The contestant is too old, sister Zhou is crazy

"Has the Shadow's evil claws extended so far?" Su Mei'er whispered to herself, with a determined light flashing in her eyes.

"Don't worry, we will take care of everything. Please rest here first, we will definitely bring justice to those innocent victims." Lin Hao patted the traveler's shoulder, giving comfort while conveying a firm promise.

The traveler was filled with gratitude, watching their departing figures, and kept murmuring: "May the light illuminate your path..."

As time went by, Lin Hao and his team got closer and closer to the mysterious crack. Along the way, no matter the wild beasts they encountered or the complex terrain, they could not stop their steps. Their names spread among the people and became synonymous with hope, inspiring everyone who heard their story.

Finally, on a starry night, they stood at the edge of the crack. The crack was like a door to another world, exuding a breathtaking mysterious atmosphere.

"This is our next step, the unknown territory." Lin Hao looked at the crack, his tone filled with both excitement and determination.

"No matter what's behind it, as long as we are together, there is nothing we can't overcome." Su Mei'er held Lin Hao's hand tightly and gave him an encouraging smile.

"That's right, let us work together to uncover the secrets of this world and protect the light and peace in every corner!" Xiaojie, Xu Mo and other team members also responded. Their voices gathered into a powerful force, resounding in the night sky.

And from the other side of the crack, as if responding to them, there came a low and mysterious echo, as if inviting or warning them.

"Are you ready, everyone? The real adventure begins now!" Lin Hao took a deep breath, took the first step resolutely, and stepped into the unknown territory.

The team followed closely behind them, and the crack slowly closed behind them, isolating the familiar scene and leaving behind a completely unfamiliar and challenging world. The sky here was a strange purple, full of light, and the ground was covered with vegetation that had never been seen before, emitting a faint fluorescence. The air was filled with a fresh and ancient fragrance, and everything indicated that they had entered a brand new era.

"Wow, this is simply a fairyland in a dream!" Xiao Jie looked around, his eyes full of curiosity and yearning for new things.

"Beauty often coexists with danger, so everyone should be vigilant." Xu Mo reminded, his eyes sharp as he scanned the surroundings, trying to capture any possible threats.

As they were carefully exploring this unknown area, a burst of hurried footsteps attracted their attention. A group of creatures dressed in strange clothes emerged from the depths of the forest. Their appearance combined the characteristics of many animals, appearing both harmonious and strange. The group of creatures stopped and looked at Lin Hao and his group with curiosity and vigilance.

"Who are you? Where are you from?" asked one of the creatures who looked like a leader, with a hint of surprise in his voice.

"We are companions of the Elemental Messenger. In order to fight against the forces of shadow and protect our home, we embarked on a journey to find power." Lin Hao answered in a calm and sincere tone, trying to build a bridge of friendly communication.

The creatures looked at each other, and then the leader nodded. "I see, we are the Aerri, living in this forgotten land. For a long time, we have also been harassed by the shadow forces. If you can help us, perhaps we can share information and lend you a helping hand."

Lin Hao exchanged glances with his companions, and saw the determination in each other's eyes. "We are willing to help the Aerys, but we also need your wisdom and strength. Only by uniting together can we repel the darkness."

These words won the applause and cheers of the Airi tribe, and they surrounded Lin Hao and his party to express their welcome and gratitude. Under the guidance of the Airi tribe, Lin Hao and his party learned a lot about this unknown area and how to use the special energy here.

A few days later, when they were celebrating their initial victory with the Airi tribe, a young Airi child quietly ran up to Lin Hao, looked up and asked, "Big brother, can you turn into a fire dragon and defeat the bad guys?"

Lin Hao leaned over and smiled gently, "There is a fire dragon in everyone's heart. It represents courage and determination. When we unite as one, everyone can become their own hero and fight back the darkness."

There was a gleam of longing in the child's eyes, and the people around him were touched by these words and fell into deep thought.

