A Fantasy Love Story Across the Warring States Period

Chapter 96 Mysterious Clash and a Glimmer of Hope

The woman in black robes, the man in white, and Ling'er were trapped in the black smoke, making it difficult to breathe. The pungent smell filled their nostrils, causing them to feel irritated and fearful. The woman in black robes gripped her sword tightly, her gaze piercing through the smoke as she warily watched the mysterious figure approaching step by step. She thought to herself, "Who are these guys? Why are they attacking us? It seems today will be a fierce battle. But no matter what, I must protect Ling'er."

Ling'er buried her face behind the woman in black robes, her little hands clutching the hem of her clothes tightly. Her body trembled slightly, tears welled in her eyes, and she kept murmuring, "Brother, come and save us! Ling'er is so scared." The man in white robes was playing his jade flute with complete concentration. The music transformed into gentle breezes, trying to disperse the thick black smoke. However, the incantations chanted by the mysterious figures seemed to possess powerful magic. The black smoke only dispersed slightly before quickly gathering again, like a living black python, constantly swirling and coiling.

Just as the mysterious figure was about to reach them, the woman in black robes shouted and charged forward, her sword flashing with sharp spiritual energy as she thrust it fiercely at the mysterious figure in front. The mysterious figure remained calm, raising his staff, which emitted an eerie glow, and with a gentle wave, a black light barrier instantly appeared, blocking the woman's fierce sword strike. At the point of impact, dazzling yet dangerous sparks of spiritual energy erupted.

Seeing this, the other mysterious figures waved their staffs, unleashing beams of black energy towards the woman in black robes and her companions. The man in white quickly changed his musical style; the sound from his jade flute became rapid and high-pitched, transforming into a transparent shield that enveloped everyone. The black energy beams struck the shield with resounding "bangs," causing ripples to spread across its surface, making it appear precarious.

Huanmo drew closer to the shimmering building, the surrounding environment growing increasingly eerie. Broken shards of pottery began to appear on the once barren land, bearing strange patterns that resembled fragments of ancient writing. A gust of wind caused the shards to collide, producing a crisp yet slightly sinister sound, as if telling tales of the past. Huanmo paid no heed to this; his gaze was fixed on the building, his pace quickening, his heart filled with anxiety, silently praying that Ling'er and the others would be safe.

Inside the circular hall, the battle between the woman in black robes and the mysterious figures reached a stalemate. Although the woman in black robes possessed exquisite swordsmanship, the mysterious figures coordinated seamlessly, and their magic was unpredictable and bizarre, making it difficult for her to break through their defenses. Meanwhile, the white-robed man's shield, under the continuous attacks of the black energy rays, had developed numerous cracks; with each attack, the cracks widened, and the situation became extremely critical.

Just when everyone felt they were about to give up, Ling'er suddenly raised her head, wiped away her tears, and pointed to a corner of the hall with her little finger, shouting, "Sister, look over there, there seems to be a different place!" The woman in black robes and the man in white looked in the direction Ling'er pointed, and saw that in that corner, there was a wall that was slightly different in color from the surrounding area, faintly glowing with a white light, as if it were hiding some secret.

"Perhaps that's a breakthrough point. We need to find a way to get there and take a look!" the man in white shouted. With that, he suddenly increased the intensity of his jade flute playing, and the music transformed into a powerful force that swept towards the mysterious figures in front of them, temporarily forcing them back a few steps. Taking advantage of the opportunity, the woman in black grabbed Ling'er and rushed towards that corner.

Seeing them trying to escape, the mysterious man chanted his incantation more rapidly, and black smoke instantly surged towards them, attempting to block their path. The woman in black robes brandished her sword, cleaving a path through the black smoke. Although the smoke constantly corroded her body, causing her a stinging pain, she gritted her teeth and charged forward with all her might.

Finally, they arrived at the wall that emitted a faint light. Upon closer inspection, they saw shallow grooves in the wall, the shapes of which were remarkably similar to the seven-colored crystal ball on the stone platform. The man in white had a sudden realization and said, "Could this crystal ball be the key to unlocking this mechanism?" The woman in black thought this made sense. She turned to look at the crystal ball on the stone platform, and at that moment, the crystal ball seemed to shine even brighter, as if beckoning them.

The woman in black gritted her teeth and charged towards the stone platform again, breaking through several of the mysterious man's obstacles and successfully obtaining the crystal ball. When she placed the crystal ball into the groove in the wall, a rumbling sound was heard, and the wall slowly opened, revealing a soft light. Within the light seemed to be a passage, and at the end of the passage, a familiar aura could be faintly felt.

"Could it be a place leading outside, or a place where I can meet up with Brother Huanmo?" A glimmer of hope ignited in Ling'er's eyes.

Just as they were about to step into the passage, the mysterious figures suddenly stopped their attack, stood still, and let out a series of sinister laughs that echoed through the hall, sending chills down everyone's spines. A sense of foreboding washed over the woman in black robes. She gripped her sword tightly, watching the mysterious figures warily, wondering what schemes they were plotting this time.

Huanmo finally arrived at the building's entrance. The door was tightly shut, covered in dust and strange runes, exuding an air of mystery. He reached out, intending to push it open, but felt a powerful resistance, as if some force was preventing him from entering. Huanmo frowned, filled with doubt. What lay hidden behind this door? And what kind of trouble would the woman in black robes and her companions encounter after stepping into the passage? Everything remained unknown, waiting for them to uncover the truth…