The contestant is too old, sister Zhou is crazy

"In this mysterious valley, you will encounter three trials, which represent the ultimate challenges of the heart, intellect, and strength. Only by passing these trials will the true secrets of the Guardian of Light be revealed to you." The old man held a lantern, and the light seemed to fluctuate with his words, shining on everyone's face, giving them an unspoken power.

"We will not retreat, no matter how difficult the trial is." Su Mo said firmly, her eyes flashing with desire for the unknown and confidence in victory.

"Follow me." The old man led them to a huge mirror. The mirror was as calm as a lake, but it could not reflect anyone. "This is the mirror of the soul. It will reveal your truest fears and desires in your heart. Only by facing and overcoming them can your soul become pure and strong."

Zhao Ming was the first to step forward. The scene in the mirror changed instantly. He saw the scene of his own failure, surrounded by desperate cries. He gripped the hilt of the sword tightly, and sweat dripped from his forehead. "I will never let darkness defeat light. Even if I am the only one left, I will fight to the last moment!" His determination was like thunder, and the scene in the mirror shattered, revealing his firm and clear eyes.

Afterwards, everyone experienced their own trials. Li Zixue faced the painful memories of losing her loved ones, Ajie faced his own weakness and escape, and Lin Hao was wavering between reason and emotion. But in the end, they all overcame the obstacles of their hearts with their tenacious will.

"Next is the Forest of Knowledge, which contains the wisdom to unlock the mysteries of all things in the world." After passing through a winding path, they entered a forest made up of glowing books, each of which told them different knowledge and stories.

Su Mo seemed extremely excited. She touched a floating ancient book and was immediately sucked into a mathematical maze full of symbols and formulas. "Wisdom lies not only in learning, but also in application and innovation." She solved one problem after another with extraordinary thinking, and finally escaped from the book, and the book of wisdom also shone brighter.

As the sunset dyed the sky red, they reached the pinnacle of power. A huge dark shadow was suspended in the air, emitting a suffocating pressure. "This is the final test. Face the darkness in your hearts and transform it into the power of light." The old man's voice came from afar, encouraging and deep.

The five people joined forces, their minds, wisdom, and strength merged at this moment, forming a brilliant light that rushed straight into the dark shadow. In the battle, they each played to their strengths and supported each other. Finally, the seemingly invincible darkness collapsed in front of their firm belief and turned into starlight and dissipated.

"You did it, young travelers." The old man nodded with satisfaction, and the lantern in his hand shone brightly. "The secret of the guardian of light has actually been in your hearts for a long time. It is faith, love, and an indomitable spirit. The true guardian of light is not a single existence, but the collection of all those who hold a heart of light."

"So what should we do next?" Ajie asked anxiously.

The old man smiled and pointed to a shining gate at the end of the valley: "There, it leads to the final battlefield where light and darkness clash. Are you ready?"

"We are always ready." The five people answered in unison, the light in their eyes brighter than ever.

As they set out on their way to the gate, the old man's voice rang out again: "Remember, light and darkness will always coexist. It's up to us to choose. May the light guide your path."

The valley gradually disappeared behind them, and the door to the unknown was slowly opening. What awaited them would be the final battle that would determine the fate of the world.

"We are here." There was fearlessness in Lin Hao's words. They walked firmly towards the shining door, and every step seemed to be on the boundary between hope and challenge.

The door burst open, and an ancient and powerful force rushed towards them, as if traveling through the corridor of time. A whole new world appeared before their eyes - this was a world intertwined with light and darkness. In the sky, the clouds of light and darkness were in fierce confrontation, thunder and lightning were raging, and light and shadow intertwined to create a shocking picture.

"Is this... the final battlefield between light and darkness?" Zhao Ming looked around, with shock and determination in his eyes.

"It seems that our journey has not ended, but has come to the real starting point." Su Mo gently stroked the Book of Wisdom. There seemed to be light surging between the pages, as if responding to the call between heaven and earth.

"No matter what we face, we must stand shoulder to shoulder and walk through it together." Li Zixue held her companion's hand tightly, her eyes gentle but firm, conveying unshakable trust.

"Yes, as long as we are together, there is nothing we can't overcome." Ajie smiled, with the calmness and confidence that came after going through countless storms.

The five people gathered into an immortal light, traveling through this chaotic world, looking for the key to balance light and darkness. On the way, they encountered various challenges: creatures eroded by darkness, out-of-control elemental storms, and even inner confusion and struggle. But every time, they relied on each other's wisdom, courage, and their persistent belief in light to overcome difficulties one by one, purify the polluted land, and illuminate the way forward.

"Look over there!" Lin Hao pointed to the distance, an area shrouded in darkness. There, an almost solid dark crack was greedily devouring the surrounding light. That was the core of the dark forces.

"We have no choice but to seal that crack, otherwise the whole world will fall into eternal night." Zhao Ming looked solemn, with the tip of his sword pointing at the darkness, a flame of determination burning in his eyes.

"Let us bring light back to this world together." Su Mo's words were like a spring breeze, inspiring everyone's heart. She opened the Book of Wisdom, and the ancient runes flowed, turning into a powerful force, pointing the way for them and also strengthening their strength.

The decisive battle is imminent, and the five people are engaged in a fierce battle with the apostles from darkness. This battle is not only a contest of force, but also a duel of will and faith. They fight against their respective fateful enemies, and each battle is full of thrills, but whenever one person is in trouble, there are always other partners who stand up and ignite the fire of hope with the light of life.

At the climax of the fierce battle, when the last dark apostle fell, the five gathered in front of the crack, gathered all their strength into a beam of dazzling light, and shot it towards the center of the crack. At this moment, light and darkness collided, erupting with earth-shaking energy. In the end, the crack was sealed, the darkness gradually receded, and light once again filled the land.

