Sky Star

Chapter 31: The Eerie Red Glow

The eerie red glow on the horizon resembled a colossal, blood-red eye, staring unrelentingly at the land below. It engulfed the three figures within its ominous radiance, intensifying the already suffocating atmosphere. Xiao Chen, despite his exhaustion, forced himself upright, his gaze locked onto the source of the crimson light, as if trying to pierce through the dense mist and uncover its hidden secrets.

“This red glow is no auspicious sign. It must be linked to the strange occurrences around us. We must proceed with caution,” he said in a hoarse, gravelly voice, as though it had been scraped by sandpaper. His warning drifted through the silent wilderness, its weight unmistakable.

Yun Yi also rose to his feet, his right hand instinctively gripping his sword hilt. Spiritual energy surged within him, gathering like a volcano on the verge of eruption. His eyes narrowed, sharp as cold stars in the night, scanning the surroundings for any sign of danger. “No matter what dangers lie ahead, we have come this far and cannot turn back. But this red glow is too ominous—we must not let our guard down,” he said through gritted teeth, his tone filled with determination.

Ling Xue lightly dusted off her robes and stepped gracefully to their side. Though her beautiful eyes held a trace of fear as she looked at the red glow, she tried to conceal it, not wanting to worry her companions. “Perhaps this red glow is a warning from some mysterious force, or it could be deliberately luring us into a trap. Our priority now is to find a way to avoid danger while continuing forward,” she said softly. Her voice was like a spring breeze—gentle yet carrying a slight chill, attempting to dispel the unease in their hearts.

After a brief discussion, the trio decided to move perpendicular to the glow, hoping to bypass this obvious threat. They hurried forward like travelers pursued by ravenous wolves, never daring to slow down. The ground beneath them grew increasingly barren, its cracked surface resembling parched lips whispering tales of desolation and time’s cruelty. Sparse vegetation surrounded them, and the occasional withered blade of grass trembled in the wind like a dying man’s final struggle.

Before long, a fog-shrouded forest emerged ahead. The mist was as thick as milk, sealing off the entire woodland, allowing nothing to penetrate. Towering trees loomed within the fog like silent giants, exuding an air of mystery and the unknown. Xiao Chen raised a hand, signalling the others to halt. His brows furrowed deeply, as if caught in a difficult chess match, contemplating his next move. “This forest feels ominous. Entering blindly could be disastrous. But if we take a detour, we might lose valuable time searching for the high tower,” he murmured, his voice swallowed by the thick mist.

Yun Yi stepped forward, closing his eyes as he concentrated on sensing the forest’s aura. Moments later, he reopened them, his gaze filled with both caution and puzzlement. “The energy in this forest is chaotic—there’s the stench of demonic beasts, but also traces of some mysterious force. It feels like a cesspool of corruption and disorder. Entering is risky, but we might also find clues about the tower.” He turned to Xiao Chen and Ling Xue, seeking their thoughts.

Ling Xue bit her lower lip lightly, her pearly teeth leaving a faint imprint on her soft pink lips, reminiscent of a crimson plum blossom in the snow. After a moment of contemplation, she spoke softly, “I believe Brother Yun Yi is right. Time is pressing, and we cannot afford to keep avoiding obstacles. As long as we remain cautious and support each other, we might uncover something valuable in this forest.” Her gaze was resolute, like a star shining in the dark night, filling the other two with newfound courage.

Xiao Chen took a deep breath, as if drawing strength from the heavens and the earth. Determined, he declared, “Alright, then we venture in. But remember—if we encounter danger, do not act recklessly. Survival comes first.” With that, he stepped forward into the forest, his figure quickly swallowed by the mist, leaving only a faint silhouette.

Yun Yi and Ling Xue exchanged a firm nod, as if sealing a pact of life and death. Without hesitation, they followed Xiao Chen into the fog-shrouded forest.

The moment they entered, it was as though they had stepped into another world—one filled with eerie silence, as if life itself had ceased to exist. Only their light footsteps and measured breaths echoed in the stillness, like the steady beating of a lone war drum in the void. The mist curled around them like ghostly tendrils, cold and clammy, sending shivers down their spines.

Suddenly, a deep, guttural growl erupted from the darkness, shattering the oppressive silence. The three instantly went on high alert, shifting into a defensive formation, like a hedgehog raising its quills. Their eyes snapped towards the source of the sound.

A massive, rotting demonic bear emerged from the mist, its decayed flesh exuding a nauseating stench. Its eyes burned like embers, locking onto the three with an insatiable bloodlust.

Xiao Chen did not hesitate. The stellar energy within him surged like a raging river, flooding into his fists as he charged at the beast. “Wretched beast, today marks your end!” he roared, his voice resonating like a temple bell, sending ripples through the air, attempting to shake the demonic bear with sheer force of will.

The bear, enraged, unleashed an earth-shaking roar. The shockwave spread like invisible blades, slicing through the air and causing their eardrums to throb in pain. It swung its tree-trunk-thick paw, bringing it down on Xiao Chen with the force of a siege hammer. Xiao Chen nimbly sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the attack. But where the paw landed, the ground cratered as if struck by a meteor, sending debris flying—a small disaster in itself.

Yun Yi reacted swiftly, forming intricate hand seals, his energy coalescing around him like a mystic shaman casting a forbidden spell. Threads of luminous energy shot towards the bear, attempting to bind it. But the bear, brute strength incarnate, tore through the bindings with ease, as if shredding mere cobwebs. It then exhaled a jet of black miasma, thick and corrosive, its presence alone making the air sizzle.

Ling Xue’s hands danced in rapid, fluid motions, unleashing a barrage of ice shards and wind blades, each as sharp as a falling star. They struck the bear’s hide but barely left a mark—its flesh was like tempered steel, impervious to ordinary attacks.

The battle descended into chaos, a blur of flashing blades, roaring flames, and earth-shaking collisions. The dense forest became their battleground, where survival hung by a thread. Despite the overwhelming odds, none of them showed signs of retreat. Their gazes burned with unyielding determination, their backs pressed together in solidarity. Each strike, each defence, was fuelled by their resolve to carve a path out of this desperate struggle…