Douluo Continent: Dragon Shadow Rebirth

Zhang Meng and Chu Tian rode their horses towards the Ghost Valley in the west. Along the way, Zhang Meng kept chattering and complaining: "I really don't understand why every dangerous mission has to be my turn! Can't I just relax a little?"

"Don't you like fighting the most?" Chu Tian glanced at him and said with a smile, "You can show off your skills this time. You should be happy."

"Happy? You are kidding!" Zhang Meng's eyes widened. "Fighting is one thing, but this Ghost Valley doesn't sound like a good place. I'd rather go for a barbecue!"

Chu Tian couldn't help but laugh: "You always associate everything with eating. Seriously, Mengzi, when this mission is over, I'll treat you to a barbecue, how about it?"

Zhang Meng smiled brightly upon hearing this: "Really? Then it's a deal! After I finish this crappy mission, I will eat as much as I can!"

"Don't be too happy too soon," Chu Tian warned, pointing to the gradually darkening sky ahead, "We are not far from the Ghost Valley. There will be no barbecue to eat there."

Zhang Meng looked up, and the smile on his face gradually disappeared. The valley ahead was shrouded in a strange fog, and the sunlight seemed to be absorbed by something, making the whole area look gloomy and terrifying. The rocks around the valley were in strange shapes, like ferocious monsters with their mouths wide open.

"There's something wrong with this place." Zhang Meng frowned and said, "I'm starting to wonder if we chose the wrong mission."

"Don't be afraid." Chu Tian comforted him, "This time we are here to find out the situation, not to let you go into the valley to find someone to fight with."

"Who's scared?" Zhang Meng straightened his chest immediately, "I'm just... a little uncomfortable with this weather."

The two continued forward, the fog became thicker and thicker, and the vision became blurred. There was a rotten smell in the air, as if there was some unspeakable secret hidden in the valley.

"Do you think it's too quiet here?" Chu Tian looked around vigilantly, "There's not even a bird chirping."

"Yeah, it's really weird." Zhang Meng swallowed and tightened his grip on the axe in his hand. "I don't like this kind of silence. It's like the calm before the storm."

Suddenly, a strange whisper came from a distance, the voice was as light as a whisper, with a bit of chill. Zhang Meng stopped abruptly and widened his eyes: "Did you hear it?"

Chu Tian nodded, his face solemn: "This sound seems to come from the valley, it doesn't sound friendly."

"How about... let's go back?" Zhang Meng said uneasily, "Since we have already found something wrong here, we can report it to the king and ask them to send more people."

Chu Tian glared at him: "Mengzi, don't be so timid. Now that we are here, we have to get things clear."

Zhang Meng sighed and shrugged: “Okay, but I have to remind you that if there is anything bad ahead, I will not let it go easily!”

The two continued to move forward. The fog became thicker and thicker, and the strange whispers became clearer. Suddenly, several vague figures appeared in the fog and seemed to be approaching them.

"What is that?" Zhang Meng shouted loudly, and immediately raised his giant axe in a defensive posture.

"Don't worry." Chu Tian narrowed his eyes, trying to see those figures clearly. As the distance got closer, the figures gradually became clearer. It was a group of... people?

"People?" Zhang Meng put down his axe in confusion. "Why are they here?"

"Wait a minute!" Chu Tian's face changed, and he quickly grabbed Zhang Meng's arm, "Something's wrong!"

Sure enough, as the figures came closer, Zhang Meng and Chu Tian finally saw their faces clearly. Their eyes were empty, their skin was gray, and their movements were stiff, as if they had lost their lives.

"This... are these the living dead?" Zhang Meng was so scared that he almost threw away the axe in his hand. "What's wrong with these people?"

Chu Tian immediately drew the sword from his waist: "It seems that they are controlled by some dark power. We must deal with it carefully."

"Great! I can finally have a good fight!" Zhang Meng immediately cheered up, raised his giant axe and rushed forward, "Come on! I'll show you how powerful I am!"

Chu Tian quickly reminded: "Mengzi, be careful! These guys may not be simple!"

But Zhang Meng had already rushed out, swinging his giant axe at the zombies like a storm. The axe blade chopped down one of the zombies with great force, but——

"boom!"

Zhang Meng's axe hit the target, but the zombie didn't react at all, not even shaking. Zhang Meng was stunned: "What the hell? Is this guy made of iron?"

Chu Tian quickly dodged to Zhang Meng's side and tried to stab another zombie in the chest with his sword. However, the tip of the sword also failed to cause any effective damage, and the zombie still stood there coldly, like a motionless statue.

"This is wrong!" Chu Tian frowned and said, "They have a strong defensive power, our attacks have no effect on them!"

"What should we do? Should we let them surround us?" Zhang Meng was anxious. He swung the giant axe repeatedly, but still could not cause any harm to these monsters.

Just when the two were in trouble, the fog around them suddenly rolled up, as if stirred by some force. A deep voice came from the fog: "Idiots, how dare you trespass into the Ghost Valley."

"Who is it?" Chu Tian quickly became alert and looked around.

"I don't care who you are!" Zhang Meng yelled, "If you have the guts, come out and fight me fair and square!"

The voice sneered, and the mist gradually dissipated, and a man in a black robe appeared in front of them. His face was covered by the cloak, and his expression was unclear, but there was an ominous light flashing in his cold eyes.

"You mortals really overestimate your own abilities." The black-robed man said in a low voice, full of mockery, "How dare you step into the territory I control."

"Are you from the Dark Sect?" Chu Tian asked coldly, with the sword in his hand pointing at the other party.

"That's right." The man in black robe chuckled, "But you will soon regret coming here today."

"Regret? I don't have this habit!" Zhang Meng roared, swung the huge axe and smashed towards the man.

However, just as the axe was about to hit the man, the man raised his fingers and waved them lightly. A black energy surged out and the giant axe was actually fixed in the air.

"How is this possible!" Zhang Meng's eyes widened and he tried to pull the axe back with force, but the giant axe seemed to be firmly grasped by an invisible force and could not move.

"You are too weak." The man said contemptuously, and with a flick of his finger, Zhang Meng's giant axe was instantly thrown out and fell heavily to the ground.

"Mengzi!" Chu Tian hurried forward, but the man sneered and a black energy wave hit him. Chu Tian reacted quickly and blocked part of the attack with his sword energy, but he was still knocked back a few steps.

"You don't stand a chance." The man said in a cold tone, "The power of the Dark Cult is beyond your comprehension. Today, I will let you mortals see what true power is!"

Just as the man was about to launch the next round of attack, a clear bird song suddenly came from the distance, and then a ray of light fell from the sky and headed straight for the man.

"What?" The man in black robe was stunned and immediately dodged. The light hit the ground and left a huge hole.

Zhang Meng and Chu Tian looked in the direction of the light and saw a huge white bird flying in the sky. A woman was sitting on its back, holding a bow and arrow, looking very heroic.

"That's... Ye Li?" Chu Tian shouted in surprise.