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“We understand, thank you for your advice,” the child replied firmly, without a trace of hesitation in his eyes.
After bidding farewell to the old man, they finally arrived at the entrance to the ruins. The ancient stone gate was covered in obscure runes, and a suffocating atmosphere permeated the surroundings. The child took a deep breath and gripped Zhao De's hand tightly: "Let's begin!"
The two cautiously stepped into the ruins. As they ventured deeper, the surrounding walls seemed to come alive, shadows dancing and sometimes transforming into terrifying monsters, sometimes into wailing ghosts. But Zhao De and the child did not stop. They encouraged each other and advanced step by step toward the core area.
"Look, what's that light?" the child exclaimed, pointing to the faint light ahead.
Upon closer inspection, it was a crystal emitting a soft glow, suspended in mid-air, a stark contrast to the eerie surroundings. As Zhao De slowly reached out and touched the crystal, a torrent of images flooded his mind—an ancient battle between light and darkness, in which Li Mo struggled, succumbed, and was ultimately swallowed by the endless darkness.
“So, he had been searching for a way to fight against the darkness all along…” Zhao De murmured, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him.
"So what should we do now?" the child asked eagerly.
“We need to find the key to controlling the power of the shadows. Perhaps that will help Li Mo find himself and protect our home from threats.” Zhao De’s eyes were filled with unwavering determination.
Just as Zhao De and the child were gazing at the crystal, pondering a solution, a soft footstep broke the silence, and a young voice rang out behind them: "It seems you have discovered the secret of the Heart of Light."
The two turned around abruptly and saw a ragged young man leaning against the wall, a playful smile on his face. The shadows around him seemed particularly close to him, gently entwining around him, adding to his mysterious and unpredictable aura.
"Who are you?" Zhao De asked warily, instinctively shielding the child behind him.
Chapter 245 The Long-Awaited Light
Chapter 245 The Long-Awaited Light
The young man shrugged: "I am a nobody in these ruins, but if it comes to my understanding of the power of shadow, I might be able to lend you a hand. It wouldn't hurt to introduce myself. My name is Lin Ying. I was once one of the explorers, but unfortunately... I lost my way."
"Lost?" The child's voice held a hint of curiosity. "Then what are you going to do now?"
"Now?" Lin Ying's smile grew even more mysterious. "I think it's time to make a choice. To continue wandering in this endless darkness, or to follow my heart and seek that long-lost glimmer of light."
After a moment's thought, Zhao De decided to trust the young man who had suddenly appeared: "If we cooperate, what are your conditions?"
“It’s simple,” a sly glint in Lin Ying’s eyes, “Take me away from here, and let me witness how you change all of this.”
The three reached a consensus and continued deeper into the ruins. Along the way, they encountered various traps and mechanisms, but Lin Ying's mastery of shadow power proved crucial. He effortlessly neutralized these dangers, prompting the child to exclaim in amazement, "Amazing! How did you do that?"
“These are all just tricks,” Lin Ying said, waving her hand casually. “True power lies in the choices we make within ourselves.”
Finally, they arrived at a vast hall, in the center of which stood an ancient mechanical device inlaid with various gems. A piece seemed to be missing from the center, and its shape perfectly matched the Heart of Light crystal they had previously discovered.
"This is the key to controlling the power of shadow!" Zhao De exclaimed.
Just as they were about to step forward, a thick black mist suddenly surged up from all around, and giant hands made of shadows appeared out of thin air, attacking the three of them. Lin Ying's expression changed, and he quickly stretched his hand into the void, whispered a few words, and the surrounding black mist gradually subsided.
"Quickly! Put the Heart of Light in!" Lin Ying urged.
Upon hearing this, Zhao De carefully placed the crystal into the device. As the crystal was embedded, the entire hall shone brightly, and the previously rampant shadows receded, eventually transforming into a soft light that flowed into Li Mo's figure. He awoke in the light, and the flame of hope rekindled in his eyes.
"We did it!" The child jumped up excitedly.
"Yes, it was a success." Lin Ying smiled, but her gaze involuntarily fell on Li Mo, where it seemed as if he saw the dream that Li Mo had once pursued but had given up. "It seems that choosing the light is always the right thing to do."
Zhao De dusted off his hands and turned to look at Lin Ying: "Your methods are truly astonishing. If it weren't for you, we would probably be dead by now."
