Under the Stars: The Hermit's Path

In the core area of the ruins, Lin Yi and Liya faced a crystal ball emitting a soft glow and felt an unprecedented power. This power shocked them, as if the entire world was unfolding before them. Just as they were about to reach out and touch the mysterious crystal ball, a deafening voice rang out in their ears: "Who dares to disturb my peaceful sleep?"

As the voice echoed, a figure slowly emerged from the crystal ball. It was a guardian clad in ancient armor, wielding a longsword. He exuded an ancient and powerful aura that inspired awe. A wary glint shone in his eyes, clearly filled with hostility towards any creature that approached the crystal ball.

Lin Yi tightly gripped the hilt of the sword in his hand, bowed slightly to the guardian, and said, "Respected guardian, we mean no offense. We simply hope to use the power here to bring peace and prosperity to our continent."

The guardian looked at Lin Yi and Leah indifferently, and said in a cold tone: "You greedy humans always try to steal power that does not belong to you. This place is not for you to enter casually. Leave, otherwise you will bear the consequences."

Lin Yi was not intimidated by the Guardian's threats. He straightened his body and said firmly, "Master Guardian, we are not here for personal gain. We are well aware that the people of this land are suffering. Only by leveraging the power here can we save them from this dire situation. Please believe in our sincerity and give us a chance."

The Guardian was silent for a moment, seemingly pondering Lin Yi's words. Finally, he nodded and said, "Well, since you insist so much, prove to me whether you are worthy of this power." With that, the Guardian swung his sword, and a stream of sword energy attacked Lin Yi.

Lin Yi quickly dodged to the side, but the sword energy still grazed his cheek. He gritted his teeth, raised his sword, and rushed towards the guardian. The two of them instantly engaged in a fierce battle, swords flashing and sword energy overflowing.

Leah nervously watched Lin Yi fight the Guardian, silently praying that he could defeat the Guardian. She knew that this battle was not only about whether they could gain power, but also about their survival.

The Guardian sneered and responded, "For countless years, countless greedy people have come here for power, but in the end, they all fell before my sword. What makes you different?"

Leia took a step forward, her voice filled with determination and confidence. "We are different from those who only know how to take, but are unwilling to give. We have used our power to protect our homeland and successfully defeated the forces of darkness. We came here to learn, to grow, and to be able to better serve our people."

The Guardian's eyes narrowed slightly, as if touched by Leia's words, but he quickly returned to his cold expression. "Words are just empty promises. Only if you pass my test and prove your strength and determination will I trust you."

With that, the Guardian swung his sword, creating a gust of wind as he charged towards Lin Yi. Seeing this, Lin Yi quickly drew his sword to counter the blow. The two swords clashed in mid-air, sending out dazzling sparks.

"Take it!" Lin Yi shouted, unleashing his most skilled wind magic. A powerful whirlwind swirled around him, forming a powerful airflow that swept towards the guardian like a surging torrent.

The Guardian remained unfazed. His body shimmered with light, effortlessly dodging Lin Yi's attack. His sword arced through the air, carrying a sharp aura as he struck Lin Yi again. With a slight twist, he dispelled the current and, with a backhand strike, aimed his sword directly at Lin Yi's shoulder. Lin Yi quickly dodged to the side, but the sword's tip still grazed him, leaving a faint trace of blood.

Seeing this, Leah was not to be outdone. She clasped her hands together and chanted a spell. A ray of healing light descended from the sky, covering Lin Yi's body and quickly healing his wounds. Then, she waved her hand and released a binding spell, trying to restrict the guardian's movements.

The Guardian was briefly delayed by the binding spell, but he quickly broke free. He looked at Leah, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. "Good magic control, but not enough."

The battle continued, and Lin Yi and Liya constantly changed their tactics, sometimes attacking, sometimes defending, and engaged in a fierce contest with the guardian. Every time they fought, they could feel the strong pressure from the opponent, but at the same time, they also strengthened their own beliefs.

As time passed, the Guardian's offensive gradually slowed, finally showing signs of fatigue. Lin Yi, with his keen eyes, immediately noticed this change and felt a surge of joy, knowing the time had come. He took a deep breath and unleashed his ultimate skill—Starfall!

In an instant, countless meteors suddenly appeared in the sky, flashing brilliantly and carrying the power to destroy the world, crashing down on the Guardian like a torrential rain. Each meteor contained enormous energy, as if it was about to tear apart the entire space.

The Guardian's eyes widened in shock, and he quickly cast a shield to block the attack. However, the meteors were too numerous and too dense, and his shield was instantly broken. He could only try his best to resist, but a few meteors still hit him, knocking him back.

The Guardian fell heavily to the ground, sending up a cloud of dust. He struggled to his feet, his body wobbling, clearly badly injured. He looked at Lin Yi and Leah, his eyes filled with mixed emotions.

Finally, the guardian sighed and said helplessly: "You have passed the trial and proved your strength and determination. This power now belongs to you." After that, he waved his hand, and a brilliant light fell from the sky and injected into Lin Yi's body.

After saying this, the guardian transformed into a ray of light and disappeared into the crystal ball. The crystal ball then slowly floated into the hands of Lin Yi and Leah, emitting a warm light.

Lin Yi and Liya smiled at each other. They knew that this trial had not only given them new strength, but had also brought their trust and understanding to a new level. They held the crystal ball, their hearts filled with anticipation and hope for the future.