Meanwhile, high above Hancheng, two figures stood in the sky, their expressions growing even more solemn.
"Red Ruins!"
Chen Tianxin had lost his former scholarly air. In its place was a deep, grave expression.
Liu Feng, standing beside him, was similarly serious, though he remained calm, as if everything was still under control.
"Ruins are classified as red, yellow, and green. Looks like this time, we've got the most dangerous kind: a Red Ruin!"
Liu Feng spoke calmly. His eyes held both excitement and wariness.
Of all the ruins known to them, Red Ruins were the most dangerous, but they also contained the greatest opportunities!
Since Spiritual Energy Recovery began, Red Ruins had appeared only twice. Counting this one, this was the third time!
The first had appeared in the Kunlun Mountains in Huaxia, and the second inside a Temple in Northern Europe.
Each appearance had heralded a bloody struggle, and many ability users had perished inside the ruins.
At the same time, those who gained tremendous opportunities within them could rise from being lowly B-Class ability users to Grandmasters.
Some Grandmasters had even entered the ruins, broken through their shackles, and reached the Shackle Realm!
But Shackle Realm experts had also fallen inside Red Ruins!
"Old Chen, looks like your people from Jiangnan won't be able to go in this time. I'll have to bring in people from the Imperial Capital!"
Liu Feng looked at Chen Tianxin. He had promised Chen Tianxin that people from Jiangnan could claim the opportunities in this ruin, but this time was different. This was a Red Ruin. Jiangnan's people alone wouldn't be able to secure enough opportunities inside, so they needed reinforcements!
Chen Tianxin nodded, then said, "I understand. Just make it quick. If people from Northern Europe and North America get here first, we'll lose our advantage!"
Liu Feng agreed, then pulled out his phone and made a call.
Some things really needed to be handled quickly!
Chen Tianxin watched the portal suspended in midair with a solemn expression, then released a stream of spiritual energy that enveloped all of Hancheng.
It was better to keep ordinary people from learning about the ruins. Otherwise, it would cause panic!
Meanwhile, on Meng Yao and Yang Chen's side, Shan Shou's figure gradually appeared. His stiff expression seemed to grow even more rigid when he saw the red beam of light.
"See that?"
Meng Yao nodded. "I see it. A Red Ruin. This is going to be troublesome!"
Yang Chen didn't understand, so he asked her. Meng Yao then explained how the ruins were classified.
"So this ruin is dangerous?"
Yang Chen rubbed his chin and spoke softly.
"Dangerous is an understatement. You and I could both die in there!"
Meng Yao gave a bitter laugh and shook her head.
She was only a Grandmaster and hadn't reached the Shackle Realm. Even Shan Shou wouldn't dare claim he could roam freely through a Red Ruin, let alone her.
As for Yang Chen, he ranked below Meng Yao.
Yang Chen didn't ask anything else. Instead, he went straight to the system. He'd found that sometimes the system's explanations were more detailed than those of these people.
"System, tell me about ruins!"
"Ding! In the world where the host resides, ruins are inheritances left behind by the previous era. They contain the legacies of powerful experts and countless rare treasures, but they are also filled with dangers. These defenses were set up by those who left their inheritances to prevent them from falling into the hands of their enemies!"
"The ruins in the host's world are classified as red, yellow, and green, with each category being more dangerous than the last. Red Ruins can threaten the lives of Shackle Realm experts!"
Yang Chen thought it over briefly, then suddenly asked,
"Then, System, did you come from a ruin?"
There was no response for a long while. Yang Chen felt a little bored, but just then, the system spoke again.
"Ding! The host's access level is insufficient. Please raise your level!"
Yang Chen felt helpless, then exited the system.
But before he did, he noticed that only half a day remained until his second check-in!
In other words, in twelve hours, he'd be able to check in again!
The first check-in had transformed Yang Chen from an ordinary person into someone with a Grandmaster Body. What would he get from the second one?
Yang Chen was filled with anticipation!
As time passed, the pressure emanating from the portal grew stronger. At the same time, one vehicle after another, all reserved for Number 98, arrived.
More than a hundred B-Class ability users climbed out of the vehicles and stared at the enormous portal, their eyes filled with shock.
"What the hell is that thing? It's huge!"
"Yeah! I've never seen anything this big in my life!"
Meng Yao hovered in midair with a cold expression and shouted, "Everyone, fall in! What kind of conduct is this, standing around so casually?"
At Meng Yao's shout, the ability users from Number 98 immediately formed ranks. The S-Class and A-Class experts arrived as well and took their places.
Yang Chen leisurely fell in behind them and took an empty spot.
Meng Yao noticed him but said nothing.
Yang Chen was practically a Grandmaster already. If they weren't planning to catch North America and Northern Europe off guard, he would have stayed by Meng Yao's side.
"One S-Class, two A-Class, and ten B-Class. Choose your own teams!"
Meng Yao's voice rang out.
The line immediately grew restless as the S-Class experts began selecting their teammates. After all, each group would be a team, and choosing stronger people of the same rank could give them an advantage later on.
Soon, the teams were chosen. Those who hadn't been picked went straight to Yang Chen.
Yang Chen didn't mind, nor did he want to compete for the best candidates. In his view, rather than relying on a strong team, it was better to make himself stronger!
Yang Chen took a quick look. His team had one mid-stage A-Class ability user, one early-stage A-Class ability user, and ten B-Class experts, all in the mid or early stages. None had reached the late stage of their rank.
Yang Chen raised an eyebrow. He'd been watching earlier, and even the team of the middle-aged man whose fist he had crippled had a late-stage expert.
Still, Yang Chen hadn't chosen anyone, so he didn't care.
Once the teams were formed, everyone turned their gaze toward the enormous portal and waited in silence.
After an unknown amount of time, the portal suspended in midair suddenly began to tremble. Faint red light appeared across its surface, and the tightly shut gates suddenly opened a narrow crack.
It was called a crack, but it was still wide enough for an adult to pass through!
Meng Yao's gaze sharpened, and she shouted,
"Go!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Energy surged as the ability users from Number 98 rushed toward the portal in midair like a flood!
Before you continue