The scouting party slowly approached the Black Castle. Shrouded in dark mist, the castle appeared ever more grim and terrifying. Black vines covered its walls like countless twisted arms trembling faintly in the wind. The castle gates were tightly shut, carved with strange patterns that seemed to shift constantly, making anyone who looked at them feel dizzy.
Chen Siyu vigilantly scanned the surroundings. "Everyone, be careful. There's something unspeakably strange about this castle. It's probably filled with traps." The Lingxi Tribe warriors nodded, tightening their grips on their weapons as they prepared for any sudden danger.
Chen Ruixuan walked up to the castle gates and curiously reached out to touch one of the patterns. Just as his hand was about to make contact, Chen Siyu shouted, "Don't move!" At the same time, she swiftly lashed out with the Five-Colored Ribbon and pulled Chen Ruixuan back. Almost simultaneously, several black arrows shot out from the gate, whistling past the group. If Chen Siyu had not reacted in time, Chen Ruixuan would likely have been injured.
"That was close. Thanks, Sis," Chen Ruixuan said, still shaken.
"No one can afford to let their guard down. Danger could be hidden anywhere here," Chen Siyu warned sternly.
The group began searching around the castle for another way inside. At last, they found a small side door on one side of the castle. It stood half open, revealing nothing but darkness within, along with faint waves of eerie chill.
One warrior volunteered to go in first and scout the way. Chen Siyu stopped him. "Let me go. I have the Five-Colored Ribbon to protect me, so it'll be relatively safer." With that, she cautiously stepped through the side door, and the others followed closely behind her.
Beyond the door was a narrow corridor. Black crystals embedded in the walls gave off a faint glow, casting dim, shadowy light through the passage. Suddenly, numerous small holes opened in the walls on both sides, spewing out a pungent black smoke. Chen Siyu hurriedly used the Five-Colored Ribbon to form a shield around the group. However, the smoke seemed corrosive, and the shield's glow gradually dimmed under its erosion.
"There's something wrong with this smoke. We need to rush through!" Chen Siyu shouted. Led by her, the group charged forward through the smoke with all their strength. After great difficulty, they passed through the corridor and entered a spacious hall. In the center stood a massive black statue with a savage face, as though it were recounting endless suffering.
As the group examined the statue, the floor of the hall suddenly split open. Countless black tentacles stretched up from underground and reached for them. Chen Siyu swiftly wrapped the Five-Colored Ribbon around several tentacles and pulled hard, trying to stop them from closing in. Chen Ruixuan pulled out his Slingshot and fired at the tentacles. The Lingxi Tribe warriors also unleashed their spells, engaging the tentacles in a fierce battle.
During the fight, Chen Siyu noticed that the tentacles seemed connected to the statue somehow. Whenever the statue was attacked, the tentacles' movements slowed. She shouted to her companions, "Attack the statue! That's the key!" Hearing this, everyone shifted their attacks toward the statue. Under their combined assault, cracks began to appear across it, and the black tentacles gradually withdrew underground.
After a grueling battle, the scouting party temporarily repelled the enemy. But they knew this was only the beginning of the dangers within the castle. More unknown challenges awaited them ahead, and the mysterious person's secret might lie deep within the castle...
Before you continue