After the tribal elders explained the contents of the trial, Xiao Yichen and the others began preparing for the upcoming challenge. They set up camp in the tribe's open space, the soldiers cleaned their weapons and checked their equipment, while the scholars sat together, reviewing all the information they had previously gathered about the treasure and the key, trying to find clues that might be useful in passing the trial.
Lin Wan'er sat to the side with her eyes closed, seemingly recalling something. After a while, she opened her eyes and said to Xiao Yichen, "Yichen, I was just recalling the information I read from Murong Xuan's mind. I remember he had come into contact with some content related to this tribe or similar trials, but the images were very blurry at the time, and I need some time to sort them out."
Xiao Yichen nodded, looking at Lin Wan'er's slightly tired face, and said with heartache, "Wan'er, don't push yourself too hard, your body hasn't fully recovered yet."
“It’s alright. Every clue is crucial now, and we can’t let any possibility slip by.” After saying that, Lin Wan’er closed her eyes again and concentrated on recalling.
The leader of the men in black approached Xiao Yichen and said, "General, we cannot rely solely on Miss Lin's memories. We need to look for clues from other sources. This tribe has existed for a long time, and the surrounding environment may hold some clues."
Therefore, Xiao Yichen arranged for some soldiers to conduct a cautious exploration around the tribe. They discovered some ancient murals near the tribe. Due to the erosion of time, some of these murals were blurred, but some general patterns could still be discerned. The murals depicted the tribe's ancestors struggling against various mysterious forces. One painting in particular caught their attention. It showed a person standing amidst flames, flowing water, boulders, and a raging wind, surrounded by some strange symbols.
"Could these elements be related to trials? Fire represents courage, water symbolizes wisdom, boulders signify resilience, and perhaps the gale represents flexibility?" one scholar speculated.
“It’s very possible. We should tell Miss Lin about this discovery and see if she can find any further connections,” Xiao Yichen said.
When they told Lin Wan'er about the contents of the mural, Lin Wan'er's eyes suddenly lit up: "I remember! In Murong Xuan's memory, there was a similar scene. He mentioned an ancient ritual that required passing the test of four elements, and the key to passing the test was to maintain inner purity and reverence for all things."
"Inner purity and reverence for all things? That sounds abstract. How can we demonstrate it in actual trials?" the leader of the men in black asked, frowning.
Just as everyone was pondering, a young member of the tribe approached. He spoke to Xiao Yichen and the others in a somewhat broken Common Language: "Trial... Danger... Pray..."
Scholars tried to communicate with him, and after some effort, they learned that the tribe's trial was a sacred ritual. Before the trial, the tribespeople would usually pray before the tribe's altar, asking their ancestors for strength and guidance.
“Perhaps we should go and take a look at the altar,” Xiao Yichen decided.
Led by a young member of the tribe, they arrived at the tribe's altar. Located at the center of the tribe, the altar was a circular structure built of massive stones. Various offerings and totems symbolizing the tribe's beliefs were displayed on the altar, and a mysterious and solemn atmosphere permeated the surroundings.
The walls of the altar were covered with more murals and symbols. These symbols were similar to some of those previously seen in caves, ancient temples, and murals near tribes. Scholars excitedly began studying these symbols, hoping to decipher more information about the trials.
After a long period of effort, scholars have made a new discovery: "General, these symbols seem to be telling a story of a balanced force. When facing trials, one should not rely too much on any one element, but rather balance courage, wisdom, perseverance, and flexibility, just like the changing seasons and the cycle of day and night. This may be a way to maintain inner purity and reverence for all things."
Just then, the tribal elder arrived at the altar. He looked at Xiao Yichen and the others and said, "You have discovered some clues, but the real test begins at the entrance to the sacred land. Only when you step through that door will the test truly begin, and at that time, everything will depend on yourselves."
"Elder, is there anything else we need to be careful about in the Holy Land, besides the trials of these four elements?" Xiao Yichen asked.
