Chapter 87

August 28th.

Morning, 5:00 AM.

The campsite began to buzz with activity.

As agreed, they would enter the ruins at 6:00 AM, but Li Hao still didn't know where the ruins were. He only knew it was an ancient city.

The Transverse Canyon was vast.

Where exactly this ancient city was buried, Yuan Shuo didn't have time to say, and Li Hao didn't ask the Night Patrol. Anyway, he just had to follow them.

The sky wasn't fully bright yet.

The Night Patrol was bustling, and the superhumans outside were already awake, now starting to stir.

Soon, a group of superhumans gathered in the center of the campsite.

There were quite a few people, but many wouldn't be entering.

Hou Xiaochen walked out with the support of Manager Yu... The others showed no signs of abnormality, and Li Hao managed to remain calm. Wang Ming, however, was curious and wondered if these two had slept together last night?

But seeing Hou Xiaochen's smiling face... Wang Ming was a bit scared and didn't dare to whisper.

"Let's go."

Hou Xiaochen didn't say much. Hu Dingfang quickly walked over and stood at the front of the crowd, somewhat taking over from Hailian Chuan.

Hailian Chuan glanced at him.

Hu Dingfang, they say military people are straightforward, but he felt this guy was quite devious, always looking for trouble for no reason. He particularly disliked this bastard.

"Stand up straight! Haven't you eaten enough?"

At this moment, Hu Dingfang turned his head and shouted at him.

Hailian Chuan wanted to hit someone!

Who was he shouting at?

I'm the deputy director, the first deputy director.

Of course, according to rank, the Night Patrol might be half a level lower than the military. After all, the Night Patrol was originally a subordinate institution of the Inspection Office. In terms of hierarchy, the director of the Silver Moon Province Inspection Office was the top boss, on par with the military commander.

As for Hou Xiaochen, he could be considered on the same level as Hu Dingfang. Hu Dingfang was just one of the three military commanders, while Hailian Chuan was indeed half a level lower.

Hu Dingfang's shout also made others feel a bit uneasy.

Hailian Chuan, after all, was their superior.

Some felt it was inappropriate, especially since Hailian Chuan was a Three Yang powerhouse. Moreover, Hailian Chuan was a decent person, and it was uncomfortable to see a superior being shouted at.

Even though the other party was there to maintain order!

Seeing the situation, Hou Xiaochen was about to say something, but Hu Dingfang calmly said, "What are you looking at? This is a personal grudge between me and Hailian Chuan, it has nothing to do with you. Is anyone here willing to take up for Hailian Chuan?"

"..."

Silence.

Personal grudge?

Everyone was a bit puzzled. What personal grudge could these two have?

Hailian Chuan was speechless, "Hu Dingfang, what personal grudge do we have? If you have a problem, just say it!"

Hu Dingfang ignored him.

Beside him, Hou Xiaochen smiled, "There is a bit... just a little, not much. Alright, let's not hurt our friendship."

With that, he stepped forward and walked ahead.

Hailian Chuan was deep in thought, is there?

I don't remember!

He really couldn't recall any personal grudge with this guy.

A little?

No wonder this guy always looked at him with a scowl.

So there really is?

But why don't I know?

He was a bit puzzled and deliberately walked slower. When Minister Hou and Hu Dingfang were chatting quietly, he asked Manager Yu in a low voice, "Manager Yu, do you know about this?"

He really couldn't remember. If Minister Hou knew, Manager Yu should know too.

Manager Yu glanced at him and didn't bother to respond.

Hailian Chuan was a bit annoyed, what kind of person is this!

If you don't want to say, just don't say, but why the attitude!

But after some thought, he caught up and whispered, "Let me tell you a little secret, the minister actually doesn't like spicy food. Every time you make him something spicy, he secretly throws it away after you leave!"

"..."

Manager Yu looked at him for a while. Ahead, Minister Hou turned his head and glanced at him, said nothing, but lowered his voice, "Don't go too far with Hailian Chuan. We're all on the same side. If you really want to fight him, you can do it after we leave the ruins..."

Hu Dingfang nodded slightly, understanding.

At this moment, Manager Yu thought for a moment and said, "It's related to his wife, think about it yourself!"

Related to his wife?

Hailian Chuan thought carefully. His wife, Chen Yuhua, I know her, she's quite pretty. We chatted a few times a few years ago. She's a martial artist, quite strong. Yuan Shuo and the Night Patrol have been collaborating, and I've talked to her a few times...

Chatted a few times?

Is it because of this?

It shouldn't be!

Hu Dingfang isn't that petty, and besides, we just chatted, nothing more.

Could it be because of Yuan Shuo?

Thinking of this, Hailian Chuan understood. Because of Yuan Shuo's injury three years ago?

