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

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As they continued on their way, a soft footstep caught Zhao De's attention. He quickly gestured for the two to stop, then slowly turned around and saw a young hunter quietly following behind them.

"Who are you? Why are you following us?" Zhao De questioned.

The young hunter seemed a little nervous, but he still mustered his courage and said, "My name is Zhao De, and I'm a hunter from the village. I heard you're going to deal with the Shadow Beasts, and I'd like to join you and help out."

Zhao De frowned, clearly not entirely trusting this suddenly appearing companion. But then he thought, having an extra person might actually come in handy. "Alright, but you have to follow our orders."

Zhao De nodded vigorously: "Definitely, definitely!"

With their group now consisting of four, they resumed their journey. Not long after, a low growl suddenly echoed from the woods ahead. Zhao De reacted immediately, leading the group to quickly hide in a thicket of bushes.

Chapter 805 The Crisis is Temporarily Relieved

Chapter 805 The Crisis is Temporarily Relieved

Through the sparse foliage, they saw a group of enormous shadow beasts, their bodies radiating a ghostly blue light, slowly passing by. One of them seemed to sense something, stopping and sniffing in their direction. The air seemed to freeze; the sound of everyone's heartbeat could be clearly heard.

Just as things were about to turn dangerous, a small bird flew past from a nearby branch, attracting the attention of the shadow beast. It pounced on the bird, and the others followed suit. The crisis was temporarily averted.

"That was close!" Zhao De breathed a long sigh of relief. "I thought I was going to die."

Leah patted him on the shoulder to comfort him: "Don't be afraid, we're here for you."

Zhao De became even more determined: "It seems we're getting closer to our destination. The road ahead will only get more difficult, so everyone needs to be on their toes."

The scholar nodded: "Based on my speculation, the Shadow Beasts' lair is likely located in the heart of this forest. There is a huge cave there, said to connect to a world deep underground."

"In that case, let's get straight to the point." Zhao De stood up, his eyes fixed firmly ahead. "No matter what, we must end this disaster completely."

Just as they were preparing to continue, the sky suddenly darkened, with thick clouds gathering and lightning flashing. Then, a torrential downpour began without warning, instantly shrouding the entire world in chaos.

"The weather really changes so quickly..." Zhao De complained.

Zhao De looked thoughtfully into the distance: "No, this is no ordinary storm. There must be some kind of force at play here."

Leah shielded her eyes from the rain and looked up at the churning clouds in the sky: "We have to hurry and find that cave before things get worse."

The four of them struggled forward through the raging wind and rain until they finally reached an open area. Before them lay an enormous black hole, its entrance shimmering with an eerie blue light, as if something inside was stirring restlessly.

"Is this the place?" the scholar murmured to himself.

“That’s right.” Zhao De drew his longsword, his eyes burning with fighting spirit. “Whatever is hidden inside, we will show it the power of humanity today.”

"Wait!" Zhao De suddenly shouted, "I think we should discuss a plan before going in."

Zhao De turned and glanced at him: "You're right. After all, this is the first time we've faced such a powerful enemy."

The four people huddled together and began discussing their next course of action...

"In any case, we cannot act rashly," the scholar cautioned. "We need to be even more cautious."

"Yes, I will do my best to support you." Lia gripped the bow and arrow in her hand.

"Then I'll take charge of the front lines," Zhao De said with a slight smile, displaying his fearless spirit.

“I’ll help too!” Zhao De shouted.

Just as they were discussing, a bolt of lightning ripped through the night sky, illuminating the entire cave entrance. At the same time, a piercing roar came from inside the cave, sending chills down everyone's spine.

"It seems they've sensed our presence." Zhao De took a deep breath. "Now, it's time to show our true strength!"

Chapter 806 The Ultimate Challenge

Chapter 806 The Ultimate Challenge…

"Let's cheer each other on!" Lia encouraged.

The four exchanged a smile, then resolutely stepped into the dark cave filled with unknowns and dangers. Behind them lay a forest shrouded in wind and rain, and ahead lay their ultimate challenge…

"As long as the light remains, hope will always exist." Zhao De repeated these words in a low voice, his heart filled with an even stronger belief.

As the four stepped into the cave, the surrounding environment instantly became cold and damp. The cave walls were covered with moss, and occasionally a few drops of water fell from above, making a crisp sound in the silence. The deeper they went, the more obvious the eerie blue light became, and an unsettling atmosphere filled the air.

"It's so dark here," Zhao De said in a low voice, his voice trembling slightly.

"Don't be afraid, we have torches," Lia said softly, raising her torch to try and illuminate more areas.

Just then, a small creature hiding in a corner of the cave was startled by the firelight and suddenly darted out, startling Zhao De so much that he almost screamed. "Oh dear! What is that?"

Zhao De quickly stepped forward and used the tip of his sword to pry open the small creature—it was just a frightened mouse. "It's nothing, just a little fellow passing by."

The scholar carefully observed the patterns on the cave wall: "The structure here is very special; it doesn't look like it was formed naturally. These blue lights seem to be related to some kind of energy."

Just as they were discussing, they heard faint footsteps approaching from not far ahead. Zhao De immediately signaled everyone to be quiet and slowly moved closer to the source of the sound. They saw two people dressed in tattered clothes with empty eyes slowly walking towards them, carrying some crude weapons.

"Who are you? Why are you here?" one of the thin men asked, his voice hoarse and weak.

Zhao De cautiously replied, "We are explorers, here to eliminate the Shadow Beasts. Are you also trapped here?"

The other party paused for a moment upon hearing this, then revealed a complex emotion: "Shadow Beasts... they have taken too many lives. If you can really do it, then please help us."

