The four of them walked forward along the corridor, stepping as if on thin ice, filled with a mixture of tension and anticipation. The corridor was eerily quiet. The gems embedded in the walls emitted a faint glow, outlining their slightly exhausted yet utterly resolute figures in the dim environment. Their shadows were drawn long and thin, resembling unique marks they had carved into this mysterious ruin. Lin Xiu's heart raced involuntarily. He instinctively moved closer to Bai Zhi, his gaze burning and sharp as he scanned the surroundings vigilantly, not missing the slightest anomaly. Lowering his voice with care overflowing from every word, he gently said to Bai Zhi, "Your mana was severely depleted earlier. If there's any danger ahead, make sure to stay behind me and don't push yourself." Bai Zhi looked up at him, her clear eyes filled with emotion. Biting her lip slightly, she responded softly, "I'll be fine, but you must be extra, extra careful yourself."
Just then, a dull, rolling roar echoed from the front of the corridor, resembling the growl of an ancient beast and shattering the previous dead silence. Immediately after, the ground began to vibrate violently, causing everyone to sway and lose their footing. As the tremors intensified, the walls on both sides of the corridor emitted cracking sounds, and spiderweb-like fissures rapidly spread across them. Next, a group of massive Rock Monsters burst forth from the walls. Each of these Rock Monsters stood over two heads taller than a person, their bodies constructed from hard stone with rough textures covering their surfaces. With every step they took, the ground shook as if the earth itself feared their power.
At the sight, Lin Xiu's gaze turned as sharp as a falcon's, and without hesitation, he activated his newly comprehended skill, Shadow Stealth. In an instant, his figure was seemingly swallowed by the darkness, disappearing completely without leaving a trace of his presence in the surrounding air. Relying on this uncanny stealth ability, Lin Xiu moved like a phantom among the Rock Monsters, keeping his eyes locked on their every move in an attempt to find their flaws.
Bai Zhi quickly retreated to the rear of the group, clutching her staff tightly and chanting under her breath as a soft halo enveloped her—her newly acquired Healing Aura. Like a warm spring sun, this halo continuously restored the stamina and mana of any teammate within its radius. Bathed in this warm glow, the group, previously exhausted from earlier battles, felt a warm current flow through their entire bodies, gradually regaining some of their strength and easing their tired expressions.
Su Yu and Lu Chen were not about to fall behind. Su Yu quickly nocked an arrow, drawing the bowstring taut with a gaze full of firmness and resolve. With a crisp snap, the arrow whistled out carrying armor-piercing force, aiming straight for the Rock Monster's iron-hard exterior in an attempt to tear open a gap. Meanwhile, Lu Chen gripped his greatsword with both hands, the blade gleaming with a chilling light. With a roar like a brave and fearless lion, he charged fiercely at the Rock Monsters, engaging them in intense close combat. However, the strength of the Rock Monsters far exceeded imagination. Wielding their thick stone arms, every attack carried immense weight, coming fast and fierce, driving the group back step by step and plunging them into a bitter struggle.
As the battle reached its white-hot peak, the situation grew increasingly tense. One particularly massive Rock Monster locked its gaze on Bai Zhi, a bizarre gleam flashing in its eyes as it swung its huge stone arm down heavily toward her. The blow carried a whistling wind, powerful enough to smash a person into pulp. From his hidden state, Lin Xiu took in the entire scene, his heart tightening instantly with burning anxiety. With no time to think, he rushed toward Bai Zhi regardless of the danger. At the very last split second before the Rock Monster's strike could hit Bai Zhi, Lin Xiu suddenly materialized. Gathering all his strength into his arm, he used his dagger to block the fatal blow head-on. The tremendous impact struck like a surging wave, instantly sending Lin Xiu flying. He traced an arc through the air before crashing heavily to the ground, a trickle of bright red blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.
"Lin Xiu!" Bai Zhi screamed in terror, her eyes filled with panic and heartache. Without hesitation, she rushed to Lin Xiu's side, her hands moving swiftly to channel more mana into the Healing Aura. Wrapped in the powerful healing energy, Lin Xiu's injuries gradually stabilized, and his pale complexion slowly regained a trace of color.
Lin Xiu slowly raised his head to look at the worried Bai Zhi. Enduring the pain, he managed a gentle smile: "Don't be afraid, I'm fine. As long as you're safe, that's all that matters." Bai Zhi's eyes grew slightly red, tears welling up as she nodded gently, her voice choked with emotion: "Don't ever be this foolish again. I really can't lose you."
Their gazes met. In that moment, the fierce sounds of battle and the roars of the Rock Monsters seemed to fade away, leaving the whole world with only the two of them. They saw deep care and affection in each other's eyes, emotions made all the more precious in this dangerous ruin. But soon, they snapped back to reality, knowing the battle was not yet over and that a more important mission awaited them.
During his subsequent maneuvering against the Rock Monsters, relying on his keen observation and rich combat experience, Lin Xiu finally discovered that while the joints of the Rock Monsters were also covered in stone, they were relatively fragile and served as their fatal weakness. Taking advantage of a lull in the fight, he quickly shared this discovery with his teammates. Upon hearing this, Su Yu immediately adjusted her attack style, her arrows flying like agile birds toward the joint areas of the Rock Monsters. Lu Chen likewise changed his tactics, every swing of his greatsword precisely targeting the joints of the beasts. Through the group's tight coordination and joint efforts, the Rock Monsters crashed down one after another, kicking up clouds of dust.
[Experience Points Gained: 3000]
[Level increased to Level 23]
[Rare Material Obtained: Rock Crystal Core]
After defeating the Rock Monsters, the four of them rested briefly to recover some stamina. They continued deeper along the corridor. As they drew closer step by step, a stone gate emitting a multicolored light appeared ahead. Tall and mysterious, the gate was covered in strange, glowing symbols that seemed to tell ancient stories while concealing a massive secret capable of altering their fate, beckoning them to continue their exploration.