The valley stopped breathing.
Wind no longer moved through the trees.
Even the distant cries of spirit beasts had gone silent—as if the entire Fallen Spirit Valley was instinctively retreating from something far older than itself.
At the center of the shattered battlefield, the ancient stone gate stood fully revealed.
Tall.
Massive.
Covered in dark crimson runes that pulsed faintly like a heartbeat.
Each symbol looked alive—twisting, shifting, almost as if they were watching.
Lin Ye stared at it.
"…Yeah, that's definitely not normal."
Beside him, Su Qingyue's gaze remained sharp.
"This ruin… predates the sect."
Wu Shan stepped closer to the gate, his eyes filled with undisguised interest.
"…Ancient demonic architecture."
His voice was quiet.
"Not something you see in a place like this."
Lin Ye raised an eyebrow.
"You sound excited."
Wu Shan smirked.
"I am."
Lin Ye sighed.
"Of course you are."
The ground beneath them trembled again.
A low, ancient rumble echoed from beyond the gate—as if something deep inside had just shifted.
The system flickered violently in Lin Ye's mind.
[Hidden Quest: Enter the Demon Ruins]
[Reward: Unknown]
[Warning: Extreme Danger]
Lin Ye scratched his cheek.
"…You always say that like it's a bad thing."
Su Qingyue turned to him.
"This isn't a game."
Lin Ye met her gaze.
"I know."
For once—
He wasn't joking.
Because the demonic bloodline inside him had begun reacting again.
Not violently.
Not uncontrollably.
But…
Resonating.
Like something inside the ruins was calling to it.
Lin Ye frowned slightly.
"…You feel that?"
Su Qingyue nodded.
"Yes."
Wu Shan's smile widened.
"…Then we're going inside."
Lin Ye crossed his arms.
"Together?"
Wu Shan looked at him.
"For now."
Lin Ye chuckled.
"That sounds like a terrible idea."
Su Qingyue stepped forward.
"We don't have a choice."
She gestured toward the surroundings.
"The valley has already been affected."
Dark energy continued leaking from the gate, spreading across the ground like a creeping shadow.
"If we leave it unchecked…"
"…it will spread."
Lin Ye sighed.
"…Fine."
He looked at Wu Shan.
"But if you try anything—"
Wu Shan interrupted calmly.
"I won't."
Lin Ye raised an eyebrow.
"That's not convincing."
Wu Shan smiled faintly.
"Because killing you later will be more interesting."
Lin Ye laughed.
"…Fair enough."
Su Qingyue didn't find it funny.
"Focus."
She stepped toward the gate first.
The moment she crossed the threshold—
The runes along the stone pillars flared faintly.
Lin Ye followed.
Wu Shan entered last.
Inside the Ruins
Darkness.
Cold.
Ancient.
The moment they stepped inside, the temperature dropped sharply. The air felt heavy, thick with demonic energy.
The stone corridor stretched endlessly forward, lit only by faint red crystals embedded in the walls.
Lin Ye looked around.
"…I hate this place already."
Wu Shan walked calmly beside him.
"You're nervous."
Lin Ye shrugged.
"I prefer 'cautiously handsome.'"
Su Qingyue ignored both of them.
"Stay alert."
Her voice echoed softly through the corridor.
Every step they took seemed to awaken something deeper within the ruins.
The walls were covered in carvings.
Ancient figures.
Battles.
Demons towering over humans.
Lin Ye slowed slightly.
"…That doesn't look promising."
One carving showed a massive figure standing above countless corpses, its body wrapped in swirling blood-like energy.
Its eyes—
Burning red.
Lin Ye's chest tightened.
For a brief moment—
His vision blurred.
The image shifted.
The carved demon seemed to move.
To breathe.
To look directly at him.
Lin Ye stopped.
"…Wait."
Su Qingyue turned instantly.
"What is it?"
Lin Ye blinked.
The carving was normal again.
"…Nothing."
But inside his mind—
The system flashed faintly.
[Bloodline Resonance Detected]
Lin Ye frowned.
"…Yeah."
"Definitely not nothing."
