Chapter Seventy: Peril and Opportunity Alike

Page 1/3

Within the mist, a sound like the cracking of stone wall was hidden in the air, barely perceptible. Yet even so, Yun Yi caught the faint noise. This was the Forbidden Zone, where the slightest rustle could warn of impending danger. Yun Yi’s expression was grave, not allowing herself to relax as completely as Shen Wan and Gu Zhiping had. “Did you… hear that?” she asked in a low voice, barely loud enough for the three of them to catch.

Shen Wan, having just eased his nerves a little, listened earnestly and peered into the mist. But he heard nothing. Gu Zhiping shrugged, thinking Yun Yi was simply too tense—though they were inside the Forbidden Zone, it was only the edge, not enough for catastrophe to strike at once.

Something caught Gu Zhiping’s eye; he uttered a brief sound of surprise and then looked up, asking, “Hey? What’s that?” Following his gaze, the other two raised their heads. They saw a beam of light cutting across above them, piercing into the mist behind.

“What is…” Yun Yi’s face filled with shock, murmuring as if she’d suddenly realized something. She turned sharply. “The gate of the ruins… has opened?” As the daughter of the Valley Ghost Sect’s leader, she knew a little about these matters. Coupled with the faint noise, it became clear that her guess was correct.

“The gate? What gate?” Gu Zhiping got up and moved beside Yun Yi, squinting theatrically to try to make out the scene within the mist—but saw nothing.

Yun Yi was about to explain when suddenly, from beyond the mist behind them, came the sound of a chaotic rush of footsteps. “This is bad, someone’s coming!” The footsteps were loud; Shen Wan heard them too, quickly getting to his feet and moving beside the other two in just a couple strides.

“What’s going on? Isn’t this the Forbidden Zone? Are they so desperate to find me they’d risk their lives?” Shen Wan was bewildered, but Yun Yi frowned and said, “They’re not here for you.” With that, she turned again to look at the column of light in the sky. “Such a great opportunity—someone will surely risk everything for it.”

The mention of opportunity made Gu Zhiping’s eyes light up. He eagerly rubbed his hands, wanting to ask more, but Yun Yi had no time to explain. She tugged at their sleeves and urged them, “Hurry, if we wait any longer they’ll spot us.”

Page 2/3

They rushed off before the pursuing crowd could catch sight of them. Shen Wan had already prepared himself for this—a sense of urgency sharper than either of his companions’—and would have fled without Yun Yi’s prompt. Gu Zhiping, his thoughts wholly fixated on the word “opportunity,” followed without hesitation as soon as he saw the others move.

As they stepped back into the mist, their forms faded, and soon several figures appeared behind them. The numbers grew rapidly—soon there were thousands. The tens of thousands of sect disciples who had originally blocked the edge of the Forbidden Zone had given up pursuit, but when they saw the beam of light shooting down from the sky, some immediately changed their minds.

The phenomenon caused by all eight towers of the Sky Tower shining together was extraordinary. Though none knew exactly where the beam pointed, it was certain that immense fortune lay there. Danger and opportunity coexisted; challenge and hope were intertwined. No true strong cultivator ever clung too tightly to life—without facing death a few times, one could never reach the heights.

Thus, thousands rushed in individually, ignoring whether there was a leader, plunging straight into the Forbidden Zone. Seeing others take the lead, those who had hesitated before now feared missing their chance and followed swiftly, leaping into the mist. So, while the majority still lingered outside, at least thousands had entered the Forbidden Zone.

Meanwhile, Wu Xi and the other disciples of the Debt Profound Sect finally reached the entrance to the ancient ruins, the pursuit behind them faintly visible. “Remember, don’t breathe a word of this. Notify the Grand Elder as soon as we get out, understand?” Wu Xi said sternly, and the disciples nodded gravely before stepping through the curtain of light, leaving the Burial Grounds behind.

As long as they left this place, their lives would at least be safe. But the situation was serious, and how things would develop next was beyond Wu Xi’s control. He exhaled deeply, preparing to return, for his young uncle was still inside the ruins.

But as he turned, something felt amiss. He counted those who had left, and the numbers didn’t match. “Where’s Lin Bufan?” His heart paused, then he realized—not only Lin Bufan, but also Zhu Qianqing, Han Yuechan, and Zhao Dongsheng were missing.

Wu Xi frowned deeply. These people were closely connected to his uncle, so they must have slipped away to find him. But what of Zhao Dongsheng? Wasn’t he from the Seal Array Pavilion? What business did he have here?

Wu Xi rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache coming on. At last, he gritted his teeth and vanished from the spot.

The thick mist swirled, visibility less than a meter. Shen Wan and his companions quickened their pace, angling their path to maximize distance from their pursuers. The footsteps behind grew fainter; it seemed no one was chasing in their direction, granting them a moment to catch their breath. The mist gradually dissipated; in less than half an hour, they emerged from the dense fog, and a shadowy canyon came into view.

Page 3/3

The mournful echoes reverberated through the canyon, setting their nerves on edge. Shen Wan watched their surroundings warily, anxious that something strange might leap out at any moment. Yun Yi and Gu Zhiping spread their spiritual senses, ensuring the area was safe as far as they could detect.

“Where do we go now?” Gu Zhiping asked quietly, glancing up—the beam of light was gone. Yun Yi carefully surveyed the terrain: broken stones, tangled forest, several branching valley mouths, none giving a clear indication of the right path.

“We can’t go that way. Let’s take this route,” she said, fearing they might run into the pursuers on the other side. So they continued to search along a diagonal fork.

Shen Wan had no intention of seeking any fortune. Seeing the others ready to press on, he protested, “We’ve avoided those people. Why don’t we just turn back later?”

“No,” the two replied in unison.

Gu Zhiping was the first to oppose leaving. He was the type who couldn’t let a good opportunity slip away—fortune was right before them; none could leave it behind. As for Shen Wan, it was even less likely; his very presence seemed to attract wealth and benefit wherever he went.

Gu Zhiping hurried forward, wrapping his arm around Shen Wan’s neck, afraid he might bolt at any moment.

Yun Yi was not as greedy as Gu Zhiping. The ancient ruins had been controlled by the Valley Ghost Sect for a thousand years, and the entire sect had long been striving to open its gates. Yun Yi loved exploration—not for fortune, but to seek the underground Golden Mulberry Forest. So now, with the gate finally open, there was no way she would abandon it.

Thus, with the two flanking him, ‘kidnapping’ Shen Wan, they randomly chose a valley fork on the diagonal side and slipped inside.

Shen Wan was on the verge of tears. He realized at last—whenever he fell in with these two, nothing good ever happened.

After a day of struggle, dusk fell once more. Points of starlight appeared overhead, scattered clouds taking on a chilling cast in the starlight. The shadowy canyon, like the maw of a ferocious beast, seemed to promise that once entered, there would be no return.