The contestant is too old, sister Zhou is crazy

"No matter what, we can't retreat." Yueyue said firmly, "In order to protect our homeland, we must move forward bravely."

The conversation gradually came to an end, but the air was filled with a breath of determination and hope. They knew that every step forward would be full of unknowns and challenges, but they knew that as long as they relied on each other, there would be no difficulties that could not be overcome.

Late at night, Su Mo looked out the window. The stars were shining brightly, as if pointing the way for them: "Tomorrow, we will continue to move forward. No matter what the road ahead holds, we are confident that we will find the truth."

"Yes," Li Zixue echoed, her eyes also fixed on the distant starry sky, "The truth, like the brightest stars, may be hard to reach, but as long as we persevere, we will eventually grasp it."

"I am willing to follow you to the end of the world." The mysterious shadow guard's words were concise and powerful. His promise was as heavy as a mountain, which made people feel at ease.

Yueyue clenched her fists tightly, with an undying light in her eyes: "No matter when or where, I am ready to fight for our common future."

Zhao Ming raised his hand, and the four of them put their palms together tacitly. At this moment, silence was louder than words. Their faith and strength gathered together, as if they could shake the whole world.

"Then, take a rest, friends." Su Mo said softly, his eyes showing both calmness for tomorrow's challenge and deep concern for his companions. "In tomorrow's battle, we will open a new chapter together."

As the night deepened, the four of them dispersed and returned to their resting places, ready to greet another dawn full of unknowns and adventures.

The next day, as the first rays of morning light shone, the alliance and its surroundings were already busy. Word of mouth spread quickly about the deeds of Su Mo and his group, stirring up waves in the hearts of countless people.

"Have you heard? Su Mo and his team are setting off again today!" A young girl shared excitedly with her companions, her eyes full of longing.

"Really? They are so brave, I want to be like that!" her friend responded with stars twinkling in her eyes.

In a corner of the market, several old men sat together, talking about the new legend of the alliance. "Su Mo and his friends reminded me of the heroic era back then. We were the same back then, marching forward bravely for our beliefs." A white-haired old man said with emotion.

"Yes, it's great to be young. I hope they can find a solution to the problem this time." Another old man echoed, with both expectation and worry in his eyes.

At the same time, on the other side of the city, Su Mo and Zhao Ming were running along a hidden alley, not missing any seemingly ordinary corner, trying to catch any clues related to the guardian. Passersby cast surprised eyes at their fast-moving figures:
"Look, those two people are walking as fast as the wind, could they be the legendary Su Mo and Zhao Ming?" someone exclaimed.

"That should be right. I heard that they are looking for the truth about the Guardian's rebellion. How brave of them." Another person echoed, his words full of admiration for the two.

Li Zixue was in her study room, surrounded by thick ancient books and complex diagrams. Scholars came in and out from time to time, exchanging opinions, and the atmosphere was tense and focused:
"Li Zixue, have you ever considered that this symbol is related to a lost civilization in ancient times?" asked an old scholar.

"This is a very crucial clue. Thank you for your reminder. I will study it in depth immediately." Li Zixue responded, her brows revealing her thirst for knowledge and determination.

Yueyue and the mysterious shadow guard patrolled the edge of the city. They worked together seamlessly, and any small movement could not escape their perception. Occasionally, passers-by would feel comforted when they saw them:
"With them around, we can at least sleep well." A woman whispered to her husband.

"Yeah, I hope they can find the answers and put this to an end." The husband nodded, his tone full of trust.

As night fell again, the four of them reunited in the Alliance's conference room to share their day's gains. Each discovery was like a piece of a puzzle, gradually outlining the full picture of the incident.

"Today, I heard rumors about the Guardian and some ancient relics from an old blacksmith. They sound quite consistent with our goals." Zhao Minghui reported.

"And on my side," Li Zixue continued, "through in-depth research on the gem, I found clues pointing to an ancient relic. Perhaps that is the source of power we have been looking for."

