Chapter 459 - 456: Setting Off
Chapter 459: Chapter 456: Setting Off
"According to the intelligence the Sect has gathered, these Ancient Ruins were most likely used by some ancient power to test its disciples. The danger level is not high."
Chen Tianyuan continued.
"Of course, the situation inside the Ancient Ruins is complex. No one can guarantee it’s completely foolproof."
He paused, his gaze falling upon the nine faces.
"Whether you go or not is entirely voluntary. If you wish to go, Vice Hall Master Chen Wanjun will lead you to Donglu County."
"If you do not wish to go, that is also fine. The Sect will not force you."
A brief silence fell within the hall.
Fang Han was silent for a moment, having already made up his mind.
’Ancient Ruins, left behind from a distant era, containing precious Cultivation Techniques, Elixirs, and Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures...’
He was naturally unwilling to miss such an opportunity.
’Besides, the danger level isn’t high.’
"I am willing to go."
He was the first to speak, his voice steady and filled with unquestionable resolve.
"I am willing to go as well."
Luo Yuntian followed right after, his voice firm.
"I am willing to go."
Yun Muyao’s cool voice rang out.
"Count me in."
Kuang Tu grinned, his smile tinged with anticipation.
"How could I miss an opportunity like this?"
Chen Wuhen closed his folding fan, tapped it lightly against his palm, and said with a smile.
Su Yuwei said nothing, merely giving a slight nod.
Mo Chen was silent for a moment, then nodded as well.
Liu Ruyan said softly,
"I’ll go too."
Wang Miao smiled.
"Since everyone else is going, of course I’ll go too."
All nine had stated their intentions. All were willing to go.
A flash of satisfaction appeared in Chen Tianyuan’s eyes.
"Good."
He looked at Chen Wanjun beside him.
Chen Wanjun took a step forward, his gaze sweeping over the nine as he spoke in a deep voice.
"Since you are all willing to go, then return and prepare."
He paused, then continued.
"In three days, gather at the sect gate. You will follow me to Donglu County."
"Yes."
The nine responded in unison.
Chen Wanjun nodded slightly and said no more.
Chen Tianyuan waved his hand. "Go."
The nine rose, bowed, and exited the grand hall.
As they walked out the hall doors, the morning light washed over them. The nine returned to the True Inheritance Courtyard, and after arriving, they each went their separate ways.
Fang Han’s mind was a flurry of thoughts.
’Ancient Ruins possibly left behind by cultivators...’
’What exactly happened in this world, so long ago?’
...
「Three days passed in a flash.」
In the early morning, a gentle breeze swept by, carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees, along with the unique coolness of the mountains.
Dressed in a green robe with the Cloud Splitting Sword at his waist, Fang Han walked out of Villa No. 35 with a small pack on his back.
The pack contained a few bottles of Elixirs, some dry rations and water, and the Divine Speed Jade Talisman gifted by the Sect.
Qiu Lan saw Fang Han to the courtyard gate and bowed. "Senior Brother, be careful on your journey."
Fang Han nodded slightly without saying much. With a flicker of his body, he sped toward the sect gate.
When he arrived at the sect gate, several people were already there.
Luo Yuntian stood with his hands behind his back, dressed in a deep cyan robe. His expression was calm, his aura steady.
Not far from his side stood Yun Muyao, dressed in a plain white long skirt, her face veiled with a light gauze, revealing only a pair of eyes as clear as a frozen pool.
Kuang Tu was sitting imposingly on a boulder, the door-panel-like broadsword slung across his back, yawning out of sheer boredom.
Chen Wuhen stood under an ancient tree, gently fanning himself with his folding fan, his demeanor relaxed and carefree.
Su Yuwei stood beside him, also in a plain white long skirt. Her face was elegant and beautiful, and she was looking down at the stone slabs at her feet, lost in thought.
Mo Chen leaned against a stone pillar of the sect gate, arms crossed over his chest, his face devoid of expression.
Liu Ruyan and Wang Miao stood on the other side.
"Senior Brother Fang is here."
