Entering the Ruins

Meanwhile, high above the sky over Hancheng, two figures stood suspended in the air, their expressions growing increasingly grave.

"A Red Ruin!"

Chen Tianxin had shed his usual scholarly elegance, replaced by a heavy, somber intensity.

Beside him, Liu Feng looked equally grave, though his solemnity was tempered by a sense of composure, as if the situation remained within his grasp.

"Ruins are categorized into Red, Yellow, and Green! It seems the one that has appeared this time is the most dangerous: a Red Ruin!"

Liu Feng spoke calmly, his eyes reflecting both excitement and apprehension.

Red Ruins were the most dangerous of all known ruins, yet they simultaneously held the greatest opportunities!

Since the resurgence of spiritual energy, a Red Ruin had appeared only twice; counting this instance, this was the third.

The first two times, one had appeared in the Kunlun Mountains of Huaxia, and the other in a Temple in Northern Europe.

Every appearance had signaled the onset of a bloodbath, with countless ability users falling within those ruins.

Yet, by the same token, those who obtained the heaven-sent opportunities within could leap from a mere B-Class ability user to the level of a Grandmaster.

There were even cases of Grandmasters entering, breaking their shackles, and becoming Shackle Realm powerhouses!

However, even Shackle Realm experts had perished within those Red Ruins.

"Old Chen, it seems I cannot let your people from Jiangnan enter this time. I must call for reinforcements from the Imperial Capital!"

Liu Feng looked at Chen Tianxin. He had previously promised Chen Tianxin that the Jiangnan team would handle this ruin, but this was different. This was a Red Ruin; the Jiangnan forces alone could never secure the greater opportunities inside, and additional manpower was required.

Chen Tianxin nodded, then replied, "Understood. But we must be quick, or else when the people from Northern Europe and North America arrive, we will lose our head start!"

Liu Feng agreed, then pulled out his phone and made a call.

Some matters truly required haste.

Chen Tianxin gazed solemnly at the portal hovering in mid-air, then unleashed a surge of spiritual energy, shrouding the entire city of Hancheng.

It was better that the ordinary public remained unaware of the ruin, lest it incite panic.

Over on Meng Yao and Yang Chen's side, Shan Shou's figure gradually materialized. His stiff expression seemed to harden even further upon seeing the crimson pillar of light.

"Did you see it?"

Meng Yao nodded. "I saw it. A Red Ruin. This is going to be troublesome."

Yang Chen did not understand and asked Meng Yao, who then explained the classification of ruins to him.

"So, this ruin is quite dangerous?"

Yang Chen stroked his chin and whispered.

"Dangerous is an understatement. Even you and I could perish inside!"

Meng Yao gave a bitter smile and shook her head.

She only possessed the strength of a Grandmaster and had not yet reached the Shackle Realm. Even Shan Shou would not dare claim he could roam freely within a Red Ruin, let alone her.

As for Yang Chen, he ranked behind Meng Yao.

Yang Chen did not continue to ask; instead, he queried the system directly. He had discovered that, at times, the system's explanations were more detailed than those provided by these people.

"System, introduce the ruins."

Ding. In the world where the Host resides, ruins are legacies left behind from the previous era. Within them lie the inheritances of powerhouses and countless rare treasures. However, they also harbor crises—means set up by those who left the legacies to prevent enemies from obtaining them.

The world where the Host resides classifies ruins into Red, Yellow, and Green, with danger levels increasing in that order. Red represents a level capable of threatening the lives of Shackle Realm powerhouses.

Yang Chen pondered this for a moment, then suddenly asked:

"Then, System, did you come from a ruin?"

Silence followed for a long time. Yang Chen felt a bit bored, but then the system's voice rang out again.

Ding. Due to insufficient clearance, please increase your level.

Yang Chen felt somewhat helpless and withdrew from the interface.

Before exiting, however, Yang Chen noted that there was only half a day left until his second check-in!

In other words, in twelve hours, he would be able to check in again!

The first check-in had transformed him from an ordinary person into someone possessing a Grandmaster Body. What could he obtain from the second?

Yang Chen felt a surge of anticipation.

As time passed, the pressure emanating from the portal grew increasingly powerful. Simultaneously, a fleet of vehicles marked for Number 98 arrived.

Over a hundred B-Class ability users slowly stepped out of the vehicles, staring at the massive portal with expressions of boundless shock.

"What on earth is this thing? It's huge!"

"Yeah, I've never seen anything this big in my entire life!"

Meng Yao stood in mid-air with a cold face and shouted, "Everyone, assemble! Such slackness—what kind of conduct is this!"

Following Meng Yao's sharp command, the Number 98 ability users fell into formation. The S-Class and A-Class powerhouses also arrived and lined up.

Yang Chen followed slowly, found a spot, and stood in line.

Meng Yao saw it all but said nothing.

Yang Chen was, strictly speaking, already a pseudo-Grandmaster. If not for the sake of catching North America and Northern Europe off guard, he would have stayed right by Meng Yao's side from the start.

"One S-Class leader with two A-Class and ten B-Class members—make your selections!"

Meng Yao's voice rang out clearly.

The ranks immediately stirred. The S-Class powerhouses began picking their teams; after all, this was a unit, and securing stronger individuals within the same rank would provide a distinct advantage in the time to come.

The teams were formed quickly, and those who remained unchosen gathered around Yang Chen.

Yang Chen did not mind, nor did he care to compete for anyone. In his view, rather than relying on the strength of a team, it was better to be powerful oneself!

Yang Chen took a rough look at his group: there was one mid-stage A-Class, one early-stage A-Class, and the remaining ten B-Class powerhouses were all early or mid-stage; there was not a single late-stage expert among them.

Yang Chen raised an eyebrow. He had been observing earlier, and even the team of the middle-aged man whose fist he had crippled contained late-stage experts.

However, since Yang Chen hadn't chosen anyone, he naturally didn't care about these things.

Once the teams were finalized, everyone turned their gaze toward the massive portal, waiting in silence.

After an unknown amount of time, the portal suspended in mid-air suddenly began to tremble. A faint red radiance continuously emerged from its surface, and the tightly shut gates suddenly revealed a narrow gap.

Though it was called a gap, it was wide enough for an adult to pass through!

Meng Yao's eyes narrowed, and she shouted, "Enter!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Energy surged as the Number 98 ability users flooded toward the portal in mid-air like a tidal wave!

To be continued!