I am destroying the protagonist in the fantasy world!

Just as the hunter finished speaking, a cold wind blew, accompanied by the rustling of dead leaves. A vigorous figure rushed out from the depths of the dense forest and landed steadily in front of them.

"Who are you, how dare you trespass into the forbidden area!" The person who came was Grandma Ji. Her eyes were as sharp as an eagle's as she glanced at Lei Yi and Dongfang Liuli. She slammed the crutch in her hand on the ground, and an invisible pressure instantly enveloped the three of them.

Lei Yi's heart trembled. Grandma Ji's strength seemed to have improved a bit since their last meeting. He stepped forward and said with a bow, "Grandma Ji, we mean no harm. We simply wish to borrow your passage into the valley to search for something."

"Looking for something?" Granny Ji snorted coldly, "Last time you came to steal the treasures of the valley, what lies are you making up this time?"

"What happened last time was purely a misunderstanding!" Dongfang Liuli quickly explained, "We simply strayed into the valley by mistake. We didn't mean to offend anyone."

"Hmph, misunderstanding? I think you have evil intentions!" Grandma Ji didn't listen to the explanation at all. She waved the crutch in her hand, and a fierce gust of wind rushed straight towards Lei Yi's face.

Lei Yi had been prepared, and by moving his body to the side, he narrowly avoided the attack. He sighed inwardly, thinking that it would be difficult to settle the matter peacefully today.

"Grandma Ji, is there any misunderstanding between you and me?" Lei Yi tried to explain while dodging Grandma Ji's attacks, but Grandma Ji was completely unmoved and used ruthless moves, forcing Lei Yi to retreat again and again.

Dongfang Liuli was anxious when she saw this. She wanted to help, but was blocked by Grandma Ji's fierce attack. She could only shout a warning: "Lei Yi, be careful!"

"You greedy fellows, don't even think about setting foot in the valley today!" Granny Ji shouted angrily, the cane in her hand glowing brightly, and a powerful pressure came over her again...

"Greed? We're just trying to find the truth!" Lei Yi growled, his inner Qi surging outwards, a layer of golden protective Qi emanating from his body. This time, he didn't choose to dodge, but instead faced Grandma Ji's attack head-on.

"You don't know your own limitations!" Granny Ji sneered, the crutch in her hand glowed brighter, and the powerful true energy pressed down like a tidal wave.

"Boom!" The two streams of true energy collided violently in the air, making a deafening roar. Suddenly, a strong wind blew in the valley, and leaves flew everywhere.

Lei Yi only felt a huge force coming at him, and his body involuntarily took a few steps back, but he quickly stabilized his body, and his palms flew, and golden palm prints were slapped out one after another, dissolving Grandma Ji's attack.

Dongfang Liuli watched with trepidation. She knew Lei Yi's strength had improved dramatically, but she hadn't expected him to be able to compete head-on with Granny Ji. But she didn't dare to let her guard down. She swung her sword with a powerful aura, neutralizing any attacks Granny Ji occasionally missed, alleviating Lei Yi's pressure.

"Grandma Ji, I'm here to find the truth. It has nothing to do with the treasures in the valley!" Lei Yi shouted while fending off the attacks. "You've guarded this place for so many years. Don't you want to know what happened back then?"

Upon hearing this, Granny Ji paused for a moment, but quickly resumed her previous fierce attack, snorting coldly, "Stop using flowery words! You outsiders don't understand the secrets of the valley at all!"

Lei Yi's heart moved. Grandma Ji's reaction seemed to confirm his guess. The reason why she guarded the valley was probably not simple!

"Granny Ji, I heard that what happened back then was related to the Murong family. Is that true?" Lei Yi asked tentatively while resisting the attack.

When Granny Ji heard the words "Murong Family," a complex look flashed across her eyes, but it was quickly concealed. She shouted angrily, "Shut up! You have no right to mention the Murong Family!"

Before she finished speaking, the cane in Grandma Ji's hand suddenly glowed brightly, and an unprecedentedly powerful force rushed towards Lei Yi. Startled, Lei Yi quickly mobilized all his Qi to resist, but the force was too strong. He felt his Qi and blood surging, his throat felt sweet, and a mouthful of blood spurted out...

"Lei Yi!" Dongfang Liuli exclaimed, and rushed to Lei Yi regardless of everything, waving her sword to block Grandma Ji's fatal blow.

"Liuli, you..." Lei Yi looked at Dongfang Liuli's slender figure standing in front of him, feeling both moved and worried.

Dongfang Liuli did not say anything, but just held the sword tightly in his hand, looking at Grandma Ji with a firm gaze, as if to say: Unless you step over my dead body, you can't hurt him again!

Lei Yi looked at Granny Ji, a flicker of determination in his eyes. He reached out and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, then said in a deep voice, "Granny Ji, I know you have your reasons, but do you really want to risk your life for a family that has already been destroyed?"

Granny Ji's body trembled slightly, as if she was caught in some kind of struggle. The cane in her hand gradually lost its luster. She looked at Lei Yi, a trace of confusion flashed in her eyes, and murmured: "Destruction... of the family..."

