Godlike: Double Penetration of the Starry Sky! A brutal beating of Ge Xiaolun at the start.

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Zhou Li, spear in hand, followed closely behind. Her movements were light and graceful, yet her steps were extremely cautious, each one firm and steady. Her cold and beautiful face now showed a hint of solemnity, her eyes frequently scanning her surroundings, watching for any potential danger. Although she felt a vague unease, with Long Wen leading the way, her heart was somewhat at ease.

Thomas carried a bag on his back and held a specially made tool in his hand—his "treasure trove," honed through years of handling various chores as a domestic worker. As he walked, he kept a close eye on the path, muttering, "This road is really difficult to walk on. Everyone, watch your step, don't fall." His seemingly casual words couldn't hide the tension beneath.

Chapter 161 Hidden Clues

As they ventured deeper into the valley, the surrounding scenery became increasingly bizarre. Strange devices were scattered around, some resembling giant crystal balls that shimmered with a mesmerizing light; others were oddly shaped metal frames covered with mysterious runes, which emitted subtle energy fluctuations as they flowed, making the air feel restless.

Long Wen felt his heart pounding faster and faster, as if the treasure was calling "697" to him from the shadows, but he knew that danger would inevitably follow. He narrowed his eyes slightly, cautiously observing the devices, trying to find any possible traps. "Everyone stay close together, these things might have hidden traps," he whispered a reminder.

Zhou Li nodded slightly, moved closer to Long Wen, and replied softly, "I know, please be careful too." Her voice was gentle, but it carried an undeniable concern. Her eyes remained fixed on Long Wen, as if as long as he was safe, she would be fearless of any danger.

Thomas quickened his pace and caught up, muttering under his breath, "Hopefully this trip wasn't a waste of time, but I hope I don't lose my life." Though it was a joke, his hands unconsciously tightened their grip on his tools, ready to deal with any unexpected situation.

As they finally approached the location of the treasure, a dazzling barrier appeared out of thin air, blocking their path. The barrier emitted a seven-colored light, and as energy flowed, it seemed as if an invisible force was pushing them away.

"What are we going to do?" Thomas exclaimed, taking a few steps forward and reaching out to touch the barrier, only to be bounced back by a powerful force, staggering a few steps before regaining his footing. "Good heavens, this barrier is really hard. Looks like we'll have to find a way to break it." He rubbed his numb hand, turning to look at Long Wen and Zhou Li, his eyes questioning.

Logically, finding the mechanism to break through the barrier is indeed the standard procedure. Zhou Li frowned slightly, her gaze searching around the barrier, trying to find some clues. But Long Wen stood still, his eyes fixed on the barrier, lost in thought. Suddenly, a glint flashed in his eyes, as if he had thought of some crazy idea.

"Long Wen, what are you thinking about?" Zhou Li noticed his unusual behavior and asked softly.

Long Wen's lips curled up into a confident smile: "Conventional methods may not work. Since this barrier is made of energy, I'll start from its energy source..." With that, he mobilized the elemental power within his body, and his palms shimmered with multicolored light, his unique elemental manipulation ability gathering momentum.

Zhou Li and Thomas were both stunned upon hearing this, their eyes filled with shock and worry. "This is too risky, Long Wen. If we fail, the consequences will be unimaginable!" Zhou Li said anxiously, stepping forward to try and stop Long Wen.

Thomas chimed in, "Yeah, Longwen, we'd better play it safe. Finding the mechanism might be troublesome, but it's safer."

Long Wen shook his head, looking at them with a determined gaze: "There's no time. I have a feeling that an even greater danger may befall this deep valley at any moment. Trust me, this method will work." With that, he no longer hesitated and walked towards the side of the 3.5 barrier, where the energy fluctuations were the strongest, clearly the source of the energy.

As Long Wen approached, the surrounding energy grew increasingly violent, as if enraged by his actions. The air began to vibrate violently, and a howling wind whipped up sand and gravel from the ground, stinging the skin. Zhou Li and Thomas were filled with anxiety, yet helpless, forced to watch as Long Wen walked towards the unknown danger.

