I dominated the game from the start with cards.

The singing abruptly stopped, and a deathly silence fell, broken only by the rustling of leaves in the wind, adding to the eerie atmosphere. Li Xuan gripped his weapon tightly, his mental energy scanning the surroundings like radar, but he still found nothing unusual. This made him even more uneasy; the calmer the silence, the greater the danger it foreshadowed. "That singing... it's too eerie," Mu Yang said in a low voice, gripping his longsword tightly and scanning the surrounding woods warily. "We'd better be careful," Lin Yu said, rubbing his arms and glancing around uneasily. "Could this be a trap? We'd better get out of here quickly," he suggested, his voice trembling slightly. “No, wait.” Lingfeng stopped him, looking up into the depths of the valley. “This song contains powerful energy fluctuations; perhaps it's some kind of treasure or opportunity. We should go explore.” “Lingfeng, are you crazy? This is too dangerous!” Lin Yu exclaimed excitedly. “We finally obtained the core energy source; what if something happens here? Wouldn’t all our efforts be wasted?” “Lin Yu, calm down.” Li Xuan patted Lin Yu’s shoulder, signaling him to calm down. “Lingfeng is right; this song does indeed contain powerful energy fluctuations. If we can find its source, we might have unexpected gains.” “But…” Lin Yu wanted to say something, but Li Xuan interrupted him. “I know what you’re worried about,” Li Xuan said, “but we can’t give up the opportunity just because we’re afraid of danger. We’re a team; we have to stick together.” Mu Yang nodded in agreement with Li Xuan. “I trust Li Xuan’s judgment; we should go and see.” Seeing that everyone had decided to explore, Lin Yu didn’t say anything more and could only nod helplessly. “Alright, since you’ve all decided this way, I’ll go with you.” Li Xuan took a deep breath, his gaze fixed resolutely on the depths of the valley. “Let’s go, let’s see what the source of this song is.” They cautiously advanced in the direction from which the song came. The surrounding trees grew denser, the light dimmer, and a damp, decaying smell filled the air. Suddenly, Li Xuan sensed a powerful energy fluctuation coming from ahead. He immediately stopped, raised his weapon, and looked ahead warily. “What’s wrong?” Mu Yang asked. Li Xuan didn’t speak, only staring intently ahead. From the shadows, a figure slowly emerged. It was a tall woman, dressed in a white dress, with a captivating beauty, her eyes sparkling, her every glance enchanting. She held a delicate jade flute in her hand, a mysterious smile playing on her lips. "Hello," the woman said, her voice as clear and melodious as a nightingale's, "I am Bai Yao, a mid-level explorer. It seems you were also drawn here by the energy vortex, weren't you?" As soon as Bai Yao finished speaking, an unusual fluctuation suddenly rippled through the air… An unusual fluctuation suddenly rippled through the air, as if something was rapidly approaching. Li Xuan's mental perception tightened abruptly, a strange sense of crisis welling up inside him. He instinctively shielded Mu Yang and Lin Yu behind him, his gaze warily scanning their surroundings. Ling Feng silently placed his hand on the weapon at his waist, ready to respond to any unexpected situation. Just then, a figure slowly appeared—it was Bai Yao. She was still wearing a white dress, appearing ethereal in the dim light, like a fairy stepping out of a painting. She held the exquisite jade flute in her hand, a mysterious smile playing on her lips, seemingly oblivious to the tense atmosphere around her. “Hello,” Bai Yao spoke again, her voice as clear and melodious as a nightingale’s. “I am Bai Yao, a mid-level explorer. It seems you were also drawn here by the energy vortex, weren’t you?” “How do you know about the energy vortex?” Li Xuan narrowed his eyes, a hint of suspicion in his tone. They had kept the matter of the energy vortex a secret all along; how did this suddenly appearing woman know? Bai Yao chuckled, her gaze sweeping over Li Xuan with a playful glint. “What’s so difficult about that? The fluctuations of the energy vortex are so intense; anyone with even a little perception can sense it.” She gently moved closer to Li Xuan, her fingers tracing his arm, and said sweetly, “You seem quite special.” Li Xuan’s heart skipped a beat; a strange current surged through his body from his arm. Bai Yao’s approach made him feel uneasy, yet also strangely attracted. He suppressed the turmoil within him, subtly taking a step back, widening the distance between them. “What exactly do you want?” Li Xuan asked coldly. Bai Yao withdrew her fingers, chuckled, seemingly oblivious to Li Xuan’s aloofness. "Don't be nervous, I'm just curious about you novice explorers." She glanced around at everyone, her gaze finally settling on the core energy source in Li Xuan's hand. "It seems you've obtained the core energy source. Congratulations." "Since you know we've obtained the core energy source, you should understand its value." Mu Yang stepped forward, blocking Li Xuan, and said calmly, "We don't welcome uninvited guests. Please leave." "Leave?" Bai Yao raised an eyebrow, seemingly unconcerned about Mu Yang's warning. "Why should I leave? I was also drawn here by the energy vortex. Don't I have the right to explore the secrets here?" Lin Yu couldn't help but say from the side, "But we got here first, this core energy source should have been ours!" "First come, first served?" Bai Yao smiled contemptuously. "In the Infinite Flow Space, strength is the key to everything. What can you novice explorers possibly protect?" The atmosphere immediately became tense, and a conflict seemed imminent. Bai Yao's gaze fell on Li Xuan again, a barely perceptible glint in her eyes. “How about this,” she said slowly, her tone laced with a hint of enticement, “I can help you better utilize the core energy source and unleash its full power. In exchange, I hope to explore with you for a while.”

