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墨書 Inktalez
The Millennium Ruins have attracted the attention of various nations and families on the Yuhai Continent, with numerous messages exchanged and qualifications sought. As time passed, the families eligible to enter were basically finalized.
The Exiled Nation's Sovereign arranged a team led by the Third Prince, Nangong Tuo, which included Ouyang Zixin. The Zhao Family somehow managed to gain Nan Gong Yao's approval for their participation. In contrast, the Lin Family chose to withdraw this time, while the Sidu Family initially intended to make an effort but ultimately had to give up due to the issues that arose during Sito Rongyan's wedding. Other families also selected several skilled individuals, but most of them would only serve as escorts, making it difficult to obtain treasures; they could only hope for luck inside.
For Cloud Nation, Yun Tianmo led the group, with Yun Tianying also brought along. Other participating families included the Li Family, Haoran Family, and Peng Family. Instead of using escorts sent by the Cloud Kingdom Ruler, Yun Tianmo's shadow guards took their place. Each of the three families was allowed only five escorts. Compared to others, Yun Tianmo's arrangements were rather domineering.
Dream Nation was represented by the Crown Prince and Fifth Prince, with Baike serving as a guard and acting as a vanguard. The Zhai Family was also involved, with Zhai Yiqi being the expected choice. However, before entering the Millennium Ruins, the main family sent their eldest son, Zhai Xingjian. Other participants were not worth mentioning; they were merely there to broaden their horizons.
This was the first time such ancient ruins had been discovered on the Yuhai Continent. Before setting off, delegations from various nations encouraged and reassured their members, hoping for great gains from entering the Millennium Ruins.
The grand procession departed from the Capital of the Departed Nation and soon arrived outside Luoping Village. The entrance to the Millennium Ruins had been cleared, revealing a massive Double Stone Gate resembling an Underground Palace entrance. Its ancient style inspired deep respect; throughout history, human wisdom has always been admirable, and this was no exception on the Yuhai Continent.
Ouyang Zixin tried her best to remain inconspicuous among the Exiled Nation's group. Liu Ying and Liu Lu could not accompany her this time but came along nonetheless. Each family had people seeing them off, which contributed to the large size of the group. Naturally, some individuals hoped to take advantage of the situation and sneak in if given a chance.
"Miss, look over there! Isn't that Mo Wang?" Liu Ying pointed out as she spotted Cloud Nation's group led by Yun Tianmo. Beside him stood someone who looked remarkably similar; if not for their different clothing, one might mistake them for brothers from afar.
Following Liu Ying's direction, Ouyang Zixin indeed saw two tall men standing proudly; they must be brothers given their resemblance.
Luoping Village was a nightmare for Ouyang Zixin; she had nearly lost her life there. Returning now made her feel somewhat uneasy and distracted. "What's so strange about it? Which royal doesn't have a few sons?"
Before entering the Millennium Ruins, the Three Kingdoms had already conducted tests and determined that a prerequisite for entry was achieving at least mid-high level cultivation; otherwise, one would be repelled upon touching the Double Stone Gate. This is why each family sent only a limited number of representatives; otherwise, anyone could enter.
"Are you alright?" Yun Tianmo frowned as he glanced at Yun Tianying, who coughed twice. Given his condition, it was uncertain whether he could endure what lay ahead.
Yun Tianying eased his cough, a smile spreading across his face like a spring breeze. "It's fine, we have to try."
He had been dragging his sick body for many years, and he no longer wanted to be a mere vessel for medicine. When Yun Tianmo sent word that there might be something in the Millennium Ruins that could help him completely eliminate the toxins in his body, he agreed without hesitation.
"Everyone, please listen carefully." Li Feng, as the representative of Nangong Yao, was responsible for explaining the matters related to entering the Millennium Ruins today, so he had a few words to say.
The crowd stopped their conversations and turned to look at him, wondering what else he had to say.
"First of all, Sovereign has instructed me to remind everyone to be extremely cautious once you enter the ruins. If you feel unable to cope, it is better to withdraw early. Secondly, after entering the ruins, I urge all nations to help each other. Only by uniting can we obtain more treasures on Fortune Day." As he spoke these words, Li Feng's smile faded, and his gaze swept across the crowd. Changing his tone to a cold one, he added, "If anyone is found acting against others, they will pay a heavy price afterward, including your families behind you."
