From a loser to an immortal sage

Chapter 122 A Crisis Arises in the Dark Valley

Wen Chen's figure was obscured by the monster's enormous body, and my heart sank. Fear, like a cold snake, coiled tightly around my throat, almost suffocating me. At the critical moment, a figure flashed by and pulled Wen Chen aside. It was Daoist Qingfeng! The whisk in his hand transformed into a sharp blade, barely blocking the monster's fatal blow.

"Wen Chen, your sword!" I rushed forward and supported him as he staggered. The cracks in the longsword in his hand were even more obvious, and it was almost broken.

"I'm fine." Wen Chen forced a smile, but his face was frighteningly pale.

"We must leave here as soon as possible!" Master Qingfeng's voice carried a hint of urgency as he defended against the demons' attacks while vigilantly observing his surroundings.

The monsters seemed to sense our intentions, intensifying their attacks and unleashing deafening roars. We fought our way back, finally managing to break through their encirclement and head towards the Dark Valley.

A thick aura of darkness permeated the valley, making it impossible to see one's hand in front of one's face. I clung tightly to Wen Chen, gripping my sword tightly, not daring to relax my grip for a moment. Although Wen Chen was injured, he still protected me behind him. His longsword, though damaged, still emitted a faint light, guiding our way.

"Watch out!" Zi Xuan's voice suddenly rang out.

As soon as the words were spoken, the ground beneath our feet suddenly shook, and countless sharp spikes shot out from the ground, raining down on us like a storm.

"Barrier!" Wen Chen shouted, and a golden barrier instantly appeared around us, blocking all the spikes.

"Boom—" The spikes struck the barrier with a deafening roar. The barrier trembled violently, as if it might shatter at any moment.

"This can't go on!" Master Qingfeng said gravely. "This valley is full of traps; we must be careful!"

Wen Chen withdrew the barrier, his face growing even paler. The longsword in his hand let out a mournful cry and shattered completely.

My heart sank. Wen Chen had lost his weapon, and our situation was even more dangerous.

We proceeded cautiously, each step incredibly difficult. In the darkness, we had no idea what dangers awaited us.

“Here…” Zi Xuan’s voice was low and hoarse, “the aura of the Black Flame Demon King is everywhere here…”

She paused, as if trying to suppress her fear, and then said, "Be careful... the valley is full of dangers... the Black Flame Demon King has set up many..."

Zixuan's voice abruptly stopped. She turned her head sharply, looking into the depths of the valley… Her eyes were filled with terror, as if she had seen something horrible… Zixuan's voice seemed to be choked, abruptly cut off. Her eyes widened, her face deathly pale, pointing into the depths of the valley, her lips trembling but unable to utter a sound. I followed her gaze, but saw nothing but endless darkness. A nameless fear surged into my heart like a tidal wave, making me feel suffocated.

"Zixuan, what's wrong?" I suppressed my fear and asked softly.

She didn't answer, but stared intently into the depths of the valley, her body trembling slightly. Wen Chen also noticed something was wrong, shielding me behind him and warily watching their surroundings.

“Be careful,” Zixuan finally found her voice, but it still trembled slightly, “the valley is full of dangers… the Black Flame Demon King is here… he has set up many protective measures to safeguard his secrets…”

Before she could finish speaking, a powerful force suddenly surged from the depths of the valley. A howling wind whipped up fallen leaves and pebbles, forming a massive black whirlwind that swept towards us.

"Not good!" Qingfeng Daoist shouted, "Everyone be careful!"

Before I could react, I was swept up in the whirlwind. The wind howled, the world spun, and I felt my body being torn apart, as if I were about to be ripped to pieces. My head hit something hard, a sharp pain shot through me, and everything went black; I almost lost consciousness.

"Xiao Yao!" I heard Wen Chen's anxious shout, but the voice seemed to come from a very far place and was indistinct.

I tried to open my eyes, but found my eyelids as heavy as lead. I felt my body spinning and falling, as if I were falling into a bottomless abyss.

After what seemed like an eternity, the whirlwind finally subsided. I crashed heavily to the ground, feeling as if every bone in my body was shattered. I struggled to get up, but found myself unable to move. A sharp pain shot through my chest, and breathing became difficult.

"Xiao Yao!" Wen Chen's voice rang out again, this time sounding much closer. I felt a pair of warm hands support me and gently lift me up.

I struggled to open my eyes and saw Wen Chen's anxious face. His face was full of worry, and his eyes were filled with heartache.

"How are you?" he asked softly, his voice trembling slightly.

I wanted to answer, but I found I didn't even have the strength to speak. I could only shake my head slightly to indicate that I was alright.

"Damn it!" Master Qingfeng's voice was filled with anger. "That Black Flame Demon King is truly despicable and shameless!"

I then realized that Master Qingfeng and Zixuan had also been affected by the whirlwind. Master Qingfeng's clothes were tattered, and he had several wounds on his face. Zixuan looked even worse; she was pale, with a trace of blood at the corner of her mouth, as if she had suffered severe internal injuries.

Wen Chen gently placed me on the ground, then stood up, his gaze coldly fixed on the depths of the valley. His hand gripped the broken hilt of the sword tightly, his knuckles white.

“Master Qingfeng,” Wen Chen’s voice was low and hoarse, “we must leave here as soon as possible.”

Master Qingfeng nodded, his expression grave. "I know. But this whirlwind..."

