I walk sideways in the game world

The biting cold wind gradually gave way to warm air, and the biting ice and snow vanished, replaced by a lush, verdant landscape. Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin emerged from the snowy mountains, their vision suddenly opening up. A majestic city stood tall in the distance, its golden walls gleaming in the sunlight, as if telling an ancient legend.

"Is this the Golden City? It really lives up to its reputation." Xia Lin exclaimed. She switched languages skillfully and explained the scene in front of them to Ren Xiaoyao.

"Let's go." Ren Xiaoyao smiled slightly, his eyes full of anticipation.

They walked towards the city and soon arrived at the city gate. The gate was tall, built of huge stones, and guards in golden armor stood on both sides, looking majestic.

"Who are you?" the guard asked in an unfamiliar language.

"We are travelers from afar, hoping to visit the noble Prince Jin." Xia Lin replied in fluent local language, with a hint of respect in her words.

The guards looked them up and down, then sent someone inside to report. A moment later, a servant in fine clothing came out and said respectfully, "Dear guests, His Royal Highness the Prince invites you. Please follow me."

Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin followed the attendants through the bustling streets, eventually arriving in front of a magnificent palace. The palace gate slowly opened, revealing a tall, handsome man standing at the door. He exuded a kingly aura that made people afraid to look directly at him.

"Welcome, two guests from afar. I am Prince Jin," the man said warmly. "Please come in."

Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin entered the palace, and Prince Jin entertained them graciously and expressed a warm welcome to their arrival. During the banquet, Prince Jin showed great interest in Ren Xiaoyao.

"I've heard that you're an adventurer both wise and brave. I wonder if I'd have the honor to witness your wisdom?" Prince Jin raised his glass with a meaningful smile on his face.

"Your Highness, thank you for the compliment." Ren Xiaoyao responded modestly.

"I have an ancient puzzle here. It is said that only those with extraordinary wisdom can solve it." Prince Jin's eyes fell on Ren Xiaoyao. "If you can solve this puzzle within three days, I will grant you a wish. How about it?"

"What puzzle?" Ren Xiaoyao became interested.

Prince Jin smiled and waved his hand, and the attendant immediately presented an ancient stone slab engraved with dense symbols and patterns.

"This is..." Charlene stared at the stone tablet in surprise. "This is the mystery of our city-state's creation. No one has been able to solve it for hundreds of years!"

"What do you think? Are you willing to accept the challenge?" Prince Jin looked at Ren Xiaoyao with anticipation in his eyes.

"Of course." Ren Xiaoyao agreed without hesitation. His eyes fell on the ancient stone slab, as if he saw a whole new world unfolding before him...

"Then please allow me to prepare the best room and the most sumptuous dinner for you two." Prince Jin said with a smile, but there was a hint of subtle temptation in his tone.

Ren Xiaoyao's gaze was determined as he gently stroked the ancient symbols on the stone slab, as if in conversation with history. Prince Jin watched him with interest, an inexplicable glint in his eyes. The moment he accepted the challenge, Ren Xiaoyao knew this was more than just a puzzle; it held the key to an unknown world.

After returning to his room, Ren Xiaoyao immediately began studying the symbols on the stone slab. These symbols were complex and difficult to understand, resembling some ancient script or mysterious totem. Xia Lin assisted him, drawing on her understanding of local culture to find some relevant literature and legends.

"These symbols seem to be related to the movement of stars," Xia Lin said, pointing to one of the patterns. "Look, does this look like the starry sky we saw last night?"

Ren Xiaoyao followed Xia Lin's instructions and discovered that the pattern on the stone slab bore a striking resemblance to the starry sky. They began comparing the star maps, trying to find clues to solve the mystery.

As time went by, Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin were so immersed in their research that they almost forgot about time. They traveled to every corner of the city-state, consulted a large number of ancient books, and even visited the wise men and elders in the city.

"This stone tablet records the origins of our city-state," a white-haired elder told them. "Legend has it that our ancestors descended from the distant stars to this land, bringing with them advanced civilization and knowledge and establishing this prosperous city-state."

The elder's words suddenly enlightened Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin, who realized that the secret of the stone tablet might be hidden in the city-state's history. They began to re-examine the city-state's architecture, culture, and even the people's living habits, trying to find clues related to the starry sky.

By chance, Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin discovered that the city-state's underground water system had a surprising correspondence with the star map. They realized that this might be the key to solving the mystery.

However, as they delved deeper into the underground water system, they unexpectedly discovered a shocking secret. The city-state's underground water source was drying up, and the reason was...

"Someone is secretly destroying the water source!" Xia Lin's face turned pale as she realized the seriousness of the matter.

