169: Chapter 169, Part 3: Guardians of Ancient Ruins

The direction of Mining Area No. 2 was left behind them after 7 hours of marching.

It wasn't because the Dragon Clan Alliance wasn't worth fighting.

It was because Qin Ruoxue's intelligence had updated with a new, higher-priority piece of information at the 3rd hour and 17th minute.

[Heavenly Secret Pavilion · Encrypted Intelligence · No. 3317]

[Source: Eternal Star Domain · Seventh Fleet · Ruins Detection Squad]

[Coordinates: Eternal Star Domain · Second Pass · 570 km due west · Ancient Civilization Ruins Group · Ruins No. 7]

[Ruins Type: Ancient Mechanical Civilization · Energy Storage Warehouse]

[Ruins Status: First Opening (Era Calendar 1972 · Day 332 · 09:47)]

[Ruins Guardian: Intelligent Mechanical Unit × 47]

[Guardian Rank: 63-65]

[Guardian Characteristics: Immune to supernatural energy damage, Physical Resistance +70%, Energy Core located in the center of the chest compartment]

[Internal Rules: Forbidden Magic Domain (Cannot use any supernatural energy)]

[Forbidden Magic Domain Effects:]

[1. All Skills/Spells/Spiritual Power/Divine Power/Blood Energy/Light Energy — All disabled]

[2. Equipment Enchantment Effects — All ineffective]

[3. Storage Ring — Cannot be opened]

[4. Recovery Items — Cannot be used]

[5. Only Available: Physical Body base attributes + physical weapons]

[Estimated star core energy reserves inside ruins: 7-9 units]

[Current Status: Not entered by any player faction]

Lin Ye looked at the line "Forbidden Magic Domain".

3 seconds.

He handed the intelligence crystal to Su Qingyue.

Su Qingyue took it.

She finished reading.

Her ice-blue eyes narrowed slightly.

For the first time in 5 months, she showed a fluctuation of emotion while not in combat.

"My Vast Cold Spiritual Power," she said.

"I can't use it."

Lin Ye nodded.

He handed the intelligence crystal to Shi Potian.

Shi Potian finished reading.

His left fist — the one that took three blows from a Level 70 Ancestor Phantom in the Ninth Trial of the Ancestor Star without falling, shattered the Mother Empress's head-chest armor in the Mother Empress Hall, and crushed the skulls of 47 Crystal-Armored Giant Rhinoceroses during the 72-hour bloody battle in Chaos Valley —

He raised it before his eyes.

He looked at it.

3 seconds.

"Hegemon Blood," he said.

"Also unusable."

Lin Ye did not speak.

He handed the intelligence crystal to Chu Yunxi.

Chu Yunxi finished reading.

Her hand pressed against the bowstring of [Flame Feather · Rebirth].

The bowstring vibrated slightly under her fingertips.

For the first time in 5 months, it was her instinctive reaction 0.3 seconds before her fingers left the bowstring while not in combat.

"...Arrows," she said.

"The enchantments are gone."

"But the bow is still here."

"The arrows are still here."

Lin Ye looked at her.

3 seconds.

"Enough," he said.

Lu Xinghe took the intelligence crystal.

He finished reading.

His [Star River · Rebirth] — the compass that saved the whole team with space folding in the Mother Empress Hall — was now still in his palm.

The needle did not move.

The dial did not turn.

For the first time in 5 months, it had completely lost its spirituality.

"...Array," he said.

"Cannot be laid."

Lin Ye looked at him.

"The compass cannot be used," he said.

"But what about the array diagrams in your head?"

Lu Xinghe was stunned for a moment.

Then he lowered his head.

He looked at his hands.

In those 5 months, those hands had drawn 47 Spirit Gathering Arrays, 17 Defensive Arrays, and 3 Space Folding Arrays.

Each one had been powered by spiritual energy.

But the shape of the array diagrams, the position of the runes, the path of spiritual energy flow —

He remembered.

"...I remember," he said.

Yun Qianxue took the intelligence crystal.

She finished reading.

Her [Green Lotus · Rebirth] — the legendary staff at the head of which had held off more than 30 worker drones outside the Mother Empress Hall by herself — was now held in her hand.

The pale green fluorescence at the head of the staff.

Extinguished.

"...Healing," she said.

"Cannot be used."

Lin Ye looked at her.

3 seconds.

"How many bandages do you have in your hand?" he asked.

