Shen Jingqi leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and let out a long breath: "Yes, this journey hasn't been easy. But hopefully, this ancient book will give us the answers we seek."

Xu An lay directly on the table, his head resting on his arms, muttering: "I'm exhausted, let's quickly see what's written inside."

The three of them gathered their spirits and focused their attention on the ancient book. As they flipped through it, mysterious symbols and ancient texts gradually appeared before them. Their expressions shifted from initial anticipation to surprise, and finally to awe.

From the ancient book, they learned that the mysterious castle had countless links with an ancient magic array. According to legend, this magic array was a powerful barrier set up by ancient magicians to guard against the evil force within the castle. Only by unraveling the secrets of the magic array and finding the key node hidden within it can the entrance to the castle be opened. And within the castle, an evil force capable of destroying the world is sealed; once released, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"So it was all true..." Li Baiyu said softly, a hint of worry in her eyes.

Shen Jingqi frowned, his expression serious: "It seems our task is even more daunting than we imagined. But no matter what, we must not let that evil force see the light of day again."

Xu An sat up straight and clenched his fist: "Yes, we must stop it!"

However, they were also well aware that uncovering the secrets of the magic array was no easy task. The magic array was filled with countless mysteries and dangers, like a massive enigma shrouded in layers of mist. The ancient book recorded that the array was riddled with traps and curses, triggering which would have irreparable consequences. At best, it could cause injury and unconsciousness; at worst, it could be fatal. Furthermore, the energy of the magic array was extremely powerful, and any slight mistake could result in being consumed by it, leading to a situation beyond redemption.

"Are we really going to risk unraveling this magic array?" Li Baiyu asked hesitantly, her fingers involuntarily pinching the hem of her clothes, a hint of fear in her eyes.

Shen Jingqi looked at her, his eyes glinting with determination: "Senior, we have to do this. Just think, if we back down, what would the world become if that evil force breaks free? Countless lives would be lost, homes would be destroyed. We can't let that happen."

Li Baiyu lowered her head, silent. Inside, she was torn between her fear of the unknown dangers and her sense of duty to protect the world's peace.

Shen Jingqi continued: "I know it's dangerous, but we're not alone. We have each other, and we have this ancient book as our guide. Even if what's ahead is a mountain of swords or a sea of flames, we must forge ahead."

Xu An listened and nodded vigorously: "That's right! We can't retreat; for the peace and tranquility of this world, this bit of danger is nothing."

Li Baiyu slowly lifted her head, her eyes rekindled with a fighting spirit: "You're right; we can't give up. Even if thorns lie ahead, we must press forward courageously."

After reaching a consensus, the three of them began to carefully study the mysteries of the magic array based on the clues from the ancient book. The book mentioned that the array was hidden in a mysterious place, shrouded in darkness and filled with eerie vibes. To find the magic array, they must first solve a series of puzzles, traverse a perilous Mist Forest, and avoid attacks from mysterious creatures guarding the array.

"Mist Forest? That sounds terrifying," Xu An said, frowning.

Shen Jingqi looked at the description in the ancient book and analyzed: "The Mist Forest is filled with thick fog, with extremely low visibility. Additionally, various traps and dangerous creatures are hidden within the forest. We must be cautious, taking one step at a time."

Li Baiyu added: "And those mysterious creatures guarding the magic array—we have no idea what they look like or what abilities they have. This undoubtedly adds to our challenge."

Despite the many difficulties, they had no thoughts of retreat. They began preparing the necessary items, making some simple weapons and armor, and also preparing some potions to disperse the mist and repel the evil force.

A few days later, everything was ready. Carrying their packs, they set off on their quest to find the magic array. Along the way, they crossed desolate deserts, traversed steep mountain ranges, and finally arrived at the edge of the Mist Forest.

Standing before the forest, a chilling aura greeted them. The thick fog hung like a heavy curtain, obscuring the view of the forest interior. Occasionally, strange calls echoed from within, sending shivers down their spines.

"This is the Mist Forest..." Li Baiyu's voice trembled a little.

Shen Jingqi took a deep breath, encouraging himself and his companions: "Don't be afraid, as long as we follow the clues in the ancient book, we'll surely pass through safely."

They cautiously stepped into the forest. As soon as they entered, the fog quickly enveloped them. Everything around them became blurry and indistinct, and they could only see a few meters ahead. They stayed close together, feeling their way forward step by step.

Suddenly, Xu An felt something soft under his foot. He looked down and almost cried out. It was a giant poisonous spider, its body as big as a washbasin, its eight legs sharp as steel needles, glaring at them fiercely.

"Watch out!" Xu An shouted, quickly drawing his weapon and slashing at the spider.

The poisonous spider deftly dodged the attack and then leaped ferociously towards Li Baiyu. Panicked, Li Baiyu almost fell. Shen Jingqi, quick to react, pulled her behind him and wielded his sword, engaging in a fierce battle with the spider.

After a tough fight, they finally killed the poisonous spider. However, this battle had drained a lot of their energy, and the spider's venom had splattered onto the surrounding trees, causing hissing sounds and emitting puffs of black smoke.

"That spider was terrifying. Who knows how many more dangers lurk in this forest," Li Baiyu said, still shaken.

Shen Jingqi wiped the sweat off his forehead: "Don't worry, let's keep moving. As long as we're cautious, we can avoid these dangers."

They continued to move through the forest, encountering many other dangers. There were venomous snakes that spouted poison, flowers that released hallucination-inducing smoke, and creatures hidden underground that suddenly attacked them with tentacles. Each time they faced danger, they relied on their tenacious spirit and excellent teamwork to turn peril into safety.

Not knowing how long they had walked, they finally reached the depths of the forest. There, they discovered a massive stone gate. The gate was engraved with mysterious runes and patterns, emanating an ancient and mystical aura.

"This should be the entrance to the magic array mentioned in the ancient book," Shen Jingqi said excitedly.