233: Chapter 233: Tensions Rise

Clan Leader Shi Tianba nodded with satisfaction and raised his hand.

A streak of golden Demonic Qi soared into the sky, transforming into a light shield that enveloped the one hundred Yao Race Prodigies within.

"Depart."

The light shield shot into the sky, flying toward the direction of the ruins.

Everywhere it passed, the Vicious Beasts of the Wilderness Lands knelt on the ground, trembling and not daring to look up.

Human Race and Yao Race, one hundred against one hundred.

The Centennial Ruins were about to open.

...

At the junction of the Sword Qi Great Wall and the Wilderness Lands, there lay a wasteland forgotten by time.

Not a single blade of grass grew here, and the earth was cracked.

The sky was a dull gray, and sunlight never reached in; only the occasional flash of lightning would tear through this eternal darkness.

This was the entrance to the Ancient Ruins.

Ten thousand years ago, the most tragic battle of the Great War between Humans and Yao broke out here.

The Human Race's Sword Venerable Li Qinglian and Sword Saint en own led countless experts from both the Immortal and Demonic paths to fight a bloody battle against the Yao Race's Yao Emperors and Yao Saints.

That battle caused the heavens to collapse and the earth to rend, leaving the sun and moon without light.

With one sword strike, Li Qinglian split the world apart, driving the Yao Race back into the Wilderness.

en own sacrificed herself to her sword, transforming into that eternal Sword Intent atop the Sword Qi Great Wall.

However, the space of that battlefield was shattered during the fight, turning into countless fragments scattered within the Void Realm.

For ten thousand years, these fragments were pushed by the turbulent flows of space.

Every hundred years, they would converge once to form an independent Secret Realm.

That is the soon-to-be-opened Ancient Ruins.

Within the ruins, traces of the great war from ten thousand years ago remained, and the Legacies and relics of countless great experts were buried there.

Every time it opened, it was a scene of blood and gore.

The Prodigies of the Human and Yao Races would slaughter each other for treasures within; those who came out alive often soared to greatness.

There was still half an hour before the ruins opened.

On the grayish-black wasteland, a golden light suddenly lit up.

The light grew brighter and more intense, finally transforming into a massive light shield descending from the sky.

The moment the light shield hit the ground, the earth trembled and rubble flew.

As the light dissipated, one hundred figures appeared on the wasteland.

City Lord Li Qingge stood with his hands behind his back, his green robes snapping in the wind.

Behind him, one hundred Human Race Prodigies were lined up neatly, each with a profound aura and eyes like torches.

At the very front, the eighteen Prodigies of the City Lord's Manor, led by Li Qingyun, wore spotless green robes.

Their gazes swept across the wasteland, alert and focused.

On the left, Zhao Wudi led fifteen members of the Zhao family, their black battle armor gleaming faintly in the dim light.

He stood with his arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the distant direction of the Wilderness.

On the right, Sword Dust led fifteen members of the Sword Sect, dressed in clothes as white as snow with long swords hanging at their waists.

Every person's gaze was like a sharp sword drawn from its scabbard.

Xiao Ran was mixed in the crowd, wearing a black robe and a patrol token at his waist.

His aura was restrained, making it impossible to see the depth of his power.

But through the Soul Link, Li Changsheng's voice was complaining.

"Xiao Ran, you said you had a Breakthrough to the Peak Soul Transformation Stage, so why do you look like an ordinary person? Are you drained?"

Xiao Ran remained expressionless, replying through the Soul Link.

"Drained your ass, this is called 'returning to simplicity.' You don't know shit."

Li Changsheng: "You? Returning to simplicity? I think you were sucked dry by that young widow."

Xiao Ran: "Are you jealous?"

Li Changsheng: "Why would I be jealous? You'd better be careful not to run into those Yao Race monsters in the ruins."

"I just heard from the City Lord's Manor people that every time the ruins open, the Yao Race sends descendants of six top-tier Bloodlines. The Golden Lion, Nine-Headed Snake, Five-Colored Phoenix, Heaven-Swallowing Sparrow, Thunder Qilin, and Mystic Ice Flood Dragon—none of them are easy to deal with."

Xiao Ran narrowed his eyes: "The six great Bloodlines?"

Li Changsheng nodded: "Yes, they are all descendants of primordial Divine Beasts and Vicious Beasts, with pure Bloodlines and terrifying combat power."

