"Evil? You mean..." Zhao Ming asked doubtfully.
"Yes, sleeping here is a monster that almost destroyed the world. I am old and unable to continue to protect you, so I use the guidance of the Book of Wisdom to summon capable warriors." The old man's eyes fell on Li Zixue Holding the book of wisdom in his hand, a trace of relief flashed in his eyes.
"Then what do we need to do?" Yueyue took a step forward. Although she was petite, she exuded determination not to lose to anyone.
"My child, you are so brave." The old man nodded approvingly. "First, the seal on the altar must be destroyed to prevent the completion of the ceremony. But this is not an easy task. Once it begins, someone must leave the cornerstone of the seal and sacrifice themselves. Imprison that monster forever”
The team fell into silence, everyone understood the weight of this choice. In the end, Su Mo stepped forward: "I will bear this responsibility. My sword is born to protect."
"No, Su Mo, let's come together." Zhao Ming, Li Zixue and Yueyue said almost in unison. There was no flinching in their eyes, only determination.
"You..." the old man looked moved, then slowly shook his head, "No, the seal requires a pure and powerful soul, and the child's future should not be sacrificed like this."
"Then, it's up to me. My life is coming to an end. This is my fate." The old man said firmly.
"No!" Yueyue suddenly said loudly, "We are partners and we should face difficulties together, right? Let us think of other ways!"
At Yueyue's insistence, the team began to re-examine the details of the altar and rituals, and the Book of Wisdom continued to provide clues. After some discussion and experimentation, they found a way to seal the monster without sacrificing anyone - gathering the power of four people, activating the ancient mechanisms around the altar, and using collective strength to complete the seal.
When the moment of decisive battle comes, the four stand side by side, each performing their own special skills. Li Zixue interprets the mechanism, Zhao Ming escorts with arrows, the mysterious shadow guard controls the shadow assistance, and Su Mo holds the sword to hit the vital point. With a thundering sound, the ancient mechanism was activated, a ray of light erupted from the center, and the seal was successfully established.
The light dissipated, and there was silence in the ruins, leaving only the sound of four people breathing. They were sitting or kneeling, with more or less scars on their bodies, but their expressions were unprecedentedly determined.
"Successful..." Su Mo forced out a smile and looked at the others. Although his body was exhausted, his eyes shone with relief.
Li Zixue coughed lightly and covered her bruised arm. The book of wisdom lay flat on the side, its light was weak, and it was obvious that it had exhausted a lot of power. "But... this is not the end, the seal does not seem to be stable."
Yueyue's face was pale, and the scraped wound on her knee was still bleeding. She gritted her teeth and said stubbornly: "We can't fall short, there must be a way to strengthen the seal!"
The mysterious shadow guard silently inspected the surrounding environment, with shadows flowing around him. His voice was calm: "There is movement, and the fluctuation of the seal caused some... unusual reactions."
"What's the reaction?" Zhao Ming asked vigilantly, adjusting his posture to prepare for a possible surprise attack.
"The ancient power is gathering, and the instability of the seal has attracted other unknown beings..." As soon as the mysterious shadow guard finished speaking, the ground suddenly shook, dust flew, and a huge black shadow slowly rose from the ground.
The four people quickly gathered together, back to back, and looked around cautiously. The black shadow gradually became clearer, revealing a huge body made of rocks and shadows, and a pair of deep eyes that seemed to be able to see into people's hearts.
"The cracks in the seal attracted me, weak creatures, you awakened fears that should not exist." The monster's deep voice echoed in the empty ruins, making people shudder.
"Monster, your doom has come." Su Mo held the ancient sword tightly, pointing the tip of the sword directly at the terrifying figure. His words were full of determination.
"Su Mo, don't fight hard, we have to outsmart you." Li Zixue quickly flipped through the book of wisdom, looking for a countermeasure. "The book mentioned an emergency seal strengthening ceremony that requires the four of us to work together, and... a key Items."
"Key items? Where are they?" Zhao Ming asked anxiously.
Yueyue's eyes suddenly lit up, and she took out a small crystal ball from the bag on her waist, "I picked this up on the road. I always think it will be useful."
