Guardian!

But clearly, though so many factions had gathered here, none of them had entered the second level. In essence, it proved exactly what Zhu Hailong had said before: the second level was not somewhere one could enter simply by wishing to.

Yang Chen carefully swept his gaze around and discovered that at the very center of where everyone had gathered stood an ancient, simple gate. Two lion heads were carved upon it, one on each side.

The gate stood open, and directly before it was a guardian formed from gathered stone. The guardian held a long spear, its eyes hollow and bloodless. It was clearly placed here to bar these martial artists from entering the second level.

Yang Chen was not surprised, because Zhu Hailong had mentioned this in advance. What he was curious about now was this guardian's capabilities.

However, from the looks of things, this guardian was surely no ordinary matter. Otherwise, the martial artists of these various factions would not be standing idle; they would have acted long ago.

Curious, Yang Chen searched the surroundings and happened to spot an acquaintance.

Wasn't that acquaintance Yuan Yong, the man he had spared?

Yang Chen saw Yuan Yong, and Yuan Yong saw him as well.

Perhaps the matter of Fu Qingqing had untied the knot in Yuan Yong's heart, causing him not only to no longer hate Yang Chen, but instead to feel grateful toward him.

Thus, upon seeing Yang Chen, he promptly led the martial artists under his command forward.

This immediately made the Green Lotus Cult martial artists tense up, afraid that Yuan Yong might do something improper again.

However, Yuan Yong was entirely honest this time, without the slightest ulterior thought. He respectfully said, "Brother Yang Chen!"

"Brother Yuan!" Naturally, Yang Chen would not slap a