Lu Chen and his team stepped into the shadowed depths of the Deep Spirit Forest. Towering trees twisted skyward, their thick leaves blocking out most of the sunlight, leaving the forest floor in a dim, eerie light. The distant roars of beasts echoed, a constant reminder of the danger lurking around.
"Stay close," Lu Chen instructed, his voice calm but commanding. His sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, his senses heightened. Yun Li and Yun Mu, his loyal maids, flanked him on either side, while Chu Su followed closely, her expression a mix of excitement and nervousness.
But Lu Chen's sharp eyes never stopped scanning. His senses seemed more alert than usual.
"Young master, what are you searching for?" Yun Li asked, her voice filled with curiosity.
Before Lu Chen could answer, a massive portal suddenly shimmered into existence in front of them. A gust of energy pulled at them, and Lu Chen's expression changed.
"Stay vigilant! Keep hunting. I'll be back soon!" Lu Chen's voice was firm.
In an instant, he was sucked into the portal, disappearing from their sight.
The three girls were left stunned but quickly remembered his order. Resolving themselves, they tightened their grips on their weapons and continued their hunt.
On the other side of the portal, Lu Chen found himself standing in a dark, vast cavern. The air was cold, the only light coming from faint, glowing crystals embedded in the cave walls. Without hesitation, he advanced, his sharp senses catching the presence of countless traps laid throughout.
Arrows shot out from the walls, spikes erupted from the ground, and poison mist filled certain sections. But to Lu Chen, with his Chaos Body's heightened senses and agility, these were mere inconveniences. He navigated through them with ease, his focus unwavering.
After what felt like an eternity, he reached the end of the cave—a massive, ancient gate towering above him. The gate shimmered with a faint, ethereal light.
But as he approached, two armored guards manifested from the mist, their eyes glowing crimson.
"Intruder detected," one of them declared, its voice cold and metallic.
Without further warning, the first guard lunged, a massive halberd cleaving down at Lu Chen. His reflexes were lightning-fast, his seventh-level sword intercepting the strike. The shockwave from the clash sent dust swirling around them.
The second guard joined the fray, its massive blade slicing through the air. Lu Chen dodged by a hair's breadth, feeling the rush of wind against his cheek.
"They're low sixth-level guardians!" Lu Chen realized, his heart pounding. But his eyes remained sharp.
The battle was fierce. Lu Chen's sword danced, each strike faster and more precise. But the guards were relentless, their strength and coordination far beyond ordinary warriors of their level.
"Blazing Sun!" Lu Chen roared, his family's secret technique activating. His sword began to glow, radiant heat condensing around it. The blade shimmered with a scorching brilliance.
He dodged a halberd strike, twisted his body, and unleashed his blazing sword in a sweeping arc.
A crescent of radiant light slashed forward, and one guard's body was cleaved in two. The other staggered, its armor melting under the searing heat.
But Lu Chen was relentless. Charging forward, he plunged his sword straight through the second guard's chest. It convulsed, then shattered into particles of light.
Breathing heavily, Lu Chen stood amidst the fading light, his clothes scorched, his breathing ragged. Even with his Chaos Body, fighting two low sixth-level warriors was exhausting.
But he grinned. "If such guards exist… then the treasure behind this gate must be something extraordinary."