The frail counselor you said, you fight against three heroes alone?

Hunter Li smiled naively and said, "It's okay, it's just a minor injury, it won't be a big deal."

The whole scene was filled with an atmosphere of mutual help and friendship. Everyone's relationship became closer, as if they had experienced a life-and-death test, and their feelings for each other became deeper.

The mysterious old man watched all this. He slowly walked to the end of the passage, reached out and touched the runes on the wall, and whispered, "The passage... is open..."

The end of the battle was a mess.

Broken swords were scattered on the ground, the smell of blood was pungent, but everyone's faces were filled with joy of surviving the disaster.

They simply bandaged their wounds and continued along the passage impatiently.

At the end of the passage, a huge stone door suddenly appeared before our eyes.

The stone gate is towering into the clouds, with a rough facade engraved with dense runes. It looks ancient and mysterious, emitting a faint light.

Everyone was deeply attracted by this stone door, and the curiosity and excitement in their hearts burned like flames.

They approached cautiously, their fingertips touching the cold stone surface, and a strange energy seemed to seep into their bodies.

Xiaohong's eyes lit up and she exclaimed in a low voice: "What...what kind of writing is this? I have never seen it before." Luo Xiaoyu reached out and gently stroked those ancient runes, as if she was having a conversation with distant history.

"This door... must be hiding some secret." Doctor Zhang analyzed calmly, still holding the sword tightly in his hand, remaining alert.

Everyone began to study the runes on the stone gate.

Elder Chen frowned and looked at each character carefully, trying to decipher the meaning behind them.

"These runes... seem to be related to some ancient prohibition." He muttered to himself.

The man in white stood in front of the stone gate, his hands changing gestures, and white light flickered at his fingertips, as if he was detecting the structure of the stone gate.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for a miracle to happen.

Suddenly, the runes on the stone gate began to flicker, and a dazzling light burst out instantly, enveloping everyone.

This light is not an ordinary bright light, but a white beam with strong energy fluctuations, which makes people feel dizzy and uncomfortable. The body seems to have lost control and the limbs begin to tremble uncontrollably.

"Ah! What's going on?" Luo Xiaoyu exclaimed, and her face turned pale in an instant.

Xiao Hong tightly grasped the arm of the man in white, her voice trembling: "Such a strong energy fluctuation... What are we going to do..."

There seemed to be some unknown horror hidden in the stone gate. A strong sense of oppression made everyone's heart tighten. They didn't know what would happen next, as if they would be swallowed up in the next moment.

Fear sank into their hearts like a poisonous snake, leaving them cold and with difficulty breathing.

"This... could this be..." Li the Hunter opened his mouth wide, but before he could finish his words, he felt his body going out of control.

Everyone's faces were filled with fear, and in the dazzling light, they tried to open their eyes, wanting to see everything around the stone gate clearly...

The strong light was blinding, and everyone instinctively raised their arms to block their sight in the white light. They squinted their eyes and tried to look around the stone gate, trying to find a way to control the light.

The stone walls around the stone gate are carved with ancient and mysterious patterns, as if telling an unknown story.

The pattern flickers under strong light, like breathing, adding to the sense of mystery.

Anxiety spread among the crowd as they realized that this light was not just simple illumination but contained some powerful force.

The light became stronger and stronger, and the sense of oppression also increased.

Everyone felt as if their bodies were being crushed by a huge rock. Breathing became difficult and their hearts were beating so hard that they seemed about to burst out of their chests.

The tense atmosphere is like a taut bowstring, ready to explode at any moment.

Sweat slid down their foreheads, soaking their clothes and blurring their vision.

There was a ringing in their ears and they could hear nothing but the bright lights and the sound of their heartbeats.

Xiaohong closed her eyes tightly and grasped the white-clothed man's arm tightly, her knuckles turning white.

The strong light penetrated my eyelids, causing bursts of stinging pain.

She felt her stomach churning and the nausea made it almost impossible to breathe.

