The contestant is too old, sister Zhou is crazy

"It seems that the test is about our own memories and choices." Su Mo whispered, her eyes becoming more determined.

"That's right. We just need to follow our hearts and make the most authentic response." Li Zixue nodded in agreement. The book of wisdom opened automatically, and pages of light illuminated their way forward.

As the illusion progresses, the test becomes more severe. They experience countless choices and sacrifices in the virtual world, and each decision is directly related to the safety of innocent lives. In the trials again and again, the three not only deepen their understanding of each other, but also deeply realize the weight of the word "compassion".

Finally, when the last scene faded away, a dazzling light emerged in the center of the quiet lake. In the center of the light, a shield emitting soft white light was quietly suspended. It was the Shield of Mercy that they had been looking for for a long time.

"We passed the test!" Li Zixue cheered, tears of excitement flashing in her eyes.

Zhao Ming slowly stepped forward. This time, he stretched out his hand without hesitation and gently touched the shield. The moment his fingers touched the shield, a warm current surged through his body. It was not only the inheritance of power, but also the purification of the soul.

"We not only received the Shield of Compassion, but also gained priceless enlightenment." Zhao Ming turned around, his eyes burning, and said to Su Mo and Li Zixue, "The real power comes from the light and compassion in our hearts."

"Yes, light and compassion are our eternal compass." Su Mo and Li Zixue responded in unison, and the three of them shook hands tightly. At this moment, they seemed to be able to feel the warmth and harmony of the whole world.

As night fell again, they sat around the campfire by the quiet lake. They were no longer nervous and tired, but were replaced by an unprecedented calmness and satisfaction. In the night sky, the stars seemed brighter than ever before.

"What should we do next?" Li Zixue held the Book of Wisdom in her hands, her eyes sparkling with infinite reverie about the future. "With the Sword of Courage and the Shield of Compassion, our strength is now far greater than before."

"Let's move on and search for the last holy artifact - the Crown of Hope." Zhao Ming's eyes were firm, as if he had seen the dawn of victory. "Only by collecting all three holy artifacts can we truly fight against the impending shadow crisis."

"Crown of Hope...what kind of trial will be waiting for us?" Su Mo whispered to himself, with both expectation and worry between his brows.

"No matter what the road ahead holds, we are no longer alone." Li Zixue held the hands of the people on both sides tightly. The power of the three people seemed to blend at this moment and converge into an unstoppable torrent.

Just as they were immersed in the warmth and plans, a strange wave suddenly spread across the lake. A shadow rose from the water and gradually transformed into an image of a woman in silver gauze and a dazzling crown on her head. Her appearance made the air around them seem to freeze.

"Travelers, I am the goddess of the lake. I have long protected the tranquility and peace here." The woman's voice was as clear as the lake water, and it carried a power that could not be ignored. "I am deeply moved by the courage, compassion, and trust you have shown in each other. Therefore, I am willing to give you some guidance."

Upon hearing this, the three of them held their breath involuntarily and listened attentively.

"The Crown of Hope is neither in the distant sky nor sleeping in the ancient ruins." The goddess waved the scepter in her hand, and a beam of light shot into their hearts. "It is hidden deep in everyone's heart. Only when the darkest moment of the world comes, those who truly believe in the existence of hope can awaken its true power."

This was like a thunderbolt, which made them fall into deep thought. It turned out that the real power was not given by external things, but the inner awakening and growth.

"But," the goddess said, "to face the coming darkness, inner hope alone is not enough. I will grant you an ancient magic that will help you become more resilient on this road."

After that, she stretched out her hand and tapped the foreheads of the three people with her fingertips. Different colors of light burst out from them respectively - Zhao Ming's lightning blue, Su Mo's natural green, and Li Zixue's wisdom purple. After the light, they could clearly feel the increase of their internal strength, as well as an unprecedented tacit understanding and connection.

“Remember, the real challenge has just begun. Keep your faith, work together, and light will eventually defeat darkness.” After saying this, the goddess’ figure gradually faded until it completely merged into the lake, leaving only circles of gentle ripples.

The three of them stood by the lake for a long time, feeling both shocked and filled with infinite longing for the future.

