Xu Polu shook his head. "The outskirts of the ruins are shrouded in undead death aura. Ordinary cultivators cannot approach at all. The scouts I sent out were all handpicked elites, with the weakest at the early stage of the Supernatural Power realm. Even so, the casualty rate was terrifyingly high."
He paused and glanced at Lu Chen. "Ducal Lord, may I boldly ask—have you found a way to enter the depths of the ruins on this journey?"
Lu Chen did not answer at once.
After a moment of silence, he slowly raised his right hand. True essence surged in his palm, and a wisp of azure-gold light emerged—that was the power of the Dragon Soul Mirror mark.
"I carry the aura of the dragon race's origin within me. It has a certain restraining effect on undead death aura," he said. "I can give it a try."
A flicker of delight flashed through Xu Polu's eyes, only to be replaced by concern. "But, Ducal Lord, the depths of those ruins are fraught with unpredictable dangers. What if..."
"There is no what if." Lu Chen rose to his feet. "If the thing within those ruins has truly 'awakened,' the entire Northern Frontier will become hell. Then it will not be a matter of whether I want to go in, but that I must."
He looked at Xu Polu. "Marshal Xu, prepare a fast horse for me. I'll go alone."
Xu Polu was taken aback. "The Ducal Lord is not bringing a guard detail?"
Lu Chen shook his head. "More people would only become a burden. Alone, I can advance or retreat as I please."
Xu Polu fell silent for a moment before finally nodding. "Very well. I will personally choose the finest Black-Scaled Steed for the Ducal Lord."
Half an hour