Chen Xiao had never studied rune magic before. What she was doing now was all based on the contents recorded on the magic artifact. As for whether it was correct, she had no idea.
She felt a strangely familiar power, like wisps of smoke swirling around her.
As time went by, her strength dissipated like flowing water, and her body became increasingly heavy, with every movement feeling like she was dragging a thousand-pound weight.
Just when she was about to give up, a figure suddenly streaked across the sky—it was a young woman.
She seemed to descend from heaven, her figure light and graceful as she floated down.
At the same time, a powerful and mysterious force surged from the woman's body, supporting Chen Xiao like a solid barrier, and instantly stabilizing the originally crumbling magic array.
In an instant, the entire temple seemed to be muted by an invisible hand, and the previously noisy commotion vanished without a trace.
Chen Xiao felt as if all his strength had been drained in an instant, his body went limp, and he fell forward like a falling leaf.
At this critical moment, the woman stretched out her arm, her movements swift and powerful, and steadily pulled Chen Xiao into her embrace.
Chen Xiao fell into a soft, faintly fragrant embrace without any warning. She looked up slowly, somewhat stunned, at the woman in front of her.
The woman was dressed in the same tight-fitting outfit as her. The material of the outfit looked incredibly durable, clinging tightly to the woman's body and perfectly showcasing her proportions. The clothes were devoid of any superfluous decorations, exuding a sense of competence through their simplicity.
Her hair was tied up high, with a red ribbon fluttering in the wind like a leaping flame.
His forehead was smooth, without a single stray hair; his eyebrows were like distant mountains, slanting upwards towards his temples; his eyes sparkled like stars in a deep night sky, exuding an irresistible heroic spirit.
Beneath her high, straight nose, her slightly pursed lips held a faint smile, radiating confidence.
The woman exuded a heroic and valiant aura, like a female general charging into battle. Every move she made was full of boldness, leaving Chen Xiao momentarily stunned.
The woman looked at Chen Xiao, a slight smile playing on her lips. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?" Her voice was clear yet carried an undeniable authority.
Chen Xiao came to his senses, his face slightly flushed, and tried to break free from the woman's embrace, but found himself powerless.
"Thank you for your help, young lady," Chen Xiao said in a low voice.
The woman chuckled softly, her laughter echoing like silver bells in the temple. "No need to thank me. You're quite an interesting little girl, daring to act tough here even though you don't understand runes and magic."
As she spoke, she helped Chen Xiao to a corner of the temple to sit down.
Only then did Chen Xiao notice that the woman was wearing a long sword at her waist, and the gem on the hilt reflected a mysterious color in the dim light.
"Who are you, young lady? And why are you here?" Chen Xiao couldn't help but ask.
The woman raised an eyebrow. "You don't need to know who I am. I just couldn't ignore you when you were in trouble. This temple is evil; you shouldn't have come."
As they were talking, a sinister howling sound suddenly came from outside the temple, as if countless evil spirits were roaring.
The woman's expression hardened, and she gripped the hilt of her sword at her waist. "It seems the trouble isn't over yet."
Chen Xiao was startled and looked at the woman. He saw no fear in her eyes, and her heroic figure stood out even more in the tense atmosphere. It was as if she was a ray of light in the darkness, capable of dispelling all fear.
The woman stood up and walked towards the temple gate. Each step was firm and powerful, and her tight-fitting clothes swayed slightly with her steps, like a flower blooming proudly against the frost in a gale.
Chen Xiao watched her retreating figure, gritted his teeth, and forced himself to stand up. "Miss, I'll go with you."
The woman turned around, a hint of approval flashing in her eyes. "Okay, let's do it then."
Chen Xiao struggled to stay upright, his steps unsteady as he followed behind the woman.
As the two arrived at the temple gate, the eerie howling sound grew even more deafening, as if it would shatter their eardrums, sending chills down their spines.
A fierce wind howled past, and the woman's hair danced wildly in the wind, adding to her sharp and striking beauty.
She drew her sword, its blade flashing with a cold light, seemingly capable of severing the endless darkness.
"Stay behind me," the woman said to Chen Xiao without turning her head.
Suddenly, a group of dark figures emerged from the darkness, ghostly and menacing, charging towards them.
The woman moved swiftly, her long sword dancing like a serpent. Each swing brought forth a flash of blood, and the shadows that touched the sword light vanished like snow meeting the blazing sun.
Chen Xiao watched from behind, dumbfounded, and his admiration for the woman grew even stronger.
However, the shadows seemed endless, one wave receding only to be followed by another.
The woman frowned slightly; she knew this couldn't go on.
She roared, her sword blazing with light, and she leaped high into the air, charging towards the densest part of the shadows. This sword strike seemed to possess the power to split the heavens and the earth; the shadows were scattered by the force of this powerful impact, leaving a moment of tranquility.
But at that moment, dark clouds gathered above the temple, and a huge black vortex slowly appeared, emanating an even more powerful evil aura.
The woman landed, slightly out of breath, but her gaze remained fixed on the black vortex with even greater determination. She whispered to Chen Xiao, "This is the real trouble."
Chen Xiao clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.
Her heart felt like a frightened deer was pounding wildly, and waves of fear surged towards her.
However, when her gaze fell upon the woman's tall and straight back, for some reason, a burning fighting spirit welled up from the bottom of her heart, like a flame of hope igniting in the darkness.
As if she had eyes in the back of her head, the woman turned her head slightly and said to Chen Xiao, "There is a mark three inches to the left of your back. Press it quickly."
Her tone was calm and resolute, her words brimming with familiarity with the temple, as if every brick, tile, blade of grass, and tree here was inextricably linked to her.
Chen Xiao dared not slack off in the slightest and immediately acted according to the woman's instructions.
The moment her hand touched the mark and pressed down hard, a deep rumble resounded, and then an enormous magic circle slowly rose from the ground.
The magic array shone brightly, like a dazzling sun. Golden rays intertwined and spread rapidly in all directions, instantly enveloping the entire valley.
If Chen Xiao still couldn't guess the woman's identity at this moment, then she would be unworthy of being Xi Xi's host.
The truth hidden behind the thick fog seemed to be appearing before her eyes.
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