Crisis in the Forbidden Grounds

Chapter 15: Crisis in the Forbidden Grounds Amid the excitement of successfully activating the secret weapon, Mu Chen and the others knew full well that they were still within the forbidden grounds, where danger lurked everywhere. The ancient restrictions and guardian beasts that might appear at any moment hung over their heads like the sword of Damocles. The fluctuations of spiritual power within the forbidden grounds grew increasingly intense, as though the awakened secret weapon had disturbed a balance that had lain dormant here for ages. The runes on the walls flickered more frequently, seemingly issuing some kind of warning. Mu Chen surveyed their surroundings warily. He could sense something unstable within the spiritual power around them. "Everyone, stay on your guard. Activating the weapon may have altered the restrictions here, and it might draw the guardian beasts over as well," Mu Chen reminded his companions in a low voice. Barely had his words faded when a faint tremor suddenly ran through the ground beneath their feet. Then rays of spiritual light rose from the floor, weaving themselves into an intricate net. The net swiftly spread toward them, every strand radiating powerful spiritual energy. It was clearly an ancient restriction with deadly destructive power. "Watch out! That's a Spiritual Power Prison Net! Once it traps us, it will gradually drain our spiritual power dry!" shouted an elder familiar with the restrictions in the clan's forbidden grounds. Mu Chen reacted swiftly. He unleashed Star Transformation, gathering star power in both hands before sweeping them forcefully toward the Spiritual Power Prison Net. The star power collided with the net in a burst of dazzling light. Yet the Spiritual Power Prison Net merely shuddered slightly and remained intact. "Everyone, attack together!" Mu Chen shouted. His companions unleashed their strongest spiritual abilities, sending beams of spiritual power in every color blasting toward the Spiritual Power Prison Net. Under their concerted assault, cracks finally appeared in the net, and they seized the chance to slip through the gaps. Before they could breathe a sigh of relief, however, a low roar rang out from the depths of the forbidden grounds. The roar shook the entire place, as though an enormous Primordial Beast were about to emerge. "It's a guardian beast! Prepare for battle!" Tan Qingshan tightened his grip on his heavy axe and stood ready. As the roaring drew closer, a gigantic guardian beast resembling a three-headed lion appeared before them. Golden scales covered its body, each gleaming with a metallic luster. Its three heads were different colors-red, blue, and green-and fierce flames burned in the eyes of each. The guardian beast attacked the moment it appeared. Its red head opened a vast, blood-red maw and spewed a stream of scorching flames that swept toward them like surging lava. Meanwhile, its blue head condensed a massive ball of water in its mouth. In flight, the ball transformed into countless sharp ice spikes that shot toward them. Its green head emitted a beam of green light, and wherever the light touched, thick vines rapidly sprouted from the ground, reaching out to coil around them like supple tentacles. "Spread out!" Mu Chen commanded. Everyone swiftly scattered in all directions, dodging the guardian beast's attacks. Mu Chen charged straight into the flames, unleashing a new spiritual technique and surrounding his body with a shield formed from star power. When the flames struck the shield, the star power and fire canceled each other out with a sizzling hiss. He seized the opportunity to rush toward the guardian beast, gathering spiritual power into a sword in his hand and thrusting it at the beast's red head. Tan Qingshan swung his heavy axe, cutting through countless ice spikes flying toward him. He charged at the guardian beast's blue head, each step leaving a deep footprint in the ground. With a roar, he leaped up and brought his axe down on the blue head. The spiritual power on his heavy axe collided with the head's water spiritual power, throwing up an enormous splash. Tang Qian'er cast support abilities from the rear, waving the spiritual staff in her hand to grant her companions a shield that could withstand elemental damage. At the same time, she murmured an incantation and summoned a gentle breeze. It brushed across the vines, slowing their growth and giving her entangled companions a chance to break free. During the battle, Mu Chen noticed that the guardian beast's three heads seemed to serve different functions while also working in concert. Whenever he attacked the red head, the blue and green heads intensified their attacks, trying to stop him. Moreover, the golden scales covering the beast offered formidable protection, making it difficult for their attacks to inflict any meaningful damage. "We need to find its weakness!" Mu Chen shouted. He dodged the guardian beast's attacks while studying its movements. While evading one attack, Mu Chen noticed that after the guardian beast launched a large-scale assault, the flow of spiritual power between its three heads briefly faltered. He suspected this might be an opening. "Concentrate your attacks where its three heads join!" Mu Chen shouted to his companions. In the lull following the guardian beast's next attack, Mu Chen and the others launched a concentrated assault on the junction of its three heads. Mu Chen unleashed his strongest star power attack, while Tan Qingshan and the other offensive fighters gathered their spiritual power to its utmost limit and blasted it at the junction. Tang Qian'er cast a support ability to enhance their attack power. This time, their attack worked. The junction of the guardian beast's three heads suffered a devastating blow, and it let out an agonized roar. But it did not fall. Instead, it grew even more frenzied. Its three heads wildly attacked everything around it. Cracks spread across the walls of the forbidden grounds under its assault, and several ancient bookshelves were destroyed, scattering precious old texts across the floor. "We can't let it keep destroying the forbidden grounds!" Mu Chen's heart burned with anxiety. He knew there were still many secrets here that were vital to the clan. If the guardian beast destroyed them all, the consequences would be unthinkable. They plunged into another fierce battle with the guardian beast, this time working together with greater coordination. Through their relentless attacks and evasions, they gradually discovered more of its weaknesses, such as the brief pause whenever it changed the direction of an attack, and its sensitivity to spiritual power fluctuations at certain frequencies. Exploiting these weaknesses, they launched wave after wave of attacks against the guardian beast. After an arduous battle, it finally succumbed to their combined assault. Its enormous body crashed to the ground, raising a cloud of dust. Yet the crisis in the forbidden grounds was far from over. The ancient restrictions remained, and the guardian beast's destruction had made the conditions within even more complicated and dangerous. They had to leave as quickly as possible while also ensuring the secret weapon's safety, for it was the clan's last hope of resisting the Black-Robed People. Amid the wreckage of the forbidden grounds, Mu Chen and the others began searching for a safe way out. They knew that every step was fraught with unknown dangers.