As they moved closer, the outline of a large structure appeared behind the vines and trees. What they found was a weathered stone wall, cracked and partially collapsed, enclosing what looked to be the remains of a shrine or temple.

The outer wall stretched in a rough circle, enclosing a wide area within.

Half of it had crumbled into rubble, and thick vines had grown over the stones, merging with the structure in strange harmony. Wildflowers had taken root in the gaps, their delicate petals swaying faintly in the illusionary breeze.

"Be on your guard," Wu Shuan whispered, scanning the surroundings with narrowed eyes. "This kind of place often hides snakes or burrowing beasts."

The others nodded.

They spread out, each releasing a thread of their spiritual sense to probe the area. Minutes passed in silence. Other than the faint hum of natural Qi, they sensed nothing; no beasts, no human presence, not even the faint signature of traps or formations still active.

"It's empty," Yuan Ping finally said, relaxing his stance. "No life signs anywhere near."

Han Yu exhaled slowly. "Good. Let's move in."

They stepped through a wide gap in the ruined wall and entered the boundary of the old shrine.

Inside, the air felt heavier, as though burdened by the weight of forgotten years.

The ground was uneven and overgrown, patches of grass swallowing the ancient flagstones of what once must have been a plaza. Faint outlines of pathways could still be seen leading toward the heart of the structure, where a broken staircase rose to the main hall.

The hall itself was a ruin.

Its roof had long since collapsed, leaving only fragments of wooden beams, rock ceiling and clay tiles scattered across the mossy floor. The once-sacred statue that might have stood at its center was gone, its pedestal empty and cracked. The walls were blackened, as though scorched by fire or the passage of time.

Wu Shuan looked around skeptically. "This place looks worse than I expected. Are we sure this is worth our time?"

Yuan Ping shrugged. "The scout records did say this site was less preserved than others. But who knows? Maybe something valuable is buried under all this."

Another disciple sighed. "If even the statue is gone, I doubt we'll find anything good here. The shrine the Core Court, seniors explored yesterday was said to have been half intact. This looks like it will crumble if we touch it."

Han Yu glanced at them and offered a small nod. "Perhaps. But even if it's old, there might still be remnants hidden below the surface. Artifacts, fragments of formation stones, or spirit inscriptions buried under the rubble. Time doesn't always erase everything. Spread out and check the area carefully. If you find anything strange, call out."

The group split into smaller pairs, each moving in different directions.

Han Yu stayed near the center, observing the broken shrine closely. His eyes moved over the fallen beams and shattered stones, searching for patterns or traces of Qi that might reveal hidden mechanisms.

With his trained perception, he could occasionally detect faint remnants of spiritual energy still clinging to some of the stones—evidence that formations had once existed here.

Kneeling, he brushed aside a patch of moss from a cracked tile. The faint lines of a formation array flickered briefly before fading again, as if reluctant to reveal themselves.

"So there was an array here once," Han Yu murmured softly. "But it's long gone now."

He continued checking the area, walking around the perimeter of the hall.

Each step was careful, each motion deliberate. Though it looked harmless, he had learned enough from the tomb and its complexes, that appearances could be deceiving. And since they were in the inner realm, it could be even more dangerous.

There were places where the illusions were so subtle that even an experienced cultivator could walk into danger without realizing it until it was too late.

And just as he reached the far corner of the structure, he felt the faint vibration of something against his waist.

Han Yu froze for an instant.

It was his High Grade communication jade slip—the one specifically linked to Meng Jueyan. No other disciple could reach him through it.

He straightened slightly, his gaze sweeping across the ruins to ensure no one was watching.

The others were scattered across the site, busy checking rubble and walls. Even Wu Shuan, who usually noticed subtle movements, was several dozen meters away, inspecting a fallen pillar with Yuan Ping.

Feigning casual motion, Han Yu crouched again and pretended to examine the corner of the ruined wall. His fingers brushed over the jade slip, activating it quietly with a thread of spiritual energy.

The familiar light blue glow flickered across the surface of the jade, and words began forming in his mind.

It was indeed Meng Jueyan.

'Finally...' Han Yu's heart steadied as he focused on the message.

He had been trying to reach since they entered the inner realm, but communication had been impossible due to the unstable Qi currents of the inner realm. Now finally, the interference seemed weaker, allowing the signal to pass through.

Her message came in segments, likely transmitted over several attempts.

[Han Yu... something is wrong.]

[Our group... has been moved under... Elder Wei's faction's orders. They claim we are to scout... deeper into the inner realm, but I believe... we are being used as bait.]

Han Yu's expression darkened slightly. His fingers tightened around the jade slip.

[At first, we thought it was just a shared exploration,] the next line read, the connection getting a bit more stable [but several of our members stopped replying.... to messages soon after separating. I tried reaching them again, but there was no response. The others think it's interference, but I'm not so sure anymore.]

Han Yu's eyes narrowed. Meng Jueyan was not the type to panic without reason. If she suspected foul play, there was likely truth to it.

He tapped the slip lightly, sending his own response through.

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.