As Chen Ge and the swordsman conversed, they began planning their next steps. The mysterious woman stood silently beside them, listening intently to their plans. At that moment, a group of curious villagers gathered around, bombarding them with questions.
"I've heard that the Heart of Eternity can bring us hope?" a young villager asked curiously.
“That’s right!” the young messenger replied excitedly. “It is said to contain the power to defeat all darkness.”
Another old man nodded. "But the question is, where is it located? It sounds like a mystery!"
Just then, Hag suddenly called out, "Hey guys, let me introduce you—this is our new partner!" As he spoke, he waved to the unfamiliar woman, indicating that he wanted to introduce her to everyone.
The mysterious woman smiled and said to everyone, "Hello everyone, my name is Selena, and I am honored to join such a brave and fearless team." Although there was a hint of nervousness in her voice, it could not hide her sincere desire to help others.
Just as everyone was giving her a warm welcome, an old priest in tattered robes stepped forward, his voice trembling. "My heroes..." His voice was old and hoarse, yet full of strength, "Since you have decided to embark on this unknown and perilous journey, please be sure to take this manuscript, passed down from generation to generation of guardians, with you." He handed the swordsman a book that looked somewhat old, with strange runes engraved on its cover.
The swordsman took it and opened the cover, finding it filled with densely packed, obscure text and complex patterns. "What... language is this written in? I can't understand it at all!" He scratched his head, his face full of confusion.
Seeing this, Selena reached out and gently stroked the surface of each page before explaining, "This is an ancient magical script, indecipherable by ordinary people. But if a specific method can be found to translate it, I believe we can obtain much more valuable information from it." Her confident demeanor instilled trust in those around her.
So, after a short rest, the group of five, plus the new member, set off northwards following the directions on the old map. They traversed dense jungles and crossed winding rivers, finally arriving at a remote town to rest before nightfall.
Upon entering the town, a row of neat houses came into view, and vendors busily selling all sorts of goods lined both sides of the street. "Wow! It's been a long time since I've seen so many tourists!" a man with a fruit stall greeted loudly. "You've all come from afar, haven't you? Need accommodation? This way, please!"
After some haggling, they finally settled on a fairly clean and tidy house for the night.
As night fell and everyone lay down to drift off to sleep, strange noises came from outside the door. It seemed as if some creature was moving around outside. Curiosity drove Chen Ge to secretly get up and go to the window to observe.
A dark figure flashed past in the dim light outside. She immediately became alert and quietly woke the others. "I think I just saw an uninvited guest spying around nearby," the girl reported softly.
The swordsman nodded and immediately reacted: "Don't sleep, everyone! Stay alert!"
The men quickly grabbed their weapons and assumed defensive stances, keeping their eyes fixed on the door just in case.
Just then, there was a soft knock on the door, followed by that familiar yet unsettling voice:
"Hehehe... My dear warriors, don't be afraid. I'm just here to remind you—the journey is fraught with difficulties and dangers, so please be extremely careful at all times... As for who I am? Let that answer remain the biggest mystery of your journey!"
As the chilling laughter faded into the silence, everyone instinctively gripped their weapons, silently thinking: the real test seems to be just around the corner…
"You must return safely no matter what," Chen Ge said resolutely to his teammates. "We're fighting not only for everyone on this land, but also for a brighter future!"
The swordsman nodded: "No matter how treacherous the road ahead, we must not lose faith. The most important thing now is to be fully prepared to face any challenges that may come."
Selena spoke softly, "As long as we are united, no enemy, however powerful, can stop us. Besides... there are so many expectant eyes watching us." Her gaze was gentle yet firm, conveying an unprecedented sense of strength and courage.
As dawn broke, this six-member team embarked on a journey into the unknown, leaving behind only the fading outline of the village and the villagers' silent blessings...
As dawn broke, the group packed their belongings and set off amidst the slightly uneasy yet expectant gazes of the townspeople. Chen Ge walked at the head of the group, her eyes constantly scanning the surroundings warily.
A young village woman stood at her doorstep, watching the group of warriors leave. She whispered to the man beside her, "I heard they're going to find the legendary Heart of Eternity. Will they really find it?"
