Chapter 49: Entering the Ruins of the Immortal and Demon Realm

Yun Yao stood at the entrance of the immortal-demon ruins, a chilling wind sweeping out from the dark void, lifting the stray hairs on her forehead. Before her lay the ruins, like the gaping maw of a monstrous beast, eerie and terrifying, seemingly ready to devour any life daring enough to approach.

A shiver ran through her, a flicker of unease stirring within. Yet, at the thought of the powerful cultivation techniques and rare treasures that might lie within, her gaze hardened, shining with an unyielding determination.

“Yao’er, be careful. This place is fraught with peril; don’t let your guard down,” Jun Mohan said, his deep eyes locking onto hers, laden with worry.

He gently took her hand, the warmth from his palm offering her a moment of comfort.

“I know. I will be cautious,” Yun Yao replied, returning his grip with a reassuring smile.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped resolutely into the ruins.

Immediately upon entering, a damp, decaying stench assaulted her senses. Darkness enveloped the surroundings, save for flickers of eerie green ghost fire drifting about, illuminating the jagged path beneath her feet.

“Well, well, isn’t this Yun Yao? What, you dare come to a place like this too?” A sharp voice shattered the silence.

Yun Yao lifted her eyes to see the Purple Star Fairy standing not far off, clad in flowing purple robes, a mocking smile playing on her lips.

“Purple Star Fairy, long time no see,” Yun Yao responded calmly, her tone betraying no emotion.

“I advise you to leave quickly. This place isn’t meant for someone like you,” the fairy said haughtily, tilting her chin proudly.

“The ruins aren’t your personal domain, so why can’t I come?” Yun Yao retorted coldly, a faint smile curling her lips, refusing to back down.

The Purple Star Fairy’s expression shifted; the air around them seemed to solidify, thickening with tension.

“Hmph, overestimating yourself!” she snorted, turning to stride deeper into the ruins, leaving behind a disdainful silhouette.

Yun Yao watched her retreating figure, a faint smile touching her lips.

Her gaze then swept the area, settling upon an unassuming stone tablet at the entrance.

“Strange, the patterns on this tablet…”

Her eyes locked onto the strange, seemingly chaotic carvings, which nonetheless pulsed with an enigmatic order.

She reached out to trace the cold surface, feeling the uneven textures beneath her fingertips.

A peculiar energy rippled through her touch, stirring something deep within.

“Could these patterns… be some kind of formation?” she murmured, images of various formation diagrams flashing rapidly through her mind.

In the distance, the Purple Star Fairy fussed impatiently, searching for clues. Her elegant robes were dust-streaked; her proud face marred by frustration.

She had utterly overlooked the unobtrusive stone tablet, unaware that Yun Yao had already uncovered a crucial clue.

Closing her eyes, Yun Yao committed the tablet’s patterns to memory, then began to mentally deduce their meaning.

At that moment, a nondescript stone beside her shifted slightly, and a pointed head emerged—it was a stone spirit from the ruins.

With eyes as small as green beans, it stared at Yun Yao in astonishment, seemingly unable to believe she had found the clue so swiftly.

The stone spirit’s surprise only strengthened Yun Yao’s conviction.

A confident smile crept onto her lips.

“Of course!” she exclaimed, eyes sparkling with excitement.

Quickly, she extended her finger, pressing several key points on the tablet in the order she had deduced.

With a faint tremor, the patterns on the tablet blazed with dazzling light, and a hidden entrance slowly revealed itself before her.

“Ha! Just as I thought! One step closer to the treasure!” Yun Yao rejoiced inwardly, about to step into the passage when a surge of dark demonic energy swept over her.

“Little girl, didn’t expect you to solve the riddle so quickly. But this treasure is mine!” a cold voice echoed through the ruins.

The Black Demonic Sovereign appeared before her, greed gleaming fiercely in his eyes as he fixed his gaze on the newly revealed entrance.

“Black Demonic Sovereign!” Yun Yao’s heart jolted; she hastily assumed a defensive stance.

She knew he was powerful, no match for her alone, yet she refused to yield easily.

Without hesitation, the Black Demonic Sovereign unleashed an attack—a blade forged from black demonic energy, aimed straight at her.

Yun Yao flickered away just in time, narrowly evading the strike.

Using the complex terrain around her, she engaged in a thrilling chase with the Sovereign.

Not far off, Qing Feng hid behind a massive boulder, wearing a smug smile as he watched Yun Yao flee in disarray.

“Hmph, overestimating herself, daring to snatch treasure from the Black Demonic Sovereign. She’s doomed now!”

However, just as Qing Feng anticipated Yun Yao’s defeat, she abruptly halted, summoning a brilliant glow in her hands and launched a fierce counterattack.

“Trifling tricks!” the Sovereign sneered dismissively, easily blocking her assault.

Yet, at that moment, a sly smile crept across Yun Yao’s lips...

“Is that so?” Jun Mohan stood at the ruins’ entrance, his deep gaze piercing through the mist, resting upon Yun Yao.

He recalled her first meeting—the lively cunning in her eyes, tempered by a subtle fragility.

Now, she had grown strong and brave, yet he remained deeply worried.

The cold wind swept his robes, yet could not dispel the heavy concern in his heart.

Clutching his sword tightly, as if holding her hand, he silently prayed for her safety.

After stepping through the hidden passage, Yun Yao found herself inside a vast labyrinth.

The walls were built from bluish-gray massive stones, exuding a biting coldness.

Strange runes were carved into the walls, flickering with faint light like ghostly flames, illuminating the maze.

The air was thick with damp decay, nauseating and oppressive.

Treading carefully, Yun Yao’s footsteps clicked against uneven stone slabs, the sound stark in the silent labyrinth.

She tried to memorize her path but soon realized the walls seemed to shift constantly.

Though she was certain she walked in a straight line, she found herself back where she started.

“What’s going on? This labyrinth…” Unease gnawed at her heart.

Drawing a deep breath, she forced herself to remain calm.

She scanned the surroundings, seeking patterns, but aside from the flickering runes and cold stone walls, there was nothing.

Silence engulfed the maze, broken only by her own breathing and heartbeat, amplifying her sense of suffocation and fear.

“Yao’er, where are you?” Jun Mohan’s voice seemed to come from afar, tinged with worry and urgency.

Warmth blossomed in her heart; now isolated and unsupported, she had only herself to rely on.

As Yun Yao fumbled forward, a strange sound shattered the silence.

It resembled a creature’s low growl or the screech of metal scraping—a sharp, grating noise that sent chills down her spine.

The sound drew nearer, her heartbeat quickening in tandem.

Gripping her weapon tightly, she scanned warily, ready to fight at a moment’s notice.

“What is that sound?” she whispered, her steps involuntarily slowing.

The noise grew clearer, closer, as if right beside her ears.

Holding her breath, she felt the air around her freeze.

Suddenly, a shadow emerged ahead—tall and formidable, its form indistinct but radiating a suffocating aura of oppression.

“Who’s there?” Yun Yao shouted fiercely; her voice echoed through the vast labyrinth.

The shadow did not reply but slowly advanced.

Tightening her grip on her weapon, fear and unease surged within her.

She felt like prey trapped in a spider’s web, poised to be swallowed whole.

“Come out!”