Yun Qianxue was stunned for a moment.

She looked down.

She looked at the three first-aid kits at her waist that had never been opened.

She had grabbed them from the workshop warehouse when she left Chaos Valley.

"Standard configuration."

Each first-aid kit contained: Hemostatic Bandage × 10, Disinfectant Gauze × 5, Fixed Splint × 2, Painkiller × 3, Antibiotic × 3.

Three first-aid kits, a total of:

Hemostatic Bandage × 30.

Disinfectant Gauze × 15.

Fixed Splint × 6.

Painkiller × 9.

Antibiotic × 9.

She lifted her head.

"...30 rolls of bandages," she said.

Lin Ye nodded.

"Enough."

Zhou Tieshan took the intelligence crystal.

He finished reading.

He took [Black Tortoise · New Life] off his back.

He planted it in the ground.

The shield face upward.

He used his right hand — the arm reinforced with giant beast carapace bone plates, which had withstood 470% load in the Blood Altar guardian battle, and blocked 17 waves of small Star Beast impacts outside the Mother Empress Hall —

He patted the shield face gently.

Metal echoed.

"...Shield," he said.

"Doesn't need spiritual energy."

Lin Ye looked at him.

"Enough."

Su Qingyue walked to Lin Ye's side.

She looked at him.

"What about you?" she said.

"Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body."

"In the Forbidden Magic Domain."

"How much is left?"

Lin Ye did not answer immediately.

He raised his right hand.

Clenched his fist.

Released it.

Clenched his fist again.

[Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body · Base Attributes (Under Forbidden Magic Status)]

[Physical Strength: 4.7 times human limit (5% manifestation mapping in reality)]

[Neural Reaction Speed: 3.2 times human limit]

[Maximum Impact per Fist: 1,700 kg]

[Vision/Hearing/Smell: No bonus]

[Chaos Domain: Unavailable]

[Chaos Heaven Opening: Unavailable]

[Void Step: Unavailable]

[Sword Skill: Available (Purely physical)]

[Combat Experience: Available]

[Rebirth Memory: Available]

"This is what's left," he said.

Su Qingyue looked at the line "Maximum Impact per Fist: 1,700 kg".

3 seconds.

She nodded.

"Enough."

[System Prompt: Expedition Team mission objective changed]

[Original Objective: Mining Area No. 2 (Dragon Clan Alliance)]

[New Objective: Ancient Civilization Ruins · Ruins No. 7]

[Mission Type: Forbidden Magic Domain Exploration/Combat]

[Mission Objective: Acquire star core energy × 7-9]

[Mission Time Limit: 12 hours (Will automatically close within 24 hours after the ruins are first opened)]

[Current Remaining Time: 21 hours]

Lin Ye closed the prompt.

He looked ahead.

570 km due west.

Ancient Civilization Ruins Group.

Ruins No. 7.

"Let's go," he said.

7 hours later.

The Ancient Civilization Ruins group appeared on the horizon.

It was not a building.

It was a piece of "ruins".

Countless circular pits with diameters ranging from 100 meters to 1,000 meters were densely distributed on the vast, grayish-brown wilderness. At the bottom of each pit remained semi-collapsed, silver-white metal structures — these were the architectural remains left by the ancient mechanical civilization.

Between the pits were scattered countless metal fragments of various sizes.

Some fragments were only the size of a fist.

Some fragments were larger than chaos unit no. 1.

Under the pale purple skylight of the second pass of the Eternal Star Domain, they reflected an extremely restrained matte, as if all sharpness had been worn away by the passage of time.

Ruins No. 7 was located in the very center of this ruin group.

It was a complete, uncollapsed circular building.

About 500 meters in diameter.

About 70 meters high.

The whole body was made of a dark gray metal that Lin Ye had never seen before. There was no rust, no scratches, and not even any traces of wind and sand erosion on the metal surface.

It stood in the center of the ruins.

Just as it was when it was built 470,000 years ago.

[System Prompt: You have entered the "Ancient Civilization Ruins · Ruins No. 7" peripheral area]

[Ruins Status: First Opening]

[Ruins Entrance: Due East · Rectangular door hole 7 meters high and 3 meters wide]

[Forbidden Magic Domain Range: 500-meter radius (covers the entire ruins)]

[Current Distance to Ruins Entrance: 1.7 km]

[Currently in Forbidden Magic Domain: No]

[Countdown to stepping into the Forbidden Magic Domain: About 17 minutes later]

Lin Ye stood 1.7 km in front of the ruins entrance.

