Ghost Douluo backed down from the Old Mansion's threshold, gasping for breath.
His face, usually hidden in shadow, was now as white as paper.
In that moment, he had felt an unknown presence fix its gaze on him, scrutinizing him inside and out.
It had made him, a rank ninety-five Titled Douluo, truly understand what it meant to be a fish on the chopping block.
Liu Erlong and Zhu Zhuqing instinctively retreated, pressing close to a dead black tree.
"There's something inside?"
Bo Saixi's brows knitted tightly, a shadow clouding her face.
Her grip on the Sea God Scepter tightened.
"Yes! There's definitely a supernatural entity!" Ghost Douluo's voice trembled. "One more step inside might trigger its rules!"
Bo Saixi drew a deep breath and looked around.
Apart from the sinister Old Mansion behind them, there was nothing but a dead Old Forest stretching as far as the eye could see.
"If we can't enter the Old Mansion, we can't stay here waiting to die."
Bo Saixi made her decision coldly, without a trace of pity in her blue eyes.
"We'll search the Old Forest and see if there's a way out."
With that, she pointed her scepter. Sea God's Light flickered faintly, locking coldly onto Ghost Douluo.
"You. Keep leading the way."
Ghost Douluo's face twitched sharply, and deep resentment flashed in his eyes beneath his mask.
He turned around and activated his ghost Martial Soul Possession, transforming into a translucent black shadow as he reluctantly entered the gloomy Old Forest.
Bo Saixi and the others followed cautiously, keeping their distance.
The Old Forest was unnervingly quiet.
Their feet sank into thick layers of rotting leaves, producing sticky, muffled sounds.
The light grew dimmer and dimmer. As they ventured deeper, the surrounding tree trunks seemed to shift silently, sealing