Xiao Yichen, Lin Wan'er, and the black-clad men from the Shadow Moon Organization embarked on a journey to track down Murong Xuan, their figures gradually disappearing into the distance amidst the smoke-filled battlefield. Along the way, everyone remained vigilant; after all, Murong Xuan was cunning and treacherous, and no one knew whether he might set up an ambush along the way.

The leader of the men in black walked at the head of the group. He was tall and slender, with light steps. Only a pair of deep-set eyes were visible beneath his black mask, their gaze cold and mysterious. He occasionally gestured to his companions, signaling them to be aware of their surroundings.

"Has your Shadowmoon Organization been secretly monitoring Murong Xuan all along?" Xiao Yichen asked as he walked up to the leader of the men in black.

The leader of the men in black nodded slightly: "Yes, Murong Xuan's ambition has grown increasingly larger, and we have long sensed that he will bring disaster to the continent. Our organization has been collecting intelligence on him, trying to stop him before he takes action, but we were too late, and the war still broke out."

Lin Wan'er frowned and said, "Then why didn't you contact Rongguo before? Perhaps we could have dealt with it together and reduced some of the losses."

The leader of the men in black glanced at Lin Wan'er: "We have our own rules and ways of doing things, and we cannot easily expose ourselves without solid evidence. Moreover, Murong Xuan's influence in the Mu Kingdom is complex, and we need time to figure out his entire plan."

As they talked, they hurried on their way, following in the direction Murong Xuan had retreated. They crossed a desolate Gobi Desert, where the scorching sun beat down on the earth, and everyone was drenched in sweat, but no one complained.

After a long trek, they arrived at a valley. An eerie atmosphere permeated the valley, and the jagged rocks all around seemed to hide countless pairs of eyes watching them.

"Everyone be careful, there might be danger here," the leader of the men in black whispered.

No sooner had he finished speaking than countless arrows suddenly shot out from behind the rocks on both sides of the valley. The arrows rained down on the group like locusts, and Xiao Yichen shouted, "Take cover!"

The group quickly sought cover. Xiao Yichen drew his sword and slashed at the arrows aimed at him, while Lin Wan'er cast a spell, creating an energy shield around them that blocked some of the rain of arrows. The black-clad members of the Shadow Moon Organization also used their skills, some using hidden weapons to deflect the arrows, and others dodging them with agile movements.

"It seems Murong Xuan was prepared; he intends to ambush us here," Xiao Yichen said.

"Hmph, he won't succeed." The leader of the men in black said, pulling a signal flare from his pocket and firing it into the sky. The flare burst into a brilliant spark in the sky, and instantly, shouts of battle echoed around the valley. It turned out that the other members of the Shadowmoon Organization had arrived, appearing from the back and top of the valley and launching an attack on the Mu soldiers hiding behind the rocks.

"Let's go!" Xiao Yichen commanded, leading his men to charge towards the enemy. The battle erupted once more, swords clashing, blood splattering.

During the fierce battle, Xiao Yichen discovered that these Mu Kingdom soldiers were even stronger than those on the previous battlefield, and their formation was extremely tight, as if they had been specially trained to deal with them.

“These soldiers are no ordinary men; Murong Xuan must have spared no expense,” Xiao Yichen said to Lin Wan’er beside him.

While casting spells to attack the enemy, Lin Wan'er replied, "He wants to wipe us all out here. We can't let him succeed."

The leader of the men in black led the Shadowmoon Organization members, moving like ghosts through the enemy ranks. Their attacks were precise and deadly, quickly disrupting the formation of the Mu Kingdom soldiers. Xiao Yichen seized the opportunity, attacking the enemy's weak point. Wherever his sword struck, enemies fell.

After a fierce battle, they finally repelled the Mu soldiers. However, everyone suffered casualties of varying degrees. After a short rest, they continued deeper into the valley.

