"That's because you already have the support and assistance of the other three virtues. Without the protection of these three powers, you would never have been able to pass this test so quickly."
A faint, ethereal voice rang out.
Upon hearing the voice, everyone looked in the direction of the sound, and the owner of the voice was none other than the old man who had previously given them directions.
The old man slowly approached the group, his gaze sweeping over them one by one. "Compared to those who have experienced trials in the past, you are truly outstanding."
After speaking, he waved his wide sleeves, and the five mysterious and unpredictable roads vanished instantly like a dream, restoring the surrounding environment to its original tranquil and peaceful state.
Before the crowd could recover from their shock and were about to ask questions, the old man spoke first: "This training array has existed for tens of millions of years. Countless trainees have entered it with great anticipation. They may have been alone or in groups, but none have ever emerged unscathed and unharmed like you."
The old man raised his hand to smooth the gray hair at his temples, lost in memories, and continued, "I still remember the last group of people who came here for training. They were a motley crew. There were about forty or fifty of them, of all ages, the oldest being in their seventies and the youngest being no more than ten-year-old children."
"At that time, I really did not expect that they could pass this rigorous test, because they were just ordinary people. What good is having internal strength? What is being tested here is not only the strength of an individual, but also their unwavering determination."
"However, they succeeded."
"They also went in groups like you, with about ten people on each route. It took them a full ten days to finally emerge, covered in wounds. What's even more remarkable is that none of them died; everyone survived."
“You are not as ordinary as them. You have strength and wisdom. You are the fastest people to pass through this formation so far.”
At this point, the old man slowly pulled himself out of his memories, his gaze sweeping over the various expressions on the faces of the crowd. He lingered on Qian Yi for a moment, then said meaningfully, "But in my heart, you have not yet surpassed them."
Upon hearing the old man's words, everyone looked surprised and puzzled.
Ye Yu stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and asked, "Elder, why is it that we, with such strength and strategy, have not yet surpassed them? Please enlighten us, elder."
The old man tilted his head slightly, looked up at the sky, and slowly said, "Although they are ordinary, they have a pure and fervent belief. In the Earth Virtue Formation and the Water Virtue Path, they faced desperate situations, supported each other, and never abandoned one another. Each of them put the safety of the team first, and even if they were covered in wounds, they would never abandon any of their companions."
The old man paced for a moment and continued, "And you, while you cooperated perfectly and were exceptionally strong, did you ever have a moment of hesitation during the process? Did you, deep down, value your own strength and glory more? True strength is not just about overcoming obstacles, but also about bringing the team's spirit to its peak in adversity."
After hearing this, everyone fell into deep thought.
Chao Yuan broke the silence first: "Elder, we understand. We may have relied too much on our own abilities before, and we were indeed lacking in team spirit."
The old man nodded and smiled: "If you can gain some insight, then there is still room for growth. The purpose of this training formation is not only to test your martial arts and magic, but also to temper your character and team cohesion. The challenges in this world are endless, and only a united and steadfast heart can go further."
"Now, you have passed the test and gained invaluable power and information. But do not forget that this is only one stop on your long journey of cultivation. Many more unknowns await you in the future." The old man looked at the crowd with profound eyes.
Chen Xiao bowed deeply: "Thank you for your teachings, elder. We will keep them in mind. From now on, we will pay more attention to team cohesion and face all challenges with a purer belief."
The old man smiled with satisfaction, and then his figure gradually faded away: "Go, with your mission and responsibility, write your own legend in this vast world."
As they gazed in the direction the old man had disappeared, their hearts were filled with contemplation and anticipation for the future. Then, they packed their belongings and, with unwavering resolve, set off for the prefect's residence.
A few days later, carrying the crucial information they had obtained from the training array, the group rushed back to the Prefect's residence without stopping.
After more than a month of recuperation, Prefect Zheng Hanying had fully recovered his health and, together with his son Zheng Pianran, had cleansed up some of the family's corrupt practices.
Upon receiving news of Chen Xiao and the others' return, the group waited at the mansion early in the morning. When they saw Chen Xiao and the others return safely, they couldn't help but show joy on their faces.
After entering the mansion, the group went straight to the council hall without resting. They recounted their experiences over the past few days in detail, especially the information concerning Xunyang.
Chao Yuan said, "In that Earth Virtue Formation, the dark figure was manipulating the Dark Crystal, seemingly plotting a great disaster. Although we have broken through it, the crisis in Xunyang may not have dissipated yet."
Chen Xiao nodded in agreement: "That's right. Although we have made some progress, we still need to investigate further. The forces behind this are definitely not simple in their purposes."
Zheng Hanying pondered for a moment and said, "Xunyang is actually so treacherous. The most urgent task now is to formulate a countermeasure based on this information."
So everyone sat down and began to discuss it carefully.
Yin Yuyao unfolded the map and, based on the clues she had obtained, marked the areas around Xunyang where potential dangers might exist.
Qian Yi then suggested, "We need to strengthen the defenses of Xunyang to prevent the enemy from attacking again. I recommend adding runic mechanisms to the city walls to enhance their protective capabilities."
Everyone agreed.
During the discussion, the participants no longer acted independently as they had during the training exercises, but instead made full use of their individual strengths and actively listened to the opinions of others.
Based on his understanding of the power of water virtue on the path of water virtue, Ning Yuyuan proposed that the water element could be used to build an early warning defense line so that any approaching external enemies could be detected in time.
Ye Yu was not to be outdone, saying, "I can use vines to set up some hidden traps outside the city. With the help of runic mechanisms and water elemental warnings, I can make sure that any enemy that comes will not return."
After a heated discussion, a detailed defense and response plan gradually took shape.
Looking at the united efforts of everyone, Zheng Hanying was filled with hope: "Thank you for your help, Your Majesty and all of you talented people. If we can unite as one, Xunyang will surely overcome this crisis."
Subsequently, everyone acted according to the plan, each performing their respective duties.
Chao Yuan and Chen Xiao led the soldiers to set up runic mechanisms on the city wall, while Qian Yi and Ning Yuyuan built a water element early warning and defense system outside the city. Ye Yu and Yin Yuyao were responsible for setting up traps.
Thanks to everyone's joint efforts, Xunyang has been covered by a tight protective net.
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