Chapter 256: A Confrontation between Wisdom and Courage

After passing the first inner test, Qin Feng and his companions continued to move forward. As they walked in the new passage, they felt the surrounding atmosphere becoming more and more dignified, as if some unknown power was waiting for them ahead.

At the end of the passage was a huge stone door, which was engraved with ancient runes and patterns of the Dragon Shadow Swordsman, emitting a faint light.

Chu Tian looked up at the stone door and couldn't help but say, "This door doesn't look very simple. Will there be a bigger test inside?"

Zhang Meng clenched his axe tightly, rubbing his hands and saying: "No matter what it is, we are ready! At worst, we can just fight again!"

Ye Li shook her head: "Fighting is not the only solution, sometimes what is needed is wisdom."

Qin Feng nodded, walked forward, and carefully observed the runes on the stone door. There seemed to be some connection between the runes, as if they were spelling out a complex pattern.

"There is a mechanism here." Qin Feng whispered, "We must unlock the secret of these runes before we can open the stone door."

Wang Yue walked forward and looked at the runes, thinking: "These runes seem to be describing an ancient language, perhaps related to the power of the Dragon Shadow Sword."

Chu Tian scratched his head and smiled, "It seems we have to use our brains. If we guess wrong, will a monster suddenly jump out from behind the door?"

Ye Li smiled gently: "Don't worry, we are here and will not let you encounter any monsters."

Qin Feng and the others stood in front of the stone gate, studying the runes carefully. The runes were arranged in a complex pattern, and there seemed to be a blank part in the middle, just missing a piece.

Zhang Meng pointed at the empty space and asked in confusion: "Why is it empty here? Is there something missing?"

Qin Feng thought about it and took out the jade token given by the mysterious man from his backpack. He placed the jade token on the blank space and found that it fit perfectly.

"Sure enough!" Qin Feng whispered, "The jade token is the key to unlock this mechanism."

After the jade token was inserted, the runes on the stone door began to flicker, emitting a soft glow. The connection between the runes became more obvious, and gradually, the image of a dragon shadow swordsman emerged on the stone door.

"These runes seem to be guiding us." Ye Li said softly, "We need to touch them in order."

Qin Feng nodded: "Okay, we will each be responsible for a part and follow the order."

Everyone divided the work and cooperated with each person standing in front of a rune, ready to act according to Qin Feng's instructions.

"Okay, let's start now." Qin Feng gave the order.

He touched the first rune first, and the rune emitted a faint light. Then, Chu Tian, ​​Zhang Meng, Ye Li and Wang Yue touched their respective runes in turn, and the runes lit up one by one.

When the last rune was touched, the stone door made a low roar and slowly opened.

Behind the stone door was a huge stone hall. In the middle of the hall was a high platform, on which stood an ancient box, surrounded by seven stone pillars. Each stone pillar was engraved with different runes and patterns, which looked like some kind of hint.

Chu Tian's eyes widened and he said excitedly: "It looks like we have found the treasure! Open it and take a look!"

Zhang Meng nodded: "I'll drive!"

Qin Feng grabbed him and shook his head, saying, "Be careful, this place doesn't look that simple. Maybe there are clues on these stone pillars."

Ye Li walked to the stone pillar and carefully examined the runes on it: "These runes seem to be telling an ancient story. Each stone pillar represents different content."

Wang Yue read the words on the stone pillars softly: "The first stone pillar talks about courage. The second stone pillar talks about wisdom. The third stone pillar talks about trust... The seven stone pillars represent seven virtues respectively."

Qin Feng nodded: "It seems that this is a challenge about wisdom and courage. We need to use these virtues to unlock the secret of the box."

Qin Feng and his friends gathered in front of the platform, discussing how to unlock the secret of the box. There were seven slots on the box, and each slot corresponded to a stone pillar.

Ye Li thought for a moment and said, "Each stone pillar represents a virtue. Perhaps we need to activate these virtues in some way before we can open the box."

Chu Tian touched his chin: "Then how do we activate these virtues?"

Zhang Meng suddenly had an idea and said, "How about we demonstrate these virtues one by one and see if there will be any reaction?"

Qin Feng nodded: "This is a good idea. Each of us chooses a virtue and then follows the instructions on the stone pillar."

They walked to the stone pillar one by one and began to show their respective virtues.

Chu Tian stood in front of the Pillar of Courage, straightened his chest, and said loudly: "I am Chu Tian, ​​I have fearless courage and dare to face any challenge!"

The Pillar of Courage emitted a golden light, and a light pattern appeared in the slot.

Ye Li walked to the Pillar of Wisdom and said softly, "I am Ye Li. I use wisdom to solve problems and find the way to the truth."

The Pillar of Wisdom emitted a blue light, and a light pattern also appeared in the slot.

Then, Zhang Meng chose the Pillar of Trust and Wang Yue chose the Pillar of Benevolence, and they displayed their respective virtues in turn. Whenever they displayed a virtue, the corresponding stone pillar would glow and light patterns would appear in the slot.

When all the light patterns appeared in the slots, the lock on the box suddenly clicked and popped open automatically.

Qin Feng slowly opened the box and found an ancient stone slab inside. There was a pattern engraved on the stone slab, in which there was a huge dragon shadow swordsman holding a shining dragon shadow sword in his hand.

Qin Feng picked up the stone tablet and looked at it carefully. He found a line of small words under the pattern: "The true power of the dragon shadow comes from the heart, and the wisdom of the brave lasts forever."

Ye Li looked at the words on the slate and said with emotion: "It seems that this slate is a clue to the true power of the Dragon Shadow Sword."

Chu Tian patted Qin Feng on the shoulder: "Great! We are one step closer to finding the true power of the Dragon Shadow Sword!"

Zhang Meng raised his fist and laughed: "Haha, we really won a great victory this time!"

Wang Yue smiled and said, "But we still have to be careful, there may be other tests here."

Qin Feng nodded: "Yes, although we have solved this mechanism, the secrets of the ruins may be far more than this. Everyone, be careful and keep moving forward."

Qin Feng and his companions carefully put away the stone slabs and continued to explore the stone hall. There was a small door on the other side of the stone hall. There was no decoration on the small door and it looked ordinary.

Ye Li walked to the door, pushed it open, and found that there was a narrow staircase behind the door. The staircase extended downwards with no end in sight.

Chu Tian leaned over and looked: "Where does this staircase lead to? Do you want to go down and take a look?"

Zhang Meng clenched his giant axe: "No matter where it is, we have to find out!"

Wang Yue said softly: "Be careful, there may be a trap."

Qin Feng took a deep breath and walked in front: "Okay, let's go down and take a look."

They walked down the long staircase one by one, and the light was getting dimmer and dimmer. Finally, they came to an underground hall. The walls around the hall were engraved with complex runes, and there was a huge circular altar in the center.

Chu Tian looked at the altar and said in surprise: "This place looks like an ancient sacrificial site."

Ye Li carefully observed the runes on the altar, with a hint of surprise in her eyes: "These runes are related to the Dragon Shadow Sword! Maybe this is the source of Dragon Shadow's true power!"

Qin Feng felt a powerful force coming from the altar. He clenched the Dragon Shadow Sword and had a strong premonition in his heart: "This is the place we are looking for!"