From a loser to an immortal sage

Chapter 274 Immortal Venerable Ruins: Xiao Yao's First Steps into Danger

I have finally arrived at the entrance to the Immortal Venerable's Ruins.

The majestic stone gate stands before us, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura, like a sleeping giant, quietly guarding this sacred land.

The stone gate is carved with intricate runes that wriggle like tadpoles, shimmering with a faint light, as if they hold endless mysteries.

A strange power permeated the surrounding air, creating a strong sense of oppression that made me hold my breath and my heart pound.

Is this the place that countless cultivators dream of?

I reached out and gently touched the cold stone door, feeling the marks of time.

A chill ran from my fingertips, reaching deep into my heart, making me shiver involuntarily.

I took a deep breath to calm my excited heart and stepped through the stone gate.

The moment I stepped into the ruins, a powerful force struck me, and I felt as if I were being crushed by a mountain, unable to move.

The surrounding scenery blurred instantly, and darkness surged in like a tide, engulfing me.

I tried hard to open my eyes, but found that my eyelids were as heavy as lead, and I couldn't open them no matter what I did.

"What's going on?" I exclaimed inwardly, a strong sense of fear welling up inside me.

I felt my body sinking, as if falling into an endless abyss.

The surrounding darkness grew thicker and thicker, making it hard for me to breathe.

I tried to struggle, but found that I had no strength at all and could only let this force control me.

"Ling Feng..." I shouted with all my might, but found my voice as weak as a mosquito's buzz, and was quickly swallowed by the darkness.

Wait... where's Ling Feng?

I tried my best to open my eyes, but it was still pitch black all around.

I subconsciously tried to mobilize my spiritual power, but found that it was being suppressed by some powerful force and I couldn't use it at all.

I was startled and quickly looked around, only to find that there was no one around and Ling Feng's trace had vanished without a trace.

"Ling Feng..." I called out again, my voice echoing in the darkness, but there was no response.

My heart sank suddenly, and panic and unease washed over me like a tidal wave.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down, but the surrounding silence felt like an invisible giant hand gripping my throat, suffocating me.

Just then, a slight noise came, and I immediately became alert, with the hairs on my body standing on end.

Is it an official agency?

Or are there other people nearby?

I held my breath and moved my feet slowly, trying not to make any noise.

Suddenly, a faint light appeared in the darkness ahead. I looked in the direction of the light and saw a small stone door slowly opening, emanating an eerie chill.

My heart tightened, and I instinctively took a step back, but a powerful attraction came from within, as if beckoning me forward.

I gritted my teeth and decided to take the risk.

I slowly stepped through the stone gate and found myself in a spacious stone chamber. The walls were covered with intricate runes, and each step made a slight sound, as if countless eyes were watching me.

I clenched my fists and carefully moved along the wall, each step taken with extreme caution.

Just as I was about to step out of the stone chamber, a mechanism suddenly activated, and a silver light shot out from the ground. I hurriedly dodged, but the light still grazed my arm, and a sharp burning sensation came over me, almost making me cry out in pain.

I endured the pain and quickly surveyed my surroundings, discovering that the exit of the stone chamber had been sealed off by a massive stone door.

"Damn it, these mechanisms are really amazing!" I cursed under my breath through gritted teeth.

I know I must be more careful, or I could find myself in dire straits if I'm not careful.

I took a deep breath and continued to explore, taking each step with extreme caution, cold sweat beading on my forehead.

Just as I was about to find another passage, a cold voice suddenly rang in my ear: "Little girl, do you think you can find the exit so easily?"

I turned around abruptly and saw an old man in a black robe with a sinister face standing not far away, his eyes flashing with greed and cunning.

"Little girl, do you think you can find the exit so easily?" The old man in black robes chuckled sinisterly, his voice like the hooting of an owl, sending chills down one's spine.

His withered finger pointed to the stone door behind me, his tone full of mockery, "This door was specially prepared for you. It will trap you here forever, making you my sacrifice!"

I sneered, completely unmoved by his words.

I had noticed long ago that the runes on this stone door were different from those I had seen before, and that they concealed a deadly intent.

The Blood Demon Elder thought I was young and inexperienced, so he tried to deal with me using such a low-level method. How ridiculous!

"Is that so? Then let me show you who the real prey is." I said, feigning composure, while my eyes quickly scanned the surroundings, searching for a way to escape.

The walls of the stone chamber were covered with intricate runes, which emitted a faint light that illuminated the entire chamber.

I noticed that on the walls on either side of the stone gate, there was a protruding stone, its shape slightly different from the other runes.

Could this be... the key?

A thought struck me, and I immediately channeled my spiritual energy, injecting a wisp of it into the stone on my right.

