Courtyard House: Report enemy agents at the start, and you'll take off immediately.

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Chapter 1122 The Secret Entrance

Chapter 1122 The Secret Entrance

Just then, another deafening roar came from outside, as if a giant beast was approaching the castle. "Speed ​​up!" Zhao De reminded him from the side, his voice calm but filled with tension.

Zhao De held his breath and stopped just as the last red thread was about to be cut. "If I'm not sure..." Before he could finish speaking, a faint clicking sound drew everyone's attention, and then the entire library began to spin!

The group quickly grabbed each other to steady themselves and prevent themselves from falling, while the mountain of ancient books scattered on the ground with a clattering sound as they were moved.

As the rotation speed gradually slowed down and eventually stopped, the bookshelf that had been placed in the center of the room had vanished, replaced by a dark, secret entrance leading to the basement...

"This is the real passage!" Guo Jing was the first to speak, breaking the brief silence with an expression of ecstatic joy. "Let's go! We need to hurry and provide support for the situation outside the city."

However, just as they were about to step into the darkness, a cold and sinister voice resounded from all directions, filling the air with a suffocating atmosphere: "Those who dare to trespass into my lord's forbidden land will forever slumber in the depths of this place..."

Immediately afterwards, countless eerie green flames appeared out of thin air, coalescing into the shape of a giant, strange bird that let out a low, angry roar and swooped down toward the exploration team, clearly not welcoming the presence of outsiders.

Faced with a sudden and powerful enemy, Guo Jing swiftly drew his sword and stood at the forefront, his eyes resolute as he declared, "No matter what, we must protect everyone's safety! Hold the line!"

Zhao De followed closely behind, casting a spell to buff the team with a defensive aura, and loudly commanding the others to adopt offensive or defensive strategies.

Meanwhile, a mysterious figure, observing all this unfolding from a hidden spot not far away, smiled eerily, seemingly quite pleased with the impending battle.

“The day has finally come… It seems the plan can be officially implemented now,” the uninvited guest muttered to himself before disappearing into the darkness, leaving behind the four warriors still locked in fierce combat.

"Brother Zhao, look! The enemy has changed formation again!" Zhao De shouted to warn them. The original single attack pattern had now transformed into a more complex, troublesome, and unpredictable attack, making everyone feel extremely troubled.

"This can't go on; we need to find a breakthrough!" Zhao De frowned, pondering a solution while also launching a counterattack.

Zhao De gritted her teeth, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. She quickly chanted an incantation, and a dazzling light condensed between her hands. Although her defensive aura barely withstood the attacks of the eerie green flames, it clearly wouldn't last long.

"We must find the enemy's weakness!" Zhao De shouted as he swiftly dodged the strange bird's attacks. His fingers deftly darted through the air, seemingly trying to find the key to breaking the formation.

Guo Jing swung his sword to block a green flame that was swooping down from above, then turned and nodded to Zhao De, "Good idea! But it's dark here, so it'll be hard to find any clues."

Just then, a faint sound suddenly arose from all directions, like the low murmur of a ghost, sending chills down one's spine. The sound gradually became clearer, and it sounded like the operation of some mechanical device.

Chapter 1123 The Origin of the Trap

Chapter 1123 The Origin of the Trap

Zhao De keenly noticed this, "Wait a minute! Did you hear that? It sounds like something is moving..."

"It's a trap! This must be a trap that guy set on purpose!" Zhao De suddenly realized something and hurriedly shouted, "Quickly, get over here! I can sense the source of the trap!"

The group immediately gathered around Zhao De, whose hands emitted a faint blue glow, seemingly sensing the surrounding activity. "Found it! There's a small mechanism about three meters to our left!"

Zhao De and Zhao De immediately understood. The former quickly walked towards the target point and carefully kicked away a piece of rubble. "It really is a trigger device," he muttered softly before bending down to examine the small but seemingly complex structure.

On the other side, Guo Jing was fully focused on dealing with the increasingly fierce attacks. Each sword strike was heavier than the last, and every blow consumed a great deal of his strength. But he did not back down; he knew that only by persevering could he hope for victory.

A few minutes later, under everyone's anxious gaze, Zhao De's excited voice finally rang out: "Alright, all done!" He was holding a small piece of broken rope and a piece of obviously damaged wood in his hand.

