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Everyone turned around and saw an old man wearing a cloak and holding a scepter slowly walking towards them. His eyes were as deep as the night sky, revealing unfathomable wisdom.
"You are..." Before Zhao De could finish speaking, the old man interrupted him:
“I am the wizard who protects this land, and for a long time I have been waiting for the one who possesses the Key to the Heart. Your arrival signifies either the beginning or the end of everything.”
“My lord wizard, we need to find and stop the awakening of that evil force. Do you have any guidance?” Zhao De asked earnestly.
The wizard pondered for a moment, then pointed towards the mountaintop: "At the summit lies a forgotten altar, where the seal is gradually weakening. Only the holder of the Key of the Heart can reseal that power. But remember, the journey is fraught with danger; you must be prepared to face the unknown."
Chapter 606 Snow Mountain
Chapter 606 Snow Mountain
With that, the wizard's figure faded away, leaving only a warning echoing in the wind and snow: "Be careful, in the darkness there are not only monsters... but also human hearts."
Gazing at the spot where the wizard had vanished, Zhao De took a deep breath, turned to his companions, and said with determination in his eyes, "Are you ready, my friends? Whatever lies ahead, we will face it together."
"I'll follow you to the ends of the earth!" Little Li was the first to respond, patting the sword at his waist with a determined look in his eyes.
"For our homeland, it is our duty!" The other members of the team also expressed their opinions, and their voices gathered into an unstoppable force, making this frozen land seem to have a touch of warmth.
With a command, Zhao De and his group followed the path of light guided by the Key of the Heart and stepped into the vast snow-covered mountains. The wind howled fiercer, the snow fell heavier, and every step seemed exceptionally difficult, but they supported each other, and none of them dared to retreat.
On their way, they encountered a stranded caravan. Several overturned wagons were mostly buried in snow, and the merchants huddled together, shivering from the cold. "Brave warriors, save us! We're lost and have lost all our goods..." A middle-aged merchant saw Zhao De and the others, and a glimmer of hope flashed in his eyes.
Without hesitation, Zhao De immediately organized a rescue team, clearing snow and distributing food and clothing to the merchants. A young girl in the caravan, with tears of gratitude in her eyes, whispered, "You are truly heroes sent from heaven. If we hadn't met you, we would probably have perished here."
“We just did what we were supposed to do. Hurry up and come down the mountain with us. Safety is the most important thing,” Zhao Dewen responded gently. This composure and magnanimity earned him even more respect from those around him.
After this incident, Zhao De's team became even more famous, and the villagers along the way were all talking about it.
"Look at those people, they are not only warriors, but also compassionate angels."
"How wonderful the world would be if everyone could be like them."
As they drew closer to the summit, the uneasy atmosphere in the air grew heavier. In a narrow valley, they encountered a group of beasts controlled by dark forces, and a battle was imminent.
"Protect the caravan, let's go!" Zhao De commanded, and the group joined forces to engage in a fierce battle with the beast horde. During the battle, Zhao De's swordsmanship was like a dance, both elegant and deadly. Each swing of his sword severed the claws of darkness, and his teammates' coordination was flawless.
After the battle, the group rested briefly, and the caravan members came forward to express their gratitude. Among them, a young girl handed Zhao De a delicate little box: "This was left to me by my mother. She said it could protect the holder from evil. Please accept it as a small token of our appreciation."
Zhao De initially wanted to decline, but seeing the girl's insistence, he smiled and accepted: "Thank you for your trust. We will carry it with us to complete our mission."
Finally, as Zhao De and his group stood before the forgotten altar, thunderclouds surged in the sky, seemingly foreshadowing the final battle.
"Are you ready, friends?" Zhao De looked around, and everyone's face was filled with determination.
"We are ready, for the light, for the world!" the crowd responded in unison.
Chapter 607 Offering at the VB Altar
Chapter 607 Altar
Just as they were about to step onto the altar to face the unknown darkness, a strange fluctuation suddenly came from afar, and the earth seemed to tremble.
"What is that?" Xiao Li looked into the distance warily, a hint of horror flashing in his eyes.
"It seems our opponent has arrived faster than we anticipated." Zhao De stared at the unknown source of the fluctuations, a confident smile playing on his lips. "However, this is just as good, saving us time in the search."
