I am the Holy Poisoner, the Empress advised me to calm down

Hearing this, everyone present seemed to relax. Though they had never met before, facing an unknown danger, they clearly preferred mutual trust and support. "So, how about we team up and act together?" Mo Nianran suggested. This suggestion was immediately met with unanimous agreement from all members—after all, acting alone in this strange place was far too risky.

Over the next few days, the two teams explored this mysterious area together, encountering several unexpected and dangerous situations. Fortunately, thanks to their respective abilities and tacit cooperation, they were able to overcome the dangers. Through constant communication, everyone also gained a deeper understanding of their new companions...

Just as everyone was discussing their next plan, a subtle but significant tremor caught their attention. "What's going on? Is it an earthquake?" Lin Xuan's expression changed slightly. "It doesn't seem like a natural phenomenon..." Ron speculated, frowning.

As soon as he finished speaking, a crack suddenly appeared beneath their feet and rapidly spread outward. As the ground continued to collapse, the crack widened into a deep, abyssal gully. At this critical moment, a blinding light pierced from below, almost blinding the viewer.

When vision cleared again, everyone was speechless with shock: Where once there should have been no bottom, a massive palace-like structure had emerged. Its exterior was clad in a shimmering, exotic material, and a lavender mist enveloped it, creating a dreamlike, beautiful yet ethereal scene. "What...what is this?!" Yun Ying couldn't help but exclaim.

"I don't know either...but in a sense it may be the key to the whole incident." Lucia stared at the palace and whispered.

At this time, the onlookers hiding on the other side began whispering again: "Wow, they actually triggered that mechanism... It seems that the real test is about to begin!" The old mountain cat muttered softly.

Just as everyone was still hesitating whether to go down and investigate, a melodious melody suddenly echoed in the air. It was as if an invisible force was calling and guiding these brave souls to embark on their own destiny. "Looks like there's no choice..." Ron said solemnly, "Whatever is hidden down there, we must go and see!"

"That's right." Mo Nianran nodded and looked at his companions. "No matter what is waiting for us, let us face it together."

The eight of them exchanged a resolute glance before diving into the dreamlike palace without hesitation, ready to embrace their new challenge. However, at that moment, no one noticed a figure standing beneath a massive ancient tree in the distance—it was none other than the dark mage Castel, who had appeared not long ago but had mysteriously vanished without a trace. He smiled softly and muttered, "The game has officially begun..." As they passed through the beam of light, the sight before them took their breath away. The palace's architectural style was unlike anything they had seen before, both ancient and surreal. The entire space seemed enveloped by countless twinkling stars, and the air was filled with a faint fluorescent glow.

"Does this place... really exist?" Lin Xuan couldn't help but ask. His words seemed to represent the doubts in everyone's mind at the moment.

At that moment, whispers and footsteps suddenly rang out from the side of the palace. "Someone's here!" Ron whispered, immediately going on alert and drawing the dagger from his waist. The others also readied their most convenient weapons or magic spells, ready to respond at any time.

Around the corner emerged a humanoid creature dressed in ancient attire. Unlike humans, however, its skin was a metallic blue, and its eyes shone with a gentle, intelligent light. "Don't be afraid," the creature said in a gentle yet magnetic voice. "You've passed the initial test and arrived here."

Lucia took a step forward and asked, "So, may I ask, where is this place? And why were we brought here?" Her eyes never left the blue-skinned creature. She was curious but also wary.

The messenger, who called himself Azeroth, smiled and explained that this place actually guarded a very ancient secret, and that being able to enter here proved that they were already chosen warriors. "To protect this world from the invasion of dark forces," it added.

Just as everyone was still immersed in surprise, more noisy sounds came from the distance. "It seems that we have unexpected guests," Azeroth said, his tone changing from his usual calm to a slightly serious one.

As expected, a moment later, a group of strange-looking, rude creatures began to appear in their sight. They looked like monsters driven by some mysterious force. "Quickly retreat into the hall! I'll hold them off here!" Azelar shouted, and with a wave of his hand, a powerful barrier instantly sealed the door.

Once inside, they discovered a different world: exotic flowers and plants exuded a tranquil fragrance, and paths crisscrossed the landscape, leading to nowhere. "What a beautiful place!" Elena exclaimed, "But what exactly are we looking for?"

At that moment, Yunying pointed to an ancient scroll found beneath a small pavilion ahead. "Look at that!" Everyone quickly gathered around and carefully unfolded the paper—it was densely covered with symbols and patterns. "This should be the key information we need," Mo Nianran speculated.

After some research, everyone roughly understood that this document pointed to a very important treasure hidden in the core of the palace. "If we can get it, we can completely change the current unfavorable situation and even turn the tide of the war!" Lin Xuan said excitedly.

As the expedition team advanced deeper into the hinterland, the outside world was also in turmoil. "This group is truly fascinating. They've managed to reach the key area so quickly?" muttered the old mountain cat, who had been observing from the shadows for a long time. "Castel, your plan this time is truly brilliant!"

Meanwhile, Castel, deep in the unknown region, had a smug smile on his face: "This is just the beginning... The real game has just begun."

Just as the expedition team was about to reach their destination, the road ahead was blocked by an invisible wall. "What's wrong?" Ron asked with a frown, "Can't we find a way out?"

Just when everyone was feeling frustrated, Elena suddenly remembered a strange statue she had just passed by. Perhaps it was the key to solving the mystery. "Wait, let me try that thing I just saw! It might be useful."