152: Chapter 152 The Opening of the Qingfeng Ruins

Senior Brother Zhang Hao was merely a Cultivator at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining; even with Lin Zhentian backing him, he wasn't worth taking to heart.

To him, Senior Brother Zhang Hao robbing these Qi Refining Cultivators and fighting over low-tier treasures was just an insignificant trifle that he couldn't be bothered with.

As long as Senior Brother Zhang Hao didn't provoke him or delay his entry into the Qingfeng Ruins to seize the heavenly dao fragment, he didn't care to lower himself to deal with such a character.

But if Senior Brother Zhang Hao didn't know what was good for him and dared to take the initiative to provoke him, then he would destroy Senior Brother Zhang Hao.

Senior Brother Zhang Hao watched the submissive crowd with satisfaction, the smile at the corners of his mouth growing more intense. He spoke no more and found a spot with a wide view to stand casually. His subordinates immediately surrounded him, waiting on him with extreme care and respectful expressions.

The Cultivators kept their heads down, not daring to speak easily. Their hearts were filled with helplessness and resentment, but they could only endure in silence.

Zhang Han, Zhao Lei, and the others also quietly raised their heads. Their gazes toward Senior Brother Zhang Hao were full of flattery and awe, having long since cast the matter of mocking Qin Changsheng to the back of their minds.

More than half an hour later, a dazzling spiritual light suddenly rose above the originally quiet Misty Forest. Golden light pierced through the leaves and reflected on the ground as 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 can be obtained this time!"

Someone shouted in a low voice, their tone filled with excitement and anticipation.

Even though they were desperate, not a single Qi Refining Cultivator dared to rush forward. They still stood obediently in place, their expressions respectful as they waited silently.

They had long been intimidated by Senior Brother Zhang Hao's dominance. They knew clearly that since Senior Brother Zhang Hao was present today, he would definitely be the first to enter the ruins. If anyone dared to go ahead of him, it would be an open challenge to Senior Brother Zhang Hao's authority and would surely result in fatal retaliation.

Zhang Han, Zhao Lei, and the others also stood to the side, waiting for Senior Brother Zhang Hao to enter.

Senior Brother Zhang Hao stood at the front of the crowd, looking at the slowly expanding spiritual light rift, a smug and arrogant smile on his face.

He tilted his chin and swept a glance at the submissive crowd behind him, feeling increasingly pleased with himself.

"Hmph, a bunch of trash." Senior Brother Zhang Hao sneered in a low voice, his tone full of disdain. He then adjusted his fine clothes and lifted his foot to walk toward the spiritual light rift with a haughty expression, looking for all the world like he owned the place.

But just as his foot was lifted and before he could take a second step, a figure rushed out like a ghost.

That person's figure flashed as they charged straight toward the spiritual light rift. Their Speed was so fast that it far exceeded the reaction of all the Cultivators present. In an instant, they stepped into that golden spiritual light rift and vanished.

Everyone was stunned, looking up one after another with faces full of disbelief.

They completely didn't understand—someone actually dared to come here and challenge Senior Brother Zhang Hao's dignity?

To be the first to enter before Senior Brother Zhang Hao?

"Who was that person just now?"

"How dare he humiliate Senior Brother Zhang Hao like this?"

"I didn't see clearly; that person's Speed was simply too fast!"

"Is he crazy? To dare challenge Great Master Senior Brother Zhang Hao's authority, does he not want to live?"

"It's over, it's over. This person is as good as dead. Great Master Senior Brother Zhang Hao will definitely not let him off!"

The Cultivators began to discuss in low voices, their tones filled with shock and regret. Their gazes toward the spiritual light rift were full of sympathy.

In their eyes, this person was undoubtedly seeking death. To dare to go ahead of Senior Brother Zhang Hao meant that even if he entered the ruins, he would eventually be found by Senior Brother Zhang Hao and torn to pieces.

As for Senior Brother Zhang Hao, the smugness and arrogance on his face instantly froze, replaced by a sky-high rage. His face turned ashen, and the aura around him instantly became violent.

Senior Brother Zhang Hao's eyes were also filled with killing intent.

He never expected that an insignificant Fourth Level of Qi Refining Cultivator, an ant he didn't even bother to look at properly, would actually dare to openly challenge his authority and enter the ruins first. This was simply the greatest humiliation to him!

"Good! Very good!"

Senior Brother Zhang Hao spoke through gritted teeth, his voice cold as ice and carrying thick killing intent. His Great Perfection of Qi Refining Pressure was released without reservation, and a powerful aura swept through the scene, scaring the Cultivators into trembling. They hurriedly lowered their heads, not daring to look him in the eye.