At this moment, the sky suddenly glowed with a strange red light, and a huge shadow creature flew across the sky. Its shadow covered everyone's heads, bringing an ominous atmosphere.

"It seems that the Shadow did not give up, but found us instead." Xu Mo gripped his weapon tightly and said solemnly.

Lin Hao looked up at the dark shadow covering the sky, his eyes burning with an unyielding fire, "Friends, prepare to fight! For every living being on this land, we must not retreat!"

"Lin Hao, no matter what happens, we are on your side!" Su Mei'er's firm voice rang out, and resonating with it were the oaths of Xiaojie, Xu Mo and all the Aier people.

"That's settled then, we'll face this storm together!" Lin Hao raised his hand and struck a blow with every comrade around him, strength and determination gathered at this moment.

The faces of villagers, merchants, and even tired travelers flashed through his mind one by one, and those eyes of expectation and trust became his motivation. He firmly believed that no matter how dangerous the road ahead was, as long as there was love and faith in his heart, there was nothing that could not be overcome.

"Let's go and show our strength to the shadow beast!" Lin Hao led the team and stood side by side with the Airi tribe. They took firm steps towards the sky covered by red light.

Just as they were approaching the shadow creature, a strong airflow suddenly swept in, blowing away the mist around them, and a huge figure gradually appeared. It was a giant beast with several wings and dark scales all over its body. Its eyes were like the abyss, flashing a terrifying light.

"It seems that our opponent is quite powerful." Xiao Jie muttered to himself, tightening the short blade in his hand. Although he was nervous, his eyes revealed the excitement of being eager to try.

"We can't just fight head-on." Xu Mo analyzed calmly, "We must find its weakness and kill it with one strike."

Lin Hao looked around and suddenly noticed a strange rock not far away. There was a faint glow on the surface, and he immediately came up with a plan. "Su Mei'er, you and Xiao Jie attract its attention, and Xu Mo and I will deal with the rock. Maybe we can find something."

"Got it!" Su Mei'er and Xiao Jie responded quickly. They cooperated well, one on the left and one on the right, and launched attacks with elemental power. The brilliant light and shock waves distracted the giant beast, and it roared continuously.

Taking this opportunity, Lin Hao and Xu Mo approached the rock silently. Ancient runes were engraved on the rock, emitting warm and pure energy. "This is... part of the ancient seal!" Xu Mo exclaimed.

"We must activate it." Lin Hao said, pressing his hands on the rune, and the elemental power in his body surged out, resonating with the rock. For a moment, the earth trembled, and the light on the rock became brighter and brighter, eventually forming a beam of light that shot straight into the sky.

The giant beast felt this sudden force and roared even more violently. It turned around and pounced towards the light source, but was hit directly in the vitals by the beam of light. Its black scales fell off instantly, revealing its weak body.

"Now!" Lin Hao shouted, and everyone worked together to launch the ultimate attack. The power of the elements gathered into a dazzling beam of light, penetrating the shadows and hitting the heart of the giant beast.

With a deafening explosion, the shadow beast fell down, and the red light in the sky dissipated, replaced by the long-lost blue sky and white clouds.

Villagers, traveling merchants, and even strangers from afar all stopped what they were doing, looked up at the sky, and felt an unprecedented sense of peace and hope.

"We did it!" Xiaojie jumped up excitedly and hugged his friends to celebrate.

"Yes, but we know that this is just the beginning." Lin Hao smiled and looked into the distance with a firm gaze. "True peace requires us to keep working hard and keep moving forward."

"No matter what the road ahead holds, we will fight side by side until the last moment." There was power in Su Mei'er's gentle words.

Amid the cheers and celebrations of the crowd, Lin Hao turned around and looked at the former battlefield for the last time, and made a silent promise in his heart - for this world, for every smiling face, they will go further and higher.

"Hey, have you heard? Those elemental messengers have done something big again!" In the small town tavern, a middle-aged man with stubble on his face shouted to the audience next to him.