Deep in the valley stood an ancient castle. The castle gates were tightly shut, and many soldiers from the Mu Kingdom patrolled the walls. Xiao Yichen and his companions quietly approached the castle, hiding behind a large rock to observe.

“Murong Xuan is very likely inside. We need to find a way in,” said the leader of the men in black.

"This castle looks easy to defend and difficult to attack. A direct assault is definitely not going to work. We need to find another entrance," Xiao Yichen analyzed.

Lin Wan'er cast a detection spell. She closed her eyes and chanted incantations. After a moment, she opened her eyes and said, "There is an underground passage on the west side of the castle. We can go in from there."

So, the group cautiously moved towards the west side of the castle. Sure enough, they found the entrance to an underground passage hidden by weeds. The passage was dark and damp, emitting a putrid smell, and phosphorescent lights flickered on the walls, giving it an eerie and terrifying feel.

They moved slowly along the passage, the occasional squeaking of mice and dripping water echoing through it. Suddenly, a group of warriors in black armor appeared ahead, wielding long swords, their eyes vacant, as if devoid of souls.

"What kind of monster is this?" a man in black exclaimed.

"Whatever it is, prepare for battle!" said the leader of the men in black.

These black-armored warriors charged towards the group, their movements stiff yet incredibly powerful. Xiao Yichen swung his sword at one of the warriors, only to find that ordinary attacks had little effect on them, leaving only a shallow mark on their armor.

"Their armor is very tough, attack their joints!" Lin Wan'er shouted.

Following Lin Wan'er's instructions, the group began attacking the joints of the black-armored warriors. After a fierce battle, they finally repelled these eerie warriors.

Continuing forward, they arrived at a large hall. The hall was brightly lit, and Murong Xuan was sitting in a chair in the center of the hall, with Su Ran and several other generals from the Mu Kingdom standing beside him.

"You've finally arrived. I've been waiting for you for a long time." Murong Xuan smiled smugly when he saw Xiao Yichen and the others.

"Murong Xuan, your conspiracy will not succeed. Today is your end." Xiao Yichen said angrily.

Murong Xuan laughed loudly: "The end of the world? You are too naive. Do you think all of this is a coincidence? From the very beginning, this was my plan."

"What do you mean?" Lin Wan'er asked.

Murong Xuan stood up and said slowly, "I deliberately provoked the war with Rong Kingdom to lure you out, as well as the Shadow Moon Organization. You have always been stumbling blocks to my domination of the continent. Only by eliminating you can I successfully realize my ambition."

"So you knew all along that the Shadowmoon Organization was investigating you, so you used this war to set a trap," the leader of the men in black said coldly.

“That’s right, those men in black, the border conflict, and the attack on the General’s Mansion were all part of my plan. I wanted to create a loophole in your defenses during the chaos, and then wipe you all out in one fell swoop,” Murong Xuan said smugly.

A surge of anger welled up in Xiao Yichen's heart: "You demon, you are willing to sacrifice countless innocent lives for your ambition."

"Hmph, those who achieve great things don't concern themselves with trifles. Only the strong can dominate everything; the lives of the weak are worthless in my eyes," Murong Xuan said disdainfully.

“You will not succeed. We will not let you continue to do evil,” Lin Wan’er said firmly.

Murong Xuan sneered: "Then come on, let's see what you're capable of doing to stop me."

Having said that, Murong Xuan drew his sword, and Su Ran and the other generals also drew their swords and charged towards Xiao Yichen and the others. The battle erupted again; this time, it was a final showdown between justice and evil, and everyone gave it their all.

Xiao Yichen and Murong Xuan clashed again, his eyes filled with hatred and determination. Their swordplay was even more ferocious than before, each clash sparking dazzling flames. Lin Wan'er unleashed powerful magic, attacking the Mu Kingdom general; her spell illuminated the entire hall. The black-clad men of the Shadow Moon Organization engaged in a fierce battle with the other Mu Kingdom soldiers, their figures darting through the hall like ghosts in the night.