Chapter 162 The sound was so loud it hurt people's eardrums

Long Wen approached the source of the energy, took a deep breath, and abruptly pressed his hands against the brightest point of light. In an instant, the six elemental powers within him surged into the energy core of the barrier like a raging tide. For a moment, the light was so dazzling that it was blinding, and the roar of energy was so intense that it hurt one's eardrums.

"Break!" Long Wen roared, veins bulging on his forehead, pouring all his power into this one strike.

Amidst gasps of alarm, cracks began to appear on the seemingly indestructible barrier, spreading rapidly like a spiderweb. With a deafening roar, the barrier shattered, dissipating into specks of light that vanished into the air.

"It's a success!" Thomas shouted excitedly, his eyes filled with joy.

Zhou Li also breathed a sigh of relief, her eyes filled with admiration for Long Wen: "24 Long Wen, you really did it."

However, before they could even celebrate, the ground beneath their feet suddenly trembled violently, and the deep valley began to collapse. Huge boulders tumbled down the mountainside, crashing into the valley floor and kicking up clouds of dust. At the same time, the mysterious force that had been hiding in the shadows seized the opportunity to reveal itself. A group of men dressed in black robes with cold, stern faces surrounded them like ghosts from all directions.

Long Wen's eyes sharpened, and without hesitation, he stepped forward and picked up the treasure placed behind the barrier. The moment he touched the treasure, a powerful force surged into his body, and he felt his strength instantly increase several times over.

"Zhou Li, Thomas, get behind me!" Long Wen shouted, shielding Zhou Li and Thomas behind him. He held his longsword horizontally, and elemental power surged wildly, forming a solid shield in front of them.

Seeing this, the mysterious forces launched their attacks. Various bizarre spells and sharp hidden weapons rained down on them. Long Wen's figure flashed, weaving through the attacks like a ghost. His longsword was imbued with violent elemental power, each swing accompanied by a whistling wind and dazzling light.

A figure in black robes unleashed a black flame, hurtling straight at Long Wen. Long Wen remained calm, channeling his water elemental power to instantly create a curtain of water in front of him. The flame, upon touching the water, was extinguished instantly, dissipating into a cloud of black smoke. Immediately afterward, he dodged a hidden weapon, then swung his sword with lightning energy at the weapon's launcher. The black-robed figure, unable to dodge, was struck in the chest, screamed in agony, and collapsed to the ground, convulsing a few times before falling still.

Zhou Li was not to be outdone. With a flick of her spear, she flashed out from behind Long Wen and thrust it straight at the approaching enemy. Her movements were swift and fluid, the tip of her spear flashing coldly, and wherever she went, the enemies scattered. Thomas, on the other hand, used the tools in his hand to cleverly create defensive fortifications for Long Wen and Zhou Li, or to disrupt the enemy's attack rhythm.

The collapse of the valley intensified, with rocks raining down from above. Long Wen and the others dodged and weaved through the danger, stubbornly resisting. Long Wen's eyes grew increasingly resolute; he knew he carried the lives of everyone on his shoulders and could not afford to back down in the slightest.

"Hmph, you think you can stop me?" Long Wen roared, once again mobilizing the elemental power within his body, fusing the six elements together to form a massive energy wave that swept towards the mysterious force. Wherever the energy wave reached, the enemy was forced into a retreat, suffering heavy casualties.

With Long Wen's final powerful attack, the remaining mysterious forces were finally completely defeated. They were powerless to resist and fled, disappearing into the dust.

Chapter 163 Escaping the Deep Valley

"Run!" Long Wen grabbed Zhou Li and Tom, and before the valley could completely collapse, they sprinted towards the only escape route. Boulders tumbled down behind them, dust billowed, and they teetered on the brink of death. Fortunately, thanks to Long Wen's decisiveness and their excellent teamwork, they ultimately escaped the valley.

Long Wen, pulling Zhou Li along, and Thomas stumbled as they fled the abyss-like maw. Their clothes were tattered, their hair disheveled, sweat mixed with dust plastered their faces, making them look utterly wretched yet filled with the relief of surviving a calamity. The moment they stepped out of the valley, before they could even catch their breath, a series of bizarre events unfolded.