"It's said that the Golden Lion's roar can shock and kill a Cultivator at the Middle Stage of Soul Transformation."

Xiao Ran was silent for a moment, then the corners of his mouth curled up.

"Interesting, just in time to use them for practice."

Li Changsheng was speechless.

Look at this guy acting all cool again.

The two bickered through the Soul Link, but in reality, they had no communication.

The surrounding Prodigies were talking in low voices in groups of twos and threes; some were checking their Magic Treasures, some were resting with their eyes closed, and others were sizing up their opponents.

Zhao Wudi suddenly spoke.

"I heard the Yao Race brought six Bloodline descendants this time, something about Golden Lions and Nine-Headed Snakes."

"I wonder how much weight those beasts carry compared to our Human Race's Peak Soul Transformation Stage."

Sword Dust opened his eyes and said indifferently, "We'll know after we kill them."

Zhao Wudi laughed: "Brother Sword has such heavy Killing Intent."

"However, don't get counter-killed by the Yao Race when the time comes; that would lose face for the Human Race."

Sword Dust didn't speak further, merely tightening his grip on the sword hilt at his waist.

Li Qingyun remained with his eyes closed, as if he hadn't heard anything.

The atmosphere was somewhat subtle.

But no one said anything more, because a streak of Demonic Qi suddenly soared into the sky from the distant direction of the Wilderness.

The Yao Race had arrived.

The golden Demonic Qi burned like fire, incinerating the grayish-black mist completely.

Within the Demonic Qi, a massive light shield descended from the sky; the moment it hit the ground, the earth cracked and rubble flew.

The light dissipated.

One hundred Yao Race Prodigies appeared on the wasteland.

At the very front, several Yao stood proudly.

Six Yao Venerables at the Peak Soul Transformation Stage, descendants of the six top-tier Bloodlines.

Behind them were ninety-four more Yao Race Prodigies, with cultivation bases ranging from the Early Stage of Soul Transformation to the Late Stage of Soul Transformation.

Every one of them had a fierce aura, their eyes filled with bloodthirsty light.

At the very front of the Yao Race team, a golden light slowly descended, revealing a burly figure.

The Clan Chief of the Golden Lion Clan, Clan Leader Shi Tianba.

His golden mane burned like fire, and his entire body was radiant with golden light, like a blazing sun.

His eyes landed on the Human Race camp with undisguised hostility.

City Lord Li Qingge looked at Clan Leader Shi Tianba, standing with his hands behind his back, not retreating a single step.

As the two Body Integration experts locked eyes, sparks flew in the air, and space itself seemed to warp slightly.

Clan Leader Shi Tianba spoke, his voice like a clap of thunder.

"City Lord Li Qingge, it's been a hundred years, and you still haven't passed away!"

City Lord Li Qingge said indifferently, "You aren't dead yet, so how could I bear to die?"

Clan Leader Shi Tianba snorted coldly.

"Stubborn. Whether half of your Human Race's Prodigies can come out of this ruin alive is still a question."

City Lord Li Qingge smiled: "If even a third of those little cubs of your Yao Race come out alive, it'll be thanks to the merit of your ancestors."

The two stared at each other, neither yielding.

The surrounding Cultivators and Yao retreated one after another, fearing they would be caught in the pressure of the two Body Integration experts.

Shi Haokong did the opposite, stepping forward, his golden eyes landing on the Human Race camp.

"Human Race Prodigies? They don't look like much."

Zhao Wudi sneered: "Even beasts can speak human words now? How rare."

Shi Haokong's eyes turned cold, his golden mane bristling.

"What did you say?"

Zhao Wudi shrugged: "I said you're a beast. What? Not happy?"

en own source text reference to mythology mythology's nine heads turned toward Zhao Wudi simultaneously, hissing.

"Human, don't let me encounter you in the ruins."

Zhao Wudi laughed: "Encounter me? I just happen to be lacking a snake-skin belt."

A flash of Killing Intent passed through en own source text reference to mythology mythology's vertical pupils.

"Human, wait to be swallowed!"

"If I run into you, I'll strike you dead with lightning!"

"Why would I be afraid of a pack of beasts?"

"I'll kill you and eat your meat when I get back!"

It was the same familiar pre-battle trash-talking session.

Neither the Human nor Yao Race would back down... to the point that the atmosphere was already tense with swords drawn even before the ruins had opened.