MM Racing Page 252
Page 252
“That’s right,” Zhao De echoed, his eyes gleaming with the same conviction, “There’s nothing we can’t solve.”
With the cry of a night bird outside the door, the adventure officially began, and their story became one of the most widely circulated legends in the town.
The next day, sunlight pierced through the morning mist, draping the town in a golden veil. Residents bustled about, preparing for the upcoming celebration. Colorful flags fluttered, laughter echoed, and amidst the peaceful atmosphere, no one noticed that three young people were quietly joining this joyous tide, each with their own thoughts, embarking on a treasure hunt.
Chapter 481 Jade Piece
Chapter 481 Jade Piece.
"Look over there, is that Miss Lin?" Two women whispered among themselves at the edge of the market. They were surprised to see Lin Xiao dressed in festive attire, a far cry from her usual scholarly demeanor.
"Wow, it's absolutely beautiful! And those two young men over there are quite handsome too. Our town is really lively today!" another chimed in, his eyes full of envy.
Zhao De and his two companions moved through the crowd. A-Jie, disguised as a vendor, hawked his homemade trinkets, attracting a circle of curious children. He subtly weaved his inquiries about the jade pieces into his conversation, leaving no trace of his presence.
"Brother, your necklace is so pretty! Where did you find the stones?" a little girl with pigtails asked innocently.
Ah Jie squatted down and smiled, "It's a secret, but if you can tell me if your grandfather has any special collections, I might consider revealing a little information."
The little girl thought for a moment, then blinked her big eyes and said, "My grandpa has a box that he locks up and won't let me touch. He says it's full of antiques, and maybe it contains what you're looking for!"
Meanwhile, Zhao De took the opportunity to participate in an archery game. With his exceptional eyesight and steady hands, he hit the bullseye ten times in a row, drawing cheers from the crowd. An elderly man clapped his hands and praised, "This young man is truly formidable! Such archery skills are rarely seen even in the army!"
Zhao De smiled modestly, leaned close to the old man's ear and whispered, "To be honest, I'm looking for a lost treasure. I've heard you're very knowledgeable; I wonder if you could offer some guidance?"
The old man's eyes lit up, and he replied in a low voice, "Come with your sincerity under the old locust tree to the west at dusk."
As the sun set, the climax of the celebration gradually came to an end, but the real game had just begun. Lin Xiao changed into night clothes and moved as lightly as a cat, silently traversing the rooftops, monitoring the whereabouts of every possible Shadow Apostle.
"They seem to be looking for something too, we have to get ahead of them." Lin Xiao conveyed the message to Zhao De and A Jie below using a special hand gesture.
“Our answer lies under that tree.” A-Jie pointed to the old locust tree not far away, his heart filled with both trepidation and anticipation.
The three met under the old locust tree, where the old man had been waiting for a long time, holding a yellowed map in his hand.
"Young people, the real test is just beginning. This map will guide you to the remaining jade pieces, but remember, every step is fraught with danger." The old man spoke earnestly as he slowly unfolded the map.
"Thank you, senior. We will certainly live up to your expectations," Zhao De said firmly, his eyes burning with adventurous passion.
"Then let's set off. The unknown world awaits our exploration," Lin Xiao said softly, her voice filled with boundless anticipation for the future.
"Hey, have you heard? That young man shooting arrows over there is simply divine!" In a corner of the market, two villagers chatting idly exclaimed in amazement, their conversation attracting curious glances from many others around them.
"Ten rings in a row, that archery skill, wow, I bet even our village's sharpshooter, Grandpa Li, would have to admit defeat," an auntie chimed in, her vegetable basket swaying in her hand, clearly completely absorbed by the topic.
"Speaking of which, what did that young man and the old sage discuss in private later? Judging from the old sage's expression, it didn't seem like an ordinary matter." In the crowd, a young man wearing a straw hat curiously peeked out, trying to catch more details.
Chapter 482 The Lost Treasure
Chapter 482 The Lost Treasure
As night deepened, the footsteps of the three travelers mingled with the night wind on the forest path, creating a mysterious melody. The map they found under the old locust tree became their only clue to exploring the unknown.
"The markings on this map seem to indicate ancient ruins, said to contain lost treasures," Zhao De said, his voice tinged with excitement as he carefully examined the map in his hand.
"Treasure? Hmph, more likely there are traps. We need to be careful." A-Jie glanced around warily, his words carrying a hint of undeniable calm.
