The male protagonist of the book is poisonous

After the attack by the Shadow Pavilion, the sect had temporarily regained its composure. However, everyone knew the danger lurked like a venomous snake, poised to spring from the shadows at any moment and bring calamity upon the sect once again. After careful consultation between Brother Ling Xiao, Leng Shuang, the woman in white, and the entire sect, they decided to embark on a journey to find the hermit as soon as possible. Upon hearing this, my eyes lit up, and I insisted they take me along. At first, everyone was hesitant, considering the journey was bound to be fraught with unknown dangers. But I persisted, and finally, unable to persuade them, they agreed.

Preparations before departure proceeded intensely and methodically. I was in my little cabin, surrounded by various bottles and jars and objects emitting spiritual energy. I carefully picked up each healing pill, examining them closely before gently packing them away. These pills, meticulously crafted with countless efforts, were each round and plump, exuding a faint medicinal fragrance, like the sweet scent of blooming flowers in spring, bringing peace of mind to the nose. I also carefully placed the talismans for restoring my spiritual power inside. These talismans, drawn according to ancient recipes, were inscribed with intricate runes. They seemed to have a life of their own, flickering faintly in the candlelight, as if expressing a mysterious power. As I packed, I muttered to myself, "These are life-saving items. They might come in handy at any time along the way, so I must bring them with me."

Leng Shuang sat in her residence, at a rustic table, neatly arranged with a number of ice-themed magic weapons. She picked up a magic weapon shaped like a shimmering ice crystal, which reflected a cold light in her hand. She gently stroked it, a hint of expectation in her eyes, and whispered, "You must perform well this time when you go out. Don't let down at the critical moment." The cold aura emanating from the magic weapon permeated the room, seemingly lowering the temperature around them and making people shiver.

With everything ready, we set off on our journey. Along the way, the scenery shifted like a painting. We first entered a dense forest, a sea of ​​green. The trees were tall and sturdy, like towering giants. Their interwoven branches formed a vast green canopy, completely obscuring the sky. Only occasionally, a few rays of sunlight, like golden threads, struggled to filter through the gaps between the leaves, casting patches of shimmering light on the ground. The path beneath us was uneven, with tree roots protruding from the ground like giant, veiny hands. Rocks lay scattered across the road, seemingly deliberately creating obstacles for us. From time to time, small animals would dart past us. A little squirrel, clutching a pine cone, perched on a tree trunk, its round eyes darting at us with curiosity and vigilance. It was a truly adorable sight.

After several days of walking, a towering mountain range loomed before us. Like the unyielding backbone of an earth god, it was shrouded in mist, a soft, white veil that shrouded the mountain in a mystical veil. Standing at its foot, gazing up at the towering peak, we felt a mixture of awe and a relentless desire to conquer it. We ascended the winding mountain path, narrow and steep, at points barely wide enough for a single foot. It was as if nature, through its uncanny craftsmanship, deliberately tested the climbers' courage and perseverance. Brother Lingxiao volunteered to walk in front, taking each step carefully, his eyes fixed on the path beneath him, and frequently looking back to warn us, "Everyone, be careful! This path is tricky. One wrong step could be dangerous." I shouted back from behind, "Got it, Brother Lingxiao. Be careful too."

After an arduous trek, we finally found the hermit's residence. It was a small wooden cabin hidden in a quiet valley, surrounded by a variety of exotic flowers and plants. As we approached, the rich, almost tangible fragrance of the flowers and plants filled our nostrils. The aroma blended with the fragrance of various flowers and plants, like nature's most unique perfume, made us feel as if we were in a fairyland. The walls of the cabin were built of sturdy logs, the surface of the logs showing the marks of time, making them look very sturdy. The roof was covered with thick thatch, and in some places, tender green grass grew, like a vibrant hat on the roof.

Before we could even knock, the door, as if sensing our arrival, slowly opened, revealing a white-haired elder. His hair resembled the first snow of winter, and his face was lined with age. But his eyes were deep and calm, as if they could see through everything in the world, and seemed to contain endless wisdom, like a bottomless pool. The hermit looked at us, a gentle smile on his face, and whispered, "You've finally arrived."

We walked into the house with awe. The layout was simple and tidy. There was a wooden table, a few wooden chairs, and in the corner, some ancient scrolls. The pages were yellowed, exuding an air of antiquity, as if telling stories from long ago. We gathered around the wooden table, and I couldn't wait to break the silence. I said, "Senior Hermit, we're here to learn about the Shadow Pavilion. They keep attacking our sect, causing unrest. We must find a way to completely eliminate this threat."

The hermit sighed softly, a sigh that seemed to contain regret for the Shadow Pavilion's decline. He slowly spoke, "Shadow Pavilion, it wasn't originally like this. Long, long ago, it was founded to protect an ancient source of power. That source contained the powerful forces of darkness and light. These two forces, like the two ends of a scale, must be kept in perfect balance for the world to function stably. But later, some within the Shadow Pavilion were seduced by the power of darkness. That darkness, like the whispers of a demon, constantly bewitched them. Gradually, they were blinded by greed and selfish desires, and, seeking to monopolize this power, they slowly strayed down a path of evil."

