The contestant is too old, sister Zhou is crazy

The cave was dark and filled with an ancient atmosphere. The four people moved forward cautiously. The faint light in the depths of the cave tempted them to explore deeper.

"Be careful, this light..." Before Zhao Ming finished his words, a low and long voice echoed in the cave, as if it was talking to them, or like a touch of their soul.

"Welcome, brave travelers. You are finally here." The voice was neither male nor female, but it carried an irresistible majesty.

"Who is it? Please show yourself!" Zhao Ming raised his sword to protect everyone. His sword of courage trembled slightly due to the unknown tension.

"I am the guardian of this forest, an ancient being." As the voice fell, a ball of light emerged in the center of the cave, and gradually, a form interwoven with light and shadow emerged.

"You have defeated my guards and demonstrated courage and wisdom. But the real test has just begun." The guardian's figure gradually became clear, and it looked at the four people in front of it with a scrutinizing gaze.

"Test? We are here to protect this land. If this is your wish, please tell us how to end this." Zhao Ming looked directly at the guardian without fear.

The guardian nodded slightly, revealing a hint of relief in his voice: "True power comes from the harmonious coexistence of the heart and nature. You need to find the lost key of nature and use it to balance the energy of this land. The key is divided into three parts and hidden in three trial places. Only by passing the trial can you get the key."

"The place of trial?" Li Zixue frowned, and the Book of Wisdom opened automatically, looking for relevant clues.

"I cannot tell you their exact location, as they change with the fluctuations of nature, but the voice in your heart will be the best guide." The guardian's words fell, and the light in the cave flickered. Its figure gradually faded, leaving only one sentence echoing in the air, "Remember, only by unity can we overcome everything."

The four of them looked at each other, and there was a common determination in their eyes. This unknown adventure was not only to defeat the stronger enemy, but also to protect all life on this land.

"No matter how difficult the trial is, we will find the answer." Zhao Ming held the sword of courage tightly, his gaze unwavering, illuminating the unknown darkness ahead.

"You're right, Zhao Ming." Su Mo's vines gently wrapped around her wrist, as if encouraging her from nature itself. "We've faced the invincible monsters together before, and we'll definitely be able to overcome all the difficulties this time."

"I am willing to use my knowledge to solve every mystery." Li Zixue closed the book of wisdom, his eyes flashing with desire for knowledge and confidence in the future.

Applejack nodded, his eyes firm. “As a hunter, tracking and survival are my specialties. I will ensure that we pass through every trial site safely.”

The four men stepped out of the cave, and the sunlight shone on them, as if nature had given them new strength. When passers-by saw them, they all showed admiration and expectation, and whispered about their heroic deeds.

"They must be going to look for the lost key to nature." A young man stopped and followed their backs.

"How brave! If it were me, I would have run away long ago." The old man next to him sighed, with a hint of longing in his eyes.

"They will succeed, I firmly believe." A little girl held her mother's hand, her eyes full of admiration.

These words were like a warm spring breeze, blowing into the hearts of the four people and giving them endless motivation. They followed the river and passed through the dense forest, searching for clues to the trial land according to the guidance of the Book of Wisdom.

"Look, there seems to be a mark carved on that ancient tree." Su Mo pointed to a towering tree by the river with strange runes carved on its trunk.

"Let me take a look." Li Zixue leaned in to take a closer look. The Book of Wisdom automatically turned pages, echoing the runes on the tree, emitting a faint blue light. "This is the instruction for the first trial site. We are going to the Mist Hidden Valley in the north."

Wuyin Valley, a place shrouded in thick fog all year round, is said to be full of unknowns and dangers. When they stepped into the valley entrance, the thick fog immediately enveloped them, and their vision was only a few feet away.

"Everyone hold on to each other and don't get separated." Zhao Ming's voice rang out in the fog, and the Sword of Courage emitted a soft green light, illuminating a small area for the team.

"It's so cold here." Ajie tightened his collar. Years of hunting experience told him that this place was not simple.

Suddenly, a low howl penetrated the fog, and then it seemed as if countless pairs of prying eyes appeared in the surrounding environment.

"Prepare for battle!" Zhao Ming immediately deployed his defenses, and the others quickly formed a circle, back to back.

"Don't be nervous, maybe this is just part of the trial." Li Zixue tried to comfort everyone, and the Book of Wisdom automatically turned to the page about defensive spells.

At this moment, a huge fog beast appeared from the mist, its body made of flowing fog, its eyes flashing with strange light. It did not attack immediately, but slowly circled around the four people, as if evaluating their strength.

"Sons of nature, why are you invading my territory?" The voice of the fog beast echoed in the valley, with a hint of curiosity and teasing.

"We are looking for the key to nature in order to balance this land." Zhao Ming drew his sword with a firm posture, indicating their purpose.

The mist beast was silent for a moment, and then it actually let out a low roar that sounded like laughter. "Interesting, prove your strength and pass my test, and maybe I can give you some help."

As the fog beast spoke, the surrounding fog began to condense, forming various illusions. Some were ferocious beasts, some were desperate battlefields. Each illusion tested their inner fear and determination.

"Concentrate, these are just illusions!" Su Mo's vines weaved into a net, blocking the horrific scenes that were coming towards him.

The four of them, relying on their own expertise and firm belief, broke through the illusions of the fog beast one by one. When the last layer of illusion dissipated, the fog beast turned into a breeze and disappeared into the valley.

"Congratulations, you have passed the test." The voice of the fog beast echoed in the air, and along with these words, a key fragment emitting a faint fluorescent light appeared in front of them.

"Is this... a part of the Key of Nature?" Ajie picked up the fragment, unable to hide his shock.

"That's right, we have to keep moving forward and look for the remaining two pieces." Zhao Ming put away the Sword of Courage and looked into the distance.