Lin Xiao leaped lightly, gazing into the distance by the moonlight: "No matter what, now that we've made our decision, nothing can stop us. Let's go, first stop, Shadow Forest."
Deep within the Shadow Forest, an ancient stone tablet stands silently, the surrounding air seemingly frozen in place. Passersby detour around it, muttering in awe.
"Look, there! The symbols from the map are engraved on the stone tablet!" Lin Xiao pointed ahead, his voice filled with excitement.
"This...this stone tablet is said to guide treasure hunters, but it can also devour the souls of the greedy." An old hunter who happened to be passing by overheard the three's conversation and stopped in his tracks, warning them with a complicated expression.
"Thank you for the reminder, sir. We will be careful." Zhao De nodded politely in thanks, his eyes resolute, showing no sign of backing down.
Just as the three were about to approach the stone tablet, a gust of wind suddenly blew by, and the moss on the surface of the tablet seemed to come alive and wriggle, revealing a line of ancient characters: "Only those who possess justice and wisdom can see its true face."
"Justice and wisdom...this tests not only strength, but also the heart." Ajay said thoughtfully, his gaze deep.
"Hey, you guys, new here, huh? Looks like you're heading into the Shadow Forest?" A gruff voice interrupted their thoughts. The three of them turned to look and saw a muscular giant carrying a huge axe, surrounded by several hunters in similar gear. They were clearly a hunting party that had just come out of the forest.
“Exactly, we intend to explore the secrets deep within the forest,” Zhao De replied frankly, his eyes revealing determination.
"A secret? Haha, kid, this forest isn't as simple as the outside world. We who make a living here year after year sometimes don't even know how we survived." The big man laughed loudly, but there was a hint of vicissitude hidden in his laughter.
"Justice and wisdom, those words sound simple enough. Hey guys, if you really find that treasure, don't forget to share some with us!" a young hunter in the group joked, and the people around him laughed, lightening the atmosphere considerably.
"Don't worry, if we really succeed, we will never forget your help." Lin Xiao replied with a smile; her gentleness always made people feel good.
"That's good, that's good. But before you go in, let me give you a heads-up: the forest's been rather unsettled lately. There are some things even we veterans are hesitant to provoke. Be careful, and don't let curiosity kill the cat." The burly man's expression turned serious as he earnestly warned them. Then he waved and led the group away, leaving only a single sentence echoing in the wind: "A brave heart is worthy of respect, but returning alive is what makes a true hero."
Chapter 483 Ancient Script
Chapter 483 Ancient Script
As the hunters gradually disappeared into the distance, the three once again focused their attention on the ancient stone tablet. The wind stopped, and the forest returned to its usual tranquility, with only the ancient inscriptions on the tablet appearing even more mysterious and unfathomable under the moonlight.
"Justice and wisdom... Can the three of us pass the test of this stone tablet?" Zhao De murmured to himself, his eyes gleaming with an unprecedented determination.
"Don't forget why we started this journey. As long as we have light in our hearts, nothing can stop us." Lin Xiao's words were like a gentle spring breeze, warm and resolute.
Zhao De silently drew his longsword, drawing a silver trail in the air, and said in a deep voice, "Then let us prove with our actions that no matter how treacherous the road ahead, we have the courage to face all challenges."
Just as they were about to take a step, a faint yet remarkably clear voice suddenly rang out in the air: "Commendable courage, but remember, the real test has only just begun..."
The sound came from an unknown source, like the wind, or perhaps the forest itself whispering. The three men's expressions simultaneously turned serious. They looked around, but saw no one. This unknown brought a mixture of tension and excitement, igniting a deeper desire for exploration within them.
"No matter who it is or what kind of person they are, now that we've embarked on this path, we won't turn back easily." Zhao De clenched his fists, his eyes blazing.
“Yes, we came for dreams, and for the truth.” Lin Xiao nodded gently, her eyes sparkling with endless longing for the unknown world.
"Then let's see what secrets this Shadow Forest holds." Zhao De sheathed his longsword, a confident smile playing on his lips, and turned to take a decisive step toward the stone tablet.
As Zhao De's footsteps landed, the surrounding air seemed to freeze for a moment. Then, dazzling lights appeared on the stone tablet, enveloping the three of them. When the light dissipated, they found themselves in a completely unfamiliar environment, surrounded by strange plants that emitted a faint glow, like stars in the night sky.