The runes on the stone gate flickered with strange light, complex and mysterious, as elusive as the stars in the sky.

Everyone realized that these runes might be the key to opening the stone door.

However, the runes were so complex that disagreements arose among the group.

"I think I can just give it a try. Maybe it will open if I touch it right." Luo Xiaoyu was impatient and couldn't wait to try it.

"Don't move!" Elder Chen stopped them sternly, "These runes contain powerful forces. If you touch them improperly, the consequences will be disastrous!"

"What are you afraid of! Aren't they just some weird runes on the stone? I don't believe it can eat me!" Luo Xiaoyu retorted unconvinced and reached out to touch the runes.

Elder Chen grabbed her wrist, his face gloomy: "You are too reckless! These runes are not a joke. If you are not careful, you will be killed!"

"You..." Luo Xiaoyu's eyes widened with anger, trying to break free from Elder Chen's restraints.

The people around them watched them arguing, and the atmosphere was awkward and tense.

"Stop arguing!" Doctor Zhang said in a deep voice, "Now is not the time to argue. We should work together to find the right way to open the stone door."

Everyone was silent for a moment, and their eyes fell on the runes on the stone door again.

"These runes... I seem to have seen them somewhere..." The mysterious old man spoke slowly, staring at the stone door with his turbid eyes, as if he was lost in thought.

A glimmer of hope ignited in everyone's hearts, and they all looked at the mysterious old man, waiting for his next words.

The old man slowly raised his hand, and pointed his trembling fingers at a rune on the stone door...

"and many more……"

The strong light is still dazzling, and time seems to have stopped in front of the stone gate.

Everyone tried various methods but still could not crack the runes on the stone door. The anxiety in their hearts grew like weeds.

The initial excitement and hope gradually faded away during the long wait, and were replaced by deep frustration and despair.

The stone gate seemed like a bottomless pit, devouring their patience and energy.

Luo Xiaoyu's temper flared up first, and she punched the stone wall, making a dull sound.

"Damn it! How can I open this broken door?" There was a strong sense of unwillingness in her voice.

Li the Hunter's honest face was also full of fatigue. He scratched the back of his head and sighed: "It seems that we can't get out..."

Granny Lin felt a little unwell due to the long wait. Her face was pale and beads of sweat oozed from her forehead.

She leaned weakly against the stone wall, her breathing becoming a little rapid.

"Grandma, what's wrong with you?" Xiaohong exclaimed and ran over to support her.

Doctor Zhang also hurried forward to check. He felt the pulse skillfully and frowned: "Mother-in-law is a little weak and needs to rest." Everyone gathered around her. Some handed her water, and some gently massaged her back. The tense atmosphere was so depressing that it made people breathless.

Xiaohong looked at the weak Grandma Lin, her eyes became hot and she could no longer hold back her tears.

She held Granny Lin's hand tightly, choking with sobs, "Granny, it's all my fault. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be..." Her heart was filled with self-blame and guilt, and she felt that she was the one who brought everyone into this desperate situation.

Just when everyone was at a loss and in despair, the man in white had been silently observing the stone gate.

He did not stare at the runes like the others, but instead carefully examined every inch of the stone wall around the stone gate.

Suddenly, his eyes stopped on an inconspicuous place on the right side of the stone gate, where there was a tiny crack that almost merged with the stone wall.

The man in white came closer and gently groped along the gap with his fingers. Soon, a hidden small compartment was opened by him.

A key of peculiar shape lay quietly in the secret compartment. It was pitch black with some complicated patterns engraved on it and emitted a faint metallic luster.

The appearance of this key surprised everyone.

They almost forgot to breathe, their eyes widened, looking at the key with surprise and hope, as if they were looking at a miracle. This key was not what they expected, they had always thought that only by solving the puzzle of the runes could the stone door be opened, and never thought there would be other ways.

Blacksmith Zhao was the first to react. He exclaimed, "Oh my God, is this the key to open the stone door?" His voice was filled with incredible excitement.

