Li Hua felt her connection to the surrounding vegetation dim slightly as the mist created interference patterns in the ambient energy. The spectral predators were among the most feared denizens of the Forbidden Zone—semi-physical beings that could materialize partially or fully from the mist they generated, their claws capable of severing both flesh and spiritual meridians with equal ease.
"They're near," Mo Xing observed quietly, his playfulness entirely gone as he studied the mist patterns with experienced eyes. His hand tightened slightly around Li Hua's before reluctantly releasing it to prepare for potential combat. "At least five distinct signatures, possibly eight."
