Dashing Student Chapter 1432: Within the Black Mist

Stepping out of the chamber, Chen Nan’s gaze fell upon the immense expanse of black fog stretching endlessly before him, obscuring the sun and sky. It was an overwhelming sight, akin to witnessing the sea for the very first time.

"Is this the chilling black fog you spoke of?"

He approached the ship's prow, standing alongside Ao Hao, his countenance marked by a grave solemnity.

The peril lurking within this dense fog, the formidable Yin Beasts, remained an unknown quantity. Furthermore, whether this seemingly infinite shroud concealed the pathway to the Inner Sea was equally uncertain. Yet, proceeding forward was their only recourse.

"It appears to be so." Ao Hao’s usual smile had vanished, replaced by a serious mien.

An palpable tension permeated the flying boat, a clear testament to the dire warnings Ao Hao had already imparted regarding the dangers concealed within the black fog.

They were all embarking on a gamble, their future shrouded in uncertainty. The prospect of breaching the black fog, or the reality of the fabled Inner Sea, remained entirely unknown.

"Let us proceed; I wish to witness it firsthand!"

Ao Hao drew a deep breath, channeling his formidable demonic power into the flying boat. A protective barrier materialized around its edges, effectively sealing off all external sound and aura from within.

Without delay, the flying boat plunged into the murky depths of the black fog. Instantly, all surrounding light was extinguished, rendering even night vision utterly useless.

Even the keenest divine sense would find itself swallowed by the oppressive fog, incapable of extending any distance.

Their vessel, adrift in this void, felt like a solitary leaf upon a turbulent ocean, perpetually on the brink of being consumed by the encroaching darkness.

An unnerving silence pressed in from all sides. Only the faint luminescence from the flying boat offered any meager illumination. Every Great Demon and Demon King aboard maintained a rigid posture, their bodies tensed and prepared for imminent combat.

Chen Nan withdrew, noticing Yuan Sensen’s evident distress. Being merely at the Foundation Establishment Realm, she was unable to offer any aid. Consequently, she retreated into the cabin alongside the other elder demons.

"Go now. Regardless of what transpires, do not emerge from the cabin."

Yuan Sensen comprehended the gravity of their situation, yet her worry for Chen Nan was undeniable. She impulsively embraced him, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.

"You must be exceedingly careful. I shall await your safe return."

"Mm." A gentle smile touched Chen Nan’s lips. He softly caressed Yuan Sensen’s cheek before guiding her into the cabin. He then turned and stepped back out onto the deck.

The duration required to traverse this oppressive black fog was unknown, as were the true forms of the lurking Yin Beasts. Every soul aboard the flying boat held their breath, remaining utterly still save for the vigilant motion of their eyes.

The flying boat encountered no immediate resistance, forging onward with unwavering momentum. It seemed plausible that they could navigate this oceanic expanse of black fog indefinitely. However, such optimistic notions were destined to prove illusory.

An hour, or perhaps an eternity, drifted by, time itself losing all meaning in this strange realm. Then, amidst the pervasive, tense silence, the flying boat abruptly struck something solid, coming to an immediate halt.

"What has occurred?"

Chen Nan hastened forward. The dim illumination emanating from the flying boat offered only a meager glimpse of the obstruction ahead. All was swathed in impenetrable darkness, appearing to be some form of colossal rock.

The flying boat maintained an altitude of three to four zhang above the ground, hesitant to ascend further. The impediment blocking their path was unmistakably of the magnitude of a small hill.

"No great issue; we shall simply ascend a bit higher."

Ao Hao's voice was calm as he guided the flying boat upward. However, their ascent was halted shortly thereafter when their vision fell upon… an eye!

The eye was of prodigious size, comparable to an entire dwelling, measuring approximately one zhang in each dimension. A chilling gray-white luminescence emanated from it, its vertical pupil fixed directly upon them.

The sight caused every demon aboard the flying boat to gasp, their breath catching in their throats. With an eye of such colossal proportions, what manner of body must this creature possess?

The object they had collided with was not rock at all, but the very flesh of this monstrous entity!

This dawning realization sent a shiver down everyone's spine. Though their demonic forms could achieve a height of one or two zhang, making them significantly larger than humans, they were utterly insignificant compared to the sheer scale of this creature’s eye!

The immense eye suddenly blinked. Chen Nan perceived a flicker of emotion within that slow movement: impatience, perhaps even anger, as if a colossal being had been rudely disturbed from its slumber.

The black fog directly above the flying boat began to churn violently, resembling boiling water. In a swift, dramatic instant, the fog dispersed, revealing a colossal paw descending—its size dwarfed their entire flying boat!

"Retreat with all haste!"

Ao Hao, equally stunned by the revelation, frantically maneuvered the flying boat into a rapid backward movement. Simultaneously, he raised a hand, summoning a fearsome vortex of demonic power that erupted from his palm in a gale-force wind.

Countless Wind Blades, sharp as razors, surged forth amidst the tempest, striking the descending giant paw with considerable force. Yet, as the Wind Blades disintegrated, the paw’s downward momentum remained utterly unabated.

Ao Hao’s countenance shifted dramatically. As a cultivator at the Peak of the Nascent Soul Realm, he represented the apex of martial prowess in this era. While he had not exerted his absolute maximum power, his attack was certainly not something an ordinary cultivator could endure.

The fact that it had no discernible effect on the giant paw indicated that this Yin Beast's defensive capabilities surpassed their wildest imaginations by a significant margin!

Perceiving that escape was unattainable, Ao Hao clenched the flying boat’s railing with both hands. Demonic power erupted from his being, instantly fortifying the vessel with an additional barrier beyond its existing shield.

Crack!

The colossal paw descended, obliterating the hastily erected barrier. It then impacted the flying boat's shield with an unstoppable force, sending the entire vessel hurtling through the air.

The flying boat's protective barrier shuddered intensely, on the verge of collapse. Nevertheless, it managed to withstand the onslaught. The boat spun uncontrollably for scores of revolutions before finally coming to a halt.

"Great Saint, make haste and retreat!" a Demon King implored, his voice laced with trepidation. How could they possibly navigate this black fog with such monstrous entities lurking within?

However, the black fog behind them churned ominously. Soon, several amorphous creatures, each thrice the normal height, materialized within the flying boat's illumination.

These beings were grotesquely formed, a random amalgamation of features. Some sported multiple heads, others possessed extra tails, and some had faces entirely obscured by numerous eyes.

Without exception, their forms resembled ink blots, their bodies perpetually glistening with a viscous, dripping fluid.

A ferocious Yin Beast let out a roar, stirring the surrounding black fog. It then launched itself forward, its six sharp claws digging into the flying boat's shield. The corrosive liquid it dripped onto the shield emitted a sharp, sizzling sound.

"Blast it all, just what are these abominations?"

One Demon King, teeth gritted, unleashed a blinding flash of light from his body. The concentrated Fire Power of heaven and earth coalesced in his hand before he hurled it forth.

A blazing sphere of fire, imbued with the profound power of the Fire Law, struck the Yin Beast with devastating impact, detonating upon contact.

The Yin Beast’s form disintegrated into countless fragments. The radiant explosion of fire also dispelled the encroaching black fog, revealing the full extent of the spectral landscape, prompting gasps of collective shock from everyone.

Within their immediate view, an innumerable horde of Yin Beasts had encircled the flying boat. They swarmed not just the ground below but also filled the sky above, forming an inescapable, celestial net.

A few demons began to wail in utter despair.

"Is this truly the depths of Hell?!"