Li Xuan's heart stirred; Bai Yao's suggestion surprised him.

He remained outwardly calm, but his mind was racing with calculations.

“How can you help us?” he asked tentatively.

Bai Yao smiled mysteriously, leaned close to Li Xuan's ear, and whispered, "The secrets of intermediate explorers are beyond the comprehension of you novice explorers..." She paused deliberately, then straightened up, her gaze fixed intently on Li Xuan. "So, how about it?" Li Xuan smiled slightly. "Of course we..." "Of course we're very interested," Li Xuan smiled slightly, his tone carrying a barely perceptible hint of probing. "However, we also need to understand what kind of help you can provide, right?" Bai Yao chuckled, seemingly unsurprised by Li Xuan's caution. "I can teach you how to absorb the energy of the core energy source more effectively, and I can share some experience about intermediate explorers, such as how to better deal with higher-level challenges and more powerful enemies." She paused, then added, "Of course, I can also provide some information about the Infinite Flow Space, which will be invaluable to you." Li Xuan observed Bai Yao's expression discreetly, trying to catch a flaw in her subtle facial expressions. He casually asked, "What's the biggest difference between intermediate and novice explorers?" A hint of arrogance flashed in Bai Yao's eyes. "Besides greater strength and richer experience, intermediate explorers also have access to special resources and channels that novice explorers can't even imagine." She deliberately kept him in suspense, "For example, secret techniques that can quickly improve strength, and opportunities that can change one's destiny." Li Xuan's heart stirred; this was exactly the information he desperately wanted to know. He followed Bai Yao's lead, subtly guiding her to reveal more secrets about intermediate explorers. Bai Yao seemed unaware of Li Xuan's intentions; without her noticing, Li Xuan had already extracted a considerable amount of useful information. A sense of satisfaction welled up within him; Li Xuan felt he had gained the upper hand in this exchange. However, at that moment, the surrounding air suddenly became restless, with faint energy fluctuations emanating from all directions. "Careful!" Li Xuan's mental perception suddenly issued a warning. He abruptly pushed Bai Yao away, simultaneously shouting a warning to the others. As soon as the words left her lips, a swarm of small energy creatures emerged from the ground and the air. They varied in shape, emitting a faint glow like fireflies twinkling in the night sky, yet they were brimming with aggression. Bai Yao reacted swiftly, waving her jade flute, unleashing a series of dazzling spells like fireworks, instantly annihilating the approaching energy creatures. However, these creatures seemed endless, surging forward relentlessly, overwhelming her. Lin Yu wielded his giant axe, cleaving one energy creature in two, while Mu Yang, wielding a longsword, nimbly weaved through the horde, each strike hitting its target precisely. Li Xuan calmly observed the energy creatures' attack patterns and movement patterns, searching for their weaknesses. He discovered that although these creatures were numerous, their individual strength was not great, and their attack methods were limited; given the right opportunity, they could be killed in one blow. The battle continued. Although Bai Yao's magic was powerful, it could not withstand such a dense barrage of attacks. An energy creature attacked from the side; Bai Yao couldn't dodge in time, and a cut appeared on her arm. She swayed, nearly falling. Li Xuan reacted quickly, catching Bai Yao and supporting her. Bai Yao leaned into his arms, a faint, sweet fragrance wafting towards him. "Thank you..." Bai Yao