The frail counselor you said, you fight against three heroes alone?

Li the Hunter followed closely behind. He was a big and sturdy man, like a moving mountain, blocking a lot of falling rocks for Granny Lin behind him.

Doctor Zhang would look back from time to time to check on everyone to make sure no one was left behind.

The exit of the rune array was right in front of him, but the road leading to the exit became narrower and narrower, and the falling rocks became more and more frequent.

Everyone had to slow down and move forward carefully.

At this moment, a huge rock fell from above and hit Xiaohong.

The man in white was quick-witted and pushed Xiaohong away, but he was hit by a stone and let out a muffled groan.

"Man in white!" Xiaohong exclaimed and hurriedly supported the man in white.

The man in white was pale, with a trace of blood oozing from the corner of his mouth, but he endured the pain and smiled at Xiaohong: "I'm fine, don't worry."

With everyone's concerted efforts, they finally escaped from the collapsed rune formation.

However, the moment they stepped out of the rune formation, they saw that the world outside had undergone earth-shaking changes.

The sky was dyed a strange purple-red, and an unsettling atmosphere filled the air.

Everyone looked at each other, wondering what happened.

Li the Hunter muttered to himself: "What's going on? Is the sky going to fall?"

Xiaohong looked up at the sky, feeling an inexplicable uneasiness in her heart.

She felt that a powerful force was quietly approaching...

"This..." Xiaohong pointed to the sky, with a hint of disbelief in her tone, "What is this..."

The purple-red sky was like a huge curtain, covering the entire village, making it look weird and mysterious.

Everyone who had escaped death from the rune array now widened their eyes, looking at this strange scene with curiosity.

"Wow! This color is so beautiful!" Luo Xiaoyu was the first to exclaim, with excitement in her tone.

Xiaohong was also attracted by the scene before her. She felt an inexplicable throbbing, and it seemed that something deep in her heart was calling her.

"What on earth is going on?" Doctor Zhang pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose and analyzed calmly, "Could it be some kind of celestial anomaly?"

Granny Lin leaned on a cane, with a hint of worry on her face, but more of a desire to explore the unknown. "Whatever it is, this is something that only happens once in a century!"

The surrounding villagers also came out of their homes, gathered in the open space, pointed at the sky and talked a lot.

The lively atmosphere is like a grand festival.

"I heard that where this kind of vision appears, there are often opportunities!" Elder Chen twisted his beard, his eyes flashing with wisdom. "Why don't we go and take a look? Maybe we can get some inspiration."

"Great! I've long wanted to see the source of this strange phenomenon!" Luo Xiaoyu was the first to respond. She was eager to try and couldn't wait to set off.

So, at the suggestion of Elder Chen, everyone decided to go to the source of the strange scene together to find out what was going on.

However, as they were preparing to leave, different voices emerged in the village.

"No, it's too dangerous! Who knows what we will encounter?" said an elderly villager tremblingly.

"Yeah, let's not go. What if there are monsters or ghosts there?" another timid villager echoed.

"Why are you so timid?" Luo Xiaoyu curled her lips in disdain. "With Elder Chen and Doctor Zhang here, what are we afraid of? Besides, we have so many strong men, are we still afraid of those ghosts?"

"Xiaoyu, don't talk nonsense!" Xiaohong pulled Luo Xiaoyu's clothes, telling her not to be too impulsive.

"I was telling the truth!" Luo Xiaoyu did not back down, with a hint of impatience in her tone, "You people only know how to shrink back and will never achieve anything great!"

After hearing what Luo Xiaoyu said, the faces of the villagers who opposed it suddenly turned red, and the atmosphere instantly became awkward.

Everyone looked at each other, not knowing what to say for a moment.

Seeing this, Xiao Hong quickly stepped forward and gently advised: "Everyone calm down, we just want to take a look. If we really encounter danger, we will come back immediately, don't worry."

She tried to ease the tense atmosphere with a gentle tone, but there was still a hint of tension in the air.

