Lin tian after climbing over the highest mountain near Great ruins .was looking over the ruins .He started counting what seems to be entrances of ruins .
"1.,2,4,16,18,21"
There are total of 21 entrances.but only 16 are used for going in and out .
He came down from mountain.
And started checking the entrances .only going some meters in and coming out .
"This passage is completely blocked by rubble "
"This passage has so many worms crawling "
Lin tian entered another passage which was open enough for him to squeeze in .He started going deep inside .
Entire way he had to lift some rubble and make way for himself .
Finally he entered a round hall .it had audience chamber and looked like a stadium .there was 1 passage in each direction going somewhere.
There was also a high sitting placed in Center end .Some chairs of stones were placed on it with different sizes .The one seat in the middle was bigger and probably for prestigious person of royalty .
Maybe it is for person with highest rank to sit and enjoy the show .He climbed to the seat .And after cleaning it sat down .He quite enjoyed the feeling of sitting like royal .
Suddenly a beast with lion head came from one of the passage .it had snake like tails .but also different.
It noticed a human figure and growled .
"Growwwwllll"
Lin tian who was inspecting the seat panicked .He tried to move his waist up and down .But didn't knew where to hide or run . Suddenly his shoulder hit back of the royal seat.
The chair leaned backwards .And with a lucky coincidence a mechanism was activated .Entire chair started sliding down in some secret passage .
******
Some time later The seat stopped sliding .Lin tian crashed into the floor .Rolling down .
"Atleast I am safe " He stood up and first lighted a torch .
With a torch in hand .He could see to some extent .
Moving forward he noticed something glistening in the dark .He carefully went near to it .seeing the dusty area and rubble .lin tian didn't think it was a trap .He carefully picked the shiny thing and dusted it off .it was a key made up of bronze maybe. Lin tian was'nt sure .moving forward again his passage divided into 3 direction .
'Where to go ' Lin tian couldn't decide .
Suddenly his torch flickered because of wind .
He decided to go in the direction from where wind was coming .
2 smoky figure appeared at divergent point behind lin tian.
"He has gotten the key what should we do "
"He is really lucky to survive Chimera beast and to trigger the mechanism of entering the hidden passage .Should I say he is really lucky or unlucky ."
"We should kill him "
"No .its not night yet .Besides our attack will be useless against the holder of key "
"But we can't let it fall in someone's hand ."
"We should go ask Thunder general for instructions "
With that they both disappeared.
*******
In one of hidden halls of ruins .
Thunder General was sleeping on his seat .
Nearly 1000 smoky figures were also sleeping.some while standing .
Others on a seat .
Two smoky figure appeared in front of Thunder general.
"Thunder General.someone has gotten the key "
"What key "Thunder General calmly opened his eyes as though he was not sleeping.
"Thunder General the key to the chamber .That chamber "Smoky figure empathaized their words .
"What someone has finally gotten the key . that's good thing .is he alive ."Thunder general exclaimed.
"He is alive general .looks like his qi reserves are low ."
"Thunder general it's not good thing .we can't hurt the person who has gotten the key .He is practically like a king in these ruins "
"We should hunt him indirectly .what if he bring harms to us ".
"We can't let that chamber be opened by anyone "
"I have heard everything and your worries .I will go check that person and decide whether he is worthy for key or not "Thunder general said .
Purple lightning flashed where he was standing and he disappeared from his place .
**********
Lin tian looked at the end of passage .
The place he was standing on was full of light .There was no need for torch .But he couldn't go out .For there was no passage .
But a deep valley .
In the valley a wide river was flowing .
If he fell from here there was 50% chance he would fell in river .
He wouldn't die .but the problem was he didn't knew to swim . moreover he was sure he couldn't swim in the strong currents of river .
Going down was a no .
Than going up .Lin tian brought his neck out of passage to look up .
He was sure he had to atleast climb 8 floors .
"Which is impossible for me "if he fell .He will enter the river and most likely die .
Finally he made a choice to go back and look for other passage.
He came at the divergent again .
"Cough ....cough "
Lin tian upped the torch to look for who was coughing .He was on full attention.
"Cough!
An old man appeared from the front passage .
"Stop .who are you "lin tian
"Me cough! I am just cough!
Explorer "
"You are so old you can't be explorer "
"I cough! Entered the ruins . because cough!....no choice "
Seeing old man's incessant coughing .lin tian lowered his guard .
"Old man drink some water first and talk later "lin tian gave him water from his bag .water was important here .he shouldn't give .But he couldn't help himself .
"No... cough! Need .it cough ! Won't go way cough! With water "old man rejected his kind gesture .
"Old man let me pat your back . maybe you will felt relief "lin tian started to go near him.
"Cough! Don't come near cough! Me .Don't you know to be careful cough! In these dangerous places cough!"
"I know but you need help .And I don't think you can harm me ."
"What do you mean cough! "old man
"You are so old .Are you sure you can even harm someone "
Old man didn't let him come near to him .lin tian waited for his cough to subside .He felt bad for old man. But he had no cure for cough .
With a final cough old man said .
"My name is leiting .I had come to explore ruins in hopes of earning fortune .All my companions died and I was left helpless here "
"What .are you okay old man "
"I am okay .it's already a past "
"But these ruins are they really this dangerous "
"Maybe you don't know this . Because you were exploring safe areas .but in here even gold cores and nascent souls had died "
"Really " lin tian exclaimed.
Old man you are lucky to survive .it's a thing to celebrate.you should feel grateful and live happily "lin tian tried to cheer the old man.
