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

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A female teammate murmured in amazement, "Such an incredible aura! It's almost otherworldly..."

On the other side, a young man muttered to himself, "Could it be a trick by an enemy disguised as a good guy... I need to be careful."

The old man seemed to have overheard their conversation and smiled, saying, "No need to worry. Your trials have only just begun. Let me finish speaking first."

Chapter 1052 Holding Firm Beliefs

Chapter 1052 Holding Firm Beliefs

Then, a story about an ancient seal was told in detail—long ago, a powerful evil force threatened the peace of the entire continent. Fortunately, the wise ancestors, together with the elites of various races, sealed it here and left a puzzle that could only be solved by those with enough courage and wisdom to prevent it from being released again in the future.

After hearing this account, everyone fell into a brief silence until Zhao De broke it: "Thank you for sharing. No matter how difficult the road ahead, we will do our best and live up to your expectations!"

The old man nodded in satisfaction. "Very good. Then let this adventure be the best opportunity to prove your strength!" After saying this, he gradually disappeared into the air, leaving behind a profound statement: "A true hero can always find the light in the darkest of times..."

With his departure, the previously stifling and oppressive atmosphere suddenly became much fresher, and at the same time, it stirred up everyone's passion and confidence to break through difficulties and meet challenges...

"Hey, did you understand what that sentence meant?" Li Hua and a few others started discussing.

Some speculate: "Perhaps it means that as long as you have faith, you can overcome all difficulties?"

Others, however, held a more optimistic view: "Well, who cares what it means? Just follow Zhao De and you can't go wrong!"

Listening to the whispers behind him, Zhao De silently made up his mind: no matter what unknown challenges await them, he would lead this team composed of people from different backgrounds to overcome difficulties, uncover all the mysteries, and save the world from the fate of disaster!

At this moment, the strange yet incredibly powerful aura in the distance seemed to be getting closer and closer—"Come on, let us face the final battle of this trial together!" Zhao De shouted loudly, his voice filled with fearlessness and determination.

"It's time! Let's keep up and move forward, everyone!" Li Hua shouted in response.

A chorus of cheers erupted from the surrounding crowd: "That's right!", "Go for it!", "Victory belongs to the brave!"—these slogans intertwined to create an inspiring and uplifting song…

Just as they were walking towards the source of the beam, an even stronger tremor made the earth seem about to crack, accompanied by several cold and disdainful voices:

"Ha! They've finally arrived?"

"Let's see who has the last laugh!"

These words, like a night breeze, pierced through everyone's ears, echoing in the air for a long time... What kind of trials await Zhao De and his companions? What unexpected stories are about to unfold?

A female member of the group couldn't help but whisper, "This feeling... is much more dangerous than before... are you really okay...?"

Her friend comforted her, saying, "Don't worry, with Zhao De leading the way and Miss Aliya's help, we'll definitely be able to get through this safely!"

Meanwhile, in the shadows not far away, other unseen figures were closely watching all this unfold—"Interesting children..." a woman murmured to herself with a slight upturn of her lips...

Zhao De and his group continued towards the crystal platform, each step taken with extreme caution. An unsettling atmosphere seemed to permeate the air, causing some members of the group to unconsciously quicken their breathing. Just then, another low, eerie sound came from all around, as if mocking laughter were coming from all directions.

Chapter 1053 An Encouraging Gaze

Chapter 1053 An Encouraging Gaze

"Heh heh, these humans actually dare to dream of unlocking the secrets left behind by our ancestors..."

"Just wait and see, they will pay the price for their foolish behavior."

Upon hearing these words, one of the boys in the group immediately gripped his longsword tightly: "Don't be intimidated by them, everyone! We can overcome all difficulties!" Although his voice trembled slightly, the courage he tried to display inspired everyone present.

Just as the entire team was in a state of high tension, Zhao De suddenly stood in front of everyone. "Listen, now is not the time to back down." He turned around, his eyes burning with determination and resolve: "No matter what happens, remember, you are not fighting alone. No one here will be abandoned."

These words greatly encouraged everyone. A girl in light armor took a deep breath and nodded in agreement, saying, "That's right, as long as we are united, there is no problem we cannot overcome!" She gave her teammates an encouraging look.

But just then, three figures slowly emerged from the darkness—they emanated a thick, malevolent power, clearly not human. "Welcome, you ignorant fools," the leader said in a low, hoarse voice. "Today is the day you end."

"Ha! You really think we're afraid of you?" Li Hua brandished his axe and stepped forward. "In that case, let's have a contest! Who will be the real winner?"

As the battle horn sounded, a fierce battle erupted. Zhao De displayed his unparalleled speed and strength, forcing his opponent back with several moves; at the same time, the other team members also displayed their unique skills, engaging in a life-or-death struggle within the ancient ruins.