At this moment, the mysterious old man who had been silent all this time suddenly spoke. He looked deeply at the purple-red sky and said, "This phenomenon... is very unusual..."

The purple-red sky, like a huge gem, emits a hazy light under the sunlight.

However, behind the beautiful scene lies the anxiety in everyone's heart.

The argument just now wasted a lot of time. The strange scene in the sky seemed to be undergoing subtle changes. The color gradually deepened, like boiling blood, flowing with an uneasy atmosphere.

"Cough cough..." The mysterious old man suddenly covered his chest and coughed violently. His face was pale and fine beads of sweat oozed from his forehead.

"Old man, are you okay?" Granny Lin hurried forward to support him, asking with concern.

Doctor Zhang also hurried over and took the old man's pulse.

"Old man, you are suffering from a mental illness. You need to rest."

Everyone gathered around, talking about the old man's health, and the atmosphere became extremely depressing.

Xiaohong looked at the old man's uncomfortable expression, tears welling up in her eyes. She knew in her heart that the old man understood this vision far better than anyone else, and he must know something.

Everyone thought that the old man would stop them from moving forward, and they were all hesitating whether to give up the exploration.

However, the old man held on, waved his hands, and said, "It's okay, I'm fine. This vision... is of great importance, you must go and see it."

His voice was weak, but it was filled with unquestionable firmness, and these words surprised everyone.

They looked at the old man in surprise.
The old man took a deep breath, pointed at the strange phenomenon in the sky, and said, "Go, children, go and uncover this mysterious veil. Remember, it is better to be careful."

Everyone nodded silently, with determination shining in their eyes.

They knew that this exploration was not only to satisfy curiosity, but also to uncover the secrets behind the vision and for the safety of the village.

Xiao Hong looked at the old man and said with a sob: "Old man, you..."

"Go..." the old man urged again, "Time is running out..."

Without further hesitation, they turned and headed towards the source of the strange phenomenon. Xiao Hong took one last look at the old man.
"Wait..." A voice suddenly sounded...

After setting off again, everyone continued along the rugged mountain road.

The air is filled with the fragrance of soil, mixed with the scent of unknown flowers, refreshing.

The sunlight shines through the branches and leaves, casting mottled shadows on the ground like jumping notes.

"Wait, what is that?" Luo Xiaoyu pointed at a clump of green plants on the side of the road and shouted excitedly.

When I got closer, I saw that the plant had thick leaves, upright stems, and a few lavender flowers on the top, emitting a faint fragrance.

Doctor Zhang hurried forward to check it out and exclaimed in surprise: "This is the Purple Jade Ganoderma! An extremely precious medicinal herb!"

Everyone gathered around and carefully observed this strange plant.

Under the sunlight, the leaves of the purple jade Ganoderma lucidum shine with a lustrous luster, like pieces of finely carved jade.

"There are more here! So many!" Luo Xiaoyu found a few more purple jade Ganoderma lucidum and was as excited as a child.

During the following journey, the group continued to discover various precious herbs, some of which were good medicines for treating difficult and complicated diseases, and some were rare treasures that could enhance their martial arts skills.

Everyone was very excited, feeling like they had received an unexpected windfall, and their original worries and tensions were swept away.

Doctor Zhang was even more delighted. He carefully collected these precious herbs, with a smile on his face as bright as the sun.

While collecting herbs, he explained to everyone the effects and uses of these herbs, his tone full of enthusiasm and joy.

The space around them seemed to brighten up because of their emotions, the birds sang happily, and the breeze blew gently, bringing bursts of flower fragrance.

"It seems that this exploration has been fruitful." Xiaohong looked at Doctor Zhang who returned with a full load, and a gratified smile appeared on her face.

"Yeah, I didn't expect there would be such a surprise." Elder Chen also sighed, "Perhaps the appearance of this anomaly is not a bad thing."

The seeds of hope took root in everyone's hearts, dispelling the previous haze.

They continued walking, their steps becoming lighter.

The man in white held Xiaohong's hand tightly, giving her strength and a sense of security.