During the battle, Xiao Yichen noticed that Murong Xuan's swordsmanship seemed to have changed. His attacks were more ferocious, and there were some strange changes hidden in his moves.

"You think you can defeat me? I've been practicing a new sword technique specifically to deal with you lately," Murong Xuan said arrogantly.

Xiao Yichen did not respond; he was completely focused on dealing with Murong Xuan's attacks while searching for weaknesses in his swordsmanship. Lin Wan'er, seeing that Xiao Yichen was struggling, wanted to help him, but she was entangled with Su Ran and other Mu Kingdom generals and could not break free.

"You go help General Xiao, leave this to me," the leader of the men in black said to his men.

After receiving their orders, the men in black charged towards Xiao Yichen, joining the battle and temporarily relieving the pressure on him.

Xiao Yichen took the opportunity to catch his breath. He carefully observed Murong Xuan's swordsmanship and discovered that he paused briefly after each attack, which was a weakness of his new swordsmanship.

"I've found your weakness!" Xiao Yichen shouted, then launched a fierce attack on Murong Xuan. He deliberately created an opening to lure Murong Xuan into attacking, and then, in the instant Murong Xuan paused, he thrust his full power into him.

Murong Xuan sensed the danger, but it was too late; Xiao Yichen's sword pierced his shoulder. He screamed and staggered back a few steps.

"Your Highness!" Su Ran saw that Murong Xuan was injured and wanted to come to his aid, but she was struck by Lin Wan'er's magic and fell to the ground.

"You think you can defeat me like this?" Murong Xuan clutched his shoulder, a hint of madness flashing in his eyes.

He pulled a black box from his pocket, the box covered with strange runes.

“This is…” A sense of unease welled up in Xiao Yichen’s heart.

Murong Xuan opened the box, and a powerful dark force surged out, instantly enveloping the entire hall. Under the influence of this dark force, the soldiers of the Mu Kingdom seemed to gain new power, their attacks becoming even more ferocious, while Xiao Yichen and the others felt heavy-hearted and their movements became sluggish.

"This is my last trump card. You will all die here!" Murong Xuan laughed wildly, his figure appearing and disappearing in the darkness, as if he had merged with the dark power.

Xiao Yichen and the others knew that they were facing an unprecedented crisis and had to find a way to break free from the shadow of this dark power, or they would all perish here.

At this critical moment, Lin Wan'er remembered an ancient spell that might dispel the dark power, but casting this spell would come at a great cost and could even endanger her life.

“Yichen, I have a way, but I might…” Lin Wan’er looked at Xiao Yichen, her eyes filled with love and determination.

"Wan'er, no, there must be other ways," Xiao Yichen said anxiously.

"There's no time left, this is our only chance." After saying that, Lin Wan'er began to cast the ancient spell.

Her body was gradually enveloped in a dazzling light, which grew stronger and stronger, engaging in a fierce battle with the dark forces. Under the protection of the light, Xiao Yichen and the black-clad men of the Shadow Moon Organization felt their strength gradually returning.

"Wan'er!" Xiao Yichen shouted, trying to stop Lin Wan'er, but he knew it was too late.

As Lin Wan'er cast her spell, the dark power began to dissipate. Murong Xuan watched in horror; he hadn't expected Lin Wan'er to possess such abilities.

"No! This is impossible!" Murong Xuan roared.

Finally, the dark power was completely dispelled, but Lin Wan'er collapsed to the ground due to exhaustion. Xiao Yichen rushed over and picked her up.

"Wan'er, wake up!" Xiao Yichen's eyes were filled with tears.

Lin Wan'er weakly opened her eyes: "Yi Chen, don't let him... get away..." After saying that, she fainted.

Xiao Yichen gently put Lin Wan'er down. He stood up, his eyes filled with anger and hatred.

