MTLNOVEL CHAPTER 230
Chapter 230: The Lonely Clown
Jing Yi's thoughts spiraled, a chaotic mix of grief, anger, and disbelief. But amidst the emotional turmoil, a primal need asserted itself - hunger.
He grabbed his meager rations of dry food and water, devouring them until his stomach felt full and his mind slightly clearer.
Standing up, he stretched his stiff limbs and stepped out of the palace.
The scene that greeted him was one of utter devastation.
The once-grand palace was now a ruin, its halls and chambers littered with debris and the remnants of battle.
In a daze, Jing Yi's eyes fell upon Jing Cong's corpse. The body had already begun to decompose, the gaping hole in its chest a silent accusation.
Even in death, Jing Cong remained unaware of the burden his family carried, the reason his own father had struck him down.
Jing Yi's gaze shifted to the bodies of his fallen comrades, the members of the Heaven Saber Gang.
He didn't need to be told what had happened.
The Heaven Saber Gang was no more.
Meijixi, that cunning old fox, wouldn't have missed such an opportunity. He had surely dismantled the Heaven Saber Gang during Jing Yi's two-month absence.
Just two months ago, Jing Yi had been a revered figure in Archean City, second only to the City Lord himself.
Now, he was alone.
He had sacrificed so much, only to be left with nothing.
The realization hit him like a physical blow.
"No," he muttered, his voice hollow. "It's not like it... I have become a clown."
The corners of his mouth twisted into a grotesque grin that grew wider and wider. Jing Yi threw back his head and laughed, a maniacal sound that echoed through the desolate palace like a haunting lament.
Finally, his laughter subsided, leaving only a hollow emptiness in its wake.
"Alright... alright," he muttered, his voice ragged. "I've lost everything."
A flicker of resolve returned to his eyes.
"Let's go take a look... Let's go take a look!"
With a newfound sense of purpose, Jing Yi set off into the forest, his footsteps heavy and deliberate.
The Flame Clan Ruin was vast, but so was the ambition of the explorers who flocked to Archean City.
Two months had passed since the ruin's opening, and the explorers' reach had extended from the city into the depths of the surrounding forest.
On this day, the renowned Soro Exploration Team had ventured deep into the woods.
The team consisted of seven individuals, all possessing Physique Realm strength. They moved with purpose, occasionally checking their map and compass, their destination clear.
"Over here," Soro, the team's captain, suddenly announced. "I smell Blue-Yellow Grass."
The Soro Exploration Team's mission was to find this rare herb, long extinct in the outside world.
The Blue-Yellow Grass was the key ingredient in the elusive Blue-Yellow Pill, a legendary elixir that could allow a Level Nine Physique Realm expert to experience the formation of spiritual pressure in advance. In other words, it could pave the way for a breakthrough to the Spirit Realm.
The value of the Blue-Yellow Grass was immeasurable.
Under Soro's guidance, the group of seven advanced swiftly through the dense forest. However, their progress was abruptly halted when Soro raised a hand, signaling them to stop.
"There's someone..." he whispered, his voice barely audible amidst the rustling leaves.
A figure emerged from the shadows, their appearance a stark contrast to the lush surroundings.
Disheveled and ragged, with a vacant expression and lifeless eyes, the figure seemed lost in a world of its own.
Soro and his team watched in silence as the figure stumbled past them, oblivious to their presence.
"Weirdo," Feng Wu, the team's beauty, muttered with a hint of disdain.
Beside her, a burly man's voice boomed, cutting through the silence.
"That person looks strangely familiar..."
He paused, a look of recognition dawning on his face. "I think it's the leader of the Heaven Saber Gang, Jing Yi!"
His words sent a ripple of shock through the group.
Jing Yi, once a prominent figure in Archean City, was well-known to the members of the Soro Exploration Team.
Though his current appearance was disheveled and unkempt, his facial features were unmistakable.
The seven of them exchanged hushed whispers.
"The Divine Dao Alliance wiped out the Heaven Saber Gang a while ago. Jing Yi was nowhere to be found. Everyone assumed he had died in Flame City, but now he's here..."
"Strange indeed. What could he be doing hiding out here?"
"I'm even more curious about where he's going."
Captain Soro's eyes gleamed with a predatory light.
"Let's follow him and see," he said, a sly grin spreading across his face.
As soon as Soro spoke, the team nodded in unison. Jing Yi had once been a figure of power and influence, but now, with the Heaven Saber Gang in ruins, he was alone and vulnerable. Though he was a Level 9 Physique Realm expert, Soro himself was a Level 8. The Soro Exploration Team wasn't afraid of a lone Jing Yi.
In fact, they saw an opportunity. If Jing Yi possessed any valuable secrets, they could eliminate him and claim his treasures. In Archean City, the line between explorer and bandit was often blurred.
As for the Blue-Yellow Grass they sought...
Well, it wasn't going anywhere.
The Soro Exploration Team trailed behind Jing Yi, watching as he navigated the treacherous terrain of the Hundred Thousand Mountains.
Three hours later, the group of eight, one leading and seven following, arrived at a secluded cave.
Jing Yi turned his head slightly, as if he had long been aware of their presence.
But he didn't react.
He simply stood at the cave entrance, lost in thought for a moment, before speaking softly.
"Jing Yi, in the name of the seven gods of the Flame Clan: Fire, Blaze, Flame, Melt, Incinerate, and Explosion!"
It was the activation passphrase.
The simplicity of the phrase made sense. The ruins were the Flame Clan's hidden sanctuary; there had been no need for a complex code when there were no outsiders to worry about.
As Jing Yi spoke, a white light flickered at the cave entrance. It pulsed, growing brighter until a pure white gate, shimmering with energy, materialized before him.
This extraordinary sight caused a stir among the Soro Exploration Team. They realized they had stumbled upon something truly remarkable.
Jing Yi, however, remained oblivious to their presence. He stepped forward, passing through the shimmering white gate. With a flash of light, both the gate and Jing Yi vanished.
The seven members of the Soro Exploration Team rushed to the cave entrance, their eyes wide with anticipation.
They searched frantically for any trace of Jing Yi, but the cave was a dead end, barely extending ten meters beyond the entrance.
Soro, after a moment of contemplation, made a decision.
"Wait," he commanded. "We'll wait here."
The Soro Exploration Team couldn't afford to miss out on such a potential treasure trove. If they couldn't enter with Jing Yi, they would wait and see if an opportunity presented itself.
Meanwhile, Jing Yi experienced a brief moment of disorientation before his senses snapped back into focus.
He opened his eyes, and the world around him had transformed dramatically.
Gone was the cave entrance, the lush greenery, and the towering trees.
In their place, he stood within a gleaming, high-tech laboratory.
Metal walls enclosed him, and hidden white lights bathed the space in a clinical brightness.
Before he could fully process his surroundings, a synthesized, pleasant female voice echoed through the chamber.
"Welcome to the Flame Clan Royal First Research Institute. I am the administrator of this facility, the Artificial Intelligence: Crimson Queen. I am at your service."
End of Chapter 230