With that, the hermit stood up, slowly walked to a corner, and pulled out an ancient scroll from a dusty bookshelf. He placed the scroll on the table and unfolded it. The paper was yellowed and brittle, as if it would crumble to dust at the slightest touch. It contained a map of the source of power. The lines on the map were a little blurry, but the general outline was still recognizable. There were also some strange runes that controlled power. These runes were like ancient, mysterious texts, imbued with unknown powers. Curiously, I leaned over, my eyes fixed on the scroll, and asked, "Senior, what do these maps and runes mean?"

The hermit pointed at the scroll and patiently explained, "This map marks the approximate location of the source of power. While it's not entirely precise, it's the most important clue we have at the moment. And these runes are the key to controlling the balance of power. If they were mastered by those in the Shadow Pavilion, corrupted by darkness, they could upset the balance of power. The consequences would be disastrous, plunging the entire world into darkness and chaos."

I suddenly remembered the jade I had found at the bottom of the lake. I quickly took it out and handed it to the hermit, saying, "Senior, please take a look at this. We found it at the bottom of the lake. I think it's related to the Shadow Pavilion incident."

Upon seeing the jade, the hermit's eyes flashed with surprise, a look of surprise like ripples suddenly appearing on a calm lake. He reached out to take the jade, holding it before his eyes and examining it carefully. He turned it over and over for a long time before slowly speaking, "This jade is not simple. It is one of the keys to unlocking the key to the source of power, but other items are needed to truly open the door to the balance of power." As he spoke, he pointed to a mark on the scroll. It was an ancient symbol that looked like an eye, surrounded by flames. The lines of the flames were lifelike and seemed to dance. "There may be another key hidden here, but finding it will not be easy. It will be a journey full of challenges and dangers."

Leng Shuang frowned and asked, "Senior, how can we find this item?"

The hermit sat back in his chair, his expression serious as he spoke, "To find this item, one must overcome numerous challenges. The location of this item is protected by a powerful formation, set up by ancient sages to safeguard this crucial item, and it's not easily broken. The formation contains a complex spiritual structure, like a vast maze; one wrong step could trigger danger."

Finally, the Hermit looked at us, his eyes filled with anticipation. His gaze was like a beam of warm light, shining upon us. He said, "You must quickly find all the key items and rebalance the dark and light forces at the source of power. Only then can we completely eliminate the threat of the Shadow Pavilion and prevent the world from being consumed by darkness. I believe you have the ability to do this, for you are chosen by fate, and you possess unique powers and missions."

We set out with the clues the hermit had given us. A few days later, we arrived at a mysterious place. A thick, milky mist filled the air, and within it shimmered the faint glow of runes, like stars twinkling in the night sky, faint yet full of mystery.

"This should be the formation that Senior Hermit mentioned to protect key items." Brother Ling Xiao said with a frown, his eyes fixed on the formation in the mist, trying to see through the mystery in it.

This formation looked incredibly complex, with countless threads of spiritual energy connecting the surrounding stone pillars like spider silk. The stone pillars were tall and sturdy, covered in runes that constantly flashed, as if warning us outsiders. The light flickered, like a silent threat. Leng Shuang volunteered, "Let me give it a try." She took a deep breath, mustered her courage, stepped forward, slowly extended her hand, and slowly injected spiritual energy into the formation. As soon as she made contact, she was bounced back by a force as powerful as a surging wave. Her face instantly turned pale, and her body involuntarily took a few steps back. Seeing this, I rushed over to support her, anxiously asking, "Leng Shuang, are you okay?" Leng Shuang shook her head and said weakly, "This formation is amazing. I just wanted to explore its secrets, but I didn't expect the rebound force to be so strong."

We gathered around the formation and began to discuss how to break it. Brother Lingxiao stared intently at the runes, as if trying to see through them, muttering to himself, "These runes seem to have some patterns, but we need more time to study them." His brows were furrowed, and his face was filled with concentration.

I took out an ancient book about formations that I had found in the sect's secret room from the package, flipped through the pages quickly, scanned the book with my eyes, and said, "I have an ancient book here, maybe I can find a clue." The pages rustled in my hands, as if they were also anxious about our predicament.

The woman in white closed her eyes and began to cast a special perception spell. A faint glow shone around her, like a soft halo, enveloping her. After a moment, she opened her eyes, a hint of fatigue yet hope in her eyes. "This formation is very powerful, but I sense a slightly weaker spiritual energy fluctuation in one area. It might be a weak spot."

Just as we were studying the formation, a deep roar suddenly erupted from within. Like the roar of an ancient beast, it was filled with intimidation. The sound resonated through the air, making our ears ring. I was startled, my body trembling involuntarily. I clutched Ling Xiao's arm tightly, and said in a trembling voice, "Brother, what's that sound? It's so scary."

Brother Ling Xiao patted my hand and comforted me, "Don't be afraid, Miaomiao. No matter what's inside, we have to face it. We are shouldering the fate of the entire cultivation world. We can't be scared by such a small difficulty."

Leng Shuang also clenched the magic weapon in her hand, and said with a firm look in her eyes: "That's right, we must break through. No matter how difficult this formation is, there must be a way to break it. No matter how great the danger is, we must face it."

The woman in white looked into the formation with a look of determination in her eyes. She said firmly, "Then let's get started. First, find a way to break the formation, and then deal with the dangers inside. Now that we've come this far, there's no turning back."

Although we were all a little scared in our hearts, there was more determination in our eyes, because we knew that this was a mission we had to complete. For the sake of our sect and the world of cultivation, we could not retreat.