He looked at the door hole.

It was pitch black inside the door hole.

There was no light.

There was no sound.

There were no signs of life.

Behind him, 7 people.

Su Qingyue.

Shi Potian.

Chu Yunxi.

Lu Xinghe.

Yun Qianxue.

Zhou Tieshan.

And — Qin Ruoxue.

When she read the four words "Forbidden Magic Domain" from that intelligence crystal 7 hours ago, she had silently put away the thousand faces cloak.

Because the "concealment effect" of that cloak also belonged to supernatural energy.

In the Forbidden Magic Domain, it was just an ordinary piece of clothing.

"17 minutes," Lin Ye said.

"Organize your equipment."

"Take out everything you need."

"You can't get into the Storage Ring."

7 people lowered their heads at the same time.

They opened their respective Storage Rings.

They began to "move house".

Su Qingyue.

She took out from the ring: Spare steel longsword × 1 (un-enchanted), Dagger × 1, Water bag × 2, Dry rations × 7 servings, Hemostatic Bandage × 5.

She hung the longsword on the left side of her waist.

The dagger on the right side.

The water bag slung across her body.

The dry rations stuffed into the inner pocket of her robe.

The bandages wrapped around her left wrist.

Shi Potian.

He took out from the ring: Spare refined iron battle knife × 1 (un-enchanted), Water bag × 3, Dry rations × 7 servings, that piece of [Hegemon Blood Essence · Ancestor Star Special] (already empty) × 1 — it was empty, but he didn't throw it away.

He carried the battle knife on his back.

Water bags hung all over his waist.

Dry rations stuffed into his bosom.

The empty essence was placed in his inner chest pocket — that was the only memento his grandfather left him.

Chu Yunxi.

She took out from the ring: [Flame Feather · Rebirth] × 1 (in an un-enchanted state, it was just an ordinary longbow), Steel arrows × 47, Dagger × 1, Water bag × 2, Dry rations × 7 servings.

She carried the bow on her back.

The arrow quiver hung on her waist.

The dagger inserted into her boot.

The water bag slung across her body.

The dry rations stuffed into the interlayer of the arrow quiver.

Lu Xinghe.

[part:gemini-3.0-flash]

He took out from the Storage Ring: [Star River · Rebirth] ×1 (in a state without spiritual power, it's just an ordinary compass), engraving knives ×3, blank Jade Slips ×47 (unusable, but he still carries them), water bags ×2, and dry rations ×7 portions.

He hung the compass at his waist.

He tucked the engraving knives into his belt.

He stuffed the Jade Slips into his robe.

He slung the water bags across his back.

Dry rations—there was no more room to stuff them, so he held them in his hands.

———

Yun Qianxue.

She took out from the Storage Ring: three first-aid kits (hemostatic bandages ×30 / disinfectant gauze ×15 / fixing splints ×6 / painkillers ×9 / antibiotics Rebirth] ×1 (in a state without spiritual power, it's just an ordinary wooden staff), water bags ×2, and dry rations ×7 portions.

She hung the first-aid kits on both sides of her waist.

She held the wooden staff in her right hand.

She slung the water bags across her back.

She stuffed the dry rations into the gaps of the first-aid kits.

———

Zhou Tieshan.

He took out from the Storage Ring: [Xuanwu · New Life] ×1 (in a non-enchanted state, it's just an ordinary heavy shield), spare refined steel battle-axe ×1, water bags ×3, and dry rations ×7 portions.

He slung the shield across his back.

He held the battle-axe in his right hand.

He hung the water bags all around his waist.

Dry rations—he tore open a pack and ate as he walked.

———

Qin Ruoxue.

She took out from the Storage Ring: spare refined steel daggers ×3, thousand faces cloak (in a non-enchanted state, it's just an ordinary gray cloak), water bags ×2, dry rations ×7 portions, and that [Dragon Group Communicator] borrowed from Lin Ye (a real-world item, the Magic-Forbidden Domain is ineffective against it).

She hid the three daggers in her right sleeve, left boot, and lower back respectively.

She put on the cloak.

She slung the water bags across her back.

She stuffed the dry rations into the inner pockets of the cloak.

She held the communicator in the palm of her left hand.

———

Lin Ye.