Xiaohong felt the warmth in her palm. She turned to look at the man in white, the corners of her mouth slightly raised, revealing a sweet smile.

Li the Hunter carefully supported the mysterious old man, respecting him like an elder. Although the mysterious old man was physically weak, he was in good spirits, looking forward with deep eyes, as if he had foreseen something.

The whole team is filled with a warm atmosphere. Everyone supports and encourages each other, and the relationship becomes closer.

At this moment, Luo Xiaoyu, who was walking in the front, suddenly stopped and pointed ahead and said, "We're here!"

Everyone looked up and saw...

"Be careful!" The man in white suddenly pulled Xiaohong behind him and looked ahead vigilantly.

When everyone arrived at the source of the strange sight, they were shocked by the scene before them.

A huge energy vortex hung in the air, like a portal to another world.

A dazzling purple-red light flashed in the center of the vortex, and the surrounding air seemed to be distorted, making a low humming sound.

"This...what is this?" Luo Xiaoyu exclaimed, her tone full of awe.

As they approached the whirlpool cautiously, a powerful wave of energy rushed towards them, as if it was going to swallow them up.

The air was filled with a strange energy that carried a hint of heat and irritated their skin.

"What a powerful force!" Doctor Zhang felt the fluctuation of energy, his eyes flashing with excitement.

Just as everyone was studying the whirlpool, a figure slowly walked out of the whirlpool.

The figure was tall and burly, wearing a black robe. His hood covered his face, so his expression could not be seen clearly.

"It's him!" Xiaohong exclaimed, her face turning pale in an instant.

Everyone also recognized the person who came. It was the black-robed wizard they met in the rune array before.

He exuded a more powerful aura, and the sense of danger was stronger than before.

The air seemed to freeze, making it hard to breathe.

The black-robed wizard slowly raised his head, revealing a pale face, with a strange smile at the corner of his mouth.

He stretched out a hand, pointed at everyone, and said in a hoarse and low voice: "Long time no see..."

Everyone was facing a formidable enemy, their eyes fixed on the black-robed wizard like a cheetah staring at its prey, unwilling to miss even the slightest movement of his.

The air seemed to be pinched by an invisible hand, solidifying into a heavy block of lead, making it hard to breathe.

Everyone's breathing became cautious, for fear of making any sound that would break the suffocating silence.

Before they knew it, they gathered together, back to back, like a flock of birds in a storm, snuggling together, ready to face the coming storm.

The strange smile on the black-robed wizard's mouth grew wider and wider. He suddenly raised his hand, and a dark light containing destructive power shot towards everyone like a poisonous snake.

"Be careful!" Xiaohong exclaimed, reminding everyone.

The man in white flashed and stood in front of everyone. He formed seals with his hands and a white light curtain suddenly unfolded, barely resisting the impact of the dark light.

The dark power collided with the white light curtain, making a deafening roar. The energy overflowed and made the surrounding leaves rustle.

Luo Xiaoyu clenched his fists nervously, staring at the changes on the field, ready to take action at any time.

The shock wave of the dark power had not yet dissipated, and the black-robed wizard waved his hand again, and countless black energy blades shot towards everyone like raindrops.

The energy blade was extremely fast, cutting through the air and making a sharp whistling sound, like the death warrant of the god of death.

Everyone dodged left and right, struggling to cope. Blacksmith Zhao was unable to dodge and was hit in the chest by an energy blade. He groaned and fell to the ground.

"Blacksmith!" Li the Hunter exclaimed and wanted to go forward to check, but was forced to retreat again and again by the successive attacks.

Seeing that everyone was losing ground, the formation was about to be broken up.

The mysterious old man who had been silent suddenly opened his cloudy eyes. He took out an ancient jade pendant from his arms. The surface of the jade pendant was engraved with mysterious runes and emitted a faint golden light.

The old man slowly raised the jade pendant and muttered something. A powerful energy wave emanated from the jade pendant and enveloped everyone.

