Zhang Hao was merely a Qi Refining Grand Perfection cultivator. Even with Lin Zhentian backing him, he wasn't worth Zhang Hao's attention.
Zhang Hao robbing these Qi Refining cultivators and fighting over low-level treasures was a trivial matter to him; he couldn't be bothered with it.
As long as Zhang Hao didn't provoke him or hinder his entry into the Qingfeng Ruins to seize the Heavenly Dao Fragment, he wouldn't bother with someone like him.
However, if Zhang Hao was foolish enough to provoke him, he would eliminate him.
Zhang Hao watched the obedient crowd with satisfaction, his smile deepening. He said nothing more, found a spot with a clear view, and casually stood down. His subordinates immediately surrounded him, serving him with utmost respect.
The cultivators remained with their heads bowed, not daring to speak, their hearts filled with helplessness and resentment, yet they could only silently endure.
Zhang Han, Zhao Lei, and the others also quietly raised their heads, their gazes towards Zhang Hao filled with flattery and awe, having completely forgotten their earlier mockery of Qin Changsheng.
Half an hour later, a dazzling spiritual light suddenly appeared above the once tranquil Misty Forest. Golden light pierced through the branches and leaves, illuminating the ground, and an ancient and mysterious aura slowly emanated from the light.
"Look, the spiritual light has appeared!"
"The ruins are about to open!"
"I wonder what treasures we'll obtain this time!"
Someone exclaimed in a low voice, their tone full of excitement and anticipation.
However, despite their eagerness, not a single Qi Refining cultivator dared to step forward rashly. They remained obediently in place, their expressions respectful, waiting silently.
They had already been intimidated by Zhang Hao's domineering presence. They knew that with Zhang Hao present today, he would inevitably be the first to enter the ruins. To dare to rush ahead would be a blatant challenge to Zhang Hao's authority, and would certainly incur fatal retaliation.
Zhang Han, Zhao Lei, and the others stood to the side, awaiting Zhang Hao's entry.
Zhang Hao stood at the front of the crowd, his gaze fixed on the slowly expanding rift of spiritual light, a smug and arrogant smile on his face.
He raised his chin, glancing at the obedient crowd behind him, feeling increasingly pleased with himself.
"Hmph, a bunch of trash," Zhang Hao chuckled softly, his tone full of disdain. He then straightened his brocade robes and was about to step towards the rift, his expression haughty, as if he were the master.
But just as he lifted his foot, before taking the second step, a figure rushed forward like a ghost.
The person flashed, rushing straight towards the rift of spiritual light, their speed far exceeding the reaction speed of all the cultivators present. In an instant, they stepped into the golden rift of spiritual light and vanished.
Everyone was stunned, looking up in disbelief.
They were completely baffled. Who would dare challenge Zhang Hao's authority like that?
To be the first to enter before Zhang Hao?
"Who was that person just now?"
"How dare he humiliate Zhang Hao like that?"
"I didn't see clearly, that person was too fast!"
"Is he crazy? How dare he challenge Senior Brother Zhang Hao's authority? Does he want to die?"
"It's over, it's over, this person is definitely dead. Senior Brother Zhang Hao will never let him go!"
The cultivators murmured amongst themselves, their voices filled with shock and regret, their gazes towards the rift in the spiritual light tinged with pity.
In their eyes, this man was undoubtedly courting death, daring to preempt Zhang Hao. Even if he entered the ruins, Zhang Hao would find him sooner or later and tear him to pieces.
Zhang Hao's smugness and arrogance froze instantly, replaced by overwhelming fury. His face turned ashen, and his aura surged violently.
His eyes were filled with killing intent.
He never imagined that an insignificant fourth-level Qi Refining cultivator, an ant he wouldn't even deign to give a second glance, would dare to openly challenge his authority and preemptively enter the ruins. This was the greatest humiliation he could ever hope for!
"Good! Very good!"
Zhang Hao gritted his teeth, his voice icy and chilling, filled with intense killing intent. The overwhelming pressure of his perfected Qi Refining stage was released without reservation, a powerful aura sweeping across the entire area, causing the cultivators to tremble and lower their heads,不敢直视 his gaze.
