Taking the opportunity of traveling through books

Disasters are imminent and the suffering is deep

The feeling of falling seemed to last an eternity, the icy air filling my mouth and nose, nearly suffocating me. I struggled desperately, but couldn't find any foothold. Finally, with a loud thud, I landed heavily on the ground. A sharp pain shot through my tailbone, and I couldn't help but groan.

I didn't know where the night pearl had fallen. It was pitch black around me, and I couldn't see my hand in front of me. I tried to move my body, but I felt sore all over that I couldn't move. From above, I heard Hao Yang's anxious cry: "Yao'er! Yao'er! How are you?"

I tried to open my mouth and wanted to respond to him, but I found that my throat was dry and no sound came out. Fear surged like a tide. I was afraid of being trapped here and never seeing Hao Yang again.

Suddenly, there was a noise overhead, as if something had fallen. Then, a faint light reappeared, and Hao Yang's figure appeared above me. He slid down the fallen rope and anxiously checked my injuries.

"Yao'er! Are you okay?" He helped me up, his voice trembling.

I shook my head and tried to force a smile to show that I was fine.

"Damn it! What the hell is this place?" Hao Yang looked around with a grim expression.

This seemed to be an underground cave, much wider than the passage above. The air was filled with a pungent, nauseating smell of sulfur. The surrounding stone walls were engraved with strange runes, which shimmered eerily in the dim light.

"Be careful!" Elder Wei's voice suddenly came from above.

Almost at the same time, the ground suddenly cracked open, and a pillar of fire gushed out, rushing towards us. Before I could react, Hao Yang pushed me away.

"Ah!" A scream rang in my ears.

I turned back in horror and saw Hao Yang engulfed in flames. He rolled on the ground in agony, uttering heartbreaking cries. My heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, the pain unbearable.

"Hao Yang!" I shouted his name heartbreakingly and wanted to rush over, but was held back by Elder Wei.

"Don't go over there! It's dangerous!" Elder Wei's face was solemn and he held me tightly.

More traps began to appear, and the ground kept breaking apart, spewing flames or sprouting spikes. Wei Xue screamed in panic, and in the chaos, she pushed me towards a place where flames were about to erupt.

I watched the flames coming towards me, unable to avoid them. The fear of death enveloped me, and I closed my eyes, waiting for the final moment.

However, the expected pain did not come. I slowly opened my eyes and saw Elder Wei standing in front of me, using his body to block the flames for me.

"Elder!" I shouted in horror.

Elder Wei's face was pale, with a trace of blood oozing from the corner of his mouth. He looked at me with eyes full of love: "Child, you must live..."

"No...don't!" I held his hand tightly, tears blurring my vision.

At this moment, a cold voice came from the darkness: "It seems that you can't get out..." Shadow Guard, he is here!

The Shadow Guard's appearance was like pouring a bucket of cold water on my dying hope. My heart sank to the bottom, a tangled web of despair and rage threatening to consume me. Elder Wei had blocked a fatal blow for me; his frail form, the blood at the corner of his mouth, irritated every nerve in my body. I held his hand tightly, feeling his life force ebbing, yet I was powerless to stop it.

The flames of anger burned in my chest. I turned my head sharply, my crimson eyes fixed on Wei Xue. This vicious woman, for her own selfish desires, had pushed me into the abyss of death! I endured the excruciating pain and struggled to my feet. A powerful force surged from my body, the energy of the system, catalyzed by anger, becoming even more violent.

"Wei Xue!" I gritted my teeth and called out her name, my voice filled with hatred. I rushed towards her with astonishing speed. Before Wei Xue could react, I grabbed her and slammed her to the ground. I used the system's power to temporarily restrict her movements, leaving her unable to move.

"What...what are you doing?" Wei Xue looked at me in horror, her eyes full of fear.

I looked at her coldly without saying a word. At this moment, the only thing on my mind was Hao Yang. I had to save him! I turned and rushed towards Hao Yang. He was still groaning in pain on the ground. His clothes had been scorched by the flames, revealing his burned skin.

"Hao Yang! How are you?" My voice trembled as I stroked his face with heartache.

He opened his eyes weakly, and when he saw it was me, he forced a smile: "Yao'er... I'm fine..."

