All Enter the Ruins

The outside world.

Madness, stupor, numbness.

The entire scene fell into dead silence as everyone stared in disbelief at Venerable Chiyan, still sprawled in the crater.

A powerhouse at the Spirit Source Realm... suppressed so effortlessly with a single palm strike?

The Sword Immortal and the Zen Master exchanged glances, their eyes filled with deep wariness.

Su Muwan...

They had only heard of her, but never expected her to be so domineering and utterly arrogant.

But the most unsettling thing was...

"Hey... did you see her face?"

The Sword Immortal's expression darkened.

After a moment of silence, the Zen Master nodded, his voice laced with horror: "The face of... the Frigid Fiend."

The Frigid Fiend.

The most dreaded existence of their era in the Xuan Tian Realm.

A single person who slaughtered the Seven Supreme Sovereigns.

How could anyone stand against that?

But...

They had thought the Frigid Fiend was long dead. So why had someone who looked almost identical appeared now?

No...

That wasn't quite right...

The Sword Immortal shook his head, clenching his fists as he muttered, "It's not the same. Su Muwan's aura..."

"Is far weaker than the Frigid Fiend's."

"Perhaps they just resemble each other."

The Zen Master nodded. "True. If it were really the Frigid Fiend, this world would already be in ruins."

With that, he extended a hand toward the Sword Immortal. "The situation is unpredictable. If outsiders enter the Bronze Gate seeking fortune, they may face disaster."

"In that case, shall we join forces for now?"

The Sword Immortal hesitated briefly before gripping his hand firmly. "Agreed."

The surrounding members of the outsider factions gulped nervously.

With two Spirit Source Realm powerhouses allied... how were they supposed to compete now?

Among the crowd.

The loose cultivators turned to their leader, panic in their voices. "Boss... should we still go?"

The woman's eye twitched. After a tense moment, she clenched her fists and declared, "Yes!"

"There are so many of us here, all outsiders. Even if Su Muwan is this tyrannical, I refuse to believe she can take on all of us at once!"

"Good point!"

With that rallying cry, the crowd surged toward the Bronze Gate.

As time passed.

The crowd gradually thinned, leaving only the hesitant observers behind.

Most were members of aristocratic families from the royal city.

Their clans had sent them to scout the situation.

After all, with the resurgence of spiritual energy and the changing times, countless sects had emerged.

Such top-tier opportunities were no longer within the reach of mere families.

Then—

Whoosh!

A black-robed figure appeared among the crowd.

It was Ye Qun.

He adjusted his cloak, concealing his face.

After a quick scan of the scene, his eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

Perfect.

Delaying his arrival had been the right move.

So what if the major sects had entered first?

Without his master's guidance, none of them would find the true legacy of the Taigu Xuan Sect!

Hmph.

The only question was whether that venomous woman Su Muwan had come.

If not, she could count herself lucky.

But if she had...

Ye Qun's face twisted with malice. I'll tear you to pieces!!!

[Little Ye... I sense the legacy... Hurry inside.]

Hearing his master's voice again, Ye Qun's eyes lit up. He nodded and swiftly dashed into the Bronze Gate.

Before entering, however, he caught sight of Venerable Chiyan, lying motionless like a pile of rotten meat.

His lips curled in disdain.

Probably some fool who tried to seize the opportunity first and got crushed instead.

Pathetic insect.

A short while later.

"Moo~!"

A resonant bovine cry echoed as the Devouring Spirit Ox arrived, carrying three figures.

Among them stood a tall, slender woman in a flowing moon-white dress—Chu Yu, reborn and cold-eyed.

Her gaze locked onto the Bronze Gate.

The Taigu Xuan Sect's legacy had truly reappeared.

In her past life, a man named Ye Qun had seized the ultimate inheritance.

But now that she had returned...

This greatest opportunity would be hers!

Yet...

What infuriated her beyond belief was...

Elder Gong had actually asked them to look after that wretched woman!

She shot a sidelong glance at Su Bailian, clad in soft pink robes.

The girl clung weakly to Wang Yan's side, her large, watery eyes brimming with innocence and fear.

Tch.

First time exploring ruins, so scared you're trembling, huh?

Sometimes, Chu Yu couldn't help but admire this snake—despite her pitiful strength, she always managed to fool everyone with this delicate act.

Like her idiot brother, for instance.

The moment he saw Su Bailian's frightened expression—

Wang Yan immediately softened. Standing protectively beside her, he reassured, "Don't be scared, Xiao Lian. With me and Chu Yu here, nothing will happen to you."

Su Bailian sniffled, nodding timidly before shrinking even further behind Wang Yan, like a startled little rabbit.

Only then did she whisper gratefully, "Th-thank you... Brother Yan."

"Lian Lian will... remember your kindness forever."

Thump! Thump!

Wang Yan scratched his nose sheepishly. "Hehe..."

Chu Yu rolled her eyes internally.

This fool... In her past life, he had been played just like this by Su Bailian!

And now, history was repeating itself.

But whatever.

This time, she wouldn't warn anyone!

Because—

I'll make sure every single one of you regrets it!

She quickened her pace toward the Bronze Gate, not bothering to look back. "Quit dawdling. Any longer, and the good stuff will be gone."

Wang Yan acknowledged before turning to Su Bailian. "Xiao Lian, stay close to me."

"O-okay..."

Su Bailian wasn't about to pretend she wasn't nervous.

But!

Her eyes fixed on Chu Yu's back.

To teach this bitch a lesson—

I'll risk it all!

And besides...

"Woof!"

Boqi poked his head out from Su Bailian's backpack, blinking at the Devouring Spirit Ox beside her.

His eyes glazed over with adoration once more.

Su Bailian took it all in.

That's right...

She adjusted her backpack, her expression hardening with resolve.

As Boqi's owner, it's my duty to get him the finest steak!!!

So—

This spirit ox steak? Boqi will love it for sure!!!

As the trio from the Tai Chu Holy Land entered, the remaining onlookers could no longer hold back.

"Charge! Even if we just follow the big sects, we can still get some scraps!"

"Exactly! This place is a once-in-ten-millennia ruin! Miss this, and there might never be another!"

"Right! After looting this place, I'm going home to get married!"

"What a coincidence! I'm retiring after this job too!"

"Daddy, come back soon! Mommy and I will be waiting!"

"Don't worry, sweetheart. Once Daddy finds something good, I'll sell it and take you to the amusement park!"

"Yay!"