Chapter 151
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Chapter 151: The Bloody Truth
There were actually people here?!
This took Zhang Yang by complete surprise.
Wasn’t the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins supposed to open only on the fifth day of May?
He was baffled, unable to fully understand how he had managed to enter early.
Why were there others inside the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins?
Bound by the void divine stones’ staircase, he couldn’t break free and could only stand there, observing the approaching figure.
It was a man clad in black armor, wearing black boots, with a long black spear slung across his back.
His armor bore skull designs, and he exuded a chilling, ominous aura.
He spoke in a deep, resonant voice, “Ghostly Divine Platform, Sky Devouring Ghost Guard!”
As one of his greatest adversaries, Zhang Yang had a deep understanding of the Ghostly Divine Platform.
The most terrifying aspect of the platform was the Ghost King Guards.
However, the Ghost King Guards were few in number and immensely powerful.
Beyond them, the Ghostly Divine Platform also nurtured many other formidable forces, such as the Sky Devouring Ghost Guards and the Sky-Slaying Ghost Guards.
All these ghostly guards were extraordinary.
“Sky Devouring Ghost Guard, Ghost Wind, at your service. I see you’ve come to seek your own demise, hahaha…”
He introduced himself with a mocking tone.
Zhang Yang fixed his gaze on him and demanded sternly, “What are you doing in the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins?”
Ghost Wind burst into laughter, as if he had heard the most absurd joke. After a moment, he replied, “Is there any place in the Southern Region that our Ghostly Divine Platform cannot handle?”
This response left Zhang Yang speechless.
The Ghostly Divine Platform, which claimed to be behind every major event in the Southern Region since the dawn of the Eternal Night, openly admitted to being the mastermind—was there anything they couldn’t control?
For the first time, Zhang Yang truly grasped the weight of those words.
If they could manipulate even the Vast Forest, how could they not control the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins?
He should have anticipated this.
Yet…
He furrowed his brow, deep in thought, and asked, “I was in front of the hundred-meter giant’s corpse, and you appeared nearby?”
“Tsk tsk, impressive. You actually figured it out afterward.” Ghost Wind sneered. “That’s right, I noticed you. At first, I thought I could seize the opportunity to eliminate you. I didn’t expect you to delve deeper, forcing me to make a cautious choice. Sure enough, the path you’ve chosen ultimately leads you to succumb to the allure of the holy treasure and the inheritance of the saint, walking straight to your doom.”
Zhang Yang felt a pang of regret for his carelessness.
He had instinctively assumed the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins were unguarded. He had vaguely sensed something earlier but hadn’t paid much attention.
Now, he realized that he needed to remain vigilant no matter where he was.
But, speaking of which, why hadn’t Ghost Wind triggered his alertness sooner?
He was no longer the same person he had been in the Vast Forest.
“What is your realm?” Zhang Yang asked, realizing a more pressing question.
Ghost Wind laughed heartily. “Fifth level of the Ascending to Heaven realm!”
As expected!
Zhang Yang’s expression turned cold and stern. If Ghost Wind’s realm hadn’t far surpassed his own, how else could his alertness have been so low?
He was currently at the eighth level of the Touching Heaven realm, a full six levels below Ghost Wind—including a Great Realm difference. This gap was far wider than when he had faced the strongest cultivator from the Golden Cauldron Sacred Land, Qiu Lingshui, who had only been at the second level of the Ascending to Heaven realm.
The difference between the three Minor Realms within the Ascending to Heaven realm was already significant. Given Ghost Wind’s profound aura and composed demeanor, it was clear he was no ordinary individual but a genius, making him even more extraordinary.
“This path is a dead end. Since you didn’t take the holy treasure, it means I’m in danger,” Zhang Yang said. “If that’s the case, can you at least tell me the truth about the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins before I die?”
Ghost Wind chuckled darkly. “Of course. It’s rare to encounter someone like you. I’ll let you die with some clarity.”
Like a chatterbox, he began to reveal the true nature of the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins.
After listening, Zhang Yang realized that this place, which seemed full of opportunities, was in fact steeped in bloodshed.
The Daybreak Phoenix Ruins had been conquered by the Ghostly Divine Platform three years ago. They had secretly brought in people to plunder treasures and even established a city within, called Ghost City.
