Under the Stars: The Hermit's Path

Lin Yi and the mysterious figure concentrated their attention, exerting all their might as they unleashed a powerful spell to repair the seal. Beads of sweat, the size of beans, streamed down their foreheads like beads from a broken string, one after another, soon covering their entire foreheads. Due to the prolonged output of magical energy, their once rosy complexions had turned pale as paper, devoid of color, and they looked utterly frail.

The cracks on the crystal ball, once shocking, began to heal at a noticeable speed thanks to the two's concerted efforts. However, at this critical moment, the strange black aura that had been seeping from the cracks suddenly seemed to gain self-awareness and launched a frantic counterattack against Lin Yi and the mysterious man who were casting the spell.

In the blink of an eye, the black aura transformed into several hideous black tentacles, like the snarling arms of a demon, and pounced towards Lin Yi and the mysterious man with fierce momentum. Faced with this sudden attack, the two of them dared not slack off. They gritted their teeth and fought with all their might to resist the fierce attack of the black aura while racing against time to repair the crumbling seal.

"I... I really can't hold on any longer!" Lin Yi shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice filled with exhaustion and despair.

The mysterious man gritted his teeth and said with difficulty: "Child, don't give up! Hold on a little longer, as long as we work harder, we will be able to successfully repair the seal. We must not let all our previous efforts go to waste!" After speaking, he took a deep breath and once again continuously injected the little magic power left in his body into the spell to repair the seal.

Just when they were almost in deep despair, it was as if a ray of light suddenly appeared in the darkness. A flash of inspiration suddenly came to Lin Yi's mind, and he suddenly recalled the mysterious book he had accidentally obtained in the ancient ruins before.

"Perhaps... that mysterious book can be the key to saving us from danger!" Lin Yi said anxiously, while quickly reaching into his arms and carefully taking out the book that he regarded as a treasure.

The mysterious man beside him suddenly brightened up after hearing Lin Yi's words, his eyes, which had been dull, shimmering like the stars in the night sky. He urged him expectantly, "Hurry up! Check the book for specific methods to repair this seal."

Lin Yi didn't dare delay even a moment. He gripped the book tightly in his hands and began flipping through it at lightning speed. Time ticked by, and with each page he turned, his heart tightened. Finally, his dedication paid off. When he reached a certain page, he saw lines of densely packed text, detailing how to repair the thorny seal before him.

"According to the steps described above, we first need to perfectly integrate the magic power contained in ourselves with the power of the mind, and then continuously inject it into the crystal clear crystal ball." Lin Yi took a deep breath, calmed his excitement, and explained to the mysterious man in a firm tone.

The mysterious man nodded slightly, expressing his agreement with Lin Yi's statement, and encouraged him, "In that case, let's try it right away without further delay!"

The two men exchanged a glance, each witnessing unwavering determination and courage in the other's eyes. Then, they closed their eyes, banishing all distractions and concentrating their minds on mobilizing the latent magical and spiritual power within their bodies. Instantly, two powerful and pure energies converged and merged within their bodies, forming a surging torrent of power. Driven by their thoughts, this power surged from their palms like a wild horse, transforming into dazzling rays of light that slowly poured into the mysterious crystal ball before them.

The tiny cracks on the crystal ball healed at a visible speed. As time passed, the cracks shrank, eventually disappearing completely. Meanwhile, the black aura that had previously lingered around the crystal ball seemed to have met its nemesis, retreating step by step and gradually being suppressed back into the sphere.

"Success!" Lin Yi's face was filled with ecstasy, and he shouted excitedly. His voice echoed in the silent space, as if announcing this exciting news to the whole world.

However, just when they thought the crisis was over and they could relax a bit, something unexpected happened. A dull roar emanated from the crystal ball, followed by an even stronger, more violent force surging out like a volcanic eruption. This force, like an overwhelming force, instantly sent Lin Yi and the mysterious man flying.

Like kites with their strings cut, the two men arced through the air before crashing heavily to the ground. Two deep craters were smashed into the ground, sending up clouds of dust. Lin Yi felt as if all his bones had shattered, the pain unbearable. The mysterious man beside him was in no better condition, a trace of blood oozing from the corner of his mouth, his face as pale as paper.

After finally recovering, Lin Yi, enduring the pain, raised his head with great difficulty, only to be surprised to find that the crystal ball had returned to normal, emitting a soft glow. Furthermore, the entire space began to shake violently, and the surrounding scene became blurry.

Gradually, the thick fog in the air began to dissipate, and a golden exit quietly appeared before them. Lin Yi and the mysterious man exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with joy at having survived. They supported each other and stood up, limping slowly towards the exit.

With every step, Lin Yi's anticipation grew. Finally, the moment they stepped out of the exit, a breath of fresh, pleasant air greeted them. This air, carrying the fragrance of nature and the scent of earth, was refreshing and invigorating. Bright sunlight poured down like a waterfall, gently scattering over them, bringing endless warmth and comfort.

"We're finally out..." Lin Yi looked at the azure sky in the distance, took a deep breath of fresh air, and couldn't help but sigh with heartfelt emotion. After going through so many hardships and dangers, this moment of freedom seemed particularly precious.

The mysterious man smiled and nodded: "Yes, but our mission is not over yet."

They returned to the castle and found that the eerie atmosphere in the castle had disappeared and everything had returned to normal.

However, they know that there are more challenges waiting for them in this world full of mystery and danger.

"Where are we going next?" Lin Yi asked.

The mysterious man looked into the distance and said, "We need to find more clues about the dark power to prevent it from harming the world again."

Lin Yi clenched his fists: "I will definitely work hard to become stronger and protect this world together with Master."

So they embarked on a new journey to embrace unknown adventures and challenges.

In the days to come, Lin Yi and the mysterious man will encounter more difficulties and enemies, but their hearts are full of courage and faith, and they believe that they will be able to defeat the darkness and usher in light.