"Where...is this?" Lin Xiao looked around and couldn't help but ask in a low voice.
“It seems we have passed the first test and reached the depths of the Shadow Forest.” Zhao De surveyed his surroundings, trying to find clues. “However, the real adventure is just beginning.”
Just then, a series of hurried footsteps accompanied by panicked shouts came from afar: "Help! Monster!"
A ragged traveler stumbled towards them, his face filled with fear and despair. Seeing Zhao De and his companions, he grasped at a straw and scrambled towards them, pleading, "Please, save me! That...that monster is terrifying!"
"Don't be afraid, tell me slowly," Lin Xiao gently comforted him, her eyes full of sympathy for the weak.
The traveler pointed tremblingly into the depths of the dense forest not far away: "In there, there is a gigantic shadow that devours all light..."
Upon hearing this, Zhao De frowned, then looked resolutely at Lin Xiao and Zhao De: "We can't just sit idly by. Let's go and take a look."
The three quickly moved in the direction the traveler had indicated. The surrounding environment grew darker and darker until it was pitch black, with only the faint light emanating from their bodies barely illuminating what lay ahead.
Chapter 484 Shadow Beast
Chapter 484 Shadow Beast
"Everyone be careful, I have a bad feeling." Zhao De gripped his staff tightly and looked around warily.
Suddenly, a deafening roar came from the darkness, and then a huge black creature slowly appeared, its eyes like two burning flames, exuding a chilling aura.
"It's...it's a Shadow Beast!" The traveler collapsed to the ground, trembling all over.
"Protect yourselves!" Zhao De shouted, his longsword transforming into a silver lightning bolt that struck the shadow beast. Lin Xiao quickly set up a protective barrier, shielding the traveler and himself. Zhao De chanted an incantation, and beams of light transformed into arrows, accurately targeting the shadow beast's weak points.
For a time, the battle was fierce and intense, and the astonishment and fear of passersby added a touch of legend to the fight.
"Are these guys... really human? They're so strong!" an elf watching from a distance whispered among himself.
“Especially that woman, her magical shield is so strong, it’s unbelievable!” Another dwarf joined the discussion, his eyes filled with shock.
Just as the Shadow Beast was about to unleash its final attack, Zhao De and his two companions combined their strength to unleash their strongest strike. Light and darkness collided, creating a dazzling explosion. When the smoke cleared, the Shadow Beast had vanished without a trace, leaving behind only a mysterious gem emitting a faint glow.
"We...successfully?" The traveler got up in disbelief, looking at the three of them with eyes full of admiration and gratitude.
Zhao De picked up the gem and examined it carefully: "This may be a reward from the Shadow Forest, and also the key to continue our journey."
“I hope so.” Lin Xiao sighed softly, casting his gaze into the deeper darkness. “However, the secrets of this forest seem to be more complex than we imagined.”
"No matter what, as long as we're together, there's no difficulty we can't overcome." Zhao De patted the two of them firmly on the shoulders.
Just then, a deep and mysterious voice rang out again: "The real challenge has only just begun..."
The three exchanged a smile, saying nothing, but their unwavering resolve and tacit understanding spoke volumes. The road ahead may be long and uncertain, but they believed that as long as there was light in their hearts, it would illuminate their path forward.
"So, what should we do next?" the traveler asked curiously.
Zhao De looked up into the distance, his eyes gleaming with the light of an adventurer: "It's simple, keep going and uncover all the secrets of the Shadow Forest."
As soon as Zhao De finished speaking, the air around them seemed to freeze, a strange tension and anticipation spreading through the air. A nearby merchant stopped what he was doing, looked up at the three young adventurers, and muttered, "What big thing are they going to do? They don't seem like it's anything simple."
Lin Xiao smiled gently and winked at the vendor: "Yes, the place we're going to is probably one that even the bravest hunters haven't set foot in. But someone has to go, right?" Her tone carried a hint of pride and challenge, and the surrounding crowd looked at her with either surprise or awe.
"You're all insane!" An elderly man, seemingly weathered by time, shook his head, yet couldn't hide the envy in his eyes. "Deep within the Shadow Forest, legend has it that monstrous beasts roam, so feared even by the light. I hope you return alive, so we can hear those incredible tales."
Chapter 485 Heroes Always Emerge from Among Ordinary People
Chapter 485 Heroes Always Emerge from Among Ordinary People