From the fake emperor to the concubine

Zheng Hongzhi nodded and said, "Indeed. Moreover, I noticed that when he was mediating the fight, although both sides outwardly gave him face, there was a hint of fear in their eyes. This shows that the Ning family's methods are truly frightening."

Xiao Tianxing added, "The Ning family's reputation in the Xuan Tian Domain isn't actually that good. On the surface, they maintain order, but in reality, they've done a lot of dirty work. Many smaller forces have been secretly absorbed by them, using extremely ruthless methods. But because they are powerful and adept at disguise, everyone dares not speak out against them."

“Such a family…” Zheng Yi frowned. “This exploration of the ruins is probably not as simple as it seems.”

Liu Ruyan added, "It's not just the Ning family. I've observed that all the major forces present have their own hidden agendas. On the surface, everyone is coexisting peacefully, but undercurrents are surging. Once inside the ruins, conflicts will inevitably erupt in the struggle for the treasures."

“Moreover,” she lowered her voice, “I’ve heard that some forces have secretly formed an alliance. They plan to join forces to eliminate the rogue cultivators and smaller factions after entering the ruins, and then divide the treasures among themselves.”

Zheng Yi's eyes sharpened: "An alliance? Which forces?"

“I’m not sure of the specifics, but the Ning family is definitely one of them,” Liu Ruyan said. “There are also the Zhao family, the Bai family, and the Lin family; these families have always had close ties. They are very likely to join forces.”

Zheng Bowen asked worriedly, "Wouldn't we be in great danger?"

“Indeed,” Liu Ruyan nodded. “But fortunately, my Liu family is not to be trifled with. I have already notified the clan, and reinforcements will be coming. Until then, we must proceed with caution.”

Zheng Yi pondered for a moment and said, "Miss Ruyan, what do you think is the real purpose of these family alliances? Is it merely to eliminate competitors?"

“There should be more,” Liu Ruyan said. “From what I understand, the patriarchs of these families are all in seclusion, attempting to break through to the Mahayana stage. If there are any opportunities for breakthroughs in the ruins, they will definitely want to claim them all for themselves. That’s why they’ve joined forces to exclude everyone else.”

"I see." Zheng Yi understood. "In other words, this exploration of the ruins was unfair from the very beginning. Those powerful families had already made preparations in secret, and we outsiders were nothing more than lambs to the slaughter in their eyes."

"You could say that," Liu Ruyan said with a wry smile. "That's how the cultivation world is: the strong are respected, and the weak are preyed upon. Without strength, you can only be slaughtered."

Zheng Yi didn't speak, but his eyes became deep.

He finally understood why Ning Zhiyuan had taken the initiative to mediate the conflict. On the surface, it was to maintain order and demonstrate the Ning family's magnanimity. But in reality, he was declaring to everyone: here, the Ning family is in charge.

Those smaller factions that were mediated, while outwardly grateful to Ning Zhiyuan, have actually been labeled as "easy targets." Once inside the ruins, they will be among the first to be eliminated.

This is a meticulously planned scheme.

The Ning family and other powerful clans had already planned everything meticulously. They used the ruins as bait to lure a large number of cultivators. Then, within the ruins, they used the terrain and their numerical advantage to gradually eliminate these "intruders." Finally, they calmly divided the treasures among themselves.

As for the cultivators who died in the ruins, they would say it was because they "accidentally triggered a restriction" or "encountered a demonic beast." Since there was no way to prove it, no one could cause them any trouble.

"What ruthless methods," Zheng Yi thought to himself.

"Fellow Daoist Zheng, what are you thinking about?" Liu Ruyan asked.

“I’m thinking,” Zheng Yi said slowly, “this trip to the ruins is far more complicated than I imagined. On the surface, it’s a treasure hunt and adventure, but in reality, it’s a power game. Those powerful families want to use this opportunity to eliminate dissidents and consolidate their power.”

Liu Ruyan was taken aback, then her eyes revealed admiration: "Fellow Daoist Zheng is indeed wise. You are right, this is the survival rule of the Xuan Tian Domain. Large families control resources and opportunities, while small forces and rogue cultivators can only survive in the cracks."

"However," Zheng Yi changed the subject, "their wishful thinking may not necessarily succeed."

"What do you mean?" Liu Ruyan asked curiously.

Zheng Yi smiled. "The ruins are the cave dwellings of a Mahayana stage senior; they must contain powerful restrictions and dangers. Those powerful families think they can control everything, but they forget that before absolute power, any scheming is futile."