Ren Xiaoyao's face was solemn. He realized that this wasn't just a simple challenge, but a crisis concerning the city's survival. He looked at Xia Lin, his eyes gleaming with determination.

"We have to stop this!"

They found Prince Jin and told him all their findings and inferences. After listening to him, Prince Jin's face turned pale, and he stood up suddenly, and the wine glass in his hand slipped and shattered...

The wine-red liquid spread across the floor, a reflection of Prince Jin's current state of mind: a mixture of shock and anger. He had never imagined that his carefully designed test would unexpectedly uncover a conspiracy capable of subverting the city-state. He stared intently at Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin, trying to find a flaw in their faces, but their frank expressions gradually calmed him down.

"How did you find out?" Prince Jin asked in a deep voice, with a barely perceptible tremor in his tone.

Charlene recounted their discoveries and inferences, from the correspondence between the star map and the underground waterway, to the abnormal phenomenon of water depletion, to the damaged device they found in the underground waterway, every detail was presented to Prince Jin without reservation.

Prince Jin remained silent for a long time after hearing this. He turned his back and gazed out the window at the bustling city-state, a trace of pain in his eyes. "You are right. The city-state is indeed facing a huge crisis." He turned around and said in a heavy tone, "And all this is because of my stupidity and arrogance..."

It turns out that in order to consolidate his rule, Prince Jin listened to the slander of a mysterious person and installed a control device in the city-state's underground water source in an attempt to control the entire city. However, he did not expect that the mysterious person's true purpose was to destroy the entire city-state, and he had become a pawn in the other party's hands.

"I am willing to do everything I can to make up for my mistakes." Prince Jin looked at Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin, his eyes filled with guilt and hope. "Please believe in me and help me save my city-state and my people!"

Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin looked at each other and saw determination in each other's eyes.

"There is no time to lose, let's act now!" Ren Xiaoyao said.

With the help of Prince Jin, Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin quickly found the culprit who destroyed the water source and successfully subdued him. Prince Jin kept his promise, dismantled all the devices that controlled the water source, and confessed his mistakes to the people of the entire city-state, winning their forgiveness.

After many twists and turns, the crisis of the city-state was finally resolved. Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin finally solved the puzzle on the stone slab and found the door to a new world.

Just as everyone was celebrating their victory, a mysterious man in a black cloak quietly appeared at the door of the banquet hall. He slowly raised his head, revealing a pale face, and spoke in a hoarse and low voice:

"Congratulations! You've completed the test, but the real challenge has only just begun..." Within the magnificent hall, celebratory music echoed as people toasted their lives, celebrating their survival and the future of the foreign city-state. Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin stood side by side with Prince Jin, receiving the cheers and respect.

"This is all thanks to you. Without you, my city-state and my people would be doomed." Prince Jin bowed sincerely to the two of them, his face full of gratitude.

Xia Lin smiled and shook her head. "Prince Jin, you're too kind. This is what we should do."

Ren Xiaoyao raised his glass and said proudly, "Cheers to the future of the city-state!"

Amid the crisp clinking of glasses, a complex expression crossed Prince Jin's face, as if he was about to speak but hesitated. Ren Xiaoyao keenly noticed his strange expression and asked, "Prince Jin, is there anything else on your mind?"

Prince Jin sighed deeply and said quietly, "I've heard that in the far east, there's a mysterious city of prophecy, where prophets who can predict the future live. I'm worried that this is just the beginning, and even greater crises may lie ahead..."

Before he could finish his words, the hall door swung open with a bang. A figure draped in a black cloak stood against the light, his face indistinct. His appearance was like a bucket of cold water poured over everyone's heads, and the originally celebratory atmosphere froze instantly.

"Who dares to disturb our banquet!" The guard roared and drew his weapon, but was knocked to the ground by an invisible force in the next second.

The mysterious man slowly raised his head, revealing a bloodless face, and said in a hoarse and low voice: "Prince Jin, time is running out. Follow me and you will know everything."

Prince Jin's face changed drastically. He recognized the person coming. It was the messenger from the City of Prophecy! He took a deep breath, turned to Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin, and said, "Excuse me, I have to go."

Before the two could respond, the mysterious messenger grabbed Prince Jin's arm and turned into a black shadow and disappeared on the spot.

The hall was in an uproar, with people discussing the matter, but no one knew what had happened. Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin exchanged glances, each seeing uneasiness and confusion in the other's eyes.

"It seems that our journey is not over yet..." Ren Xiaoyao whispered with a hint of determination in his tone. He had a premonition that a bigger adventure was about to begin.

He took Xia Lin's hand and said firmly, "Let's go to the City of Prophecy!"

The two figures quickly disappeared into the night, running towards an unknown fate...