Li Zixue took it and looked at it carefully, and said in surprise: "This is the tear of blessing from the ancient sage. It is the key we need! Quick, arrange your positions according to the ritual in the book!"
As the four people stood in specific positions, the Book of Wisdom emitted a dazzling light, guiding them through a series of complex spells and movements. The crystal ball was placed in the center of the altar, slowly rotating, releasing a soft and powerful light, which merged with the power of the four people and flowed towards the shaky seal.
"Together, pour power into the crystal ball!" Su Mo shouted. The four of them concentrated at the same time, and their respective energies merged into the river and sea like streams, continuously strengthening the power of the seal.
Just when they were almost reaching their limit, the huge monster launched a final charge, intending to destroy everything. But with everyone's firm will and fearless efforts, the seal finally stabilized, the light flourished, and the monster was bounced back by an invisible barrier, roaring in pain, and finally disappeared into the darkness.
As everything returned to calm, the four of them fell to the ground exhausted, leaning on each other, with triumphant smiles on their faces.
"It seems that no matter what difficulties we encounter, as long as we are together, there will be no obstacles that cannot be overcome." Su Mo chuckled softly, looking at the first ray of sunshine coming from the sky.
Yueyue clenched her little fists, her eyes full of pride: "Yes! We are the best adventure team!"
Li Zixue gently stroked the book of wisdom and whispered: "Yes, we have used knowledge and courage to prove that light can always dispel darkness."
The mysterious shadow guard smiled rarely, although the smile was hidden in the shadows, "I feel honored to be one of you."
In a harmonious atmosphere, they quietly waited for their physical strength to recover and prepare for the next unknown journey. And this time, they are more convinced than ever - nothing is impossible as long as they fight side by side.
"Okay, friends, we've rested enough. Let's move on." Su Mo was the first to stand up and stretched out his hand. The others held it in turn, forming a tight circle.
"Let's go together!" Yueyue's voice was clear and loud, with infinite vitality and hope.
"New challenges, new adventures." Zhao Ming stood up, his eyes flashing with desire for the unknown, and his bowstring was still tight, ready for the next battle.
Li Zixue smiled slightly, and the book of wisdom closed automatically, seeming to be enjoying this moment of tranquility, "There are countless mysteries recorded in the book, and I believe it will lead us to the right direction."
The mysterious shadow guard nodded silently, his figure blending into the surrounding shadows and suddenly reappearing, as if he had always been there, but as if he had never really appeared, "Shadows are everywhere, and I will remove obstacles on our path."
The four of them embarked on the journey again. The Book of Wisdom was occasionally opened to guide them. Zhao Ming's arrows pierced the air from time to time, clearing roadblocks, while the mysterious shadow guard was an invisible shield, eliminating hidden dangers one by one. Although Yueyue is small, she is always at the forefront of the team. Her curiosity and optimism make every adventure full of fun.
As they went deeper into the ruins, the environment became more and more dangerous, and unknown traps followed one after another. However, every challenge was resolved one by one by their wisdom and unity.
"There is a secret room here!" Yueyue excitedly pointed to a secret door that was almost integrated into the wall. The door was carved with complex runes, exuding an ancient and mysterious atmosphere.
Su Mo stepped forward and gently touched the runes. The book of wisdom opened automatically. Li Zixue slowly recited an unlocking spell according to the prompts in the book. With a low roar, the door slowly opened, revealing the dim space inside.
There is an ancient statue placed in the center of the secret room. There are two bright gems embedded in the eye sockets of the statue, which seem to contain endless knowledge and power. But as they approached, the ground suddenly shook, and the statue came to life, its eyes emitting a breathtaking light.
"No, this is the guardian statue, and its defense mechanism has been triggered!" Li Zixue quickly recognized the situation and shouted urgently.
"Then what should we do?" Yueyue asked nervously, holding the corners of her clothes tightly with her little hands, but her eyes were more excited and expectant.
"Don't panic, every mechanism has its own way to crack it." Su Mo said in a deep voice, looking around for possible clues. Zhao Mingze had already fully drawn the bow string, watching every subtle movement of the statue with vigilance.
