The contestant is too old, sister Zhou is crazy

The night was falling, the stars were shining like diamonds, the lights in the academy were bright, and the atmosphere was peaceful. However, this tranquility was torn apart by a sudden loud noise, followed by a rapid alarm. The quiet night of the academy was instantly broken, and an ominous cloud enveloped the entire valley.

"What happened?" Yueyue suddenly stood up from the table, holding the communication rune stone tightly in her hand, her brows full of worry.

Su Mo quickly contacted the heads of each area, frowning, "Someone has broken into the forbidden area, the situation is unclear, gather quickly!"

Zhao Ming and Li Zixue appeared in the central square almost at the same time, both with serious faces, and accompanied by some well-equipped students. "It looks like we'll be busy tonight." Zhao Ming tightened the sword in his hand, his eyes sharp.

Just as the four were preparing to set off, a shadow guard ran over in a hurry, his face pale, "Report! The mysterious shadow guard is...he is seriously injured in the forbidden area. He is very powerful and we can't get close!"

"What!" The news was like a bolt from the blue, shocking everyone speechless for a moment. Su Mo made a prompt decision, "Yueyue, you stay here to command the overall situation, Zhao Ming, Li Zixue and I will rush to the forbidden area immediately!"

The three of them rushed towards the forbidden area at the fastest speed. The scenes along the way were terrifying - there were traces of the protective barrier being broken by force, the vegetation was torn apart by unknown energy, and the air was filled with a dangerous atmosphere.

At the edge of the forbidden area, the mysterious shadow guard fell to the ground, his body covered with wounds, a miserable state he had never seen in countless battles. His eyes were still firm, but his breath was very weak.

"Hold on!" Su Mo immediately cast a spell to protect his heart meridian. Li Zixue opened the Book of Wisdom to find emergency treatment methods, and Zhao Ming looked around vigilantly to prevent the enemy from attacking again.

"The enemy... is very strong..." The mysterious shadow guard uttered a few words with difficulty, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, but he still tried to squeeze out a comforting smile, "Don't worry... I... am fine..."

"Don't talk, conserve your strength." Li Zixue anxiously fed him spiritual water mixed with precious potions. Green light surrounded him, slowly repairing his injuries, but this was only temporary stabilization.

Su Mo frowned, his voice full of unquestionable determination, "We must find the intruder as soon as possible and prevent him from causing harm to anyone else."

Zhao Ming clenched his fists, his eyes burning with anger. "I agree. We will split up. I will be responsible for searching the periphery. Any movement will not escape my eyes."

Yueyue conveyed information through the communication rune stone, dispatched the forces within the academy, and at the same time contacted nearby friendly forces for reinforcement to ensure the safety of the forbidden area.

“Go ahead,” the mysterious shadow guard opened his eyes slightly and said weakly but powerfully, “I… will be here… waiting for your victory.”

The three of them looked at each other, their eyes conveying unwavering faith. At this moment, they were comrades fighting side by side, and they were also defenders who swore to protect the dawn.

"We won't let you down." Su Mo said softly, and then he and Zhao Ming and Li Zixue split up and disappeared into the night, leaving behind only their firm backs and unyielding determination.

The night deepened, the sky above the academy was dotted with stars, and a silent battle was about to take place. Inside the forbidden area, the mysterious shadow guard lay quietly, silently saying in his heart: "Before dawn, it is always the darkest moment, but with you, light will surely come."

"We will be back soon." Yueyue's voice came through the rune stone. Although they were on different battlefields, their hearts were closely connected, just like the oath they made together - to guard the dawn until the last moment.

Deep in the forbidden area, the mist was lingering. Zhao Ming's figure was like a ghost, shuttling between the shadows of the trees. Every inch of land was swept by his eyes one by one, leaving no blind spots. Suddenly, a faint sound caught his attention. Zhao Ming immediately became alert, slowly drew out his sword, and approached the suspicious source step by step.

"Come out. No matter who you are, by breaking into the forbidden area of ​​​​the Dawn Guardians, you have already chosen to be our enemy." Zhao Ming warned in a deep voice, lightly tapping the ground with the tip of the sword. An invisible aura seemed to spread around his body, making the air around him heavy.

A figure slowly walked out of the fog. His clothes were ragged and his face was hidden under a hood. It was hard to tell whether he was a man or a woman. "The Dawn Guardians, huh, a group of idealists who want to change the world." The man's voice was cold and mocking.

