CHAPTER 52: CHAPTER 52: THIS FLOURISHING AGE AS YOU WISHED

"They’re here!"

At the entrance of the ruins, Tang Xuehai spotted Lee Zhen from afar.

When two "leaders" meet, some "official talk" is inevitable.

"I heard that your guild had a promising newcomer this year." Tang Xuehai had naturally done his homework.

The Plowhorn Beast and the Soul-Calming Hoof caused quite a stir.

However, Tang Xuehai remained confident.

This year’s Inner Courtyard students are more outstanding than the previous batch, hailed as the best in ten years.

Crushing Lin Chen and the others shouldn’t be a problem.

Lee Zhen ignored him, as he was also confident in Lin Chen.

Someone at Level 9 capable of using the One Qi Transforming Three Oxen technique must have a solid foundation and extraordinary talent.

"It’s about time, let’s go in." Lee Zhen didn’t say much to Tang Xuehai.

Essentially, Tang Xuehai was of the "official" faction, while Lee Zhen was of the "civilian" faction. The Monster Hunter Guild wasn’t even officially recognized by the Cangling Ancient Country.

...

Lin Chen and the other two also approached the Inner Court Disciples, though many pointed fingers at them, none dared to underestimate them.

The Monster Hunter Guild has never been weak.

It’s just that their Inner Courtyard is stronger.

Last year, the Monster Hunter Guild dropped out of the top ten, marking their weakest year, which gave them immense confidence.

Only two people in the crowd paid attention to Lin Chen.

One was Lee Zaiqing, the other was Guan Yang.

One had once been a sparring partner, beaten badly by Xiaobai.

The other had failed to steal an egg and got beaten.

But now, their Spirit Beasts had undergone some transformation.

"This time, we absolutely cannot lose again."

Both spoke such to their Spirit Beasts.

Soon, the ruins opened.

The way in was similar to entering a Secret Realm, but the feature of the ruins was the instability of space.

This is because the ruins are ownerless, making it difficult to maintain spatial stability, which might lead some people to be teleported directly to treasure points upon entry, gaining countless resources.

Others might start at the beginning and fight their way through, gaining nothing.

Thus, exploring the ruins is a thrilling venture.

Lee Zhen had discussed the Little Fox matter, and Tang Xuehai didn’t care.

"Let’s go." Lin Chen waved his hand, signaling them to go first.

The two were bewildered, thinking how could one be so afraid of death.

"Come on, send me to the end!"

Cai Yuanji, somewhat childish, shouted as he stepped in, exposing his greedy nature.

Lin Chen and Ning Zimo suddenly had a bad feeling.

Murphy’s Law:

What you want doesn’t happen.

What you fear comes true.

They opened their eyes; before they could observe the surroundings, they saw a pair of massive eyes.

Undoubtedly, it belonged to a Demon Beast.

Frightened, the three quickly summoned their Spirit Beasts.

The Three Spirit Beasts appeared, giving the trio the courage to take a look at the opponent.

Though it’s an ant, it’s the size of a chicken.

The trio let out a sigh of relief, and Cai Yuanji remarked:

"Luckily, there’s only one."

Lin Chen and Ning Zimo looked up simultaneously, feeling uneasy.

Just after that remark, two more Demon Beasts emerged.

The two immediately glared at Cai Yuanji, signaling him to stay quiet.

Cai Yuanji, feeling wronged, said:

"It’s not like I can con..."

Before he could finish, a furious shout rang out:

"Demon Beast, get out of Zhongnan City!"

Soon, Lin Chen and the others saw three young men dressed in ancient attire, about the same age as Lin Chen and his companions.

The trio realized something, looking at the three youths, they fell into deep thought.

...

Zhongnan City, that’s the former name of Jiuxing City.

Judging from their attire and the history here, it’s easy to guess that these were once the youths of that 101-member boy band.

But...

Weren’t they already dead?

Why are they still alive, and so lifelike?

Cai Yuanji, often talkative, asked: "Seniors, we’re from Jiuxing City..."

"Demon Beast, get out of Zhongnan City!"

They seemed to have lost their reason, repeating it again.

Before he could finish, the three Beastmasters waved, and their Spirit Beasts launched an attack.

The trio simultaneously commanded their Spirit Beasts. Xiaobai mooed, asking if it should kill them?

"Just suppress them." Lin Chen pondered for a moment, then said.

They hadn’t figured out what was happening yet, so he didn’t dare take harsh actions out of respect for these martyr predecessors.

Ning Zimo and Cai Yuanji gave the same command.

Their Spirit Beasts, all standouts, quickly subdued the opponents, and Xiaobai even knocked them to the ground, severely injured.

The other two were dealt with swiftly as well.

Lin Chen looked at the three and said: "Seniors, we mean no harm..."

"Demon Beast, get out of Zhongnan City!"

Along with the shout, the just-suppressed Iron-Eating Ant immediately recovered.

Lin Chen, Ning Zimo, and Cai Yuanji exchanged looks, and Ning Zimo asked: "What do you think?"

"Let’s fight." Lin Chen sighed.

Ning Zimo nodded in agreement, while Cai Yuanji, who usually didn’t read, was puzzled by the situation and asked: "Why fight now? They’re seniors, we shouldn’t attack them..."

Lin Chen and Ning Zimo ignored him, instructing Xiaobai and the Snow Lion to attack with full force.

Soon, the three Spirit Beasts were on the ground, turning into white bones.