The elder was silent for a moment, then said, “There is an ancient power guarding our tribe in the sacred land, which will test your souls in various forms. If you have impure thoughts, greedy and evil ideas, you will be devoured by this power. Moreover, there are also some guardian beasts in the sacred land. They are guardians left behind by our tribe’s ancestors after they made a pact with the ancient power. They will prevent anyone who is not recognized from approaching the key.”
Xiao Yichen and the others felt a chill run down their spines. They knew this trial was far more difficult than they had imagined. But they had no room to back down. To stop Murong Xuan and to save the continent, they had to forge ahead.
On the eve of his departure for the Holy Land, Xiao Yichen came alone to the camp. Gazing at the starry sky, his mind was filled with countless thoughts. He thought of the suffering of the people of Rong Kingdom under the weight of war, of his own family, and of the unconscious soldiers. These images strengthened his resolve.
"No matter what, I must pass the test, find the key, and not let Murong Xuan succeed." Xiao Yichen secretly vowed.
Lin Wan'er was also in her tent, using her magic to try and bring her mind and body to their best state. She knew that her abilities would be crucial in the trials to come, especially when dealing with those mysterious guardian forces; her magic might help everyone find a way to break through.
The leader of the men in black was checking the soldiers' preparations. He gave each soldier final instructions, telling them to remain calm and cooperate with each other during the test. He knew that this test was not only a challenge to individual abilities, but also a test of teamwork.
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the dense forest, illuminating the tribe's land. Under the watchful eyes of the tribespeople, Xiao Yichen and his companions headed towards the sacred site. The entrance to the sacred site was a massive stone gate, its surface covered with intricate runes and patterns, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura.
As they approached the stone gate, it slowly opened, releasing a powerful force. Without hesitation, they stepped through the gate and entered the sacred ground.
Upon entering the sacred ground, they immediately sensed intense energy fluctuations. The surrounding environment instantly transformed, as if they were in a phantom world. Flames burned all around, forming walls of fire; water gushed from the ground, converging into a rushing river; massive boulders hovered in the air, threatening to crash down at any moment; and howling winds nearly knocked them over.
"Everyone, stay calm and maintain balance as we analyzed earlier!" Xiao Yichen shouted.
The soldiers huddled together, using their shields to withstand the intense heat of the flames as they searched for a path through the wall of fire. Lin Wan'er cast a spell, creating a curtain of water in front of the column to lower the surrounding temperature and attempting to guide the water flow to counteract the fire and carve a passage. The leader of the men in black observed the movements of the boulders and the howling wind, directing his soldiers to dodge the boulders' attacks and use the force of the wind to propel them forward.
In this process, the test came not only from the attacks of these elements, but also from their inner struggles. Some soldiers began to experience fear and panic, and these negative emotions were amplified by the mysterious power within the sacred site, almost threatening to consume them.
"Don't let fear take over your hearts. We are here for justice. Our mission is to stop Murong Xuan and save the continent!" Xiao Yichen kept encouraging everyone. His voice echoed in the holy land, giving the soldiers strength.
With everyone's combined efforts, they gradually adapted to the environment and began to venture deeper into the sacred land. However, unbeknownst to them, Murong Xuan had also learned of their presence in the Eastern Mystic Forest and was leading his men towards them. He planned to seize the key after Xiao Yichen and the others passed the test. A more intense conflict was about to unfold both inside and outside the sacred land.
As they ventured deeper, the guardian beasts of the sacred land appeared. These beasts were enormous and strangely shaped; some resembled winged lions, while others looked like giant pythons covered in scales. Their eyes gleamed with ferocious light as they launched an attack on Xiao Yichen and his companions.
The guardian beasts attacked with extreme ferocity; their strength was immense, and each strike caused the earth to tremble. Xiao Yichen led his soldiers in a desperate battle against the guardian beasts, their swords clashing against claws and fangs with deafening roars.
