Chapter 40: Aligning and Strategizing

With this deafening explosion, the entire tunnel shook even more violently, as if it were on the verge of a complete collapse.

Lin Fan and Gu Ningyun exchanged glances, both seeing a deep sense of urgency in each other's eyes.

They knew that time was running out; they had to push deeper into the tunnel immediately to find the end of the ruins.

"Let's move!"

With a loud shout, Lin Fan took the lead and dashed forward.

Gu Ningyun closely followed behind him, and the other team members hurried to keep up. Behind them, the tunnel fractured like a raging tide, with massive boulders crashing down to seal off their retreat.

As they ran, ancient and heavy pressure washed over them, making every step feel as though it spanned a thousand years of history.

They were practically racing against death; each footfall was accompanied by a racing heartbeat.

Finally, after a violent tremor, they arrived before a massive stone door.

The stone door was cracked, with a small hole just large enough for a single person to pass through near the edge, looking as though it had been smashed open by immense external force.

"This is the heart of the ruins!"

Gu Ningyun panted heavily, excitement flashing across her face.

Lin Fan did not hesitate for a second. He knew very well that the tunnel behind them was about to collapse entirely, leaving them with no way back.

The moment they squeezed through the small hole in the stone door, the tunnel behind them finally gave way under the pressure and completely caved in.

The group tumbled to the ground. Amidst the rising dust, they gradually stood up and looked around.

This appeared to be a massive circular hall, in the center of which rested an ornate stone coffin. Floating high above in the air were ten orbs of light, through which their contents were clearly visible.

There were longswords and weapons, jade bottles filled with medicinal pills, precious materials of heaven and earth, and scrolls of spiritual arts...

Standing before the hall were quite a few people. This crowd eyed one another with vigilance, and even latecomers like Lin Fan and his group did not escape their scrutiny.

Atop the stone coffin stood a shadowy figure. Perched upon the casket, the only visible part of him—a pair of cold eyes—was fixed intently upon the white-robed young man standing before the tomb.

That white-robed youth was none other than Zhao Wuyuan.

However, Zhao Wuyuan at this moment completely lacked the imposing air he had displayed outside the ruins. His hair was disheveled, several wounds marred his body, and those standing beside him had also sustained injuries.

Meanwhile, the shadowy figure standing atop the stone coffin had blood seeping from his right arm, dripping drop by drop onto the casket.

"If you want to snatch food from the tiger's mouth, no matter who you are, you will stay here today!"

Zhao Wuyuan's expression was as gloomy as water. He knew that this operation had ended in complete failure; not only had he failed to acquire the treasures, but he had also plunged himself into a crisis.

Yet, as a member of the Zhao family of the Xuanming Dynasty, how could he easily bow in defeat?

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his internal injuries, stared sharply at the shadowy figure, and said coldly, "Let's see how much longer you can last!"

The shadowy figure said nothing. With another flash, his form zipped toward Zhao Wuyuan like lightning—so fast that it startled Lin Fan, who had only just arrived at the end of the ruins.

Had his cultivation not reached the pinnacle of the Divine Pellet realm, his perception wouldn't even have been able to keep up with such speed.

Speed that surpassed perception was impossible to rival.

Lin Fan knew very well that before mastering a Mysterious-tier movement technique, he absolutely could not afford to provoke this person.

To any martial artist in the Divine Pellet realm, that ghostly speed was nothing short of a nightmare.

The two factions clashed, and the remaining individuals seemed to have found their respective opponents as well. They were all people eyeing the same treasures, and anyone competing with them for those treasures was an enemy.

Within the arena, only Lin Fan's group remained motionless. Standing off to the side like bystanders, they quietly watched the chaotic battle unfold.

Anyone who dared attempt to snatch the treasures suspended overhead was inevitably met with a siege from multiple parties, resulting in a chaotic brawl within the hall where no one had yet managed to claim the treasures above.

"What should we do?"

