Taking the opportunity of traveling through books

The soul is lost and the spirit is far away

Darkness swallowed everything, and Hao Yang's cold hand slipped from my fingers. I jerked awake, only to find myself still trapped in the pitch-black barrier. Hao Yang leaned weakly against me, his face as pale as paper, his breathing so weak it was almost imperceptible.

"Hao Yang!" I frantically grabbed his hand, a faint pulse reassuring me. Trembling, I channeled my remaining spiritual energy into him, but it was like a drop in the ocean, with little effect.

Damn it! What the hell is this place?

We tried everything from brute force attacks to ingenious formations, even using the powerful talismans I'd redeemed from the system, but we still couldn't break this seemingly fragile, yet indestructible, black barrier. Despair surged through me like a tide, and I hugged Hao Yang tightly, my body shaking uncontrollably.

"Yaoyao..." Hao Yang struggled to open his eyes, his weak voice filled with self-blame, "I'm sorry... I'm useless... I can't protect you..."

I fought back my tears and gave a casual smile. "What nonsense! We'll definitely get out." But even I couldn't convince myself. Deep within the ruins... perhaps there's a way... These words echoed in my mind like a mantra. But we couldn't even get out of this damn barrier, so how could we possibly go deep into the ruins to find a solution?

I leaned Hao Yang against the cold stone wall, trying to calm myself. Now was not the time to despair. I had to think of a way out. I had to find a way out. I looked around, seeing nothing but endless darkness. A sense of fear crept into my heart, and I held Hao Yang's hand tightly, as if grasping at a last straw.

"Yaoyao...are you cold?" Hao Yang's voice was as weak as a mosquito or fly, but it warmed my heart.

I shook my head and took off my outer robe and wrapped it around him. "I'm not cold. You should rest well and conserve your energy."

He smiled weakly, his eyes filled with worry. I knew he was worried about me, worried that we'd both be trapped here to death. I forced myself to smile, but it looked uglier than crying.

Suddenly, I felt a faint energy wave coming from outside the barrier. I held my breath, carefully sensing the source of this energy. Could it be...

"Yao...Yao..." Hao Yang's voice sounded again. I turned around quickly, but saw that he slowly closed his eyes and his breathing became weaker.

"Hao Yang! Hao Yang!" I called his name anxiously, but got no response.

At this moment, I felt the energy fluctuations outside the barrier becoming stronger and stronger, and a familiar voice came faintly... "Yao'er? Is that you?"

Elder Wei...

"Elder Wei!" I practically shouted, my voice trembling with excitement. Could it be...we are saved?

Elder Wei's voice came from outside the barrier, with a hint of anxiety: "Yao'er, how are you? Are you okay?"

"Elder Wei, I...Hao Yang and I are trapped in the barrier, and he...he is dying!" I spoke incoherently, tears streaming down my face.

"Don't be afraid, Yao'er, I will rescue you right away!" Elder Wei's voice was firm and powerful, giving me a glimmer of hope.

I felt a powerful force crashing against the barrier, and the entire barrier began to tremble violently. I hugged Hao Yang tightly, praying in my heart that Elder Wei could successfully break this damn barrier.

However, after several attempts, the barrier remained motionless. Elder Wei's voice was filled with fatigue. "There's something strange about this barrier... My attacks are completely ineffective..."

Hearing this, my heart sank. Could it be...we're really going to be trapped here and die?

Hao Yang's breath was getting weaker and weaker, and I could feel his body temperature gradually dropping. I closed my eyes in despair, my heart filled with resentment.

"Yaoyao...don't...don't waste your energy..." Hao Yang's weak voice rang in my ears, "We...maybe...we should give up..."

"Give up?" I opened my eyes suddenly and looked at Hao Yang's pale face, my heart aching. "No, I won't give up! I must take you out!"

However, the cruel reality is before us. Our strength is growing weaker and our hope is becoming increasingly slim.

"Maybe... life is the most important thing..." Hao Yang's voice became lower and lower, almost inaudible.

I held his hand tightly, my heart filled with conflict. Giving up would mean all our efforts would be wasted. But if we didn't give up, how much longer could we hold on?

Just when I was about to despair, suddenly, a faint light appeared in the darkness. The light was very faint, like a firefly, but it was extremely clear, like a bright lamp in the darkness, illuminating my heart.

"What is that?" I asked in surprise, pointing at the light.

Hao Yang also saw that ray of light, and a glimmer of hope flashed in his eyes: "I don't know... but... it seems... to contain some kind of power..."

I observed the light carefully and found that it seemed to be moving slowly, as if guiding the direction we were going.

"Could this be... a way out?" A glimmer of hope rose in my heart, but I was not sure.

The light became brighter and closer, as if responding to my expectations.

I supported Hao Yang and walked towards the direction of the light. "Hao Yang, look..." I pointed at the source of the light, my voice trembling, but it was no longer fear, but an inexplicable...throbbing. The light seemed to be emanating from a piece of...stone...