22: The entrance to the secret realm, the Blood Vine Maze

The setting sun was like blood, dyeing the valley of Qingmeng Mountain a crimson red. When the last Iron-Armored Bear crashed to the ground, the Chaos True Essence in Lin Yang's palm was still faintly trembling. The aura of the Xiantian Realm spread out like a tangible force, pressuring the surrounding air until ripples formed. Su Qingyue was using Ice True Essence to treat Liu Qingluan's scrapes, while Liu Hengluan clutched a short dagger, vigilantly watching the depths of the dense forestwhere lingering beast roars suggested that the previous ambush was only the beginning.

"We can't wait any longer." Lin Yang wiped the bloodstains from his cheek, his gaze sweeping over the cliffs on both sides of the valley. "The mystic fox powder's effectiveness will last at least three hours, constantly attracting stronger Vicious Beasts."

Before he finished speaking, a soft "crack" came from the cliff face on the right. A boulder about a zhang wide slowly recessed inward, revealing a dark, sunken entrance behind it. The edges still bore faint bronze markings, clearly showing signs of artificial excavation. Even stranger, dark red liquid began to seep out of the ground around the entrance, spreading along the cracks in the stone, and in the blink of an eye, dense vines sprouted.

Those vines were entirely blood-red, with barbs along the edges of their leaves. The patterns on the surface of the vines resembled pulsing Bloodlines. As soon as they appeared, they grew wildly, instantly weaving a three-zhang-high vine wall in front of the entrance, completely blocking it. Most bizarrely, the vines seemed capable of sensing living auras; whenever there was any disturbance, they would writhe like poisonous snakes, emitting "hissing" sounds.

"It's the entrance to the Ancient Ruins!" A strange look flashed in Su Qingyue's eyes. The ice shard she had condensed on her fingertip was about to shoot out, but Lin Yang grasped her wrist.

"Don't touch them." Lin Yang's gaze settled on the vines. The chaos star core emitted a faint hum in his Sea of Consciousness. "These Blood Vines contain extremely powerful life energy, but they carry a dense Malevolent Qi. Forcing an attack will only make them more ferocious."

He tried circulating his Wood Element True Essence, and a faint green glow appeared in his palm. A strange scene unfoldedthe previously restless Blood Vines actually slowed their writhing slightly, and the barbs on their leaves retracted somewhat, as if they had a natural affinity for wood element energy.

"It really works." Lin Yang's heart stirred, and he simply circulated his Wood Element True Essence to its maximum. The green glow spread along the ground, wrapping around the roots of the Blood Vines like a spiderweb. He could clearly perceive the energy flow inside the vines and even "hear" the subtle fluctuations of information they were transmittingthis was a Maze Array woven from countless vines, where every single vine was a Formation Eye, and moving one affected the whole.

Just then, Lin Dongliu's venomous roar suddenly came from the dense forest: "Lin Yang! Aren't you supposed to be a great fighter? If you have the guts, come save them!"

Two figures were abruptly shoved out from behind a tree: Liu Qingluan and Liu Hengluan. The sisters screamed as they tumbled toward the vine wall. Lin Dongliu retreated with a few followers, grinning maliciously, clearly intending to use their flesh and blood to trigger the vines' killing move.

"Stop!" Lin Yang's eyes were splitting with rage. Just as he was about to rush over, the Blood Vines suddenly surged. Dozens of vines shot out like long snakes, instantly coiling the twins in the center. The barbs had already pierced their sleeves, causing small drops of blood to seep out.

"Sister!" Liu Hengluan cried out in fear, but she held tightly to her sister's hand. Liu Qingluan gritted her teeth, suddenly pulling out a piece of "Calming Grass" they had previously picked from her bosom, and trembling, pressed it against the nearest vineit was a sedative herb Lin Yang had taught them to identify.

A miracle occurred. The vine that touched the Calming Grass strangely halted, and the Malevolent Qi on its leaves faded significantly. Liu Qingluan's eyes lit up. She pulled her sister and simultaneously circulated their faint Wood Element True Essencea talent they had possessed since childhood that allowed flowers and plants to grow more vigorously, and which now unexpectedly had a soothing effect on the Blood Vines.

"So that's it." Lin Yang instantly understood. Although the twins' wood element talent was weak, it carried pure vitality, which happened to restrain the Blood Vines' Malevolent Qi. He stopped hesitating, injecting the power of the chaos star core into his Wood Element True Essence. A faint grayish-gold appeared within the green glow, flowing upstream along the vines' energy pathways.

The star core greedily devoured the Ancient Spiritual Qi contained within the vines. That life energy, accumulated over ten thousand years, surged through his Meridians into his Dantian, merging with his wood element dantian core. Countless images of plants growing and withering suddenly flashed through Lin Yang's Sea of Consciousness, as if he instantly understood the language of florathe passive skill "Flora Affinity" was activated!

"The Formation Eye is three zhang to the northwest!" Lin Yang opened his eyes, his gaze piercing through the layers of the vine wall, locking onto the thickest Blood Vine. The root of that vine was tinged black-purple, clearly the energy source of the entire Maze Array.

He leaped up, dodging the vine whips that lunged at him. His right hand condensed grayish-gold True Essence and slammed it toward the Blood Vine in the northwest. This strike did not use brute force; instead, he transformed his Wood Element True Essence into a gentle "Stream of Vitality," allowing it to seep in along the vine's pathways.

"Hiss"

The Blood Vine let out a piercing shriek, but instead of counterattacking, it trembled violently. The black-purple color of the root faded at a visible speed, turning into a normal dark red. As the Formation Eye was destroyed, the surrounding Blood Vines withered and dispersed as if they had lost their backbone, revealing the deep, dark entrance behind them.

Lin Yang seized the opportunity to rush forward, sever the vines wrapped around the twins, and shield them behind him. Liu Qingluan was still shaken, but she suddenly pointed to the stone wall inside the entrance: "Young Master, there are words there!"

Everyone gathered closer to look. Ancient seal script was carved on the stone wall: "Those who enter this gate must abandon greed, hatred, and delusion, to attain the True Meaning of Chaos."

Lin Dongliu's voice drifted over from the distance, filled with unwilling malice: "Lin Yang! You just wait! The treasures in this ruin will be mine sooner or later!"

Lin Yang ignored him, lowering his head to look at his palm. The grayish-gold Wood Element True Essence circulated more smoothly. The Ancient Spiritual Qi he had just absorbed had completely stabilized his Xiantian Realm First Layer, and he even faintly touched the barrier of the Second Layer. Liu Qingluan and Liu Hengluan exchanged a look, then suddenly knelt before Lin Yang, saying in unison, "We sisters are willing to follow Young Master through fire and water, without hesitation!"

Su Qingyue watched the scene before her, a hint of a smile flashing in her cold eyes: "It seems Young Master Lin has gained more help. These ruins are strange; we must be extra careful once we enter."

Lin Yang helped the twins stand up, his gaze cast toward the dark entrance. The chaos star core trembled softly in his Sea of Consciousness, as if responding to the "True Meaning of Chaos" on the stone wall. He gripped the Kindling Knife at his waist and was the first to step insidethe secrets of the Ancient Ruins were about to be unveiled before him.