Ruin-Part 6

As the Yunlan Mountain disciple secretly activated the communication talisman, the situation on the surface remained calm, but Wang Quan could feel an indescribable tension building. The Yunlan Mountain cultivators clearly had ulterior motives, and the atmosphere gradually became more strained.

Before the ancient stone gate, the three groups of cultivators began attempting to break the seal. The rogue cultivator elder made the first move, summoning a giant axe of golden light with his spiritual energy and striking the stone gate with a deep, resounding boom. The runes on the gate flickered slightly but remained intact. Not to be outdone, the Yunlan Mountain cultivators brought out talismans, unleashing bursts of spiritual energy at the gate in an effort to weaken the seal.

Wang Quan, quietly observing, had already discerned the nature of the five-element seal. Deciding it was time to act, he stepped forward and began channeling the energy from his Five Elements Technique into the runes on the gate. Streams of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth energy intertwined on the gate's surface, and the runes gradually softened, emitting a faint glow.

"It's resonating with the five-elemental energies…" the rogue cultivator elder's eyes flashed with surprise, wary of Wang Quan's mastery of the Five Elements Technique.

With the continuous infusion of five-element energy, the stone gate finally began to shift. With a low, rumbling sound, the gate slowly opened, revealing the path to the third level of the relic. Spiritual energy surged as the long-hidden route lay before them.

As the group stepped into the third layer, what they saw shocked them. Unlike the treacherous environments of the previous levels, they found themselves in a vast cavern hall. Stalactites hung from the ceiling, glittering like crystal, casting soft light across the room like a starry sky.

In the center of the hall stood a massive teleportation array, its complex runes glowing faintly amidst a haze of mist. It was clear that this was the critical location that would lead them to the heart of the relic.

All eyes immediately fixed on the teleportation array.

"This is the real key…" The Yunlan Mountain lead cultivator, a Qi Refining ninth-stage disciple, had a glint of cold intent in his eyes.

In that instant, the Yunlan Mountain cultivator's gaze turned icy. Without warning, he sent out a signal and swiftly launched an attack.

"Our cooperation ends here. There's no need to play nice any longer," he sneered, pulling out several talismans. In a flash, streams of spiritual light shot toward Wang Quan and the rogue cultivators.

"Despicable scoundrel!" Wang Quan cursed inwardly, having anticipated their betrayal. Without hesitation, he activated his five-elemental energy. His sword slashed through the air, unleashing a sharp wave of metal-elemental sword qi that collided with the incoming talismans.

"Boom!"

The resulting explosion was deafening, and though Wang Quan blocked the attack, his arms were left tingling from the force, showing that the power behind it was formidable.

At the same time, the rogue elder let out a cold snort and swung his spiritual weapon. A massive golden net spread out like a trap, blocking the Yunlan Mountain cultivators' second assault.

"Your Yunlan Mountain disciples truly are shameless. In that case, let me show you the strength of a Foundation Establishment cultivator!" the elder roared. His golden net expanded, descending upon the Yunlan Mountain cultivators. The immense spiritual pressure left them no room to retreat.

The Yunlan Mountain cultivators' expressions shifted. The lead disciple swung his sword, unleashing a beam of sword light toward the incoming net. However, the net seemed immaterial—his sword light passed through it without effect. The elder seized the opportunity, tightening the net and forcing the Yunlan Mountain trio to step back.

Wang Quan took this chance to launch a counterattack.

His five-elemental energy surged, and his sword began glowing with a powerful mix of metal and fire elemental qi. Without hesitation, he swung the sword, unleashing a fierce slash of combined gold and fire energy straight at the Yunlan Mountain lead disciple.

"Fire Sword Technique—Flame Slash!"

The sword qi roared forth like a blazing inferno, carrying devastating force as it slashed toward the Yunlan Mountain disciple.

The ninth-stage cultivator quickly reacted, forming hand seals as an ice-blue shield of spiritual energy manifested before him.

"Water Shield Technique!"

The shield materialized just in time, blocking Wang Quan's attack. However, the sheer power of the combined gold and fire energy was overwhelming, shattering the shield and sending the sword qi crashing into the Yunlan Mountain disciple's shoulder.

"Urgh!"

The disciple spat out blood and staggered backward, his face turning deathly pale.

As Wang Quan prepared to press his advantage, another Yunlan Mountain disciple launched a sneak attack from behind. A gleaming dagger flew through the air, aimed directly at Wang Quan's back.

The flying dagger was swift, and though Wang Quan turned to block, he was a step too late. The dagger pierced through his defense and struck his left arm.

"Shnk!"

The blade sliced through Wang Quan's sleeve, and blood splattered as the wound ran deep, exposing bone. But what stunned everyone was the faint crystalline glow around Wang Quan's wound.

"Is that… crystal?"

The Yunlan Mountain cultivators and the rogue elder alike were momentarily frozen in shock. Beneath Wang Quan's torn flesh, his bones glimmered faintly with a crystalline sheen, as though his skeleton had become a protective layer of crystal.

Wang Quan gritted his teeth, enduring the pain. His Crystal Secret Technique had begun to manifest, though the crystallization of his bones was still incomplete. While the attack had injured him, the protective crystal bones had prevented the wound from becoming more serious.

"So this is the power of the Crystal Technique…"

He took a deep breath, quickly retrieving a healing pill from his storage bag and swallowing it. As he sat down to tend to his injuries, he realized that continuing the fight might be too risky.

"I need to retreat—now."

Resolving to escape, Wang Quan used the confusion of the battle to his advantage. He activated the earth elemental technique from the Five Elements Technique, and with a quick step, his figure darted toward the teleportation array like a phantom.

The Yunlan Mountain cultivators tried to intercept him, but the rogue elder renewed his assault, unleashing his golden net once again and forcing the Yunlan Mountain disciples into defense. Unable to break free from the attack, they were left helpless as Wang Quan approached the teleportation array.

Seizing the moment, Wang Quan infused his spiritual energy into the teleportation array's runes. As his energy flowed into the array, it began to glow brighter, the runes illuminating as the teleportation sequence activated.

"Don't let him escape!"

One of the Yunlan Mountain disciples shouted in frustration, but it was too late.

With a brilliant flash of light, Wang Quan's figure was enveloped by the teleportation array, vanishing from sight just as the Yunlan Mountain cultivators let out cries of anger and helplessness.

"Damn it!"

With Wang Quan gone, the two remaining teams hurried to activate the array themselves, determined not to be left behind in the race for the relic's core.