The mysterious shadow guard said softly at this time: "I noticed a text engraved on the base of the statue, which mentioned the 'balance of light and shadow'."
"The balance of light and shadow." Li Zixue repeated this sentence and flipped through the book of wisdom. "The book mentions an ancient ritual that requires us to use the intersection of light and shadow to activate the balance mechanism inside the statue."
The four people acted quickly, using the torches they carried and the Shadow Guard's shadow control ability to skillfully move around the statue, forming a pattern of intertwined light and shadow. As the last ray of light perfectly coincides with the shadow, the light in the statue's eyes gradually fades, finally returning to silence, and a door to a deeper realm slowly opens.
"Awesome, we did it!" Yueyue cheered, her face flushed, looking particularly cute.
"Yes, we did it." Su Mo responded with a smile, with infinite longing for the future in his eyes, "No matter what we encounter next, as long as we are together, there will be no difficulty that cannot be overcome."
"Su Mo is right." Zhao Ming put down his bow and arrow and showed a rare relaxed smile, "This time, we will face it together."
“Moreover,” Li Zixue added, the book of wisdom flipped gently in her hands, as if there was a force guiding them, “there seem to be more secrets about the ruins in the book, and the key to fighting the final threat may be found. ”
The mysterious shadow guard's eyes flickered in the faint light, and he whispered: "No matter what is hidden in front of you, I will guard you in the dark and ensure the safety of every step."
"Okay, don't be so serious!" Yueyue clapped her hands, smiling like a flower, "A new adventure is about to begin. We have to look forward to it, right?"
As the group entered the new passage behind the secret room, it was filled with an even more ancient and mysterious atmosphere. The walls were carved with intricate historical scenes, and every step seemed to step into the long river of time.
"Look at these murals, what stories are they telling?" Li Zixue studied as she walked, and the pages of the book of wisdom turned automatically, seeming to resonate with some kind of power in the ruins.
"It seems to be about the rise and fall of ancient civilizations, and the struggle of a hero against the forces of darkness." Su Mo stared at the mural with a hint of respect in his tone.
"So, are we also writing our own legend?" Yueyue blinked her eyes, full of longing for the unknown.
"That's right, little Yueyue." Zhao Ming put his arm on Yueyue's shoulder, "Everyone is the protagonist of their own story, and we are creating our own epic."
As they spoke, a faint light came from the end of the passage. As they gradually approached, a huge underground palace appeared in front of them. In the center of the palace, a radiant throne stood quietly, with a brilliant gem placed on it, emitting warm and powerful power fluctuations.
"Is that the goal of our trip?" Yueyue looked up at the gem, her eyes shining with excitement.
"It seems so." Su Mo nodded cautiously, "However, with such a large battle, the gems must be surrounded by mechanisms and traps."
"Don't worry, we have proven that there is nothing we can't solve." Li Zixue encouraged, the light of the book of wisdom in his hand getting stronger and stronger, illuminating the way forward for them.
The mysterious shadow guard silently surrounds the surroundings to ensure safety. His figure blends with the shadows, like an invisible guardian angel.
Just as they cautiously approached the gem, suddenly, words composed of a ray of light appeared on the stone wall of the palace: "A true warrior needs to use the key of the soul to unlock the shackles before he can touch the treasure of destiny."
"Key to the soul?" Yueyue turned to look at everyone in confusion.
Su Mo pondered for a moment, and then his eyes became firm: "Perhaps this not only tests our wisdom, but also tests our hearts. Each of us carries different stories and beliefs, and this may be the key to the soul."
"Then, let's turn our hearts into strength together and try to contact it." Zhao Ming suggested, taking the hands of Su Mo and Yueyue, Li Zixue also superimposed his own hand on top of them, while the mysterious shadow guard stood silently aside, Support in his own unique way.
The four of them closed their eyes, and their hearts echoed with their own wishes and beliefs. These pure and powerful emotions gathered into an invisible torrent, rushing towards the gem. In an instant, the entire palace was filled with light, and the gems seemed to respond to their voices. They flew away from the throne on their own, slowly floated in front of them, and were gently embedded in the palms of the four people. (End of chapter)