"Oh, Exiled Nation really thinks of itself..." A seemingly high-status young man from Dream Nation spoke sarcastically upon hearing Li Feng's words. However, before he could finish his sentence, the Crown Prince suddenly turned around, releasing Mysterious Energy that silenced him instantly. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead as he thought about how he was merely displeased with Exiled Nation's arrogance in considering themselves leaders; how did he provoke the Crown Prince?
Li Feng naturally knew what was happening below but pretended not to notice and continued, "I hope everyone takes care."
After saying this, he prepared to step aside and let those qualified enter. However, halfway through his walk, as if suddenly remembering something, he turned back and searched through the crowd before smiling and saying, "Miss Ouyang, now that you've just recovered from your illness, please take care of yourself. Sovereign mentioned that perhaps in no time at all, your status will be greatly different."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone turned their heads to look. Those who did not know Ouyang Zixin began to inquire about who she was to receive such special mention from Exiled Nation's Sovereign.
Nangong Tuo felt an overwhelming sense of joy upon hearing this statement. Li Feng was a trusted aide of his father; the meaning behind his words was too obvious. Sweat began to bead on his tightly clenched fists, but he dared not show it because only he understood the implication of those words; others might not think so. It was rare for him to use his brain wisely this time and not push Ouyang Zixin into the spotlight.
As long as Nangong Tuo did not bring up the matter of marriage proposals, everyone would only assume that Ouyang Zixin had caught Nangong Yao's eye and that this special mention was merely a warning for others not to plot against her behind her back.
What a joke! The fact that Ouyang Zixin discovered the news about the Millennium Ruins was no secret anymore. If everyone gained something from this trip inside, it would be fine. But if they did not gain anything, Ouyang Zixin would be the first to face questioning from all sides. There might even be suspicions that she had already entered before and hoarded all the treasures inside for herself.
"Damn it." Ouyang Zixin wished she could flatten Li Feng's chubby face. Why did he have to say such things in front of so many people? Wasn't that just asking for trouble?
"Everyone, get ready." Li Feng ignored the crowd's reactions and the sharp gaze from Ouyang Zixin, announcing that they could attempt to enter the Millennium Ruins.
Feng Chengxuan, the Crown Prince of the Dream Kingdom, glanced at Baike, who nodded in response, signaling the guards behind her to proceed. This time, the people she brought were completely different from those at Lingchi Peak; they were top experts selected after family discussions and were elite members cultivated by the Bai Clan.
Ten people approached the Double Stone Gate simultaneously, which bore an unclear pattern resembling two intertwined fish. One of the guards quietly gathered Mysterious Energy in his palms and shouted as he pushed against the stone door—
Boom!
The Double Stone Gate let out a loud noise upon being pushed but showed no signs of opening. Instead, it erupted with a blinding silver-gray light, sending the guard flying.
Everyone was taken aback. How could this happen?
Li Feng also stepped forward in shock, his eyes squinting into slits. When they sent someone to test it a few days ago, it wasn't like this. At worst, they had managed to open the Double Stone Gate slightly, and that person was even weaker than the guard who had just been thrown back.
"Meridians severed."
The guard was done for.
Baike gritted her teeth upon hearing this. They hadn't even entered yet, and they had already lost a skilled fighter. What would happen next...
The sudden turn of events disrupted everyone's previously calm demeanor. One careless move could lead to severed meridians; this was not good at all. The discussions grew louder, and the scene began to descend into chaos.
"Everyone, please remain calm. The results of our previous attempts were not as dangerous as they seem; there must be some misunderstanding," Li Feng raised his hands and pressed down, saying, "At this moment, anyone who wishes to withdraw may do so."
Should we withdraw?
Feng Chengxuan and Feng Chengzhi exchanged glances, both filled with concern. If they let the Bai Clan members go first, then it would be their own people suffering losses now. However, to say they would give up at this point seemed a bit premature.