“Furthermore,” he added, “they underestimate cultivators from other realms. Those who dare to explore the ruins in the Xuan Tian Domain are no ordinary individuals. The outcome is still uncertain.”

Upon hearing this, Liu Ruyan's eyes gleamed with admiration. She realized that this Fellow Daoist Zheng was becoming increasingly mysterious. On the surface, he was merely a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, but both his strength and knowledge far surpassed those of his peers.

"So, what does Fellow Daoist Zheng plan to do?" she asked.

"We'll remain unchanged amidst all changes," Zheng Yi said. "We'll enter the ruins first and act according to the situation. If those powerful families don't provoke us, we won't bother them. But if they're courting death, I don't mind teaching them a lesson."

These words were spoken casually, yet they exuded a powerful sense of confidence.

Liu Ruyan's heart skipped a beat. She suddenly recalled the scene of Zheng Yi defeating Zhao Lingyun. That composure, that overwhelming strength, was something that a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator could never achieve.

"Fellow Daoist Zheng," she asked tentatively, "is your true cultivation level...?"

Zheng Yi glanced at her, then smiled without saying a word.

Liu Ruyan understood; this was a deliberate choice not to reveal the truth. She tactfully refrained from pressing for details, but her curiosity only grew. Just how powerful was this cultivator from another realm?
Just as they were talking, the runes on the stone gate suddenly lit up.

"It's about to start!" someone exclaimed.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared intently at the massive stone gate.

One by one, the runes on the stone gate lit up, shining like stars. When all the runes were lit, the stone gate let out a rumble and slowly opened a crack.

An ancient and mysterious aura emanated from the crack, making everyone's heart tremble.

"The ruins have been opened!"

"Go inside quickly!"

The cultivators rushed forward, jostling each other to reach the stone gate.

But just then, Ning Zhiyuan's voice rang out: "Everyone, please wait a moment!"

Everyone stopped and looked at Ning Zhiyuan.

Ning Zhiyuan walked to the stone gate and said with a smile, "Gentlemen, the ruins have been opened, but they are fraught with danger inside. For everyone's safety, I suggest we establish some rules first."

"What are the rules?" someone asked.

"It's very simple," Ning Zhiyuan said. "First, once inside the ruins, everyone should rely on their own abilities to find treasure, but no one should kill each other. Second, if a large treasure is discovered, everyone present should discuss how to distribute it, rather than one person keeping it all for themselves. Third, when encountering danger, everyone should help each other and work together to cope."

These three rules sound reasonable, and many people nodded in agreement.

But Zheng Yi just sneered.

"What's wrong?" Liu Ruyan asked in a low voice. "These rules are all tailor-made for large families," Zheng Yi said. "The first rule, no killing each other, seems fair, but in reality, it restricts the resistance of rogue cultivators and small forces. The second rule, large treasures are to be shared, meaning that large families can use their numbers to forcibly divide the treasures. The third rule, mutual assistance, is basically making rogue cultivators work for large families."

Upon reflection, Liu Ruyan realized that was indeed the case. A hint of disgust crept into her gaze as she looked at Ning Zhiyuan.

“However,” Zheng Yi added, “these rules aren’t necessarily a bad thing for us. At least on the surface, they don’t dare to act openly. We have a layer of protection.”

"What if they do something underhanded?" Zheng Hongzhi asked worriedly.

"Then let them taste the bitterness of being attacked from behind," Zheng Yi said calmly.

Seeing that no one objected, Ning Zhiyuan nodded in satisfaction: "Alright, it's settled then. Now, everyone can enter the ruins. Good luck."

After he finished speaking, he led his men through the stone gate.

Other forces followed suit, and soon, the number of cultivators on the plains was reduced by more than half.

“Let’s go too,” Zheng Yi said.

The group of seven walked toward the stone gate. As they stepped through the crevice, a powerful spatial force swept over them, instantly blurring their vision.

When I opened my eyes again, the scene before me was completely different.

This is a vast underground space, hundreds of feet high and incredibly wide. The floor is made of smooth stone slabs, and the walls are inlaid with luminous gems, illuminating the entire space.

Deep within the space, several passages lead in different directions.

The passageway was dimly lit, and a musty smell filled the air. Zheng Yi walked at the front, his divine sense constantly scanning his surroundings.

"Master, which passage should we choose?" Zheng Bowen asked.

