Ruin-Part 3

Wang Quan continued cautiously through the labyrinthine forest, his senses attuned to any potential danger. As he ventured deeper into the ruins, the demonic energy seemed to subside slightly, but he knew the true perils lay further ahead.

Soon, he arrived at a hidden stone chamber, concealed by thick vines and underbrush. If not for his keen spiritual senses, he might have missed it altogether. The atmosphere within the chamber was heavy and ancient, imbued with a pressure that weighed down on his chest.

"There must be something crucial hidden here," Wang Quan thought, his heart tightening with a mix of anticipation and apprehension. With his sword drawn, he cautiously stepped into the chamber.

At the center of the room stood a massive boulder, clearly the focal point of the chamber. The surrounding spiritual energy seemed to flow toward it, creating a strange aura around the stone. Carved into the surface of the boulder were four ancient verses, their bold, archaic script exuding an air of desolation and mystery.

Wang Quan moved closer to examine the inscriptions:

In a thousand valleys, mysteries lie,

A gleam of light hides amidst the sea.

The heavens vast, clouds cover the moon,

Even with power, you shall not pass easily.

Mercury's poison fills the sky,

To cross, you must borrow the strength of earth and sky.

The Five Elements' Gate appears in void,

If you see the key, you may proceed forward.

"These verses must be the key to advancing to the next level," Wang Quan muttered to himself. He sensed that these lines weren't merely warnings but held the clues to unlocking the path forward. Carefully studying each verse, he began to unravel their meaning, especially the final line, which mentioned the "Five Elements' Gate." This immediately reminded him of his Five Elements Technique.

"It seems I'll need to utilize the power of the five elements to solve this."

Wang Quan decided to follow the hints in the verses, concentrating on drawing the five elemental forces—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—into the boulder to see if it would trigger a reaction.

Slowly, he gathered the elemental energies within his body, circulating them through his meridians and directing the flow into the four corners of the massive stone. As his elemental energy infused the boulder, the carved runes began to faintly glow, responding to his input.

The more energy he channeled, the brighter the inscriptions became. With each passing moment, the ancient forces embedded within the stone awakened, causing a subtle hum to reverberate through the chamber.

"The five elements truly are the key to unlocking this stone chamber."

As Wang Quan increased the energy flow, the runes on the boulder shimmered more intensely. Finally, with a resonant rumble, the wall behind the stone slowly split open, revealing a hidden portal. This gateway exuded powerful spiritual energy and was clearly the passage to the next level of the ruins.

"The path forward has opened," Wang Quan breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that he had successfully solved the chamber's puzzle. However, he remained cautious, aware that greater dangers likely lay ahead.

Without hesitation, after readying himself, Wang Quan stepped into the portal. A surge of spiritual energy enveloped him, and in an instant, his surroundings blurred as he was transported to the second level of the ruins.

When his vision cleared, he found himself standing before a vast, treacherous sea—one made entirely of mercury.

The scene sent a shock through him. The air was thick with poisonous fumes, and the mercury sea rippled with a deadly sheen, its surface shimmering in the dim light. Every ripple and wave of the mercury emitted a faint glow, but the beauty masked a lethal toxicity that filled the entire area.

"This must be the 'Mercury's poison fills the sky' mentioned in the verses…"

Wang Quan's brows furrowed as he surveyed the toxic sea. The mercury vapors alone were enough to suffocate an ordinary cultivator, and the poisonous fumes made each breath feel heavy. He stood on a floating stone platform, and all around him, the silver waves of mercury stretched into the distance, reflecting the light in eerie patterns. A mist of silvery vapor hovered in the air, carried by the breeze. Even a moment's exposure to this deadly sea could spell doom for any unprepared soul.

"The verse said, 'To cross, you must borrow the strength of earth and sky.' That suggests there's a way to traverse this sea using the power of the five elements."

Wang Quan stood still, reflecting on how best to approach this situation. He believed that the Earth and Water elements of his Five Elements Technique might hold the solution. Mercury, while liquid, was highly toxic, and the Earth element could act as a barrier, while Water could help control the flow of mercury, allowing him to cross safely.

"I can form an Earth Spirit shield around myself to block the poisonous fumes and use Water Spirit energy to control the mercury and create a path," he mused.

Wasting no time, Wang Quan summoned the power of the Earth Spirit from within, forming a protective layer of earthy yellow energy around his body. This shield would serve as a barrier against the mercury's toxic vapors. Next, he channeled the Water Spirit energy, cautiously extending it into the mercury sea.

To his surprise, the Water Spirit energy flowed easily into the mercury, guiding the liquid like a current. Though still toxic, the mercury responded to his control, and the lethal vapors dissipated slightly as the water element calmed the waves.

"It's working!"

Encouraged, Wang Quan poured more Water Spirit energy into the mercury, carefully parting the toxic waves to form a narrow pathway. With his Earth Spirit shield protecting him and Water Spirit guiding the mercury, he stepped onto the makeshift path and began his cautious journey across the mercury sea.

Even with the spirits' aid, the journey was perilous. Toxic fumes swirled around him, and one misstep could spell disaster. However, Wang Quan's focus remained unwavering as he carefully controlled the flow of mercury and moved forward.

Suddenly, a deep rumble echoed through the air. Wang Quan looked up, and his heart clenched in fear as he saw a massive shadow rising from the depths of the mercury sea.

It was a colossal beast, entirely covered in mercury. It resembled a giant tortoise, but its entire body gleamed with the deadly liquid, radiating toxic energy. As the creature surfaced, it stirred the sea into violent waves, creating a tsunami of mercury that crashed against Wang Quan's protective shield. The creature's presence was overwhelming, a living mountain of poison.

"A Mercury Poison Tortoise!" Wang Quan's mind raced as he recognized the beast. This tortoise was no ordinary monster—it was a powerful demon, its body imbued with mercury's deadly essence. Not only was its physical strength terrifying, but its toxic aura could kill even from a distance.

The tortoise's red eyes locked onto Wang Quan, as though it could sense his spiritual energy. With a low, guttural roar, the beast began lumbering toward him, intent on crushing the intruder beneath its massive form.

"There's no way to avoid this battle…" Wang Quan muttered grimly, gripping his sword tighter. The power of the five elements surged within him as he prepared for the fight of his life.