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

At this moment, the sapphire that had just appeared shone even brighter and began to spin rapidly. A mysterious wave of energy converged from all directions, as if the entire ruins were responding to some call.

"What's going on?" Genos asked confusedly.

"I think we should go a step further." Zhao Yan looked up at the light and said firmly, "This may be the key to solving all the mysteries."

After saying this, Zhao Yan led the way into the light, followed closely by the others. When the last figure disappeared into the light, the entire ruins seemed to grow even quieter, with only the swirling runes silently telling the ancient story.

"They just left like that..." a passerby said in amazement.

"Do you think they can find the real answer?" another person said with a hint of worry.

"Who knows?" An old man beside him smiled slightly, "But there is one thing I am sure of - as long as there is hope, nothing is impossible to achieve."

With these words, everyone fell into deep thought, awaiting Zhao Yan and his companions' return, bringing more surprises and miracles. This was only the beginning of their adventure; many more unknown challenges lay ahead... Zhao Yan and his companions passed through the light, as if traveling through a tunnel of time and space. When they finally gained a clear view of their surroundings, they discovered they had arrived in a completely new place—even more magnificent than the previous one, filled with breathtaking and bizarre sights: Glistening, massive crystal pillars stood in a forest, emitting a soft, mysterious glow; the ground was covered in a never-before-seen golden ore that creaked softly underfoot; and most strikingly, a massive tower towered into the sky at its center, shrouded in intricate symbols.

"Is this the core of the ruins?" The boy looked around curiously. "This is incredible!"

"Hmm, it looks like a legacy from some powerful civilization." Genos speculated as he observed his surroundings, "The answers we're looking for should be in that tower."

The group advanced slowly, each step cautious, for they had no idea what challenges lay ahead. An inexplicable heaviness hung in the air, as if invisible eyes were watching everything from the shadows.

Suddenly, the entire space began to vibrate, and then a deep, ancient voice came from all directions: "Anyone who intrudes must first answer questions... prove that you are qualified to know the secrets here..."

This sudden situation made everyone's nerves tense involuntarily. "What's the test?" Zhao Yan asked into the air, but received no direct answer.

Then, a virtual light screen appeared out of thin air in front of them, with a series of complex questions written on it: "Tell me the names of the three ancient mythical beasts and what treasures they guard? The time limit is ten minutes, otherwise..." The last line of the light screen was a string of countdown numbers, which were rapidly decreasing.

"Oh no!" Lina frowned, "We know so little about this!"

Just when everyone was getting anxious, the young man raised his hand excitedly: "I remember this question. I saw the answer in a book!" He then fluently recited all the information: "The first is the Blue Luan Bird, guarding the elixir of immortality; the second is the Nine-tailed Fox Demon, with the ability to transform into thousands of forms and the Jade Bottle that can manipulate people's hearts; the third is the Dragon King Ao Guang, who controls the power of wind, rain, thunder and lightning and guards the Dinghai Shenzhen..." As soon as he finished speaking, the numbers on the light screen stopped changing and the prompt "Passed" was displayed.

"Good boy, thanks to you!" Genostein looked at the boy with admiration.

At that moment, the previously sealed entrance to the tower slowly opened with the sound of gentle mechanical movement. Without further hesitation, the group decided to move forward, determined to uncover the mystery as quickly as possible. However, not long after entering, they encountered a new obstacle: a seemingly insurmountable energy barrier blocking the path to the higher floors.

"What should we do this time?" Leon asked helplessly, looking at the obstacle.

"Let me try." Zhao Yan walked closer and attempted to touch the transparent wall with his body. However, his fingers only caused a wave of vibrations, which did not dissipate or disappear as expected. "It seems that a specific method is needed to unlock it."

Just as everyone was racking their brains, several statues hidden in a corner suddenly came to life. "Dear warriors, please follow the instructions: Only those with both wisdom and courage may proceed. To lift the seal, someone must be willing to sacrifice a portion of their own strength in exchange." One of the statues spoke, its voice cold and emotionless.

Everyone was stunned upon hearing this, especially those divided over whether to sacrifice themselves in exchange for this opportunity. However, after a brief silence, the young man stood up, his eyes determined, "I'm willing! As long as I can get everyone to the end safely and find the treasure!"

He extended his arm and touched the energy barrier. Blue light spread from the point of contact throughout his body before being absorbed into the barrier, quickly dissolving the barrier. But this was also accompanied by the worry of his teammates: "Are you okay? How are you feeling? Are you hurt?" Lina asked anxiously.

"Don't worry, I feel a little weak, but I can hold on. The most important thing is to hurry on!" The young man forced a smile, trying to ease the others' worries. Although a hint of unease surfaced deep within him, he chose to face all difficulties and obstacles with strength, because this was a necessary lesson on the road to becoming a true hero.

In this way, the group set out on their journey again. Every time they solved a small obstacle or overcame a crisis, they would be met with heartfelt admiration from the onlookers:

"These young people are truly amazing! They always manage to turn danger into safety!"

"That young man is truly admirable. He's so brave and selfless at such a young age! It's truly rare!"

As time went by, the story of Zhao Yan and his companions gradually spread throughout the village and even the wider area, attracting more and more people hoping to witness this scene. Until one evening...

As the setting sun painted the sky a golden crimson, the expedition team finally reached the top of the ancient pagoda. The distant mountains, now silhouetted against the setting sun, stretched into elongated silhouettes. "Not far ahead is our destination, and this is where the final test will soon begin," Zhao Yan said solemnly, while his companions silently prepared themselves for the unknown.