Immediately afterwards, the darkness that had enveloped the entire space gradually dissipated, and the strange bird shape gradually faded away until it disappeared completely. "Did it work?" Zhao De couldn't help but ask.

"It seems so, we've destroyed that mechanical device." Zhao De breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, and dusted off his hands. The surrounding darkness indeed receded quickly, like the tide going out, and the once gloomy basement became bright again.

Zhao De immediately deactivated her magical shield, and his tense nerves finally relaxed. "Great... I didn't expect there to be such a trap waiting for us." She smiled slightly, but beads of sweat still clung to her forehead.

"Thanks to Brother Zhao for discovering this mechanism!" Zhao De praised sincerely. "If it weren't for you, we don't know how long we would have been stuck here fighting this thing."

Guo Jing also came over and patted Zhao De on the shoulder heavily: "Well done, brother! This time it's all thanks to you."

Zhao De smiled, saying nothing more, but instead turned his gaze ahead. It was an even darker tunnel entrance, clearly leading to an unknown place. "Alright, we can't waste any more time. The crucial point is just ahead; we need to act quickly."

Zhao De nodded. "That's right. But we still need to be wary of any other traps or mechanisms. We can't be as unprepared as we were before."

Zhao De drew his short knife, weighed it in his hand a couple of times, and said confidently, "Leave it to me. I will keep an eye on the surroundings and make sure nothing goes wrong."

After organizing their equipment, the group headed towards the new passage. As soon as they stepped inside, a faint blue light suddenly illuminated the surrounding walls, lighting their way.

The narrow passage looked very old and was riddled with cracks. Zhao De walked at the front, carefully probing for any new mechanisms hidden in the corners, while quietly sharing some details he had discovered with the others. "Everyone be careful," he said, "the walls seem hollow; we don't know if there are any traps hidden there."

Chapter 1124 Forbidden Land

Chapter 1124 Forbidden Land

Just as he spoke, a faint but clearly audible sound came from inside the wall, seemingly the sound of some metal parts moving and rubbing together. Everyone immediately tensed up and looked alertly in the direction of the sound.

"Again?" Guo Jing gripped his longsword tightly, warily scanning his surroundings, ready to respond to any sudden attack. At the same time, Zhao De began chanting an incantation, forming a faint protective aura around everyone. Just then—

"Bang!" With a loud crash, a huge iron spike suddenly pierced through the wall! Fortunately, it only passed through the defensive barrier created by Zhao De's protective magic and did not harm anyone.

"This must be what they call the 'forbidden zone'," Zhao De sighed, looking at the dangerous situation before him. He then turned to the three of them and said, "No matter what happens next, don't move. I'll go up and check the situation first."

Just as they held their breath and waited, they suddenly heard faint but clear footsteps behind them, as if something was quietly approaching. Zhao De turned around abruptly, raising his sword to meet the sound, only to see a figure dressed in a black robe and wearing a silver mask standing there silently.

"Long time no see, my warriors. I am the sole guardian of these ruins—Ceres," the mysterious figure broke the silence, his words carrying an air of subtle yet overwhelming authority. "Welcome to my lord's territory."

Zhao De stepped forward and asked, "Who are you? What exactly is going on?"

The eyes behind the mask gleamed with an eerie light: "The answers to all of this will be revealed gradually on your journey. But for now, the trials on your way to the final destination have only just begun."

Guo Jing's eyes were resolute: "No matter how many difficulties and dangers lie ahead, we must keep going. For those who are waiting for us to rescue them."

Upon hearing this, Guardian Seres nodded slightly: "Then please remember my words, not only strength but also, more importantly, conviction. Follow your heart..."

He slowly turned and walked away, disappearing from sight. The four men exchanged glances for a moment, then Zhao De said softly, "Should we follow him now? Although we don't know what he's up to, my intuition tells me that following him might yield some unexpected gains..."

Zhao De stared in the direction where Seres had disappeared and slowly nodded. "That's right. Whether he's friend or foe, it seems there's no better option now. Since he said he'd reveal all the answers, let's just wait and see."

Zhao De sheathed his knife. "Let's go. Don't forget to stay alert. This guy might suddenly appear at any time."

"Okay." Zhao De checked the protective magic again, making sure it could provide everyone with sufficient protection before following the group forward.

The passageway grew increasingly dark, with strange characters occasionally etched on the walls, shimmering faintly. Each step forward produced a slight echo that drifted through the enclosed space, creating an eerie and unsettling atmosphere.