The once clear, azure sky, like a jewel, was instantly transformed by swirling, ink-black clouds that pressed down in layers, threatening to devour all light. A howling wind swept in, almost knocking one off their feet; clothes fluttered in the wind like the wailing of a vengeful ghost. Then, without warning, the solid ground beneath their feet began to tremble violently, pebbles scattering and rattling, as if an enraged beast was struggling to burst forth from the depths of the earth.

Long Wen's expression changed drastically. He instinctively gripped Zhou Li's hand tightly, as if he wanted to crush her bones, his palms clammy with cold sweat. Zhou Li sensed his tension and squeezed his hand back, trying to comfort him, but her own hand trembled slightly, her eyes filled with unease. Thomas frowned, gripping his spear tightly, the tip pointing downwards, planted in the ground to steady himself. His eyes scanned the surroundings warily, and he whispered, "Something's wrong. It seems the strange thing from this valley has come out."

Long Wen swallowed hard, his dry throat forcing out a few words: "Everyone be careful, don't panic." But his voice trembled uncontrollably, sounding particularly weak amidst the howling wind. At this moment, the oppressive atmosphere was like an invisible net, tightly enveloping the three of them, making it hard to breathe.

A deafening roar ripped through the sky, followed by a group of monsters exuding an eerie black aura emerging from the shadows. Their bodies were twisted, as if forcibly fused and spliced ​​together by some evil force. Some had grown extra arms covered in scales, which whistled as they swung; others had deformed heads, with fangs interlocking in their gaping maws, saliva dripping down, corroding the ground and emitting wisps of blue smoke.

"Prepare for battle!" Long Wen roared, drawing his sword with a sudden burst of energy. The blade hummed and vibrated, as if sensing its master's resolve and tension. Thomas strode forward, spear held horizontally, its blade gleaming coldly. He assumed a defensive stance, his posture as upright as a pine tree, his eyes resolute. He shouted, "I'll hold them off! You attack when the opportunity arises!"

Zhou Li quickly drew her soft sword from her waist, flicked the blade, and the soft sword straightened with a "whoosh." She gracefully dodged to the side, her cold and beautiful face now revealing a stern and resolute expression. She exchanged a glance with Long Wen and nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

The monsters roared and charged, the first few leaping high into the air, their sharp claws aimed at Thomas's throat. Undeterred, Thomas roared and swung his spear upwards with a sharp clang. The spear tip struck a monster's claw precisely, sending sparks flying. The impact, however, forced Thomas back two steps, his feet carving two shallow furrows in the ground.

Chapter 164 Disorderly Flying

Seizing the opportunity, Long Wen moved with ghostly speed, his longsword whistling through the air as he thrust it fiercely towards the monster's abdomen. The monster, however, twisted its body, dodging the attack at an extremely unpredictable angle, and lashed out at Long Wen with its tail. Long Wen sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the attack, his hair whipping wildly in the wind.

Seeing Long Wen in danger, Zhou Li's beautiful eyes widened, and she shouted, "Take this!" Her soft sword danced like a nimble snake, slashing several times and drawing blood from an approaching monster. The monster roared in pain and turned to pounce on her, but Zhou Li remained calm. She lightly stepped to the side, dodging the attack, her soft sword poised to strike at any moment.

However, the monsters were numerous, and their attacks came wave after wave, like a relentless tidal wave. Thomas was gradually struggling to hold on; his spear movements showed signs of fatigue, his chest heaving violently, and sweat pouring down his face, blurring his vision. One of the monsters seized an opening and charged at Thomas. He couldn't dodge in time and was knocked back, nearly falling.

"Thoma!" Seeing this, Long Wen was frantic, his eyes instantly bloodshot. Ignoring his own safety, he flashed to Thomas's side, his longsword flashing with incredible speed, temporarily forcing the monsters back. At the same time, he frantically manipulated the surrounding elemental forces. Instantly, wind elements howled and swirled, whipping up sand and stones; fire elements roared and crackled, scorching the air. Under the intense light, the monsters sensed the threat, their attacks slowing, and they unconsciously retreated slightly.

