The contestant is too old, sister Zhou is crazy

Chapter 710 Rustling

A smile appeared on Ivan's lips. In that smile, there was both hope for the future and deep agreement with Klein's words. "Yes, Klein. Our story is written by ourselves. It will become a beacon for those who come after us, guiding them to find light in the darkness. But now, take a rest. Tomorrow may be an even more difficult test for us."

"Captain, good night." Su Mo said softly, her eyes showing a maturity and calmness beyond her age. As the night deepened, they each returned to their simple but warm tents, gathering strength for the unknown journey tomorrow.

The next morning, before the sun completely dispelled the darkness, the camp of the Light Walkers was already busy. Klein and Su Mo were ready to go, and the old man, who was already respected as Elder Merlin, also joined them with a few old books. After bidding farewell to the other teammates, the team embarked on a journey to explore the unknown source of energy.

Along the way, they met all kinds of passers-by. Every time they stopped, someone would recognize them. Those inadvertent conversations became the most vivid episodes of the journey.

"Look, it's the Light Walkers! I heard that they are setting out again to solve a big problem." A farmer said to his wife beside him, his tone full of admiration.

"Yes, I always feel more at ease with them around." The woman responded with a gleam in her eyes.

When the team passed through a village, the children in the village gathered around them, staring at them with curiosity and admiration. One of the children timidly asked, "Light Walker, are you going to fight monsters?"

Ivan squatted down and answered gently: "Let's go find the answer and protect everyone from harm. Every brave child can become his own hero."

The children's eyes lit up when they heard this. They waved their hands and shouted in their tender voices: "We want to be light walkers, too!"

The reactions of these passers-by were like a stream of warmth, inspiring the light walkers to continue moving forward. As they got closer and closer to the energy source, the atmosphere around them became more subtle, as if nature was holding its breath, waiting for something.

Finally, in a desolate place, they found the location of the mysterious energy - a cave surrounded by ancient spells. The entrance of the cave exudes a faint blue light, which is not a natural color, but a sign of a deeper magic.

"This is the source of the energy." Su Mo said in a low voice, her fingers lightly touching the air, as if sensing something.

Klein gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, his eyes determined: "No matter what is hidden inside, we will not retreat."

The elder Merlin flipped open the pages of the book he carried with him, frowning as he muttered to himself, "These spells are ancient and powerful... We need to be extra careful."

Just as they were about to enter the cave, a gust of wind blew by, as if carrying some kind of warning. Ivan raised his hand to signal a pause, his intuition told him that this journey was far more complicated than they had expected.

"We must have a plan before we go in." Ivan's voice was particularly clear in the silence of the early morning. "Klein, you will be in charge of the vanguard. Su Mo, you and I will stay in the middle and provide support at any time. Elder Merlin, please provide us with wise guidance in the rear. Remember, we are a team and we can never act alone at any time."

"Understood!" The three responded firmly and forcefully. Their backs stretched out in the morning light, and every step they took showed their unwavering determination.

Just as they were about to step into the cave, a whispering sound of wind passed by, as if it was the murmur of the earth: "Brave walkers of light, may the light guide your path..."

This sudden mysterious whisper made everyone's heart tremble. They looked at each other without saying a word, but the message conveyed to each other was clear: no matter what awaits them, they will move forward in the name of light.

"Let's go," Ivan said softly, his eyes firm, as if he was ready to face all the unknowns, "Let the light illuminate the darkness and reveal the truth."

As they stepped into the cave, the light gradually dimmed, and only the strange blue light emitted by the ancient spells provided them with a negligible vision. The cave was filled with an unsettling atmosphere, and every step seemed to be stepping on the dust of history.

"I've seen similar descriptions of the spells here in ancient books," Elder Merlin explained softly. His voice sounded particularly heavy in the echoing cave. "They guard something, or they may imprison something. We must proceed with caution."

Just as they were moving forward cautiously, a slight sound suddenly broke the silence of the cave, as if something was spying on them in the dark.

"Who's there?" Klein quickly assumed a fighting stance, the sword in his hand flashing coldly under the faint blue light.

After a moment of silence, a hoarse voice sounded from the darkness: "No one has dared to set foot here for a long time. Are you here to seek knowledge or to release prisoners?"

Klein and Su Mo exchanged doubtful looks, while Ivan slowly stepped forward and said in a calm but firm voice: "Both. We are walkers of light, and our mission is to reveal the unknown and protect the innocent. If you are willing, you can be our guide."

The voice seemed to be thinking, and after a moment, a vague figure appeared in the shadows. It was an old man in a tattered robe. His eyes were deep, and seemed to hide countless secrets.

"I am Hazard, the former gatekeeper. I can take you deep, but you must be prepared to face your deepest fears."

"We are ready." Ivan answered without hesitation. His decision infected the others. Klein and Su Mo also held their weapons tightly and stood firmly together.

Azar nodded slightly and led them around the intricate spell traps. Every step was terrifying. As they went deeper, a strange fluctuation began to permeate the air around them. It was a repressive and tempting force.

"Be careful, the magic here is extremely ancient and unstable." Changzer Merlin warned, he turned the pages, looking for the ancient wisdom corresponding to the decoding spell.

Just as they were about to reach the core, a strong light suddenly burst out, and a huge figure appeared in front of them with a deafening roar - it was a giant dragon that had been bound by a talisman for many years, and there was a thousand years of loneliness and anger in its eyes.

"Uninvited guest, are you here to liberate me or to increase my constraints?" The dragon's voice was like thunder, and the whole cave trembled.