"Let's set off towards an unknown tomorrow." Zhao Ming was the first to break the silence, the sword of courage in his hand shining with a resolute light.

"No matter where the Crown of Hope is, as long as we are together, there are no difficulties that cannot be overcome." Su Mo's tone was firm, and her natural power seemed to be more agile.

"That's right, let us bring light to every corner until the crown of hope awakens in our hearts." Li Zixue closed the Book of Wisdom with a smile. That smile was full of fearlessness for the future and trust in her companions.

"Now, let's go back to the people and use our newfound strength to bring them more protection and hope," Zhao Ming proposed, with determination in his eyes.

"Good idea. Maybe in the process of helping others, we will find more clues about the Crown of Hope." Su Mo nodded. Her long green hair fluttered gently in the breeze. The breath of nature surrounded her, adding a bit of mystery and tranquility.

"Moreover, the Book of Wisdom seems to be guiding us to do so." Li Zixue flipped through the ancient and mysterious book. The words in it seemed to have life, leaping and guiding their direction.

They set out on the journey again, this time not blindly chasing after the holy artifact, but with a clearer mission - to sow the seeds of light and hope with practical actions before the darkness comes. Wherever they go, they listen carefully to the people's demands, solve the monster invasion that plagues the village, and repair the damaged nature. Li Zixue's wisdom always finds the most appropriate solution; Su Mo uses her natural power to heal the land and restore the ecology; and Zhao Ming uses his courage and strength to hold up a sky for the weak.

Along the way, their reputation became even louder, and they were called the "Three Envoys of Light", becoming a legend passed down by word of mouth among the people. But for them, the most important thing was their belief, the belief that they could hold hands and move forward together even in the face of darkness at the end of the world.

One day, they stopped at the edge of a city shrouded in black fog. This was once a prosperous place, but now it was dead silent. From time to time, wailing and low moans of despair could be heard in the black fog, as if being swallowed by the shadow of despair.

"Is this the masterpiece of the shadow forces? We can't turn a blind eye to it." Zhao Ming clenched the Sword of Courage, lightning and thunder wandered around him, ready to dispel the darkness before his eyes.

"Wait," Su Mo stopped him, "Direct confrontation may not be the best way. The natural energy here has been severely distorted. We need to find the source of the pollution."

Li Zixue gently stroked the Book of Wisdom, and the pages turned automatically, finally stopping on an ancient illustration - a dungeon hidden deep in the city, where a weeping soul was imprisoned.

"It seems that we have to sneak into that dungeon and rescue that soul." Li Zixue said, her expression serious and determined.

The three of them sneaked into the city carefully. The black fog seemed to be afraid of their righteousness and quietly retreated. The entrance to the dungeon was secretive and gloomy, and a repressive atmosphere came to their faces. They lit torches and went deeper into the abyss of darkness step by step.

At the end of the dungeon, a soul with a faint glow was trapped in a solid iron cage. It was the guardian spirit of the city, which was gradually losing its power due to people's fear and despair.

"We are the ones who harmed you, and we are also too late." Su Mo said softly. Her fingers touched the iron cage lightly, and a green light spread out, gradually disintegrating the chains.

The guardian spirit slowly opened his eyes, which were full of gratitude and hope. "Thank you, brave traveler. Please accept my blessing, and may the light always illuminate your path."

The guardian spirit transformed into a warm light and merged into the bodies of the three people. At that moment, their power was sublimated again. Not only did the power in their bodies become stronger, but an indescribable connection was established between their minds, as if they could sense each other's thoughts and emotions.

"This is the real power, which comes from the connection and resonance of the soul." Zhao Ming said with emotion.

"We are not only looking for the holy artifact, but also looking for ourselves and the connection with this world." Li Zixue added, with deeper wisdom in her eyes.

"Then, let us keep moving forward and use this power to ignite every darkness until the crown of hope awakens in everyone's heart." After Su Mo finished speaking, the three of them smiled at each other. That smile contained infinite confidence and hope for the future.

"Let's go. The Book of Wisdom will tell us the answer to where our next stop is." Li Zixue gently closed the book. The cover glowed warmly under the light of the campfire, as if encouraging them to move on.