Passersby were terrified by the sudden and fierce fight, screaming and scattering in all directions. Some stumbled and fell to the ground, crawling away in disarray; others were ashen-faced, their eyes vacant, muttering "Help!" as they fled unsteadily. The scene was chaotic, and the tense atmosphere intensified.

Long Wen, panting heavily, stared intently at the horde of monsters, his mind racing. He knew this couldn't go on; he had to end it quickly. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, as if he had made up his mind. He took a deep breath, his hands moving rapidly in front of his chest, forming complex and mysterious hand seals, while he chanted incantations. With his movements, the surrounding elemental forces seemed to be summoned, frantically converging towards him, the light so dazzling it was almost blinding.

Seeing this, Zhou Li and Thomas knew that Long Wen was about to unleash a powerful attack. They tacitly stepped back a few paces to give him space, while remaining vigilant against any possible surprise attack from the monster.

"Drink!" Long Wen roared, thrusting his hands forward with tremendous force. A dazzling beam of light, almost tangible, shot towards the monster horde like a rainbow piercing the sun. Wherever the light touched, the air was torn apart, emitting a sharp whistling sound. Struck by this unimaginably powerful force, the monsters instantly collapsed like paper, turning into wisps of black mist that dissipated in the wind.

Long Wen let out a long sigh, lowered his hands, and swayed slightly; that move had exhausted him. Zhou Li quickly stepped forward to support him, her eyes filled with admiration and concern, "Long Wen, you're amazing!"

The mysterious portal stood silently deep within the ancient ruins, emitting a faint and eerie light, like an entrance to another world, or the gaping maw of a monstrous beast ready to devour its prey. Long Wen, Zhou Li, and Thomas stood before the portal, their expressions solemn; none of them knew what unknown secrets lay hidden behind it.

Chapter 165 Loyalty and Reliability

Long Wen took a deep breath, turned to look at Zhou Li and Thomas beside him, his eyes filled with determination: "No matter what's inside, we'll face it together."

Zhou Li nodded slightly, her cold and beautiful face now showing a hint of determination: "Let's go, we'll be together through thick and thin."

Thomas, a loyal and reliable retainer of the Inatsuma Society, gripped his spear tightly and stepped forward, saying, "I'll cover your retreat. Young master and young lady, please be careful."

The three cautiously stepped through the doorway, and instantly, an old and oppressive atmosphere assaulted their senses. Once their eyes adjusted to the dim light, they realized that this was a space filled with all sorts of deadly traps.

Cold light gleamed from the holes in the surrounding walls, and then, arrows whistled out like a storm. Long Wen reacted quickly, shouting, "Watch out!" and dodging to the side. An arrow grazed his cheek, sending a sharp pain through him.

Zhou Li swiftly drew the dagger from her waist, wielding it in a silvery arc to deflect the arrows aimed at her. Her movements were light and agile, like a dancing night elf, yet the wariness in her beautiful eyes grew ever stronger.

Thomas wielded his spear with incredible skill, creating an impenetrable defensive barrier. Arrows struck the spear, producing a series of clanging sounds and sparks.

"We can't stay here any longer, let's go!" Long Wen shouted. The three of them crouched low, moving slowly along the wall, trying to find any flaws in the mechanism. Every step was like walking on thin ice; their heartbeats were clearly audible in the silent space. A tense atmosphere hung over them like a dark cloud, and a suffocating sense of danger permeated the surroundings.

Before they could get very far, the ground suddenly trembled violently, and flames erupted from the cracks in the paving stones, instantly turning their path into a sea of ​​fire. Long Wen abruptly pulled Zhou Li and Thomas back a few steps; the intense heat stung their cheeks, and sweat poured down their faces like rain.

"This mechanism is too tricky!" Thomas frowned, veins bulging on his forehead, and the spear in his hand trembled slightly from the force.

Just as they were dodging the traps, a series of heavy footsteps echoed from the depths, reverberating in the empty space like a death knell. Long Wen and his companions looked closely and saw several tall enemies radiating immense power. These enemies wore strange black armor, and their eyes beneath their helmets gleamed with a cold, icy light. Not only were they incredibly strong, but their every move seemed to demonstrate an intimate knowledge of the space's mechanisms.