So his wife thinks it's my fault, and she's making Hu Dingfang target me?

There's a possibility!

But... Yuan Shuo's exploration of the ruins wasn't my idea, it was Minister Hou's.

Thinking of this, Hailian Chuan felt disdain. A bully, you're afraid to confront Minister Hou, so you're targeting me?

I get it!

That's how it is.

Thinking of this, Hailian Chuan found this guy even more annoying, a bully!

But, his wife is quite pretty... unfortunately, she's paired with this cold-faced general.

But then again, his wife's influence is what makes him target me, so she's not a good person either.

Ha!

None of the Yuan Shuo family are good people.

Thinking of this, he glanced at Li Hao, who was being very low-key, and the more he looked, the more he felt uncomfortable. This guy, pretending to be pitiful, so low-key, so innocent...

In reality, he's not a good person.

Just like his teacher, when his strength was lacking, he was extremely low-key.

When he's strong, he's incredibly arrogant!

...

While Hailian Chuan was gossiping in his mind.

Everyone left the campsite, and outside, they split into several groups.

It was very quiet.

The main groups were Red Moon, Flying Heaven, Yanluo, and Sword Gate. There were also about thirty to forty small organizations or independent superhumans, not very strong but not weak either. Moon Shadow was the main force, and Sun Radiance had about ten people.

Of the previous fourteen small organizations, some had fled, but most stayed, though they didn't bring the weaker members.

Given the current situation, even if several Three Yangs entered, or even Purple Moon, the superhumans from small organizations were still afraid of death. Having thirty to forty people stay was already quite bold.

Including the Night Patrol, nearly 200 people were entering the ruins this time.

Seeing Minister Hou and the others come out, the others quickly followed, but didn't get too close, staying behind.

The group walked forward under the dim light of dawn.

The pace was not slow.

After about twenty minutes, Hou Xiaochen stopped in front of a cliff.

Everyone looked around, all a bit puzzled.

They didn't see anything special.

At this moment, Hou Xiaochen spoke, pointing to the cliff in front of them, "The entrance is here!"

Instantly, seven or eight superhuman energies emerged, probing the cliff, but found nothing.

Hou Xiaochen said calmly, "It's hard to find! If it weren't for Yuan Shuo leading us to discover this place, we wouldn't have known there was an ancient ruin here."

Someone in the crowd asked, puzzled, "How did Yuan Shuo find it?"

"I don't know, he didn't say."

Hou Xiaochen was completely calm, "My agreement with him was to help me explore thirty ruins. As for the rest, I don't ask. How he found this place, I don't know. I only know that during the exploration three years ago, he almost died here. Since you're all here, you should know something about it."

"Is Yuan Shuo's advancement to the Essence Nurturing stage related to this ruin?"

Someone asked.

Others glanced at the Red Moon group, some with strange looks.

Clearly, they had received the news from yesterday.

Red Shadow, Blood God Seed!

This time, Red Moon brought quite a few people. Does that mean they also brought Blood God Seeds?

Those without Origin Spirit Weapons didn't expect much.

But everyone knew that Yanluo's Wheel King must have an Origin Spirit Weapon, and Hailian Chuan might have one too. As for Flying Heaven, Half Mountain didn't come, so it's unclear if they brought one.

And Sword Gate's Hong Yitang, who founded Sword Gate and cultivated some superhumans, who knows if Sword Gate has an Origin Spirit Weapon.

If so, the people here might have their own thoughts.

Purple Moon clearly received the message, her eyes cold.

Last night, headquarters sent a message, telling her to be careful. Headquarters would soon send someone to join her, but after this exploration, she should be low-key. The central region had been attacked, some bases were completely destroyed.

The losses were heavy!

In just one night, several Three Yangs disappeared, and many from Sun Radiance also vanished.

Seeing people staring at her, Purple Moon said coldly, "Do you all want to die? That message wasn't released by Yuan Shuo himself, or someone trying to create chaos! If it were true, we in Red Moon would have had someone advance to the Essence Nurturing stage long ago!"

No one spoke.

Believe it or not, it's up to them.

Hou Xiaochen smiled and said, "Purple Moon, discussing this now is meaningless. Before we set out, I have one thing to remind everyone! Try to cooperate once inside. I'm not worried about the Night Patrol being targeted... but this time, we have great hopes for exploring the ruins. Missing this opportunity, whether this ruin belongs to the central region or Silver Moon is uncertain."

Everyone thought about it, but no one said anything.

Hou Xiaochen's words made sense.

If the central region sends people, will this place still belong to them?

"Enough talk!"

Hou Xiaochen said no more. In the next moment, a mysterious energy struck the cliff.

At this moment, Hailian Chuan also struck it with fire energy.

After a while, other superhumans gradually added their energies to the wall.

Li Hao didn't pay much attention at first.

