The contestant is too old, sister Zhou is crazy

"Then, tomorrow we will spread this belief further." Zhao Ming looked at the bright starry sky, his eyes flashing with infinite longing for the future. At the same time, he secretly promised in his heart to continue exploring and maintaining the balance of this world.

"Yes, until the last moment." Yueyue, Su Mo and Li Zixue said in unison. Their friendship and belief became more indestructible at this moment.

Just as the atmosphere reached its climax, a mysterious traveler quietly stepped into the glow of the bonfire. He was in tattered clothes, but his eyes sparkled with extraordinary wisdom. The villagers automatically made way for him. His appearance seemed to be a strange color in the night, causing discussions all around.

"Everyone, I heard that the guardians here have discovered the key to maintaining the balance of the world." The traveler's deep voice echoed in the crowd. He looked around and finally his eyes fell on Zhao Ming and the other three. "I come from the far east. The ancient prophecy there mentioned an ancient book that can lead the world to harmony. Could it be the one in your hands?"

Zhao Ming smiled slightly when he heard this, and gently raised the ancient book, with the light gently shining on his resolute face. "Traveler, you are right. This book does contain great power, and it also guides us to understand the meaning of coexistence. But our journey is far from over."

Yueyue walked forward curiously, her thirst for knowledge never quenched. "Where did you learn this prophecy? Are you willing to share more with us?"

The traveler shook his head slowly, his eyes becoming profound. "Even I have only seen the tip of the iceberg of the full picture of the prophecy. However, I can tell you that the secrets hidden in the ancient book are far more than this. It leads to a secret realm that connects all realms and maintains the balance of the universe."

The surrounding villagers couldn't help but exclaim in amazement when they heard this. Although their lives were ordinary, their curiosity about the unknown world had not diminished in the slightest.

"Secret realm? It sounds as incredible as something out of a myth." A young villager interrupted in disbelief, his eyes flashing with a desire for adventure.

Li Zixue's book of wisdom gently opened, automatically searching for relevant information. "If there really is such a place, perhaps my book can help us find clues to enter."

Su Mo pondered for a moment, his eyes firm. "No matter what, since we have taken on the responsibility of protecting the balance, exploring this path is inevitable. Perhaps, that traveler can be our guide."

The traveler nodded slightly, with a hint of admiration in his eyes. "You are willing to follow the guidance of fate and embark on an unknown journey. Your courage is admirable. I am willing to go with you and uncover the secrets of this world together."

Just as everyone was preparing to plan their next move in detail, the ancient book suddenly emitted a soft but strong light, as if responding to some call. In the light, a line of strange words slowly emerged, like an ancient spell, or like the trajectory of the starry sky.

"Is this... a new guide?" Zhao Ming said softly. He could feel that there was some deep connection between the ancient book and himself.

Yueyue immediately began to study the characters. Her fingertips gently traced over each stroke, her eyes gleaming with wisdom. "These symbols point to the southeast, where the portal to the secret realm is hidden...but the exact location needs further analysis."

There was a constant stream of discussion among the crowd, with curiosity about the unknown as well as concern and blessings for the guardians who were about to embark on a new journey.

"You must be careful. The world is much more complicated than we imagined." The strong blacksmith put his hand on the shoulder of the young man next to him again, his eyes full of worry and expectation.

"We will. Thank you for your support." Zhao Ming bowed deeply to the villagers around him, then turned to look at his companions, "Friends, are you ready? A new journey is about to begin."

Yueyue, Su Mo and Li Zixue nodded one after another. Their eyes showed excitement for the unknown challenges as well as unspoken trust and dependence on each other.

Just as they were about to leave and continue to seek the guidance of the ancient book, the old wise man stepped forward again and whispered to Zhao Ming: "My child, remember, true strength comes from the peace and determination of the heart. No matter how dangerous the road ahead is, don't forget your original intention."

Zhao Ming nodded gratefully, turned around and looked at the starry sky woven together by night and hope, his heart filled with strength and determination.

