Under the Stars: The Hermit's Path

Chapter 117 The Road Back

After countless hardships, Lin Yi and the others finally succeeded in grasping the crystal emitting a mysterious light. At that moment, excitement and joy surged into their hearts like a surging tide. Everyone's face was filled with irrepressible smiles, and their excitement was beyond words.

However, fate always likes to play tricks on people. Just as they were filled with joy and ready to celebrate this hard-earned victory, the ground beneath their feet suddenly roared, and the entire cave began to shake violently. The stone wall above their heads kept falling with broken stones, as if it would collapse completely at any moment.

"Oh no! This place is going to collapse! Let's get out!" Lin Yi was the first to react. He widened his eyes and shouted at the top of his lungs. The others were startled awake by his shouting and instantly panicked, but soon regained their composure and followed Lin Yi as he rushed towards the cave entrance.

Behind them, huge rocks rained down like raindrops, sending up clouds of dust and smoke as they hit the ground. Every step was fraught with danger; a single misstep could lead to being buried in the ruins. But Lin Yi and the others showed no sign of retreat. They gritted their teeth and ran forward desperately.

After a thrilling escape, they finally escaped the cave safely. But when they stood still and looked at the scene before them, they couldn't help but gasp - they saw a vast and unfamiliar wilderness all around them, with overgrown weeds and jagged rocks, and there was no end in sight.

"Now that we have the crystal, how can we get out of this damn place?" Ares asked anxiously, panting heavily. His voice echoed in the empty wilderness, seeming particularly abrupt.

Lin Yi carefully pulled out the ancient book he had painstakingly obtained in the Lost Land. He gently flipped open the yellowed pages, and a stale scent filled his face.

"The book says that as long as the power of the crystal is injected into a specific magic circle, a passage of return can be opened." Lin Yi muttered to himself as he carefully read the obscure text in the book. When everyone heard this, sparks of hope suddenly ignited in their eyes.

So, everyone began to split up, carefully searching the surroundings for a suitable spot to set up the magic circle. Some searched through the grass, some poked around in cracks in the rocks, and still others climbed to a higher point to peer. After some effort, someone finally found a relatively flat, open area.

Everyone quickly gathered, taking out the various materials and tools they had brought with them, and busily set to work according to the instructions in the book. Some were responsible for carving the intricate rune lines, while others were busy arranging precious gems and crystals to enhance the magic circle's power.

Just as they were about to complete their mission, a chilling wind suddenly blew past, and then a group of mysterious men in black robes and masks appeared before them like ghosts.

"Hand over the crystal, or you can't leave!" The leading man in black spoke in a low and hoarse voice, revealing a chilling chill.

Lin Yi and the others' hearts tightened, and they subconsciously clasped the crystal tightly around their arms, as if it were the most precious treasure in their lives. Their eyes widened, and they shouted in unison, "Don't even think about it! This is our only hope of leaving this place. Don't even think about taking it away!" Before they even finished speaking, the air between the two groups seemed to freeze, and a suffocating tension filled the air, like a string stretched to the limit, ready to break at any moment.

The two sides remained locked in a standoff, neither willing to give in. Time ticked by, the surroundings hushed to a silence filled only by the heavy breathing and pounding of hearts. Everyone's nerves were on edge, not daring to relax even a little.

However, this stalemate didn't last long. Suddenly, a fierce look flashed in the eyes of the group of men in black. The leader suddenly waved his arm and shouted, "Attack!" In an instant, the men in black rushed towards Lin Yi and others like a tide, and a fierce battle broke out again.

Undeterred, Lin Yi and his allies immediately charged forward to meet the enemy. Unleashing their unique skills, they clashed swords and blades, their cries of battle echoing through the air. However, the enemy was simply too numerous, each one exceptionally skilled and powerful, and Lin Yi's side gradually fell into a passive position. Despite their utmost resistance, they were forced back, suffering numerous wounds.

Seeing the situation becoming increasingly critical, Lin Yi and the others were almost unable to hold on. At this critical moment, Ying, who had been calmly observing the situation, suddenly had a flash of inspiration. He keenly caught a tiny flaw in the enemy's defense.

"Follow me!" Ying shouted, his voice filled with determination and courage. With that, he flashed and rushed towards the opening. Lin Yi and the others followed without hesitation, as if grasping at a last straw...

They took advantage of the enemy's momentary negligence and quickly broke through the layers of encirclement like an arrow. However, during this tense escape, an accident happened - Ellie accidentally tripped over a protruding branch on the roadside and fell to the ground. The sharp stone scratched her calf, and blood immediately gushed out.

"Don't worry about me, just go away! Don't let me drag everyone down!" Ellie shouted while enduring the severe pain.

"No, we will never abandon you!" Lin Yi responded without hesitation and decisively. His eyes were determined, as if burning with an eternal flame.

So, they supported the injured Ellie and continued to evade the relentless pursuit of the enemy. Every step was full of danger and hardship, but they never gave up.

After a thrilling escape, they finally found a relatively safe hiding place deep in a dense forest. Without taking a moment to breathe, they immediately set about setting up a magic circle.

Lin Yi carefully took out a crystal from his bosom and gently placed it in the core of the magic circle. Then, he closed his eyes, clasped his hands together, and began to continuously inject his powerful magic power into the magic circle.

As the magic power continued to flow in, the magic circle gradually emitted a dazzling light, like the bright stars in the night sky. Then, a huge passage slowly emerged from the light.

"Success! We succeeded!" Everyone cheered excitedly, their joy beyond words.

Afterwards, supporting each other and carrying the seriously injured Ellie, they resolutely stepped into this mysterious passage. As soon as they entered, a powerful and mysterious force suddenly overwhelmed them, tightly enveloping their bodies. This force seemed to have life, pulling them forward rapidly towards the unknown distance...