Xuan Yang stared at the map, its lines resembling chaotic scribbles, his brow furrowed in frustration. "Who drew this thing? It looks like a child's doodle!"
Lu Zhiyuan stroked his beard, his tone serious. "This map... it resembles some ancient totem, quite unusual." He squinted, his dim eyes straining to make sense of the lines in the faint light, as if searching for clues hidden within.
On the map, alongside the winding and disordered lines that looked like worms crawling, there were several peculiar markings, akin to mysterious symbols that seemed like a foreign language to Xuan Yang; he couldn't recognize any of them.
"What do these symbols represent?" Xuan Yang asked, pointing at a spiral symbol that resembled a snail shell, puzzled by its meaning.
Lu Zhiyuan shook his head and sighed deeply. "I’m not sure either. Perhaps we can only unravel these mysteries by finding the corresponding locations on the map." He paused before adding, "This map is ancient; many of the markings have faded over time, making interpretation even more challenging."
Xuan Yang took a deep breath. He understood that this would be an adventure filled with uncertainties; ahead of him lay either endless treasures or deadly traps.
"Regardless, we need to find the nearest mark on the map," Xuan Yang said, pointing to a symbol resembling an eye. The symbol emitted an eerie glow, as if watching them. "This thing looks creepy; it can't be something evil, can it?"
Lu Zhiyuan narrowed his eyes and examined the markings closely. After a long moment, he slowly replied, "This mark... appears to indicate 'the entrance to the Trial Grounds.'"
"The Trial Grounds?" A spark ignited in Xuan Yang's mind. Could this be the key to awakening his powers? He clenched his fists as an inexplicable excitement surged within him.
"Indeed," Lu Zhiyuan affirmed, his voice steady and eyes gleaming with wisdom. "Legend has it that only by passing through the Trial Grounds can one obtain true power. They are said to be filled with various dangers and challenges; only true warriors can emerge victorious."
Xuan Yang felt a rush of anticipation and exhilaration; he was eager to find this Trial Grounds and uncover its secrets that could grant him greater strength. "Damn it! I’ve been looking for a place to level up; this Trial Grounds is just what I need!"
"There's no time to waste; let’s set off now!" Xuan Yang declared firmly, his eyes brimming with desire.
Lu Zhiyuan nodded in agreement. "Very well, setting off early will allow us to reach our destination sooner."
A group of travelers packed their belongings and set off towards the entrance of the trial grounds, following the directions on the map.
As they journeyed, they traversed dense forests where ancient trees towered overhead, blocking out the sun and filling the air with the damp scent of earth. They climbed steep peaks, where jagged rocks loomed ominously, making it seem as if a misstep could send them plummeting into an abyss. They faced numerous dangers, walking as if on the edge of a knife, each step filled with trepidation.
Xuan Yang remained vigilant, controlling his Shadow Puppet to patrol the surroundings like a loyal guardian, ensuring their safety. "This cursed place feels so eerie; it’s as if something is watching us," he thought to himself.
"Be careful!" Suddenly, Lu Zhiyuan shouted, his voice laced with terror.
A shadow darted out from the trees like lightning, lunging toward Xuan Yang. The figure moved with incredible speed, reaching Xuan Yang in an instant, exuding a chilling aura of murderous intent.
Xuan Yang reacted swiftly, immediately commanding his Shadow Puppet to defend against the attack.
The shadow collided with the Shadow Puppet, producing a deafening roar akin to thunder. The surrounding trees trembled violently, and leaves fell like golden rain.
As Xuan Yang focused his gaze, he realized that their attacker was a massive black panther, radiating a strong Killing Intent like an Evil Spirit from hell, sending shivers down his spine. The panther was enormous and muscular, its Crimson Dual Eyes glinting with ferocity as if it intended to tear Xuan Yang apart.
The panther moved with astonishing speed and strength, darting through the Shadow Puppets and launching relentless attacks. Its claws were sharp as blades; each swipe could shred the Shadow Puppets apart with a sound that made one’s teeth ache.
Though Xuan Yang had many Shadow Puppets at his disposal, they struggled to withstand the panther's onslaught, akin to a mantis trying to stop a chariot—futile and reckless. One by one, they fell under the panther's assault, on the verge of complete destruction.
"This panther... seems to be controlled by some force," Lu Zhiyuan said gravely, concern etched in his eyes. "Its gaze is hollow; there’s no spark of life—it's like a puppet manipulated by someone."
Xuan Yang noticed this too; the panther's eyes were vacant as if it had lost its soul, mechanically launching attacks devoid of any instinct or spirit typical of wild beasts.
"It seems we’ve run into trouble," Xuan Yang thought grimly, his brow furrowed. "This cursed place is indeed fraught with danger."
At that moment, more shadows surged out from the woods, surrounding them like a tidal wave.
These shadows took on various forms; some resembled beasts, while others were humanoid monsters, akin to Evil Spirits crawling out from hell, sending chills down their spines. They emitted a cacophony of howls and shrieks, reminiscent of ghostly wails, creating an atmosphere of terror.
Xuan Yang's heart sank as he realized they were in a dire situation. "Damn it! What kind of hellhole is this?" he couldn't help but curse.
He manipulated the Shadow Puppet and engaged in fierce combat with the shadows. The aftermath of the battle devastated the surrounding trees and rocks, as if a catastrophe had struck; the entire forest was thrown into chaos, dust swirling and obscuring the sky.
Xuan Yang felt his strength rapidly depleting. He knew he had to find a way out quickly, or the consequences would be dire. "Crap, this isn't going to work; I need to think of a way to escape."
Just then, he suddenly recalled another function of the Golden Finger—Reverse Control.
Taking a deep breath, he focused all his attention on controlling the mastermind behind the shadows, like a hunter aiming at its prey, his gaze sharp and determined. "It's you hiding in the dark; come out!"
He silently recited an incantation and activated Reverse Control, unleashing a powerful magic. A strange force emanated from Xuan Yang, instantly enveloping the entire forest like an invisible wave spreading outward.
The controlled shadows abruptly halted their attacks, as if they had lost their direction, wandering aimlessly with confused expressions like lambs that had lost their way.
Xuan Yang felt a surge of joy; he knew Reverse Control had succeeded. "Haha, you think you can challenge me? You're still too green!"
He wielded the power of Reverse Control to bounce back the influence over the shadows, turning their own attacks against them.
A chilling scream echoed from deep within the forest, resembling the wailing of a vengeful spirit, sending shivers down their spines. The sound was filled with pain and despair, as if it came from the depths of hell.
Soon after, the shadows retreated like a receding tide, disappearing without a trace as if they had never existed.
The battle had come to an end.
Xuan Yang stood in place, breathing heavily as if he had just run a marathon, utterly exhausted.
He looked up at the sky and noticed that it was nearly dark.
"We need to find a place to rest," Xuan Yang said.
Lu Zhiyuan nodded in agreement.
They searched for a relatively safe spot, lit a campfire, and prepared to rest.
Just then, Xuan Yang suddenly felt a tremor beneath his feet, as if an earthquake was occurring, growing stronger by the moment.
"What’s happening?" Lu Zhiyuan asked in terror.
Xuan Yang's expression turned serious; he sensed a powerful force approaching, like a mountain pressing down on him, suffocating.
Suddenly, the ground cracked open, and a massive black hole appeared before them, resembling a gateway to hell, exuding a chilling aura.
Could it be... the entrance to the trial grounds?
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