From cannon fodder villain to beloved heroine

As the ancient scroll slowly unfurled, Yan Ruyu and Xu Lin'an's expressions grew increasingly solemn.

The text on the scroll was obscure and difficult to understand, as if it were written with ancient runes, and every stroke exuded a mysterious and ancient aura.

Yan Ruyu frowned, her eyes flashing with confusion and curiosity.

She gently stroked the scroll, trying to find a clue within it.

Meanwhile, Xu Lin'an was intently staring at every detail on the scroll, a hint of unease appearing on his face.

"These characters are too obscure; I can't understand them at all." Yan Ruyu shook her head with a wry smile, her fingers gently stroking the edge of the scroll.

The text on the scroll seemed to have its own life, occasionally flashing a faint light, as if resisting their interpretation.

Xu Lin'an nodded, took the scroll from Yan Ruyu's hand, and carefully flipped through it.

A tense atmosphere filled the air, with only the soft rustling of paper turning over, each sound particularly jarring.

Just as the two were engrossed in studying the prophetic text, suddenly, the surrounding air seemed to freeze for a moment, and a chilling aura slowly spread out.

Yan Ruyu and Xu Lin'an both raised their heads at the same time, their eyes scanning their surroundings warily.

A group of mysterious figures dressed in black robes appeared silently. Their robes were covered in eerie runes that emitted a faint glow, making them appear extremely dangerous.

These mysterious figures possessed a powerful yet chilling aura, as if they came from another world.

"Yu'er, be careful!" Xu Lin'an quickly shielded Yan Ruyu behind him, his eyes sharp as an eagle as he stared at the men in black robes.

The surrounding air seemed to grow even colder because of the appearance of these mysterious figures, making even breathing extremely difficult.

The man in black robes

"No matter who you are, don't even think about stopping us!" Xu Lin'an said firmly, standing protectively in front of Yan Ruyu, ready to deal with the impending crisis at any moment.

Xu Lin'an's eyes suddenly became as sharp as a hawk's, as if they could see through all illusions.

He took a deep breath, and the "Heavenly Eye" skill provided by the system was activated instantly, making everything around him crystal clear.

What appeared to be a tight encirclement by the black-robed men was, in his eyes, like a sieve, full of loopholes.

In particular, the leader of the black-robed men, although he was very well hidden, Xu Lin'an still managed to spot a subtle mark peeking out from under the hem of his robe—a twisted snake pattern.

This pattern... seems familiar...where have I seen it before?

As soon as the leader in black robes finished speaking, various spells and hidden weapons rained down on Yan Ruyu and Xu Lin'an.

The shadows in the air, like phantoms in the night, silently cut through the surrounding light.

Yan Ruyu and Xu Lin'an tensed up instantly. They exchanged a knowing smile, their eyes sparkling with determination and trust.

Yan Ruyu nimbly dodged a lightning-fast spell, her figure tracing a graceful arc in the air like a light butterfly.

Xu Lin'an swiftly swung his longsword, its tip gleaming with silver light, easily deflecting several hidden weapons.

The two moved in perfect unison, as if they had practiced countless times.

The surrounding crowd gasped in amazement at the perfect teamwork and skill of the couple.

The air was filled with the deafening sounds of colliding spells, and cracks in the ground, torn by the attacking energy, spread like a spider web, adding to the tension of the battle.

Yan Ruyu chuckled, a hint of confidence in her eyes, "Lin'an, I've discovered the pattern of these people's attacks."

Xu Lin'an raised an eyebrow and immediately understood Yan Ruyu's meaning.

He quickly adjusted his attack strategy and launched a powerful counterattack based on the patterns provided by Yan Ruyu.

Black magic and hidden weapons surged in like a tide, but Xu Lin'an skillfully deflected them all. With a backhand flick, a dazzling sword light slashed through the sky, heading straight for the black-robed men.

The black-robed men were instantly thrown into disarray. Several of them were struck by the sword light, screams of agony rising and falling as blood gushed from their bodies.

The entire situation reversed instantly, and the man in black robes was put on the defensive.

"That was fantastic!" Yan Ruyu exclaimed excitedly, her eyes gleaming with victory.

Xu Lin'an smiled, his eyes filled with pride and love.

However, just as they were basking in the joy of victory, an evil aura suddenly enveloped the entire space.

The black-robed figures lying on the ground began to emit eerie low moans, their bodies gradually merging together to form a gigantic monster.

The monster was several meters tall, its entire body covered in black scales, and its eyes gleamed with a cold red light, exuding an extremely evil aura.

Yan Ruyu and Xu Lin'an couldn't help but gasp, their eyes filled with astonishment and wariness.

The surrounding space seemed to be distorted by an invisible force, and even the air became viscous, as if time itself had frozen at this moment.

"Is this what you call a secret?" Xu Lin'an gripped his longsword tightly, his gaze as firm as steel, and said in a low voice.

"No matter what it is, we can defeat it!" Yan Ruyu also gripped her weapon tightly.

The two exchanged a smile, gripped their weapons, and prepared to face a new challenge.