With the acquisition of the first key, they knew that the road ahead would be more difficult, but their awe of nature, love for their homeland, and mutual trust and support became their strongest backing.

On the way back to the village, they met more villagers, each of whom looked at them with admiration and encouraged these brave explorers with words of hope.

"May you find all the keys soon and become the true guardians of our land!" An old man's voice rang out among the crowd, full of affection.

"Thank you for your blessings. We will live up to your expectations." Zhao Ming responded solemnly, and his sword of courage gently touched the ground, as if he was swearing an oath to the earth.

"Look, it's them! The warriors who found the key to nature!" a child shouted excitedly, attracting even more enthusiastic glances from the people around him.

"I can't believe they actually made it to the first step." A middle-aged woman exclaimed in a low voice, her eyes full of surprise.

"Not only did they do it, they also brought back the legendary hope." The young man on the other side took over, his face filled with pride and expectation.

The four continued to move forward, and each step seemed heavier, because they knew that as the trial progressed, the challenges waiting for them would only become more difficult. As night fell, they returned to the village. Many people sat around the bonfire in the village, talking about the four people's feats, with a gleam of longing in their eyes.

"Your stories have ignited everyone's hope, and tonight's bonfire is even hotter because of you." The village chief stood up and bowed deeply to them.

"Village chief, this is what we should do. Next, we must find the remaining two keys and complete our mission." Su Mo replied softly, her vines swaying gently, as if responding to this promise.

At night, the sky was clear and the Book of Wisdom was turning automatically on Li Zixue's lap. She was concentrating on finding clues about the next trial site. "Got it. According to the book, the second key is located deep in the Fiery Volcano, where the secret of the Heart of Fire is hidden."

"A volcano? That's a place that even birds don't dare to approach easily." Ajie frowned, but for a hunter, the more dangerous the environment, the more it can stimulate his fighting spirit.

The next day, the four of them set out on their journey again, heading towards the flaming volcano. On the way, they passed a small town, and pedestrians stopped and looked at their receding backs, talking about them.

"Have you heard? They are heroes going to conquer the volcano." A traveler with a backpack stopped and looked up at the mountains in the distance.

"That volcano is a place of death that even the most experienced explorers dare not easily attempt." An old businessman sighed, but there was a hint of respect in his tone.

“But they are different. I have seen their heroic performances in the Hidden Mist Valley. Nothing can stop them.” A young woman said firmly, with admiration in her eyes.

The outline of the flaming volcano gradually became clear. From afar, thick smoke billowed from the crater, and magma occasionally erupted, lighting up half of the sky. Faced with such a spectacular and dangerous scene, the four people did not retreat, but became more determined.

"Are you ready? This will be a more difficult challenge than the previous one." Zhao Ming gripped the Sword of Courage tightly, with the tip of the sword pointing in the direction of the volcano. There was no hesitation in his tone.

"As long as we are together, nothing is impossible." Su Mo's vines gently wrapped around his companion's wrist, conveying strength and courage.

Entering the volcanic area, the heat wave hit them, the lava river blocked their way, and the fire spirit jumped around, testing their will and endurance. Just as they carefully crossed a hot rock area, a wall of flames suddenly rose up, blocking their way.

"Heart of Fire, are you testing us?" Li Zixue held up the Book of Wisdom, and a protective shield that resisted high temperatures flashed between the pages.

"Only those who have pure fire in their hearts can pass my trial." A deep voice echoed in the sea of ​​fire, with a hint of severity and expectation.

Facing the test, the four stood side by side, each playing to their strengths. Ajie used his keen observation to discover the subtle changes in the wall of fire; Su Mo's vines mutated into fireproof vines to open up a passage for the team; Li Zixue used the Book of Wisdom to decipher the code of the ancient flame; and Zhao Ming used the sword of courage to cut through the illusion and illuminate the way forward.

After countless failures and attempts, the towering wall of fire finally slowly opened, revealing the path to the heart of fire. In a spacious cave made of lava, the second piece of the key of nature lay quietly, emitting a warm red light, as if it was a gift from the volcano itself.

"We succeeded." Ajie said softly. The key fragment in his hand seemed to resonate with the new one, making a slight sound.

"But our journey is not over yet. The last key will definitely be the most difficult challenge." Zhao Ming stared into the distance. His eyes showed both worry about the future and fearless determination.

Just as they were about to leave, a faint cry for help came from the corner of the cave. It was the phantom of a little girl trapped by the spirit of fire. Although her image was illusory, her desire to survive was extremely real.

"We can't leave her behind." Su Mo said firmly, her vines stretched out, trying to touch the illusory figure.

"Yes. Even in such an environment, we cannot give up any life." Li Zixue nodded, and the Book of Wisdom shone brightly, releasing a gentle force that protected the little girl Phantom from the harm of the fire.

Just as they rescued the little girl, the fire in the cave suddenly went out, and the phantom of the little girl disappeared with it, leaving only a gem shining with a strange light - a symbol of sacrifice and love.

"Is this... a recognition of us?" Ajie stroked the gem gently, his heart surging with unprecedented emotion.

"No matter what, we have obtained something precious. Now, let us carry on with all this and move on." Zhao Ming put away the gems and led everyone out of the flaming volcano. Behind them, what was left was admiration and praise along the way.

As night fell again, they sat by the campfire and discussed their next plan. As for the final trial that was about to come, everyone had a special anticipation and anxiety in their hearts.

"No matter what the final trial is, I believe we can overcome it together." Zhao Ming looked at the fire with a firm look in his eyes.

"Because we are not only partners, but also each other's strength." Su Mo added softly, and the vines wrapped around their shoulders, tightly connecting them. (End of this chapter)