Taking the opportunity of traveling through books

Encountering obstacles on a bumpy road

"Alert! Alert! The system has detected an unknown energy fluctuation and is attempting to repair it..." The system's mechanical notification tone echoed in my mind, like a death warrant, making me feel terribly anxious. The red light on the screen was even more glaring, as if mocking my helplessness.

"What's going on?" Hao Yang noticed something was wrong with me and asked worriedly.

I shook my head helplessly, my mind blank. How could this happen? Why would the system suddenly malfunction at this critical moment? Without the system's help, I wouldn't be able to break the restriction, let alone find the spiritual herb. Could it be that all this is destined, and I can't change the destiny?

"Don't worry, Yao'er, we will find a way." Hao Yang held my hand tightly, trying to give me strength.

Looking at the determined look in the man's eyes, I felt a little more at ease. Yeah, even without the system, I still have Hao Yang and Elder Wei. I can't just give up like this!

"Hao Yang, let's try together and see if we can break this restriction by force!" I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down.

"Okay!" Hao Yang didn't hesitate at all. The spiritual power in his body burst out instantly. Golden light surrounded him. The powerful momentum made the surrounding trees tremble.

He launched both palms simultaneously, and the golden spiritual energy transformed into a beam of light, fiercely slamming into the restriction. However, a shocking scene occurred. The moment the beam of light touched the restriction, it was as if it had hit an invisible wall and was instantly bounced back!

"Be careful!" I exclaimed, and quickly pulled Hao Yang behind me, narrowly avoiding the rebounding beam of light.

"Cough cough..." Hao Yang was shocked by the powerful impact and retreated repeatedly, with a trace of blood flowing from the corner of his mouth.

I quickly stepped forward to support him and asked anxiously, "How are you? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, but this restriction is stronger than I thought. My attacks can't shake it at all." Hao Yang wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, frowning.

"Let me take a look." Elder Wei walked forward and carefully observed the restriction in front of him, a trace of solemnity flashing in his turbid eyes.

He stretched out his palm and gently touched the restriction. An invisible energy wave, centered on his palm, quickly spread out in all directions...

An invisible wave emanated from Elder Wei's palm, and the air around him seemed to freeze. I stared at him nervously, hoping to hear good news. However, Elder Wei slowly withdrew his hand, his brow furrowed, his expression solemn.

"How is it, Elder Wei?" Hao Yang couldn't help but ask, with a hint of anxiety in his tone.

Elder Wei sighed and said in a heavy tone, "This is a very ancient formation restriction that requires a specific formula to unlock. I have studied formations for most of my life, but I have never seen such a sophisticated restriction. I am afraid..."

He didn't finish his words, but I understood what he meant. We don't know the formula, which means we can't break this restriction, let alone obtain the spiritual herb.

Despair came over me like an icy tide. Am I really going to watch the gears of fate rolling over me and eventually leading to that tragic ending?

Just then, a sudden clamor erupted from the distance, accompanied by several sharp sounds of someone piercing the air. Startled, I instinctively turned around and saw a group of people rushing towards us aggressively.

"It's Wei Qing and Wei Xue!" Hao Yang recognized the people at a glance, and a cold light flashed in his eyes.

My heart sank instantly. What I feared was indeed what happened! Wei Qing and Wei Xue had somehow learned of my whereabouts and had brought their family's opponents to stop me. It seemed they were determined to kill me!

"Wei Yao, you are a sinner of this family, how dare you appear here!" As soon as Wei Qing saw me, she pointed at me and shouted angrily, her tone full of resentment and hatred.

Wei Xue's face was gloomy. She looked at me coldly, a hint of sarcasm on her lips, and said, "Sister, you are trying every possible way to get the spiritual herbs, isn't it just to change your own destiny? I tell you, you are dreaming!"

I suppressed my anger, stared at them coldly, and said word by word: "You..."

"What right do you have to blame me?!" I laughed in anger, pointed at their noses and said sternly, "When I devoted my life to the family, what were you doing? Now I'm just trying to fight for a chance of survival, but you want to kill me. Have you all lost your conscience?!"