·· ····Request flowers··· ·····

One of the enemies sneered, raised his hand and waved it, activating the previously paused arrow mechanism again, which, together with their charge, formed a deadly offensive.

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Long Wen, Zhou Li, and Thomas were instantly plunged into a fierce battle. Long Wen wielded his sword, elemental power flowing through its blade, as he parried enemy attacks while keeping an eye on Zhou Li and Thomas's safety.

Zhou Li was not to be outdone; her daggers flashed like venomous snakes, targeting the enemy's vitals. But while dodging a trap filled with flames, she slowed her pace slightly, and a sharp arrow flashed past like lightning, grazing her arm. Blood instantly seeped out, staining her sleeve crimson.

"Zhou Li!" Upon seeing this, Long Wen's eyes widened in fury, and he roared in rage. Ignoring the dangers of the surrounding traps, his elemental manipulation abilities became even stronger under the surge of anger, and a violent power erupted from him.

Chapter 166 The Attack Continues!

"You bastards, how dare you hurt her!" Long Wen roared, his figure rushing towards the enemy like a ghost, his sword whistling through the wind, each strike containing his full-bodied rage.

Seeing Long Wen's frenzy, the enemy couldn't help but feel a little wary, and their attack paused slightly. The leader of the enemy's eyes sharpened, and he whispered, "Don't panic, he's just at his last gasp. Keep attacking!"

But Long Wen was now blinded by rage. His swordplay, "Six Nine Seven," grew increasingly fierce, the elemental power raging, even causing the surrounding mechanisms and flames to tremble precariously. Zhou Li, clutching her wound, leaned against the wall, her eyes filled with worry: "Long Wen, don't be impulsive..."

Thomas charged to Long Wen's side, holding his spear horizontally to block an attack from the side: "Young Master, calm down, let's think of a way together!"

In the midst of the fierce battle, Long Wen suddenly sensed a strange energy fluctuation flowing through the space. A thought struck him, and after a narrow parry, he quickly scanned his surroundings. He saw that as the mechanisms activated, they emitted peculiar energy particles, appearing and disappearing intermittently.

Long Wen didn't have time to think and shouted, "Zhou Li, Thomas, come closer to me!"

Although Zhou Li and Thomas were confused, they quickly moved closer to Long Wen out of trust. Long Wen concentrated his mind, trying to guide these special energies towards himself. At first, the energy was somewhat violent, impacting his body, but he gritted his teeth and persevered, gradually mastering the knack.

As energy continued to flow in, Long Wen felt his strength rapidly increasing. His muscles bulged, a faint glow appeared on his skin, and the light in his eyes grew even brighter.

"Try this!" Long Wen roared, gripping his sword with both hands and leaping high into the air. A sword aura, imbued with immense energy, slashed towards the enemy. The enemy tried to dodge in terror, only to find that the sword aura's range was beyond imagination, instantly engulfing them. Accompanied by screams, several enemies were struck by the sword aura, falling to the ground in a sorry state, struggling to get up.

After landing, Long Wen didn't stop. He led Zhou Li and Thomas, using his newly acquired power to charge at the remaining enemies like a tiger among sheep. At this moment, almost no one could stop him; every attack severely injured and forced the enemy to retreat.

After defeating the enemy, Long Wen and his companions breathed a sigh of relief. But before they could even catch their breath, they discovered a massive seal at the end of the space, emanating a mysterious and oppressive aura. The seal was covered with ancient and intricate runes, which shimmered faintly, as if telling ancient secrets or warning intruders.

The faint light of dawn struggled to pierce through the thick clouds, illuminating the edge of this mysterious valley. Long Wen, Zhou Li, and Thomas stood before a colossal seal, nearly two people tall, like ants facing a primordial beast. Ancient runes on the seal shimmered with an eerie light, seemingly whispering secrets imprisoned for millennia. A powerful and malevolent aura emanated from it, like a tangible dark tide, crashing against the surrounding space, causing visible ripples in the air, as if the entire world trembled because of what lay within the seal.