Yueyue clenched her fists, her eyes sparkling: "No matter what challenges lie ahead, I'm ready!"

The mysterious shadow guard was silent for a moment, and finally spoke: "Tomorrow, I will explore the way ahead to ensure the safety of the route."

Su Mo looked around at everyone, with a determined smile on his face: "My friends, tomorrow, we will step onto the real battlefield, reveal everything, and protect our world."

"That's settled then. Everyone go to bed early and make sure to be in the best condition tomorrow." After Su Mo finished speaking, the four of them left the meeting room one after another. In the night, everyone's heart was filled with excitement and anxiety about the truth that was about to be revealed.

The next day, the sky was just beginning to turn pale, and Su Mo and his party had already gathered at the Alliance Square. The whispers and gazes of the people around them were once again focused on them, just like yesterday, but with a little more respect and expectation.

"Are they about to set off? Judging from their posture, they must have made an important discovery." A young man passing by said, his tone full of curiosity.

"I hope they can find a solution and protect our home." The old man at the side sighed, his wrinkles revealing worry and hope for the future.

Su Mo nodded to the people around him, and then said to the team members: "Today, our destination is the ancient ruins. Are you ready?"

"I can't wait!" Zhao Ming answered excitedly, his eyes burning with a passion to explore the unknown.

Li Zixue gently stroked the cover of the Book of Wisdom, calmly and resolutely: "Knowledge is power, I am fully prepared."

Yueyue had a confident smile on her face: "With you here, there is nothing we can't overcome."

The mysterious shadow guard remained silent as usual and just nodded slightly, but the determination in his eyes was stronger than any words.

As the first ray of sunlight fully spread over the Union Square, they set out on their journey to the ancient ruins. On the way, various challenges came one after another, from precipitous mountains to intricate mazes to the raids of unknown creatures. Every crisis made them more united and also stimulated their potential strength.

"Look! Isn't that Su Mo and the others? They dare to enter such a dangerous place, they are really courting their lives!" At the foot of the mountain, several travelers looked at their backs from afar, surprised.

"Yes, but it is also because of them that we have hope." Another traveler sighed, his eyes full of awe.

Deep in the ruins, puzzles and traps emerged one after another, but with the joint efforts of the four, they were solved one by one. Whenever this happened, Yueyue's cheers or Zhao Ming's exclamations could always be heard, and Li Zixue's wisdom and Shadow Guard's keen insight repeatedly saved the day.

"It's an unheard-of spectacle, Su Mo, your intuition is so accurate!" Zhao Ming shouted excitedly after unlocking a mechanism.

"There are more secrets waiting for us, don't let your guard down." Su Mo reminded. He knew that the closer he got to the truth, the greater the danger.

Finally, in a dimly lit hall, they found the source of that power - a mysterious altar that shone with light. On the altar, the gems resonated with it, releasing dazzling light that illuminated the entire space.

"Is this... the source of everything?" Li Zixue murmured to himself, and the Book of Wisdom in his hand opened automatically, and ancient runes shone in the light.

"We must proceed with caution. This power is both strong and unstable." The mysterious shadow guard rarely spoke, and his words were full of warnings.

Just as they were about to explore further, a low chant echoed in the empty hall, as if some kind of existence was being awakened...

"Oh no, something's coming!" Yueyue looked around vigilantly, with the weapon in her hand ready.

"Prepare for battle, we don't know what we will face." Su Mo commanded calmly, his eyes revealing an unbreakable determination.

The conversation came to an abrupt end, and the air around them seemed to freeze, leaving only the low chanting echoing in the ancient ruins, foreshadowing the upcoming challenge.

"Su Mo, where do you think that sound came from?" Zhao Ming asked in a low voice, slowly pulling out the sword in his hand half an inch, his muscles tensed, ready to deal with unknown threats.

"I'm not sure, but no matter who he is, we have no way out." Su Mo's eyes were sharp, scanning the dark corners, trying to capture any movement.