As the night deepened, the three people sitting around the campfire became more mysterious and expectant. Suddenly, a line of words in the book began to glow, and a map slowly emerged, pointing to a distant and unfamiliar place - the Forgotten Valley.

"The Forgotten Valley... sounds mysterious and dangerous." Zhao Ming tightly grasped the Sword of Courage, his brows revealing an unconcealable curiosity and desire for challenge.

"Legend has it that ancient memories and powerful forces are sealed there, as well as the secrets and regrets of countless explorers." Su Mo's tone was low, and the power of nature surged gently around her, as if she had an inexplicable sense of that unknown place.

"No matter what, if the clues of the Crown of Hope point to the Forgotten Valley, we must find out." Li Zixue's words were full of determination. The light of wisdom illuminated her eyes, as if she had foreseen the difficulties and glory ahead.

"Next, the fragment of the heart of nature. It is said that it is hidden in the secret realm closest to the sky." Li Zixue flipped through the book of wisdom. The faint light in the book guided them to an unknown place.

The news of their journey spread quickly, attracting more followers. At a small town market, an old man stopped them with admiration in his eyes: "Warriors, I heard about your feat and I want to guide you. I was an explorer in my youth and I know the ancient path to the secret realm of the sky."

"Old man, your help is invaluable to us." Zhao Ming said gratefully. Every bit of help along the way brought them one step closer to their goal.

Under the guidance of the old man, they crossed the endless sea of ​​clouds and came to an island suspended in the air - the city in the sky. Here, the air is fresh and seems to cleanse the soul. The residents live a secluded life with the wind as their companion.

"Welcome to the city in the sky, brave travelers." A woman dressed so lightly that she seemed to dance with the wind said to them, "The fragment of the heart of nature you are looking for is hidden in the temple of our city, but to obtain it, you need to pass the test of the wind god."

"Please lead the way. We are willing to accept any test." Su Mo replied calmly. There was a faint green flowing around her body, resonating harmoniously with the natural environment here.

The test was to race against the wind, running along the most precipitous ridge of the island, and the finish line was the statue of the God of Wind. Zhao Ming, Su Mo and Li Zixue encouraged each other, worked together, and finally rushed to the finish line accompanied by a gust of wind.

In front of the statue of the God of Wind, they were awarded a fragment of the Heart of Nature, a crystal that emitted a soft blue light. It gently rotated beside Zhao Ming's Sword of Courage, and the two seemed to have a natural affinity.

"You already have power and harmony. The remaining fountain of knowledge will guide you to understand the truth of the world." The elder of the sky city said to them, with the light of wisdom flashing in his eyes.

With the newly acquired holy relic, they left the sky city and headed for their final destination - an ancient library sealed with knowledge and history. Legend has it that the fountain of knowledge is hidden in the deepest secret room of the library, and only those who truly understand the value of knowledge can find it.

In the long corridors of the library, they encountered various puzzles and traps. Every time they solved them, Li Zixue's book of wisdom became more enriched, as if behind every door illuminated by knowledge, there were new revelations waiting for them.

"Found it!" In a dim secret room, Su Mo's voice broke the silence. A drop of clear spring water was suspended in the air, emitting a lavender light. It was the living water of the fountain of knowledge.

The moment they collected all the relics, the three of them felt an unprecedented sense of fulfillment. They understood that the challenges and gains along the way were not only to open the door of time and space, but also their growth and transformation as warriors.

"Now, it's time." Zhao Ming held the Sword of Courage, Su Mo held the Fragment of Nature's Heart, and Li Zixue gently raised the container filled with living water from the Fountain of Knowledge. The three of them surrounded the Stone of Destiny and embedded them one by one into the specific grooves on the gem.

The gem suddenly burst into dazzling light, and a huge door of time and space slowly opened. Inside was a galaxy flashing with countless possibilities, an interweaving of the past and the future.

"What will we discover? An unknown universe, or the mysteries of another world?" Li Zixue asked expectantly.

"No matter which one it is, we must face it together." Zhao Ming held his companion's hand tightly, and their eyes flashed with the same determination and fearlessness. (End of this chapter)