Not to be outdone, the Great Xia Empire had sent someone to obtain the Phoenix Soul, which had taken a thousand years to form, thus creating the Phoenix Woman. This led to the arrival of many others, who established another city named Phoenix City.
The two cities stood in opposition, constantly clashing and competing for treasures, all while tacitly concealing their activities.
They also discovered a great secret: during the five-month open period from the fifth day of May to the tenth day of October, the more seekers who died, the more treasures buried underground would emerge under the mysterious power of the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins once it closed again. Additionally, numerous Formidable Spiritual Essences would be born.
Thus, they orchestrated chaos during this period, resulting in the deaths of at least a hundred thousand people each time, either directly or indirectly.
To prevent their secret from being exposed, they coordinated to limit access to cultivators at the first level of the Ascending to Heaven realm during the open period. Meanwhile, they themselves operated at the fifth level of the Ascending to Heaven realm during April, allowing them to seize as many opportunities as possible.
The so-called opportunities during the open period were mostly what they had discarded or couldn’t take, such as this holy treasure.
This was the true nature of the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins.
Ghost Wind concluded, “In truth, both Ghost City and Phoenix City have long been in hiding. The reason we remain active now is that the Phoenix Woman is about to undergo her rebirth. If she succeeds, she will truly become the Daybreak Phoenix Luan. This is something we cannot allow, so we are searching with all our might. Meanwhile, Phoenix City is also searching because the rebirth is tied to the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins. Even their own people don’t know where the Phoenix Woman is undergoing rebirth, so they are also searching to protect her. Little did I expect to stumble upon you.”
At this point, Zhang Yang fully grasped the bloody truth hidden within the ruins.
Aside from the Ghostly Divine Platform and the Great Xia Empire, who could have known just how brutal the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins truly were? Even the Two Major Holy Lands, the other three forbidden areas, and the two intelligence organizations likely had no idea.
“This holy treasure contains the Saint Path inheritance. If it weren’t impossible to take, do you think it would have been left for you?” Ghost Wind sneered. “You’re just too foolish to realize it.”
Zhang Yang had indeed considered this possibility, but his focus had been on why no one had taken it during the last opening. Weighing it against his own presence here, he had dared to attempt it.
Now, he was in grave danger.
Yet, he remained calm.
Since the inheritance had been left behind, it was meant for future generations to obtain.
Moreover, while a thousand years had eroded many things, it didn’t mean there was no chance at all.
He steadied his mind, carefully observing and searching for a way to reach the peak.
At that moment, more figures arrived.
A piercing eagle cry echoed across the sky.
Fierce flames blazed through the air.
A woman carrying a sword stood atop a Blazing Divine Eagle, rushing forward, followed closely by a group of men and women clad in fiery red battle suits.
Ghost Wind grew wary at the sight of her and muttered, “Phoenix City’s Luan You’er…”
Although the two cities cooperated against outsiders, their internal conflicts were fierce, making their relationship highly tense.
Luan You’er cast a cold glance at Ghost Wind before turning to Zhang Yang. Her sharp gaze locked onto him as she shouted, “Are you Zhang Yang from the Vast Forest?”
Zhang Yang snorted in response.
Luan You’er declared, “By the order of Mu Yujing, all forces of Phoenix City are to gather and kill you, Zhang Yang!”
Her words had barely faded when more Sky Devouring Ghost Guards arrived—over thirty in number—led by a burly man.
“Ghost Tiger?” Ghost Wind recognized him with some surprise.
Ghost Tiger announced, “King Ghost Wuyou has received orders from the Ghostly Divine Platform to halt the search for the Phoenix Woman and instead gather all forces from Ghost City to eliminate a man named Zhang Yang.”
The two cities of the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins were now united in their mission to kill Zhang Yang.
The gathered forces exchanged puzzled glances, their faces filled with confusion. None of them could comprehend why Zhang Yang had provoked such a reaction from both the Great Xia Empire and the Ghostly Divine Platform—enough to make them abandon their search for the Phoenix Woman and instead unite to kill him.
“I don’t know what earth-shattering deeds you’ve committed outside to enrage the Great Xia Empire and the Ghostly Divine Platform, but it doesn’t matter. Here, your foolishness will be your downfall,” Luan You’er said coldly. She then pointed at the seven steps leading to the suspended jade bottle—the holy treasure. “Step onto this path of the dead saint, and you are doomed!”