whispered, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. Li Xuan subtly steadied Bai Yao, but inwardly remained vigilant. He recalled the scene of his sect's destruction: raging flames, ruins, and his fellow disciples lying in pools of blood... He silently vowed to become stronger, to never lose another comrade. Together, they finally repelled the wave of energy creatures. However, Bai Yao showed even more interest in Li Xuan; her gaze lingered on him, filled with a hint of inquiry and...desire. What was her purpose? Would her appearance bring good fortune or disaster to everyone? Bai Yao gently stroked her injured arm, a meaningful smile playing on her lips. "Li Xuan, you're really intriguing me more and more..." A pungent, metallic scent filled the air, and the shattered bricks and charred beams stung Li Xuan's eyes. The image of his fellow disciples lying in pools of blood, illuminated by the firelight, haunted him like a nightmare. His master's last words, weak yet resolute: "Live on...find the truth..." Those words were like a sharp knife, piercing Li Xuan's heart. He clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms, the intense pain nothing compared to the anguish in his heart. "I will become stronger! I will find the murderer and avenge our sect!" Li Xuan silently vowed. This sudden memory made him even more vigilant. Bai Yao's appearance was too coincidental, and her motives were unfathomable. In this perilous, infinite-flow space, any carelessness could have fatal consequences. He couldn't repeat the same mistakes, he couldn't lose any more companions. "Is everyone alright?" Li Xuan suppressed his grief and turned to look at the group. Mu Yang sheathed his sword, his expression grave. "These energy creatures seem very sensitive to the aura of the core energy source. We need to leave here as soon as possible." Lin Yu wiped the sweat from his brow and echoed, "Yes, this place is too eerie. Let's get out of here quickly." He glanced at Bai Yao, a hint of wariness in his eyes. Ling Feng remained silent, silently observing the surroundings, seemingly searching for something. Bai Yao gently touched the wound on her arm, her gaze fixed on Li Xuan, a meaningful smile playing on her lips. "Li Xuan, you're becoming more and more interesting to me..." Her tone was gentle, yet carried a subtle hint of aggression. Li Xuan subtly avoided Bai Yao's gaze, his guard rising. He realized that Bai Yao's appearance might not be solely for exploring the secrets of the energy vortex; she seemed to have ulterior motives towards him. The group continued onward, the surrounding environment growing increasingly strange. A faint stench of decay filled the air, and the remains of some unknown creatures lay scattered on the ground. Bai Yao clung to Li Xuan, frequently striking up conversations with him, her words filled with provocation and innuendo. Although Li Xuan outwardly responded to Bai Yao, he remained constantly wary.

He tried hard to recall the various knowledge his master had imparted, attempting to find some clues in the surrounding environment in order to uncover the secrets of this infinite flow space and Bai Yao's true purpose.

After walking through a thorny area, Bai Yao suddenly stopped.

She bent down and picked a small, fragrant purple flower from a strange plant.

The flower has a unique shape, and its petals shimmer with fluorescent light, like stars twinkling in the night sky.

Bai Yao walked up to Li Xuan, gently placed the flower in his hair, and whispered in his ear, "You look so beautiful with this flower on."

Her breath carried a sweet scent, which made Li Xuan somewhat distracted.

Bai Yao's fingers gently brushed across Li Xuan's cheek, her eyes glazed over, and her voice became even more alluring: "Do you know, the meaning of this flower is..."