Chapter 28: Ruins of an Ancient Civilization

Yangzhou City District Extreme Hall, inside the training room.

In the 300‑square‑meter training room, Xiao Yu sits cross‑legged in the center.

"System set the third wish to perfect comprehension of the eighth layer of the Ninefold Thunder Blade."

【Setting successful!】

【Third Wish: Perfect comprehension of the eighth layer of the Ninefold Thunder Blade (162000 Wish Points)】

"System checking remaining Wish Points."

【Remaining Wish Points: 962300.】

"It seems the system's remaining Wish Points are enough to refine the Ninefold Thunder Blade to the ninth layer," Xiao Yu thought silently.

"System executing the third wish."

【Wish Points have been deducted!】

【Third Wish is being realized…】

A surge of special energy envelops Xiao Yu's entire body; he instantly falls into sudden enlightenment as countless experiences and insights about the eighth layer of the Ninefold Thunder Blade flood his mind.

In his sudden enlightenment, Xiao Yu rapidly absorbs the knowledge in his mind and transforms these insights into his own understanding.

Xiao Yu becomes engulfed in an inexplicable state…

Countless images of Xiao Yu instantly appear throughout the training hall, each continuously wielding the seventh layer of the Ninefold Thunder Blade.

After a while, all images converge into a single figure, performing the Flowing Light Body Technique, with each step, turn, and leap accelerated eight times in succession.

Each blade move the figure executes is accelerated eightfold, either in a single burst or continuously, bizarre beyond measure.

…

When the training hall regains its calm.

【Third Wish has been fulfilled!】

Xiao Yu rises and tests the eighth layer of the Ninefold Thunder Blade; it flows as if instinctual, perfectly mastered as if he had cultivated it for many years.

Nevertheless, he continues to train, not only to familiarize himself with the Ninefold Thunder Blade technique but also to later comprehend his own Domain.

"Beep!"

"Beep!"

The alarm on his communication watch rings; it's already 17:50, and he needs to go home for dinner.

After dinner, he spends a long chat with his mother before rising to return to his bedroom to rest.

The next day, he returns to the training room to practice blade techniques and body movements.

…

After five consecutive days of training, once Xiao Yu feels he can truly master his weapon perfectly, he begins a new round of self‑improvement.

"System set the third wish to perfect comprehension of the ninth layer of the Ninefold Thunder Blade."

【Setting successful!】

【Third Wish: Perfect comprehension of the ninth layer of the Ninefold Thunder Blade (324000 Wish Points)】

"System executing the third wish."

【Wish Points have been deducted!】

【Third Wish is being realized…】

A surge of special energy envelops Xiao Yu's body; he instantly falls into sudden enlightenment as countless experiences and insights about the ninth layer of the Ninefold Thunder Blade flood his mind.

These insights about the Ninefold Thunder Blade are not only from the past Lei Shen, but also from the future Luo Feng, and even many unknown beings.

These beings encompass all past, present, and future practitioners across the entire timeline who have mastered the Ninefold Thunder Blade, even beyond this universe.

Combining the experiences of so many masters, Xiao Yu's comprehension of the Ninefold Thunder Blade becomes unprecedentedly perfect, surpassing even Lei Shen, its creator.

…

It takes a full day before Xiao Yu finally fully grasps all the secrets of the Ninefold Thunder Blade.

【Third Wish has been fulfilled.】

"System checking the system panel."

【Host: Xiao Yu】

【First Wish: Double gene multiplier (100 Wish Copper Coins)】

【Second Wish: Breakthrough to become Planet Tier 1 (100 Wish Copper Coins)】

【Third Wish: None for now】

【Completed Wishes: 20 times.】

【Remaining Wish Points: 476300.】

After perfecting the Ninefold Thunder Blade, Xiao Yu's force‑generation technique has reached seven times its normal level.

After ending a day's cultivation.

Xiao Yu rises, exits the training room as the automatic doors close, and at the end of the corridor meets Wu Tong walking toward him.

