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

At this time, a man dressed like an ordinary villager walked out from the side. He walked up to them with a cheerful face and said, "Heroes, please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Camille. There are many legends about this underground palace in this land. Maybe I can help you~"

Everyone's spirits lifted after hearing this. "Excellent, Mr. Camille," Li Wen said, quickly stepping forward to express his gratitude. "In that case, please tell us about the history of this place!"

However, just as everyone looked at Camille expectantly, he frowned slightly and pondered for a moment before speaking:

"In fact, there are many theories about the true background of this mysterious building... One of the most fascinating is this: Legend has it that thousands of years ago, a powerful wizard named Elena deliberately set countless puzzles and traps here to seal away an evil entity. She hoped that one day, when someone could solve all the secrets and prove their strength and purity of heart, they would obtain the ultimate treasure."

"That sounds like a difficult task." Mary couldn't help but mutter.

"But as long as we work together, nothing is impossible." Lin Xi patted his sister's shoulder to comfort her.

"Yeah, that's right. No matter what, we should give it a try." Zhao Yan also nodded in agreement.

Just when everyone's morale was high, the voice of the old guardian was heard again from the depths of the hall: "Then please start your performance... Time is running out, and every step will be crucial." At the same time, the lights on the surrounding walls went out instantly, and the entire space was shrouded in darkness.

Faced with this sudden change, everyone involuntarily became alert. The air seemed unusually heavy, even breathing became difficult. Li Wen reacted quickly, lighting the torch in his hand to illuminate the way ahead.

"Everyone, pay attention!" he shouted. "No matter what happens next, don't panic. Support each other and face it together."

As the words fell, a cold wind blew, causing the flames to flicker. Then, several shadowy figures quietly emerged from the corner...

"Wait... what are those?" Zhao Yan asked cautiously. As Li Wen lit the torch, Meili's eyes searched the hall. Suddenly, she noticed some unusual movement in the shadows in the corner.

"Everyone, be careful!" Meili shouted nervously, tightening her grip on her longbow. Everyone immediately became alert and drew their weapons. At that moment, the shadowy figures had fully emerged.

Camille looked at the beings that suddenly appeared, his expression becoming serious. "These are the phantom guards set up by Wizard Elena to test the hearts and minds of intruders."

"Humph, no matter if it's real or fake, I'll just fight them all." Zhao Yan stepped forward, aiming the tip of his sword at the dark figure in front. Although his words were filled with dominance, they also carried a hint of caution.

"You young men are truly brave!" a nearby merchant exclaimed, overhearing their conversation. Meanwhile, more passersby were drawn in, standing not far from the hall to watch the duel. "That young man with the greatsword looks so strong... I wonder if he's as formidable as the legendary hero."

"Oh, it's really thrilling! But looking at them like this, they won't lose, right?" the child said excitedly.

Lin Xi did not respond to Zhao Yan's words, but silently adjusted his posture, ready to launch an attack at any time. He knew that it would be very dangerous to act rashly in this situation.

"Let's hold our ground and see what the enemy will do," Lin Wen ordered softly. As soon as he finished speaking, one of the shadowy figures brandished a spear and pointed it forward, followed by the other phantoms. Faced with the sudden attack, the men immediately engaged – Zhao Yan charged head-on, launching a fierce assault; Ferens, staff in hand, cast a spell; and Lin Xi, using his agility, constantly sought opportunities to counterattack…

As the battle progressed, the air was thick with the smell of gunpowder and the sound of metal clashing. Despite this, no one present showed any sign of letting up. For they knew clearly: this battle was not just a test of their own strength, but also a test of the light of justice and unyielding faith deep within their hearts.

A clamor erupted among the onlookers. "Wow!" a young woman exclaimed. "These people are like the protagonists of a real-life adventure storybook, aren't they?!" Another, seemingly older man frowned and said, "I don't believe they can make it out of this place alive. After all, this was set up by that powerful wizard himself."

However, at this moment, the shadows, which had seemed to have the upper hand, began to weaken. Zhao Yan swung his greatsword forward, instantly slicing one of his opponents in two. "Haha, it seems that's all there is to it." Just as he was feeling proud, another, even more powerful being appeared within his sight—a ghost warrior emanating a dark aura, its face blurred beyond recognition.

"Oh no! This isn't just any monster!" Meili hurriedly warned her companions. But before she could finish her words, the monster, brandishing a large sword shrouded in will-o'-the-wisp fire, rapidly approached their position...

Meanwhile, the businessman and his son, watching from afar, were filled with shock. "Oh my god... is this really that dangerous?" the man muttered to himself, feeling deeply uneasy about the scene unfolding before him. The child clutched his father's arm tightly, "What should I do, Dad? Will they be okay?"

Just as everyone waited with bated breath for what would happen next, Lin Xi stepped forward. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then slowly opened them, staring determinedly at the approaching threat. "Friends, focus yourselves and fight this enemy with me." She commanded calmly, and instantly everyone felt an unprecedented strength well up within them.

"Listen carefully," Li Wen said, holding the torch and dagger tightly in his hands. "No matter how powerful the enemy is, you must not retreat. As long as you persevere, you will definitely overcome all difficulties."

Thus, during this brief yet long period of time, the group relied on close teamwork to finally defeat the terrifying ghost. When the last ray of light disappeared from the sky, the entire hall once again returned to peace.