At this moment, a faint light flickered under the altar. As the low hum became clearer, a figure slowly rose up. It was wrapped in a layer of mist, and its face was blurred.

“You insignificant beings actually found your way here.” The voice was deep and ancient, echoing in the hall and sending chills down one’s spine.

"Who are you? What is your connection with the Guardian's rebellion?" Li Zixue asked loudly, while holding the Book of Wisdom close to his chest, ready to check for emergency countermeasures at any time.

"I am the origin and the end of the guardians. The answers you seek are all with me." The figure gradually took shape, with a pair of deep eyes that seemed to be able to see into people's hearts.

“Is the origin also the end?” Yueyue was puzzled but alert. She did not move, but was ready to deal with any possible attack.

"Yes, I once gave them power to protect this world. But now, this power has become a burden." The being slowly spread out his hands, and the light around him fluctuated, revealing a power that could not be ignored.

The mysterious shadow guard took a step forward, his deep voice full of determination: "If you are the root of all this, then you must tell us the solution."

"The solution?" The figure chuckled. Although the volume was not loud, it made everyone's eardrums buzz. "That depends on your choice. Do you want to continue to maintain this fragile balance, or break it and start a new era?"

"A new era?" Zhao Ming narrowed his eyes, the tip of his sword trembling slightly, "What is the price? More sacrifices and chaos?"

"Perhaps." The figure replied briefly and coldly, and then added, "But it may also be unprecedented peace and prosperity."

The air around him was heavy. Su Mo pondered for a moment and said, "We will have to bear the consequences of any choice we make. But before that, please tell us how to stop the current chaos."

“Stop… or guide?” The ancient being asked with a hint of amusement in his tone. “What you need is not only strength, but also understanding and sacrifice. On the altar, each of you has the opportunity to become a key, or a chain.”

"Key or chain?" Li Zixue repeated with a frown. She looked at her teammates, and the four of them had determination and unyielding eyes.

"We are willing to give it a try." Su Mo spoke on behalf of the team with a firm tone, "No matter what the result is, we will never back down for the world we protect."

Upon hearing this, the ancient being's body suddenly glowed brighter, then slowly dissipated, leaving only one sentence that echoed in the empty hall: "Your courage is commendable. I hope your choice can lead the world to light..."

As the sound disappeared, the entire hall returned to silence, leaving only four people looking at each other, with fear of the unknown and hope for the future in their eyes.

"Let's... start." Yueyue said softly, tightly grasping the weapon in her hand, and took a decisive step.

"That's right," Su Mo followed closely behind, clenching his fists and looking at him with a sharp gaze. "No matter what awaits us ahead, as long as the four of us work together, there will be no difficulties that we cannot overcome."

Li Zixue gently smoothed the pages of the Book of Wisdom. The runes on it seemed to shine even more brightly under her determined gaze. "Knowledge guides the way. Let us uncover the truth step by step."

The mysterious shadow guard said nothing, but every move he made was full of strength and determination, as if he was demonstrating his position with his actions. He walked silently to the side of the altar, observing his surroundings vigilantly, ready to respond to possible threats at any time.

Zhao Ming shrugged, his relaxed tone unable to conceal his inner nervousness and excitement. "Well, everyone, it's time to show our true strength. Whether it's the key or the chain, I'm ready!"

Following the instructions of the ancient being, the four people stood at the four positions of the altar. As they stood, the light on the altar began to flow, forming a rotating vortex of light. The air was filled with an ancient and mysterious energy, which made people feel shocked and awed.

“Do you feel it? The power is gathering.” Yueyue’s voice trembled slightly, but her eyes were unusually firm.

"Concentrate and don't be swayed by force." Li Zixue reminded. Her Book of Wisdom automatically turned to a page, and the ancient runes emitted a soft glow, providing guidance for them.

Suddenly, a powerful energy gushed out from the center of the altar, and the four people were enveloped by light, as if they were in another time and space. They felt that their bodies and minds were undergoing an unprecedented transformation, which was both painful and wonderful. (End of this chapter)