"Xiao Yu, your trip to Hongning Base City at the end of this month has been confirmed," Wu Tong says.

Although Wu Tong is close with Xiao Yu's father Xiao Dingguo, the now‑appointed Inspector Xiao Yu still shows a degree of respect.

This is not flattery, but respect for a superior.

"Thank you, Uncle Wu!" Xiao Yu says with a smile.

…

While Xiao Yu continues his cultivation, Luo Feng and his Fire Hammer Squad arrive at City No. 003 for training.

At the same time, Tiger Fang Squad takes on a mission from Thunder Squad, escorting Li Wei for live combat training.

During a monster hunt, the Fire Hammer Squad encounters three Indian warriors battling a High-level Beast General Rank Double-headed Black Line Snake; the two sides cooperate to slay the snake, splitting the loot fifty‑fifty.

Just like in the original work, after the Fire Hammer Squad and the Indian warriors killed the Double-headed Black Line Snake, they encountered the Thunder Squad and the Tiger Fang Squad guarding Li Wei, and a clash broke out between the two sides.

The Tiger Fang Squad's repeated incursions, again and again, angered Luo Feng, and he resolved to eliminate the Tiger Fang Squad.

While Luo Feng was eliminating members of the Tiger Fang Squad, he encountered a duel between two War Gods and an Iron‑armored Dragon, and successfully stole a dragon egg.

During the process he also obtained the Iron‑armored Dragon's treasure: an SS‑grade sword and a War God battle suit.

After losing the dragon egg, the Iron‑armored Dragon frantically pursued Luo Feng. After a laborious escape, Luo Feng met the Thunder Squad's elder Liu, Li Wei, Karong, and Pan Ya.

Under Li Wei's perverse hobby of hunting geniuses, Luo Feng engaged them in a fierce battle; the Spiritual Mind Master's techniques were fully employed, and finally he succeeded in wiping out the entire Tiger Fang Squad and Thunder Squad.

On December 28, Xiao Yu flew a combat aircraft from the Extreme Headquarters in Jiangnan Base City to Hongning Base City.

Inside the aircraft, apart from two beautiful attendants, only Xiao Yu and the small personal guard unit supplied by the military remained.

The Black God Suit cannot be used within the No. 9 Civilization Ruins, likely because the Black God Suit itself originates from the No. 9 Civilization Ruins.

Xiao Yu extended his right hand from deep within, transforming the Black God Suit into a bracelet, then reshaping it into a glove form.

After the Black God Suit drinks blood to recognize its master, it can change a thousand ways at the owner's will, even hide beneath the skin. Its drawback is that it is hard to detach from the body.

There are only two ways to remove the Black God Suit: the master dies, or the recognition program is cancelled, which is simple—the master forces the blood absorbed by the suit out.

After Xiao Yu's manipulation, the Black God Suit reverted to its original state.

The Space Ring on the right ring finger flashed, and the Black God Suit was drawn into it.

In Hongning Base City, the Global Headquarters of Extreme Martial Arts Hall is an ancient, massive structure resembling a gigantic spaceship. In reality it is a non‑flyable ship with some functional sections.

Inside the giant ship, Xiao Yu was immediately escorted to a lounge, a spacious area with dozens of seats.

There were already five people inside; at a glance Xiao Yu judged that a man‑and‑woman pair appeared to be of Chinese descent, a closed‑eyed seated individual seemed Indian, and two other seated persons were Black.

"Hello, Xiao Yu, I am Li Yan, from Kyoto Base City," the Chinese man said as he approached. "As far as I know, among the nine of us who set out, only you and I are from Huaxia Nation. Oh, the Miss Lin who just spoke to me is from Hongning Base City."

Hongning Base City lies in West Asia and is one of 23 base cities independent of the Five Great Nations; therefore Miss Lin is naturally not from Huaxia Nation.

"Hmm," Xiao Yu nodded slightly, said a few casual words, and sat aside to meditate, preparing for the upcoming journey to the ancient civilization ruins.

