The contestant is too old, sister Zhou is crazy

Chapter 762 Something Else

"Wait, where is the village?" Jason frowned and quickly sorted out his thoughts. "We need to formulate an action plan as soon as possible to reduce unnecessary casualties."

"Southeast, about two days' journey along the old trade route." The scout was panting and conveying the information anxiously.

"Two days. For a village under attack, every minute and every second could mean life or death." A taciturn swordsman in the team finally spoke, his voice deep and powerful, "We have to speed up."

"That's right," Lin Hao nodded. "Jason, you lead a small team and go ahead. Make sure you get there before dark to buy time to understand the situation and stabilize it. Su Mo and I will follow with the rest of the team to provide support."

"Understood." Jason agreed immediately, turned around and selected a few agile members. After briefly instructing them, they disappeared into the secret passage like arrows from a bow.

As Jason and his team left, Su Mo took out a few seemingly ordinary but mysterious items from his backpack and distributed them to the remaining team members. "Take these with you. They will be very useful in an emergency. We are not only warriors, but also rescuers."

Everyone took the equipment and a hint of surprise flashed in their eyes. They admired Su Mo's attentiveness. A new therapist asked softly, "Su Mo, what are these? They don't look simple."

"They are the results of our past expeditions. Some can temporarily block magic detection, and some can quickly restore physical strength." Su Mo explained with a gentle smile on his face, "Remember, only by protecting yourself can you better help others."

The team quickly got ready and rushed towards the village in the southeast. On the way, they met several villagers who were fleeing, wearing ragged clothes and looking panicked.

“Are you… the Sons of Balance and the Wings of Dawn?” an old man asked tremblingly, with hope flashing in his eyes.

"Yes, old man, please tell us what happened." Su Mo walked forward, his tone calm but full of power.

"Monster...a monster that appeared from nowhere and almost destroyed the entire village. Please, save my family, save our home." The old man's voice was filled with tears, and tears mixed with dust fell.

Lin Hao patted the old man on the shoulder and said firmly: "Don't worry, we will do our best."

This scene was seen by travelers passing by, and their conversation quickly spread among the crowd, causing waves of exclamations.

"The Son of Balance and the Wing of Dawn are truly legendary heroes!"

"Aren't they looking for some ancient secret? Why would they care about such trivial matters?"

"Perhaps this is what a true hero is. No matter how big or small the crisis is, they will lend a helping hand."

With these discussions, the names of the Sons of Balance and Wings of Dawn were once again given a deeper meaning. They were not only explorers, but also the guardians of this world.

When night fell, Jason's team had arrived at the village in advance. The scene before them was shocking: broken walls, thick smoke, and occasional groans of the injured. Jason quickly organized members to carry out rescue operations while being alert to possible dangers around.

“Stay alert, we don’t know when those creatures will appear again,” Jason whispered, his eyes sharp as he scanned the darkness around him.

Just as they were nervously searching for survivors, a huge figure suddenly jumped out from the ruins. It was a monster that had never been seen before, covered with thick scales, and its eyes flashed an evil red light.

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"Stand back!" Jason shouted, and at the same time pulled out the light blade he carried with him. The silver light drew a dazzling track in the night.

The villagers screamed and fled in all directions, but the monster seemed not interested in chasing the civilians, and rushed straight towards Jason and others. For a moment, the air was filled with tension and fear.

"Disperse and attract its attention!" Jason quickly gave the order and the team members immediately executed it, each finding cover and trying to contain the monster from different angles.

"What is this thing? It doesn't look like it belongs in this world." An agile archer in the team muttered to himself as he pulled the bowstring to its full extent, with fear and excitement in his eyes.

“No matter where it comes from, we must get rid of it today.” Jason said firmly. He swung the light blade, releasing circles of energy ripples, tentatively attacking the monster.

At this moment, a deafening roar erupted from the monster's mouth, and then it rushed towards the nearest team member. The man dodged swiftly and narrowly avoided the attack, but the building behind him was not spared and collapsed.