I knew he was trying to comfort me. His injuries were severe, and I needed to treat him as soon as possible. I drew a precious healing potion from my system and carefully applied it to his wound. The potion quickly took effect, and Hao Yang's breathing gradually calmed, and the pain on his face eased a little. I finally breathed a sigh of relief, my heart slightly lowered.

Before I could recover, a clamor erupted from the cave entrance. Looking up, I saw a group of men in black pouring in and surrounding us. They were all armed, their eyes cold and murderous. It was a large force from a mysterious organization!

My heart sank again. We were surrounded, and it looked like there was no escape today. Just then, a familiar figure appeared at the cave entrance. It was Elder Lingcao! He slowly walked in, leaning on a cane. Looking at the chaotic scene, a complicated expression crossed his face.

"It seems that things are worse than I thought..." Elder Lingcao sighed and looked at me, "Child, I'm afraid your secret can no longer be kept..."

His words startled me. What did he mean? My secret? Did he know I had the system? Before I could even think, a man in black suddenly rushed up, brandishing a longsword and lunging at me.

"Protect Miss Wei!" Elder Wei shouted, standing in front of me...

The sword flashed with a sharp, chilling air. The men in black surged forward like a tide. The clash of swords, screams, and curses intertwined into a melody of death. I swung the spirit sword in my hand, and the energy provided by the system surged through my body, amplifying my strength to the extreme. Streams of sword energy roared out, repelling the approaching men in black.

However, two fists are no match for four. The enemies are simply too numerous, and I'm gradually losing my strength. My arms ache, my breathing is rapid, and I'm covered in wounds. Elder Wei's condition is even worse. He was already seriously injured, and now his strength is at its limit. He wields his staff, struggling to fend off the enemy's attacks, his face growing paler with each spell he cast.

"Yao'er, be careful!" Elder Wei shouted, shoving me aside. A sharp sword whizzed past me, bringing with it a gust of cold wind. I turned back, startled, to see Elder Wei's chest pierced by the sword, blood gushing out.

"Elder Wei!" I screamed heartbreakingly, watching him fall in front of me.

"Yao'er... go quickly..." Elder Wei said with his last bit of strength, his eyes full of reluctance and worry.

"No! I won't leave you!" I hugged him tightly, tears blurring my vision.

Hao Yang struggled to crawl to my side and held my hand. His hand was hot, but full of strength. "Yao'er, don't give up. Let's fight together to the end." His voice was hoarse, but very firm.

His words were like a flash of lightning, piercing the despair in my heart. I wiped away my tears and stood up again. I couldn't give up. I still had Hao Yang and Elder Wei's last wish. I had to live!

I activated the system again, and a surge of even more powerful energy surged into my body. I felt filled with strength, as if I could overcome anything. I brandished my spirit sword like an angry lioness, frantically attacking the surrounding men in black.

Wei Xue was controlled by several men in black, huddled in a corner, trembling. She looked at me fighting bloody battles, her eyes filled with fear and regret.

Just when I was about to collapse, Elder Lingcao suddenly walked towards the leader of the mysterious organization. They seemed to know each other, which filled me with doubts.

"Stop!" said the old man Lingcao in an old and majestic voice.

The leader of the mysterious organization stopped, turned around, looked at the old man Lingcao, and a complex light flashed in his eyes.

"You...why are you here?"

Elder Lingcao did not answer his question, but said slowly: "Let's end this battle here."

"What qualifications do you have to order me around?" The leader of the mysterious organization spoke in a cold tone with a hint of disdain.

Old Man Lingcao ignored his provocation, but took out a jade pendant from his arms and handed it to him.

The leader of the mysterious organization took the jade pendant and his expression suddenly changed. He looked at the old man Lingcao with eyes full of shock and disbelief.

"This...how is this possible..."

Elder Lingcao looked at him and said slowly, "There are too many things you don't know..."

Everyone's eyes were focused on them, and the air was filled with tension. I held Hao Yang's hand tightly, my heart filled with anxiety and anticipation.

Elder Lingcao suddenly turned to look at me, his eyes deep and meaningful. He said, "My child, your destiny has just begun..."