Xiaohong wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, and the light of hope rekindled in her eyes.

She reached out her trembling hand, wanting to touch the key, but she hesitated.

The man in white picked up the key and slowly walked towards the stone door.

The strong light was still blinding, but unprecedented hope surged in everyone's hearts.

The appearance of the key seemed to bring a ray of light to the dark stone chamber.

The man in white slowly walked towards the stone door, tightly holding the key that was completely black and engraved with complex patterns in his hand.

Every step he took seemed extremely firm, as if every step was stepping on everyone's heartstrings, inspiring endless courage and hope.

Everyone followed the man in white, their eyes flashing with excitement and anticipation.

Xiaohong tightly grasped the corner of the white-clothed man's clothes, and the light of hope rekindled in her eyes.

Doctor Zhang supported the weak Grandma Lin, comforted her softly, and told her to relax as much as possible.

Luo Xiaoyu also restrained her recklessness, and a confident smile appeared on her face.

A trace of relief appeared on Li the Hunter's honest face, and he no longer looked so tired.

Blacksmith Zhao and Elder Chen followed closely behind, their eyes full of anticipation.

"Finally there is hope!" Luo Xiaoyu shouted excitedly, with uncontrollable excitement in her voice.

"Yes, as long as we work together, nothing is unsolvable." Doctor Zhang responded in a deep voice, a rare smile appearing on his face.

The emotions of the crowd infected the entire space, and the originally depressing atmosphere gradually became brighter.

The runes on the stone wall flickered in the light, as if cheering for their progress.

Everyone's face was filled with confident smiles, and they celebrated with each other as if they had seen the dawn of hope.

The man in white finally walked to the stone door. He took a deep breath and slowly inserted the key into the keyhole.

At that moment, time seemed to freeze.

Everyone held their breath, their heartbeats echoed in their ears, and even the air seemed to become tense.

The man in white turned the key hard, and a slight sound came from the stone door, as if some mechanism was being triggered.

At this moment, the man in white suddenly turned around and gave everyone a meaningful smile: "Are you ready? Remember, no matter what happens, we must be together." The key was inserted into the keyhole and turned. The expected sound of the heavy stone door opening did not appear. Instead, a sharp alarm broke the silence and echoed in the stone chamber.

This sudden change made everyone's heart tighten. Their expectant expressions froze in an instant, replaced by astonishment and uneasiness.

On the stone walls surrounding the stone gate, the ancient patterns originally carved suddenly lit up with a dazzling red light, spreading like blood vessels.

Immediately afterwards, a series of "clicking" sounds of mechanical operation were heard, and the stone wall began to move and deform. Some strange mechanical devices stretched out from the stone wall, flashing cold light, and aimed at everyone.

"What's going on?!" Luo Xiaoyu exclaimed, stepped back, and almost knocked down Doctor Zhang behind her.

"Be careful!" The man in white pulled Xiaohong behind him and glanced vigilantly at the surrounding mechanical devices.

These devices were like sleeping beasts that suddenly awakened, spewing flames, shooting arrows, or wielding sharp blades, launching fierce attacks on everyone.

Fires flew in the stone chamber, arrows flew through the air, and blades were waving. The originally silent space instantly turned into a battlefield full of dangers.

Everyone was terrified and hid everywhere.

The flames burned the air, making crackling sounds; the arrows shot into the stone walls, making dull thuds; the blades cut through the air, making sharp whistling sounds.

Various sounds intertwined to form a chaotic symphony of death.

"What the hell are these things?!" Luo Xiaoyu dodged the attack in a panic, cursing loudly.

"I don't know, but we must find a way to stop them!" Doctor Zhang shouted anxiously while dodging.

The attacks of these mechanical devices were irregular and extremely fast, and the crowd was unable to get close to the stone gate, let alone find a way to stop the attacks.

The feeling of danger became stronger and stronger, as if death was approaching step by step.

"We can't go on like this, we will be trapped here and die!" Li the Hunter's voice was trembling, he had never seen such a horrible scene.