The woman on the other side added, "But be careful, there are many unknown dangers here besides the Shadow Beasts."

Upon hearing this, Zhao De couldn't help but gasp: "What you've said makes me even more nervous..."

Zhao De looked at the two firmly and said, "Thank you for the information. We will be careful. You can hide in the back for now and come out after everything is over."

The two survivors exchanged a glance, nodded silently, and then turned and disappeared into the darkness.

"It seems the enemy we're facing is stronger than we imagined," Leah said worriedly.

"It's alright. Now that we've come this far, we can't back down easily," Zhao De encouraged. "Let's keep moving forward, and believe that light will eventually triumph over darkness."

The group set off again, venturing deeper into the cave along the winding passages. They encountered various obstacles and traps along the way, but thanks to their excellent teamwork and individual skills, they always managed to overcome the dangers.

Suddenly, a violent tremor shook the entire cave, as if some colossal creature was awakening. Then, a deep, threatening voice echoed throughout the space: "Who dares disturb my slumber?"

Chapter 807 The Test

Chapter 807 The Test

Everyone's heart tightened, knowing that the real test was about to begin. Just then, a gigantic shadow beast covered in thick scales appeared before them, its eyes like two terrifying gems gleaming with a cold light.

"Wow...this thing is as big as a small mountain!" Zhao De exclaimed, his face filled with disbelief.

Leah quickly drew back her bowstring, aimed at the target, and prepared to fire: "Don't just stand there, get to it!"

"That's right, now is not the time to be afraid." Zhao De brandished his longsword and bravely charged towards the enemy. "Let's all charge!"

Just as the battle was about to erupt, the shadow beast suddenly stopped, seemingly sizing up the tiny beings before it. After a moment, it spoke: "Humans, why are you so obsessed with challenging forces that cannot be defeated?"

This sudden conversation left everyone momentarily speechless. Finally, Zhao De broke the silence: "Because we believe that no matter how powerful the enemy, as long as there is hope in our hearts, there are no difficulties that cannot be overcome."

The Shadow Beast was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded: "Very good, that courage is respectable. But I must warn you, the road to victory is fraught with thorns. Are you truly prepared for what lies ahead?"

"Of course!" the three answered in unison, their eyes shining with unwavering determination.

“Alright then…” The Shadow Beast turned and walked deeper into the cave. “Follow me, and I’ll show you true power.”

Guided by the Shadow Beast, Zhao De and his group embarked on an even more unknown path. Their footsteps and breathing echoed within the cave, a heavy and oppressive atmosphere filling the air. They traversed a maze of intricate passages, finally arriving before a colossal underground palace.

"This...this place is too magnificent!" Zhao De exclaimed, his gaze drawn to the magnificent decorations around him. The runes that shimmered with a deep blue light danced on the walls, as beautiful and mysterious as a starry sky.

Leah cautiously surveyed her surroundings: "Although it looks beautiful, we can't let our guard down. Who knows if there are more dangers waiting for us here?"

“Well said, Leah.” Zhao De nodded. “Everyone stay alert and stick close to me.”

Just as they were about to enter the palace, several ragged men suddenly emerged from the shadows, their eyes filled with wariness and unease.

"Wait, who are you? Why are you following that monster?" one of the old men asked tremulously, his voice filled with obvious fear.

“Old man, don’t be afraid.” Zhao De stepped forward and explained in a gentle tone, “We are explorers who have come to eliminate the Shadow Beast. It seems willing to take us somewhere now, but rest assured, we will protect everyone’s safety.”

Upon hearing this, the elderly people exchanged complicated glances. Finally, one of the elderly spoke on their behalf: "If that's really the case, then we beg you. Too many innocent lives have been lost here. We hope you can save us."

Another woman added, "I hope you succeed; everything here is just awful..."

Chapter 808 Crystal Ball

Chapter 808 The Crystal Ball.

After bidding farewell to the survivors, Zhao De and his group continued to follow the Shadow Beasts deeper into the palace. Along the way, they encountered some strange creatures, some emitting a faint glow, others completely transparent, seemingly blending into their surroundings. Each encounter with a new life form filled the team members with both curiosity and tension.

As they passed through an ancient stone gate, a magnificent hall suddenly appeared before them. In the center of the hall stood a tall altar, upon which rested a crystal ball emitting a soft white light. This extraordinary radiance illuminated the entire space, making it appear exceptionally solemn and sacred.

"This is your destination—the Heart of Light." The Shadow Beast's voice echoed in the empty hall. "To completely dispel the darkness here, you must activate it."

"The Heart of Light?" Zhao De repeated the name, a surge of inexplicable excitement welling up within him. "Then what should we do?"

The Shadow Beast turned around and gazed at each person with its deep eyes: "Infuse your courage and faith into it; only pure power can awaken its power."

Just then, a chilling laugh shattered the silence, and a figure shrouded in black mist slowly emerged from the shadows. "Foolish humans, do you think this will change everything?" The voice was filled with mockery and malice. "This is my domain; no one can escape!"

"It's you again!" Zhao De immediately became alert, gripping his longsword tightly. "I let you escape before, but I won't give you another chance this time!"

The other party gave a cold laugh: "Then let's see who the real winner is."

As soon as the words were spoken, the entire hall descended into chaos. The once quiet space began to tremble violently, and countless sharp rocks burst from the ground, forming solid barriers; at the same time, many small shadow beasts surged in from all directions, launching a fierce attack on everyone.

"Watch out, everyone!" Lia shouted a warning. She quickly drew back her bow and fired several arrows, repelling a few approaching enemies.