Chapter 132

Exploring ancient ruins?

Chen Mu raised an eyebrow and asked casually, "Where to explore?"

"Right in Jing'an Prefecture!"

Pang Yunrui chimed in, "Not far from Tai'an, less than two days' journey."

Jing'an Prefecture lies northeast of Tai'an Prefecture, separated by Ming'an Prefecture.

The distance is indeed close.

"Is it an unopened ruin?" Chen Mu asked again.

"Naturally, it hasn't been opened."

Shen Ge replied, "Opened ruins—aside from a handful—have all been looted dozens, even hundreds of times. This ruin discovered in Jing'an Prefecture is still sealed. But signs already show that, based on spatial fluctuations, it will open within no more than ten to fifteen days."

Ruins fall into two types: those already revealed, and those unopened.

The revealed ruins have emerged one by one over the past several thousand years.

Ruins refer to the ruins left behind by ancient sects and dynasties from the primordial era, destroyed during the Great Cataclysm, containing all manner of treasures.

Some of these ruins lie buried underground, some form their own small spaces, and others are exposed beneath the open sky.

The famed "Heavenly Han Ruin" is directly exposed.

This long valley, also known as the "Central Han Great Rift," divides Han South Road from Han North Road, stretching nearly six thousand li, once the imperial capital of the Great Han Dynasty.

Now it has become ruins, desert, and dead land, brimming with peril.

That's right—revealed ruins are dangerous, but unopened ruins are even more dangerous!

…

"How many people know about the ruin in Jing'an Prefecture?" Chen Mu asked again, lost in thought.

"Not many, for now."

Pang Yunrui explained, "I heard about this ruin from someone else. Currently, fewer than ten people know of it. But in the two or three days before it opens, the anomalies will spread, and people from all around will flock there."

Perfect!

Hearing this, Chen Mu's heart stirred slightly.

More people mean conflict.

Conflict means deaths.

Deaths mean cards to pick up.

If it were some hidden corner teeming with danger, just the three of them exploring—it honestly held little interest for Chen Mu.

Though danger often comes with opportunity.

But why risk it when you can safely pick up cards?

It's much better like "Ba Jian Mountain"—a crowd fighting inside a cave for treasures, while Chen Mu picks up cards from outside the cave!"

So more people is better—more people means he's interested!

…

"Count me in."

Chen Mu nodded and said casually, "When do we leave?"

"Good!"

Pang Yunrui clapped his hands, "With Brother Chen joining us, our strength increases by a third. As for departure, since it's so close, we can leave tomorrow or the day after."

"Alright. For these two days, Brother Shen and Brother Pang, just stroll around Tai'an Prefecture—I'll treat you!" Chen Mu laughed.

"Hehe, that's too kind of you."

Pang Yunrui rubbed his hands, "I've never tasted Tai'an Prefecture's cuisine. Oh, what a tragedy!"

"If it's such a tragedy, then don't eat," Shen Ge retorted irritably.

"No way."

Pang Yunrui shook his head, "Most Important in Being Human is eating well and drinking well. What's the point of living like you, so detached and ascetic?"

"Get lost!"

"Hahahaha~"

…

…

The morning mist had not yet cleared.

Three magnificent horses galloped along the official road, facing the morning breeze.

On their backs, Chen Mu, Shen Ge, and Pang Yunrui rode easily.

After two days of feasting and drinking in Tai'an Prefecture,

the three of them finally set off toward Jing'an Prefecture.

They departed in the morning and, by the time the sun sank and dusk settled, they had entered Ming'an Prefecture's territory, stopping at a remote small town called "Kao Shan Town."

The town was built against the mountains, with simple folkways and only one humble inn.

The three rented rooms, ate a simple meal, then returned to their rooms to meditate, waiting to continue their journey the next day.

At midnight, all was silent, save for the mournful howl of mountain winds through the treetops.

Suddenly—

"Boom—"

The ground shook violently without warning.

Tea bowls on the table clattered, dust rained down from the rafters.

"Earth dragon turning over?"

Chen Mu, Shen Ge, and Pang Yunrui jolted awake simultaneously in their respective rooms.

But what followed was not the silence after an earthquake—it was countless terrified screams and wails.

Among them rang out chilling, dense roars of beasts.

"Beast Tide! It's a Beast Tide! The wild animals in the mountains have gone mad!!"

"Run, quick~"

"Help! Save my child!"

"…"

Chen Mu, Shen Ge, and Pang Yunrui shattered their windows and leapt onto the rooftops in an instant.

Beneath the pale moonlight, the side of the small town facing the mountains was already in chaos!

Hundreds of various wild beasts—wild boars with bloodshot eyes, massive mountain wolves, frenzied bears, and even several giant serpents as thick as water barrels…

They seemed utterly terrified, having lost all reason, surging out of the forest like a breached dam, smashing wildly into the town.

Houses collapsed easily; townsfolk who couldn't escape were swallowed by the beast horde—tearing sounds, collisions, dying screams, and beast roars intertwined, forming a scene of earthly hell.

"Wretched beasts!"

Shen Ge's face darkened; his longsword was already drawn, its blade shimmering with cold light.

"Where did so many mad beasts come from?" Pang Yunrui asked in confusion, dual halberds already in hand, muscles taut.

Chen Mu's Solemn Gaze held no hesitation; the Zhan Sha Dao rang free from its scabbard, and he growled, "Save the people first!"

Before his words faded, the three figures shot into the chaotic Beast Tide like three arrows.

Shen Ge moved with ethereal grace; his swordlight swept like a blizzard, each pass piercing beasts' vital points or shredding them into pieces.

Pang Yunrui moved like a living monster; his dual halberds swung with crushing force, each strike echoing with thunder and wind—often smashing frenzied boars or wolves into broken, flying corpses.

Chen Mu's blade technique was faster, crueler, and more efficient!

The Zhan Sha Dao became streaks of cold lightning; each flash severed a beast's head from its body.

His figure darted through the beast horde; where his blade passed, he carved bloody paths, rescuing townsfolk trapped beneath collapsed houses or surrounded by beasts.

The three were like three gods of slaughter, invincible wherever they turned.

The overwhelming strength of Xiantian experts was laid bare—especially when three prodigies from the Qian Long List fought together, their efficiency was astonishing.

The chaotic Beast Tide was quickly contained under their fierce extermination.

Most of the mad beasts were slain; a few bypassed the town and fled into the distance.

The town gradually fell silent, leaving only wreckage, beast corpses, and the sobs and moans of survivors.

Fires were relit, illuminating faces still shaken with terror.

The townsfolk looked at Chen Mu and the other two—weapons sheathed, sleeves unstained with blood—and their eyes filled with gratitude and lingering dread.

"Thank you, young masters, for saving our lives!"

"Thank you, benefactors~!"

"…"

The town chief, accompanied by survivors, trembled as he prepared to kneel and kowtow.

Shen Ge stepped forward, a gentle aura lifting them all, "Old man, no need for such formalities. We act when we see injustice. But this Beast Tide came strangely—has it ever happened before?"

"No, never."

The town chief shook his head, still shaken, "Never! The wild beasts in the mountains are fierce, but they've never before charged down in such massive, frenzied herds…"

Hearing this, Chen Mu, Shen Ge, and Pang Yunrui exchanged glances, each frowning deeply.