently, and a strong smell of blood filled the air, making him feel nauseous.
Danger!
That was his only feeling at that moment.
In the darkness, a pair of scarlet eyes slowly opened, like two will-o'-the-wisps, flickering with a chilling light that sent shivers down one's spine.
Shadow Beast!
Zhuang Yu recognized the predator lurking in the darkness at a glance.
Its entire body was shrouded in thick black mist, obscuring its exact form. Only its murderous eyes, like the brightest stars in the night sky, were fixed on Zhuang Yu.
Unlike last time, this time the Shadow Beast exuded a much stronger aura, almost on par with Zhuang Yu's current state.
It slowly emerged from the darkness, each step feeling as if it were treading on Zhuang Yu's heart, bringing a heavy sense of oppression.
Zhuang Yu took a deep breath, suppressing the unease in his heart.
He knew that he had not yet fully absorbed the power, and the outcome of his battle against the Shadow Beast was uncertain.
But he will never back down, much less sit idly by and wait to die.
"You beast, it's you again!" Zhuang Yu sneered, golden light flowing around him, forming a protective barrier.
"You managed to escape last time, but this time, it won't be so easy!"
The Shadow Beast let out a low growl, as if mocking Zhuang Yu's overestimation of his abilities.
It slowly opened its mouth, revealing sharp fangs, and a foul stench wafted out.
"You're courting death!" Before Zhuang Yu finished speaking, his figure shot out like an arrow, his body surging with golden light, which condensed into a sharp sword beam, pointing straight at the Shadow Beast's throat.
The sword's edge sliced through the air, emitting a sharp whistling sound, carrying a resolute killing intent.
A hint of disdain flashed in the Shadow Beast's crimson eyes. It swayed and transformed into a black shadow, easily dodging Zhuang Yu's attack.
Immediately afterwards, it swung its claws, and a black blade of air tore through the air, heading straight for Zhuang Yu's face.
Zhuang Yu's pupils contracted slightly as he sensed the immense power contained within the energy blade. He dared not take it head-on and retreated rapidly, simultaneously channeling his spiritual energy to form a golden shield in front of him.
"Bang!" The air blade slammed into the shield with a deafening roar, causing the golden shield to tremble violently and teeter on the verge of collapse.
Zhuang Yu groaned, feeling a surge of blood rushing to his chest and a slight numbness in the palm of his hand.
The Shadow Beast's attacks did not stop. Like a ghostly black whirlwind, it constantly darted through the confined space, its claws and fangs like sharp blades, relentlessly attacking Zhuang Yu.
Zhuang Yu was struggling to stay afloat, looking rather disheveled. Several small wounds began to appear on his body, and blood seeped out, staining his robes red.
But his gaze grew even more resolute, like a burning flame that never wavered.
"This can't go on!" Zhuang Yu roared inwardly. The Shadow Beast's attacks were fierce and dense. If this continued, he would be defeated sooner or later.
He took a deep breath, his eyes flashing with a sharp light. He nimbly dodged between attacks, while simultaneously gathering his inner strength between his palms. A powerful aura condensed in his hands, shining with golden light, as if containing boundless power.
On the other side, Wang Yao clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging deep into her flesh, but she felt no pain at all, and her clear eyes were full of worry.
She wanted to step forward to help, but she knew she was too weak and that acting rashly would only cause trouble for Zhuang Yu.
She could only pray silently, praying that Zhuang Yu would be safe and sound.
The Shadow Beast seemed to have noticed Zhuang Yu's change. It let out a low roar and its attack became even more ferocious. The black mist, like tentacles, wrapped around Zhuang Yu.
Just when the Shadow Beast thought victory was assured and its claws were about to tear Zhuang Yu's throat apart, Zhuang Yu's aura suddenly changed.
His defensive stance vanished, replaced by a ferocious aura like a volcanic eruption.
He stopped dodging and instead pounced on the Shadow Beast like an angry lion.
A hint of surprise flashed in the Shadow Beast's crimson eyes; it clearly hadn't expected Zhuang Yu to suddenly change tactics.
It let out a low roar, its claws waving, and black mist coiled around it like snakes, attempting to force Zhuang Yu back.
However, Zhuang Yu was even faster, his figure moving like a ghost through the black mist, each dodge incredibly precise, as if he had anticipated the Shadow Beast's next move.
The muffled thuds echoed in the cramped space—the sounds of fists and claws colliding.