“We did it,” Applejack breathed, smiling broadly.

"Yes, we did it." Lin Hao, Zhao Ming, Su Mo and Li Zixue smiled at each other, their eyes reflecting each other and this reborn world.

On the way back to the Temple of the Guardian of Light, the old man's words echoed in their hearts: "Light and darkness will always coexist, and you have become the bridge that balances it all."

"Let's go home and bring the story of light to every corner of the world." Su Mo gently closed the book of wisdom, and the group set out on their journey home, their hearts full of new missions and hopes.

"Darkness will not sit idly by and watch the rise of light. Our recent victory is only the awakening of the sleeping beast. Greater challenges are coming." The words of the pioneer are heavy, but also full of encouragement.

Su Mo and Zhao Ming looked at each other. They knew very well that this was only the prologue and the real battle had just begun.

"Pioneer, do you know what will happen next?" Li Zixue asked, with anxiety and urgency in her voice.

The old man stroked the flute in his hand and said slowly: "An ancient prophecy mentioned that when the balance between light and darkness is broken, a key figure who can lead light to defeat darkness will appear - the 'Mentor of Light'. We need to find this person. Perhaps he is the key to changing everything."

"Then how can we find this mentor of light?" Eunjeong asked, her eyes full of anticipation for the future.

"It is said that the Mentor of Light holds the 'Guide to Glory', a mysterious ancient book that can guide the messengers of light to the path of light. But the book has been missing for many years, and no one knows where it is." The Forerunner said with some regret, and then added: "However, there is a clue pointing to the frozen ruins in the north, which was once the secluded place of the ancient priests of light. The Guide to Glory may be there."

"The journey to the north is long and dangerous. We must prepare as soon as possible." Salman interrupted, his voice firm, showing his determination as a warrior.

"Indeed, time is running out." The Forerunner nodded and turned to look at the crowd. "I will prepare some necessary items for you and share all the knowledge I know to help you."

"We are grateful." Su Mo thanked the pioneers on behalf of everyone, and his sense of mission became stronger.

In the following days, they learned ancient knowledge and skills under the guidance of the forerunners, and also collected the materials needed to go to the North. The cabin was filled with a tense and warm atmosphere, and everyone knew that this was not just a journey, but an adventure to save the world.

On the eve of departure, everyone gathered in the pioneer's room, and the atmosphere was a little heavy.

"The risks of this trip are unknown, but we must move forward." Su Mo looked around at everyone, determination flashing in his eyes.

"We are the messengers of light, and we are not afraid of darkness." Zhao Ming's words aroused everyone's fighting spirit.

"Then, let's set off early tomorrow morning." The pioneer took out a small crystal ball from his arms and handed it to Su Mo. "This is the fragment of the Heart of Light. It will protect you and guide you at the critical moment."

Su Mo took it solemnly and felt a warm current flowing into his heart. He knew that this was not just an item, but also the deep expectations and trust of the pioneers for them.

As night fell, everything was quiet. Su Mo stood alone outside the hut, looking at the starry sky, with a lot of thoughts in his mind. At this time, a gentle voice interrupted his thoughts.

"What are you thinking about?" Li Zixue walked to him and asked gently.

Su Mo smiled and said, "I wonder if the light and darkness in this world are just like the stars and the night, interdependent and indispensable."

"No matter how long the darkness is, as long as we have light in our hearts, we can find the direction." Li Zixue's words were full of affirmation. She held Su Mo's hand, and their figures stretched out in the moonlight, as if they were two inseparable forces.

"Yes," Su Mo responded softly, his eyes flashing with determination that matched the night, "As long as we don't give up, light will always find a gap to penetrate the darkness."

"But, what kind of person do you think that 'Mentor of Light' will be?" Li Zixue asked curiously, her voice gently rippling in the quiet night sky.

Su Mo shook his head, a smile appeared on his face: "Who knows, maybe it's a wise old man, or an unknown teenager, or even any ordinary person who is willing to stand up for the light. The important thing is that he can lead us to find the right path."

"I would rather be a handsome knight, riding a white horse, holding a shining holy sword." The young messenger appeared behind them at some point, his words full of teasing and expectation.

Other team members were also attracted around. They formed a circle and expressed their imaginations of the "Mentor of Light". The atmosphere became relaxed and cheerful.

"Okay, everyone, no matter who the 'Mentor of Light' is, what's important is that we move forward as a team, hand in hand." Zhao Ming's voice sounded at the right time, with a reassuring power, "Tomorrow, we will embark on the journey to the North. Everyone must be prepared, not only physically, but also mentally."

"Yeah, it makes me excited just thinking about it!" Jack rubbed his hands together, his eyes flickering with desire for the unknown, "The frozen ruins in the north feel like a scene straight out of an ancient legend."

"Remember to bring your thickest clothes. The cold wind in the north is no joke." Eun Jung reminded. Her attentiveness always makes people feel warm.

The topic of conversation gradually shifted to preparations for the journey. From equipment to strategy, every detail was brought up for discussion, and everyone was contributing their strength and wisdom to the upcoming adventure.

As the night deepened, the conversations gradually died down, and everyone returned to their respective residences to rest and prepare for tomorrow's long journey. Su Mo and Li Zixue were the last to leave. They smiled at each other, and the understanding and support that did not require words flowed in the air.

"No matter what the road ahead holds, we will face it together." Li Zixue said softly, with stars twinkling in her eyes.

Su Mo nodded gently and held her hand tighter: "Together, until the light illuminates every corner."

The next morning, the first ray of sunlight penetrated the mist and shone on the team that was about to set off. The sound of horse hooves and the sound of equipment intertwined into a marching movement. With a longing for the unknown and a persistence for light, they set out on the journey to the north. (End of this chapter)