He took out from the Storage Ring: that refined iron longsword brought back from the Trial Ancient Star (the gray crack in the center of the blade still existed in the state without spiritual power—it was physical damage, not an enchantment), spare refined steel dagger ×1, water bags ×3, dry rations ×7 portions, bronze ghost mask ×1 (in a non-enchanted state, it's just an ordinary bronze mask), and that [Mother Empress Crystal Core] obtained from the Mother Empress (currently self-healing, usable in 72 hours).

He slung the longsword across his back.

He tucked the dagger into his waist.

He hung the water bags until his belt was full.

He stuffed the dry rations into his inner pockets.

The bronze ghost mask—he hesitated for 0.3 seconds.

Then he put it on his face.

【bronze ghost mask · No Spiritual Power State】

【Illusion Effect: Unavailable】

【Concealment Effect: Unavailable】

【Ghost Mask Might: Unavailable】

【Unique Effect: Conceal Face】

———

He wore it not because it was useful.

But because of—habit.

———

[System Prompt: You are about to step into the Magic-Forbidden Domain]

[Current Distance: 500 meters]

[Countdown: 30 seconds]

———

Lin Ye took a step forward.

Behind him, seven people.

Stepped forward at the same time.

———

Step 1.

He stepped into the edge of the 500-meter radius Magic-Forbidden Domain.

[System Prompt: Detected that you have entered a Magic-Forbidden Domain]

[All transcendent energies—Disabled]

[Chaos Divine Power: 84% → 0% (Unavailable)]

[Chaos Domain: Unavailable]

[Chaos Heaven Opening: Unavailable]

[Void Step: Unavailable]

[Storage Ring: Unavailable]

[Equipment Enchantments: Disabled]

———

He stopped his pace.

Feeling that unprecedented "emptiness" within his body.

It wasn't weakness.

It was the "feeling of a Mortal."

Since the first day the server opened, he had never experienced this feeling.

For the first time in five months—he was just an ordinary person.

———

Behind him, seven people.

Stopped their pace at the same time.

———

Su Qingyue looked down at her left hand.

The ice lotus that had once condensed countless times in her palm was now gone.

There was only a hand.

An ordinary hand.

———

Shi Potian clenched his left fist.

No Hegemon Markings.

No golden light.

Only flesh.

Ordinary flesh.

———

Chu Yunxi pulled the bowstring.

The bow arms bent to their limit.

No flames.

No enchantments.

Only a bow.

An ordinary bow.

———

Lu Xinghe looked at his compass.

The needle was still.

The dial did not turn.

Only metal.

Ordinary metal.

———

Yun Qianxue held her staff.

There was no glow at the head of the staff.

Only wood.

Ordinary wood.

———

Zhou Tieshan raised his shield.

The shield felt heavy.

There were no counter-shock effects.

Only iron.

Ordinary iron.

———

Qin Ruoxue wore her cloak.

The cloak was not transparent.

There was no concealment effect.

Only cloth.

Ordinary cloth.

———

Seven people.

Seven pairs of eyes.

All were looking at Lin Ye.

———

Lin Ye did not look back.

He looked ahead.

At that doorway.

Inside the doorway, it was pitch black.

———

"Let's go," he said.

———

Eight people.

Stepped forward at the same time.

———

Step 17.

They stood before the doorway.

Inside the doorway, the darkness was like a solid wall.

No light could shine into it.

———

Lin Ye lifted his foot.

He stepped into the doorway.

———

[System Prompt: You have entered "Ancient Civilization Ruins · No. 7 Ruins"]

[Current Area: Entrance Passage]

[Passage Length: 47 meters]

[Passage Width: 7 meters]

[Passage Height: 17 meters]

[Passage Material: Unknown Metal]

[Current Visibility: 0 meters (Absolute Darkness)]

[Recommendation: Use touch/hearing]

———

Absolute darkness.

Absolute silence.

Lin Ye stood in place for 3 seconds.

He was waiting for his eyes to adjust.

But his eyes did not adjust.

Because there was no light here.

Not even a tiny bit.

———

He reached out his hand.

He felt around in front of him.

His fingertips touched a cold metal wall.

The surface of the wall was extremely smooth, so smooth there was almost no friction.

His fingertips slid across the wall without any resistance.

———

Behind him, seven people.

Reached out their hands at the same time.

Eight people, eight hands, on the same wall.