"White Maiden, why not try once more?" Feng Chengzhi stepped closer to Baike and whispered, "If we withdraw now, wouldn't that mean losing both the lady and the soldiers?"
Though it was a suggestion, the tone was clearly laced with threat. Baike never believed that the Fifth Prince's display of elegance and gentleness was genuine; the royal family could not produce such a prince.
"Let's try again!" Baike had no way out at this point. If she gave up now, not only would the Dreamland Royal Family not spare her, but even the elders in her clan would not let her off easily. By then, even if she was the esteemed Legitimate Daughter, she would likely face dire consequences.
They attempted three times in a row, and each guard was repelled by the silvery-gray light emitted from the Double Stone Gate, all rendered useless.
"Hey, look! Aren't the patterns on the door becoming clearer?"
As everyone hesitated, someone made this remark.
Upon hearing this, everyone turned their attention to the patterns on the door. Indeed, the two fish designs had become much clearer; even the previously dim eyes of the fish showed faint traces of Mysterious Energy flowing within.
Could it be that the Mysterious Energy from those few individuals earlier was absorbed by these patterns on the door? If so, how much Mysterious Energy did this stone door need to absorb before it was enough? Were those who went ahead merely sacrifices?
"How insidious!" Feng Chengxuan looked at the people from Cloud Nation and Exiled Nation with eyes full of anger. They claimed to have tried it before, but what about now? If it weren't for the Bai Clan's involvement, would they have forced the royal family of Dream Nation to bear these burdens? Were they really going to make a dignified royal family serve as sacrifices?!
Feng Chengzhi, who usually had a gentle expression, was now struggling to maintain his composure. The smile on his face vanished, and a fleeting shadow crossed his eyes.
"This can't go on. If it continues like this, my people from the Bai Clan will..." Baike's body swayed slightly. If all those brought here became sacrifices, she feared she would be the eleventh. As the Legitimate Daughter, her status was noble; she could not become a victim.
This situation was becoming difficult to handle.
"You, go and try!" Feng Chengxuan pulled out a young attendant beside him. His cultivation was low, and if a sacrifice was necessary, it would suffice for someone like him. He still hoped that the experts from the Bai Clan could protect them once they entered the Millennium Ruins.
The young attendant was terrified to see three experts rendered useless just like that, but he dared not defy the Crown Prince's orders. If he disobeyed, death was certain; if he complied and tried, at most he would become a cripple.
With trembling hands, the young attendant placed them on the Double Stone Gate. His fish-like eyes brightened for a moment before dimming again.
"Hey, nothing happened?"
"What is going on?"
Could it be that the stone gate chose its targets? Was it looking down on those with insufficient cultivation?
Having narrowly escaped death, the young attendant scrambled back, still shaking from fear.
"What happened when you placed your hand on the gate?" Feng Chengzhi asked telepathically. While everyone was still in shock, he needed to understand what mystery lay within this stone gate.
"Reporting to the Fifth Prince, after I placed my hand on it, I felt a pulling force as if it wanted to draw me in completely. But then... then..."
"Then what happened? Hurry up and tell me."
"Then the suction suddenly disappeared, and I..."
The suction suddenly disappeared? Could the key lie in those fish-like eyes?
"How much Mysterious Energy did you gather?" Feng Chengzhi refused to give up any clue and continued to ask.
"I... I was so scared, so I gathered fifty percent of the Mysterious Energy." The young man truly felt like he wanted to die; being pressed for information about hidden abilities by the Fifth Prince was unbearable, yet he dared not remain silent, feeling utterly hopeless inside.
Feng Chengzhi relayed this information to Feng Chengxuan and did not hide it from Baike, as they still needed her assistance. After a discussion among the three, they temporarily concluded that in order to open the Double Stone Gate, the test would likely be about controlling the Mysterious Energy.
Too much would not work, and too little would also be ineffective. However, having too much might lead to failure, while having too little would serve no purpose.
Giving Baike a glance, she bit her pale lip tightly. With determination, she instructed her guards with a few more details before waving them off to try.
"Make sure to protect yourselves!" Baike instructed as she carried the two princes on her back. No matter what, she could not afford to lose everyone here.
(To be continued.)
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