The contestant is too old, sister Zhou is crazy

"Where is the last key?" Li Zixue gently stroked the Book of Wisdom, her eyes flashing with curiosity and desire for the unknown.

"The Book of Wisdom will give us the answer." Ajie patted her shoulder with full confidence.

At this moment, the Book of Wisdom opened automatically, and a soft blue light shone on the pages. A map suddenly appeared on it, pointing to a distant frozen land.

"The frozen land... It seems that our final destination is there." Li Zixue slowly read the words on the map with a determined tone.

"No matter what kind of test is hidden there, as long as the four of us are together, there will be no difficulties that cannot be overcome." Zhao Ming stood up, his sword of courage gleaming silver in the moonlight, as if foreshadowing the magnificent adventure that is about to come.

As the conversation around the campfire came to an end, they packed up and prepared to face the final challenge. Under the cover of night, the four figures embarked on a long journey to the frozen land, and their story had long been sung by people, becoming the prologue of a legend.

"The frozen land is waiting for us. That last key will be the key to balancing everything." Zhao Ming's voice echoed in the night sky, "Yes, and I think that under that piece of ice and snow, there may be deeper secrets than we imagined." Ajie followed closely behind, his eyes penetrating the night, as if he could already see the many difficulties ahead.

"A secret... or a test." Li Zixue frowned slightly and gently closed the Book of Wisdom. Her eyes became more thoughtful. "The Book of Wisdom mentioned that the frozen land was once the remains of an ancient civilization. It contained power and knowledge, but it could also be an abyss of despair and loneliness."

Passerby A, who was returning from collecting firewood, overheard their conversation and could not help but stop in his tracks, looking surprised: "You...are going to the Frozen Land? That's a place whose very name makes people shudder!"

"Yes, for the sake of this world, we must move forward." Su Mo explained gently, the vines gently wrapped around his fingers, as if to soothe the anxiety of others, "Please convey to the people in the village for us that no matter what the outcome, our determination will not change."

"You are truly amazing!" Passerby A exclaimed, his eyes full of admiration for their courage. "May the ancient gods bless you and bring back the dawn of peace."

After bidding farewell to the passers-by, the four continued to move forward. The wind and snow gradually intensified, and every step seemed extremely difficult. On the edge of a remote town, they met a ragged old beggar. He trembled and stretched out his dry hands, and said in a hoarse voice: "Warriors, if you really want to cross the frozen land, please take this." Then, he handed them a piece of tattered map fragment.

"This is... a shortcut to the Frozen Heart." Li Zixue carefully examined the fragment, with a flash of surprise in her eyes, "How did you get this?"

The old beggar smiled mysteriously: "It will find the person who needs it. Remember, the real test lies not in the dangers of the outside world, but in the choice within your heart."

After saying this, the old beggar turned around and disappeared into the crowd, leaving only four people standing there in a daze, holding the thin piece of map tightly in their hands.

As they got closer to the frozen land, the cold became biting and the air was filled with ominous omens. In a simple shelter, they met three explorers who were repairing their equipment, their eyes full of envy and unwillingness.

"We once tried to cross that ice sheet, but had to turn back halfway." One of them smiled bitterly, "You... don't look any stronger than me, why do you continue to move forward?"

"Because there are things that must be done." Zhao Ming's voice was firm and steady. "It's not because we are strong that we take on challenges, but challenges make us stronger."

These conversations, like beams of light, illuminated their path of faith. Finally, in a vast expanse of land covered in eternal winter snow, the outline of the frozen land was clearly visible. It was a world where even time seemed to stand still.

"Here... is the end." Ajie said softly with a complicated look in his eyes.

"Perhaps, this is also a new beginning." Su Mo responded, and the vines danced gently, as if building up strength for the upcoming battle.

"Look over there!" Li Zixue suddenly pointed to the distance. An ancient ice castle reflected a faint blue light in the afterglow of the setting sun. It stood alone and proudly in the ice and snow, surrounded by swirling storms, looking both mysterious and dangerous.