"What’s... What’s going on?" Cai Yuanji was shocked.

Not far away, the figures of the three youths gradually faded...

The death of the Spirit Beasts led to their demise as well.

However, their intellect seemed to return.

The leading youth looked at the trio, with his first words being:

"Is Zhongnan City... still standing?"

The trio remained silent, even someone as rational as Lin Chen couldn’t help but be moved.

Cai Yuanji quickly replied: "Yes, it is now called Jiuxing City, bigger than before, thanks to you guys..."

Lin Chen, seeing the three about to vanish, interrupted Cai Yuanji, saying:

"Senior Dai Hu, Senior Ding Song, Senior Zhou Ying..."

"This flourishing age is as you wished!"

"That’s good, that’s good!"

They smiled before disappearing, leaving behind piles of white bones on the ground.

Good!

Zhongnan City is saved!

Good!

The descendants have not forgotten us!

....

After a long while, the trio’s emotions finally calmed a little.

Ning Zimo asked, "How did you know their names?"

"I read about them in the material; I have some impression of their Spirit Beasts..." Lin Chen replied.

Ning Zimo and Cai Yuanji looked at Lin Chen, and the former said: "You mean the Spiritual Illusion Realm?"

Cai Yuanji, who usually didn’t read much, was confused about what was happening and asked, "Why are we attacking them? They are our predecessors, we can’t just harm them..."

Lin Chen and Ning Zimo ignored him and commanded Xiaobai and the Snow Lion to attack, intending to finish them off.

In no time, the Three-Headed Spirit Beasts were on the ground, turning into white bones.

"What...what is going on?" Cai Yuanji was shocked.

Not far off, the figures of the three youths gradually blurred...

The death of their Spirit Beasts caused their demise as well.

However, their consciousness seemed to clear up.

Even Lin Chen, usually so rational, couldn’t help but be touched by their words.

The youth revealed smiles before completely disappearing, turning into white bones on the ground.

"What...what happened?" Cai Yuanji was shocked.

Lin Chen, along with the other youths, watched them, lost in thought.

...

Zhongnan City was the name of Jiuxing City before it was changed.

Judging by their attire and knowing the history, it’s easy to deduce that these people were the legendary 101-boy band from the past.

Except...

Hadn’t they died long ago?

Why are they still alive, and so real at that?

Cai Yuanji, who spoke the most, asked: "Seniors, we are from Jiuxing City sent to..."

"Demon Beast, get out of Zhongnan City!"

They seemed to have lost their senses, repeating themselves again.

Before he could finish, the three Beastmasters waved, and their Spirit Beasts attacked.

The trio simultaneously commanded their Spirit Beasts, with Xiaobai mooing a query if she should kill them?

"Just suppress them," Lin Chen thought for a moment and said so.

Since they hadn’t figured out what was going on, and considering their respect for the fallen ancestors, they dared not strike too hard.

Ning Zimo and Cai Yuanji gave the same orders.

The three’s Spirit Beasts, being excellent, quickly overpowered the others, with Xiaobai knocking its opponent to the ground, injuring it severely.

The other two were also resolved swiftly.

Lin Chen looked at the three and said, "Seniors, we mean no harm..."

"Demon beasts, get out of Zhongnan City!"

Along with a shout, the recently restrained Iron-Eating Ant immediately recovered as before.

Lin Chen, Ning Zimo, and Cai Yuanji exchanged looks, and Ning Zimo asked, "What do you think?"

"Just take action." Lin Chen sighed.

Ning Zimo nodded as well, but Cai Yuanji, who usually doesn’t read, was clueless about the situation and asked, "Why act now? They’re our predecessors, we shouldn’t harm them..."

Lin Chen and Ning Zimo didn’t mind him, telling Xiaobai and the Snow Lion to attack, going all out this time.

Soon, the Three-Headed Spirit Beasts were down, reduced to bones on the ground.

"What’s...what happened?" Cai Yuanji was shocked.

Not far away, the figures of the three youths gradually became blurry...

The death of the Spirit Beasts caused their deaths too.

However, their consciousness seemed to have cleared up.

The anxiety that Lin Chen, Ning Zimo, and Cai Yuanji felt slowly faded.

"Cai, are you afraid of pain?" Lin Chen asked thoughtfully.

Cai Yuanji, trying to follow along, didn’t expect the response, but the latter said: "I’m scared too."

Ning Zimo questioned, "Are you suggesting a Spiritual Illusion Realm?"

"Exactly. The conscious intention might have remained." Lin Chen replied.

"So, it’s like a Resentful Spirit?"

"What does that mean, a Resentful Spirit?"

"It’s when part of one’s Spiritual Power is left behind."

"Isn’t that essentially a ghost?"

Lin Chen and Ning Zimo didn’t answer him, but instead, they let out Xiaobai and the Snow Lion to attack with fatal intent.

Before long, the three-headed Spirit Beast fell to the ground, turning to bones.

"What’s happening?" Cai Yuanji was startled.

In the distance, the figures of the three young men slowly blurred...

The death of their Spirit Beasts meant they were dead too.

But their consciousness seemed to have cleared up.

The trio looked at Lin Chen, and the first youth murmured before fading away: "We can finally... go home." They smiled as they vanished, their forms dissolving into bones on the ground.

...After a long while, the three others knelt, carefully extracted some pouches, then leaned forward cautiously.

Gently, Lin Chen said: "Let’s bring you home." FIN

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