Lin Wan'er concentrated her energy, unleashing powerful spells to attack the guardian beasts' weaknesses. She discovered that although these guardian beasts were powerful, they seemed to be connected in some way; attacking one might affect the actions of the others.
The leader of the men in black led a group of agile soldiers, using their nimble movements to circle around to the rear of the guardian beasts, trying to find a way to break through their defenses.
In the fierce battle, Xiao Yichen and his companions gradually found a way to deal with the guardian beast. They cooperated with each other, cleverly utilizing the environment and the guardian beast's weaknesses, and gradually gained the upper hand.
But just as they were about to defeat the guardian beast, the energy fluctuations within the sacred ground suddenly changed. An even more powerful dark force surged from the core of the sacred ground. This dark force seemed to have been awakened by Murong Xuan's approaching aura, and it swept towards Xiao Yichen and the others, attempting to annihilate them all.
"What's going on?" Xiao Yichen was startled.
Lin Wan'er sensed the evil of this dark power. Her expression turned solemn as she said, "This power is unusual. It seems to have been triggered by Murong Xuan's evil aura. We must find the key as soon as possible and leave this place, or we will all be devoured by it."
Gritting their teeth, the group charged once more toward the core of the sacred land. They knew time was of the essence; they had to complete the trial and obtain the key before Murong Xuan arrived, or all their efforts would be in vain, and the continent would plunge into an even deeper crisis. At this critical moment of life and death, they would face unprecedented challenges, and their destinies would be rewritten within this mysterious sacred land.
Despite the onslaught of dark forces, Xiao Yichen and his companions struggled toward the core of the holy land, each step fraught with difficulty. The guardian beasts, further amplified by the dark power, launched another frenzied attack, making their path even more arduous.
Exhaustion was etched on the soldiers' faces, but their eyes remained resolute. They brandished their weapons, engaging in a desperate battle with the guardian beast. One soldier was struck by the beast's massive claw, his body flying like a kite with a broken string. But before hitting the ground, he desperately threw his longsword, aiming for the beast's eye, creating a sliver of hope for his comrades.
Lin Wan'er exerted all her magical power; her forehead was covered in sweat, and her body trembled slightly from exhaustion. She erected energy shields in front of the group, attempting to block the attacks of the dark forces and guardian beasts. However, the dark forces were too powerful, and the shields cracked under their impact.
"Hold on, everyone! We can't let this dark force succeed!" Lin Wan'er shouted, her voice hoarse but full of strength.
The leader of the men in black, accompanied by several elite soldiers, weaved through the chaotic battlefield. They skillfully evaded the attacks of the guardian beasts, advancing in a circuitous route towards the core of the holy land. The leader's dagger gleamed coldly; seizing the opportunity, he stabbed at the leg joint of a guardian beast. The beast, in pain, staggered, creating a small safe zone for the group.
Xiao Yichen charged ahead, his sword stained with blood. While battling the guardian beasts, he surveyed his surroundings, trying to locate the source of the dark power and the key. Suddenly, he noticed a stone platform at the heart of the sacred ground radiating a strange light. Something on the platform seemed to be shining, its light contrasting sharply with the surrounding darkness.
"There! The key might be on that stone platform!" Xiao Yichen shouted, pointing in the direction of the stone platform.
Hearing Xiao Yichen's call, hope ignited in everyone's hearts, and they struggled forward towards the stone platform. But the dark power seemed to sense their intentions, concentrating its power to gather around the stone platform, forming a black barrier.
“This barrier looks tricky; we need to find a way to break it,” the leader of the men in black said, frowning.
The scholars quickly sifted through ancient texts, trying to find a way to break through the barrier of darkness. Suddenly, one of them shouted, "I've found it! According to the ancient texts, this dark force is nourished by evil thoughts and negative emotions. We need to use pure power and elements of light to fight it."
