BOOM!
A deafening roar exploded across the heavens. The very world seemed to tremble.
It was a collision of origins—a clash between realms that sent shockwaves rippling across the land.
An overwhelming vision unfolded in the skies, drawing the eyes of countless beings. All who witnessed it felt a single, thunderous truth strike their hearts—
The ancient ruins have arrived.
As if a self-contained world had descended from the void, space itself fractured and tore apart. The place where the ruins met the present world formed a jagged border, surreal and jarring.
To the east, a mighty river flowed serenely—only to vanish into empty nothingness. To the west, forests sprawled and red mountain ranges stretched toward the horizon, interrupted by the unnatural divide.
It looked as if two mismatched paintings had been crudely stitched together.
Reality was at war with itself.
And within the borders of the ruins—
The sky was a bloody hue, choked with darkness. The land below was a scorched wasteland, cracked and broken like dried blood. Even from a distance, the place exuded an aura of destruction, chaos, and ancient collapse.
Luo Chuan narrowed his eyes.
"…So this is the ancient ruins," he murmured, voice low and thoughtful.
The beam of light from the altar slowly faded, leaving behind only the original, weathered stone structure.
The high priest retracted his spiritual energy and gazed into the sky, his eyes gleaming with an almost fanatical light.
"It has come," he whispered. "At long last, the ruins have descended. The legacy is within our reach."
Then, louder:
"Prepare yourselves. We're entering the ruins!"
The surrounding monsters and royal clans erupted in excitement, their energy rising in waves.
"Boss, are you coming too?" Yao Ziyan turned toward Luo Chuan.
Luo Chuan nodded calmly. "Naturally."
After all, the system's Rising Stars quest had pointed him directly to these ruins—to "sell goods," of all things.
No specific instructions. No objectives. Just… "play it by ear."
Which, to Luo Chuan, meant this whole mission reeked of a trap.
The system wasn't as innocent as it used to be. Somewhere along the line, it had learned how to scheme.
You've changed, system… Luo Chuan sighed inwardly.
"Haha! With the boss around, there's no way anything can go wrong!" the high priest beamed, full of confidence.
Yao Ziyan turned to her sister. "Ziyue, you're coming with me and the boss."
"Got it!" Yao Ziyue nodded, eyes bright.
Though a promising cultivator, Ziyue's current cultivation level was only at Pathseeker Grade One, making her one of the weaker individuals present. Yao Ziyan's concern was understandable.
"Well then—let's move!" the high priest declared, stepping onto the altar.
Luo Chuan blinked.
"…What are you doing?"
The high priest chuckled. "Ah, boss—this altar doesn't just connect to the ruins. It also serves as a direct teleportation gate. Step on it, and we'll be transported straight into the interior of the ruins."
Luo Chuan raised a brow. "Have you tested it?"
"…Huh?" The high priest froze.
He hadn't expected that question.
Test it? They'd spent countless years preparing to activate the ruins. Why would anyone question the altar now?
Of course, they hadn't tested it. Who would volunteer to step into an unverified ancient transmission array?
But for Luo Chuan, who had already been traumatized by teleportation arrays twice, his concern was justified.
The last two times I used one, I ended up in the most ridiculous situations. I swear I'm cursed…
Still, with a reluctant sigh, Luo Chuan stepped onto the altar alongside the others.
Light surged.
Space twisted.
And in the blink of an eye, they vanished.
Meanwhile, under the leadership of the three elders, the Medicine Valley party flew toward the ruins atop their mount—a thunderous Thunder Eagle.
The creature crackled with arcs of lightning, its vast wings blotting out the sky. Its aura alone sent weaker beasts cowering in fear.
Over the course of several days, they finally arrived near one of the largest gathering points surrounding the ruins.
The moment the Thunder Eagle appeared in the sky, murmurs broke out among the surrounding cultivators.
"That's… is that a Thunder Eagle?"
"I've heard of it! Medicine Valley supposedly has one in their possession!"
"Then the people riding it must be from Medicine Valley…"
A pause.
"…I wonder how they'll respond when they find out someone's been stirring up trouble with their authority."
The voice trailed off into silence.
Everyone knew—Medicine Valley did not tolerate provocations lightly.
And now, with the ancient ruins descending, the tension across every faction was only growing stronger.
The storm had only just begun.
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