Gu Ningyun's delicate brows furrowed slightly. The injuries she had sustained were not yet fully healed; crossing paths with a Primordial Realm expert at this juncture would surely cause her old wounds to flare up and might even cost her life.

As for the others, they were equally at a loss.

The current situation was no longer something they, a group of Divine Pellet realm martial artists, could handle.

The main combatants in the arena were Primordial Realm experts, while the Divine Pellet realm martial artists mostly served to guard the flanks and prevent others from seizing the treasures.

Lin Fan glanced at the fight between Zhao Wuyuan's faction and the shadowy figure. He could tell that the shadowy figure was already at the end of his rope and would likely be defeated before long.

When that happened, given the tyrannical and overbearing demeanor Zhao Wuyuan had displayed outside the ruins, his group would likely be wiped out entirely.

"I'm going to go help that person. Keep your guard up."

In the game of alliances and counter-alliances, Zhao Wuyuan was a potential enemy to Lin Fan.

And the enemy of an enemy was naturally a friend.

Therefore, after much deliberation, he decided to lend a hand to the shadowy figure. As long as the man could withstand the encirclement of Zhao Wuyuan and his subordinates, it would be good news for him.

After all, there were treasured light orbs suspended overhead that had caught his eye.

If he didn't deal with Zhao Wuyuan and the others, those treasures would surely remain forever out of his reach.

"Take on Zhao Wuyuan?"

Gu Ningyun was slightly startled, as if she hadn't expected Lin Fan to be bold enough to make a move against Zhao Wuyuan.

Lin Fan did not offer a lengthy explanation; his figure had already transformed into a lingering afterimage as he charged forward.

The young man's target was naturally not Zhao Wuyuan directly.

He only needed to stall the Primordial Realm expert within Zhao Wuyuan's team. Given the extraordinary speed the shadowy figure had demonstrated, he would definitely be able to defeat Zhao Wuyuan before victory or defeat was finalized elsewhere.

Like a ghost materializing, the young man slashed a sword horizontally through the air. A waterfall-like sword beam burst forth, violently cleaving down toward the moustached youth.

The latter had never imagined that a mere Divine Pellet martial artist would dare to launch an attack against him. Enraged, he raised his battle saber and roared, "You ant, how dare you try to block me?"

With a crisp ringing sound, Lin Fan's sword violently collided with the moustached youth's battle saber.

The young man's swordsmanship was agile and swift, every strike seemingly imbued with the momentum of wind and thunder.

Meanwhile, the moustached youth's saber technique was steady and powerful, every sweep kicking up a gale in an attempt to pull Lin Fan into its vortex.

A cold gleam flashed in Lin Fan's eyes. He knew he could not allow himself to be intimidated by his opponent's momentum and had to defeat him with even greater speed.

"Raging Wind Sword Technique!"

Lin Fan shouted inwardly, his swordsmanship suddenly turning even more ferocious, assailing the moustached youth like a violent rainstorm.

The moustached youth's expression shifted. Feeling the terrifying power contained within Lin Fan's swordsmanship, he hurriedly circulated the vital energy within his body to fend off the onslaught.

"Mountain-Shattering Slash!"

The moustached youth let out a deep bellow, swinging his battle saber to unleash a fierce blade qi in an attempt to shatter Lin Fan's sword qi.

However, Lin Fan's sword qi was continuous and relentless like a driving gale, wave after wave surging forth without pause.

Though the moustached youth's blade qi was formidable, it appeared inadequate in the face of Lin Fan's sword qi.

As the two engaged in a fierce battle, sword light and saber radiance intertwined to paint a heart-pounding scene.

The surrounding air trembled under their sheer momentum, as if it were about to be torn apart.

Right at that moment, a vicious glint flashed across the moustached youth's eyes. Failing to secure a quick victory had not only enraged him, it had also brought him a sense of unprecedented humiliation.

He was a Primordial Realm expert, yet he was incapable of instantly finishing off a Divine Pellet realm martial artist.

"Brat, to force me into using this move, you can be proud of yourself!"