"How much do you know about us, and why do you want to undermine our efforts to create peace?" Zhao Ming took a step forward, his eyes sharp.

"Understand? I know the nature of how this world works better than you do. Power and order are always toys in the hands of the strong." The mysterious visitor gently lifted a corner of his hood and revealed a cold smile, "And I am here to test how solid your so-called 'protection' is."

Before he finished speaking, a powerful energy wave suddenly erupted, and Zhao Ming quickly jumped back, with a flash of sword light, blocking an invisible attack. The two sides immediately fell into a fierce confrontation, with sword shadows and secret techniques intertwined, and the entire forbidden area seemed to shake as the light and shadow changed.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Li Zixue was using her wisdom to search for clues in ancient books, trying to locate the real purpose of the intruder. She had a yellowed map spread out in front of her, her fingers gently stroking every mark, and building a complex network of strategies in her mind.

"Found it. The energy flow here is abnormal. It may be his breakthrough point to enter the forbidden area." Li Zixue whispered to himself, then summoned a flying magic book and decided to conduct reconnaissance from the air and try to find the enemy's trace from a high altitude.

Su Mo was standing by the mysterious shadow guard, maintaining his life-sustaining spells while concentrating on sensing changes in the surrounding environment, ready to support Zhao Ming or respond to emergencies at any time. He knew that this battle was not only about the life and death of one person, but also about the test of the faith of the Dawn Guardians.

"Hold on, we will uncover the truth and restore peace to this holy land." Su Mo whispered, as if his promise could transcend the boundary between life and death and give strength to the injured shadow guard.

As the three of them were taking their own actions, Yueyue was closely following the development of the situation through the Rune Stone and dispatching resources. She realized that this battle was far more complicated than she had expected. Just as she was about to mobilize more forces again, Zhao Ming's voice suddenly came from the communication Rune Stone:
"Yueyue, I found some clues. It seems that there is a hidden force manipulating all this. We need more intelligence support."

"Understood, Zhao Ming, I will contact our allies immediately and strengthen the academy's defense. You must be careful, we cannot lose any soldiers." Yueyue's answer was firm and quick. She knew that the turning point of this battle might be at the next moment.

Yueyue's order was quickly conveyed, and all forces inside and outside the academy were urgently mobilized. Every Dawn Guardian was on edge, ready to face the unknown challenge. At the same time, Zhao Ming's fight with the mysterious visitor became more and more intense. In the flash of swords and shadows, the strength of both sides was evenly matched.

"You hide deeply enough, but the Dawn Guardian will not fear any shadow." Zhao Ming remained calm while panting. He keenly captured the flaws of every attack of the opponent and pressed forward step by step.

The mysterious visitor sneered, and suddenly his body flashed, turning into several afterimages, trying to win by speed. "Naive, everything you hold on to is vulnerable in the face of true power."

At this moment, Li Zixue looked down from the sky. With the help of the perspective of the magic book, she clearly captured the trajectory of the battle on the ground and the source of the subtle energy fluctuations. "Zhao Ming, there is an abnormal energy reaction at ten degrees north-east. It may be the enemy's real target!"

Zhao Ming, who received the message, understood what was going on and pretended to retreat in exhaustion, luring the mysterious visitor to chase him. In fact, he secretly adjusted his position and gradually approached the direction indicated by Li Zixue. Just as the mysterious visitor showed a smug look and was about to deliver a fatal blow, Zhao Ming suddenly turned around and pierced through the illusion with a sword, going straight to his real body.

"What?!" The mysterious visitor was so surprised that he was forced to reveal his true form. For a moment, the offense and defense were reversed, and he was forced to defend passively.

"Your game is over." Zhao Ming said coldly, and the sword flashed again, pressing forward step by step.

On the other side, while Su Mo maintained his spell, he also sensed the changes in Zhao Ming's battle through resonance. He felt relieved and then focused more on protecting the mysterious shadow guard. At this time, a warm force suddenly surged out of the shadow guard's body and merged with Su Mo's spell, miraculously accelerating the recovery process.

"Su Mo... trust... our strength..." The mysterious shadow guard spoke with difficulty, his tone full of power.

"We are a team, and no one will be left behind." Su Mo responded firmly, with unprecedented determination surging in his heart.

