Chapter 279: Finally Seeing Xun Er
Xiao Ze and the Great Elder quickly descended from the tower and, without stopping, left the area in a hurry. Neither of them could guarantee that the energy barrier would keep those skeletal remains at bay. The cultivators searching the tower also saw Xiao Ze and the Great Elder leave hastily. Some felt uneasy and, combined with what they had already encountered in the tower, decided not to stay any longer and also left.
However, there are always those who are not satisfied; having obtained one pill, they wanted more. Therefore, seeing Xiao Ze and the Great Elder leave, they just glanced at them and then continued searching. For them, it was possible that Xiao Ze and the Great Elder had found a more valuable place and left the tower. Having entered the ruins and found such a valuable place, how could they easily abandon it?
After Xiao Ze and the Great Elder left the tower, without stopping, they headed straight to the entrance of the great hall. The remaining cultivators in the tower suddenly felt a vibration in the ground.
"What's happening? Is a battle occurring somewhere?" "In this damned place, we can barely resist the pressure, who would have the strength to fight?" "Then where is this sudden vibration coming from?"
Some quick thinkers immediately connected Xiao Ze and the Great Elder's hasty departure with the situation, and their faces changed drastically, fleeing the tower without looking back. Seeing so many people escaping hastily, others also followed. But some, still unwilling to give up, were delighted to see so many leave, thinking that now all the riches would be theirs. Until a loud crash resounded in their ears, and a skeleton covered in dark energy fell in front of them.
The pressure emanating from that skeleton left them breathless. They had no time to react before the dark energy pierced through their bodies. In an instant, their bodies turned black like ebony and disintegrated into countless tiny particles.
Roar!
A terrifying roar emanated from the skeleton's mouth, destroying the enormous tower in an instant. The skeleton, wrapped in dark energy, ignored those fleeing in terror and fixed its gaze to the east. There was the exit of the great hall.
The speed of Xiao Ze and the Great Elder was impressive, and they quickly reached the entrance of the great hall. The Great Elder, with a solemn expression, said, "These ancient ruins have a great problem!"
"The black sludge emanating from those skeletal remains resembled dark energy, but it seemed even more threatening to me."
Xiao Ze, frowning, added, "Not even when facing the Dou Zun puppets did I feel such a threat."
The Great Elder nodded, "The owner of that black sludge must have reached the sacred realm, otherwise it wouldn't have such a terrifying presence."
"The energy of a Dou Sheng is impressive. Even after so many years, its power remains astonishing. A Dou Sheng is truly a supreme existence in this world!"
Xiao Ze, still fearful, said, "But, before the energy barrier sealed, was that the soul energy of the ancient owner of the skeletal remains warning us?"
"Very likely. According to their words, these ancient ruins are extremely dangerous. And seeing the behavior of those skeletal remains, it's clear that the puppets infiltrated this place a long time ago!"
"The black sludge on those remains seems to have been left by dark energy from ancient times. Otherwise, they wouldn't have reanimated so slowly."
"It's likely that the destruction of this place is related to the puppets."
Both were terrified upon realizing that these ancient ruins had been infiltrated by puppets since time immemorial, becoming their lair. And now, the cultivators who broke in were seeking their own end.
Suddenly, Xiao Ze felt something familiar in a nearby area and his expression changed. The Great Elder, also noticing the spatial distortion, became alert. Before the Great Elder could warn Xiao Ze, he had already stepped towards the spatial distortion with arms outstretched. In the next instant, a young girl dressed in blue flew out of the distortion and fell into Xiao Ze's chest.
"Brother Xiao Ze, I missed you so much!"
The girl's soft voice could melt steel.
"Xun Er, it's been so long..." Xiao Ze hugged her, smiling as he inhaled the familiar scent of the girl. They hugged tightly, enjoying the moment. But the two elders following Xun Er were surprised and showed slight hostility. They knew very well that in the Gu Tribe, the young girl treated even the most talented youths with indifference. Talking to her revealed a cold distance. However, now the girl had thrown herself into the arms of this young man, something that surprised the two elders. If this were known in the Gu Tribe, the talented youths would go mad with jealousy.
"Is that the Great Elder of the Pill Tower?" said one of the white-haired elders.
"Yes, and that young man is Xiao Ze, the alchemist who has recently gained fame in Zhongzhou," explained a black-clad elder.
The white-haired elder observed Xiao Ze, particularly his young face.
"At such a young age, he's already an alchemist... even in the Gu Tribe, his talent is exceptional."
"And as far as I know, he's a descendant of Xiao Xuan."
"Wow! After so many years of inactivity in the Xiao family, a talent has emerged that could even surpass Xiao Xuan."
While the elders conversed, the Great Elder observed Xiao Ze and the young girl. It was evident that Xiao Ze and the young girl had a close relationship. But what really surprised the Great Elder was that the two elders seemed to be from the Gu Tribe, and the girl they were protecting must hold a high position. The only doubt the Great Elder had was how Xiao Ze was related to the Gu Tribe. He knew that Xiao Ze came from Jia Nan Academy in the northwest continent. Could it be that the Gu Tribe sent someone so important to study there?
While everyone had different thoughts, an extremely terrifying presence approached the entrance of the great hall. Xiao Ze frowned and looked towards that presence. Why were the skeletal remains following them? Could it be because he had taken the treasures from the upper level of the tower?
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