I dominated the game from the start with cards.

Night fell, and the ruins cast menacing shadows in the dim light. The smoke of battle hadn't yet dissipated, and the air was thick with the stench of blood and dust. Bai Yao nestled quietly in Li Xuan's arms, her breathing shallow and even, like a frightened bird finding safe haven. Her fingers gently traced circles on Li Xuan's chest, feeling his strong heartbeat, her eyes filled with love. "After this experience, I realize I can't live without you," Bai Yao's voice was soft and tender, tinged with the relief of surviving a catastrophe. Li Xuan lowered his head and kissed her forehead, tenderly responding to her love. His hand gently stroked her long hair, feeling its smooth texture. He knew how precious such genuine affection was in this apocalyptic world. "Cough cough..." Lin Yu's exaggerated cough broke the warm atmosphere. "Hey you two, can you control yourselves a little? This isn't the place for romance." Bai Yao's cheeks flushed slightly. She pulled away from Li Xuan's embrace and glared at Lin Yu reproachfully. Li Xuan shook his head helplessly. He knew Lin Yu was just trying to ease the tension. Mu Yang carefully examined the surroundings, his brows furrowed, his mind filled with doubt. He felt that since Zhao Hu had sent out this group of enemies, he must have a backup plan, but he couldn't find any clues. Enemy weapons and corpses were scattered on the ground, nothing unusual. "Mu Yang, have you found anything?" Li Xuan asked, stepping forward. Mu Yang shook his head. "No, everything seems normal. But I feel something's not right. Zhao Hu isn't the kind of person who gives up easily." "Perhaps he's just testing our strength," Lin Yu said. "No," Li Xuan said in a deep voice, "Zhao Hu's purpose is definitely not that simple. He must still be plotting something." Just then, a figure emerged from the darkness. He was tall and imposing, draped in a black cloak, his face obscured by a mysterious mask. "Lingfeng!" Li Xuan recognized him immediately. Lingfeng was a friend they had met in this apocalyptic world; he possessed immense strength and a mysterious background, always able to offer help in crucial moments. "I heard you've run into trouble," Lingfeng's voice was deep and magnetic. "That's right, Zhao Hu sent men to attack us," Li Xuan briefly recounted the events. After listening, Lingfeng pondered for a moment, then took out several small boxes from his robes and distributed them to everyone. "These are some magical treasures I've collected; they can play an unexpected role when facing danger." Looking at the treasures in their hands, everyone felt a sense of security. Lin Yu eagerly opened a box; inside was a talisman shimmering with golden light.

"This..." Lin Yu's eyes widened in surprise. Ling Feng smiled mysteriously, "Take it, it will protect you."

