The contestant is too old, sister Zhou is crazy

"Are you ready, friends?" Zhao Ming quickly exchanged glances with his teammates, and everyone nodded. There were no extra words, only tacit understanding of action.

“Come on, no matter what kind of test it is, we will get through it together.” Li Zixue closed the Book of Wisdom and held it close to his chest, as if drawing strength from it.

Following the guardian spirit's signal, the first mechanism was activated. The floor tiles in the center of the hall suddenly cracked, revealing a staircase leading underground. Blue flames burned on the surrounding stone walls, reflecting their determined faces.

"Who knows what's down there." With a teasing smile on his face, Ajie was the first to step onto the stairs, and the others followed closely behind him, stepping into the unknown step by step.

At the end of the stairs is a huge basement with an ancient altar in the center, scattered with several seemingly insignificant items: a broken mirror, a dusty diary, a rusty key, and a small bottle filled with a strange liquid.

"Are these... the key to the trial?" Su Mo asked softly, her vines quietly reaching out to those items, as if trying to sense their stories.

"Everyone makes the same choice, which may determine our fate." Zhao Ming suggested. He first walked towards the small bottle, his eyes full of determination.

Li Zixue walked towards the diary and gently brushed off the dust on the surface, as if she could hear the voice of the past whispering in her ear. Ajie picked up the rusty key without hesitation, with a light in his eyes that challenged everything. Finally, Su Mo gently picked up the broken mirror. Although it was no longer complete, it seemed to glow with a different kind of vitality in her hands.

"Now, let's see where these choices will bring us." The voice of the guardian spirit sounded again, accompanied by a low roar, and the four walls of the basement began to move slowly, forming four separate rooms.

"Act separately. If we are in danger, communicate through elemental resonance." As soon as Zhao Ming finished speaking, he was swept into a world full of strong winds by a sudden gust of wind.

"It seems that I am facing the test of the wind." Ajie held the key tightly in his hand and stood facing the wind. His sword flashed in the storm, cutting off the raging wind blades.

Li Zixue was in a secret room full of bookshelves. Every ancient book was telling her about the weight and temptation of knowledge. She took a deep breath and opened her diary. Those ancient words began to flow, forming a torrent of knowledge that impacted her consciousness.

The room where Su Mo was was filled with endless darkness. The broken mirror in her hand emitted a soft light. She whispered softly to the mirror, and every word seemed to be calling for the power of life. Gradually, a faint light flickered around, dispelling the darkness.

"Zhao Ming, what is your trial?" The voice of the guardian spirit sounded in his ears, and he found himself standing in chaos. The liquid in the vial seemed to be guiding him, revealing his inner fear and anxiety.

As their respective trials deepened, the challenges they faced became increasingly arduous, but whenever there was a crisis, they could feel the invisible support from their companions, which was the power of elemental resonance and the unspoken trust between each other.

Finally, when they each overcame difficulties and returned to the starting point, the voice of the guardian spirit echoed again: "The courage and wisdom you have shown are the key to unlocking the ancient secrets. Now, tell me, what do you want?"

"What we seek is the power to stop darkness and protect light." Zhao Ming's answer was steady and firm. The other three also nodded. Their eyes showed not only a desire for the unknown, but also an unwavering commitment to the future.

The guardian spirit nodded slowly, and the items on the altar suddenly emitted a dazzling light, merging into a beam of pure light that was injected into the bodies of the four people. An unprecedented power flowed through them.

"The ancient power has now awakened. But remember, the greatest power comes from the connection and trust between you." The figure of the guardian spirit gradually blurred until it completely dissipated.

The four of them looked at each other, with shock in their eyes and infinite longing for the future.

"Next, no matter what the road ahead holds, we will go on together." Ajie's words were both a declaration and a promise.

"That's right, as long as we are connected in heart, nothing can stop us." Su Mo's voice was gentle but firm, and her vines seemed to be rejoicing and growing more luxuriantly.

"Now, let's go to the forgotten ruins, uncover the hidden secrets and stop the dark forces." Li Zixue flipped through the book of wisdom with updated content, and a new goal had become clear.

"Let's go, a new chapter is waiting for us to write." Zhao Ming sheathed his sword, took firm steps, and led the team towards the unknown journey ahead.

As the four people left the ruins, the surrounding environment seemed to become different because of their departure. Those curious creatures reappeared, and their discussions and sighs were not only their admiration for the four travelers, but also their beautiful expectations for the future.

"Look, they have a different glow about them. They must have been blessed by the ruins."

"Follow them, and you will definitely see incredible things."

"I also want to be a hero like them and bring light to this world."

"Who says you can't?" A childish voice sounded in the crowd. A little boy broke free from the adults' hands and ran into the sight of the four people who were about to disappear. "One day, I will also embark on a journey and find my own strength!"

"Child, it's good to have such a dream, but remember that the journey is difficult and you must proceed with caution." An old man touched the little boy's head lovingly, his eyes full of memories of the past and expectations for the future.

The little boy looked up, his eyes flashing with determination: "I know, but just like them, I'm not afraid!"

This sentence seemed to stir up slight ripples in the air, reaching the ears of the four people who had already gone far away. Su Mo turned around, smiled in that direction, and said softly: "Everyone with a bright heart can become his own hero."

"Yes, light is not limited by size, and every seed of hope has the potential to grow into a towering tree that illuminates the world." Li Zixue echoed, and the book of wisdom gently turned a new page, as if silently recording it all.

Zhao Ming and Ajie smiled at each other. The former patted the little boy. Although the distance was too far to reach, the encouragement and affirmation were clearly felt: "Keep this courage, the future belongs to you."