The First Guardian
They hadn't walked far when the ground suddenly trembled again.
A low growl echoed through the corridor.
Wu Shan stopped.
"…Something's coming."
Su Qingyue's hand moved toward her weapon.
"Prepare."
The shadows ahead twisted violently.
Then—
A massive figure stepped out of the darkness.
A humanoid creature.
Three meters tall.
Its body made of dark stone and hardened blood, its eyes glowing with dull crimson light.
A guardian.
Ancient.
Silent.
Watching.
Lin Ye whistled softly.
"…Okay."
"That's new."
The creature raised its arm.
The moment it moved—
The air exploded.
BOOM.
Its fist slammed into the ground where Lin Ye had stood.
Lin Ye vanished instantly.
Blood Shadow Step.
He reappeared behind the creature.
And struck.
THUD.
His fist hit—
And stopped.
Lin Ye blinked.
"…That didn't work."
The guardian didn't even move.
Wu Shan smirked.
"Allow me."
He stepped forward and unleashed a Shadow Crushing Palm.
BOOM.
The impact cracked the guardian's arm slightly.
But it still stood.
Su Qingyue moved next.
Her palm glowed with icy energy.
CRACK.
Frost spread across the creature's chest, slowing its movement.
Lin Ye exhaled slowly.
"…Alright."
"Teamwork."
The guardian roared.
And attacked again.
This time—
Faster.
Stronger.
The battle erupted instantly.
Lin Ye dodged, striking repeatedly with enhanced demonic strength.
Wu Shan attacked from the side, his techniques sharp and precise.
Su Qingyue controlled the battlefield, freezing and restricting the creature's movement.
But even with all three of them—
The guardian didn't fall easily.
Lin Ye jumped back, breathing harder.
"…Why is it so tough?"
Su Qingyue's voice was calm.
"It's not alive."
"It doesn't feel pain."
Wu Shan added,
"And it doesn't stop."
The guardian charged again.
Lin Ye's eyes flashed red.
"…Then we break it."
The demonic bloodline stirred again.
His aura surged slightly.
But this time—
He controlled it.
Focused it.
Compressed it.
Lin Ye stepped forward.
"Move."
Wu Shan raised an eyebrow—
But stepped aside.
Su Qingyue watched closely.
Lin Ye inhaled slowly.
Then—
He moved.
Faster than before.
Stronger than before.
His fist struck the guardian's core.
BOOOOOOM.
Cracks spread across its entire body.
The guardian froze.
Then—
Shattered.
Stone fragments exploded across the corridor.
Silence returned.
Lin Ye exhaled.
"…Okay."
"That worked."
Wu Shan smiled faintly.
"…Interesting."
Su Qingyue watched Lin Ye carefully.
Because this time—
He had used his demonic power.
Without losing control.
Deeper Into the Ruins
The path ahead grew darker.
The air heavier.
And the demonic energy stronger.
Lin Ye walked slightly ahead now, his expression more focused than before.
"…Something's calling me."
Su Qingyue glanced at him.
"I know."
Wu Shan chuckled softly.
"Looks like this place was waiting for you."
Lin Ye didn't respond.
Because deep inside—
He felt it clearly now.
Something ancient.
Something powerful.
Something that knew him.
The corridor finally opened into a massive underground hall.
At the center—
A throne.
Black stone.
Covered in blood-red markings.
And above it—
A floating crystal.
Pulsing.
Alive.
The moment Lin Ye stepped inside—
The entire hall trembled.
The crystal glowed brightly.
And a voice echoed inside his mind.
"You have returned."
Lin Ye froze.
"…What?"
Su Qingyue stepped forward instantly.
"What did you hear?"
Lin Ye stared at the crystal.
"…It spoke."
Wu Shan's eyes narrowed.
"…Interesting."
The voice came again.
Stronger this time.
"Blood of the Sovereign…"
"…You are worthy."
The crystal shattered.
A beam of crimson light shot toward Lin Ye.
Su Qingyue's eyes widened.
"Lin Ye—!"
Too late.
The light engulfed him.
And everything—
Went dark.