"Prepare for the challenge," Zhao De's voice was steady and powerful, like a ray of sunshine in winter, warm and resolute. Everyone in the team quickly adjusted their stance, gripped their weapons tightly, and locked their gazes on the direction of the mysterious fluctuation.
Just as everyone was getting ready to go, a group of panicked passersby came running from the other side of the valley, their faces full of fear and confusion.
"Have you heard? The entire village over there is shrouded in black mist! It's said that a monster has appeared, swallowing up all the light, even dimming the sun!" A bearded man panted heavily, his tone full of disbelief.
"Monster? Black mist?" Xiao Li frowned, turned to look at Zhao De, and asked in his eyes.
Zhao De nodded slightly, having already made up his mind: "It seems our path has been chosen. We must resolve the crisis there before we can move forward."
"Heroes, please! Our family is still there!" A young mother knelt on the ground, tears streaming down her face, her plea heartbreaking.
“Get up, this is what we should do.” Zhao De helped her up, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. “Everyone, get ready to go. We not only need to save that village, but also stop the spread of darkness.”
With Zhao De's command, the team set off again, this time with more determined steps, carrying the hopes and expectations of more people.
During their journey, they encountered several children who had fled the village. Their eyes were vacant, as if they had witnessed some unspeakable horror.
"Big brother, there's... there's a huge shadow over there that will eat everything," a little boy said, his voice barely audible, yet as chilling as the cold wind.
Zhao De squatted down and gently patted the little boy's head: "Don't be afraid, we're here, the shadows will be dispelled by the light."
They quickened their pace and finally reached the edge of the village shrouded in black mist. The villagers huddled in their dilapidated houses, and the occasional cries that escaped their ears revealed their utter despair.
"This black fog... is unusual, be careful," the wise old Wu in the group whispered a warning, his eyes gleaming with wisdom.
"Split up and search for the source of the black fog. Remember, stay in touch." After giving his orders, Zhao De took the lead and stepped into the suffocating darkness.
As time passed, they discovered an ancient well hidden in the center of the village, from which black mist continuously billowed. Beside the well, a figure slowly emerged—a former comrade, now corrupted by darkness and turned into an enemy.
“Why…why…” Zhao De’s voice was filled with disbelief and heartache.
"Because of power, supreme power." The figure let out a chilling laugh, its eyes devoid of their former warmth.
"If this is the path you've chosen, then I have no choice but to free you from the darkness." Zhao De gripped the hilt of his sword, his body radiating a resolute light.
Chapter 608 Endless Darkness for Half a Year
Chapter 608 Endless Darkness
"Hmph, then let's see who truly reigns supreme, light or darkness." The dark figure vanished into the black mist, and a fateful showdown was about to unfold.
The villagers who had gathered around were terrified and began to discuss the matter amongst themselves.
"Who...who is that person? Why did they turn out like this?" A middle-aged man covered his mouth and asked incredulously.
"Can Lord Zhao De win? He looks so powerful!" A child tugged at his mother's hand, his eyes filled with both fear and anticipation.
"Quiet, just keep watching and you'll see." The old man gently patted the child's head, his eyes gleaming with trust in Zhao De.
In a tense and oppressive atmosphere, Zhao De ventured deeper into the black mist, each step feeling like walking on nothingness. The surrounding black mist seemed to possess a life of its own, constantly trying to entangle him, but was repelled by the light emanating from within him.
"Come out, hiding isn't your style," Zhao De called out in a deep voice, the surrounding air trembling as the two forces clashed.
Suddenly, a burst of wild laughter erupted from the darkness. Immediately afterward, the corrupted figure surged in from all directions, transforming into countless black shadows that attacked Zhao De.
"Sword of Light!" Zhao De shouted, and the sword in his hand shone brightly. Every strike accurately severed the dark figure, but the figure always managed to reassemble itself at the last moment, immortal and indestructible.
"You're too naive, Zhao De. In this endless darkness, light is nothing more than a tiny spark!" The voice from the darkness was mocking.
"Perhaps so, but even the faintest light can illuminate the way forward." Zhao De encouraged those around him as he accepted the challenge.