Everyone was forced into a corner, the mechanical device's attacks became more and more frequent, and the hope of escape became increasingly slim.

At this critical moment, the man in white suddenly shouted, "Everyone be careful!"

Inside the stone chamber, the crisis surged like a tide.

The silhouette of the mechanical puppet flickered in the firelight like a ghost.

They swung their metal arms, and every impact carried terrifying force.

The crowd was like fallen leaves in a storm, being swept away mercilessly and in a miserable state.

Their eyes were filled with fear and they looked around frantically, trying to find a corner where they could hide.

The stone wall was dotted with holes left by arrows, and the air was filled with the harsh sound of metal friction and the roar of stone breaking, making the eardrums buzz.

Every attack was accompanied by a strong airflow that seemed to tear the person apart. The tense atmosphere was like a taut string that could break at any time.

Xiaohong curled up in the corner of the stone chamber, her body trembling like a sieve. She covered her mouth tightly, fearing that the slightest sound she made would attract those terrible mechanical puppets.

Her eyes were wide open, and those hideous metal figures were reflected in her pupils.
Seeing this, the man in white frowned, and with a loud shout, powerful magic power surged out from his body, transforming into dazzling blades of light that shot towards the mechanical puppet.

However, these light blades hit the mechanical puppets, leaving only shallow scratches on their metal surfaces and causing no substantial damage to them.

The mechanical puppet was still like a ruthless killing machine, with no intention of stopping. Instead, it attacked even more fiercely, forcing everyone into an even smaller corner.

"Are we really going to die here?" Luo Xiaoyu whispered in despair, her voice full of unwillingness.

Hunter Li roared, waving his hunting knife, and rushed towards a mechanical puppet.

However, before he could even touch the edge of the mechanical puppet, he was knocked away by a powerful force and fell heavily to the ground, feeling a dull pain in his chest.

Everyone's face was filled with despair. At this moment, Elder Chen narrowed his eyes and stared at the actions of the mechanical puppets. He seemed to have discovered something. Everyone around him held their breath nervously, waiting for Elder Chen's conclusion. His old face was full of solemnity.

The air seemed to freeze, and no one dared to breathe, waiting for Elder Chen to speak. At this moment, Elder Chen slowly opened his mouth, "The actions of these puppets."

Elder Chen stopped talking before he finished. He stared straight at a certain part of the mechanical puppet, as if there was something different there.

The harsh sound of metal colliding, like the whisper of death, echoed in the stone chamber.

The mechanical puppet's attack became more and more fierce. Every swing was accompanied by a sound of breaking through the air, leaving sharp tracks in the air.

Many people had new scars on their bodies, their clothes were stained with blood, and their physical strength was rapidly depleted.

The feeling of despair spread among the crowd like a plague, and everyone's eyes were filled with helplessness.

Luo Xiaoyu waved a dagger and tried her best to block the attack of the mechanical puppet, but she had more and more wounds on her body and her movements began to slow down.

Finally, she staggered and was knocked flying by the mechanical puppet. She hit the hard stone wall, spurted out a mouthful of blood, slowly slid to the ground, and lost consciousness.

Everyone exclaimed and quickly gathered around. The atmosphere suddenly became depressing, and everyone's face was filled with worry.

Doctor Zhang hurriedly checked Luo Xiaoyu's injuries and found that she was unconscious, her face was as pale as paper, her breath was weak, and her injuries were very serious.

Xiaohong looked at the unconscious Luo Xiaoyu and could no longer hold back her tears. She bit her lips tightly to prevent herself from crying out loud, but the hot tears still slid down her cheeks and dripped onto the cold stone slabs, silently telling of her sadness and despair.

She held Luo Xiaoyu's hand tightly, feeling her weak pulse, her heart filled with powerlessness and self-blame.

Everyone thought they could only fight to the death with these ruthless mechanical puppets. Their minds went blank and they tried desperately to think of ways to escape, but they were all shrouded in fear and despair. (End of this chapter)