Multiple Personalities

Shen Jingqi tightly gripped his sword, the blade trembling slightly, and shouted loudly, "Who exactly are you? Why are you trying to snatch this box? What is its relation to the Divine Artifact?" His eyes were filled with questioning and confusion, trying to get some clues from the black-clothed men.

The leading black-clothed man laughed heartily, his laughter echoed in the cave, carrying a kind of inexplicable arrogance and pride: "It doesn't hurt to tell you, we have been searching for the Divine Artifact, and this box is the key to unlocking its seal. None of you will take it away today." His eyes were tightly fixed on the box, as if he had already seen the Divine Artifact in his hands.

Shen Jingqi and Lin Yue exchanged a glance, knowing full well that today's battle was unavoidable.

"If you want the box, you must first deal with my sword!" Shen Jingqi shouted angrily, his body moved like lightning, and he charged first towards the black-clothed men. His sword glimmered with a cold light, drawing sharp arcs in the air, aiming directly at the vital points of the black-clothed men.

Lin Yue was not to be outdone. Her movements were nimble, like a swift civet cat, weaving among the black-clothed men. She held a small but extremely sharp dagger, each strike precise and ruthless, targeting the weak points in the black-clothed men's defenses.

For a while, the cave was filled with deafening shouts and the flicker of blades and swords. Shen Jingqi engaged in direct combat with the leader of the black-clothed men, their weapons clashing fiercely, producing a series of ear-piercing sounds. Shen Jingqi felt a strong force traveling up his sword, numbing his arm, but he gritted his teeth and withstood the force with sheer willpower. His eyes showed stubbornness and defiance, and he thought to himself, "These black-clothed men are highly skilled, not to be underestimated."

Lin Yue darted left and right among the crowd. Her movements were light and graceful, like a dancing butterfly. However, there were too many black-clothed men, each possessing extraordinary skills, and she gradually began to feel a bit overwhelmed. Her forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat, and her breathing became rapid. Yet she knew she must not retreat, as she needed to buy time for Shen Jingqi.

During the battle, Shen Jingqi suddenly noticed that whenever the black-clothed men attacked, a strange force seemed to flow over their bodies like black threads, possibly having some mysterious connection to the box. He pondered deeply, "Could this force be the reason they could track us? Is it also the key to their obsession with the box?"

"Lin Yue, find a way to disrupt the force running through them!" Shen Jingqi shouted, his voice clear even amidst the fierce battle sounds.

Lin Yue understood and seized an opportunity. Her figure flickered, appearing ghost-like behind a black-clothed man. Her dagger swiftly stabbed out, precisely aiming at a node where the black force was circulating. With a "puff" sound, the dagger plunged into the man's body, instantly causing the black force to become chaotic. The black-clothed man let out a scream, staggered, and nearly fell.

Shen Jingqi seized the moment to intensify his attack, his Sword Techniques became more fierce, each strike accompanied by the sound of whistling wind. The leading black-clothed man's face changed slightly, surprised that Shen Jingqi and Lin Yue could discover the secret on their bodies. He roared, swinging his long knife more wildly in an attempt to regain the upper hand.

However, just as the fight reached a fever pitch, the leader of the black-clothed men suddenly took out a black bead from his chest. This bead emitted an eerie light, seemingly containing endless Dark Power. He raised the bead high, muttering incantations, his voice low and mysterious, as if summoning some evil presence.

In an instant, the bead emitted a strong black light, enveloping the entire cave in its Dark Power. Shen Jingqi and Lin Yue felt an enormous pressure rushing towards them, as if countless hands were pulling at them, trying to drag them into an endless abyss. Their bodies became incredibly heavy and their movements sluggish.

"Not good!" Shen Jingqi exclaimed inwardly, struggling to stabilize his stance while protecting Lin Yue. His eyes were filled with anxiety and worry, thinking to himself, "What exactly is this bead? It possesses such formidable power."

Lin Yue leaned closely against Shen Jingqi, her face pale as paper, but her eyes still showed steadfast determination.

At this critical moment, Shen Jingqi suddenly remembered the force he felt when he touched the box earlier. Though powerful and repulsive, it seemed to have an inexplicable pull. A bold idea flashed in his mind, "Perhaps we can use the power of the box!"

"Lin Yue, let's try the box again!" Shen Jingqi shouted, his voice carrying a trace of decisiveness.

Lin Yue nodded, and despite the danger, they rushed once more towards the box on the stone platform. The leading black-clothed man noticed their intention and roared, rushing at them with all his might. His long knife swept through the air with ferocious wind, slashing towards Shen Jingqi's back.

Shen Jingqi felt a cold sensation rushing down his back. He didn't have time to turn around, acting on instinct he lunged forward. The long knife grazed his back, leaving a bloody mark, but he ignored the pain and continued to charge at the box.

Finally, before the black-clothed men could reach them, Shen Jingqi and Lin Yue both placed their hands on the box. This time, instead of being repelled, they felt a warm and powerful force flooding into their bodies. This force was like a gentle stream, rejuvenating their weary bodies, and like a raging fire, igniting the fighting spirit within their hearts.

As the power continued to flow in, Shen Jingqi and Lin Yue began to see vague images in their minds. It seemed like ancient ruins shrouded in mysterious mist, exuding an ancient and mystical aura. At the heart of the ruins stood a Divine Artifact emitting holy light, illuminating the entire space.

They understood this was where the true Divine Artifact resided. However, the images flashed by and became blurred as if an invisible hand was deliberately hiding something.

"This is where the true Divine Artifact is..." Shen Jingqi murmured, his eyes filled with longing and expectation.

At this moment, with the intense confrontation of the two forces, the Dark Power summoned by the black-clothed men began to falter. The leader's face turned ghastly pale, beads of sweat as big as beans rolled down his forehead. He couldn't believe Shen Jingqi and Lin Yue could use the power of the box to turn the tide.

"Retreat!" the leader of the black-clothed men gritted his teeth and gave the order. His eyes were full of unwillingness and resentment. He retreated with his remaining men in a state of defeat from the cave.

As the black-clothed men left, the Dark Power in the cave gradually dissipated. Shen Jingqi and Lin Yue slowly opened their eyes, looking at the box in their hands, understanding that this was just the beginning. The true adventure was just about to unfold.

"Let's go, find the true Divine Artifact," Shen Jingqi said firmly, his eyes filled with fearless courage.

Lin Yue nodded, and the two of them, resolute, packed away the box and walked out of the cave.