I walk sideways in the game world

Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin pursued Qian Wanguan's trail, but the cunning businessman vanished without a trace, seemingly vanishing from the face of the earth. The combined exhaustion, sadness, and anger of days past left Ren Xiaoyao feeling an unprecedented sense of powerlessness. He sat dejectedly beneath a withered tree, despair entwining his heart like a vine.

"Brother Xiaoyao, we will find the treasure, we will." Xia Lin looked at Ren Xiaoyao's distraught look, and felt distressed. She gently held his hand, hoping to use her warmth to dispel the coldness in his heart.

Ren Xiaoyao forced a wry smile, then held Xia Lin's hand with his backhand. His voice was hoarse, "Xia Lin, tell me, is it really worth it for us to do this? Old Wang...he'll never come back."

"It's worth it, of course it's worth it!" Xia Lin's tone was extremely firm. "Old Wang is doing this to protect the treasure..."

At this point, Charlene's voice choked with sobs. She understood that some pains could not be healed even by time.

Ren Xiaoyao stood up, looking up at the gray sky, letting the cold wind blow against him. He thought of Lao Wang's last words, the days and nights they had fought side by side, and the oath they had made to protect the treasure together.

"Old Wang, don't worry, I will definitely complete our mission!" Ren Xiaoyao swore silently in his heart.

"Kids, you look so lost." An old voice came from behind them.

Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin turned around suddenly and saw a white-haired old man in a coarse linen shirt standing behind them. The old man was leaning on a cane, his face full of traces of time, but his eyes were bright and sharp, as if he could see through everything in the world.

"Old man, who are you?" Ren Xiaoyao asked vigilantly.

The old man smiled slightly and did not answer directly. Instead, he asked: "Are you looking for a treasure?"

Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin exchanged a glance, their hearts filled with confusion. The old man's words seemed to hint at something.

"Old man, do you know anything about the treasure?" Ren Xiaoyao asked tentatively.

The old man stroked his beard, and a gleam of light flashed in his cloudy eyes: "The treasure is just a carrier of power. The real power..."

The old man suddenly stopped and looked into the distance with deep eyes, as if he was thinking about something.

The old man took a deep breath, his cloudy eyes seeming to see through the long river of time. "True power comes from inner belief. Treasures are merely carriers of power. Without firm belief, even if you possess them, you are nothing more than a slave to power."

Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin were completely bewildered. They had never considered this question before. In their view, a treasure represented great power. With it, one could command the world and protect everything they wanted.

"Old man, I don't understand what you mean." Ren Xiaoyao frowned and asked in confusion.

The old man smiled kindly and pointed to the towering mountain in the distance. "Look, that mountain is soaring into the clouds. What does it rely on?"

"Nature is hard rock and vast land." Charlene answered without hesitation.

"That's true, but without the mountain's inner yearning for the sky, without the trials and tribulations of wind and rain, how could it remain standing?" The old man's voice was filled with philosophy. "The same is true for treasures. They are merely tools, and your inner convictions are the true source of power."

Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin fell into deep thought. The old man's words were like a flash of lightning, splitting the fog in their hearts. They recalled their experiences along the way. In pursuit of the treasure, they had experienced countless dangers and even lost their companions, but they never wavered in their belief in protecting the peace of the martial arts world.

"Old man, I understand." Ren Xiaoyao's eyes became firm. "The treasure is certainly important, but what is more important is the justice and faith in our hearts."

"You are a teachable child." The old man nodded with satisfaction. "You know, true glory lies not in possessing great power, but in using that power to protect and create."

Xia Lin nodded thoughtfully, looking at Ren Xiaoyao with eyes full of admiration. At this moment, she seemed to see a more mature and powerful Ren Xiaoyao.

"Children, I have an ancient book here that may be of some help to you." The old man took out an ancient book from his arms and handed it to Ren Xiaoyao, "But remember, power comes at a price. I hope you can choose carefully."

Ren Xiaoyao solemnly took the ancient book. He knew that a more difficult test would be waiting for them, but for the belief in his heart and for the peace of the world, he was fearless.

The old man looked at them, smiled slightly, turned and left, leaving only a meaningful word echoing in the air, "Remember, true strength comes from within..."

Ren Xiaoyao took the ancient book in his hands. The cover was blank, with only strange patterns that seemed to hold some mysterious power. He flipped to the first page, and an ancient aura washed over him. The pages, yellowed but intact, contained a record of a unique cultivation method in simple, ancient writing.

