As soon as Ye Chen, Shao Tianming, and Wang Yongning had entered the semi-circular room, they simultaneously sucked in a deep breath of cold air.
Littered onto the walls and floors are blade scars, along with handprint-shaped dents.
"Tch."
Taking one step forward with his fishing rod acting as a cane, Long Hua clicks his tongue. There are numerous rips on his clothes, along with laceration wounds.
"…"
With her eyes open, and Kun stored away beforehand, Tian Cheng has a solemn look on her face, as she glares at the teleportation magic array. Similarly, to Long Hua, there are also a few rips and tears on her attire with some convincing laceration wounds.
During the process of them attempting to create these convincing wounds, the Tai Xuan Emperor had to control herself—to not take things too far.
"Surnamed Long, what happened?"
"…"
Turning his irritation-filled gaze towards Shao Tianming, who had asked him this question, Long Hua answers—
"What else is there to be said? Look around you."
Towards Long Hua's answer, which is said with a biting tone, Shao Tianming raises an eye; however, before he can say anything else—
"He's quite right. Not much else needs to be said."
Recognizing this to be the handiwork of the same Immortal, who had defeated their group, Wang Yongning raises a sigh, and asks—
"Did that guy escape using the teleportation magic array?"
The moment Wang Yongning asks this, everyone turns their gaze towards the direction he is staring at.
"So that's our way out of here, then?"
"Finally…"
"I'm never setting foot into these ruins ever again."
Walking over to Long Hua, Ye Chen asks—
"How's your wounds?"
"…Mostly some light cuts. I'll bandage them later."
"I see."
Leaving things at that, Ye Chen turns to the others. Despite some ups and downs, they seem to have all made it through this alive.
Being the only who knows about Long Hua's identity as an Immortal, Qing Yue thought—
(This bastard can really act… Uh?)
"…"
Briefly meeting Tian Cheng's glare, a harsh chill runs down Qing Yue's spine.
(Wait… If that doll is able to recognize me, then… Does that mean that—that surnamed Long is already aware of my identity?)
Taking a step back, Qing Yue's complexion turns a bit pale.
(Doesn't this mean that he's also looking for a chance to off me? No, calm down… H-He could technically off me whenever he wants. The fact that he hasn't done so might mean… Uh, let's just not think about it…)
Shaking her head, Qing Yue dismisses these thoughts from her mind.
Off to the side, Shao Tianming examines the damaged machinery with a frown, and asks—
"Yongning, this machine…?"
"Should be it, but it's destroyed…"
"Tch. That Immortal in black, this is probably his main objective in coming here. Having us acquire the Immortal Sealing Chain would make things difficult for his side."
"…"
Picking up on Shao Tianming and Wang Yongning's conversation—through his divine senses, Long Hua exhales a deep breath of air.
(Sounds like those chains can somehow make my life difficult. Hmm…)
Thinking of this, Long Hua turns his gaze towards the damaged computers. Leaving that area undamaged is bound to raise a few suspicions, which is something that he cannot afford.
"Right, let's leave this hellhole."
Agreeing with Ye Chen, Long Hua takes one step forward, but just as he is about to take another—
"Master, I've recorded most of the Immortal Sealing Chain's information down."
Tugging onto Long Hua's sleeve, Tian Cheng whispers this into his ear.
"I see. I'll take a look later."
"Hm?"
Turning her head around, Yu Ji remarks—
"Surnamed Long, you and Lady Cheng seem to have gotten awfully close."
"None of your business, crossdresser."
"…"
Unable to refute Long Hua's comeback, Yu Ji's expression turns sour.
Stepping onto the teleportation magic array in five-man groups, the number of survivors in the room begins to dwindle.
Upon it becoming Long Hua's turn, Tian Cheng says—
"Long-shao, go on ahead."
"I'll wait for you outside."
Exchanging this conversation between themselves, Long Hua steps onto the teleportation magic array with Ye Chen and the others.
As the world in front of them whitens, they are forced to shut their eyes, and upon reopening them—
"Uh?"
"What the…?"
Finding themselves back in the open desert—under the scorching sun again, the group of five can only look around in bewilderment.
"Well, at least this part of the ruins is normal."
Saying this is Shao Tianming, who is standing in front of an oasis—with the remaining seven members of the Ashen River Hall.
Inside of the oasis's waters are various pieces of treasure ranging from household items of high value to weapons. Floating on the water's surface, one can even see a few storage pouches.
"So, is this considered the rewarding phase of ruins excavations?"
Seemingly, it is just as the Ashen River Hall had promised, pieces of Immortal technology can indeed be found inside of the ruins.
(An open-air treasure area? Well, saves me from having to make any more explanations—to avoid suspicion, when everyone is preoccupied by the thoughts of getting rich.)
As Long Hua thought of this, Tian Cheng walked up beside him, and remarks—
"Everyone seems on edge, Long-shao."
"It's human nature to covet for valuables—that are essentially free for the taking, after all."
Practitioners are the same, if not more so than Sinners are.
Through his divine senses, Long Hua can already see numerous individuals with a hesitant light in their eyes, as they stare at the oasis's riches.
When they had entered these ruins, their numbers were over 450, but now—
"There's less than 80 of us left…"
Making a rough head count, Ye Chen frowns. He has a feeling that their numbers are going to receive another culling session.