Lei Yi's heart moved when he saw this. He knew that his words had touched Grandma Ji's heart, so he continued, "Grandma Ji, don't you want to know who was it that caused the Murong family to be destroyed back then?"

Granny Ji's body trembled violently, and the cane in her hand fell to the ground with a clang. She raised her head, staring at Lei Yi with a burning gaze, and asked hoarsely, "You... you know?" Lei Yi took a deep breath, knowing that his bet was right. Granny Ji had guarded the valley for many years, and her heart must have been filled with countless questions and pain. He might be the key to unlocking it all.

"I don't know much," Lei Yi said sincerely, "but I can be sure that the downfall of the Murong family wasn't an accident, but a carefully planned conspiracy!"

Granny Ji's eyes trembled slightly, as if she was desperately trying to suppress the turmoil in her heart. The knuckles of her fingers clenched the cane until they turned white. After a long moment, she finally managed to squeeze out a sentence from between her teeth: "What... do you know?"

Lei Yi glanced at Dongfang Liuli, signaling her to remain calm, before slowly speaking, "I stumbled upon some clues that point to the Murong family's demise being linked to a member of the clan named Master Murong. It's said that Master Murong was ruthless and, in his quest for the position of patriarch, he colluded with outsiders and murdered his own clan..."

As Lei Yi spoke, Grandma Ji's face became paler and paler. She staggered back a few steps as if struck by lightning, her eyes filled with disbelief and deep pain.

"No... Impossible..." Granny Ji muttered to herself, her voice trembling, "Young Master... How could he..."

Lei Yi knew that Grandma Ji still had some illusions about Master Murong in her heart, but he had to make her face the reality in order to untie the knot in her heart that had been there for many years.

"Grandma Ji," Lei Yi's voice became heavier. "I know you have served the Murong family for many years and are loyal to them, but some things are not what you and I imagine..."

Lei Yi paused, then continued, "The news I've received is that Young Master Murong sacrificed his entire family to obtain a forbidden technique, and the valley you're guarding is very likely related to that forbidden technique!"

Grandma Ji's body began to tremble violently, and the crutch in her hand finally gave way and fell to the ground with a crisp sound. She raised her head, and her cloudy eyes stared at Lei Yi intently, as if she could see through him.

"You...what did you say?" Grandma Ji's voice was so hoarse that it was almost inaudible, but the light in her eyes became brighter and brighter, as if a dying flame had suddenly found new fuel.

Dongfang Liuli had been paying close attention to the changes in Grandma Ji's expression. She keenly sensed that this was a crucial turning point. She calmly walked over to Lei Yi, pulled out a jade pendant from her bosom, and handed it to Grandma Ji.

"Grandma Ji, take a look at this." Dongfang Liuli's voice was calm and gentle, yet it carried an unquestionable power.

Granny Ji's gaze fell on the jade pendant, and her pupils suddenly contracted...

Granny Ji took the jade pendant with trembling hands. This jade pendant was a coming-of-age gift she had personally given to Master Murong, and it was the only one of its kind in the world. The back was engraved with the Murong family crest, and the front featured a lifelike fire phoenix. However, at this moment, the fire phoenix's eyes shone with a faint hint of blood, which was chilling.

"This... this is the young master's thing..." Grandma Ji's voice was choked with tears, and her eyes were filled with tears. "How could... how could this happen..."

Dongfang Liuli gently patted the back of her hand and said softly, "Grandma Ji, we know that you are loyal to the Murong family. We have no ill intentions in coming here. We just want to find out the truth of what happened back then."

Lei Yi also stepped forward and said sincerely, "Grandma Ji, you have guarded this valley for many years. You must know something. Please tell us. Let us uncover the truth together and comfort the souls of the Murong family in heaven."

Granny Ji's eyes swept back and forth between the two of them, as if she was weighing something. After a while, she sighed and said slowly, "Forget it, forget it. At this point, it's time for me to let it go..."

Leaning on a cane, she staggered towards the depths of the valley. "Come with me, it's time to tell you something..."

Lei Yi and Dongfang Liuli looked at each other and saw a hint of solemnity in each other's eyes. They followed closely and walked towards the depths of the valley.

The valley was shrouded in mist, and ancient trees blocked out the sun. Sunlight filtered through the gaps between the leaves, creating dappled shadows. The deeper we went, the more eerie the atmosphere became, and an invisible pressure enveloped our hearts, making it difficult to breathe.

"Be careful!" Granny Ji suddenly stopped and whispered, "The area ahead is forbidden. No one is allowed to approach without my permission!"

Upon hearing this, Lei Yi and Dongfang Liuli immediately became alert and slowed their pace. They saw an open field ahead, the ground covered with ancient runes, emitting a faint fluorescent light. In the center of the open field stood a massive stone gate, intricately carved with patterns that seemed to tell of some ancient legend.

"Behind this door is the truth you want to know..." Granny Ji pointed at the stone door and said in a low voice, "But I want to remind you that once you open this door, there is no turning back..."

As soon as he finished speaking, the stone door suddenly made a loud noise and slowly opened. A powerful pressure gushed out from the gap in the door. Lei Yi and Dongfang Liuli suddenly felt like they were being pressed down by a mountain, and breathing became difficult.

Grandma Ji's face turned pale, and she said with difficulty: "Go in..."