The group cautiously made their way towards the city lord's mansion along the path behind the church. Along the way, they tried to avoid dark corners where unseen forces might be lurking, while remaining vigilant for any unusual activity in their surroundings.
As they approached the city lord's mansion, the atmosphere became increasingly oppressive, with groups of footsteps passing by every now and then.
Arriving at the city lord's mansion, Zhang Shi climbed onto the eaves and carefully observed the surroundings. The mansion's gate was tightly shut, its surface adorned with intricate carvings, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura. Seeing no danger, Zhang Shi approached the gate and discovered a lock. The lock resembled a stone with holes carved into it, its surface etched with patterns, bearing the marks of time.
“This lock is very complicated; it might take some skill to open it,” Zhang Shi said.
Zhao Feng stepped forward, examined the lock carefully, and said, "I'll try to see if I can crack it with brute force."
As he spoke, he took a few steps back, and before Zhang Shi could stop him, he suddenly rushed forward and slammed his fist into the door lock. With a "crack," the lock was forcefully broken open.
Everyone stared at Zhao Feng in astonishment, never expecting that the seemingly ancient and mysterious stone lock would be broken so easily. Zhao Feng chuckled and scratched his head: "I was just giving it a try, and I didn't expect it to actually work."
Zhang Shi pushed open the door, and the group cautiously entered the city lord's mansion. Inside, it was dimly lit, with only a few luminous pearls flickering faintly. They walked along the corridor, constantly on guard against any potential dangers.
Suddenly, a dark figure swept past them with astonishing speed. The group gasped and drew their swords in alarm. However, the figure didn't stop to attack; instead, it continued its escape. In a fleeting moment, Zhang Shi saw a glimpse of the figure's tail.
"What is that?" Zhao Feng asked nervously.
Zhang Shi shook his head: "I don't know, but it's definitely not good. We need to be careful."
They continued on and came to a spacious hall. In the center of the hall was a huge round table, around which sat several people dressed in black robes. Their faces were covered by huge hoods, revealing only two sinister eyes. On the round table were some bloody flesh, and one of the black-robed men was feasting on it. Blood and bits of flesh stained the chairs around him red, a sight that was both horrifying and disgusting.
"Oh ho, there are actually strangers here."
A deep voice came from the man in black robes.
Zhang Shi and the others watched these people warily, their hearts filled with vigilance. They knew that these people, who could dine so freely in the dangerous city lord's mansion, were either exceptionally powerful, themselves a source of danger, or both. But in any case, these guys were the key to their operation.
"Who are you? Why are you here?" Zhang Shi asked.
The men in black robes smiled slightly, and one of them stood up and walked up to Zhang Shi: "We are the guardians of the City of Mist, and also its rulers. What brings you here so abruptly?"
Zhang Shi didn't answer his question, but instead asked directly, "Where is Grandma? Has she been arrested?"
The smile on the black-robed man's face vanished instantly, as if Zhang Shi's words had violated some taboo. He looked at Zhang Shi coldly and said, "You dare to come to the City Lord's Mansion to cause trouble? You really don't know your place. But since you're here, don't even think about leaving alive."
As he spoke, he waved his hand, and the black-robed figures around him stood up and rushed towards Zhang Shi and the others. At the same time, a rustling sound arose around them, indicating the appearance of unseen beings. They seemed to be responding to the black-robed man's command, suddenly appearing and charging towards Zhang Shi and the others.
Faced with the sudden attack from the black-robed man, Zhang Shi and his group reacted swiftly, drawing their swords to meet the attack. The hall was instantly filled with flashing blades and the clanging of metal. Zhao Feng was at the forefront, his battle axe swinging powerfully, each strike accompanied by a whistling wind, killing any approaching, invisible beings one by one. For a moment, no monster dared to approach.
However, these black-robed figures seemed to be higher-level monsters, unafraid of their attacks. Even when struck by sharp blades, they only swayed slightly before swiftly lunging forward again. Their movements were agile and unpredictable, seemingly unrestrained by conventional laws of physics, putting Zhang Shi and his companions under immense pressure.
"These guys are not to be underestimated, everyone be careful!" Zhang Shi shouted a warning.
Just then, a man in black robes suddenly vanished from his spot and reappeared behind Zhang Shi, a sharp blade gleaming coldly in his hand, aimed directly at his vital points. Zhang Shi was startled, but remained calm. Relying on his keen intuition and exceptional skills, he used the Shadow Step at the last second to dodge the attack.
At the same time, Zhang Shi used a Shadow Slash to cut a black-robed man who was trying to sneak up on Ge Dalong from behind in half.
The other members of the team also faced powerful enemies. A man in black robes released black mist, attempting to confuse Zhao Feng, but Zhao Feng, with his thick skin and tough flesh, withstood the attack and dispersed the black mist, eventually finding the man's trail and sending him flying with a single axe blow.
However, those black-robed men had extremely strong self-healing abilities. Beneath their black robes were transparent bodies stained with blood, and those strands of bright red flesh were like tough threads that stitched their broken bodies back together, allowing them to regain their fighting strength in no time.
The battle lasted a long time, with both sides locked in a stalemate. Although Zhang Shi and his group were quite strong, the number of black-robed figures was large and their strength was considerable. More and more invisible beings were gathering in the city lord's mansion, putting them under immense pressure and gradually making them feel overwhelmed.
"This can't go on, we have to find a way out!" Zhang Shi shouted to his teammates, panting heavily.
Just then, a man in black robes suddenly stopped his attack. His gaze fell on Old Duan in Zhang Shi's hands, and a greedy glint flashed in his eyes.
“That knife…” the man in black said in a low, seductive tone, “seems to contain extraordinary power. Give it to me, and I can let you leave safely.”
Zhang Shi gripped the old sword tightly in his hand. Since he entered the wilderness, this sword had been his reliable assistant, saving him from danger countless times. He knew that it was not just a weapon, but a symbol of his beliefs and determination.
"Don't even think about it!"
Zhang Shi rejected the black-robed man's proposal without hesitation, his eyes revealing determination and unyielding spirit.
The man in black robes sneered, seemingly unsurprised by Zhang Shi's refusal. "Since you're so stubborn, then don't blame us for being impolite." He waved his hand, signaling the other men in black robes to continue their attack, while he himself joined the fray, his target being Old Duan in Zhang Shi's hands.
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