MTLNOVEL CHAPTER 189
Jing Yi's actions were perplexing. As the discoverer of these ruins, the Heaven Saber Gang had the right to claim exclusive exploration rights according to Archean City's customs. Yet, Jing Yi had generously offered to share the opportunity, declaring the ruins open to all, regardless of origin or affiliation.
There were no guards posted at the entrance. Anyone could enter and seek their fortune within.
Lu Ming and Velo, their identities concealed beneath black robes, slipped into the ruins alongside the throng of eager explorers.
As Lu Ming crossed the threshold, a wave of dizziness washed over him. His vision blurred, and when he opened his eyes again, he found himself standing in a colossal square.
The square was vast, stretching as far as the eye could see.
Behind him stood the imposing entrance to the ruins, a gateway back to the Hundred Thousand Mountains.
Hundreds of massive statues adorned the square, each depicting a humanoid figure strikingly similar to humans, save for a distinctive flame-shaped mark on their foreheads.
"The Flame Clan," Velo whispered, confirming both the origin of the ruins and the identity of the statues. "These are indeed the ruins of the Flame Clan."
Lu Ming's gaze drifted past the statues, towards the distant horizon.
He could vaguely make out the silhouette of a magnificent city, its towering structures a testament to its former glory. A closer look revealed a thick layer of dust blanketing the buildings, as if they had been frozen in time, forgotten by the world.
Velo's voice broke the silence. "That's Flame City. Beyond it lies a vast forest. We don't know its extent, let alone what lies beyond..."
He paused, his brow furrowing in thought. "This ruin is enormous," he concluded, a hint of awe in his voice. "Exceptionally so."
"I've explored many ruins in my lifetime," Velo continued, his voice filled with wonder, "but none can compare to this one... not even a tenth of its size. I haven't even heard of anything like it, let alone seen it!"
Lu Ming, standing beside Velo, seemed lost in thought.
Once Velo finished speaking, Lu Ming turned to him, a question forming on his lips.
"I have a question," he began.
"What exactly is a ruin?"
Velo paused, taken aback by the seemingly simple question.
Fala had explained the concept of ruins before, but Lu Ming hadn't paid much attention then, and Fala's explanation had been brief.
At the time, Lu Ming had assumed he would have little interaction with ruins in his lifetime. Why bother exploring them when he could spend his time efficiently leveling up his attributes?
But now, with the current situation and the system's strange behavior, Lu Ming needed a deeper understanding.
Velo gathered his thoughts and explained, "Ruins are essentially a kind of subspace."
"It's like... Hmm, the subspace within an Origin Power Skill Inheritance Orb."
Lu Ming's eyes narrowed at the mention of the inheritance orb, but he remained silent, allowing Velo to continue.
"Although the nature is similar, there are clear distinctions."
"Creating an Origin Power Skill Inheritance Orb requires the use of void abilities."
"Void?" Lu Ming questioned.
"Yes," Velo confirmed. "In other words, it's a combination of time and spatial abilities. Long ago, a powerful clan known as the Void Clan ruled the Black Mist Zone. They were masters of time and space secret techniques, and they were the ones who created the Origin Power Skill Inheritance Orb. Hence, related abilities are collectively referred to as 'void'."
"However, compared to ruins, the creation of Inheritance Orbs has been streamlined by the major clans. It no longer requires the direct involvement of experts."
"But the creation of ruin spaces, while also requiring void abilities, is fundamentally different."
"Due to their vast size and the absence of time flow manipulation, creating a ruin demands mastery of spatial power or void abilities at the Ancient Realm level, or even the intervention of deities!"
"It's somewhat similar to how the Supreme Deity is said to have created the Black Mist Zone."
According to ancient legends, the entire Black Mist Zone was the creation of the Supreme Deity.
Deities, or even Ancient Realm experts wielding spatial power, could achieve similar feats, though on a smaller scale.
"The purpose of ruins is to store something or establish an independent space for clan inheritance or habitation," Velo concluded.
"At such times, the ruins aren't called ruins, but rather 'secret lands'," Velo continued his explanation. "After a clan is destroyed and the secret land is left unattended, it gradually merges with the Black Mist Zone due to neglect. Once fully integrated, the entrance to the ruins opens somewhere within the Black Mist Zone. Only then can it be called a ruin."
Lu Ming nodded, gaining a clearer understanding of the nature of ruins. They were essentially abandoned cities or ancient tombs, remnants of a forgotten past.
Velo went on, "Generally speaking, there are valuable things inside ruins. Creating a hidden land requires a significant investment, so naturally, it would be used for important purposes."
"They might store secret treasures or serve as a dwelling for the clan's core members."
"In any case, when the clan is destroyed, there will undoubtedly be a considerable number of valuable items left behind... These items become ownerless, which is what we call an 'opportunity.'"
"For a Flame Clan ruin of this size, you can imagine the plethora of valuable items that must be inside!"
Even in his old age, Velo couldn't help but feel a flicker of excitement at the prospect of such a massive, unexplored ruin.
It was like stumbling upon a treasure trove!
But Lu Ming remained focused, his attention drawn to his attribute panel. After a moment, he nodded in understanding.
He finally knew where the system had detected his opportunity.
It was this entire ruin space!
After his battle with Hachima An, Lu Ming had obtained his second superpower: the Void Domain.
Upon closer examination, he discovered that the Void Domain was actually a high-level time and space ability.
Lu Ming could sense the immense potential of this ability, but due to his low level, he couldn't fully unleash its power.
Now, after hearing Velo's explanation, Lu Ming realized where the system had indicated his opportunity lay.
The Void Domain was a time and space ability.
Ruins were also the product of spatial manipulation.
Now that Lu Ming had entered the ruins, it was akin to being pulled into Hachima An's void space!
Could he, through some method, absorb the power of this ruin into his body, using it to nourish the growth of his Void Domain?
Lu Ming didn't know for sure, but he was determined to find out.
With this in mind, he surveyed his surroundings, then nodded forward..
"Let's go," he said, his voice filled with purpose. "To Flame City."
End of Chapter 189