The Underdog's Counterattack and Mystery-Solving
Lu Yao stood before the massive door, its ancient runes seeming to come alive, dancing right in front of her eyes.
An invisible force formed a wall, making it hard for her to get close, as if warning her: "Newbie, don't you dare take a single step across this line!" Defiant, she reached out, but the moment she touched the runes, a powerful rebound shockwave forced her back a few steps, her palm tingling with numbness.
"Let me try!" Suyi rolled up his sleeves, eager to give it a try. As he walked toward the door, he shot a sideways glance at Lu Yao, a look that practically said, "Watch me, I'm definitely going to do better than you." Convinced that as an adept cultivator, he shouldn't be worse off than a beginner like Lu Yao.
Yet before he even touched the door, he was blasted back by an even stronger force, slamming against the wall like a cannonball with a loud "thud."
Watching Suyi's pathetic state, Lu Yao was startled at first, but then the corners of her mouth curved up slightly in a bit of schadenfreude. She thought to herself: "Hmph, that'll teach you to underestimate me. This door isn't something you can just force open with brute strength." She felt a bit frustrated, like a novice village NPC being looked down upon by the door.
At that moment, Lin Yue ran over, panting, and holding an old, tattered book excitedly said, "I found information about these runes!" Lu Yao and Suyi exchanged glances; Lu Yao's eyes were full of doubt, while Suyi let out a disdainful snort.
Lu Yao walked over to Lin Yue, fixed her eyes on the ancient book, frowned, and asked, "This looks all beat up. Is it even reliable?" Lin Yue's face flushed red as she anxiously defended herself, "I worked really hard to find this, it's definitely useful." Lin Yue began explaining the method for deciphering the runes, dropping her playful phrasing this time.
Half-doubting, Lu Yao decided to try what Lin Yue suggested. The moment she channeled a trace of spiritual power, the runes erupted with a blinding light, and the backlash of energy blasted her backward into the wall.
Clutching her chest with a pale face, Lu Yao glared at Lin Yue in fury, fire seemingly shooting from her eyes, and yelled angrily, "If you don't know what you're doing, stop talking nonsense!" Startled by the sudden outburst, Lin Yue took a step back, her eyes instantly brimming with tears as she said with a trembling voice, "I... I just wanted to help..." Standing nearby with his arms crossed, Suyi said with malicious glee, "Lin Yue, you really were too reckless." Stung by Suyi's words, Lin Yue felt an even greater sense of grievance. Turning to him, she choked out, "You have the nerve to say that! Didn't you fail to open this door too?" Seeing Lin Yue and Suyi start to bicker, Lu Yao felt her anger subside slightly. Frowning impatiently, she snapped, "Stop arguing, both of you!" Hearing Lu Yao's words felt like having a bucket of cold water poured over her; Lin Yue fell silent, merely lowering her head in a quiet slouch and gripping the ancient book so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
Lu Yao took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
She closed her eyes and focused her perception. The surroundings gradually grew quiet, and the runes on the door emitted a faint, uniquely rhythmic glow.
Lu Yao snapped her eyes open; the runes in her sight had transformed into dancing musical notes.
She reached out to touch the runes, and upon feeling their fluctuations, inspiration struck.
The corners of Lu Yao's lips curved into a confident smile. Remembering the stone door's earlier obstruction, she now felt like a victor triumphant in battle with it.
Her fingertips glided swiftly as she channeled her spiritual power. The runes emitted a soft glow, and the stone door slowly swung open, a breath of ancient, mysterious aura washing over her.
The joy in Lu Yao's heart broke like a breached dam; she lifted her head and laughed heartily, her laughter echoing to announce her victory.
Ma Lin's figure appeared inside the doorway, his expression expressionless yet carrying a trace of approval in his eyes.
Seeing him, Lu Yao felt her cheeks flush and her heart beat faster. She stole a quick glance at Suyi and Lin Yue, and noticing that they were looking at her too, she awkwardly looked away.
Ma Lin's deep, magnetic voice sounded: "Come in." Lu Yao walked through the door to find a massive formation inside, lights flashing at its center and surrounding runes radiating powerful energy fluctuations.
Drawing on her previous experience and perception, Lu Yao began to crack the formation. As she channeled her spiritual power, the light of the formation grew more intense, and its energy enveloped her, making her feel brimming with power.
Outside the door, Suyi and Lin Yue watched in astonishment. Suyi's eyes widened, his mouth agape as he pointed at Lu Yao and said to Lin Yue, "Look at her, she's actually this amazing." Lin Yue wore an expression of pure disbelief, her hand covering her mouth as she stared unblinkingly at Lu Yao, her heart filled with admiration for her as she softly whispered, "She really did it."
However, upon looking past the formation, Lu Yao discovered that it led not to an exit, but to a giant labyrinth filled with sharp spikes, radiating a dangerous aura.
Lu Yao took a deep breath and said, "I'm ready..."