"Friends, no matter how far the road ahead is, as long as we are connected in heart and hand, the balance between light and darkness will be protected by us together." As soon as Zhao Ming finished speaking, a group of four people, plus the mysterious traveler, embarked on a journey to an unknown secret land, leaving behind a series of firm and hopeful footprints.

As their backs gradually faded away, the discussions in the village began to rise again, and the villagers' emotions fluctuated between excitement and uneasiness.

"Can they really find that secret place? It sounds like an ancient legend." A young woman whispered to her companion, her eyes flashing with a longing for adventure.

"If it's Zhao Ming and the others, I believe nothing is impossible." A hunter who had witnessed their heroic deeds responded confidently, his tone full of trust in the guardian.

At this time, the peasant woman who asked the question before appeared again, holding a sleeping child in her arms, with a gentle light in her eyes. "Look, even the children know that they are heroes. They will definitely bring us more miracles."

At the side, the strong blacksmith patted his chest vigorously and said proudly: "If they need any help, just tell them. The people in our village are their backers."

During the conversation, an old man leaned on a cane and slowly approached the campfire. His face was full of traces of time, but his voice was surprisingly firm: "The world is so big, and there are countless wonders. If that secret realm can really maintain balance, it is worth the anticipation of all of us. May the stars guide their path, and may light and wisdom accompany them."

As the night deepened, the conversations around the campfire gradually became sparse, and people returned to their homes one after another, but everyone had dreams about heroes and the unknown in their hearts. Children described their own adventure stories in their dreams, while adults silently prayed for Zhao Ming and his team in their hearts, hoping that they would return safely and bring more mysteries about the world.

The next morning, when the first ray of sunlight penetrated the mist and shone on the quiet village, Zhao Ming and his companions had already set out on their journey and disappeared on the eastern horizon. The villagers spontaneously organized themselves and stood at the entrance of the village to see them off until their figures became a few black dots in the distance.

"Mom, will they find that secret place?" The little girl asked, holding her mother's hand and looking up.

The mother leaned down and gently stroked her child's head: "They will, because they have the most precious things - faith and persistence. Just as we believe that there will be dawn after the night, their journey will also have a glorious end."

At this moment, on a winding mountain road far away from the village, Zhao Ming and his group were following the guidance of the ancient book. The mysterious traveler walked in front, leading the way with his experience, occasionally stopping to look around with his sharp eyes, and seemed to always find clues that ordinary people could not detect.

"There is a valley ahead. According to the description in the ancient text, we should be not far from the door." The traveler stopped and pointed to the misty valley ahead.

Yueyue took out her notes and quickly wrote down the features of the valley, while saying to the traveler, "Your intuition is really sharp. This is very consistent with the description in the ancient book."

Su Mo tightened the sword at his waist, his eyes determined: "No matter what is hidden, we are ready. For the balance of the world, we will move forward bravely."

Li Zixue gently closed the Book of Wisdom and put it in her arms, with a faint smile on her lips: "With you by my side, no difficulties are to be feared."

Zhao Mingze looked at the unknown road ahead and silently said in his heart: "Light and darkness, coexistence and balance, this is our mission and the hope of the world."

Just as they were about to step into the valley, a strange wind blew by, seemingly mixed with whispers, like the murmur of ancient wisdom, adding a touch of mystery to their journey.

“Let’s go. The door to the unknown is waiting for its opener.” The mysterious traveler took the lead in stepping into the fog, and the others followed closely behind, embarking on this adventure to explore the mystery of balance.

The valley was filled with mist, and every step seemed to be into the void. The surrounding scenery was ever-changing, as if traveling through a time tunnel. The figure of the traveler appeared and disappeared in the mist, as if he knew this mysterious place well.

"Everything here is a test of one's innermost being." The traveler whispered, turning back to give Zhao Ming and the others a reassuring smile, "Only those with firm beliefs and pure hearts can see that door."

