The contestant is too old, sister Zhou is crazy

At this time, a pair of children ran hand in hand on the path in the village, excitedly discussing the heroes' adventure stories.

"When I grow up, I want to be a warrior like Lin Hao and protect everyone!" There was a determination in the little boy's eyes.

The little girl tilted her head and said seriously: "As for me, I want to be like Sister Su Meier and warm everyone's heart with wisdom and love."

The children's conversation reached everyone's ears, bringing a burst of warm laughter. In this world invaded by darkness, it is these innocent words, like a weak but tenacious fire, that illuminate the way forward.

At the same time, deep in the ominous dark clouds, a powerful evil force is stirring, its breath is suffocating. The whispers of shadows echo in the void, as if mocking the arrival of light.

“Humph, they are just some self-righteous bugs trying to resist the tide of the night.” A low and malicious voice sounded, “Let them come. I will let them know that despair is the true meaning of this world.”

The news of this threat was soon passed back to the village by Aiden's three-man team. Upon learning of this, Lin Hao's expression became more solemn, but the fire in his heart burned even more fiercely.

"My friends, the real trial is about to begin. We must be more united and stronger than ever before." Lin Hao's voice was firm and powerful, echoing in everyone's ears.

Ling Shuang clenched the sword in his hand, his eyes shining with the desire to fight: "As long as we are here, the light of this land will not be extinguished."

Su Mei'er gently stroked an old book that she had found during her journey. It contained ancient power and knowledge. "I found some clues that may help us fight against the coming darkness."

Aiden patted his chest and said confidently: "Don't worry, with me here, there will be no technical problems that cannot be solved. We will let the power of light penetrate every inch of darkness."

As their discussion deepened, a grand plan gradually took shape. In the process, the villagers also showed unprecedented unity and enthusiasm. They began to learn how to use weapons and cultivate their bodies. Everyone became an indispensable part of this war of light.

Finally, on the eve of the decisive battle, the whole village was shrouded in a strange tranquility. Lin Hao stood at the entrance of the village, looking up at the starry sky, with complex emotions surging in his heart. Behind him was a team ready to go, and everyone was ready to face the darkness before dawn.

"No matter what awaits us tomorrow, remember that we chose to stand on the side of light." Lin Hao turned around and faced everyone, his words full of power, "Not because light is easier, but because it is right."

"For light, for home, and for every smile that is worth protecting." Su Mei'er added softly, her words as warm as the spring breeze, soothing every nervous heart.

"My friends, at this moment, let us write history together and let future generations remember how we opened up a road of hope in despair." Lin Hao's voice gradually became higher, like a horn, awakening the blood in everyone's heart.

"For the sake of light, we will defend it to the death!" Everyone responded in unison. The voices gathered into a vow that shook heaven and earth, echoing in the night sky for a long time, and it seemed that even the dark clouds on the horizon were trembling with it.

At this exciting moment, a strange light flashed across the sky, like some mysterious omen. All eyes were drawn to it, and an unknown and exciting power seemed to flow out from the light.

"Look, what is that? Is it... hope?" a villager exclaimed.

Lin Hao stared at the light, and a faint smile appeared on his lips: "No matter what challenges lie ahead, as long as we have light in our hearts, hope will never go out. Friends, are you ready?"

"Ready!" The answer resounded through the sky and shook the heart.

As the last sentence fell, Lin Hao and his team set out on their journey to the source of darkness. Their backs looked particularly tall under the starlight, full of unstoppable power and hope. The people who stayed in the village looked up at the direction they left, their hearts full of prayers and expectations.

"You must come back safely, our heroes." A mother whispered, tears welling up in her eyes, but her face was filled with determination and pride.

Under the dark clouds, Lin Hao and his group never stopped. Every step they took was not only on the solid ground, but also on their unwavering faith in the light. Their conversation drifted in the wind from time to time, revealing their deep trust and determination in each other.

"What do you think that mysterious light is?" Aiden asked as he walked, curiosity flashing in his eyes.

"It may be a revelation given to us by God, or the awakening of ancient power." Su Mei'er responded, gently stroking the cover of the old book in her hand, as if the key to unlocking all the mysteries was hidden between the pages.

A young man passing by heard their conversation, stopped and said in surprise: "You...you are the heroes going to challenge that evil force? You are so brave! There hasn't been such an inspiring story in the village for a long time." His words were full of admiration and yearning.

Ling Shuang smiled and patted the young man on the shoulder: "Everyone can be the hero in his own story. Protecting the one you love is the greatest courage."

The young man's eyes lit up, he nodded in thanks and watched them go away, a seed of hope planted in his heart.

Continuing forward, Lin Hao suddenly stopped and closed his eyes, as if he was feeling something. After a moment, he opened his eyes, his eyes flashing with determination: "We are not far from the goal, get ready."

Just as he finished speaking, a burst of hurried footsteps came from the woods not far away. A panicked farmer rushed out and saw Lin Hao and the others, as if he had grabbed a life-saving straw: "You...you are here to help us! The shadow beasts...they appear again, in my village!"

Ling Shuang quickly stepped forward and calmly asked for details, while Lin Hao said in a deep voice: "Don't be afraid, we will take care of it. Aiden, contact the village immediately and tell them that we need support. Su Mei'er, come with me to that village to check the situation."

Acting separately, the efficiency is extremely high. Lin Hao and Su Mei'er arrived at the village, and the scene before them was shocking: the village had been destroyed to pieces by the shadow beasts, and the surviving villagers gathered together, with fear and despair written on everyone's face.

"Are you here to help us?" a child asked in a trembling voice, with a glimmer of imperceptible hope in his eyes.