"Oh, is it true? Tell me quickly!" A woman in simple clothes next to her put down her needle and thread, with curiosity flashing in her eyes.

The uncle lowered his voice in a mysterious tone, "It is said that they not only united a mysterious biological community called the Airi, but also defeated a shadow beast that had never been seen before! It is no exaggeration to say that the scene was earth-shattering."

"Oh my God, is it really that amazing?" More and more listeners gathered around, and everyone had an expression of disbelief.

At this time, a traveler in a hurry walked into the tavern. He talked to the person next to him as he walked: "I just came from over there, and I saw with my own eyes that pillar of light rising into the sky. It was exactly the same as described in the myth. What do you think, did they really get some ancient power?"

The traveler's words were like a stone thrown into a lake, stirring up ripples. The discussion in the tavern became more heated, with some people speculating, some questioning, but more people's eyes were filled with admiration and hope.

"Where do you think they will go next? Will there be bigger adventures?" a young boy asked with longing, his eyes sparkling, obviously deeply attracted by these legendary stories.

As everyone was discussing, an elderly man stood up, stroked his gray beard, and spoke slowly: "True warriors always move towards the darkest places. No matter where their journey leads, as long as the fire in their hearts is not extinguished, they can illuminate every inch of land shrouded in shadows."

The old man's words suddenly quieted the noisy tavern, and everyone was thoughtful. Yes, people are always full of expectations for these legendary elemental messengers, expecting them to bring more miracles and dispel the fear and despair in the world.

As night fell, Lin Hao and his group sat around the Airui tribe's celebratory bonfire. Their faces showed the joy of victory, but they could not hide the uncertainty of the future.

"Lin Hao, what are your plans next?" asked the leader of the Airi tribe, his eyes full of gratitude and reluctance.

Lin Hao looked up at the starry sky, which seemed to be filled with endless secrets and challenges. "We must keep moving forward and find more ways to fight the shadows. This world is huge, and there are still many places waiting for us to explore."

Su Mei'er gently held his hand, her eyes gentle but firm: "No matter where we go, we will never forget the help of the Aeri. One day, we will come back, and by then, I hope that there will be no shadows invading this land anymore."

Xiaojie suddenly clapped his hands, attracting everyone's attention: "I think I know where we should go! Remember those ancient legends? It is said that at the western end of the continent, there is a forgotten ancient city, which hides a secret treasure that can control the power of nature!"

Xu Mo nodded in agreement: "There is indeed such a legend, but that place is said to have been sealed by powerful magic and is full of unknown dangers."

"That's exactly our destination." Lin Hao stood up, his eyes determined. "Only by mastering more powerful forces can we truly protect this world. Friends, get ready, a new journey is about to begin."

In the light of the bonfire, everyone's face was filled with anticipation for the future and the courage to face difficulties.

Just as the atmosphere reached a climax, a young member of the Airi tribe approached cautiously, holding a glowing crystal in his hand. The crystal seemed to contain a miniature starry universe, emitting a soft but fascinating light. "Master Lin Hao, this is the 'Starlight Stone' that our Airi tribe has guarded for generations. It can guide the holder to where the heart desires. Please accept it, and may it guide you on your journey."

Lin Hao took it solemnly, feeling a warm and mysterious power flowing through his palm. "This gift is too precious, we will definitely not let the Airi people down," he promised.

The celebration continued into the night, with starlight and firelight interweaving to form a picture of peace and hope. However, just as everyone was intoxicated by this rare moment of tranquility, Lin Hao suddenly felt an unusual fluctuation, as if something was calling him from nowhere.

"Everyone, I feel a force calling me, and it seems to be related to the answers we are looking for." Lin Hao said solemnly.

Su Mei'er immediately became alert: "Lin Hao, could this be a trap? We just defeated the shadow beast, and the enemy may be looking for an opportunity to retaliate." (End of this chapter)