After a while, a figure slowly approached from a distance. It was an elderly man wearing a white robe, with hair and beard that had turned gray, yet his eyes revealed wisdom and authority.

"Who are you?" asked the massive figure, its voice devoid of the previous arrogance and disdain.

The old man did not answer the question but instead looked at Shen Jingqi and the others, smiling slightly. "Young people, you have done well. Your courage and determination move me," he said, then turned toward the massive figure, "You evil being, you shouldn't be running rampant in this world."

Upon hearing the old man's words, the massive figure let out a sinister laugh. "Just you? Do you think you can stop me?" it said, swinging its battle ax again and charging toward the old man.

The old man stood still. Just as the battle ax was about to strike him, he suddenly raised a hand and gently caught the blade of the ax. The massive figure was shocked; it hadn't expected the old man to block its attack so effortlessly.

"Your power may be strong, but your heart is possessed by evil. Today, I shall purify your soul," the old man said, and began chanting a mysterious spell.

As the spell was recited, golden light radiated from the old man, enveloping the massive figure. The massive figure let out a painful wail, struggling constantly within the light but unable to break free.

Shen Jingqi and the others watched in amazement, unsure of who this old man was or what magic he was using. But they knew that this old man was on their side and might truly be able to defeat this powerful enemy.

After a while, the massive figure's struggle gradually weakened, and its body shrank smaller and smaller. Ultimately, it became the size of a regular person, collapsed on the ground, unconscious.

The old man stopped chanting, gazing at the unconscious figure, and sighed. "I hope this time he'll change his ways," he said, then turned to Shen Jingqi and the others, "Young ones, your kingdom is still in danger, with many evil forces lurking in the shadows. You must become stronger to protect this land."

Shen Jingqi nodded, looking gratefully at the old man. "Thank you, elder. Can you tell us who you are? And how can we become stronger?"

The old man smiled slightly, "My name is Xuanfeng, a reclusive magician. As for how to become stronger, that's something you need to explore and discover for yourselves. But I can give you a hint: Deep in this world, there are mysterious places that hide great power and treasure. If you can find them, you might become stronger."

Shen Jingqi and the others listened, filled with anticipation. "Elder, we are willing to seek out those mysterious places, but we don't know where to start," Shen Jingqi said.

The old man thought for a moment, then took out an ancient book from his robe. "This book contains information about those mysterious places, which might help you. But remember, those places are full of danger and challenge, so you must be careful."

Shen Jingqi took the book, gratefully saying, "Thank you, elder. We will proceed with caution."

The old man nodded, "Alright, I must be going now. I hope you succeed in protecting your kingdom." With that, he vanished into thin air.

Shen Jingqi and the others looked at where the old man had disappeared, filled with respect. They knew they had a major mission ahead and must bravely face the challenges that lay in their future.

"What should we do next?" Lin Yu asked.

Shen Jingqi looked at the book in his hand, then at the unconscious massive figure and Xu An, who had been burned by black flames, and said, "First, let's find a safe place to tend to Xu An's wounds, then study this book to see if we can find clues to those mysterious places."

Everyone nodded in agreement, helping Xu An as they headed toward a nearby forest. They knew a new adventure was about to begin, and whether they could find powerful forces in this quest to protect their kingdom remained uncertain... but they did not shrink back, for they held steadfast belief and courage in their hearts.

In the forest, they found a secluded cave. Shen Jingqi and Lin Yu treated Xu An's wounds; fortunately, although Xu An was burned by black flames, his injuries were not life-threatening. Under their careful care, Xu An's condition gradually improved.

Meanwhile, Shen Jingqi began to study the ancient book. The text was incredibly obscure, but Shen Jingqi, with his intelligence and determination, gradually unraveled some mysteries.

"It mentions a mysterious peak at the world's end, where great magical power is hidden. If one can obtain this power, they would become incredibly strong," Shen Jingqi said excitedly.

"The world's end? Where is it? How do we get there?" Lin Yu asked.

Shen Jingqi shook his head, "The book doesn't specify, but it provides some clues. It's said that to reach the world's end, you must first pass through a mysterious Mist Forest, filled with traps and monsters."

"It sounds dangerous," Xu An remarked, his injuries having improved enough to allow him to sit up.

"But we have no choice. To protect the kingdom, we must go," Shen Jingqi said firmly.

Everyone was silent for a while, then nodded in agreement. They knew the path ahead was full of unknowns and dangers, but they were ready.

A few days later, Xu An had fully recovered. They packed their bags, left the cave, and set off in the direction of the Mist Forest. Along the way, they encountered many difficulties and challenges but never gave up.

When they finally reached the edge of the Mist Forest, they were stunned by the sight before them. The forest was shrouded in thick mist, obscuring the path ahead. Moreover, strange noises echoed from the forest from time to time, sending chills down their spines.

"Are we really going in?" Lin Yu asked hesitantly.

Shen Jingqi took a deep breath, "We have no retreat; let's go in." With those words, he ventured into the Mist Forest first.

Everyone followed behind Shen Jingqi, cautiously moving forward. Suddenly, the ground began to shake as a group of massive monsters emerged from underground. These monsters were tall, with grotesque appearances and wielding sharp weapons in their hands.