But... when everyone added their energies, he was slightly stunned, a bit distracted.

"Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, Lightning, Darkness..."

Eight energies were added, each in a specific position.

Li Hao observed carefully, and at this moment, he connected it to something, the Eight Trigrams!

Opening the ruins seemed to involve adding eight energies.

The key was, the positions were somewhat similar to the Eight Trigrams.

"Eight Trigrams diagram?"

Li Hao suddenly thought of the Eight Trigrams diagram in the sky above Silver City.

Is this place really related to Silver City?

His teacher mentioned that there was a small turtle symbol at the main gate of the ancient city. Since he learned about the Eight Families, he felt it might be related to them. One of the Eight Families, the Wang family, has a saying, "The Wang family raised a big turtle."

Of course, besides this, Yuan Shuo didn't have much evidence to suggest a connection to the Eight Families.

But this method of opening... why does it resemble the Eight Trigrams so much?

His teacher never mentioned it. Li Hao was regretful. If his teacher were here, he would ask how he discovered this place and how he figured out the method to open it.

"Maybe there is some connection..."

Li Hao thought, gripping the small sword at his waist tighter. If there is a connection, the small sword might be very useful.

As the eight energies struck the wall, the entire cliff seemed to be affected.

After a while, the cliff seemed to turn into a mirror.

It became somewhat transparent!

At this moment, some superhumans were amazed, showing surprised expressions.

"Ancient civilization... truly incredible!"

Someone exclaimed, the technology of the ancient civilization was far too advanced.

Many things in the present era were discovered through the exploration of ancient ruins.

Even the path of martial artists is closely related to the ancient civilization.

And the rise of superhumans, which is relatively recent, is also related to the ancient civilization. The ancient civilization had a lot of high technology, such as cars, helicopters last night, and many other aspects, all related to the ancient civilization.

The Tianxing Dynasty rapidly transitioned from an agrarian society to a semi-high-tech, semi-superhuman society, all thanks to the ancient civilization.

The Silver City Ancient Academy was specifically established for the study of the ancient civilization.

Yuan Shuo used to teach there.

It's said that the Tianxing Dynasty's unification of the world is also related to the ancient civilization. The royal family of the Tianxing Dynasty might have discovered a huge ancient ruin, obtaining many high-tech items, including some city-destroying weapons, which might have been excavated.

This is why the vast Tianxing Dynasty could be unified. Otherwise, with the social level of that time, you might lose a province a few days after conquering it, and you might not even know it.

At this moment, the superhumans were amazed, and Li Hao was also amazed.

Behind the cliff, there was another world.

If so... does it mean that the Transverse Canyon has existed since ancient times?

Otherwise, the entrance shouldn't be on the cliff.

If the Transverse Canyon has existed since ancient times... does it mean this city was buried, not originally built underground?

Building a huge city underground!

Just thinking about it makes the ancients seem incredible!

Gradually, the cliff became like water, trembling and then calming down. Hou Xiaochen looked and said again, "We can enter now. The entrance will remain open for half an hour. You can all enter together or one by one... Also, it will close after half an hour. It can be reopened at midnight tonight, and for the next three days, it can be reopened at midnight each day. If you miss these three days, you'll have to wait until next month... and next month... you probably won't be able to come out alive!"

Everyone was shocked.

The Wheel King frowned slightly, "Has anyone from the Night Patrol lived inside for a month?"

"No."

Hou Xiaochen shook his head, "It's very dangerous inside. Not to mention a month, surviving for three days is already good. To be honest, we've only explored the outer city so far. The underground city is divided into the inner and outer cities. The outer city doesn't have much, but the inner city might have great benefits, so this time, we're letting everyone enter together, hoping to work together to reach the inner city!"

After saying this, he smiled, "That's all. You know what to do. We've sent people in before, so there's no need to ask so many questions."

Would the major organizations enter without any preparation?

Are you kidding?

The Night Patrol has many people, not all of them are loyal. There are also spies who have leaked the exploration information.

After saying this, Hong Yitang explained, "I really don't know much, Minister Hou, don't misunderstand."

Hou Xiaochen smiled but said nothing.

Is that so?

If you say so, then it is.

At this moment, as the water calmed down, the major organizations stared at the entrance, wondering whether to enter together or one by one.

And, would there be danger inside?

Thinking of this, they looked at the eager members of the small organizations. Suddenly, Purple Moon said coldly, "You go in first!"

At this, the members of the small organizations were hesitant, some excited.

They knew this was to let them scout the way.

But since they were here, why be afraid?

Those who dared to come were either fearless or hoping to make a fortune.

Going in first was dangerous, but it also meant a greater reward.

Even though the Night Patrol had explored it a few times, so what?

Without Purple Moon's urging, a few figures shot out, colliding with the