The man gently embraced her, trying to comfort her, "Whether it's true or not, at least they are brave people who tried. Compared to people like us who spend our whole lives here, perhaps their lives are more enviable."
Meanwhile, several travelers sat in a small tavern in town, showing great interest when they heard rumors about the Eternal Heart.
"Hey, do you hear those young guys over there talking about 'Eternal Heart'? It sounds pretty amazing," one of the bearded men asked his companion.
Another person squinted and nodded, "Yes, it's said that whoever obtains it will wield supreme power. However, that thing isn't so easy to find..."
Meanwhile, the team encountered some unexpected situations during their journey—the road ahead was completely blocked by a huge boulder! This had obviously just happened not long ago.
"Is this a natural disaster or the deliberate act of some force?" Selena murmured thoughtfully after crouching down to carefully examine the cracks between the stones.
At that moment, the sound of villagers talking could be heard not far away:
"Wow, look what trouble those heroes have encountered this time! How are they going to get across such a huge rock blocking the road?"
"Hmph, if you ask me, a true strong person won't be trapped by a little obstacle!" the child next to him interjected, unconvinced.
Hearing this discussion, the swordsman, who had been frowning and preparing to discuss solutions, suddenly smiled. "Everyone, be quiet and listen to my tactical instructions. Morning Song and Hag will climb up from both sides to see if we can bypass the obstacle; the remaining three will work with me to see if there are any other passages we can use. In any case, we must get through here today!"
And so, after a tense but organized effort, Hag finally discovered a hidden passageway tucked away in a crevice in the rocks. "Hey!" he shouted, waving his arms. "There's a natural opening here, big enough for all of us to get through!"
The onlookers cast approving and amazed glances at them.
"Look, the problem we were talking about has been solved just like that!" exclaimed a middle-aged woman in the crowd.
The old man next to him nodded repeatedly in agreement: "These kids are really amazing... It seems this trip is indeed extraordinary."
After several hours of arduous trekking, the group successfully reached the edge of an ancient forest. The air became unusually oppressive, and an eerie atmosphere permeated the surroundings, sending chills down their spines.
Just as the group was about to step into this unknown area, an ordinary-looking but sharp-eyed old hunter stepped forward and warned them:
"Hold on, heroes! Ahead lies the dwelling place of the ancient elves, a place rife with untold secrets and dangers. Unless you are absolutely certain of your safety, please think carefully before you proceed..."
Hearing the old hunter's words, Chen Ge stopped and turned to look at the group behind her. "We've come this far; there's no turning back now." Her voice was calm, yet filled with unwavering determination. "We have to try, no matter what, to protect more innocent lives from further suffering..."
The swordsman nodded firmly. "You're right. Let's hope for good luck this time. After all, only by finding the Heart of Eternity can we end the dark age on this continent..."
After speaking, the six of them took a deep breath and simultaneously began their journey deeper into the dense ancient forest. At that moment, everyone present shared only one thought: no matter how arduous and perilous the future might be, only faith would be the brightest guiding light…
Just as the group took their first step into the forest, a huge black shadow silently darted through the trees in the distance. This was followed by the faint rustling of wind through the grass and the snapping of branches. "What...what's going on?" Chen Ge whispered warily, her hand already on her sword hilt. Everyone sensed an ominous aura approaching and silently prepared for battle.
"Everyone, gather together and stay alert!" the swordsman commanded in a deep voice. In the suffocating silence, an enormous figure slowly emerged—its form resembled both a beast and a dragon, its eyes gleaming with a cold, cunning light. "You…you've finally appeared…" a profound voice seemed to resonate directly into the souls of everyone present, "I am the being who has guarded this realm for countless ages—are you ready to face the test? Or perhaps, this is merely the beginning…"
The team members gripped their weapons tightly, facing a suddenly appearing powerful opponent. The air was thick with invisible pressure and the impending fierce confrontation.
"Whoever you are, you can't stop us from moving forward!" Chen Ge declared firmly and clearly. However, she was met with an even more arrogant and unrestrained laugh from her opponent…
The story will continue in the next adventure chapter...
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