The instant the Black Shield Battle Platform slammed into the faintly glowing rift, the entire platform let out a muffled groan as though it could no longer bear the strain.
The corroded holes along its edges had connected into a single mass, and the once-solid barrier of Demonic Essence resembled a paper shell riddled by worms, shedding black ash in soft flurries.
The next moment, white light surged abruptly, so dazzling that no one could keep their eyes open.
The sounds of swamp bubbles and the roars of black shadows vanished from their ears in an instant, replaced by shrill whistling sounds, as though countless fine needles were scraping against their eardrums.
When everyone finally forced their eyes open, they were all stunned.
They stood inside a circular space, surrounded by black barriers gleaming with cold light, like an enormous glass dome trapping them within.
Bloody Lightning crawled across the inner walls of the barriers. Arcs of electricity twisted and darted about, exploding into wisps of black smoke whenever they struck the ground and releasing a pungent sulfurous stench.
Beneath their feet were bluestone slabs carved with bizarre patterns. Dark-red marks seeped through the grooves, whether blood or something else was impossible to tell. Stepping on them felt sticky and clammy enough to make one's skin crawl.
"Where is this?"
Zhao Xiaojia's voice trembled. Just as he bent down to touch the patterns on the ground, Liu Yuer yanked him back.
"Don't touch it!" Her silver sword lay across her chest as her gaze swept the surroundings. "These patterns carry the aura of spirit drawing."
Just then, two piercing whistles rang out in succession.
A burst of golden light erupted to their left, and a hundred-zhang bronze warship came charging out. Its hull was like a towering mountain range, covered