"Om-"

The stone vibrated slightly, and the runes inside the stone chamber lit up instantly. A powerful force surged from the stone and quickly spread throughout the entire stone chamber.

Upon seeing this, the Blood Fiend Elder's expression changed drastically, and he exclaimed in surprise, "You...you actually know how to activate the mechanism?"

A slight smirk appeared on my lips.

Of course I knew, because I saw through his tricks long ago.

Just as the Blood Fiend Elder was in a panic, the floor of the stone chamber suddenly cracked open, revealing a bottomless fissure beneath his feet.

Caught off guard, the Blood Fiend Elder fell straight down, letting out a scream.

"what--"

I watched the Blood Fiend Elder disappear into the crack, feeling no pity whatsoever.

That treacherous old man was determined to harm me, but in the end he reaped what he sowed.

As the Blood Fiend Elder disappeared, the runes in the stone chamber gradually dimmed, and the cracks in the ground slowly closed, as if nothing had ever happened.

I took a deep breath to calm my excited emotions.

The perilous situation I just experienced made me realize even more deeply the cruelty of the cultivation world.

Here, the slightest misstep could lead to utter ruin.

I walked to the stone gate, gently pushed it open, and a deep passage appeared before my eyes.

At the end of the passage, a faint light flickered, as if guiding me forward.

I stepped into the passage without hesitation, my heart filled with anticipation.

I know my adventure has only just begun...

Wait, what's that? Something seems to be flashing deep inside the passage…

I walked along the dark passage, the surrounding stone walls were cold and damp, and a faint smell of decay filled the air.

With each step I took, a hollow echo reverberated beneath my feet, as if something was watching me from the shadows.

The light at the end of the passage grew closer and brighter, and my heart pounded with anticipation.

Finally, I reached the end of the passage, and a bright and open view opened up before me.

A huge stone chamber appeared before me. In the center of the chamber, a hazy figure floated, ethereal and graceful, like a fairy descending to earth.

She radiated a soft light, as pure and holy as moonlight.

I immediately realized that this must be the illusion of the ethereal fairy.

"Who goes there?" The ethereal fairy's voice, clear as a spring, echoed in the empty stone chamber.

I composed myself and replied loudly, "This junior, Xiao Yao, has stumbled upon this place by mistake and has no intention of offending anyone."

The ethereal fairy nodded slightly, her gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny.

"In that case, are you willing to accept my test?"

“Please speak, senior,” I replied without hesitation, my tone full of confidence.

"Three trials have been set up here. Only those who pass them may continue," the ethereal fairy said slowly, her voice carrying a hint of authority. "Are you ready?"

"I'm ready anytime." I was secretly excited. This ruin was indeed not that simple. However, I, Xiao Yao, am not someone who will be easily intimidated.

The first challenge is an illusion.

I found myself in a fog, everything around me blurred, and illusions kept appearing, trying to disturb my mind.

I held fast to my true self, channeled my spiritual power, and shattered the illusory illusion.

The second challenge is the formation.

Beams of light intertwined in the stone chamber, forming a complex array that I found myself in, as if I were in a maze.

I carefully observed the changes in the formation, looking for patterns, and finally successfully found the key to the formation and broke it.

The third hurdle is the inner demon.

Countless negative emotions surged in like a tide, trying to devour my reason.

I held fast to my inner altar, remained steadfast in my beliefs, and ultimately triumphed over my inner demons.

When I successfully passed the three trials, the ethereal fairy's phantom revealed a relieved smile, and her figure gradually disappeared.

"You are excellent and qualified to continue. I hope you will make good use of the heritage of this place and not let me down."

As the ethereal fairy's phantom disappeared, a new passage appeared in the center of the stone chamber.

I smiled slightly, feeling a surge of exhilarating control.

The feeling of overcoming challenges step by step and finally achieving success is incredibly satisfying.

The surroundings seemed to be enveloped in a glorious glow; this was my first mini-climax since entering the ruins.

Just as I was about to delve deeper, an unsettling aura suddenly entered my senses.

The aura was cold and malevolent, filled with a nauseating sense of decay, yet it also carried a faint hint of familiarity.

It's the King of the Underworld! He actually came here too!

I was startled and quickly concealed my presence, becoming on high alert.

This guy is far stronger than me, so I have to be extra careful and make sure he doesn't discover my presence.

I held my breath and cautiously walked towards the direction of the Netherworld Ghost King's aura.

"Hehehe... This aura... it really is a treasure left behind by an Immortal Venerable!" A cold voice echoed from the depths of the passage, filled with excitement and greed. "It seems that this time, I, the Netherworld Ghost King, will take this treasure into my possession!"