"Alright, then let's go and meet it!" Xu Yuehuai knew this was the only way out, and there was no other way but to go that way.
Despite their injuries, the group quickly retreated and headed towards the source of the evil force.
After overcoming numerous difficulties, Xu Yuehuai and his companions finally stood before the entrance to the hidden cave.
Before the cave entrance, a thick black fog formed a tangible wall, shutting out light and hope, leaving only a chilling aura of evil that slowly permeated the air.
Xu Yuehuai took a deep breath, as if trying to inhale the fear into her chest and transform it into the strength to move forward.
The longsword gleamed sharply in her hand. She waved her hand gently and stepped into the unknown darkness first.
The moss on the cave walls gleamed with an eerie green light, and every inch of the space felt strange. Their footsteps echoed intermittently within the cave.
"Stay close to me and watch your surroundings," Xu Yuehuai whispered.
Suddenly, the sense of oppression grew stronger and stronger, as if a giant mountain was pressing down on their backs.
General Liu followed closely to Xu Yuehuai's right, not daring to stray too far. The Ghost Doctor, on the other hand, wore a solemn expression, his gaze frequently sweeping around as if searching for something. Yan Qing appeared even more astute, his fingers lightly stroking a string of hidden weapons at his waist, his protective talisman as a bodyguard.
When they reached the deepest part of the cave, the sight before them shocked everyone. A huge pool stretched out before them, its water churning and bubbles rising constantly. Within those bubbles was bright red blood, emitting a nauseating stench.
In the center of the blood pool, a mysterious power was slowly gathering, pulsating as if it were alive.
"That is the source of power!" The Ghost Doctor's voice trembled slightly, his eyes filled with both excitement and fear. "But this power is too evil. Can we really control it?"
Xu Yuehuai's gaze was piercing as he stared at the pool of blood in silence for a long time. "No matter how evil it is, as long as it can be used by us, it is a force of justice. We have no choice but to move forward."
Just as they were preparing to explore further, a sudden gust of cold wind swept through the cave, carrying a chilling aura. The blood pool seemed to be awakened by this power, instantly bursting forth with dazzling light. A powerful, evil force, like an angry dragon emerging from the sea, soared into the sky, illuminating the entire cave as if it were daytime.
"Get out of the way!" Xu Yuehua shouted, swinging his longsword with lightning speed, attempting to cleave through the force.
But it was all in vain; the evil force was too powerful and instantly surrounded them.
The cave began to shake violently, and rubble fell from the stone walls, as if the whole world was collapsing. They tried to escape, but found themselves firmly locked in place by this force, unable to move.
"I knew I shouldn't have brought you here." The Ghost Doctor's voice carried a hint of self-reproach, but more so, helplessness.
Xu Yuehuai shook her head, her eyes resolute. "Even if you hadn't brought us here, fate would have eventually led us to this point. We're not running away; we're facing it. Sooner or later, we'll confront this force head-on, so let's start now."
General Liu gripped his sword tightly, his gaze resolute. "It's just a pity that we didn't prepare enough backup, and no one knows we're trapped here."
Upon hearing this, Yan Qing smiled faintly and took out a small insect from his pocket. "Who says no one knows? I have my own way." With that, he gently released the insect. After circling in the air a few times, the insect quickly flew out of the cave, leaving a faint trail of fluorescent light.
"This is a messenger worm. It can find a way out and bring our message back to the outside world," Yan Qing explained, his eyes shining with hope.
In the deep and unfathomable ruins of the mountain cave, time seemed to stand still. With each passing second, the oxygen gradually thinned, and an atmosphere of oppression and despair permeated the air.
Yan Qing closed his eyes, sensing the location of the messenger worm. Suddenly, a look of disbelief and anxiety flashed in his eyes: "My messenger worm hasn't returned... It, it's dead!"
These words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples and making the tense atmosphere around them even more somber.
Suddenly, the sounds of insects chirping filled the air around them. It wasn't just one type; there were about a dozen different sounds all coming together.
The Ghost Doctor quickly took out a bottle of powder from his medicine box and was about to sprinkle it around to prevent any unforeseen circumstances, but he did not expect that the situation would be far worse than he had imagined.
The insects kept crawling out from the cracks in the surrounding rocks and approaching them.
"If no one breaks open this cave from the outside, we'll probably all be buried here together." The Ghost Doctor felt a chill run down his spine when he saw so many insects.
General Liu, a seasoned general, could not hide the worry on his face at this moment, but he still tried to give everyone a glimmer of hope: "The reinforcements may be coming soon, we just need to hold on for a little longer." His gaze was firm, as if lighting a faint lamp in the darkness.
However, beneath the once peaceful ruins, a sudden commotion arose. From the chaotic cracks in the stones, colorful and terrifying venomous snakes slithered out rapidly, instantly turning this space into the domain of death.
Seeing this, the Ghost Doctor did not hesitate to sprinkle out medicinal powder in an attempt to drive away these uninvited guests. However, the venomous snakes not only did not retreat, but became even more ferocious, as if they had a natural resistance to the medicinal powder.
"This is no ordinary venomous snake!" the Ghost Doctor exclaimed. "Don't let them get close!" His voice trembled slightly, but he still tried his best to remain calm.
Lu Li, Yan Qing, and General Liu reacted immediately, quickly forming a circle to tightly protect Xu Yuehuai in the center. Their movements were swift and coordinated, but even so, they could not withstand the onslaught of venomous snakes surging from all directions.
Even more despairingly, some venomous snakes emerged from the gaps above their heads, like messengers from hell, silently landing on them, their sharp fangs instantly piercing their skin.
Pain surged like a tide, and the four collapsed one after another, their consciousness beginning to fade. Just then, a strange hallucination quietly descended upon them; they seemed to be in a warm and safe place, surrounded by lush green grass and babbling brooks, everything appearing so harmonious and peaceful.
"Did we escape?" The Ghost Doctor's voice rang out in the hallucination, tinged with disbelief.
Lu Li looked around, a hint of doubt in his eyes: "This place seems very safe, but..."
Yan Qing struggled to stay awake: "But weren't we just attacked by poisonous snakes?"
Xu Yuehuai's voice was the most resolute: "Everyone, concentrate! These are probably hallucinations caused by snake venom. Don't believe them!" Her tone was full of undeniable power, trying to awaken the reason in everyone's heart.
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