Chapter 52: Peril Resurfaces Within the Ruins

Yun Yao held the jade slip, her fingertips still feeling the warm touch lingering upon it, while an ineffable wave of joy surged within her heart.

This was a cultivation technique rarely seen in ancient ruins; with it, her strength would undoubtedly ascend to a whole new level!

However, before she could even begin to savor this joy in detail, a biting, murderous aura enveloped her.

The Black Fiend Sovereign and Fairy Purple Star had returned, their eyes gleaming with greed as they stared fixedly at the jade slip in Yun Yao's grasp, looking as though they wanted to tear her apart and devour her alive.

The surrounding air plummeted in temperature, a chill shooting straight from the soles of her feet to the crown of her head, and Yun Yao could even hear her own rapid heartbeat.

"Little girl, if you know what's good for you, hand over the technique, and this Sovereign might just leave your corpse intact!" The voice of the Black Fiend Sovereign sounded like a roar from the depths of hell, thick with heavy threat.

Demonic energy surged around his body, forming a massive black vortex that seemed intent on swallowing Yun Yao whole.

Yun Yao took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.

She understood that today's matter would not be easily resolved.

Fairy Purple Star stood to the side, the corner of her mouth curling into a cold sneer, her eyes filled with jealousy and malice.

She did not make a move immediately; instead, she waited for the right moment, preparing to reap the benefits while others fought.

The Black Fiend Sovereign launched the attack first. Forming hand seals, his black demonic energy transformed into a gigantic python that bared its bloody fangs and viciously lunged at Yun Yao.

Daring not to be negligent, Yun Yao flicked her figure and narrowly dodged the strike.

The python crashed into the ground with a deafening roar, instantly leaving a massive, deep crater in the earth.

Fairy Purple Star knew well that the Black Fiend Sovereign's demonic arts were notoriously overbearing, difficult for even cultivators of the same rank to withstand.

Yun Yao did not relax in the slightest, knowing this was merely the beginning.

The Black Fiend Sovereign's attacks grew increasingly fierce. Demonic energy churned, forming all sorts of offensive shapes that dazzled the eyes.

Handling the situation with care, Yun Yao relied on her agile footwork and keen perception to neutralize the Black Fiend Sovereign's attacks time and time again.

"This little girl has some skill!" the Black Fiend Sovereign thought to himself, though this did not make him relent; instead, it only ignited his fighting spirit further.

He raised both hands high, condensing the black demonic energy above his head into a massive demonic sphere that radiated a suffocating pressure.

Yun Yao felt an immense weight bear down upon her, as though a towering mountain rested on her shoulders, leaving her gasping for breath.

She knew this was the Black Fiend Sovereign's ultimate move, and its power was not to be underestimated.

Yet she did not retreat, instead...

"Come on!" Yun Yao uttered in a low voice, a dagger flashing with a cold glint suddenly appearing in her hand...

The dagger in Yun Yao's grasp was no ordinary item; it was a spiritual weapon bound to the technique she had just comprehended, named "Dawn-Breaker."

At this moment, infused with spiritual power, Dawn-Breaker emitted a blinding radiance, as if striving to cleave open this dark realm of ruins.

With a soft cry, her figure moved like a streak of lightning, vanishing instantly from where she stood.

The Black Fiend Sovereign felt only a blur before his eyes, followed by a sharp pain radiating from his chest.

Looking down, he saw a dagger deeply piercing his protective demonic barrier, its formidable force battering his internal organs.

"Puff!" A mouthful of blood spewed forth as the Black Fiend Sovereign's massive form staggered backward, leaving a deep footprint in the ground with every step he took.

He stared at Yun Yao in disbelieving shock, his eyes filled with horror and resentment.

Having successfully landed her strike, Yun Yao did not press her advantage. Instead, she withdrew the dagger and coldly watched the battered and disheveled Black Fiend Sovereign.

She could feel the spiritual power surging within her body—the formidable strength bestowed by the cultivation technique, a power that brought her boundless exhilaration.

The corners of her mouth curved slightly upward in a scornful smile.

