From cannon fodder villain to beloved heroine

A massive orb of light hovered in mid-air, like a cosmic black hole that could erupt at any moment, radiating chilling energy fluctuations.

The energy was so powerful that it was visible to the naked eye; it seemed to tear the air apart, making a hissing sound, and the space itself was distorted and deformed, much like the special effects of a phone screen being smashed.

Yan Ruyu and Xu Lin'an approached cautiously, taking extremely slow steps, as if afraid of touching some high-voltage power lines.

Yan Ruyu frowned, and her eyes, which usually shone with cunning, were now filled with a serious expression.

Xu Lin'an also changed his usual playful demeanor. He held Yan Ruyu's hand tightly, his eyes sharp as a hawk, vigilantly scanning everything around him.

As the two drew closer to the ball of light, the oppressive energy intensified, and the surrounding space became even more distorted, as if viewing the world through a funhouse mirror.

Just as they were about to touch the ball of light, a sudden change occurred!

Suddenly, a dazzling bolt of lightning shot out from the ball of light. The lightning was an eerie purple, like a raging thunder dragon, carrying a suffocating pressure as it hurtled towards the two of them.

"Holy crap!" Yan Ruyu exclaimed in surprise. Before she could react, she was struck by the electric current. She felt a sharp pain spread throughout her body, and a numbing sensation engulfed her like a tidal wave.

Xu Lin'an was not spared either. He groaned, his face turned ashen, and a trickle of blood escaped from the corner of his mouth.

The power of the electric current far exceeded their imagination. Both of them felt as if their internal organs were being churned, and the pain was so intense that they almost fainted.

The surrounding ground was charred black by the electric current, and the air was filled with the smell of burning. Sparks could be seen flying out from time to time, crackling and popping, as if the end of the world had arrived.

“This thing… is interesting!” Xu Lin’an wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, but a fierce fighting spirit ignited in his eyes. He was about to step forward again when Yan Ruyu grabbed him. “Wait!” she said urgently, a hint of doubt in her eyes. “Don’t be impulsive…”

Before Yan Ruyu could finish speaking, Xu Lin'an's expected act of recklessness did not occur.

Instead, he calmly released her hand, took a deep breath, and the fighting spirit in his peach blossom eyes gradually faded, replaced by a profound calmness.

He slowly scanned his surroundings, as if searching for some clue, his every move exuding an unusual composure, as if he were a different person.

"Huh? You..." Yan Ruyu was stunned. This was not the Xu Lin'an she knew!

Isn't this guy usually loud and reckless?

Why did you suddenly change your gender?

Has he been electrocuted and gone mad?

Just as Yan Ruyu was lost in thought, the surrounding environment seemed to undergo subtle changes due to Xu Lin'an's transformation.

The violent electric current gradually subsided, the crackling sound disappeared, and the burning smell in the air gradually dissipated.

The enormous ball of light still hovered in mid-air, but it was no longer as restless as before. Instead, it emitted a soft glow, like a docile pet waiting for its master's command.

Xu Lin'an's gaze was fixed on the ground around the ball of light, where there were some hidden runes that shimmered with a faint light and could easily be overlooked if one did not look closely.

He crouched down, his fingertips gently touching the runes, a knowing look in his eyes.

“I see…” he murmured, a confident smile curving his lips.

He began to decipher the runes, each representing a trajectory of energy, which intertwined to form a complex energy network.

Xu Lin'an closed his eyes, his mind racing as he deduced the possible combinations of these runes. His fingers moved through the air, as if simulating the flow of energy.

As he moved his fingers, the light in the orb began to change. The originally soft light gradually became brighter, and finally it converged into a dazzling pillar of light that shot straight into the sky.

"It's done!" Xu Lin'an opened his eyes, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

Under his control, the ball of light gradually calmed down, no longer emitting any heart-pounding energy fluctuations. Instead, it was like an obedient child, docilely floating in mid-air.

Yan Ruyu watched this scene with admiration in her eyes. This was the first time she had seen Xu Lin'an so focused. He was so charming when he was serious!

"Not bad, kid!" Yan Ruyu said with a smile, his tone slightly teasing.

Xu Lin'an turned his head, looked at Yan Ruyu, and a wicked smile appeared on his lips. "Of course, don't you know who I am!"

He slowly walked towards Yan Ruyu, reached out, and pulled her into his arms. "Come on, let's go see what secrets are hidden inside this ball of light..."

Yan Ruyu excitedly jumped into Xu Lin'an's arms like a little bird.

Her soft body crashed into his strong chest, bringing a tingling sensation.

Xu Lin'an caught her steadily, his arms tightly encircling her slender waist, as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones.

Everything around them seemed to be celebrating.

The once raging ball of light was now as docile as a lamb, its gentle light shining upon them like a holy halo.

A faint, sweet fragrance filled the air, like a lover's whisper, making one feel relaxed and happy.

However, this sweet atmosphere did not last long.

Once the ball of light had completely calmed down, its interior was clearly revealed to the two of them—a complex puzzle composed of countless runes shimmering with strange light, like a giant Rubik's Cube, so intricate that it made their scalps tingle.

"Wow! This thing is even harder than the college entrance exam math!" Yan Ruyu couldn't help but complain, her delicate eyebrows furrowing into a knot.

Xu Lin'an also dropped his previous playful demeanor, his handsome brows furrowed, and his deep eyes fixed on the puzzle before him, as if trying to see through it.

The surrounding air seemed to freeze, so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

The once soft light now turned cold and eerie, flickering like will-o'-the-wisps.

Just as the two were racking their brains and thinking hard, a whisper suddenly rang in their ears, indistinct and like a ghostly murmur.

"Found...the key..."

"Don't trust your eyes..."

The sound seemed to come from another world, yet it also seemed to be right beside them.

"What the hell is that?" Yan Ruyu suddenly raised her head and looked around warily, but found nothing.

Xu Lin'an also heard the strange sound. He grabbed Yan Ruyu's hand, his expression grave. "Be careful!"

The surrounding environment became even more eerie, with the light flickering on and off, like a scene from a horror movie.

The whispers grew clearer, like someone whispering in their ears, or like the low murmur of a demon, sending chills down their spines.

"Believe me……"

"Don't trust him..."

The two voices intertwined, making it difficult to distinguish the true from the false, which unsettled the mind.

Xu Lin'an suddenly gripped Yan Ruyu's hand tightly, his eyes resolute, "Trust me..."