"I wasn't aware that we gathered here to touch fish and not catch it."
A clear voice suddenly echoed through the enormous gathering, carrying enough confidence to cut through the countless conversations that had been spreading throughout the ruins. The words were neither shouted nor spoken with any particular effort, yet they somehow reached the ears of nearly every cultivator nearby, immediately drawing their attention toward the source.
The crowd gradually parted.
Cultivators who had been standing shoulder to shoulder instinctively stepped aside, creating a path through the sea of people as several figures slowly approached from the distance. The atmosphere that had previously been dominated by the reunion between Wei Qiang and Zhang Yuxuan shifted almost instantly, and curious gazes followed the newcomer as he walked calmly toward the ancient bronze gate.
At the center of the group was a young cultivator who appeared to be in his early twenties.
His long brown hair flowed naturally down his back, with several strands drifting across his shoulders whenever the mountain wind passed through the ruins. He wore an immaculate set of fine silk robes, primarily decorated in elegant shades of purple and blue, while intricate golden and silver patterns had been embroidered along the sleeves, collar, and waist. The craftsmanship alone was enough to tell anyone with even a little knowledge of the cultivation world that the clothing was extraordinarily expensive.
Yet the young man's appearance was even more striking than his clothing.
His jaw was sharp and well-defined, his features refined without appearing delicate, and his smooth complexion seemed almost untouched by the hardships that most cultivators endured during their journey toward strength. His eyes carried a calm confidence that suggested he was accustomed to being the center of attention, while the faint smile resting upon his lips gave him an effortless air of nobility.
As he walked through the crowd, several female cultivators nearby couldn't help but turn their heads toward him. Some stared openly, while others quickly looked away after realizing that they had been caught staring. Quiet whispers immediately began spreading among them, accompanied by occasional giggles and admiring glances.
The young man, however, appeared completely accustomed to such attention and continued walking without the slightest change in expression.
He was Yun Feng.
The Second Prince of the Yun Imperial Family.
Zhang Yuxuan's calm eyes settled upon the approaching prince, and unlike the surrounding cultivators, he showed little surprise at his arrival. Instead, he simply clasped his hands slightly and addressed him with the same composed demeanor he had maintained throughout the gathering.
"I Thank the Second Prince, Yun Feng for making haste," Zhang Yuxuan said towards the young man.
Yun Feng had not come alone.
Two figures followed closely behind him, each possessing an aura that immediately distinguished them from ordinary cultivators.
The first was a tall, heavily built man with thick arms and broad shoulders. His physique was almost unnaturally powerful, and every step he took caused the ground beneath his feet to make faint cracking sounds. An intense Yang energy continuously circulated around his body, creating waves of warmth that could be felt by the cultivators standing nearby. A noticeable scar ran across his chin, adding an additional layer of intimidation to his already imposing appearance.
The second figure was an elderly man whose age was difficult to determine. His hair was completely white, yet his posture remained straight and steady, showing none of the frailty that usually accompanied old age. His beard was long and pointed, extending far enough down his chest that he could comfortably grasp it within one hand. At this very moment, the old man was doing exactly that, gently stroking his beard while calmly observing the surrounding ruins.
Neither of Yun Feng's companions spoke.
They didn't need to.
Their presence alone was enough to make the surrounding cultivators understand that the Second Prince had not come to the ruins unprepared.
As Yun Feng and his entourage approached the group gathered before the bronze gate, the surrounding cultivators once again erupted into whispers and murmurs.
"Yun Feng , The Second Prince Of the Yun Imperial Family," one person gossiped, his voice carrying a mixture of surprise and admiration.
Another cultivator, a woman whose voice was noticeably more excited than those around her, quietly murmured, "The Second Prince is so Well grown and Handsome."
Her companion immediately covered her mouth, though she couldn't stop herself from stealing another glance toward Yun Feng.
The murmurs continued spreading throughout the gathering.
Some spoke about Yun Feng's identity as a member of the Yun Imperial Family, while others discussed his cultivation and the two powerful figures accompanying him. A few cultivators who possessed deeper knowledge of the region had already begun quietly speculating about what kind of treasures the Second Prince might be seeking within the ruins.
After all, there was little reason for someone of Yun Feng's status to personally travel all the way to these ancient ruins unless something within them was valuable enough to justify his presence.
Among the crowd, Elder Ji's expression gradually became more complicated.
Standing beneath his dark cloak, he could feel a thin layer of sweat forming along his forehead despite the cool mountain breeze blowing through the ruins. His eyes swept across the gathered cultivators, silently counting the powerful figures who had already revealed themselves.
First, the Azure Moon Sect.
Then, the Heavenly Sword Sect.
The representatives of Tingfeng Pavilion.
And now...
The Second Prince of the Yun Imperial Family.
Elder Ji couldn't help but swallow quietly.
So much Big wigs had come all the way here to find treasure, Elder Ji thought.
His original plan had already been dangerous enough, but the appearance of so many powerful factions had made the situation far more complicated than he had anticipated.
If these forces entered the ruins together, there would undoubtedly be countless opportunities hidden among the chaos. However, there would also be countless dangers.
One wrong step could result in the destruction of the entire group he had brought.
Elder Ji's gaze narrowed beneath the shadow of his hood.
Yet rather than retreating, the corner of his mouth slowly lifted.
Danger often accompanied opportunity.
And if he could obtain even a fraction of the treasures hidden within these ruins, perhaps the balance within the Xiao Family would begin shifting in his favor.