"Don't say that, it's our joint effort," Lin Ying replied modestly, though he was secretly planning something. His story seemed to have only just begun.
Just then, a faint humming sound emanated from the ancient device, and a screen of light appeared in the center of the hall, displaying dynamic images that seemed like ancient records or omens of the future. A passing explorer stopped in his tracks, his mouth agape in astonishment: "What...what kind of magic is this?!"
Zhao De leaned closer to look. In the image, cities teetered on the brink of collapse amidst the interplay of shadow and light, people struggling in despair, yet a figure moved among them, sowing seeds of hope. "This seems to be telling us... the heavy responsibility of saving the world will fall on our shoulders."
Chapter 246 Conscription
Chapter 246 Conscription
"Hey, this sounds like a call to heroes!" the child exclaimed excitedly, rubbing his hands together. "What are we waiting for? Let's go!"
A complex smile appeared on Lin Ying's lips as he gently patted the child's head: "Your courage is commendable, but to become a hero, you must first have enough strength."
"Then where do we go to find this power?" Zhao De frowned, clearly the answer to this question was not simple.
“Power,” Lin Ying’s voice echoed in the empty hall, “is both within our hearts and in every corner of the world. What we need is a guide, a key that can reveal all the secrets.”
As they were speaking, a door suddenly opened on the other side of the hall, leading to a radiant passageway, as if it had been specially prepared for them. "It seems the guidance has appeared."
The three exchanged a glance, and without a word, embarked on that unknown journey. As they ventured deeper, they encountered more and more explorers along the way, each looking at them with either surprise or admiration, and whispering amongst themselves.
"Look, they are the warriors who have activated the Heart of Light!"
"I can't believe it, that child was with them too..."
"It's said that one of them has an encyclopedic knowledge of shadow powers. How did he manage that?"
Faced with the astonishment and questions of others, Lin Ying simply smiled, his heart unwavering: "No matter how difficult the road ahead may be, as long as there is light in our hearts, the shadows will never devour us."
At the end of the passage stood a radiant temple, within which lay an ancient book, its surface shimmering with strange runes, as if it held the secrets of the entire world.
Zhao De, the child, and Lin Ying stepped into the temple, their footsteps echoing in the empty space, each step seemingly carrying an indescribable weight. The ancient book opened automatically, its light filling the entire temple and elongating the three figures, casting them onto the smooth floor.
"What...what is this?" The child's eyes widened, his voice filled with disbelief and curiosity.
"It is knowledge, it is power, and it is also a trial." Lin Ying stepped forward and gently stroked the shimmering runes, as if he could feel the energy contained within them dancing at his fingertips. "This ancient book may be the key to guiding us to obtain the power we need."
Nearby, a scholar who was studying ancient ruins in a corner of the temple suddenly looked up, his gaze passing over his glasses, casting a look of shock and awe: "You...you really did it! The legendary Successor of Light has finally appeared!"
Upon hearing this, the surrounding explorers gathered around, whispering among themselves, their faces filled with curiosity about the unknown and a desire for greater power.
"Heirs, if you can unlock the secrets of this book, then the world will be saved!" an old man said tremblingly, his eyes gleaming with hope.
“However,” Lin Ying slowly turned around, surveying her surroundings, her tone firm and profound, “this power is not easily obtained; it requires us to pay a price and undergo trials. Are we ready to accept the challenge?”
"I'm ready!" the child answered loudly without hesitation, his eyes burning with an inextinguishable flame.
Zhao De clenched his fists and nodded firmly: "For the world, for those struggling in the darkness, I am willing to face any difficulties."
Chapter 247 Recovery
Chapter 247 Recovery
Witnessed by everyone, Lin Ying gently placed her hand on the ancient book, and a warm and powerful energy surged forth, enveloping the three of them. In the light, their figures gradually blurred, leaving only echoes of vows reverberating within the temple:
In a world where light and shadow intertwine, we are beacons of hope. No matter how arduous the road ahead, we will illuminate each other's path and move forward hand in hand!
……
As the light faded, the temple returned to its usual tranquility, with only the ancient books still shimmering with a mysterious light, seemingly silently recording everything that had just happened. The onlookers exchanged bewildered glances, and murmurs of discussion arose once more.
"It's unbelievable, they...they just vanished like that!"
"They've gone to undergo trials, I hope they can return successfully. Our future rests on their shoulders."
"That child, his courage is admirable; perhaps he is the key to changing the world."