———

"Hold hands," Lin Ye said.

"I'll walk in front."

"You follow."

———

The first hand grasped his hand.

It was Su Qingyue's.

Her hand was very cold—a side effect of the Vast Cold Spirit Body Awakening; even in a Magic-Forbidden Domain, her body temperature was 3°C lower than an ordinary person's.

The second hand.

Shi Potian's.

His hand was very hot—the basic Physique modified by the hegemon body bloodline; even in a Magic-Forbidden Domain, his body temperature was 2°C higher than an ordinary person's.

The third hand.

Chu Yunxi's.

Her hand had calluses—the kind unique to archers, left by years of holding a bow.

The fourth hand.

Lu Xinghe's.

His hand was trembling slightly—not from fear, but as a side effect of exhausted Mental Energy.

The fifth hand.

Yun Qianxue's.

Her hand was very steady—a healer's instinct; even in the darkness, her fingers could precisely press onto a pulse.

The sixth hand.

Zhou Tieshan's.

His hand was very large—the hand of a shield-bearer, a full size larger than a normal person's.

The seventh hand.

Qin Ruoxue's.

Her hand was very light—an assassin's instinct; even in the darkness, her footsteps made no sound.

———

Eight people.

Eight hands.

Linked into a single line.

———

Lin Ye took his first step forward.

His left hand was pressed against the wall.

His right hand held Su Qingyue's hand.

His foot probed forward.

One step.

Two steps.

Three steps.

———

Step 17.

His left hand touched—air.

The wall had reached its end.

———

[System Prompt: You have passed through the Entrance Passage]

[Current Area: Ruins Core · 1st Floor · Mechanical Guardian Plaza]

[Plaza Diameter: 170 meters]

[Dome Height: 47 meters]

[Plaza Center: Guardian Hibernation Platform ×47 units]

[Guardian Status: Hibernating]

[Remaining Hibernation Time: approx. 17 minutes (Countdown starts from when the first batch of invaders steps into the entrance)]

[Current Remaining Time: 13 minutes]

———

Lin Ye stopped his pace.

He couldn't see.

But his hand could feel it—the air ahead was "cooler" than in the passage.

That was a characteristic of air flow slowing down after space becomes open.

———

"13 minutes," he said.

"47 Mechanical Guardians."

"Rank 63-65."

"Immune to transcendent energy."

"Physical Resistance +70%."

———

In the darkness, no one spoke.

But Lin Ye could feel Su Qingyue, who was holding his hand, tighten her fingers slightly.

That was the signal for "ready."

———

"Tactics," Lin Ye said.

"Zhou Tieshan."

"Present."

"You draw attention from the front."

"Block with your shield."

"How long can you hold?"

———

In the darkness, Zhou Tieshan's voice came:

"I don't know."

"But as long as the shield is here, I'm here."

———

"Shi Potian."

"Present."

"You deal damage from the side."

"Smash with your left fist."

"There are 47 units. How many will you take?"

———

In the darkness, Shi Poshan's voice replied:

"However many are in front of me,"

"Is however many I'll smash."

———

"Chu Yunxi."

"Present."

"You're long-range."

"47 arrows."

"Is that enough?"

———

In the darkness, Chu Yunxi's voice replied:

"Enough."

"But I need light."

———

Lin Ye fell silent.

For 3 seconds.

He took the bronze ghost mask off his face.

He wasn't going to use it.

He was—placing it on the ground.

【bronze ghost mask · Metal Material】

【In absolute darkness, metal can reflect extremely faint light that is imperceptible to the human eye】

【But if someone strikes it from the front with a flint—】

———

He pulled out the refined steel dagger from his waist.

Using the blade's edge,

On the rim of the ghost mask,

He struck forcefully.

———

"Chak—"

A spark.

Extremely brief.

Extremely faint.

But in absolute darkness, that 0.1-second spark illuminated the 17 meters ahead.

———

They saw them.

47 hibernation platforms.

47 silver-white, streamlined Mechanical Guardians, about 3 meters tall.

In the center of each one's chest cabin, there was a pale blue light point pulsing at a frequency of once every 1.7 seconds.

That was their energy core.

And also their fatal weakness.

———

The spark died out.

Darkness swallowed everything once more.

———

"13 minutes," Lin Ye said.

"Enough for us to set up our formation."

———

In the darkness.

Eight people began to move.

———

【Chapter 169 · End】