"Is everyone okay?" Jason asked with concern, noticing that the monster seemed to be afraid of the light blade's attack.

"It's okay, but this thing has thick skin and tough flesh, and our weapons don't seem to be very effective." A warrior holding a short axe answered breathlessly. The axe in his hand was covered with the black blood splashed by the monster, and obviously failed to cause much damage.

At this critical moment, the sound of hurried horse hooves was heard in the distance, followed by the main force led by Lin Hao. "Jason, we are here!" Lin Hao's shout was like a warm current, instantly boosting the morale of the team.

"You've come just in time. This guy is more difficult than I thought!" Jason responded, feeling relieved.

The two teams joined together, and Lin Hao and Su Mo joined the battle. Su Mo raised his hands, and the surrounding elements seemed to respond to his call, forming a powerful protective shield, providing a temporary shelter for the team members.

"Lin Hao, I will attract its attention, and you look for its weakness." Su Mo calmly arranged the tactics and then released a series of light balls, accurately hitting the monster and forcing it to temporarily turn its attention to him.

Lin Hao took the opportunity to go around to the side of the monster and observed it carefully, trying to find a breakthrough. Suddenly, he found a slightly different scale on the monster's neck, which seemed to be not completely integrated with the rest of the body.

"Su Mo, aim for its neck, there!" Lin Hao reminded loudly, and at the same time, he accumulated strength for an attack, and the light blade accurately cut towards the special scale.

With a shrill howl, the monster paused, and its huge body gradually wilted, and finally fell to the ground with a bang, turning into a pile of ashes. A strange energy fluctuation filled the air.

"Well done, it seems we have found a solution to the problem." Su Mo wiped the sweat from his forehead, a victorious smile on his face.

At this time, the villagers came out from their hiding places one after another, looking at this group of brave warriors, their eyes full of gratitude and awe.

"You are really our guardian angels!" The old man led the villagers and walked towards them step by step with red eyes.

"We just did what we should do." Lin Hao smiled faintly. He turned and looked at the night sky, which was dotted with stars, as if heralding the coming of new challenges.

"However, this battle is just the beginning. The source of darkness has not yet been eliminated, and there are still more people who need us to save." Lin Hao's voice was firm and profound.

"So, where is our next destination?" a newly joined ranger asked expectantly, his eyes sparkling with a desire for adventure.

Lin Hao raised his head, his eyes penetrating the night, as if he had seen far away: "Yingyuan Valley, that will be our next stop. There, I believe we will find more clues and reveal the truth hidden behind the darkness."

"No matter what the road ahead holds, as long as we walk hand in hand, nothing is impossible." Su Mo added softly, his words full of gentle yet firm strength.

Jason looked around at the team. Everyone's eyes were full of determination. Even after a fierce battle, they were unwavering. "Then, let's get ready for what's coming. Shadow Abyss Valley, this name doesn't sound simple. What do you think?"

"It is said that it is the source of ancient magic and hides many unsolved mysteries." said a member who looked like a knowledgeable historian. He pushed his glasses, his eyes flashing with desire for the unknown.

"Unsolved mysteries mean unknown dangers." A muscular warrior in the team tightened the giant hammer in his hand. Although there was worry in his tone, there was no lack of fighting spirit. "But as long as we can stop the spread of darkness, we will move forward fearlessly."

"Indeed, Shadow Abyss Valley is said to be surrounded by heavy fog, and few people who enter can come out alive." A young magician frowned slightly. He stroked the magic book in his arms, as if seeking some kind of comfort. "But we have the Sons of Balance and the Wings of Dawn. With our unity, I believe we can create a miracle."

Passersby cast astonished glances at the team, and their whispers were filled with sincere admiration for the team.

"Look, those are the Sons of Balance and the Wings of Dawn. They even dare to set foot in a forbidden place like Shadow Abyss Valley. They are truly legends."