"Hey, have you heard? That ancient book is the legendary 'Book of Destiny,' said to reveal the ultimate secrets of the world. Even the greatest sages of all time haven't been able to fully decipher it!" A young explorer whispered to his friend beside him, his eyes filled with excitement and anticipation.
“My God, if they can really unlock its secrets, wouldn’t that mean…” His friend was interrupted by an older woman standing nearby before he could finish.
"Yes, the world will see a new dawn. I hope their journey won't be too difficult." The woman's voice carried a hint of worry, yet was filled with a mother's tenderness and expectation.
Just as everyone was discussing this, in a corner of the temple, an old merchant who looked ordinary wiped the sweat from his forehead and muttered to himself, "Such a feat is probably something that we, no matter how hard we try, can never achieve... It makes one both envious and ashamed."
Nearby, a young couple clung to each other, the girl's eyes sparkling with admiration: "Look how brave they are. In the future, I want to be like Lin Ying, willing to do anything for my beliefs."
The boy gently squeezed her hand, his eyes filled with both encouragement and reluctance: "Of course you can do it. I will always support you, no matter what lies ahead."
At that moment, a mysterious traveler in a long robe slowly entered the temple. He glanced around at the crowd, finally fixing his gaze on the ancient book that was still faintly glowing. He murmured, "The ancient prophecy is about to be fulfilled. The interplay of light and shadow will ultimately reveal the truth of the world. But... how many can bear the price hidden behind it?"
……
As the mysterious traveler finished speaking, the temple fell silent. All eyes were fixed on him, as if the air itself had frozen. A child's voice broke the silence, "Uncle, is what you said true? What will be the price for unlocking the secrets of the Book of Destiny?" The speaker was a child holding a wooden sword, his eyes filled with curiosity and longing for the unknown.
The mysterious traveler lowered his head, his gentle gaze falling on the child, and softly replied, "Child, every power has its weight. Just as light cannot exist without shadow, obtaining the truth of the world may also mean facing unprecedented challenges and sacrifices."
"What if they..." The child hesitated, clearly both afraid and curious about the topic.
Chapter 248 Insignificant Support
Chapter 248 Insignificant Support
“They will come back.” A veteran standing in the corner suddenly spoke up. His voice was hoarse but full of determination. “I have witnessed countless times hope was reborn from despair. As long as there is light in your heart, darkness will eventually be dispelled.”
Among the crowd, an elderly scholar stroked his beard and said slowly, "Indeed, history always repeats itself in surprising ways, yet it continues to create new miracles. The choice made by Lin Ying and her group may be destiny, or it may be the choice of the times. They embarked on this unknown path not only to explore the secrets of the world, but also to protect everyone on this land."
“Protect…” A young female craftswoman repeated the word, her eyes gleaming with a thoughtful light. “Although I cannot walk that path myself, I can make the strongest weapons and armor to provide them with an extra layer of protection. At least, let them know that they are not alone on this lonely and dangerous road.”
The surrounding discussion grew even more heated, with everyone's face radiating a strange excitement and determination. They began to plan what they could do for Lin Ying and her group's return, even if it was just the smallest bit of support.
Just then, a sudden gust of wind blew open the heavy doors of the temple, and a messenger dressed in black rushed in, the scroll in his hand gleaming with golden light. "Urgent report! Lin Ying and the others have encountered an unprecedented crisis in the distant Dark Forest and urgently need assistance!"
These words immediately caused an uproar in the temple, with discussions rising and falling.
"What? The Dark Forest! That's a place even the bravest warriors dare not easily set foot in!" a knight in magnificent armor exclaimed, his voice filled with shock and worry.
"How are they now? Is there any specific news?" A hunter with a longbow in hand and sharp eyes asked hurriedly, her fingers taut, as if ready to draw her bow and shoot an arrow at any moment, rushing into the unknown forest to rescue them.
The black-clad messenger took a deep breath to compose himself: "The details are still unclear, but according to the last communication rune, they are surrounded by a group of cursed creatures. Time is of the essence; we must act immediately!"
"How can we stand idly by!" The child who had been holding the wooden sword stepped forward as well. Although his voice was still childish, his eyes were exceptionally firm. "I'm going to help Uncle Lin Ying. He's my hero!"
The old scholar patted the child's head affectionately and said earnestly, "Child, your courage is commendable, but we need wisdom even more. Passion alone is not enough; we need a comprehensive plan."