Zhuang Yu stopped using spiritual energy for ranged attacks and instead adopted the most primitive form of hand-to-hand combat. His fists, accompanied by a whistling sound, smashed into the Shadow Beast's body like iron hammers.
The Shadow Beast's claws were equally formidable, each attack carrying the power to tear the air apart, as if it wanted to rip Zhuang Yu's body to shreds.
After a brief exchange, Zhuang Yu had several more bloody marks on his body, but his eyes grew even more determined, like a quenched blade, radiating a chilling light.
He seized an opportunity, using his left hand to block the Shadow Beast's claws, and then unleashed a powerful punch with his right fist, slamming it squarely into the Shadow Beast's chest.
"Awooo!" The Shadow Beast let out a mournful roar, its body flying backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing into the spatial barrier with a dull thud.
The black mist surged violently as it struggled to stand up, only to find a sharp pain in its chest, as if countless steel needles were churning inside.
Zhuang Yu gave it no chance to catch its breath. He blurred into a golden afterimage and instantly appeared in front of the Shadow Beast.
He mobilized the remaining spiritual power within his body, and a dazzling golden light condensed between his palms, like a blazing sun, radiating earth-shattering energy fluctuations.
"Die!" Zhuang Yu roared, thrusting out both palms. The golden light that condensed all his power slammed into the Shadow Beast's body like an unstoppable shockwave.
A violent explosion resounded throughout the space, the black mist was instantly swallowed by the golden light, and the space itself trembled violently, as if it were about to collapse.
The Shadow Beast let out a final, desperate roar before being completely enveloped in golden light and vanishing without a trace.
As the dust settled and the golden light faded, Zhuang Yu stood there, breathing heavily, his body trembling slightly. His robes were torn and stained with blood, making him look utterly disheveled.
Just as he was about to take a moment to adjust, an anxious voice called out from afar: "Zhuang Yu, are you alright?"
Wang Yao's voice trembled slightly, echoing anxiously in the empty space.
She rushed to Zhuang Yu's side without hesitation, her delicate face filled with worry.
Her gaze swept over the shocking wounds on Zhuang Yu's body, and her eyes immediately filled with tears.
She carefully lifted Zhuang Yu's arm, her fingertips gently touching the gruesome wounds. An indescribable pang of heartache welled up inside her, and she murmured, "You...you're injured, does it hurt?"
Zhuang Yu felt a warmth in his heart when he looked into Wang Yao's eyes, which were full of concern.
The intense battle and exhaustion from just now seemed insignificant at this moment.
He shook his head gently, a weak smile appearing on his lips, his voice low but firm: "It's nothing, just minor injuries."
The tense atmosphere around them gradually dissipated with Wang Yao's arrival.
The stench of blood that filled the air was gradually replaced by a faint fragrance emanating from her, which relaxed Zhuang Yu's tense nerves.
He raised his hand and gently stroked Wang Yao's soft hair, a warm feeling flowing between them.
However, this brief moment of warmth did not last long.
Zhuang Yu keenly sensed that the surrounding environment seemed to have changed.
The already chaotic space became even more profound, and the surrounding darkness resembled a wild beast with its jaws wide open, inspiring fear in all who beheld it.
An indescribable sense of oppression was gradually increasing in the air, as if something terrible was awakening.
"Something seems off here." Zhuang Yu's eyes were serious. He looked around and carefully observed the strange things around him. A sense of unease welled up in his heart. He took Wang Yao's hand and felt the coldness of her palm.
Wang Yao also sensed something was wrong. She was no longer filled with worry as before, but instead became wary, gripping Zhuang Yu's hand tightly.
The two fell silent and slowly walked forward.
The surrounding darkness seemed to come alive, constantly twisting and deforming, emitting eerie whispers.
The ground beneath their feet became uneven, seemingly concealing countless unknown traps.
With each step they took, they felt as if they were plunging into an unpredictable vortex, with an even greater crisis lurking ahead.
From the depths of darkness came a series of low growls, like those of wild beasts. The sounds came from near and far, sometimes high-pitched, sometimes low, making them difficult to distinguish.
The roar was like a curse, deeply imprinted in Zhuang Yu and Wang Yao's hearts. They knew that the real challenge might have just begun.
The two exchanged a glance, both seeing solemnity and determination in each other's eyes.
Wang Yao gripped the prayer beads tightly in her hand, while Zhuang Yu slowly clenched his fist, exuding a powerful fighting spirit.
They held their breath and walked forward cautiously. In the darkness, their shadows were stretched long, like a pair of travelers about to step into the unknown...