The atmosphere inside the Wind Spirit Ruins suddenly became heavy.
After killing Guo Han and his group, the treasure hall had returned to silence. The corpses of the defeated cultivators lay scattered across the stone floor.
But Fan Lin's attention was fixed on the glowing red warning panel inside his mind.
SYSTEM ALERT
Powerful Demon Beast Approaching
Distance: 2.6 km
Realm: Spirit Warrior Realm
Danger Level: Extreme
Fan Lin exhaled slowly.
"So it's really coming."
Beside him, Lin Yueqing had also sensed the terrifying aura approaching from outside the ruins.
Her beautiful face became serious.
"A Spirit Warrior beast is not something we can easily fight."
Fan Lin nodded.
Although he had just broken through to Body Tempering Level 9, the difference between Body Tempering and Spirit Warrior was enormous.
A Spirit Warrior cultivator could already manipulate true spiritual energy.
That level of strength could easily kill dozens of Body Tempering experts.
But before they could discuss their next move—
A deafening roar echoed through the ruins.
ROOOOOAR!
The entire underground hall trembled.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Lin Yueqing's eyes narrowed.
"It's already here."
BOOM!
The entrance to the hall exploded.
Broken stones scattered everywhere.
A massive creature walked through the ruined doorway.
Fan Lin felt his heart skip a beat.
The beast was enormous.
Nearly four meters long.
Its body was covered in dark purple scales that reflected the torchlight.
Two massive horns curved from its head.
And behind it swayed a long armored tail.
The system panel appeared instantly.
Dark Horned Serpent Beast
Realm: Spirit Warrior Level 1
Type: Earth Attribute Demon Beast
EXP Reward: 1000
SP Reward: 100
Core Probability: Very High
Danger Level: Extreme
Fan Lin swallowed slowly.
"That's… a lot of EXP."
Lin Yueqing almost laughed.
"You're thinking about experience at a time like this?"
Fan Lin shrugged.
"If we survive, it's worth it."
The serpent beast's glowing yellow eyes locked onto them.
It sniffed the air.
Then it noticed the corpse of the Wind Spirit Guardian Beast lying nearby.
The creature roared furiously.
Clearly, it had come to claim the ruins' treasure.
Now it saw two humans instead.
ROAR!
The serpent charged forward.
Its enormous body smashed through stone pillars like paper.
Fan Lin quickly pushed Lin Yueqing aside.
"Move!"
The beast's claws slammed into the ground where they had been standing.
BOOM!
The floor cracked.
Fan Lin rolled across the ground and quickly drew his Wind Spirit Jade Sword.
"This thing is way stronger than before."
Lin Yueqing raised her sword.
"Then we attack together."
The serpent struck again.
Its tail whipped through the air like a giant hammer.
Fan Lin jumped onto a broken pillar.
The tail smashed the pillar instantly.
Stone fragments exploded everywhere.
Fan Lin seized the moment.
"Wind Shadow Strike!"
His body moved like a gust of wind.
SLASH!
The jade sword struck the serpent's scales.
CLANG!
Sparks flew.
Fan Lin's expression changed.
"Those scales are tough."
Lin Yueqing attacked immediately afterward.
Her sword glowed with cold light.
"Frost Moon Strike!"
SLASH!
Her blade struck the beast's neck.
But the wound was shallow.
The serpent roared and released a shockwave of spiritual energy.
BOOM!
Both Fan Lin and Lin Yueqing were thrown backward.
Fan Lin crashed into a stone wall.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
"Now that… hurts."
The serpent raised its head proudly.
Its powerful aura filled the entire hall.
Fan Lin wiped the blood from his lips.
"This gap in strength is ridiculous."
Lin Yueqing frowned slightly.
"If we fight directly, we might lose."
Fan Lin thought quickly.
Then his eyes lit up.
"The ruins."
Lin Yueqing blinked.
"What?"
Fan Lin pointed at the cracked ceiling above the hall.
"This place is unstable after all the fighting."
"If we bring the ceiling down…"
Lin Yueqing understood instantly.
"You want to bury it?"
Fan Lin grinned.
"Exactly."
The serpent roared again and charged.
Fan Lin ran toward the center of the hall.
The beast chased him furiously.
Lin Yueqing quickly jumped onto the highest pillar.
She focused her spiritual energy into her sword.
Fan Lin shouted—
"Now!"
Lin Yueqing slashed upward with all her strength.
"Frost Moon Sky Slash!"
A powerful sword beam struck the ceiling.
CRACK!
Huge cracks spread across the stone roof.
The serpent suddenly sensed danger.
But it was too late.
Fan Lin jumped backward.
"Get down!"
BOOOOM!
The entire ceiling collapsed.
Massive rocks crashed onto the serpent beast.
Dust filled the hall.
The ground trembled violently.
For several seconds, everything was silent.
Fan Lin slowly stood up.
"Did it work?"
Suddenly—
ROAR!
A furious roar erupted from the rubble.
The serpent burst out from the broken stones.
But now it was severely injured.
One of its horns had snapped.
Blood covered its scales.
Fan Lin grinned.
"Now we can finish it."
Lin Yueqing nodded.
They attacked together again.
Fan Lin moved like wind.
Lin Yueqing moved like moonlight.
Their swords struck simultaneously.
SLASH!
SLASH!
The serpent roared desperately.
But its injuries had weakened it greatly.
Finally—
Fan Lin jumped high into the air.
He gathered all his strength.
"Wind Shadow Final Strike!"
The jade sword flashed like lightning.
CRACK!
The blade pierced through the serpent's skull.
The massive beast collapsed heavily.
Silence filled the ruins again.
Then the system voice echoed loudly.
DING
Spirit Warrior Beast defeated
EXP +1000
SP +100
The system panel exploded with light.
EXP: 1450 / 1200
LEVEL UP!
Realm: Spirit Warrior Level 1
Strength: 50
Agility: 46
Spirit: 40
Fan Lin felt an entirely new power surge through his body.
Warm spiritual energy flowed through his meridians.
For the first time—
He had entered the Spirit Warrior Realm.
Fan Lin laughed loudly.
"So this is real spiritual energy."
Lin Yueqing stared at him in disbelief.
"You… broke through again?"
Fan Lin shrugged casually.
"Lucky night."
But deep inside the ruins—
Another ancient mechanism suddenly activated.
The ground began shaking again.
A hidden chamber slowly opened beneath the fallen serpent.
Golden light spilled from within.
Lin Yueqing's eyes widened.
"That must be the true legacy chamber of the Wind Spirit Martial Artist."
Fan Lin smiled widely.
"Then let's see what real treasure looks like."
The two of them walked toward the glowing chamber.
Unaware that this discovery would soon change their destinies forever.