"Maybe it's not a good thing for me to be alive. together with my companions I should have died .turned into nothing but dust & energy .This life feels like a prison to me "
"Ohhhhh"
"Aren't you going to cheer me up to live "
"I should. but I don't know what you are feeling or how is it like for you .But maybe you are alive .you have something to look forward too ".lin tian
"That's right I have .But for that I need a key .I lost it somewhere and can't find it ".
"A key ?what does it look like .maybe I have seen it somewhere"lin tian
"It looks like a bronze key nothing special .But it has one special quality.no matter how much you twist and turn .it will return back to it's shape ."
Lintian brought out key from his bag .And thought of twisting to test the theory .but didn't do it .
"Old man is this the key you are looking up ."
"That's right it is .no matter how much I looked .I couldn't find it ."
"Please take it old man "
"Are you sure .what if I lied to you and it is a key for treasury "
"I believe you .you had emotional tone when talking about key .Besides it doesn't belongs to me .so be it if it's for some treasury .I think you need it more than me "
"Old man I am still young .but you are old you need to settle down and live in peace .if this key can help .I will give it you ".
"Are you sure .let me tell you truth .it is really a key for treasury .Riches beyond measure are stored there .I came to you because I knew you had it .it was all my ulterior motive "
"I am giving you last chance to take it back .are you sure you won't feel envious of jealous "
Lin tian hesitated and images a room full of gold coins and all kinds of gems .But than he remembered Hua bo 's warning and shook his head .
"Old man take it i have no need for it .I only ask you if there are really Riches.You should help people in need with the riches .with your old experience.you will know better to spend it .I just ask you to help others "
"No you are just kid . Maybe you don't know the possibilities you can achieve with the riches .You can recruit powerful cultivators to be your servants .immortal fairies to be bed maids . You won't have to think twice for buying anything .With your one command cities will rise and fell .
you can do whatever you Wanted.All this can be achieved because of one key are you sure you want to give up this key .You will change as you grow up .your needs will increase .
you will want everything in world .whether it money ,womens,land servants ,power .At that time you will regret your decision today .last chance are you sure "
Lin tian just smiled he had nothing to say .
"You aren't defending yourself "old man was flabbergasted.
Lin tian shook his head .
"Why"
Lin tian said .
"Perhaps it is as you say .In the future my needs will increase.I will want everything in world .
Be it wealth ,status ,women ,power ,and servants .
But old man I can't see it .I can't see the future with my little experience.Maybe I will be just like you described. At that time I won't be able to see myself as wrong .
So old man you have to stop me .with your experience you know what is right and wrong more better than me .
So old man make the right decision on my behalf .Take this key now .while I am giving it to you .And stop me from becoming a bad person in your mind .
However I have one thing to say indeed . Isn't everyone in world like this .Who wants everything.Even kids thinks of ruling the world as playing .Those who don't have wings . Aren't they all want to fly ."
"Even kids thinks of ruling the world as play,
Those who don't have wings all want to fly ,
Everyone living in world wants everything,
Can't see the future ,
Bad person in my mind Ha ha ha ."Old man felt he had entered a enlightened stage .
He kept murmuring the words repeatedly.His stagnated qi soured. His stomach churned and felt uncomfortable.He controlled his body and smiled .
"Old man have you gone crazy .
"Haha ha you said right .No one can see future .Even I can't .
So no matter much we will never be sure .whether you are evil person or not .It is also same with anyone .
Desires ,no one have control over it . Everyone wants everything.
Even kids thinks of Millions of lives as joke .
No one is special and everyone is same . hahahaha.... ."
"Kid I have made my decision .I choose you .No matter how she is treated or what becomes of her .I am giving her to you "
"Who? .old man you are being crazy "lin tian
"My daughter.i am bethrothing her to you .you can keep her and give her whatever status you want .Be it maid or fiance or concubine ".
"I reject old man . whatever nonsense you are babbling "lin tian couldn't keep up with old man .one time he was talking about riches .other time he was marrying his daughter.
"You have no choice .young man .I have already given her to you "
"Look old man I can't even cultivate.and you seem to be accomplished cultivator.Are you sure you want her future to be doomed with me "
"You can't cultivate but my daughter can .moreover she has special physique.you can dual cultivate with her. And you might even benefit from her special physique. Moreover my daughter is obedient she will listen to you .You can make her do many things in the future .Even you becoming small Emperor is possible .Aren't you tempted ."
"Old man you sure don't listen .yeah I am tempted .I will make her do many shameful and bad things in future and make her grab beautiful womens to serve me .I will really make good use of her as errand runner .what do you think old man are you pleased or you can still give up on me .I don't want your daughter "
"Well I can't interfere in young ones matters .you can do as you please .but you need to save my daughter first "
"Save your daughter "
"Yes Since you have that key .you can save my daughter .She is trapped within these ruins .That key is the way to find it and free her .since you have it .it is your responsibility to save her .You can choose to save or discard her.your choice "
"Old man don't throw responsibility at me .I don't even know you or your daughter .Take this key and save her yourself. I won't save her .you heard me "lin tian
"It's your responsibility.follow me if you want to exit the ruins " Lei ting's figure flashed and appeared some distance .
Lin tian in order to exit followed him .
Lei ting's figure kept disappearing and appearing some distance away .
"Inside this chamber is a vine monster .just like a tree .I will make it sleep and you can climb it's body .You just have to go up as much as possible.Above you will meet more humans .follow them carefully and they will take you to exit .but also worry of them .Not every one is kind "lei ting
"What about you old man "lin tian asked .
"I am bound to wander here for my daughter leave .I hope you come back to save my daughter"lei ting said in pleading voice .