Chapter 138: The Ruins Finally Open – Forbidden Spirit and the Five Generals

Wang Teng’s expression was solemn, yet his eyes sparkled with anticipation. He wasn’t afraid—he was excited.

After all, he had not been chosen the last ten times.

This eleventh time… surely he would get in!

He had prepared for over ten years!

Yu Xian quickly recovered from his thoughts and continued asking, “Brother Wang, aside from the Bridge of Death, the Saint King’s Might, and the Heart-Testing Spring, only the Five Generals require actual combat to break through, correct?”

Wang Teng nodded. “Yes. I don’t know much about the others, but the Five Generals truly test one’s combat strength. When they appear, it’s either you die or they perish. But the one advantage is that their realm matches yours, so the odds are fifty-fifty.”

Yu Xian nodded as well. If they were of equal cultivation, then the so-called Five Generals didn’t pose much threat.

However, the other dangers were unpredictable—that’s what one truly needed to be wary of.

After all, such a vast ruin-city, spanning thousands of miles, couldn’t possibly have only five threats: the Five Generals, the Saint King’s Might, the Heart-Testing Spring, and the Bridge of Death.

As one went deeper into the city, the dangers would likely increase tenfold, even fiftyfold!

Likewise, the deeper one ventured, the greater the opportunities. It all depended on one’s mindset.

If one sought safety, they could wander near the outskirts. Most likely, they’d only encounter the known dangers—and then wait for the time to pass.

But if they survived and desired greater rewards, they’d have no choice but to head into the inner city, where unknown opportunities and dangers lay.

“That’s all I know,” Wang Teng said seriously.

“If I’m fortunate enough to get in when the ruins open this time, everything inside will have to be faced alone. What others say are, after all, just hearsay.”

Yu Xian nodded. “Thanks for sharing so much, Brother Wang.”

Wang Teng waved his hand with a smile. “No need to thank me, it’s nothing.”

Then he stood up and laughed. “You’ve just finished refining a pill and must be tired. I won’t disturb you further. When the ruins open, I’ll come find you.”

Yu Xian also stood and gave a slight bow. “Thanks again, Brother Wang.”

“It’s nothing at all. Take care.”

With a hearty laugh, Wang Teng turned and left.

Yu Xian walked to the door and watched him disappear into the distance before closing the door with a wave.

He had learned a few things about the ruins—but they were of limited use, just bits of early insight.

Shaking his head, Yu Xian sat cross-legged and resumed cultivating.

As for being tired from alchemy… he had already recovered.

He had refined the Spirit Accumulation Breakthrough Pill in just the time of two incense sticks, deliberately compressing the effects to turn one upper-grade pill’s materials into two middle-grade pills. He kept one for himself.

The reason for making them wait an hour…

Was just to make them wait.

So they wouldn’t get suspicious about how fast he could refine pills or start overthinking.

After all, being too skilled at alchemy could also make people envious…

Cultivate… cultivate…

Several days passed unnoticed.

Then, on one particular day, while cultivating, Yu Xian suddenly felt the ground tremble slightly.

The entire ancient ruins-city had quivered.

A moment later, Wang Teng’s presence swept in, his voice ringing out excitedly.

“Fellow Yu! The ruins are open! Let’s go!”

Yu Xian had opened his eyes the moment the ground trembled and now rose to his feet, dashing out like a phantom.

Outside, Wang Teng beamed with excitement. “Let’s go!”

With that, he shot into the air!

The ruins had opened—on this day, the entire ruins-city soared into the sky!

Yu Xian also formed a hand seal and rose into the sky, riding a cyan cloud as he followed Wang Teng in a certain direction.

At the same time, all across the ruins-city, no fewer than a hundred Foundation Establishment experts shot into the sky in a blink!

Additionally, hundreds of late and peak Qi Condensation cultivators also took off, heading toward the place where the ruins had opened!

These individuals, who had kept a low profile in the city, now all emerged as the ancient ruins opened!

Among the hundred-plus Foundation Establishment cultivators, there were at least thirteen at peak stage!

Even Wang Teng frowned—he hadn’t known the city housed so many peak Foundation Establishment experts.

Only three among them were familiar to him; the rest were strangers.

Yu Xian, however, remained calm. More people or fewer—it didn’t matter. The ruins were vast; even if tens of thousands entered, they would be mere specks in an ocean.

But Wang Teng was clearly anxious. The more people there were, the lower his chances.

Each year, the number of people allowed into the ruins varied—but never exceeded fifty.

So each extra person meant fewer chances for him.

A massive tide of cultivators surged like a dark cloud toward the ruins’ entrance.

The easternmost point of the ancient ruins-city was a canyon.

This canyon was over eight hundred zhang wide, its depth and length unknown, and it only appeared when the ruins opened.

The earth’s trembling signaled its emergence.

But the canyon was too smooth—clearly not naturally formed.

It looked like a sword had cleaved the earth itself, carving out an endless rift!

Thousands of people gathered at the edge of this canyon like ants.

And standing at the canyon’s edge were four individuals.

Their auras were immense, their Golden Core fluctuations shaking the surroundings. None dared come close.

Two of them were known to long-term residents of the ruins-city—they were the nominal city lords who had set the rules.

Luo Sheng and Ren Yao.

But the two were famously unlucky: over sixty attempts to enter the ruins across nearly a hundred years—and not once had they been selected.

So they built this city and swore not to leave until they succeeded.

The other two Golden Core experts were unfamiliar—they had likely come this year to try their luck.

The canyon was still splitting open.

Yu Xian and Wang Teng landed, as did all other Foundation Establishment experts.

