The magic light ball in Ebert's hand cast a soft light in the dark underground passage, illuminating everyone's path forward. There is an old smell in the humid air, and the walls are covered with mysterious runes and murals, telling the ancient history of this ruins.
"These runes..." Saraswati looked at the carvings on the wall carefully, "it seems to be at least a thousand years old."
Ebert nodded in agreement, "And the style is very unique. I have never seen anything like it in any classics."
The team moved forward cautiously, everyone on high alert. The passage is sometimes wide and sometimes narrow, as if leading them to a specific place.
Suddenly, a huge stone door appeared in front of him, engraved with complex symbols. There was a circular groove in the center of the door that looked like some kind of keyhole.
"Looks like we've hit our first hurdle," Ebert said, examining the stone door carefully.
Saraswati stepped forward and placed her palms on the stone door. "I feel a powerful magical energy," she frowned, "There is some kind of seal imposed on this door."
Just then, one of the team members discovered a writing on the wall. "Look, everyone," he said, pointing to the text, "this seems to be some kind of reminder."
Ebert took a closer look and read out the words above slowly: "Only a pure heart can open the door to truth. Use blood as the guide and spirit as the key."
"Sounds like some kind of test," Saraswati said thoughtfully.
Abbott took a deep breath, "I think I know what to do." He said, pulling out a knife from his waist and making a shallow cut on his palm.
"Be careful!" Saraswati exclaimed, but Ebert had already pressed his bloody palm on the circular groove of the stone door.
In an instant, the entire passage lit up. The symbols on the stone door began to glow, and a gentle but powerful force surged out of the door, as if examining Ebert's soul.
After a few seconds, the light gradually faded, and the stone door slid open to both sides silently, revealing a more spacious space behind it.
"Well done, Ebote," Saraswati breathed a sigh of relief and quickly healed the wound on Ebote's hand.
After passing through the stone gate, everyone came to a huge circular hall. In the center of the hall stands a huge stone statue shaped like a god holding a scepter. Around the stone statue, complex magic circles are carved on the floor.
"This must be some kind of sacrificial site," one team member speculated.
Ebert carefully observed the magic circle and suddenly discovered a familiar symbol. "Look," he said, pointing to a mark on the ground, "isn't this the same symbol we saw on the ground?"
Saraswati looked at the symbol in surprise, "You're right! It seems that the mysterious man didn't just come here to destroy the town, he was looking for something."
At this moment, the entire hall suddenly began to shake. The stone statue's eyes lit up with a strange red light, and the magic circle began to glow dazzlingly.
"Watch out!" Ebert yelled, "This could be some kind of trap!"
Before he finished speaking, dozens of humanoid creatures made of energy suddenly appeared in the center of the magic circle. These creatures have no facial features, only vague outlines, but the threat they exude is real.
"Guardian," Saraswati whispered, "it seems we triggered the ruins' defense mechanism."
The energy creatures began to attack the team. Ebert immediately cast protective magic and built an energy barrier for his companions. Saraswati began to chant a spell, summoning several thunderbolts and accurately hitting several energy creatures.
The battle broke out instantly. The members of the Brahma Hand showed their magical powers, some released fireballs, and some manipulated air currents, and launched a fierce confrontation with these mysterious guardians.
While maintaining the protective barrier, Ebert was looking for a way to break it. He noticed that every time an energy creature was defeated, a certain symbol on the magic circle would dim.
"Saraswati!" he shouted, "the magic circle is the key! We need to destroy all the symbols!"
Saraswati quickly understood what Ebert meant. She concentrated and drew a complex magic circle in the air with her hands. "Everyone, stay back!" she shouted.
As Saraswati's spell was completed, a powerful wave of energy swept through the entire hall. The symbols on the magic circle were extinguished one by one, and the energy creatures also dissipated.
When the last symbol went out, the entire hall fell into a brief silence. Suddenly, two beams of light shot out from the stone statue's eyes, projecting a huge mural on the opposite wall.
The mural depicts a shocking scene: a huge energy body split into several parts, one part of which turned into a bright gem, which was carefully held in the hands of a group of people wearing robes.
"This...isn't this..." Ebert was speechless in surprise.
Saraswati took his words and said, "Yes, this is probably the origin of the core strength in your body."
Everyone was shocked by this discovery. The mural not only reveals the source of the core power, but also hints at the possible existence of other similar powers.
Just as they were studying the mural carefully, a secret door suddenly opened at the other end of the hall. There were deep roars coming from behind the door, accompanied by heavy footsteps.
"It seems that our test is not over yet," Ebert said, holding the staff tightly, "Everyone, get ready, we don't know what we will face next."
As the footsteps got closer, a huge figure appeared in the secret door. It was a huge stone beast, its whole body covered with hard rock scales, and its eyes shone with wisdom.
The stone beast stopped in front of the team and said in a low voice: "Intruders, you have passed the first test. But if you want to gain real knowledge, you still need to face the final challenge."
Ebert took a step forward and looked directly into the eyes of the stone beast. "We accept the challenge," he said firmly, "please tell us, what should we do?"
The stone beast nodded, "Very good. Only one of you can enter the temple. There, you will face your deepest fears and desires. Only by defeating yourself can you gain true wisdom."
Ebert and Saraswati exchanged a look. No words were needed, they all understood that this important task could only be borne by Ebert.
"I'm going," said Ebert, "you wait here for me."
Saraswati held Ebert's hand, "Be careful and remember, no matter what you see inside, it is not real. Believe in yourself."
Ebert nodded, took a deep breath, and followed the stone beast towards the mysterious door. The moment he stepped inside, the door immediately closed, completely cutting him off from the outside world.