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

Looking in his direction, they saw a figure clad in dark armor and with a solemn expression, approaching them step by step. The figure's cloak fluttered in the wind, and the ground seemed to tremble slightly with every step. As they drew closer, the uninvited guest finally stopped and spoke in a deep, powerful voice:

"Welcome to the Shadow Forest, brave travelers. My name is Celt, and I am the guardian of this area."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yan immediately took two steps forward and responded politely and cautiously, "Hello, Mr. Celtic. I'm Zhao Yan, and these are my best friends—Genos, Lin Xi, and Cas."

Celtic nodded in return. "I understand your purpose. The Heart of the Elements is hidden in the deepest part of this world. But finding it is not easy, as the path is filled with difficulties and dangers."

Genos gripped his sword tightly and asked, "So you came here to stop us?"

Facing the other party's direct question, Celtic shook his head and smiled, "That's not the case. My mission is to test the qualifications of everyone seeking to enter the next level. Only those who pass the challenge have the opportunity to move on."

Hearing this, Lin Xi asked curiously, "Then what is this so-called 'challenge'?"

Before the Guardian could reply, the sky suddenly darkened, and a fierce wind howled past. Then, hundreds of small black-winged bats descended from the sky, emitting sharp, piercing sounds as they formed a massive attack force and charged directly at the four people.

"See? This is your first test." Celt leaped up and stood firmly in mid-air, looking down at the young men locked in a fierce battle below. "If you can't even handle these dark elves, forget about moving forward."

Meanwhile, in the fierce battle below, Zhao Yan and his companions worked closely together to resist the enemy. Zhao Yan brandished his broken sword, charging left and right; Genos, with his nimble agility, darted through the air; Lin Xi used his bracelet to release shields and healing powers to provide support; and as for Cas, he used his extraordinary speed to launch swift sneak attacks, making it difficult for the enemy to organize an effective attack...

After a desperate fight, when the last black flying bat fell to the ground, the whole scene fell into silence. The sky was now bright again, and everything was quiet as if nothing had happened.

Seeing this, Celt smiled with satisfaction, landed on the ground again, and said appreciatively, "Not bad, it seems you do have the courage and strength required to move on to the next step."

After wiping the sweat off his face, Zhao Yan said firmly, "This is just the beginning. I won't back down no matter what. Please guide our path."

Then Celtic nodded and pointed to a certain direction in the west and said, "There is an ancient ruin over there, and buried inside is one of the key fragments needed to open the next portal. Good luck, warriors."

"Thank you," Lin Xi said gratefully with a smile, "I hope we can get to know each other more deeply when we meet again!"

"I also wish you can successfully complete your mission." After saying that, he disappeared from the spot, leaving behind a gust of breeze.

Looking at the direction he left, Zhao Yan took a deep breath and said, "Let's go! Let's move forward into the unknown!"

The three of them answered simultaneously, "Okay!" Then they followed Zhao Yan's footsteps into the vast forest, ready to embrace more upcoming adventures...

"I really don't know what unexpected things we will encounter this time." Genos said jokingly on the way, hoping to ease everyone's tension.

Lin Xi smiled slightly: "No matter what kind of difficulties it is, as long as I have you by my side, I think there is nothing that cannot be solved."

"That's right! The three of us plus that person who always finds fun are simply invincible!" Zhao Yan patted his chest and confidently agreed with his friend.

Cass, who had been walking silently at the back, couldn't help but interrupt upon hearing this conversation: "Hey, don't forget my role! Without my wit and bravery, many things might not have been resolved so smoothly."

After hearing this, the three companions burst into laughter, continuing their journey to find the Heart of the Elements, full of anticipation and determination. Zhao Yan and his companions set out on the path toward the ancient ruins, a dense forest gradually unfolding before them. As they advanced, the sounds of various unknown creatures grew more frequent, a reminder that more dangers lay ahead.

The group carefully walked through a winding path, surrounded by dense trees and oddly shaped rocks. Genos suddenly stopped and looked around vigilantly. "Everyone, be careful. I feel like there's something unusual here."

Just as he finished speaking, a breeze blew by, carrying a faint fishy smell that made people frown. "What's that smell?" Lin Xi asked, covering his mouth and nose.

Cass's keen senses picked up an unusual scent in the air, and he whispered, "We might be approaching some kind of nest or monster habitat."

Just as everyone was about to raise their guard, a slight rustling sound came from a bush not far ahead. Then, a dark figure suddenly rushed out and pounced on the four of them. It was a huge beast, covered in thick fur, its two large eyes glowing red, and its claws swung as if they could tear anything apart.

"What the hell is this thing!" Genos exclaimed, swinging his sword to block the next fierce attack.

"It seems it's no ordinary beast," Zhao Yan said calmly. "Be careful, it moves quickly and is very powerful. Don't let it get close to us easily!"

Lin Xi responded immediately, creating a protective aura around his companions to ensure everyone's safety. Meanwhile, Cass used his agility to get behind the beast, looking for an opportunity to sneak up on him.

The beast let out a deep, terrifying roar, remaining extremely ferocious despite the four-man attack. However, as time went on, facing the experienced and well-coordinated adventurers, its offensive gradually showed signs of fatigue.

After several fierce exchanges, Zhao Yan finally seized an opening and delivered a beautiful spinning strike, striking the monster directly in the throat. The severely wounded monster fell to the ground, struggling for a few moments before becoming motionless.

"Fortunately, we are all safe." Genos sighed while wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.

Just as everyone was relaxing and preparing to take a break, Lin Xi noticed that the surroundings seemed to have become even quieter. "Wait... why is the atmosphere here different again?"

At this moment, a melodious yet eerie flute sound emanated from the distance. The sound was soft and ethereal, yet full of allure, making one want to follow the music. Zhao Yan immediately became alert. "This is definitely not ordinary music from nature. We must be careful."