Just as the battle situation became clearer, Yueyue also made new progress. Not only did she contact the surrounding friendly forces for support, but she also discovered a greater threat hidden in the dark through the intelligence network - an ancient organization intended to use the power of the forbidden land to subvert the existing balance.

"Su Mo, Zhao Ming, Li Zixue, what we are facing is not only the enemy in front of us, but also a more far-reaching conspiracy. Get ready to face the real challenge." Yueyue's words echoed in the hearts of the three through the talisman stone, causing ripples.

Zhao Ming eventually forced the mysterious visitor to retreat, but he did not pursue him relentlessly. Instead, he quickly returned to the meeting point and informed everyone of the latest intelligence. In the night, the four core members gathered again, with a more determined fire burning in their eyes.

"No matter who is hiding in the dark, we will meet the challenge head-on." Yueyue's eyes swept over everyone, her tone firm.

"As long as we work together, there are no difficulties that cannot be overcome." Su Mo nodded, full of confidence.

"Well, now let us go deep into the tiger's den and uncover all the secrets." Li Zixue closed the Book of Wisdom, his eyes flashing with wisdom and determination.

Although the mysterious shadow guard did not stand up, his eyes were still firm: "I'll be here to guard the rear, and you go to the front to find the answer."

"Let's go." Yueyue's simple words seemed like an order, and the four of them took their positions, ready to go.

Zhao Ming took the brunt of the attack, pointing his sword forward with steady and resolute steps, "I will clear a path to ensure our safety."

Li Zixue lightly touched the Book of Wisdom, and the pages automatically turned, finally stopping on a page of a complex magic array diagram. "I have prepared tracking and defense spells. No matter what we encounter, we will not be caught off guard."

Su Mo gently placed his hand on the mysterious shadow guard's wrist, transmitting gentle life force, "We will resolve everything as soon as possible, your sacrifice will not be in vain."

The mysterious shadow guard forced a smile, his eyes full of trust in his companions, "Go, victory belongs to the Dawn Guardians."

Yueyue stood there, the rune in her hand glowing brightly. She silently chanted a spell in her heart, and countless runes condensed in the void in an instant, forming a huge information network. "I will be your eyes and ears, keep in touch."

The night wind suddenly rises, mixed with unknown challenges and crises, the four embark on a journey to uncover the secrets of the forbidden land and fight against the dark conspiracy. Their hearts are closely connected because of their common goal, and their steps never stop because of their pursuit of light.

Going deeper into the forbidden area, the terrain becomes more complex, and the fog contains numerous traps and mechanisms. Li Zixue uses the Book of Wisdom to accurately analyze each ancient rune and guide the team to avoid crisis after crisis.

"Attention, there is an energy node ahead, which may be the key to the core area." Li Zixue reminded softly, and the team slowed down and became alert to their surroundings.

Su Mo's perception ability played a great role at this time. He could vaguely feel the surveillance eyes hidden in the dark, as well as the ominous aura that was ready to move. "Something is watching us in secret. Be prepared."

Zhao Ming pointed his sword to the sky, and a sword energy cut through the night sky, which was both a demonstration and a warning, "Come out, hiding your head and showing your tail is not what a warrior does."

They were met with silence, but the tense atmosphere in the air said it all. Suddenly, the surrounding fog surged like a living thing, and dozens of figures loomed in the fog. They were the guardians of the forbidden land, controlled by some force and became unconscious guardians.

"Looks like we have no choice but to force our way in." Zhao Ming whispered, without a trace of retreat in his eyes.

The battle was about to start. Li Zixue chanted a complex spell, and an ancient defensive array slowly unfolded around the team, isolating most of the attacks. Su Mo was responsible for treatment and support, ensuring that everyone's combat effectiveness was maintained. Zhao Ming drew his sword and cut off all obstacles.

Just as the battle was becoming increasingly intense, the mysterious enemy reappeared. This time he no longer dodged but directly joined the battlefield with such strength that it was almost suffocating.

"Do you really think that you can protect the dawn with just this little power?" The enemy sneered, his power constantly rising, as if brewing some terrible attack.

“Guarding the dawn has never been measured by the size of strength.” Yueyue’s voice suddenly rang in everyone’s ears. She used the power of the rune stone to gather the support of friendly forces from afar. A warm and firm force enveloped the entire team.

"Look, you are not fighting alone." Zhao Ming took the opportunity to counterattack, and the sword pointed at the direction, and the light was shining brightly. (End of this chapter)