"Murong Xuan, today you must pay the price for what you have done!" Xiao Yichen walked towards Murong Xuan, each step he took was full of power, as if carrying the anger of the entire Rong Kingdom and all those who had been hurt by Murong Xuan.

As Murong Xuan watched Xiao Yichen approach step by step, a sense of fear welled up within him. He knew that his plan had completely failed, but he was unwilling to give up and wanted to make one last desperate attempt.

"Kill them!" Murong Xuan shouted to the remaining Mu soldiers.

The soldiers of the Mu Kingdom charged towards Xiao Yichen and his group again, but this time, without the support of the dark power, their morale was low. Xiao Yichen and the black-clad men of the Shadow Moon Organization, like vengeful gods, charged towards the enemy.

The battle has finally reached its final showdown. The struggle between good and evil will be decided at this moment, and the fate of the entire continent will be changed as a result.

Filled with rage, Xiao Yichen charged towards Murong Xuan, his eyes sharp as blades, each step carrying an overwhelming momentum. Behind him, the black-clad men of the Shadow Moon Organization and the soldiers of the Rong Kingdom surged towards the remaining Mu Kingdom soldiers like a tidal wave. The clashing of battle echoed once more in the hall, the sounds of clashing swords and shouts of killing intertwined.

Murong Xuan watched as Xiao Yichen pressed closer, his fear growing stronger, yet he forced himself to remain calm. He knew he was in dire straits, but his insane ambition still drove him to search for a glimmer of hope. He scanned his surroundings, trying to find a way to turn the tide.

"Xiao Yichen, do you think you can defeat me so easily? Even now, I still have ways to deal with you." Murong Xuan shouted loudly, but his voice could not hide the trace of panic.

Xiao Yichen did not respond. He simply quickened his pace, gripping his sword tightly, the blade still stained with blood from the previous battle. He had only one thought in his mind: to avenge Lin Wan'er and to seek justice for all those who had suffered because of Murong Xuan.

As Xiao Yichen approached Murong Xuan, he suddenly thrust his sword forward, a strike imbued with all his power and fury. Murong Xuan hastily raised his sword to parry, but Xiao Yichen's attack was too fierce, and he was forced to retreat repeatedly.

"Your Highness!" Upon seeing this, Su Ran wanted to rush over to help Murong Xuan, but he was tightly entangled by the black-clad men of the Shadow Moon Organization and could not break free.

On the other side, the Rong Kingdom soldiers and the men in black had gradually gained the upper hand. The Mu Kingdom soldiers, having lost the support of the dark forces and their leader, began to crumble. Their lines were constantly breached, and soldiers fell one by one, their blood staining the hall floor.

As Murong Xuan defended against Xiao Yichen's attacks, he inwardly groaned. His shoulder was injured, which slowed his movements, and Xiao Yichen's attacks were becoming increasingly fierce; he felt he was about to collapse.

"Xiao Yichen, if you kill me, you will never know a secret. A secret about a huge treasure, a treasure that could make you the richest man on this continent," Murong Xuan suddenly shouted, trying to lure Xiao Yichen with the promise of a treasure.

Xiao Yichen sneered, "I have no interest in the treasure. I only want your life to avenge the dead." With that, he thrust his sword at Murong Xuan again.

Murong Xuan dodged to the side, barely avoiding the sword, but his clothes were still torn.

"Don't you really want to know? This treasure possesses boundless wealth and power. With it, you can rebuild Rong Kingdom and make your country even stronger. Moreover, this treasure might even allow you to find a way to cure Lin Wan'er." Murong Xuan continued, knowing that Lin Wan'er was what Xiao Yichen cared about most, so he wanted to use this to move him.

Xiao Yichen paused slightly, his heart filled with immense worry for Lin Wan'er's safety. If there truly was a way to save her, he was willing to pay any price.

"What nonsense are you talking about? Do you think I would believe your lies?" Xiao Yichen said this, but there was a hint of hesitation in his eyes.

