259: Chapter 259: The Ruins Are About to Collapse

Main exit of the ruins, in front of the teleportation array.

Under the grey sky, an ancient teleportation array stood quietly.

The teleportation array was made of grey-white giant stones, with dim spiritual light flowing over the array patterns.

In front of the array, a dozen people gathered.

Both the Human Race and the Yao Race were present, positioned on either side, separated by dozens of yards of open ground.

On the Human Race side, there were seven people.

Two Elders from Loose Cultivator Sects, at the Peak Soul Transformation Stage, with gloomy expressions.

Three deacons from the Sword Sect, at the Late Stage of Soul Transformation, with long swords hanging from their waists and cold expressions.

A steward from the Wanbao Pavilion, at the Early Stage of Spirit Severing, with an anxious face.

There was also a Disciple from the Luoxia Sect, also at the Soul Transformation Stage.

They were left behind to guard the supplies; luckily they hadn't entered the ruins and had managed to save their lives.

They had been waiting here for several days, waiting for the Prodigies in the ruins to come out.

On the Yao Race side, there were five or six Yao Beasts.

A prime male lion from the Golden Lion Clan.

At the Early Stage of Spirit Severing, he was the younger brother of Shi Haokong; his golden mane fluttered in the wind, and his vertical pupils were full of anxiety.

An Elder from the Nine-Headed Snake Clan, with seven heads and a deep aura.

An old man from the Heaven-Swallowing Sparrow Clan, with grey and withered wings but sharp eyes.

The other Yao Beasts also possessed strong auras.

"Why haven't they come out yet? Calculating the time, the Moon Secret Realm should have closed."

The Loose Cultivator Elder frowned, his fingers lightly tapping on the sword hilt, making a rhythmic sound.

"Wait a bit longer."

The deacon said indifferently, his gaze always fixed on the teleportation array.

"Before the ruins close, they will definitely come out."

Just as he finished speaking, a grey-black Escape Light flew in from the horizon.

Everyone looked up at the same time, staring warily at the Escape Light.

The Escape Light landed on the ground, the light dissipated, revealing a young man wearing a black robe.

Xiao Ran.

He looked around, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, then looked at the Yao Race opposite, and finally landed on the teleportation array.

His face wore a well-timed weariness and a hint of annoyance.

"Xiao Ran?"

That Elder was startled.

"Why are you coming from that direction? Where are the others?"

Xiao Ran sighed, walked over to the Human Race side, and sat down on a rock.

"Don't even get me started. I landed too far away. By the time I reached the Moon Secret Realm, the entrance had already closed."

"I've been wandering around outside for several days and didn't get any good stuff."

"So, I just got here to wait for them to come out."

The people present looked at each other, seeing the skepticism in each other's eyes.

They didn't know much about Xiao Ran, but they knew he was the Captain of the Patrol Guard appointed by the City Lord.

He had done many big things in the east of the city, even daring to arrest people from the Zhou Family.

Would such a person miss the Moon Secret Realm?

"Did you really not go in?"

The Elder asked again.

Xiao Ran rolled his eyes.

"Why would I lie to you? If I had gone in, would I have come out empty-handed?"

The Elder said nothing, but his gaze lingered on Xiao Ran for a long time.

Xiao Ran's aura indeed hadn't changed much; he was still at the Peak Soul Transformation Stage, with no signs of a Breakthrough.

If he had really entered the Moon Secret Realm, it would be impossible for his aura not to fluctuate at all.

The Elder withdrew his gaze and continued to stare at the teleportation array.

Xiao Ran leaned against the rock, closing his eyes to rest, but in his heart, he was secretly calculating the time.

Li Changsheng should be arriving soon.

Sure enough, in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a cyan-white Escape Light flew from afar.

The light landed.

Li Changsheng was dressed in a cyan robe, with a long sword hanging at his waist and a calm expression.

"Saint Li?"

The steward hurried forward to meet him.

"Why are you coming from that direction? Where are the others?"

Li Changsheng glanced at him and said indifferently.

"I found some Opportunity in an Immortal Cave and missed the opening time of the Moon Secret Realm."

"The others? I don't know, I'm looking for them too."

The others didn't ask further.

They could only express their regret.

Li Changsheng didn't say much. He walked over to Xiao Ran's side, leaned against another rock, took out a teapot from his Storage Ring, and slowly began to drink tea.

Xiao Ran opened his eyes, glanced at him, and snorted.

"You missed it too?"

Li Changsheng said indifferently: "Likewise."

The two looked at each other, invisible sparks flying in the air.

The people around them looked at them and nodded secretly.

These two really didn't get along.

"Xiao Ran, you had bad luck, who can you blame?"

Li Changsheng said leisurely, a faint smile on his lips.

Xiao Ran sneered.

"Bad luck? If you have good luck, then you go in."

"Why are you making sarcastic remarks here since you didn't get in?"

Li Changsheng shrugged: "I just didn't deign to compete with certain people."

Xiao Ran: "..."

"Alright, alright, stop arguing."

The people present quickly tried to mediate.

"Both of you are pillars of our Sword Qi Great Wall, why ruin the harmony?"

Xiao Ran snorted and turned his head away.

Li Changsheng stopped talking as well, picked up his teacup, and continued drinking.

The people around them looked at them, becoming even more convinced.

These two were indeed like water and fire.

Time passed bit by bit.

One hour, two hours, three hours... The sun rose from the east to the zenith, then slid from the zenith toward the west.

The teleportation array never lit up, and no one came out of the ruins.

The expressions of the people present became increasingly unsightly.

"This shouldn't be happening."

"The Moon Secret Realm should have closed long ago, why haven't they come out yet?"

"Wait a bit longer. Maybe something happened inside."

The Yao Race side also became restless.

The lion of the Golden Lion Clan roared towards the sky, his golden Demonic Qi soaring.

"Something's wrong! My clan's Prodigy's Soul Lamp has gone out!"

The Nine-Headed Snake Clan Elder, Elder She Gu, also sensed something; his seven heads rose simultaneously, his vertical pupils filled with horror.

"My clan's Soul Lamps have also gone out!"

The Heaven-Swallowing Sparrow Clan old man, Queming, said hoarsely: "The Soul Lamps of the Heaven-Swallowing Sparrow Clan are all extinguished."

The Yao Race was in an uproar.

The Soul Lamp being extinguished meant the person was dead.

All their Prodigies were dead.

At this time, the Human Race was secretly rejoicing.

The Yao Race is dead, good riddance!

This meant the Human Race's Prodigies had the upper hand.

However, they didn't have time to be happy.

At that moment, the sky suddenly changed.

The grey sky darkened at a visible speed, turning from grey to dark red, and from dark red to blood red.

A crimson sun emerged from the clouds, emitting an eerie dark red light.

The earth began to tremble.

Distant mountain peaks collapsed one after another, kicking up clouds of dust.

Rivers diverted, the ground split open, and bottomless cracks spread across the wasteland.

"The ruins are about to collapse!"