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

The old man slowly walked up to Lin Chen and Yun Shu, his eyes filled with admiration. "Young men, your skills are quite impressive. I can tell you're not just ordinary treasure hunters."

Lin Chen gripped his sword tightly and asked cautiously, "Who are you? Why are you here?"

The old man smiled slightly and said, "I am the guardian of this forest, my name is Yunyuan. The entrance to the secret realm here has been my responsibility for many years. Those people just now are my disciples, but they don't know how important the secret here is."

Yun Shu frowned and said, "Since you are the guardian, why do you let them hunt us down?"

Yun Yuan sighed, his expression solemn. "This is a misunderstanding. My disciples always thought this was just an ordinary place, hiding ordinary treasures. They didn't know that the real secret was much more complicated than they imagined. I have been secretly monitoring it and only showed up today."

The young woodcutter stepped forward and looked at Yun Yuan with admiration. "Old man, are you really the guardian of this forest? It's amazing!"

Yun Yuan nodded gently and smiled, "Young man, I admire your courage. But we are facing a bigger problem now. If this secret gets out, the balance of the entire world may be disrupted."

Lin Chen pondered for a moment and said, "In that case, we are willing to help you protect this secret. Please tell us what to do next."

Yun Yuan nodded in agreement, his eyes firm. "Very good. With your participation, our chances are even greater. Next, we need to journey deep into the secret realm and find a key sealed object to ensure it remains hidden from others."

The young woodcutter said excitedly, "I want to go too! I want to help!"

The old village chief patted his shoulder kindly and said, "Son, just stay in the village and protect everyone. They'll take care of it."

Lin Chen looked at the villagers gratefully and bowed, saying, "Thank you all for your help and support. We will definitely resolve the problem as soon as possible to ensure the safety of the village."

The villagers waved goodbye, their eyes full of trust and expectation.

The group quickly passed through the village and entered the dense forest. On the way, Yun Shu asked Yun Yuan, "Senior, what exactly is that sealed object? Why is it so important?"

Yun Yuan sighed, his gaze far-reaching. "That sealed object is called the 'Nine Nether Pearl.' It not only contains endless power, but also controls the spiritual veins of this mountain range. If it falls into the wrong hands, the consequences will be disastrous."

Zhang Xun interjected, "Then how are we supposed to find it? Isn't there any special markings?"

Yun Yuan nodded and said, "Indeed, there are many dangers in the secret realm, but as long as you follow me, I will lead you to find the right path."

As they ventured deeper into the forest, the surroundings grew increasingly forbidding. Dense trees obscured the sun, and the ground was covered in oddly shaped rocks and vines. From time to time, they could hear strange animal calls, sending a chill down their spines.

Suddenly, a deep roar came from the front, shaking the leaves rustling. Lin Chen stopped in his tracks and whispered, "Be careful, there's danger ahead."

Yun Yuan's face was calm, and he said calmly: "Don't be afraid, this is the first test we must face."

As soon as he finished speaking, a giant beast suddenly rushed out of the dense forest, its eyes gleaming bloodshot and a low growl emanating from its mouth. The beast was enormous, several feet tall, with muscles as tangled as a dragon's. It was clearly no match for ordinary beasts.

"This is the forest's guardian beast—the Black Iron Beast," Yun Yuan explained. "Only after passing its test can we move forward."

Lin Chen gritted his teeth, drew his sword, and shouted, "Everyone, get ready and fight with all your strength!"

The battle erupted, and the group engaged in a fierce battle with the Black Iron Beast. Lin Chen's swordsmanship was incredibly sharp, each strike aimed squarely at the beast's vital points. Yun Shu, wielding a short knife, delivered each powerful strike, steadily weakening the opponent's defenses. The other companions also displayed their respective martial arts skills, collaborating in the battle.

Finally, after a fierce battle, the Black Iron Beast collapsed from exhaustion, its massive body collapsing with a thud that shook the ground. The villagers watched from afar, all of them in awe.

A passing villager exclaimed, "These people are amazing! They are simply gods descended from heaven!"

The villagers nearby echoed, "Yeah, I wish I could have their skills."

The young woodcutter shouted excitedly, "Master Lin and the others will surely be able to successfully protect the secrets of the secret realm!"

At this moment, a burst of hurried footsteps came from the distance, and it seemed that more enemies were approaching. Lin Chen frowned slightly and said softly, "The situation is not good. We must speed up."

Yun Yuan nodded, signaling everyone to follow him and run forward along a narrow path.

Finally, they arrived at an ancient stone gate. Mysterious runes were carved into it, emitting a faint glow. Yun Yuan placed his hand on the stone gate and chanted a few ancient words. The stone gate slowly opened, revealing a pitch-black cave entrance.

"This is the entrance to the secret realm," Yun Yuan said seriously. "Remember, we must unite and face the challenges ahead together."

Lin Chen, Yun Shu, Zhang Xun, and the others exchanged glances, their hearts filled with determination. They stepped into the cave entrance, where an even more thrilling journey awaited them.

The young woodcutter stood at the entrance of the village, watching them go away, his eyes gleaming with longing and expectation: "Just wait and see, the heroes will definitely return safely!"

At this moment, Lin Chen looked back at his companions in the darkness and whispered, "Are you all ready? We're going in to find out what's going on."

Zhang Xun took a deep breath and gripped his hammers tightly: "We are ready! No matter how difficult the road ahead, we will fight side by side to the end!"

Yun Shu nodded and smiled: "Yes, let's work together and never let anyone succeed."

So, under the guidance of the old man, they stepped into the mysterious secret realm...

As they stepped into the darkness, a strange light flashed across the distant night sky, as if foreshadowing some unpredictable fate. And this was only the beginning of their adventure. Yun Yuan led the group into a secret realm, where the surrounding darkness seemed to devour all light as if alive. Lin Chen lit the torch in his hand, and the flame danced in the darkness, illuminating their path.

"There seems to be a strange aura here." Yun Shu gripped the dagger tightly in his hand and looked around vigilantly.

"Yes," Yun Yuan whispered, "This is a unique power fluctuation in the secret realm. We must be extra careful."

Zhang Xun, holding two hammers, walked at the back. His footsteps echoed loudly in the cave. "What are we looking for? What's so special about this sealed object?"