Under the Stars: The Hermit's Path

Lin Yi and his group followed closely behind the mysterious figure, their steps slow and cautious, as if the slightest mistake would trigger a deadly trap. A suffocating atmosphere of tension permeated the entire group, and everyone's nerves were stretched to the limit.

After a long and arduous journey, they finally arrived in front of a towering, majestic, and imposing gate. This gate was jaw-droppingly tall, its surface densely engraved with a variety of intricate and obscure runes and patterns. These runes and patterns intertwined, emitting an indescribable mysterious aura and a vast and powerful force.

"There is no doubt that this should be the entrance to the core area of the ruins." The mysterious man lowered his voice and spoke in a steady and confident tone.

Upon hearing this, Lin Yi stepped forward without hesitation. He stretched out his arms and pushed hard at the seemingly extremely heavy door in front of him, but no matter how hard he pushed, the door remained as still as a mountain.

"Let me give it a try!" Seeing this, the mysterious figure immediately stepped forward. He took a deep breath, then clasped his hands together in front of his chest, and began to gather the magical energy around him. As the magical energy continued to accumulate, the mysterious figure's hands gradually shone with a dazzling light. Then, he suddenly pushed his hands towards the closed door. In an instant, a dazzling light suddenly erupted, accompanied by a dull roar, and the previously indestructible door slowly opened.

Everyone walked in an orderly manner through the heavy door and entered the unknown space behind it. When they stepped inside, everyone was stunned by the scene before them.

Before them lay an immense, vast, circular chamber. Its scale defied human imagination. Standing there, the view seemed to reach no end. It was as if the space was endless, filling one with a sense of awe and insignificance.

In the very center of this vast room, one object stood out—an immense crystal ball. Its sheer size was breathtaking, and it stood there, towering like a mountain. Its entire surface was crystalline and translucent, its mirror-smooth surface devoid of a single flaw or impurity. It radiated a captivating luster, like a peerless treasure fallen from heaven.

However, what was terrifying and unsettling was that within this crystal ball, which should have shone brilliantly, a deep, dark black light shone. This black light was as thick and deep as ink, seemingly swallowing up all surrounding light. Furthermore, this black light constantly shifted and changed shape, sometimes transforming into a hideous, twisted face, sometimes into a ferocious, savage monster with bared fangs and claws, giving people a chilling feeling.

This eerie black light, like a demonic eye from the depths of hell, projected an endless aura of evil and terror through the crystal ball. Anyone who gazed upon it felt a chill run down their spine, a deep fear welling up in their hearts. Undoubtedly, this crystal ball was the source of the dark power they were seeking on this adventure, a power they must completely shut down.

"Yes, that's it!" the mysterious figure, who had been silent until then, suddenly spoke. His sharp eyes fixed on the crystal ball, burning with a fiery fire, yet also revealing an unprecedented solemnity. "If we can successfully seal it or completely destroy it, we can forever eliminate the grave threat posed by this terrifying dark force to the entire world!" The mysterious figure's voice was deep and firm, as if conveying a sense of fearless courage and determination to everyone present.

Just as they cautiously inched closer to the crystal ball emitting a mysterious glow, something unexpected happened. A gentle buzzing sound filled the air, and suddenly, as if enchanted, magical barriers shimmering with strange light appeared from nowhere in the previously empty room. Like impenetrable walls, they stretched between them, forcibly separating them.

Seeing this scene, Lin Yi couldn't help but frowned tightly, thinking to himself: "It seems that getting the secret of this crystal ball is not as easy as imagined." He stared solemnly at the seemingly unbreakable magic barriers in front of him, trying to find a flaw or a breakthrough in them.

The mysterious figure standing nearby was equally busy, rapidly observing his surroundings and pondering a strategy. The two men were in perfect sync, both knowing they had to find a way to overcome these obstacles as quickly as possible, otherwise all their previous efforts would be in vain.

After much thought and constant experimentation, they finally discovered some subtle weaknesses in these magical barriers. Lin Yi and the mysterious man exchanged a glance, nodded, and then simultaneously unleashed their respective unique skills, launching a fierce attack on those weaknesses.

For a moment, the entire room was ablaze with light and surging energy. Accompanied by deafening roars, the magical barriers finally began to crumble under their powerful attack, and finally collapsed.

Lin Yi and the mysterious man were overjoyed upon seeing this, and immediately rushed forward, successfully reaching the mysterious crystal ball. However, before they could even catch their breath, a huge black shadow appeared before them silently like a ghost.

The shadow was shrouded in a thick black fog, making it impossible to see its true appearance. However, from the evil aura and eerie laughter emanating from it, it was clear that this person was no good.

"Hehehe... Do you think you can stop me like this? That's just wishful thinking!" The black shadow let out bursts of creepy sneers and slowly moved forward, as if it would launch a fatal attack on Lin Yi and the mysterious man at any time.

Hearing the shadow's words, the mysterious man's face turned pale. He widened his eyes and said in horror, "You...you are the remnant of the dark magician's soul! How is that possible? That great battle clearly wiped you out completely!"

The black shadow laughed and said, "That's right, you ants, don't even think about ruining my plan!"

As he spoke, the shadow attacked them, powerful dark magic surged like a tide.

Lin Yi and the mysterious figure stood fearlessly side by side. Facing the formidable foe before them, their gazes were resolute, with no intention of retreating. Instantly, the room was bathed in a dazzling array of multicolored light. Magical energies collided and surged, unleashing a shocking force so powerful that the entire ancient ruins trembled violently, as if poised to collapse at any moment.

In this thrilling battle, Lin Yi focused his attention on responding to every attack from his opponent, and gradually comprehended new magical techniques in the critical moment of life and death. These techniques were like a revelation, further enhancing his already impressive strength.

At the same time, the mysterious figure, who had been hiding his true power, no longer held back and unleashed his most powerful magic. He waved his hands, muttering something, and a surge of immense magical power erupted from his body, transforming into a roaring dragon that pounced directly at the shadow.

The two sides fought back and forth, neither side yielding, and the battle was extremely stalemate. Sweat streamed down the foreheads of Lin Yi and the mysterious man, but they were completely unaware of it. They had only one belief in their hearts - to defeat the terrifying black shadow before them.

After a long and arduous battle, Lin Yi keenly detected a flaw in the shadow's moves. Without hesitation, he signaled to the mysterious figure beside him. The two of them understood and immediately gathered all their strength to launch a final round of fierce and violent attacks.

A dazzling flash of light suddenly appeared, and the shadow was caught off guard, struck by this powerful force. It let out a shrill scream before dissipating like smoke, never to be seen again.

Lin Yi and the mysterious man breathed a sigh of relief, their exhausted bodies nearly collapsing. However, they knew it wasn't time to relax. After a brief rest, the two worked together to successfully shut down the source of the dark power, preventing a catastrophe that could have destroyed the world.