Lin Wan'er's eyes lit up after hearing the scholar's words: "I can try to use my magic to gather the power of light, but this will require everyone's help. We need to concentrate our minds and transform the justice and hope in our hearts into power."
So, Xiao Yichen, the leader of the men in black, the soldiers, and the scholars formed a circle. They held hands, closed their eyes, and united their beliefs. Lin Wan'er stood in the center of the circle, raised her staff, and chanted incantations. With her incantation, a soft light emanated from everyone, growing brighter and brighter as it gradually shot towards the dark barrier.
The barrier of darkness trembled violently under the impact of the power of light, emitting a series of piercing sounds. The guardian beasts also became restless under the influence of this power, their attacks becoming chaotic and disorganized.
"Give it your all! We're almost there!" Xiao Yichen shouted.
With everyone working together, the power of light grew stronger and stronger, and finally, the barrier of darkness shattered with a deafening roar. The dark power receded like a tide, and the guardian beasts, severely wounded, roared as they fled the core of the sacred land.
Xiao Yichen and the others breathed a sigh of relief and walked towards the stone platform. As they approached the platform, they discovered a key emitting a mysterious light. The key's shape was similar to the one they had found on the northern snow mountain, but it also had unique patterns and symbols.
"We've finally found it!" a soldier exclaimed excitedly.
Just as Xiao Yichen reached for the key, a commotion arose outside the sacred ground. It turned out that Murong Xuan had arrived with his men.
Seeing that Xiao Yichen and the others had found the key, Murong Xuan's eyes flashed with anger: "Xiao Yichen, hand over the key!"
Xiao Yichen picked up the key and turned to face Murong Xuan: "Murong Xuan, don't even think about succeeding. We risked our lives to find this key, and we won't let you use it to satisfy your ambitions."
Murong Xuan sneered: "Hmph, you think you can stop me? I'm getting this key today."
With that, Murong Xuan waved his hand, and his men rushed towards Xiao Yichen and the others. These men were all carefully selected experts by Murong Xuan; each of them was highly skilled in martial arts and had a fierce look on their faces.
Xiao Yichen handed the key to Lin Wan'er and said, "Wan'er, take the key and go first. We'll hold them off."
Lin Wan'er hesitated for a moment: "Yichen, I can't leave you behind."
"Hurry! This is our only chance. We can't let the key fall into Murong Xuan's hands," Xiao Yichen said firmly.
Lin Wan'er gritted her teeth, cast a spell, and flew towards another exit of the sacred land with the key. Seeing Lin Wan'er leave with the key, Murong Xuan immediately dispatched several experts to give chase.
"Go after Lin Wan'er and bring the key back! The rest of you, kill Xiao Yichen!" Murong Xuan ordered.
Xiao Yichen led the leader of the men in black and his soldiers in a fierce battle against Murong Xuan's subordinates. A chaotic melee ensued within the sacred ground, with swords clashing, spells colliding, and shouts of battle deafening.
Xiao Yichen and Murong Xuan faced each other again, their eyes filled with hatred.
"Murong Xuan, your scheme will not succeed. We will definitely stop you," Xiao Yichen said.
"Then come and try it. Today is your death day." After saying that, Murong Xuan brandished his sword and thrust it at Xiao Yichen.
The battle between the two was exceptionally fierce, their moves incredibly sharp. Xiao Yichen was filled with rage towards Murong Xuan, each of his sword strikes carrying a deadly intent. Murong Xuan, in turn, used every trick in the book to seize the key and realize his ambition.
On the other side, Lin Wan'er flew through the sacred land with the key. Several experts pursuing her were in hot pursuit, constantly launching hidden weapons in an attempt to stop her. Lin Wan'er dodged the hidden weapons while searching for an exit. Suddenly, she discovered a shimmering passage ahead, and without hesitation, she flew towards it.
