Chapter: *The Gate to the Forgotten Palace*
The convoy came to a halt as the worn landscape shifted around them. Thanos stepped down from the truck alongside Shino and the other soldiers, feeling the weight of the mission settle on his shoulders. Ahead, Princess Imani and her team of archaeologists and researchers moved into the ruins of the ancient village, their voices low as they discussed the significance of the deteriorated buildings. Despite the scenery and the importance of the expedition, Thanos couldn't shake the sense of anticipation gnawing at him. He was hoping they'd find something significant, something that might aid him in his cultivation, yet so far, the ruins had yielded little more than historical artifacts.
As the group ventured deeper into the desolate town, they came across a massive gate, almost 15 feet tall, made of ancient, weathered stone. It was clear that time had taken its toll on the structure. Vines, rust, and rubble had accumulated over the years, sealing the gate shut.
Princess Imani studied the gate carefully, her eyes tracing the ancient carvings along its surface. She turned to the soldiers. "Open it," she ordered.
The soldiers moved forward, grunting as they pushed and pulled at the gate. But it was no use—the vines had grown too thick, and the rubble was packed too tightly. They turned to the princess, requesting permission to use their weapons to blast it open, but she raised a hand.
"No," Imani said firmly. "This is an ancient monument. We are here to learn from it, not destroy it."
She turned to the Qi soldiers. "Use your strength. Open the gate."
The six Qi soldiers who were assigned to her stepped forward, their bodies surging with Qi. They pressed their hands against the heavy stone, channeling their Qi-enhanced strength into their muscles. With a collective push, the gate groaned and shifted. Slowly, it began to give way, the ancient vines snapping and the rubble crumbling as the massive doors creaked open.
What they saw beyond the gate left everyone speechless.
Before them stretched a vast courtyard, overgrown with vines and moss, the remnants of what must have once been a grand estate. In the distance stood the dilapidated remains of a palace, its towering walls cracked but still imposing, draped in greenery. The air was thick with an eerie sense of history, as if the ghosts of the past were watching them.
Princess Imani's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Spread out and begin exploring. Be cautious, but we need to document everything. Alright get your cameras to work."
Thanos and his fellow soldiers took their positions, ensuring the area was secure before they ventured further. The princess's team moved carefully, their voices low as they examined the dilapidated buildings scattered throughout the courtyard. The air was still, almost unnervingly so, until a faint rumbling sound echoed through the palace grounds.
Thanos paused, looking around. "Did you hear that?" he asked Shino.
Shino frowned. "I did… let's keep a look out it's probably a beast. Let's keep moving."
Despite the sound, they pressed on, exploring deeper into the overgrown ruins until they finally reached the palace itself. The walls were covered in vines, the entrance partially collapsed, but the structure had miraculously remained standing through the ages. The air seemed to thicken with energy as they approached the entrance.
Thanos felt a sudden rush of Qi wash over him, a tingling sensation that ran through his body. He glanced at Shino, who nodded. They both felt it. This place was steeped in Qi, remnants of the powerful cultivators who had once lived here.
They pushed through the overgrown entrance vines and stepped inside. The first thing they saw was a grand throne room. The walls were lined with faded banners, and at the far end of the room sat a throne, worn with time. In front of the throne stood an armor set, gleaming faintly in the dim light, untouched by the passage of years.
Princess Imani's voice was soft, but determined. "Take the armor. But be careful."
The soldiers approached cautiously, ensuring that no traps or hidden dangers awaited them. Once they confirmed it was safe, Imani's team began packing the armor into their bags and boxes.
Deeper within the palace, they stumbled upon a library. Dust and cobwebs covered every surface, and the smell of ancient parchment filled the air. As they entered, their torches illuminated the skeleton of a figure seated at a desk, its head resting on its arms. Around its neck hung a key.
The sight sent a shiver down Thanos's spine, but they pressed on, carefully navigating the shelves. The library was filled with history books, novels, and various other texts, but it was clear that this place had once held far more than just knowledge. As they moved to the second level, their eyes widened in awe—they had found cultivation manuals.
"This is incredible," Shino muttered, scanning the shelves. "The Obarisiagbon Clan may not need these, but these are treasures nonetheless."
They explored further, discovering different sections of the library dedicated to blacksmithing, medicine, and even painting. At the far end of one section, a stairway led to another level, though this one was smaller, with far fewer books. At the end of the room stood a metal door, shut tight.
The Qi soldiers tried to force it open, but it wouldn't budge. Princess Imani studied it for a moment. "This material… it's like the door to our Treasury. If we try to break it down, we might collapse the entire structure."
Thanos's mind raced. He remembered the key hanging around the neck of the skeleton downstairs. Without a word, he motioned to Shino, and together they returned to the lower level. Though they hesitated, they took the key and brought it back up.
The key fit perfectly. With a slow creak, the door swung open.
Inside was a small, dimly lit room with only a few shelves. On those shelves were no more than 20 or 30 books and a handful of scrolls. At the far end of the room, several chests lay against the wall. Thanos knelt before one of the chests, curiosity tugging at him. He opened it, and inside, he found a scroll and a small vial.
His heart raced as he read the title at the top of the scroll: *The Indomitable Iron Skin.* It was a battle technique. Without drawing attention to himself, Thanos quickly pocketed both the scroll and the vial.
After a while, they left the library, their bags now heavier with knowledge and treasures. But as they stepped back into the open courtyard, a low snorting sound echoed across the palace grounds.
Thanos froze, his hand instinctively moving toward his wrist activating his gauntlets.
Ahead, a large creature emerged from the shadows—a bull, its eyes glowing red, its fur a deep crimson with intricate patterns etched across its body. It snorted, and with that, its entire head ignited in flames, the heat radiating outward.
The soldiers immediately moved to form a protective ring around the princess, their firearms at the ready.
The bull's eyes locked onto them, and it let out a furious snort, fire rippling across its body.
Thanos tightened his fist, " well it's getting interesting now."