Murong Xuan noticed Xiao Yichen's wavering and was overjoyed. He quickly said, "I'm not lying. Everything I did before was to find this treasure map. This treasure map hides an ancient secret. Legend has it that the treasure contains items that can bring the dead back to life and enhance one's power. If you let me go, I will tell you the clues to the treasure map."

Xiao Yichen frowned, looking at Murong Xuan, trying to tell from his eyes whether he was lying.

"Why are you telling me all this? Are you just handing over the clues to the treasure map so easily?" Xiao Yichen asked.

Murong Xuan gave a bitter smile: "Now that things have come to this, I have no other choice. I only hope that you can let me go and let me leave here. Besides, even if I don't tell you, you will never find the treasure map if you kill me, and the treasure will be buried forever."

Xiao Yichen fell into deep thought. He knew that Murong Xuan was a treacherous and cunning person, but if what he said was true, then this might be an opportunity to save Lin Wan'er and Rong Kingdom.

Just as Xiao Yichen hesitated, the leader of the men in black walked over.

“General Xiao, don’t believe him. Murong Xuan is cunning; he’s stalling for time, trying to find a chance to escape,” said the leader of the men in black.

Xiao Yichen nodded: "I know, but if there is even the slightest hope of saving Wan'er, I cannot give up easily."

The leader of the men in black looked at Xiao Yichen. He understood Xiao Yichen's feelings, but he was also worried that this was a conspiracy by Murong Xuan.

“Then we can detain him first, and make a decision after we’re sure he’s telling the truth,” the leader of the men in black suggested.

Xiao Yichen thought this method was feasible. He said to Murong Xuan, "Alright, I can spare your life for now. But you must hand over the clues to the treasure map. If you dare to play any tricks, I will make you wish you were dead."

Murong Xuan breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that he had temporarily saved his life.

"The clue to the treasure map is in the basement of this castle. There's a secret room there, and inside is an ancient map. That's the clue to the treasure map," Murong Xuan said.

Xiao Yichen and the leader of the men in black exchanged a glance, then they led some soldiers towards the castle's basement. Murong Xuan, supported by Su Ran and several soldiers from the Murong Kingdom, also followed.

The basement was dark and damp, filled with a pungent odor. Some old torches hung on the walls, their flickering light barely illuminating the path ahead. They proceeded cautiously, wary of any potential traps.

When they reached the end of the basement, they indeed found a secret room. The door to the secret room was tightly closed, and it was covered with strange symbols and patterns.

"How do I open this door?" Xiao Yichen asked.

Murong Xuan stepped forward, carefully examined the patterns on the door, and then said, "These patterns are an ancient mechanism lock. You need to press these symbols in a specific order to open it."

As he spoke, Murong Xuan began to recall what he knew about the mechanism lock. He fumbled on the door for a while, then pressed a few symbols. With a dull thud, the door to the secret chamber slowly opened.

An old, worn-out aura wafted through the air; the secret room contained some ancient bookshelves and chests. In the very center of the room stood a stone table, upon which rested a map that had yellowed with age.

Xiao Yichen stepped forward, picked up the map, and examined it closely. The map was marked with some strange routes and symbols, making it look quite complex.

"Is this the treasure map clue you mentioned?" Xiao Yichen asked Murong Xuan.

Murong Xuan nodded: "That's right, this is the clue I've been searching for for many years. With it, we can find the treasure."

The leader of the men in black took the map, examined it carefully for a while, then frowned and said, "This map looks a bit suspicious. The markings and routes are very blurry. Could it be fake?"

Murong Xuan quickly replied, "No, this information came from an ancient ruin, it's absolutely true. It's just that the map is quite old, so some parts might be a bit blurry."

Just as they were studying the map, suddenly, the sound of a mechanism being activated came from the secret room.

"Oh no, a trap!" the leader of the men in black shouted.