Upon entering the passage, she found herself in an unfamiliar place. It seemed to be a separate space, filled with a mysterious light, and the ground was covered with strange patterns.
"Where is this place?" Lin Wan'er wondered.
Just then, the key in her hand emitted a bright light, which resonated with the patterns on the ground, forming a massive magic circle. Lin Wan'er was enveloped in the center of the magic circle, and she felt a powerful force surging into her body.
"This is..." Lin Wan'er looked at all of this in surprise.
Under the influence of the magic circle, Lin Wan'er discovered she could see things she couldn't see before. She saw the entire treasure, the immense power it contained, and the terrible consequences if Murong Xuan obtained it. At the same time, she also saw clues about other keys, which gradually became clearer in her mind.
“So that’s how it is…” Lin Wan’er murmured to herself.
She knew she had to tell Xiao Yichen this information as soon as possible, and at the same time, she had to find a way to protect the key and prevent Murong Xuan from finding this place.
Inside the sacred ground, the battle continued. Xiao Yichen and the leader of the men in black were gradually drawn into a fierce fight; they were outnumbered, and Murong Xuan's men were extremely ferocious. But they resisted stubbornly, and not one of them retreated.
A soldier was pierced through the chest by an enemy spear, but in his dying moments, he clung tightly to his enemy, creating an opportunity for his comrades to attack. The leader of the men in black also had multiple wounds, but his attacks remained sharp; he moved among the enemies like a ghost, each strike taking the life of an enemy.
Xiao Yichen gradually gained some advantage in his battle with Murong Xuan. He noticed that Murong Xuan's breathing was somewhat disordered after a long fight. Seizing the opportunity, he launched a fierce attack, forcing Murong Xuan back a few steps.
"Murong Xuan, you can't hold on much longer, give up!" Xiao Yichen shouted.
"Hmph, I won't give up! The treasure is mine, and the entire continent will be mine!" Murong Xuan roared, lunging at Xiao Yichen once more.
Just as the two sides were locked in a stalemate, something suddenly changed within the sacred ground. New murals appeared on the previously tranquil walls, seemingly telling an ancient story. The murals revealed that only when justice and evil reach a delicate balance can the true power of the treasure be sealed, and only then can the continent avoid its fate of destruction.
Xiao Yichen and Murong Xuan both saw the murals, and they each had different thoughts in their minds.
"Could this be... the secret of the treasure?" Xiao Yichen pondered.
Murong Xuan scoffed, "What balance? As long as I possess the treasure, I am the master, and I can create my own balance."
But none of them realized that this discovery would have a profound impact on the entire situation, and that their fates would be unexpectedly altered in this struggle for the treasure. In this mysterious and dangerous sacred place, the battle continues, while a new turning point is quietly emerging.
After seeing the astonishing information about the treasure revealed in the murals, Xiao Yichen and Murong Xuan fell into deep thought, but the fighting on the battlefield did not cease. Xiao Yichen knew that regardless of the true secret of the treasure, the most important thing now was to defeat Murong Xuan and ensure the safety of the key they had obtained. Murong Xuan, on the other hand, was single-mindedly focused on seizing the key. Although he disdained the contents of the murals, a sense of unease lingered deep within him; he feared that there might be some hidden mystery that could hinder his ambition.
During a lull in the fighting, Xiao Yichen shouted to the leader of the men in black, "We can't linger. We need to find a way to escape and go find Wan'er." The leader nodded in understanding. He moved swiftly among the enemies, each strike precisely targeting their vital points, carving a bloody path for Xiao Yichen. Xiao Yichen, in turn, fought and retreated, his sword flashing with dazzling light, forcing back the approaching enemies.
Meanwhile, Lin Wan'er remained surrounded by magic circles in the mysterious space. She struggled to calm herself, trying to decipher the new clues about the other keys in her mind. She discovered that these clues seemed to be connected to ancient legends and forgotten places on the continent, and each clue was hidden within a complex puzzle. She knew that to find all the keys and stop Murong Xuan, she had to solve these puzzles.