Guo Jing brought up the rear, covering their retreat. He would occasionally look back to make sure no one was attacking them. Although everything seemed peaceful for the moment, a lingering sense of unease hung in his mind. Suddenly, a chill ran through him, instantly putting him on alert, and he alerted the three men ahead.

Chapter 1125 Danger

Chapter 1125 Danger

Just then, the ground suddenly trembled violently! Everyone lost their footing and nearly fell. Along with this sudden tremor, the walls began to crack, and debris kept falling and crashing down at their feet.

"Get out of the way!" Zhao De suddenly pulled the stunned Zhao De next to him and quickly hid in a place that seemed a little more sturdy.

Meanwhile, Zhao De quickly deployed an even stronger shield, blocking most of the falling debris and ensuring everyone's safety. "What's going on! Why did this suddenly happen..." Before he could finish speaking, a huge rock was about to collapse and crash down on them from above...

At the critical moment, a loud rumble was heard, and the entire tunnel miraculously returned to calm. The deadly rock also came to an abrupt halt, hanging in mid-air less than half a foot from the ground.

"Phew—that was dangerous..." Guo Jing patted the dust off his clothes and let out a long sigh of relief.

Just then, a familiar voice came from not far ahead: "Don't worry, I did it."

Sure enough, Seres reappeared in everyone's sight at some point.

Zhao De looked at him in confusion, "Is this your ability? But why are you helping us like this?"

Beneath the mask, a slight curve appeared at the corner of his mouth, seemingly a smile yet shrouded in mystery: "I simply hope you can reach your destination safely. As for the reason, you'll find out when you actually meet my master. But before that, one last test awaits the four of you."

As soon as he finished speaking, the scene before him blurred instantly, shifting and changing like a mirror. When everything became clear again, he found himself in the middle of a dense forest! The surrounding environment was completely different from before, giving him a disorienting feeling.

"Is this... a teleportation array?" Zhao De asked, looking around in surprise.

“Indeed. Next, you just need to cross this forest to see where the final target is. But be very careful, as many unimaginable dangers lurk here.” As the last word fell, Seres’ figure completely disappeared from everyone’s sight and could no longer be found.

"Well, it seems we really have to rely on ourselves." Zhao De looked up at the dense forest and said. "Everyone, remember to be prepared with defensive measures at all times. No matter what happens, safety must be our top priority."

The group exchanged glances and then stepped together into the deep, dark forest...

As they ventured deeper into the forest, the temperature began to drop. A light mist rose in the air, adding to the ancient forest's mystique.

"Have you smelled anything strange?" Zhao De asked, frowning slightly. The others immediately became alert and looked around, but found nothing unusual.

"It might be the scent of some kind of plant," Zhao De tried to reassure everyone, but clearly even he wasn't entirely sure. He walked cautiously ahead, holding a torch to illuminate the surroundings.

“No matter what it tastes like, we must be extra careful. This forest is definitely full of unknowns.” Guo Jing followed closely behind, his knife ready to deal with any unexpected situation.

The group continued forward, feeling the growing sense of oppression in the silence. Suddenly, a faint yet clear sound of footsteps came from their left—it seemed as if something was stealthily approaching them.

Chapter 1126 Beasts

Chapter 1126 Beasts

"Stop!" Zhao De shouted in a low voice, "Everyone stop and remain quiet!"

Everyone immediately held their breath, their eyes fixed intently on the dimly lit area not far ahead. Just then, a shadowy figure flashed by, followed by the sound of leaves rustling.

"That...that thing is back again! Who is it?!" Zhao De shouted in a low voice, his voice revealing a hint of fear.

"Don't panic." Zhao De slowly drew the short sword from his back, trying to sound as calm as possible. "If the opponent is just an ordinary wild beast, we should be able to handle it."

However, what happened the next second shocked everyone: a human figure suddenly leaped out of the darkness and landed nimbly on an open ground a few meters away.

The newcomer was a young man dressed in a tattered robe, his hair disheveled to his waist. His unusually bright eyes were fixed on the four of them, a sinister smile playing on his lips. "Hey, friends, we meet so soon."

Zhao De almost instinctively took two steps back and whispered to his companion, "Have you...have you seen this person before?"

Zhao De shook his head, his tone calm but unable to hide his inner vigilance: "No, I've never encountered this before."