Suddenly, numerous small holes appeared in the walls of the secret chamber, from which countless sharp arrows shot out. Everyone quickly took cover, and Xiao Yichen pulled Murong Xuan behind a bookshelf.

"Did you already know there was a trap here?" Xiao Yichen asked Murong Xuan angrily.

Murong Xuan said innocently, "I don't know either. Maybe it's because no one has been here for too long and the mechanism was triggered."

While dodging the rain of arrows, several soldiers were unfortunately hit and fell to the ground. The leader of the men in black used his agility to weave through the arrows, trying to find a way to deactivate the mechanism.

After searching for a while, he finally found a button for a control mechanism in a corner of the secret room. He quickly pressed the button, and the rain of arrows finally stopped.

"Is everyone alright?" Xiao Yichen asked.

Everyone responded that they were not injured. However, after this fright, everyone became more wary of Murong Xuan.

“Let’s leave here first, and then study this map more carefully,” said the leader of the men in black.

So they left the secret room with the map and returned to the castle's main hall. By then, the battle in the hall had ended; all the Mu soldiers had been wiped out, and the Rong soldiers and men in black were cleaning up the battlefield.

Xiao Yichen settled Lin Wan'er in a safe place, and then studied the map with the leader of the men in black and Murong Xuan.

"The markings on this map seem to point to some mysterious places, perhaps mountains, forests, or ancient ruins," the leader of the men in black analyzed.

Murong Xuan nodded: "That's right, we need to find someone familiar with these places to decipher this map."

Just as they were discussing, a Rong soldier ran over and reported: "General, we found some strange documents in a room in the castle, which seem to contain records about the treasure."

Xiao Yichen and the others immediately went to the room, which was filled with various documents and books. They found some information related to the treasure, which seemed to be connected to the clues on the map.

"It seems the secret of this treasure is more complex than we imagined; we need more time to study it," Xiao Yichen said.

Murong Xuan looked at the information, a hint of excitement flashing in his eyes: "As long as we can unlock these secrets, the treasure will be ours."

The leader of the men in black looked at Murong Xuan, a bad feeling creeping into his heart. He knew that Murong Xuan's ambition wouldn't disappear because of temporary difficulties, and once they found the treasure, Murong Xuan would likely stir up trouble again.

“We can’t let Murong Xuan participate in the treasure hunt; he’s too dangerous,” the leader of the men in black said to Xiao Yichen.

Xiao Yichen had the same thought. He looked at Murong Xuan and said, "You have completed your mission. Now we can no longer let you move freely."

Murong Xuan's expression changed: "You can't do this. Without me, you won't find the treasure at all."

"We'll find a way. You just stay here." After saying that, Xiao Yichen ordered his men to lock up Murong Xuan.

Then, Xiao Yichen, the leader of the men in black, and other scholars and strategists began to delve into the maps and documents, attempting to unravel the secrets of the treasure. They knew that this treasure could change the fate of the entire continent, but they must also be wary of Murong Xuan's schemes and ensure that the treasure is not used for evil purposes. In this challenging and unknown process, they will face more difficulties and choices, and the struggle between good and evil continues.

After imprisoning Murong Xuan, Xiao Yichen and the others devoted themselves entirely to studying the treasure map and the newly discovered documents. The castle's main hall was temporarily converted into a research space, with the stone table piled high with materials, and the map appearing even more mysterious and unpredictable under the candlelight.

Scholars and strategists sat together, brows furrowed, carefully examining the blurred markings on the map and the obscure text in the documents. Xiao Yichen paced back and forth nearby, his heart filled with both anticipation that the treasure could save Lin Wan'er and aid the Rong Kingdom, and fear that it might conceal a greater conspiracy.

“This marking looks like some kind of ancient symbol system, completely different from what we know today,” said an elderly scholar, pointing to a mark on the map.