Wang Miao was the first to see him. He nodded slightly, a gentle smile gracing his lips.
Although Fang Han was the youngest of all the True Disciples, because he was ranked first on the general leaderboard, the other True Inheritors had to address him as "Senior Brother."
"Junior Brother Wang."
Fang Han clasped his hands in greeting and came to a stop not far from Wang Miao.
He was grateful to Wang Miao, who had helped him when he was still weak and unknown, and held him in high regard.
Before long, Chen Wanjun’s figure appeared at the end of the mountain path.
Today, he wore a deep cyan Elder Robe, the collar and cuffs embroidered with unique patterns in gold thread, signifying his distinct status.
His figure was lean and his face gaunt, but his eyes shone as brightly as the morning star.
His gaze swept over the nine of them, and he nodded slightly.
"Everyone’s here. Let’s move out."
Without any further words, he took the lead, striding out of the sect gate.
The nine followed close behind, executing their Body Techniques to race eastward along the main road.
’Did he break through?’
Fang Han noticed that Luo Yuntian’s Body Technique was much smoother than a few months ago, and his aura was more condensed.
A thought stirred in his mind: Luo Yuntian had likely already broken through to the Third Grade.
In the evening, the group checked into an inn in a city they were passing through, and they set out again the next day.
Two days later, the group entered the territory of Donglu County and ventured into the mountain range where the Ancient Ruins were located.
Within the mountain range, the terrain was steep and the forests were dense.
Chen Wanjun remained in the lead, his steps steady, as if he were extremely familiar with this forest.
The nine followed close behind, each using their Body Technique to weave through the jumbled rocks and thick undergrowth.
"ROAR—"
As they were passing through a gorge, a low roar came from up ahead.
A massive Demon burst out from the bushes. It resembled a wild boar, but was several times larger than an ordinary one.
Its tusks were like spears, its body covered in dark gray bristles, and its eyes glowed with an eerie green light.
"It should be a Seventh-Grade Demon. Leave it to me!"
Kuang Tu grinned, his figure flashing forward as he unsheathed his giant blade and brought it down in a single slash.
The Demon didn’t even have time to react before it was sliced in two. Its massive body crashed to the ground, splattering blood everywhere.
The group continued onward, encountering a few more waves of Demons along the way. None were particularly strong, with the most powerful being only Sixth Grade.
The nine took turns dealing with them, easily slaying them without much delay.
—
As they ventured deeper into the mountains, the strength of the Demons they encountered began to increase.
A huge Python Demon was coiled by a mountain stream. It was as thick as a water bucket, its entire body covered in jet-black scales, and its vertical pupils glowed with a dark golden light.
Judging by its aura, this Python Demon’s strength was already comparable to a Fourth-Grade Martial Artist.
"SWISH—!"
Yun Muyao drew her sword. A flash of light like a bolt of white silk shot out as she fought the Python Demon for several dozen moves, finally piercing its vital point with a single strike and killing it.
After traveling a while longer, a Demon resembling a giant ape leaped down from the treetops. Its arms were as thick as tree trunks, and when its fists slammed the ground like war drums, the earth trembled slightly.
It was likely a Demon comparable to a Fifth Grade Martial Artist.
"BAM—!"
Chen Wuhen closed his folding fan. His figure flickered as he tangled with the giant ape for a moment before striking its chest with a Palm Seal.
The giant ape’s massive body crashed to the ground, silent and still.
Fang Han didn’t make a move, simply walking at the rear of the group, responsible for their security from behind.
’These Demons aren’t yet strong enough to require my intervention.’
The sun climbed higher, its light filtering through layers of leaves and branches, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
The group passed through an ancient, dense forest. Towering trees reached for the sky, vines hung down like curtains, and the ground was covered in a thick layer of decaying leaves, muffling their footsteps.
"Hmm?"
Fang Han was walking when his steps suddenly faltered.
Through the perception of his "Thousand Mile Soul Lock," an aura was rapidly approaching from the front.
The aura was cold and violent, carrying a heart-pounding pressure far stronger than any of the Demons they had encountered before.
