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

"That's amazing! I want to be as brave as them!" said the young man standing not far away enviously.

Arriving in a simple yet solemn meeting hall, the old village chief slowly spoke, "I do have some clues about the Heart of the Elements. However, it is filled with unknown dangers. Only those with true wisdom and courage can pass the test and reach the end. Unless absolutely necessary, I still suggest that you do not go there lightly."

Zhao Yan nodded in understanding, then said firmly, "No matter what, we've come this far. We won't give up easily! I hope you, old village chief, will give us your guidance."

The old village chief nodded with satisfaction and handed Zhao Yan a parchment map. "This shows the route to your destination, as well as some of the traps you might encounter along the way. I hope this helps."

After bidding farewell to the friendly old village chief, the four continued their journey. Following the map in their hands, they crossed one mountain after another, crossed one turbulent river after another, and finally arrived at the entrance of a canyon wrapped in mysterious energy.

Genos looked up at the area shimmering with a strange light. "This must be the final test mentioned on the map, right? It's said that only those with pure hearts, unafraid of any difficulties or obstacles, can cross it safely."

"Since that's the case, let's face it together!" Zhao Yan said firmly.

Just as they were about to enter the canyon, they heard hurried footsteps from behind. Turning back, they saw the young man they had seen before, catching up. "Wait a minute! I want to join you on this great mission!" he shouted breathlessly.

Seeing his sincere eyes, Zhao Yan thought for a moment and then smiled: "Okay, let's face the challenge together. But remember, you may face life-or-death moments along the way, so you must be prepared."

"No problem! As long as I have a dream, I can overcome any difficulty!" the young man answered confidently.

Just like that, a new partner joined the team, and the five of them walked side by side into the unknown yet alluring fog. What awaited them ahead? No one knew...

"Everyone ready? Let's go!" Zhao Yan's voice echoed through the silent canyon, ushering in a new chapter in this adventure. Following Zhao Yan's command, the five of them entered the canyon with resolute steps. A thin layer of mist enveloped them, making them feel like they had entered a completely different world. The strange energy in the air made them feel a little dizzy, but no one was willing to give up.

"This energy... is so strong!" the young man couldn't help but whisper to himself, a hint of fear on his face. Lin Xi patted his shoulder gently, "Don't be afraid, as long as we unite, there is no obstacle that we can't overcome."

Suddenly, a cold wind blew in from the depths of the canyon, and several ferocious-looking monsters quietly appeared, lingering not far ahead. Seeing this, Genos immediately stepped forward, his hands tightly gripping his swords. "Looks like getting through easily won't be that easy. I'll go test it first!"

"Wait a minute!" Zhao Yan called out to him, "Let's follow the instructions on the map. Maybe we can find a way to pass without fighting."

The group carefully avoided the monsters and continued forward, following the safe route marked on the map given by the old village chief. Soon, a large crack about ten feet wide appeared before them. It seemed that only through this crack could they continue to go deeper.

"How...are we going to get through this?" Cass frowned and looked at the bottomless stone walls with smooth surfaces on both sides.

Just as everyone was stumped, Zhao Yan spotted a few bumps on the edge of the crack that could serve as support. He turned around and said, "How about this? Let's take turns using the force to leap to the other side. We should be able to succeed."

Upon hearing this, everyone agreed that this was a feasible solution. After several attempts, they successfully crossed the large crevasse. However, near the last foothold, Lin Xi slipped and nearly fell off the cliff. Fortunately, Genos's quick eyes and hands caught her. "Thank you," the girl said gratefully, looking at him.

"It's okay, it's my duty to protect my teammates!" The man smiled, then gently loosened his clenched arms.

After overcoming the immediate challenge, the group journeyed through the winding valley for a long time before finally glimpsing a dazzling area. Upon closer inspection, they saw a vast cavern—the very location of the Heart of the Elements.

Just as everyone was about to go in, a slight noise came from the bushes nearby. "Who's there?!" the young man shouted.

Then two figures in black came out. "Hmph, I didn't expect other adventurers to get there first. In that case, please leave the chance to find the treasure to us." One of them said with a sneer, and the other companion immediately took an attacking stance.

"If you want to stop us, you have to ask our fists if they agree!" Genos stepped forward to fight, and the others quickly took fighting stances to be on guard.

A fierce fight ensued. Although the opponent's martial arts were impressive and their moves were brutal, Zhao Yan and the others gradually gained the upper hand thanks to their tacit cooperation. Ultimately, the two uninvited guests fled in disgrace. "Huh... these guys are quite a problem," Genos said, wiping the sweat off his face.

After many twists and turns, the team finally entered the cave. The overwhelming magical force made everyone stop in their tracks. Suddenly, an old and majestic voice rang out from within the cave: "Welcome here. Only by passing the final test can you prove that you are the true emperor."

Faced with the sudden challenge, the young team member seemed particularly nervous. "Is this... really going to be a test?" he asked uneasily.

"Don't worry, believe in yourself." Lin Xi comforted, "We are all on the same path, there is nothing to worry about."

As the words fell, a dazzling light instantly surrounded everyone...

When the light faded, the five found themselves in a magnificent hall. The walls were inlaid with precious gems, shimmering in the candlelight, a truly stunning sight. "Wow, this is like a royal palace!" exclaimed the newly arrived young man.

In the center was a crystal ball emitting a faint blue light. "This is it..." Genos said excitedly, pointing at it.

At the same time, a rustling sound came from the corner of the hall, "Wait, something seems wrong..." Lin Xi reminded everyone to be alert.

A figure emanating a dark power slowly appeared in mid-air. "Hahaha... Obtaining the treasure isn't easy..." The dark figure slowly descended, its chilling aura seemingly freezing the very air. The five people present watched this unknown being warily, each feeling the overwhelming pressure.