"It feels so eerie in here." Lin Yu shrank his neck, his voice trembling slightly, as he nervously scanned the dim corridor around him. The torches on the walls flickered unpredictably, casting shadows like clawing monsters, filling the entire space with a strange and eerie atmosphere.

Shen Jingqi patted Lin Yu on the shoulder, looking ahead with determination: "Don't be afraid, let's keep going. We've come this far, we can't give up halfway." His voice was steady and strong, trying to dispel the fear in their hearts.

Shen Jingqi, Xu An, and Lin Yu walked slowly along the castle corridor, their footsteps echoing in the silent space. Suddenly, a burst of footsteps shattered the silence. The steps were chaotic and urgent, drawing closer, as if a group was angrily approaching them. The trio was startled, their faces instantly turning pale. They hurriedly ducked into a small room nearby, pressing tightly against the wall, barely daring to breathe.

A group of people dressed in ancient costumes entered the corridor. Their attire was luxurious and mysterious, embroidered with strange patterns, reflecting a weird light under the torches. Their faces bore secretive smiles, as if hiding countless secrets. The leader, tall with deep eyes, spoke slowly, his voice low and hoarse: "They have finally arrived; the secrets of the Mysterious Land are about to be uncovered."

Hiding in the shadows, Shen Jingqi and his companions were filled with confusion. Lin Yu furrowed his brows, whispering: "Who are these people? How do they know we're coming? What exactly is the secret of the Mysterious Land?" His voice was full of perplexity and concern. Xu An clenched his fists, gritting his teeth: "No matter who they are, we have to find out." Shen Jingqi fell into deep thought, his eyes revealing alertness and determination, thinking, "These people are definitely not simple; we must act cautiously."

Once the group had moved on, they cautiously stepped out of the room and continued searching for clues in the castle. The rooms in the castle were complex and filled with an air of antiquity. In one room, they found an ancient book. The cover was worn and the writing somewhat blurred, but it still emitted a mysterious aura.

Shen Jingqi gently opened the book, dust falling softly. As the pages turned, the content gradually became clear. It turned out that the Mysterious Land concealed a world-altering power. This power was strong and mysterious, and if used by evil people, it would bring great disaster to the world. An evil organization had long coveted this power, resorting to all sorts of schemes to obtain it.

"So that's it, we must stop them." Shen Jingqi clenched his fists, his eyes revealing anger and determination. A flame of justice burned in his heart, silently vowing: "We mustn't let this power fall into evil hands." Xu An and Lin Yu nodded as well, their eyes filled with resolve.

However, just as they were about to leave the room, a group of black-clothed men suddenly appeared. These were the same people they had encountered before in the library and the valley. Their faces were covered with black cloths, leaving only their fierce eyes exposed. The leader of the black-clothed men said coldly: "You think you can uncover the secrets of the Mysterious Land? Don't think you'll leave today."

Shen Jingqi, Xu An, and Lin Yu stood back to back, vigilantly glaring at the surrounding black-clothed men. The atmosphere in the room was so tense it felt like it could ignite the air. The ancient book in the corner emitted a faint glow, seemingly witnessing the imminent life-and-death battle.

"Hmph, you brats think you can stop us?" sneered the leader of the black-clothed men, his laughter like that of a demon from Hell, sending chills down their spines. He waved his hand, and the black-clothed men surged forward like a tide.

Shen Jingqi took a deep breath, his gaze as firm as iron. In his heart, he thought: "For justice, to protect this power, I cannot retreat." He was first to charge toward one of the black-clothed men, his weapon glinting coldly. It was a sharp dagger, carving silver arcs in the dim room. He dodged left and right, skillfully avoiding the black-clothed man's attacks, then seized an opportunity, lunging forward and stabbing his dagger into the man's chest. Taken by surprise, the black-clothed man couldn't evade in time and fell with a scream.

Yet Shen Jingqi barely had time to catch his breath before another black-clothed man attacked from the side. This one wielded a long sword, the blade howling toward Shen Jingqi's throat. He quickly sidestepped, but not without getting his arm cut. Blood flowed down his arm, staining his sleeve red. Gritting his teeth, a surge of tenacity welled up inside him: "This injury is nothing, I must defeat them." Ignoring the pain, he gripped his dagger and continued to battle the black-clothed men.

Meanwhile, Xu An was also struggling. He excelled at using ranged weapons, but in this cramped room, his advantage was hard to leverage. Holding a bow, he couldn't pull back enough to shoot. A black-clothed man seized the opportunity to attack Xu An from behind. Feeling a cold presence at his back, Xu An was startled, cold sweat drenching him. He dove forward, the attack missing, but he lost his balance and fell to the ground.

Just as the black-clothed man prepared to attack Xu An again, Lin Yu arrived in time. Holding a wooden stick, he shouted, "Don't even think about hurting my friend!" and kicked the man away. Helping Xu An up, Lin Yu said, "Be careful, don't get sloppy. We have to hold out." Xu An nodded, picking up his weapon to fight alongside Lin Yu.

The battle grew more intense, and Shen Jingqi and his friends were gradually feeling exhausted. Their movements slowed, their breaths became urgent. The black-clothed men seemed endless, their attacks growing more and more fierce as if intent on utterly destroying Shen Jingqi and his friends.

Just as despair set in, Shen Jingqi suddenly remembered the ancient book. Inspired, he fought while moving closer to the book's location. Flashes of the book's contents filled his mind, hoping to find a method to deal with the black-clothed men. Every step was perilous, any moment he could be struck, but he clung to one belief: "I must find a way, I can't give up."

At last, he reached the book, quickly flipping through its pages, eyes eagerly searching for a way to defeat the black-clothed men. His fingers swiftly turned the pages, his gaze a mix of anxiety and expectation. Suddenly, his eyes stopped on a page that recorded a mysterious spell said to summon the protective powers of the Mysterious Land.

Joy surged in Shen Jingqi's heart; it felt like grasping a lifesaving straw. He promptly started chanting the spell as recorded in the book.

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