As the final stone fell into place, the statue's trembling gradually ceased, and the radiant light faded. Calm returned to the temple, and the air, previously oppressive, now felt refreshing. The temple door slowly opened, letting in a soft stream of moonlight, as if welcoming them back to freedom. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, but they knew this was just another difficult hurdle in the strange events of Ailao Mountain, and the true truth had yet to be revealed.
Leaving the temple, they continued their exploration of the mountains. As the night deepened, the forest was enveloped in a thick darkness, like a vast black vortex, ready to devour everything. After an arduous trek, they finally discovered a cave in a hidden valley. A faint mist enveloped the cave, and its entrance was covered in strange symbols. These twisted and winding symbols resembled wriggling worms, emitting a mysterious and terrifying aura.
Lin Yu looked at the cave, a complex emotion welling up in his heart. He was filled with a desire for the truth, but also with a faint worry about the unknown dangers ahead. "This should be the key place. Let's go in and take a look. No matter what's inside, we must uncover the mystery of all this."
Cautiously, the group entered the cave. A pungent, putrid odor filled the air, as if something had been rotting there for ages. The light was dim, forcing them to rely on flashlights. The flashlights flickered across the cave, casting strange shadows on the uneven walls, as if countless pairs of eyes were watching them from the darkness. The further they went, the lower the temperature became. Their breath turned into a white mist, mixing with the stench of decay within, making them even more uncomfortable.
Deep within the cave, they discovered a tattered ancient book. The pages were yellowed and, in some places, so damaged that they looked as if they would crumble to dust with the slightest touch. Professor Li carefully opened the book, revealing an ancient legend about the Ailao Mountains.
It turns out that long ago, the Ailao Mountains were once the domain of a mysterious cult. Through sinister rituals, this sect sought to summon powerful supernatural forces in order to achieve world domination. They performed countless cruel sacrifices within the mountains, sacrificing countless innocent lives. However, when the rituals went out of control, the unleashed evil forces like a raging flood, devouring not only the cult members but also casting a curse upon the entire Ailao Mountains. The missing expeditions likely inadvertently triggered the lingering curse of the cult, leading to their misfortunes.
"So, as long as we find a way to lift the curse, we can uncover the truth of all the strange events and save those missing people?" Xiao Zhao asked, his eyes full of anticipation, as if he saw a glimmer of hope.
Lin Yu nodded: "It's very likely. Professor Li, are there any ancient books that record how to lift the curse?" A glimmer of hope also ignited in Lin Yu's heart. He knew very well that this was the key to their mission.
Professor Li continued to leaf through the ancient tome, finally finding a clue in the final pages. "It says that to lift the curse, we need to find three sacred objects: the Moonstone, the Fountain of Life, and the Feather of Purification. A ritual must be performed at a specific time and place. But the tome doesn't specify where these three sacred objects are." Professor Li looked up at Lin Yu and his teammates, a look of helplessness and determination in his eyes.
Lin Yu looked at his teammates and said firmly: "Then let's split up and look for these three sacred objects. Time is running out, everyone must be careful. The Ailao Mountains are full of hidden dangers, but we are responsible for solving the mystery and rescuing the missing persons, and we must not retreat." Lin Yu's eyes were like burning torches, full of determination and conviction. He knew that the next search journey would be extremely difficult, but he firmly believed that as long as everyone worked together, they would surely succeed.
So, the group split into three groups and began searching for the sacred relic in the Ailao Mountains. Lin Yu followed a stream in search of the "Fountain of Life." The stream gurgled in the night, its sound ethereally ethereal in the silent forest. But Lin Yu knew that beneath this seemingly peaceful surface lay countless unknown dangers. He knew the journey would be fraught with danger, but to solve the mystery of the Ailao Mountains and rescue the missing, he held his ground.
During his search, Lin Yu encountered numerous difficulties. The path beside the stream was slippery and covered with moss, requiring him to take every step with extreme caution, fearing a fall. Strange noises could be heard from time to time, as if countless pairs of eyes were watching him from the darkness. Sometimes, he could feel a cold breath coming from behind, but when he turned around, there was nothing. These invisible pressures kept his nerves in a state of constant tension.
Finally, at the source of the stream, he discovered a clear spring. Under the moonlight, the spring sparkled with a strange light, and a fresh and gentle atmosphere filled the air. Lin Yu's heart moved. Could this be the "Fountain of Life"? He approached cautiously, carefully observing the characteristics of the spring, and found that it matched the description in ancient books. The surface of the spring was as calm as a mirror, reflecting the bright moon in the sky, as if it was a portal to another world. He took out a specially made container and carefully filled it with some spring water. In the process of filling the water, his heart was filled with awe, as if he was performing a sacred ritual.
Meanwhile, Lao Chen was searching for the "Moonstone" on a steep mountain. The mountain's steep, almost vertical slopes made climbing extremely difficult. Lao Chen struggled to climb the rocks, using both his hands and feet. The nighttime wind was so cold it made it nearly impossible for him to hold onto the rocks. With each step, he could feel his strength draining away, but he held only one conviction: he must find the "Moonstone."
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