MTLNOVEL CHAPTER 193
Day 182 of the Black Mist Calendar
News of the Flame Clan ruins' discovery had spread far and wide, drawing in almost every race inhabiting the region around the Hundred Thousand Mountains.
This influx of new arrivals brought both prosperity and chaos. The once-quiet outskirts were now teeming with activity, but the surge of explorers also fueled the conflicts and disputes within Flame City and the surrounding forests.
Fortunately, this particular area remained relatively peaceful. The tribes residing here were weaker, with the strongest among them only reaching the Spirit Realm. The Rao Clan, guardians of the business district, maintained order and stability, ensuring Lu Ming's cultivation remained undisturbed.
Another battle erupted in Flame City that day, but Lu Ming paid it no heed.
He continued his rigorous practice of the Body Forging Technique, occasionally checking his attribute panel to observe the system's activity.
The faint light flickering on the interface seemed to be intensifying.
A premonition stirred within Lu Ming.
It seemed this ruin was more than just an opportunity to level up his Void Domain. Something within it might trigger unknown, yet beneficial, changes to the system itself.
"Continue cultivating and keep observing," he decided.
Unbeknownst to anyone, the entire Flame Clan ruin was, in essence, a massive sealing array.
Whenever an intelligent being perished within the ruins, their flesh and soul essence vanished, transported to the distant palace of the Jing God, serving as nourishment for his recovery.
And deeper within the ruins, in the grand healing chamber, an unseen force was quietly undermining the Jing God's foundation...
The Eternal Stone, a unique treasure of the Aeonians, contained immense temporal power. Even among the Ancient Realm experts of the Aeonians, few could produce an Eternal Stone the size of a palm. The fact that the Jing God used such a stone as his coffin block spoke volumes about the Flame Clan's former wealth and power.
However, there was a cruel irony at play.
This coffin, crafted from the Eternal Stone, was integral to the healing array. Its power shared the same origin as the Void Domain.
In other words, as Lu Ming's three-dimensional attributes increased, the system could also draw energy from the Eternal Stone, fueling the advancement of the Void Domain.
And the most unfortunate part for the Jing God was...
The core of the entire Flame Clan ruin, the heart of its healing array, was the Jing God himself.
The heavily injured Jing God lay unconscious.
Jing Yi, his guardian, was too weak to detect the subtle theft of the Jing God's essence by an unseen force. No one knew where it was being channeled or what its purpose was.
Day 187 of the Black Mist Calendar
Jing Yi, keeping vigil beside the Jing God, opened his eyes.
He took out his meager rations and began to eat, his gaze occasionally drifting towards the coffin.
This had been Jing Yi's routine for the past few days.
But today, a frown marred his brow. Something felt amiss.
"Why does this ice coffin seem a little thinner...?"
He examined it from all angles, but with his Level Nine Physique Realm strength, he couldn't discern the almost imperceptible change.
"And the ancestor's face seems clearer..."
"Perhaps the ancestor is nearing revival," he mused, dismissing his concerns.
Despite possessing the ancestral teachings, Jing Yi's limited strength and understanding prevented him from grasping the shocking truth of the Jing God's condition.
He paid no further attention to the shrinking coffin or the increasingly distinct features of the Jing God, focusing instead on finishing his meal.
That same day...
Another battle raged in Flame City.
Lu Ming had initially believed the conflicts within the city were of no concern to him. However, that night, he received devastating news.
The patriarch of the Rao Clan had perished in the chaotic fighting.
This news kept Lu Ming awake all night. He immediately sent Zhang Chengcheng, Wei Lan, and Fala back to Nanxiang for their safety.
As Lu Ming returned to the Flame Clan ruins alone in the early morning hours, he saw flames rising from the business district.
The Rao Clan, once the protectors of the district, were now leaderless. It was uncertain if they could even survive, let alone maintain order.
Over a month of peaceful cultivation had come to an abrupt end.
Standing at the ruin's entrance, Lu Ming couldn't help but sigh.
"What a mess..."
He opened his attribute panel. The Void Domain had yet to complete its upgrade.
The system remained unchanged, flickering without explanation.
Clearly, Lu Ming's business in this ruin was unfinished.
And now, chaos was knocking at his door.
After a moment of deliberation, Lu Ming made a decision.
"I'll have to find another safe place," he said, his voice resolute.
If he hadn't come to the Flame Clan ruins, he might have returned to South Mountain to avoid conflict. But now, he was convinced that this ruin held the key to his growth. For the sake of upgrading the Void Domain and the potential changes in the system, he had to step outside his comfort zone and embrace a certain level of risk.
Before he could set off, a loud voice boomed from afar.
"Everyone, listen up!"
The command drew everyone's attention.
A short figure rose into the sky, hovering a hundred meters above the ground, his gaze sweeping across the assembled crowd.
It was Meijixi, the leader of the Divine Dao Gang.
A false smile plastered on his face, Meijixi couldn't quite conceal the smugness and greed lurking in his eyes.
"Starting today," he announced, "everyone who enters the ruins must pay an entrance fee!"
"The fee is one Level 1 Physique Realm Origin Stone!"
An uproar erupted from the crowd.
A single Level 1 Physique Realm Origin Stone was no small sum. For Mortal Realm Awakened individuals, it could represent their life savings.
Before the commotion could subside, Meijixi continued, "Furthermore, from now on, a sentry post will be established at the ruin's entrance. Everyone will pay the fee upon entry. When leaving, half of all gains from the ruins must be surrendered!"
A chill descended upon the crowd.
Entering with a hefty toll, leaving with only half of their hard-earned rewards...
And Meijixi's words carried an unspoken threat: he would inspect everyone's loot.
Someone in the crowd scoffed. "Who gave you the right?!"
Meijixi smirked.
Before he could answer, a voice boomed from behind him, "We do!"
Over a dozen figures flew in from the distance, hovering above Meijixi. Their powerful Origin Power radiated outwards, revealing their status as Spirit Realm experts.
The leader of the group, his eyes narrowed in disdain, addressed the crowd below. "I gave you the chance to enter these ruins. If I hadn't, I, Li De, guarantee you wouldn't even be able to touch its doors."
"You should be grateful."
"The entrance fee and half of your gains are a small price to pay for our benevolence."
End of Chapter 193