Just as the fierce battle was raging, the ancient lantern floating in the air emitted a blinding light, instantly illuminating the entire space. When the light dissipated, a new exit appeared in the previously empty area, leading to a deeper, more unfathomable place.

"What's going on?" a young girl in the group asked.

Another boy guessed, "Could it be a signpost that appears after the test is over? We should go check it out."

The old man's face reappeared before them, but this time it was an illusion formed by a hazy mist. "Congratulations on successfully completing your first challenge, but the more difficult tasks have only just begun." After saying this, his image gradually faded and finally disappeared completely.

Seeing this unexpected joy, Zhao De breathed a slight sigh of relief. "No matter what, we must keep going," he said to his companions. "Believe in your own strength and walk side by side until the very last moment."

"That's right! No matter what dangers we encounter, as long as we unite, there's no mission that's impossible!" Li Hua shouted, raising his fist, and the others echoed his call. Slogans like "Follow our leader!" and "Our courage will forever shine!" resounded throughout the venue.

Just as everyone was preparing to embark on their new journey, the mysterious woman who had been observing from the shadows smiled again and muttered to herself, "This is indeed very interesting... Well then, let's make this game even more spectacular..."

With a gentle wave of her hand, she silently opened a hidden portal not far away. What unknown secrets does it hold? All of this remains to be seen…

A quick-witted little boy asked Zhao De curiously, "Do you think our next destination might also hold something unexpected?"

Chapter 1054 Beard

Chapter 1054 Beard

Zhao De smiled slightly, "No matter what situation we encounter next, I believe we can face and overcome it together."

Zhao De led his team carefully through the newly opened gate, where they were greeted by a much larger and more ancient palace courtyard. Sunlight streamed through the broken roof, illuminating the ruins and adding a touch of sanctity.

Just then, a group of curious and astonished travelers emerged from the adjacent corridor. "Wow! This is spectacular!" one of them exclaimed. "Look at those guys standing there…they must have used some kind of magic to open this place, right? It's incredible!"

"Shh—look at their attire, they must be a professional expedition team," another, slightly more mature voice chimed in. "Maybe they're on some very important mission."

Upon hearing this, a burly man with a thick beard couldn't help but shout at the group of people who were talking amongst themselves, "Hey, you lot! It's dangerous here, please don't come any closer." But his attitude didn't seem to offend many people; on the contrary, the curiosity and admiration in their eyes only increased.

The girl leading the way was named Shirley, and she possessed keen intuition and exceptional skills. She suddenly stopped, staring warily at a statue in the distance. The statue, which had previously kept its eyes closed, slowly opened them, emitting a faint glow.

"Watch out! Something's wrong with that thing!" Shirley quickly drew her short sword and assumed a fighting stance. "Looks like there's some secret protective mechanism here that we don't know about," Li Hua chimed in, raising his axe in preparation for defense.

Just as the tension reached its peak, they heard light footsteps nearby. Turning around, they saw the mysterious woman reappear in their sight, but this time she made no attempt to conceal herself. "Don't worry," she said, her tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority, "I'm just here to observe how my pieces are performing."

“What do you mean?” Zhao De asked, frowning. “Simply put, there’s a higher-level game going on behind this journey,” the woman explained, not answering directly but posing another question, “Each of you is a carefully selected participant. And whether you make it to the end depends on the choices you make.”

Upon hearing this, everyone present exchanged bewildered glances, clearly shocked by the information. "So what exactly is our situation now?" The little boy who had been silently following along finally broke the silence.

"You'll have to find the answer yourselves." With that, the woman turned and left, leaving behind a group of people with faces full of doubt but also anticipation.

After gazing in the direction she had left for a while, Zhao De turned to his teammates and said, "Although the road ahead is long and full of unknowns, we have already proven one thing: unity is the greatest source of strength." He paused and continued, "No matter what happens next, we must support each other to overcome all obstacles!"

"Agreed!" Li Hua was the first to shout in agreement. "With a leader like our boss guiding us, I'm sure there's nothing we can't accomplish!"

Chapter 1055 No one dared to let their guard down

Chapter 1055 No one dared to let their guard down

The other members were also infected by this passion, and their morale soared. Just then, a faint sound seemed to emanate from the depths of the palace…

"There seems to be some noise?" a careful team member whispered.

Zhao De nodded, his eyes fixed on a corner in the darkness. "It's time to move on. Is everyone ready to follow me and explore the next secret?"

"Of course, whether hope or disaster awaits us, let's face it together!" Shirley replied firmly.

Zhao De and his group slowly made their way towards the source of the faint sound, each step taken with extreme caution. The echoes from the depths of the palace seemed to mock their vigilance, but no one dared to let their guard down. Just then, a group of travelers they had seen before reappeared, their eyes filled with a mixture of awe and curiosity.

