Chen Yan's mouth was dry, and his heart was pounding wildly in his chest, as if it were about to break free from his ribs.
His blood and True Essence surged violently and instinctively, turning his face bright red, but this surge of heat did nothing to warm his limbs and bones.
My hands and feet are ice cold, my fingertips are numb, and it feels like the cold has seeped into my very bones.
The most terrifying thing is mindset.
He felt as if his brain had been frozen, and his normally smooth-flowing Power of Soul was now stagnant and blocked.
Only the purest fear remained, frantically growing and threatening to devour all the light of reason.
An intense, primal sense of unease welled up from within his body.
It was an eerie, chilling feeling that was slowly flowing down his spine, as if a dead man's hand was dragging along his back, inch by inch, leaving behind a chilling and slippery impression.
Just as fear was about to overwhelm reason, deep within Chen Yan's body, the Chaos Myriad Laws Golden Core suddenly trembled!
A wisp of pure, grayish aura, seemingly containing the essence of the beginning of the universe, emerged from his golden core and quietly dissipated from the pores of his body.
The chaotic energy, carrying a supreme characteristic of "annihilating all laws," quietly spread out.
"Laugh..."
Like a scalding hot iron falling into ice water, or a sharp blade slicing through rotten brocade.
The lingering chill and the terrifying dragging sensation on the back melted away instantly upon contact with the chaotic energy, like snow under the sun!
The distorted environment around them was briefly "torn open" by this wisp of chaotic energy, revealing a trace of the original, normal fluctuations of the laws of heaven and earth.
"Ah--!"
Like a drowning man finally surfacing, Chen Yan took a deep breath, breaking free from the almost frozen fear, and let out a low growl that suppressed endless horror.
Without the slightest hesitation, he frantically channeled his inner power, chaotic energy swirling around him, and shouted sharply, "Go!"
He activated [ Time Stroll ] again. This time, with the brief "purification" and support of the chaotic energy on the surrounding eerie environment, the Power of Time finally broke through most of the obstacles!
A hazy halo enveloped him, Bai Lingshuang, and the rest of the Broken Eagle Squad.
In an instant, the distorted scenery in the mountains, the pervasive rustling sounds, and the oppressive feeling emanating from the direction of the painting all seemed to be paused, becoming slow and blurry.
Chen Yan felt no relief whatsoever; since the day he began cultivating, he had never fled in such a sorry state.
He dared not turn back, dared not linger.
The only option is to push [ Time Stroll ] to its current limit and frantically flee towards what is perceived as "safe"!
However, just when he thought he was about to escape danger...
"Buzz!"
A sudden, violent, and dizzying sensation struck without warning!
It was as if an invisible giant hand had violently disrupted the fundamental principles of space and direction.
Chen Yan grunted, as if struck by an invisible heavy blow. The Power of Time he had gathered instantly dissipated, and his [ Time Stroll ] state was forcibly interrupted!
Like kites with broken strings, the group fell from that mysterious state, swept up by a chaotic force, and hurtled forward in mid-air before crashing heavily to the ground.
The cold, rough texture of the sand came from beneath me.
The air that filled my nostrils was no longer the decaying and eerie scent of the forest, but the familiar air, carrying the smell of scorched earth and a faint stench of blood.
Chen Yan, panting, regulated his breathing and regained his composure, then looked around.
In the dim light, what came into view was the rock wall covered with signs of battle, and the familiar outline of the cave entrance that had once been blocked by the Blood Blade Sect.
They... stumbled back to the outskirts of Painting Saint Mountain, near the cave where they had previously encountered the Blood Blade Sect!
That feeling of "great terror," like a bone-deep wound that froze one's soul, has completely vanished.
Instead, there was a profound sense of exhaustion, as if one had survived a catastrophe.
And the lingering, instinctive fear that had not yet fully subsided.
Bai Lingshuang knelt on the ground, her hands supporting her weight. Her once meticulously styled hair was now disheveled, her face was as pale as paper, and her body was still trembling slightly. Clearly, she had not yet fully recovered from that extreme fear.
Her Mystic Ice Jade Body is most sensitive to danger and can withstand greater impacts.
The situation was even worse for the members of the Broken Eagle Squad.
Zhou Zheng could barely stand by leaning against a rock, but his eyes were unfocused and his hand holding the knife was trembling violently.
The other two team members collapsed to the ground, their eyes glazed over, as if they had lost half their souls; they were clearly mentally devastated.
"I wonder if the military provides any psychological guidance for martial artists?"
Chen Yan himself was also experiencing emotional turmoil, his internal energy and blood were in disarray, and his chaotic energy automatically receded back into his golden core, causing a deep sense of exhaustion to well up inside him.
He released his Power of Soul to quickly examine himself, and only breathed a slight sigh of relief after confirming that he had not been contaminated by any strange "things".
Looking around at the still-shaken crowd, Chen Yan remained silent for a moment before speaking:
"This place is not safe to stay in any longer; let's leave this area first."
No one objected.
The group, supporting each other, staggered away from the cave and found a relatively secluded, sheltered spot before stopping to rest.
Much later.
Zhou Zheng's face was deathly pale, and he said in a hoarse voice, "Senior... that place... is simply not a place we can set foot in."
Bai Lingshuang nodded slowly, her voice trembling slightly.
"It's not just a matter of strength... the rules there are inherently malicious and incomprehensible. Forcing your way in is tantamount to suicide."
Chen Yan did not answer immediately.
He recalled the painting, those tiny black dots, and the fear and eerie sensations that directly affected his soul.
As Bai Lingshuang said, the level involved may have already transcended the conventional confrontation of power, and concerned with more fundamental laws or even domains.
However, based on previous experience, the property of chaotic energy to destroy all laws is still effective.
"It's a stroke of luck amidst misfortune, you could say."
After pondering for a moment, Chen Yan glanced at the group of people whose condition was clearly not right.
Bai Lingshuang needs time to calm her mind and process the unusual sensations in her Mystic Ice Jade Body...
The members of the Broken Eagle Squad need to get away from their environment and recuperate in peace, otherwise they may suffer permanent psychological trauma or spiritual scars.
"Return to Forward Base first."
Chen Yan made his decision, his voice regaining its usual calmness, yet carrying an undeniable force.
"Firstly, submit the mission to find the Broken Eagle Squad so they can receive timely medical treatment and updates. Secondly..."
His gaze swept over the crowd:
"We all need to rest. In this state, going any further would just be suicide."
No one raised any objections.
Having just experienced the terror of facing an abyss, even those who most craved cultivation resources now only had the thought of fleeing.