Just then, a soft but firm voice rang out: "Lord Zhao De is right! We cannot give up hope!" It was the same trembling little boy from before. He stood at the village entrance, his fists clenched, his eyes no longer filled with fear, but with an unprecedented determination.
Seeing this, the villagers also mustered their courage and began to resist the black fog in whatever way they could, even if it was just by lighting a lamp or singing songs of hope.
"Look, even these people haven't given up, so what can you change?" As soon as Zhao De finished speaking, the sword light surged, seemingly drawing on all the light power around it to form a dazzling beam of light that struck the source of darkness.
"Ah—" The figure writhed in agony in the light, finally collapsing into countless tiny black mists that dissipated into the air. The black mists slowly receded, and the first rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds, illuminating this ravaged land.
"Lord Zhao De, you did it!" The young mother's tears fell again, but this time, they were tears of joy and gratitude.
Looking at the village that had regained its light, Zhao De smiled slightly: "This is not my victory alone, but the result of the light in everyone's heart."
At that moment, his former companion slowly approached, his eyes, though weary, were clear, clearly having broken free from the control of darkness: "Thank you, Zhao De. I owe you a new life."
“We are each other’s light.” Zhao De patted him on the shoulder, and their eyes met in the air, conveying a silent understanding and strength.
"Lord Zhao De, you are truly our hero!" An old man, leaning on his cane, walked shakily out of the crowd, tears welling in his eyes. The surrounding villagers echoed his sentiments, applause and cheers mingling together, as if even the air itself was filled with the joy of victory.
Chapter 609 Yearning for Peace
Chapter 609 Yearning for Peace
“Hero? I’m just an ordinary person, just like everyone else, longing for peace.” Zhao De smiled modestly, his gaze gently sweeping over each hopeful face. “It was our shared belief and courage that dispelled the darkness.”
“But you are different. Your light illuminates our path.” The little boy broke free from his mother’s hand, ran to Zhao De, and looked up at him earnestly. His eyes shone with admiration, as if he had witnessed the greatest miracle in the world.
"Everyone has a sword of light in their heart. Little boy, one day in the future, you will also become someone else's light." Zhao De gently stroked the child's head, giving him an encouraging look.
Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out at the village entrance, and several travelers, looking hurried, stumbled in. Their clothes were tattered and they were covered in dust, clearly indicating that they had traveled a long way.
"Lord Zhao De, please save our village!" The leader of the travelers knelt down, his hands tightly gripping Zhao De's clothes, his eyes filled with despair and pleading. "Darkness has spread and swallowed everything. We are the only survivors."
A gasp and whispers of sympathy rippled through the crowd. Zhao De gazed at their exhausted faces, a strong sense of responsibility welling up within him.
“Take me to see,” Zhao De said briefly and firmly, then turned to the crowd and announced, “Friends, we have just reclaimed our homes from darkness, but many more are waiting for the light. We must pass on this hope!”
The villagers looked at each other, their eyes shining with determination. Soon, a team led by Zhao De, comprising people of all ages and professions, was formed. They embarked on a new journey with hope and courage.
"Are you really going, Lord Zhao De? It's very dangerous there!" The young mother grabbed Zhao De's arm, her eyes filled with reluctance.
Zhao De smiled gently: "That's precisely why I can't back down. Light won't come on its own; we must find it and create it ourselves."
As the procession gradually disappeared into the distance, the villagers stood at the village entrance, watching their figures vanish into the horizon, their hearts filled with blessings and anticipation.
"They are truly the bravest people we have ever met," an old woman murmured, while the children beside her looked on with admiration, discussing how they wanted to become great heroes like Zhao De when they grew up.
Just as the sun was about to set, a strange light appeared in the distant sky, a harbinger of another clash between light and darkness. A young girl looked up at the sky, her eyes shining with determination: "Lord Zhao De, you must win. We will wait for you here, until the light returns."
The team traversed rolling mountains, each step heavy yet resolute. Along the way, they encountered more villages shrouded in darkness, and each time, Zhao De and his team would unhesitatingly extend a helping hand, igniting a flame of hope with their actions. Their deeds quickly spread among the people, becoming a legendary tale of heroism.