"Something big is coming. It should be a Third-Grade Demon."
Fang Han spoke, his voice not loud but clear enough for everyone to hear.
The group halted, their gazes following Fang Han’s line of sight.
Amidst the trees ahead, a massive black shadow was rushing toward them.
The figure was astonishingly fast, weaving and leaping between the ancient trees, stirring up a foul wind.
In just a few breaths, the figure appeared in everyone’s field of vision.
It was a tiger-like Demon, several times larger than an ordinary tiger. It was about thirty feet long from head to tail, with a shoulder height of five feet.
Its fur was a dark gold, covered with jet-black stripes. Its eyes were also dark gold, with vertical pupils that revealed undisguised brutality and ferocity.
It made no attempt to conceal its terrifying aura.
Judging by its aura, this Tiger Demon’s strength was comparable to a Third-Grade Martial Artist.
Fang Han’s right hand went to his sword hilt, ready to strike.
"Senior Brother Fang, let me."
Luo Yuntian’s voice, firm and determined, sounded from beside him.
Fang Han turned his head to look at Luo Yuntian.
He saw that Luo Yuntian’s gaze was calm as he stared at the Tiger Demon. There was no fear in his eyes, but rather... a hint of battle intent.
"Alright." Fang Han nodded slightly, released his sword hilt, and took a step back.
Luo Yuntian stepped forward, his right hand resting on the hilt of the longsword at his waist.
"CLANG—"
The longsword left its sheath. Its blade was a pale cyan, gleaming with a restrained luster in the sunlight.
Where the sword’s edge pointed, the very air seemed to stagnate.
At the same time, a dense and powerful aura erupted from his body.
Third Grade.
Just as Fang Han had guessed, he had already broken through to the Third Grade.
"Senior Brother Luo has broken through to the Third Grade!"
Feeling Luo Yuntian’s aura, Yun Muyao and the others couldn’t help but be slightly startled. Luo Yuntian had actually broken through to the Third Grade, pulling ahead of them.
The Tiger Demon seemed to sense the aura from Luo Yuntian. Its dark golden vertical pupils contracted slightly, and a low growl rumbled in its throat.
The next moment, it moved.
Its four paws pushed off the ground, and its massive body transformed into a streak of dark golden lightning, pouncing straight at Luo Yuntian.
Its sharp claws tore through the air, letting out a piercing shriek.
Luo Yuntian’s eyes narrowed. Instead of retreating, he advanced.
He brought his longsword across his body and slashed out.
"CLANG—!"
The explosive sound of metal on metal rang out, sending sparks flying.
The Tiger Demon’s pounce was brought to a dead stop, and it staggered back several steps.
Luo Yuntian also retreated two steps, his feet leaving deep imprints on the ground.
He gave the Tiger Demon no time to recover. His body moved again, and his longsword transformed into streaks of Cyan Sword Light that enveloped the demon.
His Sword Momentum was steady, neither fast nor slow, yet it possessed an impenetrable denseness.
The Tiger Demon roared repeatedly, attacking with its claws, fangs, and steel-like tail in an offensive that was like a raging storm.
But Luo Yuntian’s Swordsmanship was as steady as a mountain. He could always neutralize the Tiger Demon’s attacks by a hair’s breadth and counterattack at the opportune moment.
"CLANG! CLANG! CLANG—"
The dense sound of clashing metal exploded continuously as sword light and claw shadows intertwined, sending Qi Force flying in all directions.
Fang Han watched quietly, making an assessment in his mind.
’Luo Yuntian’s Swordsmanship hasn’t reached the point of comprehending Sword Intent, but he has already cultivated a top-level Swordsmanship technique to the Realm of Perfection. His control over "Momentum" has reached its peak.’
’Combined with his Early Third Grade Cultivation, he’s not at a disadvantage fighting this Tiger Demon.’
’However, it will be impossible for him to take down this Tiger Demon quickly.’
’The Tiger Demon is not only massive, but its defense is also extremely strong. Although Luo Yuntian’s sword can leave wounds on its body, they are far from fatal.’