“That’s right, and the text in these documents also needs further interpretation, as many of the words have never appeared in our existing documents,” another advisor chimed in.

The leader of the men in black stood to the side, his eyes never leaving the map. He said thoughtfully, "We need to find someone who has in-depth knowledge of ancient culture and symbols. Perhaps they can provide us with some clues."

Xiao Yichen stopped in his tracks: "Then where are we going to find such a person? The war is raging now, and it is not easy to find a suitable person in a short period of time."

Just as everyone was deep in thought, a Rong soldier came to report: "General, we have discovered a small village near the castle. There is an old man in the village who is said to know many ancient legends and knowledge."

A glimmer of hope flashed in Xiao Yichen's eyes: "Take me to see him immediately."

So, Xiao Yichen led the leader of the men in black and several scholars toward the small village. The village was small, shrouded in the shadow of war, and many houses were dilapidated. They found the old man in front of a small house in the village. The old man had white hair and beard, and his eyes were deep and wise; he was sitting in front of the house basking in the sun.

“Sir, we’ve heard that you have a deep understanding of ancient legends and knowledge, and we would like to ask you some questions,” Xiao Yichen said politely.

The old man raised his head, looked at Xiao Yichen and the others, and slowly said, "You've come for that treasure, haven't you? I knew this day would come."

Xiao Yichen was startled: "You know about the treasure?"

The old man nodded: "When I was young, I heard my ancestors talk about it. It was an ancient and mysterious treasure, said to contain immense power and wealth, but also accompanied by endless curses. Many people have lost their lives in the search for it."

"A curse? Could you tell me more about it?" the leader of the men in black asked.

The old man stood up, went into the house, and handed Xiao Yichen a tattered parchment scroll: "This contains some legends about the curse of the treasure. It is said that anyone with ill intentions who approaches the treasure will be devoured by dark forces and driven mad. Moreover, the treasure is surrounded by numerous traps and guardian beasts, making it extremely dangerous."

Xiao Yichen took the scroll, unfolded it, and saw some strange patterns drawn on it, which seemed to depict scenes of people being corrupted by dark forces.

"Old man, we have a treasure map, but we can't understand the markings on it. Could you help us take a look?" Xiao Yichen took out the treasure map and handed it to the old man.

The old man took the map, examined it carefully for a while, and frowned slightly: "This map does indeed point to the treasure, but some of the key markings are blurred. However, I can tell you that these markings are related to some ancient ruins around us."

"Ancient ruins? Do you know which ruins you mean?" the leader of the men in black asked.

The old man pointed to a general area on the map: "There are several ancient caves in this mountain range, said to be left by an ancient civilization. There may be clues to unlocking the treasure map there. But those caves are also full of traps and mechanisms, and few people who go in come out alive."

After thanking the old man, Xiao Yichen led everyone back to the castle. They decided to follow the old man's instructions and head to the ancient cave in the mountains to search for clues.

As they prepared to depart, Lin Wan'er remained unconscious, which greatly worried Xiao Yichen. He stayed by her side and whispered, "Wan'er, you must hold on. Once I find the treasure, I will definitely find a way to save you."

Then, Xiao Yichen arranged for some soldiers to stay behind to take care of Lin Wan'er and guard Murong Xuan, while he led the leader of the men in black, the scholars, and a team of elite soldiers toward the mountains.

The mountains were shrouded in mist, and the roads were rugged and difficult to traverse. The group walked cautiously, constantly on guard against any potential dangers.

"Everyone be careful, the environment here is perfect for ambushes," the leader of the men in black warned.

After walking for a while, they discovered a hidden cave entrance. The cave entrance exuded a mysterious aura, and the surrounding rocks were covered with strange symbols.

"This should be it. These symbols are somewhat similar to those on the treasure map," the scholar said.

Xiao Yichen led the group into the cave, which was dark and damp, with phosphorescent lights flickering on the walls. They slowly made their way along the cave passage, occasionally hearing the dripping sound of water droplets, which was particularly clear in the silent cave.