"I need to tell Yichen this information as soon as possible," Lin Wan'er muttered to herself. She tried to find a way out of this space and discovered that the light from the magic circle seemed to be related to the intensity of the light from the key in her hand. She carefully controlled the light from the key, trying to find the exit of the space.
After much effort, Lin Wan'er finally found the exit and returned to the passage to the Holy Land from the mysterious space. At this moment, she heard the sounds of fierce fighting coming from afar. Her heart tightened, and she immediately flew towards the source of the sound.
Xiao Yichen and the leader of the men in black, along with the remaining soldiers, were surrounded by Murong Xuan's men, and the situation was extremely critical. After Lin Wan'er arrived, she cast a powerful spell, and a dazzling light shot out from the staff in her hand. Wherever the light reached, Murong Xuan's men were temporarily repelled.
"Yichen, I've found some important clues," Lin Wan'er said hurriedly to Xiao Yichen after landing.
Xiao Yichen looked at Lin Wan'er, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "Wan'er, I'm so glad you're alright. What clue?"
Lin Wan'er told Xiao Yichen and the leader of the men in black in detail about the full picture of the treasure, its consequences, and other key clues she saw in the mysterious space.
After a moment of contemplation, the leader of the men in black said, "It seems we must solve these mysteries as soon as possible and find other keys. Moreover, according to the content of the mural, we cannot allow Murong Xuan to obtain the treasure, nor can we allow the power of the treasure to be used recklessly."
Xiao Yichen nodded in agreement: "Let's leave here first and find a safe place to study this in detail."
Taking advantage of the brief moment when Murong Xuan's men were repelled by Lin Wan'er's magic, they quickly left the sacred land. During their departure, they cleverly set up traps and obstacles to slow down Murong Xuan and his group's pursuit.
They arrived at a secluded cave deep in the forest and settled down temporarily inside. The scholars took out paper and pens and began to organize the information based on the clues provided by Lin Wan'er, trying to find a way to solve the mystery.
"According to Miss Lin, one of the clues points to the Death Desert in the western part of the continent. Legend has it that there is an ancient city there, buried by sandstorms, and that secrets related to treasure are hidden within the city," a scholar said.
"The Desert of Death? That's an extremely dangerous place, ravaged by sandstorms year-round, and filled with all sorts of deadly sandworms and illusions." The leader of the men in black frowned.
“But we have no other choice. We must go in order to stop Murong Xuan,” Xiao Yichen said firmly.
In preparation for their journey to the Desert of Death, they reviewed their previous battles. Their encounter with Murong Xuan in the Holy Land made them realize that the enemy's strength was not to be underestimated, and that Murong Xuan had become obsessed with the treasure; they had to be even more cautious.
At the same time, they were also pondering the balance between justice and evil mentioned in the mural. Xiao Yichen said, "Perhaps the treasure itself is not a tool for ruling the continent, but a power that needs to be protected. We cannot allow it to be used by Murong Xuan's evil."
Lin Wan'er nodded: "That's right. We need to find a way to both stop Murong Xuan and ensure the safety of the treasure. Perhaps this is the key to finding the truth."
After several days of preparation, they set off for the Death Desert. Upon entering the Death Desert, they immediately felt its cruelty. The wind howled, the sand scraped against their bodies like sharp blades, and their vision was obscured by the swirling sandstorm.
"Everyone stay close and don't get separated!" Xiao Yichen shouted.
They trudged through the desert with great difficulty, each step requiring immense effort. Suddenly, the sand beneath one soldier's feet began to sink; he had fallen into a sandworm trap.
"Pull him up quickly!" shouted the leader of the men in black.
The group quickly threw out ropes and rescued the soldier from the sandworm's mouth. But this was just the beginning; more sandworms emerged from the sand and attacked them. These sandworms were enormous, covered in hard scales, and their fangs gleamed coldly.