"Is that where the Frozen Heart is? It doesn't look like anyone can get close." Ajie frowned and his hand involuntarily tightened around the hilt of the sword.

"That's right, the real test begins now." Zhao Ming's eyes became more determined, "We have to find a way to get in. Does the Book of Wisdom have any clues, Li Zixue?"

Li Zixue opened the Book of Wisdom, and the pages automatically turned to a page depicting an ancient ritual. "The book says that to enter the Ice Castle, we must complete a purification ceremony to prove that our hearts are pure and innocent."

"Ceremony of Purification?" Su Mo asked doubtfully, "How do you do it specifically?"

"You need to collect the three holy objects here: Tears of Ice, Eyes of Snow and Wind, and Sands of Time. Place them on the altar, and then you can open the door to the Ice Castle." Li Zixue explained.

So, the four of them split up and went deep into the ice field to search for the holy relics. Whenever they encountered difficulties or found holy relics, the surrounding environment and the reactions of passers-by all enhanced the tension and drama of the story.

In an abandoned frozen village, Zhao Ming found his first holy object, the Ice Tear. It was hidden in the eye socket of an ice sculpture girl, crystal clear, as if carrying endless sorrow. The souls of the villagers were permanently guarding here in the form of ice sculptures. The phantom of an old man appeared in front of Zhao Ming and said in a low voice: "Courageous man, may your journey be filled with light, take this tear away, and bring hope to this land."

Ajie fought against the strong wind at the top of a storm, and finally found the Eye of Snow in the center of the storm. It shone in the cyclone, as if it could see through everything. When he held the Eye of Snow, the storm miraculously subsided. A group of merchants passing by witnessed this scene and exclaimed: "It's incredible! This young man, he has mastered the secret of the wind!"

Su Mo found the Sand of Time in a frozen desert. The hourglass-shaped relic flowed in her hands, and time around her seemed to slow down. A passing adventurer looked at her in amazement: "Are you... are you controlling time? This power is amazing!"

Returning with the three holy objects, the four completed the purification ceremony on the ancient altar. When the last grain of sand of time fell, after a burst of strong light, the door of the ice castle burst open.

"Welcome, brave men. You have proven your worth." A deep voice echoed in the empty ice castle, as if it came from every ice crystal.

Deep in the ice castle, they finally found the last piece of the Key to Nature, but also discovered a shocking secret: the one guarding the key was not an enemy, but another ancient explorer, his body sealed in ice and snow, only a pair of eyes revealing his vicissitudes and wisdom.

"I have been waiting for you for a long time." His voice was weak but firm. "This final key is not only a tool to open the door to the balanced world, but also the right to choose your own destiny. But remember, true power comes from the light within your heart."

"What do you mean?" Li Zixue asked softly.

"Choice is always the most difficult test." His words were meaningful, "and your choice will determine the future of the world."

"Then, how should we choose?" Zhao Ming took a step forward and lightly touched the ground with the tip of his sword, as if to declare that they were ready to accept any challenge.

"After observing your journey, I have found the answer." The ancient explorer slowly opened his eyes, reflecting the different expressions of the four people. "You already have a direction in your heart. You only need to follow your beliefs to find the right path."

"But," Applejack hesitated, "what if we made the wrong choice?"

"Don't be afraid even if you are wrong." The explorer smiled, although his smile was frozen by ice. "Mistakes are part of growth. They will lead you to discover a stronger self. The important thing is to keep moving forward and make corrections."

Su Mo stroked the vines gently, seeming to think about every word: "So, what we have to face next is our own inner demons?"

"Inner demons are also the driving force for moving forward." The explorer nodded, "Now is the time. Hold this key, let your determination guide it, and open the door to the future."

