CHAPTER 433: CHAPTER 286: HIDDEN POWERHOUSES OF THE HOMELAND

Time seemed to stand still at that moment, and Luo Chen’s consciousness began to blur. He felt as if he was in the midst of darkness, surrounded by endless nothingness. However, in this darkness, he saw a beam of light. It was the figure of Carefree Meng Lan, smiling as she reached out to him. Luo Chen wanted to reach out and touch her, but found his arm so heavy.

After an unknown period, Luo Chen was awakened by a sharp pain. He opened his eyes to see a small bird pecking at his wound. He moved slightly, and the bird flew away in fright. Luo Chen gave a bitter smile; now even a bird comes to bully me. Yet, this movement revealed something strange to him. His fingers seemed to be moving!

Luo Chen tried to slowly move his arm. Despite the unbearable pain, he persisted. Struggling to sit up, he looked around the environment. It was early morning, and sunlight filtered through the leaves onto the ground, bringing a hint of life to the desolate valley. Luo Chen took a deep breath of fresh air, feeling somewhat invigorated.

He knew he had to find a way out soon, or else he might starve to death in this valley. So, he stood up, enduring the pain, and began searching for an escape. Along the way, he found wild fruits and fresh water, which helped restore some strength. However, the steep and complex terrain of the valley still made him feel powerless.

Just when Luo Chen was about to despair, he suddenly saw carvings on a cliff. The carvings depicted some ancient scripts and patterns, seemingly indicating an escape route. Luo Chen felt a surge of joy in his heart, and carefully studied the scripts and patterns. After much effort, he finally understood their meaning and found a secret passage leading out of the valley.

Climbing with difficulty along the passage, Luo Chen finally exited the desolate valley. Standing outside the valley, seeing the distant village, he was so overwhelmed that he almost cried out. He knew he was saved, and all thanks to those ancient carvings and patterns.

Life was slipping away second by second as Luo Chen lay there, feeling his strength gradually fading. His body was like withered leaves drained of water, dry and fragile. His lips were cracked, and each breath came with tearing pain. At this moment, his only wish was to have a drop of dew to moisten his parched lips; even one drop would satisfy him.

However, in this moment of despair, an excited voice suddenly thundered in his ears: "Hey, Liu Deng, there’s a corpse here!" This voice was like lightning in the darkness, instantly breaking the silence in Luo Chen’s heart. His heart trembled, wanting to open his eyes and see who it was, but he found he had lost all strength. He struggled to move his fingers, and his adam’s apple worked hard to respond to that distant voice.

Accompanied by footsteps and the rustling sound of weeds being trampled, Luo Chen realized someone was approaching. He tried hard to open his eyes, but when the sunlight pierced his eyes, they closed weakly again. That instant of brightness seemed like the last hope of his life, yet also a bit of solace deep in his soul. A final consciousness flashed through his mind, making him understand that having someone nearby felt so reassuring, so warm...

After an unknown duration, Luo Chen was awakened by a noisy clamour. He opened his eyes slightly to find himself in an unfamiliar environment. Roaring campfires burned in the night, illuminating five blue-haired youths around him. They were three males and two females with remarkable looks and outstanding presence, presently engaged in a heated discussion by the fire.

"Lan Shen, you rascal, look at what you’ve found!" An angry voice sounded, and Luo Chen strained to turn his head, seeing a burly male youth glare at Lan Shen before turning away, no longer looking at him. It was Liu Deng, evidently displeased with Luo Chen’s arrival.