Klein, Sumo, Azar, and Elder Merlin were all shocked by the scene before them, while Ivan took a step forward. He showed no fear at all and his eyes were firm. "Dragon, we are not here to conquer, but to understand and assist. Tell us, how did you get imprisoned here, and how can we break this ancient curse?"

The dragon's gaze lingered on Ivan, as if assessing his sincerity. After a long moment, it exhaled slowly, "Without the Heart of Light, no one could have come here. I was imprisoned here to protect a treasure that could overturn the world. Only a true follower of light can understand its meaning and choose the right path."

This sentence was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring up waves among the four people. They looked at each other, with determination and resolution in their eyes.

"No matter what the road ahead holds, we will walk it together." Ivan's promise seemed to represent the determination of the other three people. Their backs reflected a fearless light in this ancient cave.

“Then take us to see this treasure, dragon.” Klein’s voice was loud and firm. He still held the sword tightly in his hand, but showed no intention of attacking.

The dragon whistled softly, and its huge body turned into a ray of light, leading them through the layers of spells and into the deepest part of the cave. There, an ancient stone platform stood silently, on which was placed a crystal ball that looked ordinary but emitted a soft light.

"This is what I am guarding, the Eye of Destiny. It can see the past and the future, and knows all the secrets of the world." There was a hint of emotion in the dragon's voice.

"Eye of Destiny..." Su Mo whispered softly, and she slowly stretched out her hand, but hesitated before touching the crystal ball. The air around them seemed to freeze, and everyone's breathing became cautious.

At this moment, a burst of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the cave, and a group of people holding weapons and with fierce faces broke into the cave. The leader was a tall and strong man, his eyes full of greed: "Finally found you, and the legendary treasure! Hand it over, otherwise you can't leave here!"

Klein and Su Mo quickly stood in front of Ivan and Elder Merlin, ready to fight. However, Ivan raised a hand, signaling them to be patient. He took a step forward and said calmly, "You want power and wealth? But look at this dragon, who has been imprisoned for a thousand years, but is guarding a responsibility and choice. True power comes from inner choice, not from the outside world."

The invaders looked at each other, shocked by Ivan's words. A seemingly ordinary thief whispered, "He's right. What are we pursuing? Is it endless treasures, or the courage to face the unknown?"

The tall and strong man's expression began to waver, but soon turned ferocious again: "Don't be fooled by him! We are here to change our humble fate! Come on!"

Just as the two sides were on the verge of a confrontation, the dragon let out a long chant, and its breath enveloped the crystal ball. The light of the Eye of Destiny suddenly intensified, and everything in the cave seemed to be frozen in time.

"Look, this is what you long to see - destiny." The dragon's voice echoed, and the members of the thieves' group fell into deep thought. Their faces showed different fragments of life under the light of the crystal ball, moments of sadness, regret, or desire for change.

Finally, the whispering thief put down his weapon first, fell to his knees, and burst into tears: "I see... What I really want is to go home and the love of my family."

One by one, the others laid down their weapons. Some cried, some remained silent, but they were all freed from greed and anger, and regained the gentleness and persistence in their human nature.

The tall and strong man was the last to put down his weapon. Complex emotions flashed in his eyes. He finally knelt down, his voice trembling: "I... I have a family too. I also want to give them a better life."

Ivan walked forward and put his hand on his shoulder: "Everyone has the right to choose. Now, you can choose another path, a bright path."

The sunlight outside the cave penetrated the clouds and shone into the dark abyss. The members of the thieves stood up in the light with a look of rebirth on their faces. The dragon watched all this with a rare soft light in his eyes: "Perhaps, this is the real liberation."

The story came to a temporary end amid the complex and hopeful expressions of the crowd. Ivan turned to look at his companions. Elder Merlin was slowly closing those old books. Su Mo's eyes were filled with infinite longing for the future. Klein put away his sword and looked forward with a firm gaze.

"We still have a long way to go, and many unknowns are waiting to be revealed," Ivan said softly, "but as long as we are together, nothing is impossible."

"Captain, no matter whether there is light or darkness ahead, we will keep going." Klein and Su Mo responded in unison. Their faith was stronger than ever.

Elder Merlin smiled and added: "Remember, Light Walkers, we create our own destiny, not destiny that defines us."

As they walked out of the cave, the dragon's deep and grateful voice came from behind them: "Light Walker, may your journey be forever bright."

The four of them set out on a new journey, their backs lengthened in the sun, and each step they took was a firm step towards an unknown tomorrow. And those passers-by who were moved by them will spread this legend and become a beacon in the hearts of those who come after them.

"I can't believe that the Light Walkers are actually fighting side by side with dragons!" In the tavern of the small town, a young traveler excitedly shared with others the adventure he had just heard, the wine glass trembling slightly in his hand.

"Dragon! That's a legendary creature. Shouldn't they live in caves full of gold and treasures, waiting for warriors to challenge them?" The uncle opposite obviously didn't believe it. He frowned and looked incredulous.

The traveler smiled mysteriously and lowered his voice: "You don't know, this is not an ordinary dragon, it is an ancient creature guarding the 'Eye of Destiny'. It is said that the treasure can predict the future and know all the secrets."

"The future? Secrets?" The uncle's curiosity was aroused, and other guests in the pub also came closer to hear what was going on.

"Yes, and Alvin and his team not only rescued the dragon, but also used that power to convert a group of lost thieves. That scene was just like light dispelling darkness, and it made people feel warm in their hearts." The traveler spit and danced, as if he had personally experienced that transformation. (End of this chapter)