The contestant is too old, sister Zhou is crazy

Chapter 725 Vivid

Everyone's speculations and imaginations intertwined into vivid pictures in the tavern, and every line of dialogue contained deep expectations and trust in Klein and his group.

At this moment, Klein was standing under the old man's dim oil lamp, flipping through an old map that marked an unknown area deep in the forest. "Old sir, you said there was an ancient altar here that was closely related to the secrets of the forest?" Klein's eyes were sharp, trying to find clues from the blurred lines.

The old man stroked his long beard, his eyes sparkling with wisdom. "Yes, young warrior. That altar was once a bridge for communication between ancient elves and humans, and it guarded the core power of the forest. If you want to find the child you mentioned, that might be a good starting point."

"So, how can we find this lost altar?" Su Mo asked curiously. She could always find the extraordinary in the ordinary, and this keenness made her indispensable to the team.

The old man groaned for a moment and said slowly: "According to legend, the location of the altar is hidden in the wind. Only a truly pure and spotless mind can capture the direction of the guiding wind."

This sentence was like a stone thrown into a lake, stirring up ripples in the hearts of Klein and his companions. They looked at each other and read determination and faith in each other's eyes.

"It seems that our journey has added a layer of mystery." Sebastian joked. He always brought a bit of relaxation to the tense atmosphere.

"No matter what, we will not give up." Ivan's tone was firm, and his shoulders seemed to carry the trust and hope of the entire team.

When Klein and his companions left the old man's residence, it was already late at night. Most of the residents of the town had fallen asleep, and only a few lonely lights were still stubbornly emitting light, pointing the way for late-returning travelers.

Walking on the quiet street, Su Mo suddenly stopped and looked up at the starry sky: "The stars are guiding us, aren't they? Just like the old man said, a pure heart can sense the faintest call."

Upon hearing this, Klein raised a gentle arc at the corner of his mouth: "That's right, Su Mo. As long as we keep our faith, even the universe will pave the way for us."

The four set out on their journey again, this time their goal was to find the mysterious forest, the child hidden in the forest and the ancient altar. Along the way, they met all kinds of passers-by, each of whom was full of curiosity and respect for their stories.

"Look, those warriors who have returned from the abyss! Where are they going this time?" A farmer stopped his work and watched them go away, his eyes full of admiration.

"Go find a missing child, I heard..." The woman next to her responded in a low voice, her words revealing undisguised concern.

As Klein and his companions stepped into the edge of the forest, an ominous wind suddenly blew up, and the surrounding trees seemed to be roaring, warning of the impending crisis.

"This wind... is unusual." Sebastian gripped the hilt of his sword tightly and glanced around vigilantly. His intuition, which had been baptized by the battlefield, told him that there was a turbulent undercurrent lurking beneath the calm.

"Everyone be careful, there may be trouble." Klein warned in a low voice, while secretly gathering the mysterious power in his body. Ivan and Su Mo also quickly stood back to back, forming a defensive posture, with sharp eyes, examining every movement around them.

Suddenly, a huge black shadow passed through the treetops as fast as lightning, and then a heavy and depressing atmosphere spread, making people's hearts palpitate.

"What is it?" Su Mo asked in a low voice. There was a hint of nervousness in her voice, but more of excitement. The exploration of the unknown always made her eager to try.

“It’s an unknown creature, but it feels… not entirely a product of nature.” Klein said in a deep voice. His sight seemed to penetrate through the layers of tree shadows, trying to capture the whereabouts of the black shadow.

"Come out, no matter who you are, we have no ill intentions." Alvin shouted loudly, his voice echoing in the woods, sounding unusually firm. He believed that most creatures could distinguish between good and evil, or at least could feel their sincerity.

There was a rustling sound from deep in the woods, and then a huge beast that had never been seen before slowly stepped into the moonlight. It had the body of a deer and the head of a wolf. Its eyes were like burning flames, and a faint layer of magical fluctuations surrounded its body.

"Forest Guardian, Glaris." The old man's warning flashed through Klein's mind. This is a creature from ancient legends. It is said that they have guarded the balance and secrets of the forest for generations.

Glaris let out a low roar, and the sound seemed to contain thousands of words, both a warning and a plea.

"It's talking!" Su Mo exclaimed. She could feel a strange vibration, which was an attempt at communication on a spiritual level.

Klein closed his eyes, concentrated, and tried to interpret the non-verbal message. "It said... a powerful being has invaded the forest, threatening its people and the child. It asks for our help."

"A powerful existence?" Alvin frowned and looked around. Every inch of the forest was telling the story of the turbulent waves beneath the calm.

"It seems that our mission has become more complicated." Sebastian sighed, but there was a hint of excitement in his tone. For adventurers, challenges are the best training.

"We can't refuse. Glaris is a friend of the forest and our ally." Klein opened his eyes with a firm gaze. "Besides, isn't it our mission as heroes to find that child and uncover the mystery of all this?"

"Of course, Klein." Ivan and Su Mo smiled at each other. Their tacit understanding needed no further explanation.

As the night deepened, Klein and his companions, led by Glaris, went deeper into the forest. Every step they took was on the edge of the unknown, but their hearts were filled with unprecedented determination and courage.

"No matter what lies ahead, as long as we fight side by side, there will be no difficulties that cannot be overcome." Klein's words echoed softly in the forest, giving everyone confidence and strength.

"Yes, Klein is right." Su Mo chuckled, "Besides, I have a feeling that this adventure will be more exciting than ever before."

Ivan also smiled: "Then let us meet the challenge and make the impossible possible."

Glaris nodded slightly, seeming to be satisfied with the decision of Klein and the others. It turned around, and its huge body disappeared into the dense trees, leaving only a vaguely visible path. Klein, Sebastian, Ivan, and Su Mo followed closely behind, embarking on this road to the unknown.