The words of the villagers seemed to still echo in their ears, giving Zhao Ming and his team invisible strength. In this fog, the five of them followed closely and supported each other. Their mutual trust was like a beacon, dispelling the chaos and uncertainty around them.

"Look!" Li Zixue suddenly stopped and pointed to a place not far away. The fog there was slightly thinner, revealing a huge rock with a complex pattern engraved on it. It was one of the symbols described in the ancient book.

Yueyue hurried forward and gently touched the lines with her fingertips. The light of wisdom danced in her eyes: "These patterns match the records in the ancient books. It seems that we have found the right direction."

Su Mo drew out his sword and looked around vigilantly. Although he saw no trace of the enemy, he knew that the closer one was to the truth, the greater the challenge. "Everyone be careful. I have a feeling that we are not the only ones pursuing the secret."

At this moment, the boulder slowly rotated, revealing a cave behind it. A beam of light shot out from the cave, pointing straight to the sky, like a natural compass, indicating the true direction.

"The door is open..." Zhao Ming whispered. He felt a call from deep within, which was the recognition of the identity of guardian and the desire for unknown challenges.

They stepped into the cave one by one, and the space inside suddenly became clear. In the center stood an ancient and magnificent stone platform, on which lay quietly an old scroll, emitting the same faint light as the ancient book, as if there was some mysterious connection between the two.

"Is this... the key to the secret realm?" Yueyue asked softly, her eyes flashing with desire and awe for knowledge.

The mysterious traveler slowly walked towards the stone platform and reached out to touch the scroll. At that moment, the light in the entire cave seemed to solidify, and the air was filled with ancient and powerful energy fluctuations.

"That's right, but to open it, it requires the joint strength of the five of us." The traveler turned around and looked at everyone with a firm gaze, as if to confirm whether they were ready to face everything that was about to come.

Without hesitation, the four of them gathered around, each extending a hand and placing it on the scroll. A warm and powerful force surged from the palms of the five people, and the ancient characters on the scroll lit up one by one, then turned into a bright beam of light, breaking through the top of the cave and reaching the sky.

"Success!" Zhao Ming said excitedly. He could feel that a new world was opening up to them.

However, at this critical moment, hurried footsteps were heard outside the cave, followed by a chaotic shouting. The traveler frowned, and his alertness told him that someone outside might be tracking him here.

"We have to hurry. There are unknown forces approaching outside. We can't let them take away this power." He spoke in a hurried tone, urging everyone to prepare for emergencies.

Zhao Ming and the others quickly put away the scrolls. The five of them exchanged glances, conveying a tacit understanding and determination without words. They understood that the real test had just begun.

"No matter who comes, we will protect this heritage. We must do this for the balance of the world." Zhao Ming's voice was firm and powerful, echoing in the cave, and also drawing a suspenseful end to this unknown journey.

"How many people are outside? Can you recognize them?" Li Zixue asked quietly, her fingers gently sliding across the edge of the scroll, as if feeling the heavy responsibility.

The traveler closed his eyes and concentrated on listening to the outside world. After a moment, he opened his eyes, his brows still furrowed. "There are quite a few people, and... there is an unusual aura."

Su Mo's sword was in his hand, and the tip of the sword was trembling slightly, showing his inner excitement: "If they are enemies, let them see the strength of the guardian."

Yueyue pursed her lips and quickly picked up the scattered equipment: "We have no choice, we must leave immediately, we can't let this power fall into the wrong hands."

"Let's go and evacuate along the secret passage on the other side of the cave." The traveler led everyone to a hidden corner where there was a narrow crack that was hidden in the darkness and was almost imperceptible.

Five people filed in. The light in the crack was dim, and they were guided only by the faint light from the travelers' hands. The narrow space made people feel depressed, but everyone's steps were unusually firm.

"Can we really get out safely?" The little girl's voice suddenly sounded in Zhao Ming's mind. It was the worry from a child in the village, and it seemed to resonate with him in some miraculous way.

"We will, because we have each other and those who believe in us." Zhao Ming whispered, more like a promise to himself. (End of this chapter)