A Turn for the Better in a Desperate Situation
The sharp spikes closed in with a hiss, sounding like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, enough to make one's hair stand on end.
Staring at the strange symbols on the wall, Lu Yao felt as though her brain cells were burning up. Sweat dripped down her forehead, evaporating in the tense atmosphere.
"What on earth are these scribbles!" Suyi scratched his head and tore at his ears, frantic as an ant on a hot pan.
Lin Yue looked equally bewildered. "Yao Yao, don't you have a golden finger? Hurry up and activate your cheat!" Time ticked away second by second, the aura of danger growing heavier, and everyone's heart leaped into their throats.
Just as they thought they were about to become human shish kebabs, an elderly man wearing gray Daoist robes and possessing the air of an immortal materialized out of thin air.
With his crane-like hair and youthful complexion, holding a whisk, he cut the very picture of an otherworldly expert.
"Young people, do you know what the 'Dao' is?" The old man stroked his beard and smiled benignly. It was none other than Xuanjizi.
Everyone: "???" What time was it, and he still wanted to chat about philosophy?
Lu Yao wore a face full of question marks, while Suyi and Lin Yue were instantly petrified.
Ma Lin's gaze turned icy, his entire body radiating vigilance. A gleaming dagger suddenly appeared in his hand, ready to strike at the slightest disagreement.
"The Dao can connect all things..." The old man's words cleaved through Lu Yao's chaotic thoughts like a bolt of lightning.
She chewed over the phrase repeatedly, her heart locked in a bitter struggle.
Could this old man be here to play a joke?
Yet, the unfathomable aura emanating from him did not seem like a joke at all.
Time was pressing. Lu Yao felt as though two tiny figures were fighting inside her heart, one telling her to trust him, the other telling her to run.
At this critical juncture, a sudden flash of inspiration struck Lu Yao...
"I know!"
Swiftly, she traced her fingers across the wall, and those strange symbols seemed to glow softly beneath her touch.
Xuanjizi nodded in satisfaction, smiling as he looked at Lu Yao.
He told Lu Yao that these symbols were actually ancient immortal cultivation runes; only by feeling them with one's heart could one unlock the confusion within.
Following Xuanjizi's method, Lu Yao operated the mechanism. The maze's spikes slowly ground to a halt, and a hidden door creaked open as a joyful atmosphere filled the surroundings.
Lu Yao and her friends exchanged excited smiles, their tense nerves finally relaxing.
Looking at Lu Yao and the others, Xuanjizi's eyes brimmed with affection. He told Lu Yao that they would still encounter many hardships along the path of immortal cultivation.
Lu Yao thanked Xuanjizi gratefully, and Xuanjizi smiled and waved his hand, a warm ambiance pervading the air.
Suyi and Lin Yue also looked at Xuanjizi with profound respect, creating a harmonious atmosphere.
Just as Lu Yao and the others were about to step through the door, a horde of monsters suddenly surged out from within, lunging wildly toward the group.
Caught off guard, everyone retreated instinctively, shock and fear written across their faces as a tense battle atmosphere descended.
Quickly regaining his composure, Ma Lin took charge and directed everyone's response, fully displaying his leadership.
Lu Yao and her friends engaged the monsters in a fierce battle, during which Lu Yao realized these creatures possessed unusual strength.
Fighting while racking her brain for a countermeasure, Lu Yao was surrounded by the clamor of battle.
Just as everyone began to struggle, a sudden light flashed in Lu Yao's eyes.
Having apparently spotted the monsters' weakness, a cold smile curved the corner of her mouth. Yet she did not rush to act, choosing instead to observe quietly and wait for the optimal moment.
Silently, Lu Yao nodded to Ma Lin in a moment of mutual understanding.