Soon, the last three arrived, and this time the Extreme Martial Arts Hall had all personnel assembled for the expedition to the No. 9 ancient civilization ruins.

"Everyone, please follow me."

Led by a man in a loose blue robe, Xiao Yu and the nine War Gods from around the world entered a quiet chamber made entirely of strange purple wood. The purple wood that formed the chamber was unlike any purple wood they had ever seen; it emitted an odd fragrance and induced an unprecedented calmness and mental focus.

A black‑clothed man stood in the chamber, his back to Xiao Yu's group.

"Master of the Hall!"

All nine of Xiao Yu's party bowed slightly.

The black‑clothed man finally turned, his gaze sweeping over Xiao Yu's group, and said coolly, "The No. 9 ancient civilization ruins, while less dangerous than other ruins, still have a 72 % casualty rate. If anyone now regrets and wishes to withdraw, speak up. Otherwise, once you enter the ruins, regret will be too late."

Everyone remained silent.

"Very well," the black‑clothed man said coolly, "Yaorao, come in."

The voice echoed outward.

Swish!

A vague silhouette formed outside the door: a mysterious woman in a black long robe, a golden mask, and flowing black hair, her eyes captivating the soul.

Xiao Yu recognized those eyes; he had previously seen them on Yaorao, the personal guard of Hong.

"You nine, you will set out for the No. 9 ancient civilization ruins shortly; Yaorao will lead," the black‑clothed man ordered.

"Understood."

All complied.

Yaorao led the assembled War Gods, boarding a Qiankun‑class Intelligent Fighter and racing toward the No. 9 ancient civilization ruins deep in the South American Amazon jungle.

"The No. 9 ancient civilization ruins contain a language and script unlike any on Earth," Yaorao said, "If you cannot understand the ruins' language or read its script, it will waste a great deal of your time; in the early days, when no one understood this language, a War God once spent over seven months inside the ruins before emerging."

"Understanding the language will make your efforts twice as effective."

"Therefore, before you enter, I will install a translation program onto your communication watches! This software can translate the No. 9 ancient civilization ruins' script and language into both Chinese and English. After you emerge, I will be responsible for uninstalling this translation software."

After five minutes, the installation finished.

That night, over the South American Amazon jungle, the Qiankun‑class Intelligent Fighter dived rapidly from high altitude before gently landing.

The hatch opened.

Xiao Yu and the nine War Gods, together with Yaorao, stepped out; surrounding them was a wasteland, beyond which stretched an endless jungle, with some monsters visible, though none dared approach, fearing the aura released by the ruins.

The soil trembled, and the ground split to both sides, forming a passage about five meters wide leading underground.

A silver‑gray elevator rose directly to the surface; its doors opened, revealing an elderly man in a gray robe.

Guided by the gray‑robed elder, Xiao Yu and the nine War Gods took the elevator to a black corridor forged of alloy.

Along the black corridor, the party passed nine successive checkpoints and finally arrived at a spacious hall of several hundred square meters, where hundreds of humans from across Earth gathered.

"Open the entrance passage!" the red‑robed elder shouted.

The curved alloy wall directly ahead in the hall cracked open, revealing a circular passage.

"Follow the passage straight ahead into the glowing mirror; that is the entrance to the No. 9 ancient civilization ruins!" the red‑robed elder shouted.

"Go!"

"go!"

Xiao Yu went first, followed by the War Gods one after another.

The No. 9 ancient civilization ruins are a trial site used by the Falling Ink Star Civilization for selection and elimination. Upon entry it splits into two channels, A and B; martial practitioners usually take the "A‑type channel" deeper, while Spiritual Mind Masters are assigned the "B‑type channel."

As soon as Xiao Yu entered, a complex voice rang out in the hall; fortunately the translation software was installed.

The translated voice said, "Please enter the A‑type channel."

The black hall trembled slowly; after about half a minute, a black passage appeared, its sides bearing complex script.

Newcomer seeking recommendation!!!

For discussion, join group 763688906

(End of chapter)