Before he could finish speaking, his expression suddenly changed, and he abruptly raised his head to look at the sky…

Wen Chen gently placed me on the ground, against a large rock. I barely opened my eyes; everything was blurry, only Wen Chen's anxious face gradually came into focus. He held my shoulders, his voice low and hoarse, "Xiao Yao, how are you?"

I opened my mouth, but no sound came out; my throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton, burning with pain. I could only weakly shake my head to indicate that I was alright. Although my whole body ached, I was more worried about Wen Chen and the others. I tried to turn my head to look at Daoist Qingfeng and Zixuan.

Master Qingfeng was not in good condition; his clothes were tattered, and there were several bloodstains on his face, but he remained calm, gripping his whisk tightly in his hand. Zixuan, on the other hand, was pale, with blood seeping from the corner of her mouth, clearly suffering from serious internal injuries.

"Damn it!" Master Qingfeng gritted his teeth, staring resentfully at the black whirlwind that swept in again. "That Black Flame Demon King is truly despicable!"

Before he finished speaking, he waved his whisk, chanting incantations. A golden light shot out from the whisk, striking the black whirlwind directly. However, this seemingly powerful magic was like a clay ox entering the sea; not only did it fail to disperse the whirlwind, but it was absorbed by it, making the whirlwind even stronger and emitting a deafening howl. The golden light rebounded, and Daoist Qingfeng groaned, staggering back a few steps.

“It’s no use,” Zixuan said weakly. “The power of this whirlwind comes from demonic energy, and ordinary immortal techniques cannot shake it at all.”

Wen Chen held me tightly in his arms, shielding me from the whirlwind with his own body. I could feel his body trembling, not from fear, but from his desperate attempt to protect me. The wind howled, making it impossible for me to open my eyes; I could only cling tightly to the hem of Wen Chen's clothes.

“We must find the whirlwind’s weakness,” Wen Chen’s voice rang in my ears, calm and firm, “otherwise we will all be trapped here.”

As he spoke, he squinted, carefully observing the changes in the whirlwind. His gaze was sharp as an eagle's, searching for any flaw in the gale. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he pointed to the center of the whirlwind, saying, "There! I see an energy source at the center of the whirlwind, like a black vortex!"

A black vortex! I strained my eyes, trying to make out the energy source Wen Chen had mentioned. Sure enough, in the heart of the raging storm, I could vaguely see a black vortex spinning wildly, as if it were about to devour everything.

"To destroy the whirlwind, we must destroy that energy source," Wen Chen's voice was firm and resolute. "I'll go!"

He tried to put me down, but I held on tightly. Though I was weak, my eyes were unwavering. I couldn't let him risk his life alone; I had to face it with him!

Wen Chen looked at me, his eyes filled with worry and tenderness. He knew my resolve, and he knew I wouldn't give up easily. He took a deep breath and hugged me even tighter.

“Okay,” he said softly, his voice gentle, “we’ll go together.”

He carried me on his back, gripping the broken hilt of his sword tightly. His eyes sharpened, and he exuded a powerful aura, like a sword about to be drawn.

"Zixuan, Daoist Qingfeng, take care of yourselves!" Wen Chen said, then rushed into the black whirlwind without hesitation... He paused, turned back to look at us, "Wait for me!" Wen Chen carried me on his back and resolutely plunged into the black whirlwind. The gale, carrying pebbles and dust, lashed at us relentlessly. I closed my eyes tightly, hearing only the howling wind and Wen Chen's steady heartbeat. I could feel him struggling against the whirlwind's onslaught; his broad back was like a mountain, shielding me from all the storm.

The suction at the center of the whirlwind grew stronger and stronger. I felt as if I were being pulled by an invisible hand, as if I were being torn apart. Wen Chen's body also began to sway, but he still moved forward resolutely. I knew he was using all his strength, for me, for all of us.

Suddenly, I felt a powerful force erupt from Wen Chen. The broken sword in his hand, even though it was shattered, now emitted a dazzling light, like a divine weapon slicing through the vortex of darkness. After a deafening roar, I felt the surrounding suction disappear, and the wind gradually calmed down.

Wen Chen gently put me down. I opened my eyes and saw that the black whirlwind around me had disappeared, replaced by a devastated valley. Boulders had collapsed, trees had fallen, and the air was filled with the smell of dust.

"Are you alright?" Wen Chen asked with concern. His voice was a little hoarse, and his face was covered in dust, but his eyes remained bright and firm.

I shook my head, wanting to speak, but found my throat still aching terribly. I could only reach out and gently stroke his cheek, feeling his warm body temperature.

"We succeeded." Wen Chen grasped my hand; his hand was a little cold, but his palm conveyed a warm strength to me.

"Yes, we succeeded." I finally found my voice, which was still weak but full of joy and gratitude.

We turned to look at Master Qingfeng and Zixuan. They had also recovered from the shock and their faces showed expressions of relief.

"Immortal Venerable Wenchen, you truly live up to your reputation," Daoist Qingfeng exclaimed sincerely.

Zixuan nodded, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes.

However, before we could properly celebrate this hard-won victory, a chilling roar suddenly came from the depths of the valley, shaking the ground slightly.

The roar was filled with anger and murderous intent, like a demon from hell, sending chills down one's spine.

"It's the Black Flame Demon King!" Master Qingfeng's expression instantly turned solemn.

Wen Chen's expression also darkened. He gripped the broken sword in his hand tightly, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

“He’s noticed us.” Wen Chen’s voice was low and firm. “It seems the real battle has only just begun…” He suddenly pulled me behind him, his gaze fixed intently on the direction from which the voice came, the broken sword fragments in his hand gleaming coldly. “Protect Xiao Yao!”