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

The sinister man's laughter echoed through the dense forest, accompanied by a harsh mockery that filled the air with a suffocating heaviness. Zhao Yan wasn't intimidated by his opponent's aura. Instead, he calmly glanced around at his teammates, his eyes conveying determination and confidence.

"Is everyone ready?" he asked in a low voice, his gaze finally falling on the sapphire stele, feeling that the power contained in it seemed to resonate with him.

"Yes!" Everyone answered in unison. Although there were not many of them, their morale was high, and everyone's face was filled with courage and determination to fight.

At this moment, a villager nearby suddenly broke the silence, "Brother, what treasure is that in your hand? It can actually shine and heat in such a dangerous place!" There was a bit of curiosity and a little envy in his tone.

Another villager chimed in: "Yeah, yeah, this thing looks really amazing! Can you tell us where it came from?"

Lin Tianxing smiled slightly and explained, "This is an important item that an old man gave to Brother Zhao Yan before we set out. It is said that it contains the key to unlocking the mystery of this forbidden land."

Upon hearing this, everyone present suddenly looked expectant – they hoped that with the power of such a magical artifact they could successfully overcome difficulties, defeat the enemy, and uncover the ultimate truth!

During this conversation, the enemy seemed to sense the need for further delay and began to slowly advance. "Hmph, enough nonsense! Now I'll show you the despair brought on by an absolute disparity in strength," the sinister man sneered.

Following his order, a dozen or so black-robed men immediately split into two teams, flanking the group from both sides, attempting to completely encircle them. Faced with this situation, the ordinary villagers retreated several steps to avoid the front lines of the battle, but their eyes were filled with admiration for the heroic performance of the four men.

"Everyone, don't panic, just protect yourselves and support us." Seeing this, Lina whispered, then quickly pulled the bowstring and prepared to shoot; while Genos gripped his sword and rushed towards the first enemy unit to approach.

A fierce battle ensued. Zhao Yan, wielding a dazzling treasure, constantly attracted his opponent's attention, deftly dodging and unleashing deadly attacks. Meanwhile, Lin Tianxing unerringly fired arrows to provide long-range support. Lina, using her agility to maneuver around corners and create chaos. As for Genos, his unwavering swordsmanship shattered the defenses of several opponents.

However, just when everyone thought victory was within reach, the ground suddenly shook again, and even larger and more terrifying monsters crawled out of the cave, far more numerous than ever before. These monsters were huge and powerful, and their appearance instantly reversed the situation, putting the previously advantageous side into a passive position.

"Oh no! These new guys are too strong!" a villager exclaimed. "What should we do?"

"Hold on, don't give up no matter what!" Zhao Yan gritted his teeth and silently repeated his belief in his heart to support himself to continue fighting.

Just as the two sides were deadlocked, a burst of hurried footsteps and the crisp sound of metal clashing could be heard not far away—it turned out to be a well-equipped team rushing towards them. "Look over there, it looks like reinforcements are coming!" someone shouted.

The leader, clad in silver armor and wielding a broadsword, charged into the battlefield with his men, engaging in a fierce clash with the enemy. His arrival greatly relieved the pressure on their side and brought new hope to everyone.

"Thank you for your support," Zhao Yan nodded to the visitor.

"You're welcome. Fighting against evil together is the responsibility of every warrior," the leader responded. He then turned to look at his men and said, "Brothers, follow the plan and ensure everyone's safety!"

With the arrival of reinforcements, the atmosphere on the battlefield heated up again. The group of black-robed men led by the sinister man clearly sensed the situation and began to retreat. At this moment, the sinister man sneered and said provocatively, "Hmph, you may be lucky this time, but it won't be so easy to escape next time! Remember, the Dark Night Council will never give up on any challenger..." Before he finished speaking, he disappeared into the depths of the woods.

When everything was settled, Zhao Yan and the others finally had a chance to breathe, and they also expressed their gratitude to the new team. "Excuse me, who are you..." Zhao Yan asked.

The silver-armored man smiled faintly. "I am Leon, a special envoy sent here by the Imperial Family. I'm specifically responsible for searching for information related to the ruins. It's an honor to fight alongside all of you heroes."

"I see. So what should we do next?" Lina asked.

"According to intelligence, the real test lies ahead," Leon said solemnly, "We must find the entrance to the ruins and uncover the answers to all the mysteries..."

"Well, in that case, let's keep going!" Zhao Yan smiled proudly, leading the group back onto the unknown and challenging road. Just as Zhao Yan and his companions were about to embark on their journey again, the surrounding villagers gathered around them, their eyes gleaming with admiration and anticipation. An older villager stepped forward and gently patted Zhao Yan on the shoulder: "Young man, you are truly the pride of our village. If you have the chance, be sure to bring back some good news!"

Zhao Yan smiled and nodded, "Thank you for your blessing, we will do our best."

"By the way," another young man suddenly interrupted, "I heard that the place you're going to has countless treasures and legendary artifacts. Is that true? Wouldn't that make you the most powerful person on the continent?"

Genos laughed after hearing this: "Young man, taking risks is not just for wealth and power, but also to protect the people we love and this land. Of course, who doesn't want to become stronger? But remember, the most important thing is the belief in your heart."

"Hmm!" The young man's eyes lit up. "In the future, I want to be a hero like you!"

At this moment, a voice came from the crowd, "Wait, where did you say you were going?"

They turned around and saw a young man in coarse linen looking at them curiously, his face full of longing. "I want to go with you, is that okay?" the young man asked.

Lina shook her head, "This mission is too dangerous and not suitable for a child like you."

However, this didn't deter the young man from his decision; instead, it only made him more determined. "I grew up in the mountains and forests, so I'm very familiar with this place. Besides..." He paused, "My father was once a brave warrior, and he taught me many survival skills. I can help you, really."