Farther away stood the many Qi Condensation cultivators—they dared not stand beside the Foundation Establishment ones.

Several hostile gazes fell on Yu Xian.

From Zhu Lin, Li Yuan, Jiang Shanyu, Zhou Zong, Sun An, and others.

Their eyes were venomous, mocking.

Yu Xian ignored them, his gaze fixed on the ever-widening canyon, eyes flickering.

This canyon was massive—impossible by natural forces. Only divine power or heaven-sundering arts could make such a rift!

It widened to 3,000 zhang and finally stopped—like a bottomless crack in the earth.

Wang Teng whispered, “Quick, sit and release your aura. The ancient ruins will automatically select those with fate.”

He immediately sat cross-legged, golden light glowing from his body.

He had formed his Foundation with a supreme-grade gold spiritual root.

Yu Xian followed suit. His green aura exuded vitality, causing nearby plants to flourish.

His Foundation was formed with a top-grade wood spiritual root.

All around, cultivators began doing the same.

The four Golden Core experts remained standing, their powerful aura sweeping the surroundings.

Suddenly, a strange wave began hovering above all their heads.

Yu Xian calmly maintained his aura, neither expanding nor shrinking it—waiting for the call of the ruins… or failure.

Then he felt it—that peculiar aura.

It was indescribable. Like killing intent and indulgence, dominance and gentleness—it was surveying everyone.

Only a select few would be chosen.

Yu Xian didn’t assume he’d be one of them—but he wouldn’t give up until the end.

And just then, he felt a massive, irresistible force seize him!

In the next moment, it pulled him down into the abyss!

He was the first…

On Ascension Island, he had been the last to enter the secret realm.

But here, he was the first.

Everyone’s eyes changed—envy, jealousy, resentment. Then they all intensified their aura output, desperate for selection.

Because leaping into the canyon without being chosen meant death—regardless of cultivation.

Three zhang in, and you’d be crushed into nothingness.

A deadly array dwelled within.

The roar of rushing air filled Yu Xian’s ears—his descent was so fast it caused sonic booms.

At his current cultivation, using both spatial evasion techniques and physical might, this was a speed of several hundred meters per breath.

And now he was falling at that speed—for an entire incense stick’s time.

How deep was this canyon?

Still, he wasn’t worried. This was a summoning—not an execution.

Sure enough, his speed abruptly slowed.

Then a tear in the black fog revealed a beam of light. He passed through it.

The world was dim and desolate. Everything was yellowed, decayed, and ruined.

Below, a colossal ancient city stood on a barren plain.

Yu Xian continued falling but now at a normal rate. He tried forming seals—but his spiritual energy wouldn’t circulate!

What?! No spiritual power here!?

Wang Teng hadn’t mentioned this!

Was he unlucky enough to be sent into a danger zone immediately?

Yu Xian’s expression twitched. If no spiritual energy could be used, then he had to rely on raw strength.

Tensing every muscle, he assumed a protective stance—arms over head, knees in, back arched.

He fell like a meteor and smashed into the earth with a boom, forming a shallow crater.

Coughing from the dust, Yu Xian leapt out.

Thankfully, his physical body was strong—just a heavy blow to the chest, but no major injuries.

Had it been any other Foundation Establishment cultivator, they might’ve died—or at least been seriously wounded.

Scanning his surroundings, he saw towering walls over a hundred zhang high, covered in scars from battle.

All around him was barren yellow earth—nothing else in sight.

He tried to use spiritual energy again—still no use.

Definitely a dangerous area.

The intel from Wang Teng was useless here.

Sighing, Yu Xian moved quickly to the wall, sticking close as he advanced at high speed, staying alert.

He couldn’t open his storage pouch, so his sword and artifacts were unusable.

He’d have to rely on his fists.

Now he understood why powerful cultivators always carried weapons on their backs or at their waist—not just for show, but for moments like this, where storage tools were useless.

Lesson learned. He’d start wearing his sword visibly from now on.

Boom!

After running a few miles with no change in the environment, suddenly a roar shook the air.

Sandstorm winds rose as a mounted figure approached from afar.

It was a towering general in yellow armor, wielding a massive spear, his eyes glowing blood-red.

“Those who disturb the king’s slumber… must die…”

The general burst from the sandstorm, his killing intent like a hurricane!

Just the aura alone felt lethal!

“This must be one of the Five Generals… but which one?”

Yu Xian stared at him, his expression calm.

These generals were pure resentment—mindless entities. No point in talking.

There were only two options: destroy him, or be destroyed.

“Kill!!”

The yellow-armored general suddenly charged with a roar, spear aimed straight at Yu Xian.

Yu Xian’s eyes lit up. His muscles exploded with power, his outer robes bursting.

But his inner robe—crafted from special fabric—remained intact.

Boom!

The spear slammed into the earth, raising a huge crater.

And from the dust leapt a figure—Yu Xian!

He stepped on the spear shaft, vaulted into the air, and smashed his fist at the general’s helmet!

The general countered with a punch of his own.

The Five Generals always matched their opponent’s strength.

Fists collided. A shockwave burst out.

The general’s arm exploded. His horse screamed and stumbled back!

Yu Xian’s face changed—his own arm had gone numb, tendons strained, fist torn and bleeding!

But his eyes only grew colder.

Ignoring the pain, he threw another brutal punch at the general’s face!

This time, with no arm to block—

Boom!

His bloodied fist crushed the helmet, the general’s head exploded.

Yu Xian landed behind him.

“My king… your servant… can no longer protect you…”

The words echoed as the general and his horse turned to dust and vanished.