At this moment, the black-robed wizard launched another attack. This time, he opened his arms as if to embrace the whole world. A huge black vortex appeared in front of him. In the vortex, countless black lightnings surged violently, making a deafening explosion.

He sneered, his low and hoarse voice seemed to come from the abyss of hell, with infinite malice: "Are you ready to face despair?"

The black-robed wizard's attack poured down like a violent storm, and the black energy vortex seemed to devour everything. The resistance of the crowd seemed so insignificant in front of him.

The feeling of despair surged into their hearts like a tide, making it hard for them to breathe.

They felt like a small boat in the ocean, which could be swallowed by the huge waves at any time.

Elder Chen tried his best to protect Granny Lin behind him. A black energy blade cut through his back, and blood instantly dyed his clothes red.

He groaned, staggered and fell, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"Elder Chen!" Everyone exclaimed, surrounded him, and anxiously checked his injuries.

"Ahem... I'm fine..." Elder Chen said weakly, his face as pale as paper.

Xiaohong looked at the injured Elder Chen, tears welling up in her eyes. She bit her lips tightly, trying hard not to let the tears flow down.

Just when everyone thought they could only rely on the mysterious old man's jade pendant to fight the black-robed wizard to death, Li the Hunter suddenly pointed at the back of the black-robed wizard and exclaimed, "Look! What's behind him?"

Everyone looked in the direction of Li the Hunter's finger, and saw a rune mark flashing a dark red light behind the black-robed wizard.

This mark is like an eye hidden in the darkness, exuding a strange aura.

"What is that?" Luo Xiaoyu asked in surprise.

Everyone looked at each other and saw surprise and hope in each other's eyes.

"Could it be... that is his weakness?" Doctor Zhang muttered to himself.

Xiaohong's eyes were fixed on the rune mark, and a bold idea suddenly came to her mind.

She took a deep breath and said to everyone: "We..."

The fire of hope ignited in everyone's eyes, and they worked together and rushed towards the black-robed wizard like an arrow.

The man in white flew his hands, and white light bloomed at his fingertips, turning into a solid barrier, temporarily blocking the black energy of the black-robed wizard.

Li the Hunter and Zhao the Blacksmith were like two angry bulls, rushing to the front with roars. They brandished their weapons with the force of breaking the wind, pointing directly at the runes on the back of the black-robed wizard.

"Bang!" With a dull sound, Li Liehu's mace hit the black-robed wizard's back hard, hitting the rune that was flashing with dark red light.

The black-robed wizard's body shook, and the originally violent energy vortex instantly became chaotic, and its power dropped sharply.

The black energy that originally made everyone breathless also became sparse.

"Success!" Luo Xiaoyu shouted excitedly, and the fatigue on her face was replaced by joy.

Everyone's face was filled with smiles of victory. They high-fived each other and cheered loudly to celebrate this hard-earned victory.

The air around them seemed to become brighter because of their emotions. The feeling of depression was swept away, replaced by a sense of relaxation and joy.

The dawn of victory, at this moment, is so dazzling and so exciting.

The man in white put away his magic, rushed to Xiaohong, and hugged her tightly in his arms.

Xiaohong snuggled in his broad chest, feeling his warm embrace, her heart filled with security and sweetness.

She raised her head.

Granny Lin looked at the group of young people kindly, a gratified smile appeared on her face, and the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes were stretched out like a blooming chrysanthemum.

Hunter Li scratched his head and smiled innocently, his white teeth shining in the sun.

The whole scene was filled with warmth and hope, and everyone's emotions were greatly soothed.

The air was filled with a faint floral scent, and the breeze brought bursts of coolness, as if whispering for their victory.

"We are about to win!" Luo Xiaoyu shouted excitedly, her voice full of anticipation.

Just when everyone thought that the black-robed wizard was about to be defeated, he suddenly let out a sinister laugh, and his deep and hoarse voice echoed in the air like the whisper of a devil from hell.

"Innocent."

The black-robed wizard uttered a creepy sneer, and the rune mark on his back suddenly burst into a dazzling dark red light, like a fireball about to explode. (End of this chapter)