Wei Qing and Wei Xue were clearly intimidated by my aura, and it took them a moment to react. Wei Qing's sharp voice rang out again, laced with undisguised sarcasm: "Stop pretending! The book clearly states that you're a villain who will do anything to gain power! You don't deserve the chance to change your fate!"

"That's right, you think you're a good person?!" Wei Xue also chimed in, looking at me with eyes full of resentment, "You're a jinx, bringing disaster wherever you go! Your life will only bring misfortune to our family!"

Their words were like sharp knives, stabbing me in the heart, causing a sharp pain. Could it be that after all my efforts, I would ultimately be bound by the book's settings and become a villain in everyone's eyes?

"Enough!" Hao Yang suddenly stood up, protecting me behind him. He swept his sharp eyes over Wei Qing and the others, and said in a cold tone: "What qualifications do you have to judge her here? Has she done anything against the law? Why don't you give her a chance?!"

Elder Wei also stepped forward, firmly standing beside me. He said in a deep voice, "Wei Yao is my granddaughter. I know her best! Stop talking nonsense here and ruining her reputation!"

Wei Qing and Wei Xue were clearly surprised that Hao Yang and Elder Wei would defend them so strongly, and their expressions suddenly turned grim. The opponents behind them also looked at each other in bewilderment, not daring to act rashly.

For a moment, the two sides were in a stalemate. As I watched the tense atmosphere unfold, my heart sank. I knew that if I couldn't quickly break the restriction and obtain the spiritual herb, not only would my fate remain unchanged, but I might even find myself in danger again... I clenched my fists tightly, my palms cold. What should I do...

My heart felt like it was being gripped by an invisible hand, making it nearly impossible to breathe. Cold sweat trickled down my cheeks, but I didn't bother to wipe it away, my gaze fixed fixed on the flickering barrier before me. It was like a dormant beast, emitting a dangerous and powerful aura, blocking my hope of survival.

"Yaoyao, don't worry, there will be a way." Hao Yang's warm and dry big hands wrapped around my cold fist. His worried eyes and firm words made me feel a little more at ease.

"But..." I bit my lip and looked up at him, my tone full of helplessness. "This plot doesn't exist in the book at all. I don't know what will happen next, and I don't know what to do..."

"Believe me," Hao Yang stroked my hair gently, his tone gentle but firm, "We can definitely find a way."

Although he was constantly trying to comfort me, I could sense the anxiety in his eyes. After all, even a knowledgeable person like Elder Wei was helpless. We were like standing at the entrance of a misty forest, facing unknown dangers and challenges.

"Yaoyao, you don't have to worry too much." Elder Wei's voice was a little tired, his brow furrowed, and he was obviously thinking hard about how to break it. "Although this restriction is strong, it is not unsolvable. I will study the ancient books carefully and perhaps find a way to break it."

I glanced at him gratefully, but my heart grew even more anxious. Time slipped by, and with each passing second, my hope diminished. Time was running out.

I leaned weakly against the stone wall behind me, thinking back to the plot of the book, trying to find a clue. However, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't recall any relevant information.

Am I really going to sit here and wait for death? Am I really going to watch myself heading towards the tragic ending destined in the book again?

No, I am not reconciled!

I stood up abruptly, my eyes fixed firmly on the restriction before me, a strong conviction rising within me: My fate is in my own hands! Now that the plot of the book has changed, I refuse to believe there won't be a way to break it!

My eyes fell on the system panel on my wrist, and a glimmer of hope ignited in my heart. Oh, right, the system! Maybe it can help me!

I took a deep breath and raised my wrist. However, the next second, my hope was shattered like a soap bubble... On the system panel, there were still only the four glaring words "System Failure". It was like a silent iceberg, refusing to give me any response.

My heart sank to the bottom again. Am I really going to despair...

No, there must be another way! My eyes quickly scanned the system panel, and suddenly, an inconspicuous button caught my eye... "Operation Record".