"Ant! You seek death!" Senior Brother Zhang Hao roared and took a step, his body charging toward the spiritual light rift like an arrow. He was extremely fast, and the Spiritual Qi around him surged violently; he was clearly thoroughly enraged.

"Senior Brother, wait for us!" The few subordinates crowding around Senior Brother Zhang Hao also reacted and followed closely behind, striding toward the spiritual light rift.

They knew Senior Brother Zhang Hao's temper well. If they couldn't keep up or failed to help kill that person, they would surely face Senior Brother Zhang Hao's wrath. At that time, the consequences would be unimaginable.

In an instant, several figures charged into the spiritual light rift one after another and disappeared.

The Cultivators present remained frozen in place, trembling with faces full of fear and awe. It wasn't until the figures of Senior Brother Zhang Hao and the others had completely disappeared that they gradually recovered. They sighed in relief but still didn't dare to move easily.

At this moment, Qin Changsheng, who had already stepped into the Qingfeng Ruins, was standing on a discarded stone path on the first floor of the ruins.

Entering first just now wasn't a deliberate provocation of Senior Brother Zhang Hao; he simply didn't want to waste time, and even less did he want to follow Senior Brother Zhang Hao and the others, getting entangled and delaying his business of finding the heavenly dao fragment.

Qin Changsheng easily crossed the discarded stone path of the first floor, avoiding those low-tier Yao Beasts and withered Spiritual Plants, heading straight for the middle zone.

Along the way, he could occasionally see a few ruined house remains. The corners of the walls were overgrown with withered weeds, and the ground was covered with footprints of varying depths, clearly traces left by Cultivators who had entered the ruins over the generations.

Qin Changsheng's expression was indifferent and his gaze sharp. While moving forward quickly, he quietly released his Divine Sense to perceive the surroundings, remaining alert to possible Restrictions and dangers.

Before long, Qin Changsheng arrived at the middle zone of the Qingfeng Ruins.

Unlike the discarded stone path on the outskirts, the terrain of the middle zone was increasingly complex. On both sides of the winding stone road were low stone pillars carved with blurred runes, faintly surrounded by weak Spiritual Qi. These were precisely the low-tier maze and illusion arrays Senior Brother Wu Yong had mentioned.

However, most of these Restrictions had already failed after being opened several times. Only a few scattered runes were still flickering slightly, which was not enough to pose an obstacle to Qin Changsheng.

Qin Changsheng stopped and looked around. After confirming there was no danger, he no longer hesitated. With a slight thought, he quietly summoned the Golden Trait—[Intelligence].

A faint golden light emerged from his body and floated in front of him, turning into an illusory light screen. On the screen, fine golden patterns flowed slowly, emitting a mysterious aura.

"Search for heavenly dao fragment." Qin Changsheng gave the order silently in his heart, his Divine Sense tightly locked onto the golden light screen in front of him, a hint of expectation in his eyes.

His sole goal in entering the Qingfeng Ruins this time was the heavenly dao fragment. Now that he had reached the middle zone, not far from the core area, the heavenly dao fragment must be nearby.

As his command fell, the golden patterns on the golden light screen instantly became active, flowing rapidly like water, beginning an all-around search of the surrounding aura.

After a short while, a dazzling golden light suddenly flashed on the golden light screen, and a clear piece of information slowly emerged, particularly eye-catching:

[heavenly dao fragment: Located within the valley on the east side of the core area.]

"Found it!" Qin Changsheng was delighted, his eyes instantly filled with unmaskable joy!

At the same time, Qin Changsheng took out the Animal Skin Map.

He soon discovered the valley on the east side of the core area, which was about nine hundred miles away from here.

If he were to fly on a sword, it would take at most fifteen minutes to arrive.

However, there was a special Restriction within these Qingfeng Ruins that prevented sword flight.

To go to the eastern valley, one had to run there.

The round trip of nine hundred miles would take at least two days.

The entrance to the Qingfeng Ruins was only open for one day, and plus there was a Great Array there, so no one ever went to the eastern valley.

Qin Changsheng put away the map, took out his longsword, and turned to walk toward the east side of the core area, striving to get the heavenly dao fragment as soon as possible.

But in the next instant, a series of hurried and heavy footsteps suddenly came from the stone path behind him, a 'thump, thump, thump' sound.

Qin Changsheng's movements paused slightly. He slowly turned around and looked back.

Several figures were seen rushing over, led by Senior Brother Zhang Hao. He was still dressed in fine clothes, but his face was full of rage and killing intent.