Chapter 35: Departure and Pursuit

Li Jun didn't waste time.

The Ruins of the Forgotten Age—a battlefield from a lost civilization—might hold the answers he sought.

And if others were searching for it, he had to get there first.

He packed his essentials, gathered his weapons, and prepared for the journey.

Before he could leave, the Grand Elder stopped him.

"Are you certain about this?"

Li Jun nodded. "I have to see the truth for myself."

The old man sighed.

"Then take this."

He handed Li Jun an ancient jade token, its surface engraved with unknown symbols.

"This is a key," the Grand Elder said. "When you reach the ruins, you'll understand its purpose."

Li Jun accepted it without hesitation.

"Thank you, Elder."

Then—without looking back—he left the academy.

A Silent Pursuer

As Li Jun disappeared into the wilderness, a pair of cold eyes followed from the shadows.

> "He took the bait."

A masked figure crouched in the treetops, watching his movements.

He pulled out a black communication stone, whispering into it.

"The target has left. Should I intercept?"

A deep, eerie voice replied.

> "No. Follow him. The ruins will open soon. Let him lead us there."

The masked man smirked.

"As you wish."

The Journey Begins

Li Jun traveled through the dense forests, his senses sharp.

The path to the ruins was dangerous, filled with wild beasts and rogue cultivators.

But none of that mattered.

What mattered was finding the truth—before it was lost again.

However, what he didn't know was…

He wasn't the only one heading toward the ruins.