Li Xuan looked at the box in his hand, a strange premonition rising in his heart… He slowly opened it… Inside, a simple, ancient ring lay quietly. The ring was jet black, its surface engraved with intricate runes, emitting a faint, eerie glow. A strange energy fluctuation emanated from the ring, and Li Xuan felt his mental energy seem to become more active. He put the ring on his hand, and a sense of connection arose spontaneously. Lin Yu's golden amulet shimmered, as if it possessed a life of its own. He excitedly placed it close to his body; this amulet gave him an unprecedented sense of security, as if no attack could penetrate its golden light. Mu Yang received a crystal-clear jade pendant. The pendant emitted a soft light; holding it in his hand, a cool sensation flowed through his body, relaxing his tense nerves. This jade pendant could quickly restore physical and mental energy in critical moments, making it an excellent choice for survival. Sister Wu received a bottle of potion emitting a strange fragrance. According to Ling Feng, this potion could instantly heal most injuries, making it a lifesaver on the battlefield. Everyone received a magical artifact suitable for them. Ling Feng's generosity filled everyone with gratitude and gave them confidence for the challenges ahead. "With these magical artifacts, we can better deal with Zhao Hu's schemes!" Lin Yu said confidently, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Instead of passively defending, we should take the initiative! We should strike before Zhao Hu can react, storm his lair, and annihilate him in one fell swoop!" Mu Yang frowned, calmly analyzing, "Zhao Hu is cunning, and we know nothing about his lair. A hasty attack will only lead us into his trap. I think we should first strengthen our defenses and increase vigilance to prevent him from launching another sneak attack." Lin Yu immediately became anxious, "Strengthen our defenses? When will that be? Until he attacks us again? We should take the initiative and catch him off guard!" "Take the initiative? What makes you think we can find his lair? What if we fall into an ambush?" Mu Yang's tone also hardened. He disliked Lin Yu's impulsive nature, believing it to be a fatal weakness in the apocalypse. The two argued back and forth, unable to reach an agreement, the atmosphere tense, on the verge of a full-blown fight. Bai Yao looked at Li Xuan worriedly. She knew Li Xuan was always resourceful and hoped he could come up with a solution to the current stalemate. Li Xuan remained silent, carefully considering Lin Yu and Mu Yang's viewpoints. Both had valid points, but each carried inherent risks. He recalled his sect's teachings… "Unity…" Li Xuan murmured softly. He remembered his sect's teachings: the power of unity is boundless. Once, during an operation against mutated beasts, the disciples, due to disagreements, fought independently, resulting in numerous casualties. That painful lesson was deeply etched in his mind, making him understand that only by uniting could they survive in the apocalypse. He stepped forward, gesturing for Lin Yu and Mu Yang to be quiet. "Gentlemen, I know you both mean well for the team, but arguing won't solve anything now." His voice was steady and powerful, carrying an authoritative authority. “Lin Yu, your courage is commendable, but we need a more cautious plan; we cannot act rashly. Mu Yang, your composure is praiseworthy, but excessive conservatism can also lead to missed opportunities.” Li Xuan paused, then continued, “Zhao Hu is cunning and treacherous; we must deal with him carefully. We cannot be blindly impulsive, nor can we be timid and hesitant. We need a plan that allows us to take the initiative while ensuring our own safety.” He looked around at everyone, his eyes filled with determination. “Our sect once taught us that unity is strength. Only by uniting can we overcome all difficulties and ultimately defeat the enemy.” Bai Yao looked at Li Xuan, her eyes shining with admiration. She had always known of Li Xuan's wisdom and leadership, but at this moment, she felt his charisma even more deeply. Suddenly, an idea flashed through her mind. “I have a plan!” she exclaimed excitedly. “What plan?” Everyone turned to look at her. Bai Yao took a deep breath and slowly said, "We can split up. Some of us can stay at the base to strengthen the defenses, while the rest can disguise themselves, infiltrate the town, gather intelligence, and search for Zhao Hu's whereabouts. This way, we can actively search for clues while ensuring our own safety." Her suggestion was approved by everyone, and Li Xuan nodded approvingly. "Bai Yao, your idea is excellent. It balances offense and defense while reducing risk. Let's do it!" To test the new tactic, they simulated a battle. Lin Yu charged forward first, the golden talisman in his hand shining brightly, making him appear like a golden-armored war god, charging aggressively towards the enemy. However, Mu Yang had already anticipated his actions and cleverly used the terrain and magical artifacts to set a trap. Lin Yu had only charged halfway when he was blocked by an invisible barrier, staggering a few steps and almost falling. Ling Feng cast spells to interfere, creating various illusions to confuse the enemy. Li Xuan launched a surprise attack from the side. The black ring on his hand emitted a faint glow, and his mental energy condensed into an invisible blade, silently attacking the enemy. Bai Yao was in charge of command and coordination, adjusting tactics according to the battlefield situation to ensure that everyone could play their maximum role. After several rounds of combat, their tactics became more and more proficient, and their cooperation became more and more tacit. Lin Yu's impulsiveness was controlled, Mu Yang's conservatism became more flexible, Ling Feng's assistance became more precise, Li Xuan's attacks became more incisive, and Bai Yao's command became more and more effective. Just as everyone was preparing to proceed according to plan, the ring on Li Xuan's hand suddenly vibrated, emitting a buzzing sound. At the same time, a mysterious signal appeared in his mind... "Found you..." Dust flew up, and on the simulated battlefield, Lin Yu's figure shot straight into the "enemy formation" like an arrow released from a bow. The golden amulet in his hand shone brightly, like a burning flame, with an imposing aura. However, Mu Yang had already anticipated his actions and had set up several defensive fortifications constructed of scrap metal and energy crystals along Lin Yu's inevitable path. Several flashes of blue light appeared, and an energy barrier instantly rose, forcefully blocking Lin Yu's charge. Lin Yu grunted, forced back several steps by the rebounding energy. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Ling Feng rapidly formed hand seals and chanted incantations. Instantly, illusions arose across the battlefield, and mist filled the air. The ruins twisted and deformed, transforming into ferocious beasts that roared deafeningly. Lin Yu was disoriented by these sudden illusions and momentarily lost his bearings.

Li Xuan seized the opportunity, his figure flashing out from the side like a ghost.

The black ring on his hand gleamed with an eerie light, and a powerful spiritual force condensed into an invisible blade, piercing straight for the "enemy's" vitals. (White)

Yao stood on high ground, calmly observing the battlefield situation, constantly issuing commands and directing everyone to fight together.

"Lin Yu, stay calm and watch your step!" Bai Yao's voice was clear and firm, piercing through the mist and illusions to reach Lin Yu's ears. Lin Yu took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. Relying on his years of combat experience, he gradually adapted to Ling Feng's illusionary interference. Mu Yang manipulated the energy barrier, constantly changing positions to block the "enemy's" attacks while creating opportunities for Li Xuan to strike. Li Xuan's mental attacks were invisible yet incredibly powerful, catching the "enemy" off guard and forcing them to retreat repeatedly. After several rounds of simulated combat, the five of them became increasingly coordinated. Lin Yu's impulsiveness gradually subsided, and he learned to find opportunities under the team's cover; Mu Yang's defense became more flexible and adaptable, able to adjust tactics according to the battlefield situation; Ling Feng's illusions became more sophisticated and deceptive; Li Xuan's attacks became more precise and powerful; and Bai Yao's command became more effective, maximizing everyone's abilities. After a short rest, the five of them sat together to summarize their experiences and improve their tactics. Li Xuan and Bai Yao exchanged a smile, their eyes filled with understanding and trust. At this moment, they were not only partners fighting side by side, but also each other's emotional support. Just as they were preparing to proceed according to plan and delve deeper into the town to gather intelligence, the black ring on Li Xuan's hand suddenly vibrated violently, buzzing as if issuing some kind of warning. At the same time, a mysterious signal appeared in his mind: "Found you..." Li Xuan's expression changed drastically, and he abruptly stood up, his gaze sharp as he scanned his surroundings. A strange unease welled up in his heart.

“Someone…is…watching us…” he said, emphasizing each word, his voice low and hoarse.