Zheng Yi carefully sensed the surroundings and pointed to the third passage on the left: "That one. I sense fluctuations of spacetime power over there, possibly related to the legacy of the ruins' owner."

Liu Ruyan nodded: "I trust Fellow Daoist Zheng's judgment."

The group entered the passage. The passage wound its way down into the depths of the earth. Ancient runes were carved into the walls, emitting a faint glow that barely illuminated their path.

After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the passage suddenly widened. Zheng Yi stopped, his expression turning serious.

"Be careful, there's a barrier ahead," he whispered.

Zheng Hongzhi immediately stepped forward and examined it carefully. He was a master of formations and had studied various restrictions. After a moment, he said, "This is an illusion formation, specifically designed to confuse those who enter. However, it's not very sophisticated. Give me a quarter of an hour, and I can break it."

“No need,” Zheng Yi said. He raised his hand and waved it, and a powerful force of spacetime swept out, instantly melting and dissipating the illusion array like ice and snow.

Zheng Hongzhi exclaimed in amazement, "The patriarch's supernatural abilities are truly unfathomable!"

After breaking the illusion array, the group continued forward. The passage widened until it suddenly opened up, revealing a vast space.

But the scene before them stunned everyone.

This wasn't an underground cave, but a desolate wasteland. The sky was overcast, obscuring the sun, moon, and stars, yet the light was abundant. The ground was composed of reddish-brown rocks and sand, with a few strange plants growing sparsely. In the distance were rolling mountain ranges, while closer at hand were jagged, grotesque rocks.

"This...this is an independent space?" Xiao Tianxing exclaimed in shock.

“Indeed,” Zheng Yi nodded. “The methods of a Mahayana stage senior are capable of creating an independent small world. This wilderness should be the trial ground created by the owner of the ruins.”

Liu Ruyan looked around and said, "It seems that each passage leads to a different space. Ours seems to be the most dangerous one."

"Danger often comes with opportunity," Zheng Yi said calmly. "Let's go in and take a look."

The seven people cautiously entered the wilderness. The sand beneath their feet was soft, leaving deep footprints with each step. The air was filled with the unpleasant smell of sulfur.

After walking about half a mile, Zheng Yi suddenly stopped.

“There’s a fight going on up ahead,” he said.

Everyone immediately became alert. Sure enough, the sounds of fierce fighting, screams, and roars could be heard in the distance.

"Let's go take a look," Zheng Yi said, leading the way in the direction from which the sound came.

After rounding a group of strange rocks, a brutal battle scene came into view.

A group of cultivators were besieging a gigantic demonic beast. The beast resembled a scorpion, but was enormous, measuring three zhang long and two zhang tall. Its entire body was covered in jet-black carapace, gleaming with a metallic sheen. Most terrifying of all was its tail, at the tip of which was a thick, poisonous stinger, glowing with an eerie green light—clearly, it was extremely venomous.

"It's a Black Xuan Poison Scorpion!" Xiao Tianxing exclaimed. "This kind of demonic beast is extremely ferocious, and its venom is terrifying; even a Nascent Soul stage cultivator could die from a single sting!"

There were about a dozen cultivators besieging the scorpion, and judging from their clothing, they should be from the same family. The leader was a middle-aged man in his fifties with a cultivation level of late-stage Nascent Soul, who was directing the attack.

But the battle was going against them. The scorpion's defenses were extremely strong; their attacks only produced sparks and couldn't penetrate its defenses. On the contrary, the scorpion's counterattacks were incredibly fierce. A single swing of its massive pincers could send a Nascent Soul cultivator flying, their fate unknown. Even more terrifying was its venomous tail, moving with lightning speed. Two cultivators had already been stung, collapsing to the ground, their bodies turning black, lifeless.

"Clan leader, we can't hold them off!" a cultivator cried out in terror.

"Retreat! Retreat now!" the middle-aged man ordered through gritted teeth.

But it was too late. The scorpion seemed to have read their intentions, suddenly accelerating, its six legs moving swiftly to block their retreat. Its venomous tail rose high, aimed at the middle-aged man.

Just as the middle-aged man was about to be pierced by the poisonous tail, a sword light suddenly flew from the side and accurately struck the poisonous tail.

Keng——

A metallic clang rang out, and the venomous tail was jolted off course, narrowly grazing the middle-aged man's shoulder.

The middle-aged man was shocked and turned around to see seven figures rushing towards him.

"Thank you so much for saving my life, fellow Daoist!" he quickly expressed his gratitude. (End of Chapter)