“My God! Look at these brave souls! Are you really going to go on an adventure over there?” a slightly young woman asked nervously, while a friend of similar age beside her gripped her hand tightly, her eyes filled with admiration and worry. “I really wish I had that courage.”

Upon hearing this, Mingming, the always smiling little boy in the group, turned around and replied, "Hey ladies, sometimes the scariest thing isn't the unknown itself, but your imagination of the unknown. Courage doesn't mean being fearless, but being able to choose to move forward even when facing fear!" His words drew admiring glances from everyone.

Just as everyone was preparing to embark on their journey again, a deep yet magnetic male voice suddenly rang out from a nearby corner. "Oh, it's quite lively here." As the words fell, an elderly man in a magnificent robe, carrying an exquisite staff, slowly entered their line of sight. This figure, clearly possessing extraordinary charisma and power, attracted the attention of everyone present, including the adventurers observing the situation from afar. "Greetings, everyone. My name is Albert, a historian dedicated to the study of ancient magic and ancient civilizations," the old man introduced himself, bowing slightly. "I've heard you've discovered some secrets about this palace. Would you do me the honor of joining this old man on this adventure?"

These words instantly complicated the already exciting situation for the team. On one hand, they considered that they could indeed solve many problems by leveraging the other party's extensive knowledge; on the other hand, they were worried that the sudden addition of a new member would affect the overall plan and even safety. Just as everyone was hesitating, Zhao De stepped forward to break the deadlock. "We warmly welcome you, but we need to discuss it with our teammates before making a final decision. Would you please wait a moment?" he politely requested.

Seeing this, Albert's face showed satisfaction and he nodded in understanding: "No problem. Your willingness to listen to your partners' opinions and discuss things together before making a decision shows that you are an excellent leader. Let's see what happens next."

After that, both sides engaged in a brief but intense discussion. Ultimately, after weighing the pros and cons, the team unanimously agreed to accept Albert as a temporary companion to explore the immense secret hidden deep within the ruins…

Chapter 1056 The meaning is self-evident

Chapter 1056 The meaning is self-evident

"So now everyone understands their assigned part?" Zhao De looked around to confirm.

"Hmm~" Li Hua patted his chest in response, "Leave the protection work to me!" Then he turned to the old man and continued, "Of course, I'll have to trouble you to give me your guidance, senior!"

"Don't worry, don't worry, with me here, nothing will happen." Albert nodded in assurance, then pointed to the dark area ahead, "Based on the information we just gathered, our next step should be to continue eastward along this road..."

Just as everyone was about to set off, a series of chilling whispers suddenly echoed from inside the palace. This sudden change immediately made everyone's hearts leap into their throats. "What...what was that sound just now?" a female team member named Anna asked in a trembling voice.

Just as everyone was utterly confused, Shirley took a deep breath and looked firmly at Captain Zhao De. "It seems the real challenge has only just begun. Are you ready?" she asked resolutely.

"Of course." Zhao De smiled and patted the girl's shoulder in comfort, then raised his gleaming longsword high. "Now that we're here, we won't leave empty-handed!"

Zhao De and his group continued forward, entering the dark area in the direction Albert had indicated. Every step felt like walking on thin ice, and everyone was on edge. Just then, they heard faint footsteps and whispers in the distance, seemingly the activity of another group of explorers. Zhao De waved for everyone to stop, and the group fell silent, waiting for the unknown to reveal itself.

"Are you also here to search for the secrets of this palace?" A clear voice broke the silence, and a tall woman carrying a silver bow stepped forward. Behind her were two equally lightly dressed companions. "I am Leia. I wonder if we could explore together? After all, this place is too dangerous, and going alone is far too risky."

Seeing this unexpected trio, the team members, who were used to working together, seemed a little taken aback. However, Zhao De quickly regained his composure and responded gently, "It's a great honor to meet others who are equally courageous in pursuing the unknown. But if we're adding new members, I'm afraid we'll need to consult with our existing partners before making a final decision. Please understand."

Just as their conversation paused, a young man who had been eavesdropping in the shadows suddenly jumped out, pointing at Leia and her group and exclaiming, "Wow! There are actually other brave souls willing to challenge this legendary place that even ghosts and gods avoid! That's so cool!" He spoke excitedly, his eyes sparkling with admiration and excitement. "My name is Jack, and I make a living by doing small business in the city. Although my abilities are limited, if possible, I'd like to join such an adventurous team!"

Seeing such an enthusiastic attitude, even someone as reserved and composed as Li Hua couldn't help but smile knowingly. "Haha, what an interesting fellow. In that case, let's solve the problem at hand first." He then turned and winked at the captain, the meaning clear—it seemed a choice truly had to be made this time.


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