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

Looking at this courageous child, Zhao Yan couldn't help but think of his own childhood—a time when he, too, dreamed of becoming a hero who could save the world. He took a deep breath and said softly, "Okay, we can take you with us. But you have to promise me two things: First, you will follow my orders; second, you must ensure your own safety at all costs."

The boy nodded excitedly, "Thank you, big brother!"

At this time, Leon said: "In that case, let's set off now. According to the intelligence, the entrance to the ruins should be on the cliff not far ahead. But be careful, it is said that there is some powerful creature guarding it."

After packing their gear and leading their new team members, they set out to face the unknown challenge. Along the way, they encountered various obstacles: treacherous terrain, ferocious beasts... But whenever difficulties arose, Zhao Yan would always use his unique leadership qualities to stabilize the team's morale and lead the team to overcome them one by one.

Finally, after several days of arduous journey, a massive stone gate hidden deep in the forest appeared before their eyes—this was the legendary core leading to the ruins. The air was filled with an ancient and mysterious atmosphere, as if even time had stood still here.

"Is this the place?" The team member looked up at the magnificent structure and exclaimed.

"That's right." Leon slowly approached and gently touched the complex runes on the surface of the stone door. "Opening this door requires a specific method. Let's work together to uncover its secrets."

At that moment, a subtle yet distinctly discordant sound shattered the silence. Zhao Yan, perceptive, glanced around warily, "Someone's coming! Everyone, get ready."

A few seconds later, a group of dark shadows emerged from all directions. The sinister man in the lead sneered again, "Hmph, I didn't expect you to find this place. However, today is the day you die!"

At his command, his men immediately launched a fierce attack. The battle raged again, but this time, in addition to the heroic efforts of Zhao Yan and his companions, the team also displayed astonishing combat prowess. Despite his youthful appearance, his agility and familiarity with the environment presented considerable challenges to the enemy.

"Wow, this is so exciting!" The beasts watching exclaimed (imaginary scene).

Finally, after a fierce battle, the evil man was forced to retreat. "Hmph, you're lucky today! But this is far from over...just wait and see!" With that, he disappeared.

"Huh...it's finally resolved." Zhao Yan breathed a sigh of relief and turned to look at the stone door beside him, which was still intact. "Now, it's our turn."

Just as everyone was holding their breath waiting for what would happen next, the boy suddenly asked, "Big Brother, are you sure we can really open it?"

Zhao Yan smiled slightly. "As long as we work together, nothing is impossible. Come on, let us witness a miracle!"

At this crucial moment, a dazzling beam of light shot forth from the sapphire stele, reaching the sky... Zhao Yan's team slowly approached the stone gate amidst the radiance. Everyone held their breath, and the air was thick with an indescribable tension. The young man's eyes gleamed with immense curiosity and anticipation. He followed closely behind Zhao Yan, as if afraid to miss a single detail.

"Hey, have you ever seen such a scene?" an elderly man among the onlookers exclaimed.

"I never thought I would see such a spectacular sight in my life!" The young man next to him echoed excitedly.

Suddenly, the complex runes on the stone gate began to slowly rotate, as if an ancient power was gradually awakening. Genos frowned, "This power... seems somewhat familiar."

"Yes," Lina nodded and said, "This breath is indeed very special, but I can't tell where it comes from."

"Perhaps this is a test left by an ancient wise man," Leon whispered. "In any case, we must be careful."

Finally, after a slight tremor, the massive stone door slowly opened, revealing the dark space within. A mysterious and awe-inspiring aura emanated from within, sending a wave of fear through everyone.

"Come in," Zhao Yan said softly, his tone firm and confident, "We are ready."

As they entered the ruins, the light gradually dimmed, and strange sounds and smells filled the air. They moved forward cautiously, alert for any possible danger. Suddenly, a bright light caught their attention—a sapphire embedded in the stone wall.

"Where is this place?" the boy asked curiously.

"This might be some kind of portal or protective mechanism." Genos muttered as he observed his surroundings.

Just as they were about to move on, strange words suddenly appeared on the surrounding walls. Those words seemed to be telling some ancient story, but no one could understand the meaning.

"It seems that these words are the key to the depths of the ruins." Lina speculated.

Just as everyone was lost in thought, a dark shadow suddenly jumped out from a corner on one side, accompanied by a shrill scream.

"Ah! There's a monster!" the boy exclaimed.

A massive, barbed monster appeared, its maw gaping as it lunged towards them. Zhao Yan reacted quickly, grabbing the boy's arm and pulling him behind him. "Hide! I'll take care of it!"

Zhao Yan quickly drew his sword and engaged the monster. At the same time, Genos and Leon also quickly joined the battle. The three of them worked together seamlessly, instantly forming an impenetrable defensive line. Although the monster's attack was ferocious, it seemed powerless in front of them.

"How amazing!" a passerby exclaimed in the distance, "This Young Master Zhao Yan is simply a natural-born warrior!"

"Yes," the other woman said with a glint of admiration in her eyes. "His courage and skills are truly beyond words. He's like a legendary hero."

After a fierce battle, Zhao Yan finally cut the monster in two. It collapsed to the ground, turning into a pile of ash. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and gathered around to check on the casualties. Fortunately, aside from minor scrapes, no one was hurt.

"Huh..." Zhao Yan wiped the sweat from his forehead, smiled slightly, and turned to the new team member, "Are you okay?"

The boy shook his head, his eyes full of admiration, "I'm not hurt, big brother, you're awesome! I want to be like you in the future!"