The little boy's eyes lit up, and the creatures around him were also infected by the atmosphere. The discussions gradually turned into shouts of encouragement and cheers. Their backs seemed even taller, as if they had become a beautiful scenery on this land.

"Now, we should focus on the task at hand." Ajie's words drew the team's attention back. They knew that the road ahead was still long and full of unknowns.

"Indeed, the secret of the ruins is just the tip of the iceberg. The threat of dark forces still looms over this continent." Li Zixue looked solemn, and the light of the Book of Wisdom seemed to become more determined, as if pointing them in the direction.

"Then, let us become the light of dawn, unveiling the darkness step by step and welcoming the light." Su Mo's vines swayed gently, as if announcing their determination to the world.

"Well said, Su Mo." Zhao Ming nodded heavily and pointed his sword forward. It was not only a preview of the upcoming battle, but also a declaration of deep trust and support between each other. "No matter how dangerous the road ahead is, as long as we fight side by side, there will be no difficulties that cannot be overcome."

As they continued to go deeper into the unknown, the scene around them quietly changed. Tender green sprouts began to emerge on the barren land, as if the power of light they carried was quietly changing this long-sleeping land.

“Look, all things are responding to our actions, as if telling us that the light has never left, it is just waiting to be awakened.” Li Zixue pointed to the new green, and the book of wisdom automatically opened to the chapter describing the revival of nature. The words seemed to come to life, jumping and cheering.

In the villages and towns along the way, when the residents saw the strange light emanating from the four travelers, they were all amazed, and their conversations were full of wonder and awe.

"Look, they are like heroes from legends!" A farmer put down the sickle in his hand and followed the figures that were gradually going away.

"Does the legendary messenger of light really exist?" A young woman held her child's hand, hope glittering in her eyes.

"Mom, where are they going?" the child asked, looking up, his eyes full of curiosity.

"Go to a place that we may never reach, fight against evil and protect us." The mother answered gently, her tone full of admiration and gratitude for these brave men.

One evening, when they stopped at a tavern in a small town to rest, several adventurers at the next table could not help but come over and try to dig out more details of the legendary story from them.

"Hey, guys. I heard that you guys are back from the forgotten ruins? Did you really get some incredible treasure?" A burly man wearing leather armor and with a full beard asked in a low voice, unable to hide his excitement.

Zhao Ming smiled slightly, and instead of answering directly, he asked, "What do you think is the real treasure?"

"Haha, of course it's those things that can make people famous and rich overnight!" another companion laughed, causing a round of agreement.

“Fame and fortune?” Ajie gently stroked the hilt of the sword, his eyes deep. “Perhaps the most precious thing to us is not gold and silver, but the friendships we have made along the way and all the efforts we have made for the light.”

The surroundings suddenly became quiet. Everyone was touched by Ajie's words and no one responded for a while.

"Indeed," Su Mo's voice was gentle but powerful. "What we pursue is the power that cannot be seen or touched, but can illuminate people's hearts and dispel fear. This is the most precious thing."

As night fell, they left the tavern amid the admiration and thoughtful gazes of the crowd and headed for their next destination. Before leaving, Su Mo turned around and whispered to everyone: "Remember, everyone can be the hero of their own story."

This sentence, like a seed, is sown in everyone's heart, waiting for a moment in the future to bloom with its own light.

"Let's go. There are more challenges and secrets waiting for us to uncover." Li Zixue closed the Book of Wisdom and looked forward with a firm gaze. It was a desire for the unknown and trust in his partners.

"That's right, Li Zixue." Zhao Ming nodded in agreement, his sword already unsheathed, reflecting his firm will. "The unknown is always accompanied by challenges, but it is also these that make us stronger."

“Isn’t the exploration of the unknown the meaning of us as adventurers?” Ajie smiled. The rusty key in his hand seemed to add a bit of mystery in the dim light, as if foreshadowing a greater secret that was about to be unlocked.

"Let's set off. The battle between light and darkness will never stop, and we will be the light that cuts through the darkness." Su Mo's vines wrapped around her arms, green and full of vitality, as if it was nature's silent support for them.

They left the town and walked into the wilderness, leaving behind the amazement and blessings of the residents. On the way, they encountered various challenges, whether it was ferocious monsters, intricate mazes, or even lost souls controlled by dark forces, all of which tested their wisdom, courage and teamwork.

"Look, what is that?" Li Zixue pointed to a ruin in the distance, where an unusual light shone. The book of wisdom automatically turned pages, revealing ancient records about that place.

"The ruins hide important clues that may lead us to the key to fighting the darkness." Zhao Ming deduced, and they quickened their pace and headed towards the ruins.

After entering the ruins, they were enveloped by a heavy atmosphere. Just as they were exploring carefully, the ground suddenly shook, and a huge shadow creature emerged from the shadows, its hideous appearance was terrifying.

"Prepare for battle!" Ajie gave the order, and everyone quickly got into position. The battle was about to start. Ajie's sword danced like a dragon, and every swing was extremely accurate; Su Mo's vines turned into a tough shield, while binding the enemy; Li Zixue's Book of Wisdom emitted a soft but powerful light, providing support for teammates; and Zhao Ming was like a sharp blade in the storm, shuttling through the enemy's formation, and every sword strike hit the vital point.

The battle was fierce and difficult, but at the most critical moment, a talisman shining with the light of hope flew out from Su Mo's broken mirror and directly hit the core of the shadow creature. In an instant, the huge monster turned into nothing, leaving only shadow fragments on the ground.

"This...what kind of power is this?" Zhao Ming looked at the mirror in Su Mo's hand in disbelief. It seemed that it had regained a bit of its former glory in the battle just now.

"It seems that this broken mirror contains unexpected power. We need to understand it more deeply." Su Mo stroked the mirror gently, his heart filled with new hope. (End of this chapter)