A Few Moments Earlier...
Outside the Xiao Family Estate, the bustling marketplace remained just as lively as ever.
Merchants loudly advertised their wares while cultivators and ordinary townsfolk walked through the crowded streets, creating a sea of movement beneath the afternoon sun.
In the very center of the commotion... Stood Xiao Chen.
The young master wandered leisurely from stall to stall with several guards following closely behind him. His expensive robes immediately distinguished him from everyone else, causing merchants to become visibly nervous the moment they recognized him approaching.
Unfortunately...
Their fears were justified.
Xiao Chen stopped before a stall selling precious spiritual herbs.
Without asking permission, he casually picked up a stalk of emerald-colored grass. Spiritual energy flowed through its leaves, indicating that it was indeed no ordinary herb.
Turning it over several times, Xiao Chen scoffed.
"You call this a 150 Year Old Saint bead Grass, I've seen no less than 150 in my Courtyard," Xiao Chen said.
Without another glance, he tossed the valuable herb toward one of the guards standing behind him. The merchant's face instantly turned pale. "Young Master, t-that herb—"
Before the terrified vendor could finish speaking... An intense pain exploded inside Xiao Chen's head. "Arghh!"
He suddenly grunted before dropping to one knee, one hand tightly clutching his head. His vision blurred. The world around him distorted. What is this, Xiao Chen thought.
Without warning... Countless fragmented scenes flooded into his consciousness. Broken. Incomplete. Yet horrifyingly vivid.
Is this a Heaven and Earth Interference?!, Xiao Chen thought.
He saw flashes of a beautiful young woman whose face remained obscured beneath a veil of light.
He saw another young man standing amidst mountains of corpses, though his appearance was impossible to distinguish. Most terrifying of all...
He saw a sword descending toward him. Its blade shimmered with terrifying killing intent as it effortlessly cleaved through his defenses. Blood splattered. His body collapsed.
He had not seen the figure's facial features. He had not heard the person's name. But one thing was painfully clear within those memories...
He had died.
Young.
Powerless
Like livestock awaiting slaughter.
"Young master are you alright!??!" The guards shouted as they immediately rushed toward him. Several of them knelt beside Xiao Chen, panic written all over their faces.
"Call a physician!!" Another guard shouted.
Without hesitation, one of the guards immediately sprinted toward the Xiao Family Estate to report the incident.
After several deep breaths, the unbearable pain gradually subsided. Xiao Chen slowly stood back up, one hand still pressed firmly against the side of his face.
Sweat trickled down his forehead. His breathing remained uneven. He looked toward the panicked guards before forcing himself to remain composed. "I'm fine," Xiao Chen said.
Only then did he notice something else. Hundreds of eyes.
Every merchant. Every passerby and most cultivators nearby had gathered to watch him.
For the first time that day... Xiao Chen no longer felt superior. Instead...
He felt exposed.
A nervous bead of sweat rolled down his cheek as he avoided their gazes before silently turning around and walking back toward the Xiao Family Estate. As his footsteps echoed through the streets, his thoughts became increasingly turbulent.
These... Flashes, I always thought that I, Xiao Chen, was a chosen one by heaven only to be shown myself being slaughtered like a lamb. I fail to believe it, and even more fail to follow it, Xiao Chen thought inwardly as he walked back toward the Xiao Estate, his usually arrogant expression replaced by one of deep uncertainty.
Two Days Later...The Ancient Ruins Outside Lu Jin City
A Few days had passed since the mysterious ruins had emerged from beneath the earth, and what was once an abandoned stretch of wilderness outside Lu Jin City had transformed into a sea of cultivators.
The towering mountain range that surrounded the ruins was now crowded with people from every corner of the Azure Moon Kingdom. Countless figures could be seen standing upon shattered stone platforms, broken temples, and crumbling watchtowers that had long since surrendered to the passage of time. Ancient buildings, their walls covered in creeping vines and deep cracks, stretched across the landscape like the remains of a forgotten civilization. Moss clung to collapsed pillars, while enormous trees had rooted themselves through broken rooftops, reclaiming the city that once belonged to another era.
Above the ruins, streams of light streaked across the heavens.
One after another, cultivators descended from the skies.
Those who had reached the Golden Core Realm flew freely through the air without relying on external objects, their robes fluttering majestically as spiritual energy carried them forward. Every movement radiated confidence and dignity befitting experts capable of overlooking countless weaker cultivators.
Those beneath the Golden Core Realm naturally lacked such abilities.
Many Innate Realm cultivators stood proudly atop flying swords that sliced through the air like bolts of lightning. Others rode flying treasures in every imaginable form—jade gourds, bronze cauldrons, folding fans, floating lotus flowers, and even enormous brushes that left trails of spiritual ink behind them.
Some sect disciples arrived mounted atop ferocious spiritual beasts.
Massive crimson wolves bounded effortlessly across the cliffs.
Snow-white cranes glided gracefully through the clouds.
Several enormous spirit serpents slithered through the sky itself as though swimming within an invisible ocean.
Every arrival caused whispers to spread throughout the gathering crowd.
Mixed among these prestigious sect disciples were countless rogue cultivators.
Unlike those backed by powerful factions, these independent cultivators remained far more cautious. Most deliberately chose to remain near the outer edges of the gathering, carefully observing every newcomer. Their worn robes and weathered expressions reflected years spent struggling alone within the cultivation world, and they knew better than anyone that entering ancient ruins without strength was no different than placing one's own head upon the executioner's block.
Others, however, possessed greedy expressions.
Their eyes remained fixed upon the enormous ruins before them, filled with burning ambition.
To them...
This was a heaven-sent opportunity.
A single fortunate encounter could elevate a nobody into an expert respected by thousands.