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Wang Quan felt both nervous and excited as he embarked on his journey to the Yunlan Mountain ruins. He knew that this expedition would be a major test in his cultivation path. Danger and opportunity coexisted, and if successful, he would not only obtain the resources needed for his Foundation Establishment but also lay a solid foundation for his future cultivation.

With ample medicinal pills, spiritual materials, and basic provisions in his storage bag, Wang Quan set off from Yunxiao Sect. As he walked, he recalled Senior Brother Qinghuang's advice.

"Junior Brother, remember, do not rush. This ruin is full of dangers, and with the evil spirits roaming, you must be extra cautious. If you encounter an enemy you cannot defeat, retreat immediately—keeping your life is the most important."

These words echoed in Wang Quan's mind. He was aware that while he had reached the eighth level of Qi Refining, he was still somewhat inexperienced when facing terrifying evil spirits or unknown enemies. Yet, he had already made up his mind: this adventure would not be in vain.

Yunlan Mountain, the headquarters of Yunlan Sect, the superior sect of Yunxiao Sect, was hundreds of miles away. The Yunlan mountain range stretched for thousands of miles, majestic and awe-inspiring, and was filled with countless ancient secrets and perilous forbidden areas.

Along the way, Wang Quan encountered numerous cultivators from various sects. Most of them had come to either seek refuge or explore the ruins. With the evil spirits expanding their activity, cultivators had begun gathering in the area, searching for treasures while also avoiding attacks from the spirits.

As Wang Quan reached the outskirts of Yunlan Mountain, he began to feel the cold, oppressive atmosphere. This aura was unmistakably the presence of evil spirits. Even though this was the outer region of the mountain, the evil spirits had already begun to invade. Wang Quan knew that the closer he got to the ruins, the more powerful and numerous the evil spirits would become.

As night fell, Wang Quan found a hidden cave to rest in and restore his spiritual energy. After several days of travel, he was nearing the location of the ruins.

The next morning, Wang Quan packed his belongings and continued deeper into Yunlan Mountain. The terrain became increasingly treacherous, the mountains steep, and a chilling wind howled through the peaks, filling the air with unease. By this point, Wang Quan could feel the intense pressure—this was the aura of high-level evil spirits.

"It seems the ruins are nearby..." Wang Quan thought. He knew that the ruins would be filled with formations and traps, and the presence of evil spirits would only complicate matters.

Finally, Wang Quan arrived at a sheer cliff. The terrain was treacherous, and a thin mist hung over the cliff, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura.

He retrieved a formation-breaking talisman from his storage bag—something he had prepared in advance. Wang Quan carefully activated the talisman and sent it toward the cliff. The talisman burst into a blue light, triggering the hidden formation surrounding the cliff.

Boom!

With a low rumble, the cliff slowly split open, revealing a narrow passage leading into the mountain. The entrance was surrounded by a dense layer of spiritual energy, almost as if it were beckoning Wang Quan to enter.

"So, this is the entrance to the ruins..."

Wang Quan's heart tightened, and he took a deep breath before stepping into the passage. The interior was pitch black, with only a faint glow from the spiritual light stone he held guiding his way. As he ventured deeper, the spiritual energy grew thicker, but at the same time, the chilling aura around him intensified.

Upon entering the ruins, Wang Quan immediately noticed something unusual.

The stone walls were covered in ancient runes, glowing faintly as if maintaining some kind of ancient seal. Scattered on the ground were the skeletal remains of several cultivators, clearly the remnants of those who had failed in their explorations. The sight was alarming.

Wang Quan's heart tightened with caution. "It seems most who came before did not leave alive."

He continued onward, passing several branching paths before arriving in a large, open hall. At the center of the hall hovered a massive glowing orb, while dozens of statues stood around it. These statues, armed with weapons, were lifelike, as if they could awaken at any moment.

"Traps?" Wang Quan's eyes narrowed, realizing that these statues were likely part of a defensive formation and could spring into action if triggered.

He halted, carefully studying the layout of the formation. The setup was intricate—one wrong move, and he would be trapped in a deadly assault.

"It looks like I need to find the control mechanism for this formation..."

Just as Wang Quan was about to bypass the formation, a cold aura suddenly swept through the hall. Turning his head, he spotted several dark shadows rapidly approaching from a distant corridor.

"Evil spirits!"

His expression darkened as he recognized the approaching figures as wandering evil spirits. These spirits, having sensed Wang Quan's presence, surged toward him with terrifying speed. Their bodies radiated powerful Yin energy, far more ferocious than the ones he had encountered before.

Wang Quan didn't hesitate, immediately channeling his spiritual energy. The fire element of his Five Elements Technique surged into his sword, which burst into flames as he slashed at the approaching spirits.

Boom!

The fiery sword energy clashed with the evil spirits, creating a violent explosion of flames. Although the fire was fierce, the evil spirits were unusually resilient—they seemed unafraid of the flames and continued charging at Wang Quan.

"These aren't ordinary evil spirits..."

Frowning, Wang Quan quickly retreated. He gathered his strength and infused his sword with metal element energy. The sharp, destructive sword aura slashed forward, piercing through one of the evil spirits.

The spirit let out a chilling scream before disintegrating into a black mist.

After dispatching the evil spirits, Wang Quan didn't linger. He pressed on, knowing that these spirits were just the beginning. The deeper he ventured into the ruins, the more dangerous it would become.

Eventually, Wang Quan arrived at the core area of the ruins, where he found an ancient stone door.

The door was etched with intricate runes, which appeared to form a seal. Several skeletons of evil spirits lay scattered before the door, indicating that the spirits had tried and failed to break through the seal.

"A sealed door..."

Taking a deep breath, Wang Quan could feel the immense spiritual energy radiating from behind the door, suggesting that valuable treasures might lie within. However, he was also acutely aware that danger would accompany such treasures.

For now, Wang Quan chose not to rush into breaking the seal. Instead, he scouted the surrounding area for clues.

On the wall beside the stone door, Wang Quan discovered a cryptic inscription. The inscription revealed the history of the ruins—their owner had been a Nascent Soul stage cultivator who had conducted extensive research on various spiritual materials and techniques, particularly those related to the Five Elements.

"Five Elements materials..."

Wang Quan's eyes lit up. This was exactly the kind of resource he needed. It seemed this expedition would indeed be worthwhile.

"Now, the key is how to unlock this sealed door."

Wang Quan began to carefully study the runes on the stone door, searching for a way to break the seal.