"Insect! You're courting death!" Zhang Hao roared, his foot stomping forward as he shot towards the spiritual light rift like an arrow, his speed incredibly fast, his spiritual energy surging violently—clearly, he was thoroughly enraged.
"Senior Brother, wait for us!" Several subordinates surrounding Zhang Hao reacted, following closely behind, rushing towards the spiritual light rift.
They knew Zhang Hao's temper well; if they couldn't keep up, or failed to help kill that person, they would surely incur his wrath, and the consequences would be unimaginable.
In an instant, several figures rushed into the spiritual light rift and disappeared.
The cultivators present remained frozen in place, trembling, their faces filled with fear and awe. Only after Zhang Hao and his group had completely disappeared did they gradually recover, letting out a sigh of relief, yet still daring not to move easily.
At this moment, Qin Changsheng, who had already entered the Qingfeng Ruins, stood on the abandoned stone path on the first level of the ruins.
His earlier rush in wasn't a deliberate provocation of Zhang Hao; he simply didn't want to waste time, nor did he want to be entangled with Zhang Hao and his group, delaying his important task of finding the Heavenly Dao Fragment.
Qin Changsheng easily traversed the abandoned stone path on the first level, avoiding the low-level demonic beasts and withered spiritual herbs, heading straight towards the middle area.
Along the way, he occasionally saw the ruins of dilapidated houses, withered weeds growing in the corners, and footprints of varying depths covering the ground, clearly the marks left by cultivators who had entered the ruins over the generations.
Qin Changsheng remained calm, his gaze sharp. He moved swiftly forward while subtly releasing his divine sense to perceive the surrounding activity, remaining vigilant against any potential restrictions or dangers.
Shortly, Qin Changsheng arrived at the middle level of the Qingfeng Ruins.
Unlike the abandoned stone paths of the outer area, the terrain of the middle level was increasingly complex. Low stone pillars lined both sides of the winding stone path, inscribed with indistinct runes and faintly swirling with spiritual energy—the low-level mazes and illusion arrays Wu Yong had mentioned.
However, these restrictions had been activated several times, and most had become ineffective, with only a few scattered runes still flickering slightly, posing no real obstacle to Qin Changsheng.
Qin Changsheng stopped, glancing around to confirm there was no danger. Without further hesitation, he subtly summoned the golden inscription – [Intelligence].
A faint golden light emerged from his body, hovering before him and transforming into a phantom light screen. Fine golden patterns flowed slowly across the screen, emanating a mysterious aura.
"Search for the Heavenly Dao Fragment," Qin Changsheng silently commanded, his divine sense locked onto the golden light screen before him, a hint of anticipation in his eyes.
His sole objective in entering the Qingfeng Ruins was the Heavenly Dao Fragment. Now that he had reached the middle level, not far from the core area, the fragment should be nearby.
As his command was given, the golden patterns on the screen instantly became active, surging rapidly like flowing water, beginning a comprehensive search of the surrounding area.
In a short while, a dazzling golden light flashed across the golden screen, and a clear message slowly appeared, strikingly conspicuous:
[Fragment of the Heavenly Dao: Located in the valley east of the core area.]
"Found it!" Qin Changsheng was overjoyed, his eyes instantly filled with undisguised delight!
At the same time, Qin Changsheng took out the animal hide map.
He quickly discovered the valley east of the core area, about nine hundred li away.
If he were to fly on his sword, it would only take a quarter of an hour at most.
However, there was a special restriction within the Qingfeng Ruins, preventing sword flight.
To reach the valley to the east, he had to travel.
The journey of over nine hundred li round trip would take at least two days.
The entrance to the Qingfeng Ruins was only open for one day, and there was also a large formation there, so no one went to the valley to the east.
Qin Changsheng put away the map, drew his longsword, and turned to walk towards the eastern side of the core area, hoping to obtain the Heavenly Dao Fragment as quickly as possible.
But in the next instant, a series of rapid and heavy footsteps suddenly came from the stone path behind him, a series of thuds.
Qin Changsheng paused slightly, slowly turning around to look behind him.
He saw several figures rushing towards him, led by Zhang Hao, still dressed in brocade robes, but his face was filled with anger and killing intent.