Xiao Yichen led his soldiers into battle against the sandworms, slashing at them with swords and blades. However, the sandworms' scales were too hard, and ordinary attacks were unlikely to cause any damage. Lin Wan'er used magic to create pillars of sand around the sandworms, attempting to trap them. The leader of the men in black led some agile soldiers to search for the sandworms' weaknesses.
During the battle, they discovered that the sandworms' eyes were their weak point, so they focused their attacks on the sandworms' eyes. After a fierce battle, they repelled the sandworms' attack.
As they continued their journey, they encountered a hallucination in the desert. The soldiers began to experience various hallucinations; some saw their relatives back home, while others saw delicious food and treasure. They gradually became trapped in the hallucinations and lost their ability to move.
"This is an illusion, everyone stay alert!" Lin Wan'er shouted. She cast a spell to try and dispel the illusion, but its power was extremely strong.
Xiao Yichen looked anxiously at the soldiers trapped in the illusion. He recalled the scene in the Holy Land where everyone gathered their strength through their beliefs, so he shouted loudly, "Everyone, cheer up! We are here to stop Murong Xuan and to save the continent! Don't be fooled by the illusion!"
His voice echoed through the desert, and some soldiers gradually awoke from his call. Supporting each other and relying on their unwavering faith, they walked step by step out of the illusion.
After overcoming countless hardships, they finally saw the ancient city buried by sand deep in the desert. The city walls were dilapidated, and most of the buildings were buried by sand, but its former glory was still evident.
"Let's go in and take a look, everyone be careful," Xiao Yichen said.
They entered the ancient city, which was filled with an ancient and mysterious atmosphere. The streets were covered with dust and gravel, and ancient statues and architectural ruins were scattered everywhere.
In the heart of the ancient city stood a magnificent palace. Its gates were tightly shut, covered with strange symbols and patterns that bore some resemblance to those seen on treasure maps and elsewhere.
“We should find the clues we’re looking for here,” the scholars said excitedly.
They began studying the symbols on the palace gates, trying to find a way to open them. After a long period of effort, they discovered that the symbols needed to be touched in a specific order and at specific time intervals to open the gates.
Following the methods developed by the scholars, Xiao Yichen carefully touched the symbols. As the last symbol was touched, the palace gates slowly opened, and an ancient aura wafted out.
The palace was dimly lit, filled with ancient artifacts and bookshelves. They found some ancient books on the shelves, which recorded more history and secrets about the treasure. One of the books mentioned that the treasure was created by a mysterious ancient organization to maintain peace and stability on the continent. However, fearing that the treasure would fall into the wrong hands, they dispersed and hid it, setting up numerous trials along the way.
“It seems we are getting closer and closer to the truth,” Xiao Yichen said.
Just as they were carefully studying the ancient texts, the sound of mechanisms being activated suddenly rang out from inside the palace. It turned out that they had triggered the palace's defensive mechanisms, and arrows shot out from the walls while huge stones fell from the ceiling.
"Watch out!" Lin Wan'er shouted. She cast a spell, creating a shield around everyone, temporarily blocking the attacks of arrows and stones.
The leader of the men in black quickly surveyed the palace, trying to find a way to deactivate the mechanisms. In a corner of the palace, he discovered a control panel for the mechanisms, but the panel had a complex puzzle lock on it.
“I’ll try to solve this puzzle.” A scholar skilled in mechanical arts stepped forward.
In the tense atmosphere, the scholar focused intently on the puzzle lock. After much effort, he finally solved the puzzle, and the mechanism stopped working.
The group breathed a sigh of relief, but they knew that many more secrets awaited them within this dangerous ancient palace, and their struggle against Murong Xuan would intensify with each step they took to uncover the truth. They had to quicken their pace, find a way to thwart Murong Xuan's plot, and safeguard the peace of the continent.
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