I'm Dreaming of a Journey to the West

"Aoxue and I haven't found any trace of any animals here!"

Ao Shuang frowned, and reported the results of their search to Li Chen with a serious expression. The vast forest was eerily quiet, as if all the animals had vanished into thin air.

Ao Xue added, "That's right. We searched every corner carefully, but we didn't detect even the slightest sign of animal activity. This forest is so unusual, so quiet it's unsettling."

Not far away, Fairy Hibiscus, the Fire-Eating Scorpion, and the Nine-Tailed Fox also hurried over. Fairy Hibiscus shook her head and sighed, "Our situation here is just as bad as yours. We haven't found any animals at all. We thought we'd encounter a few clever rabbits, but we haven't even seen their shadows!"

The Fire-Eating Scorpion waved its two huge pincers and echoed, "Yeah, this is really strange. In the past, even in the most desolate places, you could always see some small animals, but here it's dead silent."

The Nine-Tailed Fox swung its nine gorgeous tails behind it and said worriedly, "If this continues, I'm afraid it will be difficult for us to complete our hunting mission."

At this moment, Baixiandie flew lightly in front of the crowd, her tone full of confusion. "It's even more outrageous here. I can't find a single bird in the forest, not even the most common birds! Normally, the sky should be the free territory of birds, but right now, the sky above here is completely empty. There's nothing."

At the same time, the Jade Rabbit Fairy emerged from the ground, covered in mud. She brushed the dust off and said helplessly, "It's really strange down there! Not even a mole is to be found. I've used my burrowing skills to the fullest, exploring nearly the entire forest floor, but still nothing."

"Master! What's going on?" Li Zhaohuang asked loudly, her face filled with confusion and anxiety. At this moment, everyone's eyes were fixed on Li Chen like a spotlight, and they placed all their hopes on him.

Li Chen, the center of everyone's attention, frowned, lost in deep thought. This vast forest had always been a breeding ground for all manner of birds and beasts, but how could it be so dead silent now, with not even a single animal to be found? This was truly abnormal!

"Everyone, don't panic or get impatient. Let me try to use my own magical power to explore the surroundings!" Li Chen said to everyone soothingly. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and quickly formed seals with his hands. The powerful magical power in his body surged out like a tide, rapidly spreading in all directions.

However, what Li Chen did not expect was that although he had exerted all his magic power without reservation and launched an extremely thorough search of the surrounding area, he still failed to detect even the slightest trace of living animals.

Just when Li Chen was feeling disheartened, his spiritual sense suddenly caught a glimpse of something strange. At the end of the forest, there stood a seemingly peaceful village. However, this village faintly exuded a creepy, rich smell of blood and demonic energy, which made people shudder.

"I searched this vast forest for a long time but found no trace of any animals. However, to my surprise, I stumbled upon a village hidden in the woods.

When my perception reached that village, a strong, sickening smell of blood filled my nose, accompanied by a strange, demonic aura that permeated the air!

Li Chen spoke solemnly to the women around him, his voice trembling slightly, revealing the uneasiness he could hardly conceal deep within. Because at this moment, he knew full well that the enemy he was about to face was no ordinary one, but a terrifying bat demon with a thousand years of cultivation.

There is only this brief and terrifying description of this bat demon: "The bat cave is filled with yin energy, giving birth to a thousand-year-old bat king. The bat king uses his blood-sucking power, and there are no living creatures within a thousand miles." These few words are enough to make people shudder.

The various animals that once inhabited this land might have already been devoured by this ferocious bat demon. And the villagers in this village, which he sensed emanating waves of blood and demonic energy, were most likely also victims, mercilessly captured by this terrifying, thousand-year-old vampire bat demon, and having their precious blood sucked dry!

Thinking of this, Li Chen couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart, as if countless cold snakes were slowly crawling along his spine, making the hairs on his body stand up. But he knew he couldn't retreat.

He clenched his fists, took a deep breath, and tried to calm his inner fear. He secretly said to himself, "No matter what awaits me ahead, I must get rid of this hateful monster and bring justice to those innocent lives lost!"

At this moment, Fairy Hibiscus stepped lightly forward and said in a gentle voice, "In that case, let's not delay any longer and go to the village to investigate!" Her voice was clear and pleasant, yet tinged with anxiety. As soon as she finished speaking, the others nodded in agreement.

"Alright! Let's go to the village and find out!" Li Chen said loudly, his eyes firm and resolute. And so, the group headed towards the mysterious village. Along the way, no one spoke, but they quietly quickened their pace, as if eager to uncover the village's hidden secrets as quickly as possible.

Before long, they finally arrived at the village. However, the scene before them shocked them—the entire village was silent, like a dead city, devoid of any life. Even the wind seemed frozen in the air, leaving them feeling incredibly oppressive.

Li Chen looked around warily. Suddenly, a chilly wind blew, stirring up a cloud of dust. A faint whimpering sound tingled in the wind, sending shivers down one's spine. This eerie atmosphere permeated every corner, sending a chill down the spines of everyone present.