Seeing the miserable state of the Black Fiend Sovereign, Fairy Purple Star felt her heart skip a beat; she had not expected Yun Yao to be so formidable.

A sense of terror welled up within her, but it was quickly swallowed by jealousy and greed.

Unwilling to give up just yet, she began plotting a new conspiracy in her mind.

"Yun Yao, to swallow the cultivation technique all by yourself is far too selfish, isn't it?" Fairy Purple Star's shrill voice rang out as she attempted to incite the other explorers' resentment toward Yun Yao.

"The treasures of these ancient ruins ought to be shared equally among everyone. By acting this way, aren't you afraid of incurring public wrath?"

The surrounding cultivators exchanged glances, but none of them responded to Fairy Purple Star.

They were not fools; the technique had clearly been won by Yun Yao through her own capability—why should it be shared with them?

Moreover, Fairy Purple Star's intentions were blatantly obvious: she wanted to use the crowd to achieve her own ulterior motives.

"Hah!" Yun Yao sneered coldly, having long since seen through Fairy Purple Star's tricks.

"Instead of sowing discord here, you should consider what you yourself have done." Her gaze was icy, her tone laced with mockery.

"For today's deeds, I will make you pay the price."

Choked by Yun Yao's words, Fairy Purple Star was left speechless, her face turning ashen.

Clenching her teeth tightly, she swore in her heart to make Yun Yao pay dearly.

Suddenly, an inexplicable fluctuation rippled through the ruins, and the surrounding space began to distort, as if something was about to tear the fabric of reality apart.

Feeling this unusual aura, everyone halted their actions and vigilantly surveyed their surroundings.

"Heh heh heh..." A bizarre chuckle echoed from the depths of the space, sounding like a death summons from hell that made one's hair stand on end.

Yun Yao gripped her dagger tighter, an ominous premonition rising in her chest.

"Interesting. It seems this trial will be far more splendid than I imagined," an aged voice reverberated throughout the ruins.

Outside the ruins, Jun Mohan paced back and forth, feeling deeply anxious and unsettled.

He could sense Yun Yao's aura flickering erratically, much like a candle flame swaying in a storm, on the verge of being extinguished at any moment.

Clenching his fists so tightly that the veins on the back of his hands bulged, he prayed incessantly in his heart: "Yun Yao, you must be safe and sound!" His profound eyes were filled with worry, as if trying to pierce through the barriers of the ruins to convey his deep affection to her.

This profound affection transcended the limits of space, transforming into a warm current that flowed into the depths of Yun Yao's heart, granting her a touch of warmth and strength amidst the perilous situation.

Just as Yun Yao and Fairy Purple Star stood in confrontation, an abrupt transformation occurred within the ruins.

The ground began to vibrate violently, and eerie runes emerged upon the stone walls, radiating a dazzling brilliance.

As though imbued with life, these runes began to drift and combine, ultimately forming barriers of light that shot directly toward everyone.

Alarm bells rang wildly in Yun Yao's heart; she attempted to dodge, but it was already too late.

A beam of barrier light struck her shoulder, the intense pain forcing a muffled groan from her lips.

Staggering backward a few steps, she covered her wound with her hand as fresh blood seeped between her fingers, staining her garments crimson.

The piercing pain served as a stark awakening: within these ancient ruins, danger lurked everywhere, and the slightest carelessness would cost one's life.

She needed to find a way out as quickly as possible; otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginably dire.

Enduring the pain, Yun Yao raised her head and scanned her surroundings.

She discovered that some strange runes had appeared on the walls of the ruins.

Unlike the restrictive runes that had attacked them earlier, these emitted a faint golden glow, seeming to conceal a certain secret.

A thought stirred in Yun Yao's mind, a premonition telling her that these runes might well be the key to leaving the ruins.

She wanted to step forward and examine them, yet hesitated.

The ruins were fraught with peril, and no one could predict what would happen next.

Were these runes a gateway to survival, or merely another fatal trap?

"Yun Yao, watch out!" Qingfeng's voice suddenly rang out, shattering the silence of the ruins.

Pointing behind Yun Yao with a pale face...

Yun Yao whipped her head around...