"What is this?" Charlene came forward and asked curiously.

"Perhaps, this is the key to our becoming stronger." Ren Xiaoyao's eyes flashed with determination. "The old man said that gaining power requires a price, but this ancient book may very well be our hope in fighting against the evil forces."

Xia Lin looked at Ren Xiaoyao with mixed feelings. She knew that Ren Xiaoyao shouldered the heavy responsibility of protecting the peace of the martial arts world, a responsibility as heavy as a mountain. But she believed that no matter what difficulties they encountered, they would face them together.

"Xiaoyao, no matter what decision you make, I will support you." Xia Lin held Ren Xiaoyao's hand with a firm look in her eyes.

Ren Xiaoyao's heart warmed. He shook Xia Lin's hand and nodded solemnly. He took a deep breath and began to practice according to the records in the ancient book.

The process of cultivation is extremely difficult. The cultivation methods recorded in ancient books are completely different from what they have learned before. They require the fusion of one's own internal strength with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. If one is not careful, one will go astray.

Ren Xiaoyao's body felt as if it was torn apart, and the severe pain made it almost unbearable for him, but he gritted his teeth and endured the pain. He knew that he could not give up. In order to protect the peace of the world and to live up to everyone's expectations, he had to persevere.

Xia Lin was guarding by his side. Seeing Ren Xiaoyao in pain, her heart felt like it was being cut by a knife, but she could only pray silently, hoping that Ren Xiaoyao could get through the difficult times safely.

Day after day, year after year, Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin practiced hard in the deep mountains and old forests. They experienced countless failures, but they never gave up, because the flame of hope always burned in their hearts.

Finally, after trying again and again, Ren Xiaoyao felt an unprecedented power surging in his body. His meridians became tougher and his internal strength became stronger.

He opened his eyes, gleaming with life, as if reborn. He looked at Xia Lin, his eyes filled with gratitude and love. "Lin'er, we succeeded."

However, at this moment, a powerful aura came from a distance, accompanied by a roar, "Who dares to steal my secrets!"

Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin's expressions changed. They realized that a big battle was inevitable...

A fierce wind whipped up fallen leaves, and the sky outside the cave was eerily gloomy. Inside, Ren Xiaoyao sat cross-legged, his face pale. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, dripping onto the ancient books, creating a smeared mess. His internal energy surged like a wild horse, running amok. The intense pain made him groan.

"Xiaoyao, stop, you will go crazy if you continue like this!" Xia Lin shouted anxiously. She looked at Ren Xiaoyao's painful expression with heartache, but she was powerless to do anything.

Ren Xiaoyao gritted his teeth, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the ancient book in his hands. He understood Xia Lin's concerns, but he knew even more clearly that they had no way out. Only by practicing this secret book could they defeat the greedy merchants, reclaim the treasure, and protect the peace of the martial arts world!

"No, I can't give up!" Ren Xiaoyao took a deep breath, endured the severe pain, and continued to circulate his internal energy according to the records in ancient books.

As time passed, Ren Xiaoyao's face grew paler and paler, and his breath grew weaker and weaker. Just when Xia Lin was about to despair, Ren Xiaoyao suddenly let out a long howl, and a powerful aura burst out from his body, shaking the entire cave slightly.

Xia Lin looked up in surprise and saw that a hint of color had returned to Ren Xiaoyao's face. His eyes were bright and shining with an unprecedented light.

"Lin'er, I feel..." Ren Xiaoyao slowly opened his eyes, feeling the power surging in his body, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, "I feel... I seem to have touched..."

Before he could finish his words, a sinister laugh suddenly rang out from outside the cave: "Hahaha, it's true that after searching high and low for something, it finally comes to you without any effort! Boy, hand over the secret book, and I can spare your life!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a middle-aged man in fancy clothes and with a greedy face strode into the cave.

Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin's expressions changed. They recognized that the person coming was the greedy businessman!

"How...how did you find this place?" Charlene exclaimed.

"Hmph, you think you can deceive me with your meager tricks?" The businessman sneered, "If you know what's good for you, hand over the secret manual obediently, otherwise..."

There was a fierce glint in his eyes, and the threat was self-evident.

Ren Xiaoyao slowly stood up, protecting Xia Lin behind him, staring at the businessman with cold eyes, a confident arc on the corner of his mouth:

"Want the secret book? Then it depends on whether you have the ability!"