Suddenly, a deep roar came from ahead, as if some huge beast was howling.

"There's something ahead, everyone prepare for battle!" Xiao Yichen gripped his sword tightly and said in a low voice.

Everyone immediately became alert, and saw a huge guardian beast slowly emerge from the darkness. It resembled a lion, its body covered in hard scales, its eyes gleaming green, and its mouth revealing sharp fangs.

The guardian beast lunged at the group, and Xiao Yichen was the first to rush forward, swinging his sword at it. But the sword struck the beast's scales, only sending up a few sparks, and did not cause it any damage at all.

"This beast's scales are too hard! Attack its eyes and belly!" shouted the leader of the men in black.

Following instructions, everyone launched attacks on the guardian beast's weaknesses. In an instant, swords flashed and magic light flickered within the cave. Although the guardian beast was powerful, it gradually showed signs of fatigue under the combined assault.

After a fierce battle, they finally managed to repel the guardian beast. However, many soldiers were also injured. After a short rest, they continued to venture deeper into the cave.

Deep within the cave lies a massive stone chamber. Inside, ancient stone tablets are displayed, covered with inscriptions and patterns.

“We should have the clues we need here,” the scholar said excitedly.

They began to carefully study the contents of the stone tablets and discovered that these tablets recorded the origin of the treasure and some methods for opening it, but much of the key information was still missing.

“It seems we need to find more clues; this information is not enough to lead us to the treasure,” said the leader of the men in black.

Just then, a soldier accidentally triggered a mechanism, and the stone chamber began to shake violently.

"Oh no, there's danger!" Xiao Yichen shouted.

Cracks appeared on the walls of the stone chamber, from which billowed large amounts of black smoke. The smoke seemed to conceal some evil power; the soldiers who came into contact with it began to hallucinate, some attacking their comrades in a frenzy, while others collapsed to the ground in agony.

"What's going on?" Xiao Yichen asked anxiously.

The leader of the men in black cast a spell in an attempt to dispel the smoke, but the smoke only grew thicker.

“This is another mechanism guarding the treasure. We must find a way to break it as soon as possible, or we will all die here,” said the leader of the men in black.

Xiao Yichen looked at the soldiers in disarray, his heart filled with anxiety. He suddenly recalled the description of the curse on the parchment scroll he had seen with the village elder, and wondered if this smoke was a manifestation of the curse.

He searched the stone chamber, hoping to find some clues to dispel the smoke. Suddenly, he noticed a peculiar symbol on a stone tablet, a symbol that had appeared on the previous treasure map. He tried touching the symbol and found that it emitted a faint glow.

The light gradually spread and interacted with the smoke, which then began to slowly dissipate.

"Hold on, everyone! I've found a way!" Xiao Yichen shouted.

As the smoke dissipated, the stone chamber gradually returned to calm. However, after all this commotion, the soldiers were exhausted, and some had been injured from inhaling too much smoke.

"Let's leave here first, and then go back and make new plans," Xiao Yichen said helplessly.

The group helped the wounded soldier out of the cave. Back at the castle, they reviewed the operation and realized the search for the treasure was far more difficult than they had imagined. Moreover, they still didn't know if Murong Xuan's claim that the treasure could save Lin Wan'er was true; everything was fraught with uncertainty.

Xiao Yichen looked at the unconscious Lin Wan'er, his heart filled with confusion. He didn't know whether he should continue pursuing the treasure or find another way to save Lin Wan'er and the Rong Kingdom. Meanwhile, Murong Xuan was imprisoned in the castle's cell. Although he was temporarily unable to move, his eyes gleamed with the smugness of a successful scheme, as if he had some other plan and was waiting for the right opportunity. The entire situation was becoming increasingly complex. Xiao Yichen and his companions faced unprecedented challenges, and every decision they made would affect the fate of the entire continent.