"Yeah, it would be great if I could be one of them."

"Hey, I heard there's an ancient treasure hidden in Shadow Abyss Valley. If you can find it, it'll be a great opportunity to rise to prominence."

The discussion faded away, but Lin Hao and his group did not stop. In the small town before entering the Shadow Abyss Valley, they met a mysterious fortune teller who was sitting on the side of the road, fiddling with a worn-out deck of tarot cards with a deep look in his eyes.

"Travelers, fate has led you here. Are you seeking answers or challenging the unknown?" The fortune teller's low voice sounded, his eyes sweeping across the faces of each team member.

Lin Hao stepped forward and said sincerely, "It's both. We are pursuing clues in the darkness, and at the same time, we are exploring our own path. Can you give us any guidance?"

The fortune teller smiled slightly, flicked his finger, and a card leaped into the air, slowly turned over, and finally fell back into his hand. "Tower, collapse and rebuild. You will face unprecedented challenges, but it is this challenge that will create new glory."

"Is it a good or bad omen?" someone in the team couldn't help but ask, with a hint of nervousness in his tone.

"There is no absolute good or bad in fate. Everything depends on how you face it." The fortune teller answered meaningfully, then lowered his head and continued his divination without saying any more.

As night fell, the Sons of Balance and Wings of Dawn stood in front of the entrance of Shadow Abyss Valley. The deep valley was like a sleeping beast, quietly waiting for invaders. Lin Hao turned around and looked at every companion who followed him here, and his firm voice echoed in the night wind.

"We are about to step into the unknown. We may face despair, but it may also hide the dawn of light. But remember, together we can write our own legend. Whether it is for justice or for this world, let us move forward."

"Forward!" the team responded in unison. The oath echoed through the valley, and even the stars seemed to shake.

As they take their first step into Shadow Abyss Valley, the unknown adventure officially begins, and the future challenges, adventures, and the ultimate truth are waiting for these brave men to explore.

In Shadow Abyss Valley, the light was dim and misty, and the surrounding vegetation was extremely lush, as if every leaf was telling a forgotten story. The team advanced cautiously, weapons tightly grasped, alert to any possible danger.

"The feeling here reminds me of some ancient legends." The historian in the team whispered, his voice seemed a little ethereal in the mist, "Legend has it that Shadow Abyss Valley hides the remains of ancient wizards, which contain not only powerful magic, but also... guardians."

"Guardian?" asked a young new member of the team, a curious female mage. "What kind of guardian?"

"It is said that they are ancient creatures, or stone statues and trees given life by magic. They exist only to protect secrets that should not be known to the public." The historian explained, his eyes flashing with a thirst for knowledge in the darkness.

At this moment, a low roar was faintly heard from the fog ahead, and then the ground began to tremble slightly, as if some huge monster was approaching quietly.

"Prepare for battle!" Jason immediately gave the order, and the team quickly formed a battle formation. Everyone was on edge, ready to face unknown challenges.

In the mist, a huge figure gradually emerged. It was a stone giant covered with moss and vines, with cold eyes. It took heavy steps, and the ground shook, as if the whole valley was responding to its existence.

"The guardian has appeared." Su Mo whispered. He raised his hands again, and the power of elements surrounded his body, ready to provide support to his teammates at any time.

"It seems that we need to use wisdom, rather than sheer force, to solve this problem." Lin Hao said after pondering for a moment, "Stone giants are usually given puzzles or trials as conditions for passing."

"Puzzle?" A smart thief in the team raised his eyebrows. "That's right, I'm good at this."

The thief leaped forward lightly and shouted to the stone giant: "Great guardian, if you are really as wise as the legend says, then give us a riddle. We are willing to accept the test."

An inexplicable expression appeared on the moss-covered face of the stone giant, and then it uttered a deep and rich voice: "Through wisdom rather than violence, this is a respectable attitude. (End of this chapter)