Lin Hao squatted down, looked into the child's eyes, and said gently but firmly: "Yes, we are here to protect you and for the light of this land."

Then, Lin Hao and Su Mei'er joined forces. Lin Hao used his superb swordsmanship to fight against the shadow beast, while Su Mei'er used what she learned from the book to release a gentle but powerful light to purify the place invaded by the shadow. The villagers watched the battle from the sidelines, and their initial fear turned into shock, and finally turned into deep respect and hope.

During the battle, Lin Hao accidentally heard the whispers between the shadow beasts, which seemed to mention an ancient ritual. This made him realize that they were not just fighting against the monsters in front of them, but also a deeper conspiracy.

"We must find the source of the ritual and solve the problem once and for all." Lin Hao muttered to himself, deciding to look for clues in the fight against the Shadow Beast.

That night, after the battle, Lin Hao sat by the campfire and shared his findings with Su Mei'er, Ling Shuang, and Aiden. All around, the villagers' whispers were filled with endless gratitude and admiration for them.

"I can't believe they can do this..." an old man sighed, his voice was low but clearly audible.

"Yes, I've only heard such stories from storytellers before, but I didn't expect to see it with my own eyes today." The young man next to him continued, his eyes full of longing.

While everyone was talking, a young girl came running over with a painting in her hand. The painting showed Lin Hao and his group fighting bravely. She said excitedly: "I want to record your story so that future generations will know that even if the world falls into darkness, there will always be light."

Lin Hao took the painting, with a soft light in his eyes: "Thank you, this is the story of all of us."

Just as the conversation was getting better, a cold wind blew by, bringing a sense of uneasiness. Lin Hao stood up suddenly, and glanced around sharply, as if he had sensed something. The others also became alert and formed a circle, guarding against unknown threats.

"Something is approaching, and it has bad intentions." Ling Shuang said in a low voice, his sword already unsheathed, flashing with a cold light.

Suddenly, a deep laugh echoed in the air, not coming from any specific direction, but as if it came from all directions. "Interesting, really interesting. After so many years, someone is finally willing to face the darkness instead of just hiding." The voice was full of teasing, but it also revealed a power that could not be ignored.

The villagers were panicked and huddled together, but their eyes showed trust and expectation for Lin Hao and others. A middle-aged man stepped forward and tried to encourage everyone with his voice: "The warriors fought for us, and we must also be strong!"

"Yes, if they can do it, we can do something too." A young woman followed closely behind, mustering up her courage. Her determination seemed to infect the people around her, and the uneasy atmosphere was gradually replaced by a force of unity.

"Come out, you guy hiding in the dark, don't be as sneaky as a snake." Lin Hao shouted loudly. He knew very well that direct confrontation is often more effective than passive defense.

As the words fell, the air seemed to freeze for a moment, and then a twisted black mist slowly condensed into a human figure, a being wearing a black robe and with an unclear face. "I am the Son of Night, an observer in the shadows. Your courage interests me, but it is only interest. Tell me, why do you think you can fight against the coming destruction?" The Son of Night's tone was playful, as if everything was under his control.

"Because light never fails." Su Mei'er responded softly, and the ancient book in her hand emitted a soft light, bringing peace to the people around her. "Every tiny bit of light gathered can illuminate the deepest darkness."

"Ignorant optimism." The Child of the Night sneered, "But you have indeed caught my attention. Therefore, I will grant you a test. If you pass it, perhaps you will be able to prove that you are qualified to stand on the side of light."

As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding environment suddenly changed. The trees around him seemed to have life, and their branches twisted and grew, forming an airtight maze. The villagers screamed and dodged, while Lin Hao and his group quickly entered a fighting stance, ready to face the unknown challenge.

"Friends, stay vigilant and protect the villagers. We will definitely find a way out." Lin Hao's words strengthened everyone's faith.

In the maze, they encountered various illusions and traps composed of dark energy. Each challenge tested the team's cooperation and personal ability. During this period, the tacit understanding and courage shown by Lin Hao and others amazed the villagers who followed them. Those ordinary villagers also found their own courage in these crises and assisted the heroes, even if it was just carrying stones and guiding the direction.

After a hard struggle, they finally broke through many obstacles and returned to the center of the village. The Son of Night appeared again, and there was a hint of surprise in his voice: "I didn't expect you to make it this far. Very good, this strength is indeed worthy of my temporary respect. Remember, greater challenges are still waiting for you ahead."

With the disappearance of the Night Child, the village returned to its former tranquility, but everyone knew that this was only the calm before the storm. The villagers surrounded Lin Hao and his companions, their eyes no longer showing the initial fear and admiration, but a mixture of understanding and determination to fight side by side.

"We will become stronger and face the coming darkness together." Lin Hao clenched his fists and declared to the sky. His oath was like a beam of light that penetrated everyone's heart.

"Yes, let's do it together!" Everyone responded. The voice was not loud, but extremely firm. It gathered into a force that could not be ignored, foreshadowing that a great battle between light and darkness was about to begin.

Just as this power was gathering, an old man slowly walked out of the crowd, with a wise smile on his wrinkled face. "Children, remember, the real power comes not only from you, but also from every beating heart on this land, every hope that has not been given up." His words were like sweet rain, nourishing everyone's hearts.

"The old man is right." A child squeezed through the crowd, his clear eyes flashing with curiosity and determination. "Although I am small, I can help collect medicinal herbs and bandage the injured. Everyone has their own role, right?"

Lin Hao squatted down and gently touched the child's head. "You are right, little guy. Everyone is an indispensable part of this battle." (End of this chapter)