Multiple Personalities

However, just as Shen Jingqi, Xu An, and Lin Yu's eyes met and they prepared to simultaneously reach for the key emitting a mysterious golden glow, a bone-chilling coldness swept through the entire hall like a raging tide. Shen Jingqi's heart skipped a beat, and a sense of foreboding welled up within him. He instinctively shouted, "Not good, there's danger!"

Almost at the same time he shouted, a streak of black lightning tore through the dim air of the hall, accompanied by a creepy, sinister laughter. The black-cloaked man suddenly appeared again at the center of the hall. He was not dead after all, merely gravely injured. His black robe was tattered and stained with blood in many places, but his eyes still glowed with vicious and frenzied light.

"You think you can get the key? Dream on!" the black-cloaked man said viciously, each word squeezed through his teeth with endless resentment and menace. Black smoke swirled around his body, rolling and twisting as if it had a life of its own, sometimes morphing into grotesque ghostly faces and sometimes forming sharp tentacles, dancing wildly in the hall as if wanting to devour everything.

Shen Jingqi tightly gripped his sword, the blade trembling slightly, not from fear, but from the surge of fighting spirit inside him. He stared vigilantly at the black-cloaked man and responded loudly, "So what if you're not dead? We're taking that key today!" Xu An and Lin Yu quickly stood on either side of Shen Jingqi, forming a triangle to encircle the black-cloaked man, their eyes equally filled with determination and resolve.

The black-cloaked man sneered, the laughter echoing in the hall like a summons from Hell: "Just you three little brats? Too naive!" As he spoke, he waved his hands abruptly, and the surrounding black smoke instantly coalesced into several giant black pythons. These pythons opened their blood-red mouths, revealing sharp fangs dripping black venom, hissing horrifyingly as they lunged at Shen Jingqi and his companions.

"Everyone, be careful!" Shen Jingqi shouted, his figure flashing like lightning to dodge an attack from a black python, while his sword slashed towards another. The sword and python clashed with a loud "bang," scattering a burst of black smoke. Shen Jingqi felt a numbness in his arm, silently marveling at the power of these black pythons.

Not to be outdone, Xu An quickly formed seals with his hands, chanting under his breath. A blue light shot from his hands, transforming into a massive water ball that hurled towards a black python. The water ball collided with the python, emitting a "sizzle," and white steam instantly filled the air. The black python was hit, swaying a few times but quickly regaining its stance and continuing to lunge at Xu An.

Lin Yu moved nimbly through the hall, the dagger in his hand gleaming with cold light, like a ghost. Seizing the opportunity, he leaped up, aiming to stab a black python at its vital spot. The dagger plunged accurately into the python, which roared in pain, thrashing violently before dissolving into a cloud of black smoke.

"Hmph, it's nothing special!" Lin Yu said smugly, but as soon as he spoke, more black pythons emerged from the black smoke, surrounding the three of them completely. The pythons kept narrowing the circle, their mouths open, fangs bared, ready to attack at any moment.

Seeing the mass of black pythons around them, Shen Jingqi felt a bit anxious. He knew that they would eventually be exhausted if this continued. "We must find a way to break this situation!" he thought to himself. Suddenly, his gaze fell on the key shining with golden light, striking his heart: "This key is so mysterious, maybe it can suppress this black smoke and the pythons!"

With this thought, Shen Jingqi shouted loudly to Xu An and Lin Yu, "Cover me, I'm going for the key!" Xu An and Lin Yu nodded, intensifying their attacks to buy Shen Jingqi time. Seizing the opportunity, Shen Jingqi dashed towards the key.

Seeing Shen Jingqi's actions, the black-cloaked man let out a furious roar: "You think you can get the key? It's not that easy!" He waved his hands, summoning more black smoke towards Shen Jingqi, as several black pythons lunged at him as well. Shen Jingqi dodged left and right, constantly slashing with his sword at the black pythons. But the number of black pythons increased, gradually hindering his movements.

"Shen Jingqi, watch out!" Lin Yu shouted a warning as he noticed a black python sneaking up on Shen Jingqi from behind. Shen Jingqi tensed at the shout, leaping forward on instinct to evade the python's attack.

"Shen Jingqi!" Xu An and Lin Yu shouted worriedly. Shen Jingqi gritted his teeth, "I'm fine, keep attacking!" He knew this was no time to retreat; only by getting the key could they have hope of defeating the black-cloaked man.

Just as Shen Jingqi was a few steps away from the key, the black-cloaked man unleashed his ultimate move. Chanting under his breath, the surrounding black smoke coalesced into a massive black skull. The skull opened its blood-red mouth, letting out an ear-piercing roar, and a powerful suction pulled Shen Jingqi towards it.

Shen Jingqi felt his body being pulled uncontrollably towards the black skull, struggling desperately but to no avail. "No! I can't give up like this!" he roared inwardly. Suddenly, he remembered the mysterious amulet hanging around his neck, a gift from a mystical elder in his childhood. In this critical moment, he tore it off and hurled it at the black skull.

Upon touching the black skull, the amulet emitted a dazzling white light. The white light intertwined with the black smoke, sizzling as if engaged in a fierce battle. The black skull was engulfed in white light, trembled continuously, and roared in pain. Shen Jingqi seized the opportunity to break free from the suction and rushed towards the key.

Finally, Shen Jingqi's hand touched the key glimmering with golden light. The moment his fingers touched the key, it emitted a brilliant glow, pushing back the surrounding black smoke and pythons a few steps. Shen Jingqi felt a warm and powerful force flow from the key into his body, instantly alleviating much of his pain and invigorating his spirit.

"You... you actually got the key!" the black-cloaked man exclaimed, his eyes widening in disbelief as he looked at Shen Jingqi, filled with fear and anger.