As they went deeper into the forest, the light around them gradually thinned, and the air was filled with an ancient and mysterious atmosphere. Occasionally, a few beams of moonlight penetrated the dense branches and leaves, sprinkling on the ground in a mottled manner, adding a bit of fantasy to this deep forest.

"Klein, who do you think that powerful being could be?" Su Mo lowered his voice, trying not to let his curiosity disturb the tranquility around him. "Could it be some kind of monster that has never been recorded?"

Klein shook his head, his eyes flickering with thought. "It's hard to say, but one thing is certain. This existence is enough to make a forest guardian like Glaris feel uneasy. It must be extraordinary."

As they continued to move forward, some subtle changes began to appear in the forest. The vegetation on both sides of the trail became increasingly dense, and occasionally some strange plants could be seen, emitting a faint light that seemed to have their own life consciousness.

"Look over there!" Ivan pointed to a strange light curtain not far away. "What is that?"

Sebastian took a few steps forward and squinted his eyes to observe carefully: "It is a protective barrier, very ancient and powerful, usually used to isolate or protect important places."

They approached the light curtain and found that it was not impassable. Klein reached out and touched it. The light curtain trembled slightly, as if testing his intentions, and then silently opened a passage for them.

After passing through the light curtain, the scene before them shocked everyone - an ancient altar stood quietly in an open area. Under the moonlight, the altar was engraved with long-lost runes, emitting a faint blue light, as if connecting the mysterious power between heaven and earth.

“This is it.” Klein said softly. He looked around and felt a heavy sense of history and power gathering.

"Wait, Klein, look!" Su Mo pointed to the center of the altar. A small figure was curled up there. It was the missing child!

Just as they were about to move forward, the space around the altar suddenly twisted, and a huge and strange shadow slowly appeared. It had several pairs of eyes flashing with evil light, and its limbs kept changing, like a nightmare crawling out of the cracks of the abyss.

"A powerful being...it's it!" Sebastian growled, tightening his sword.

The shadow laughed so hard that the trees around him trembled. "Foolish creatures, do you think you can stand up to me?"

"We won't let you hurt innocent people!" Klein responded loudly. He felt the mysterious power in his body surging, forming an inexplicable resonance with his teammates.

"Klein, let's go!" Ivan gave the order, and the four of them showed their strengths and faced the terrifying existence. The battle broke out instantly, and the power of elements, sword light, and magic intertwined into a dazzling net, colliding with the attack of the shadow, shining brightly.

Just as the two sides were in a stalemate, Glaris suddenly rushed out from the flank, his huge body turned into a silver lightning, and hit the weak point of the shadow. The shadow roared repeatedly after being hit hard, and began to show signs of defeat.

Klein seized the opportunity and silently chanted a spell in his mind. A beam of pure white light shot out from his palm and penetrated the center of the shadow. With a shrill wail, the distorted existence finally dissipated into the air.

After the battle, the forest returned to peace. The missing child gradually woke up under Su Mo's comfort. He looked at Klein and the others with gratitude in his eyes: "Thank you, I heard my parents calling, you saved me."

“You’re welcome, kid. It’s our greatest honor to be able to help you.” Klein replied gently.

Just as they were about to leave and send the child home safely, the ancient altar suddenly shone with dazzling light, enveloping everyone. For a moment, they seemed to have traveled through time and space, seeing the historical picture scroll woven by the forest, humans and elves, as well as the unknown heroes who silently guarded this land...

The light faded, and Klein turned to his companions and said, "What we are taking away is not only this child, but also the hope and future of this forest."

"Yes, there are more stories waiting for us to discover, and more secrets waiting for us to uncover." There was a desire for exploration in Ivan's eyes, and his pursuit of the unknown never stopped.

Su Mo stared at the altar and gently touched the ancient runes, feeling inexplicably moved: "Every stroke here records the weight of history. I think we are not only adventurers, but also the inheritors of these stories."

Sebastian stood aside, his eyes far-reaching, his face showing a rare gentleness: "This responsibility is heavier than any honor on the battlefield. But we have no choice but to do it."

They gathered in a circle, and the child snuggled up to Su Mo, seeming to be deeply attracted by this scene, with a vision of the future in his eyes. The surrounding trees seemed to be listening, and the leaves rustled, responding to the determination of the four warriors.

“Let’s go back to the human world and tell everyone about this legend. But remember, there are still many secrets of the forest that have not been touched.” Klein’s voice echoed in the woods, which was both an encouragement to his companions and a spur to himself.

At this moment, a traveler who happened to pass by witnessed their departure. He stood there in a daze, his eyes full of disbelief: "Did they really come out of that legendary forest? I heard that there are dangers everywhere there, and no one can return..."

The vendor next to him came over curiously and said, "Really? I thought those stories were made up to amuse children! They look like just a group of ordinary travelers."

“No, there is an indescribable aura about them.” The traveler shook his head and followed the backs of Klein and his companions until they disappeared from sight. “It is a breath of hope that comes from a great adventure.”

The vendor scratched his head and looked thoughtful: "That sounds really enviable. I also want to be that kind of person and experience some spectacular things."

The traveler patted him on the shoulder and left a meaningful message: "Everyone's life is an adventure. The key is whether you are willing to take that step and pursue the sea of ​​stars that belongs to you."

After the conversation, the two men went their separate ways, while Klein and his three companions set out on their return journey with a new mission and hope. Glaris, the guardian of the forest, stood quietly there, watching them leave, his eyes filled with mixed emotions—both reluctance and hope for a future reunion.

"May your path be bright and full of miracles until the day we meet again." Its whisper was blown away by the wind, turning into an invisible force, guarding those who dare to dream and move forward courageously. (End of this chapter)