Under the Stars: The Hermit's Path

Lin Yi and the mysterious man stared blankly in the direction the old man had disappeared, their eyes filled with endless confusion and unease. They knew that facing this bizarre and unpredictable situation, any retreat would be meaningless. Only by mustering courage and forging ahead could they perhaps find a faint glimmer of hope in this desperate situation.

So, the two took a deep breath and set off again, continuing to grope their way forward through this mysterious space shrouded in thick fog. With each small step, they were extremely cautious, as if walking on thin ice. The slightest mistake could lead to unforeseen dangers.

"Where do you think the core of this space is hidden?" Lin Yi lowered his voice and asked the mysterious man beside him softly.

The mysterious man frowned slightly and fell into a brief moment of contemplation. After a moment, he slowly replied, "In my opinion, since this is the core of the entire space, it must not be easily exposed in plain sight. I'm afraid we must explore deeper."

In this way, they walked forward tirelessly, time slipping away unnoticed. However, the dense fog around them showed no sign of dissipating, but instead grew thicker, blurring their already limited vision even further.

At this moment, something unexpected happened! Lin Yi suddenly felt his feet go soft, as if he were stepping on empty space. His heart skipped a beat, and he cried out inwardly, "Oh no!" and hurriedly tried to retreat. But it was too late. His body plummeted downwards like a kite with its string cut.

"Lin Yi!" The mysterious man was horrified upon seeing this, and subconsciously reached out to try to grab him. Unfortunately, his attempt was in vain, and his fingertips touched only the cold void.

Lin Yi plummeted like a shooting star into the endless, dark abyss, the wind whistling in his ears like the roaring and howling of demons. He was utterly anxious, desperately trying to cast magic to slow his rapid descent. However, in this strange and mysterious space, the magic that was usually so effortless and powerful seemed to be strangled by an invisible hand, making it incredibly difficult and sluggish to use.

Just as Lin Yi was filled with despair, convinced he was about to die, he suddenly felt a gentle yet powerful force rising from below, firmly supporting his body. He opened his eyes abruptly and found himself surrounded by a strange light. The light was warm and bright, like a mother's embrace, instantly calming his terrified heart.

At the same time, the mysterious man who had been searching for Lin Yi also followed the strange light and came over. When they saw that Lin Yi was safe and sound, they both couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, their tense nerves finally relaxing.

"This light... seems to be guiding our way forward." The mysterious man stared at the light and said thoughtfully.

Lin Yi nodded in agreement. Then, the two of them cautiously advanced in the direction indicated by the light. As they moved, the dense fog gradually thinned. Finally, a breathtaking sight unfolded before them—an immense cavern appeared before their eyes.

This cavern was incredibly spacious, seemingly able to contain an entire city. Strange runes shimmered on the cavern walls, like brilliant stars in the night sky, exuding a mysterious and ancient aura. Each rune held boundless power and mystery, captivating the senses.

"Perhaps this is the place we're looking for." Lin Yi said softly, looking at the deep and mysterious cave entrance before him. His voice echoed in the empty valley, with a hint of uncertainty, but more of anticipation.

The two cautiously entered the cave. As soon as they stepped inside, they felt a powerful surge of magical energy. This surge of magic was like surging ocean waves, crashing against their bodies one after another. A light mist filled the cave, obscuring their vision. But as they went deeper, the surge of magical energy grew stronger.

Finally, at the deepest part of the cave, they came upon a massive crystal ball. Several meters tall and translucent, it shone like a dazzling pearl set in the darkness. However, a closer look revealed a dense web of cracks, as if struck countless times. From these cracks, a dark aura continuously seeped out, as if it were the source of an evil force.

"This should be the core of the space," the mysterious man, who had been silent until then, said. His eyes were fixed on the huge crystal ball, revealing a complex emotion of excitement and worry.

Just as they were about to approach the crystal ball for a closer look, a deep roar suddenly erupted. Then, a group of guardian beasts appeared before them. These guardian beasts were enormous, towering like a mountain. Their appearances were terrifying, their sharp fangs gleaming coldly, and their sturdy limbs brimming with power. Each guardian beast exuded a terrifying aura that sent shivers down their spines.

Faced with the sudden onslaught of an enemy, Lin Yi and the mysterious man showed no sign of retreat. The mysterious man flashed, unleashing a powerful spell. His hands danced, and brilliant, multicolored rays of light shot forth, sweeping towards the guardian beasts. Simultaneously, the guardian beasts opened their maws, spewing forth blazing flames or icy air. These clashed with the mysterious man's magic, erupting in dazzling light and deafening roars.

Lin Yi, unwilling to be outdone, quickly chanted a spell, summoning his inner magic. A massive flaming shield materialized before him, blocking the fierce attack of a guardian beast. Then, with a twist of his wrist, the flaming shield transformed into a fiery dragon, roaring towards the group of guardian beasts. For a moment, the cave erupted in flames, and shouts of killing resounded through the air.

With the close cooperation between Lin Yi and the mysterious man, they gradually gained the upper hand. However, the guardian beasts still resisted stubbornly, refusing to give up easily. How will this fierce battle end? What secrets are hidden in the core of space? Everything remains unknown...

After a hard fight, they finally defeated the guardian beast, but at this point, their magic power was almost exhausted.

"We must repair the seal as soon as possible, otherwise there will be no chance." said the mysterious man.

They came to the crystal ball and began to cast magic to repair the seal, but due to insufficient magic power, the repair process was extremely difficult.