The four looked at each other, their eyes conveying trust and strength. Li Zixue reached out and gently touched the key of nature, which seemed to respond to her call, emitting a gentle light and resonating with the Book of Wisdom.

"We are ready." Zhao Ming's words were firm and powerful. They formed a circle, placed the key in the center, and each stretched out a hand to cover it.

With a flash of light, the surrounding space began to distort, and a portal to an unknown world slowly opened. No one knew whether there was brilliant light or a dark abyss inside.

Just as they were about to step through the door, a passing traveler witnessed it all. He covered his mouth in shock and said, "This... This is impossible! Where are they going? Heaven or hell?"

"Traveler, what you can't see is the light in their hearts." Another passerby joined in, eyes full of admiration, "That is the hero's path, only the bravest hearts can embark on it."

"Light... and hope." The traveler repeated in a low voice, his eyes following the four people's gradually disappearing figures until the portal closed and everything returned to peace.

At the last moment when the door closed, one of the four people, or perhaps everyone, left a message, which was both a promise for their own journey and an expectation for the future:
“No matter how difficult the road ahead is, as long as there is light in your heart, hope will never go out.”

These words echoed in the void for a long time, as if they had become a bridge connecting the two worlds, causing everyone who heard them to fall into deep thought.

Traveler A and Passerby B looked at each other, with unprecedented light flashing in their eyes. It seemed that at this moment, they were also touched by some kind of power, and their hearts were ignited with a desire for the unknown and the courage to explore.

"Yes, light and hope." The traveler murmured to himself, as if to cheer himself up, "Perhaps I should embark on my own journey to find the light in my heart."

"There is an undiscovered territory in everyone's heart, waiting to be explored." Passerby B encouraged, his tone full of inspiring power, "Their stories will become a beacon for all of us."

As the conversation between the two men fades away, the stage of the story seems to shift again to the new world of the four heroes. On the other side of the portal is a completely unfamiliar scene, with magnificent mountains and rivers, strange creatures, and an inexplicable energy surging in the air, indicating that this is a fantasy land where natural laws and magic are intertwined.

"Where...is this place?" Ajie looked around, and the sword in his hand made a subtle buzzing sound in the air of the new world, as if even the weapon could sense the unusual aura.

Su Mo's vines seemed particularly active in this new environment, full of greenery and vitality. She whispered, "Do you feel it? The life energy here is richer than anywhere else we know."

"Is there a record of such a place in the Book of Wisdom?" Zhao Ming asked Li Zixue, his eyes full of curiosity and vigilance about the unknown.

Li Zixue stared at the book of wisdom in her hand, and the pages turned automatically, as if searching for relevant information. "There is no exact description, but this may be the 'spiritual world' mentioned in ancient documents, the legendary place where spirit and matter meet."

Just as the four were preparing to explore further, a soft and slightly surprised voice came from not far away: "Welcome to the spirit world, visitors from the outside world. Few people can find this place. How did you do it?"

They looked in the direction of the sound and saw a woman in a long robe and a strange feather crown walking slowly towards them. She had a pretty face and her eyes contained wisdom beyond the mortal world. The creatures around her seemed to have a natural affinity for her, and birds and beasts surrounded her in harmony.

"We found this place through the Key of Nature and our own determination." Zhao Ming stepped forward and answered politely on behalf of the team, while remaining alert. "Excuse me, who are you? Is this really the legendary spirit world?"

The woman smiled, her smile as warm as spring sunshine: "I am Arya, one of the guardians of the spirit world. Your visit is not accidental, but a choice of fate. This world hides secrets that can change your destiny and even the entire world."

"The secret to changing destiny?" There was a barely perceptible excitement in Li Zixue's voice. The book of wisdom automatically turned to a new page at her touch, as if responding to this extraordinary encounter.

"Yes." Arya nodded. Her eyes swept over each person one by one, as if evaluating something. "But this power is not easily obtained. It requires you to face your deepest fears and desires and pass the test before you can master it." (End of this chapter)