Wang Lei felt the familiar sensation of strength flowing through his body. It was time to leave the temple and continue his journey. As he turned to exit, his eyes caught a faint glow on the altar. There, resting under a flickering light, was a small, radiant potion.
[System Activated]
"You have discovered the Narrow Wash Potion. It is a divine elixir that strengthens your body and greatly increases your physical power. Do you wish to take it?"
Without hesitation, Wang Lei grabbed the potion and downed its contents. He felt his muscles surge with newfound strength, his senses sharpening as his body adapted to the powerful effects of the divine potion.
Outside, the scene was different. The golems and the giant snake he had fought earlier lay lifeless on the ground. Their bodies were large and imposing, but Wang Lei saw opportunity in them.
Wang Lei's inner thought:
If I sell these bodies, I could make some money. But… they're too heavy to carry around.
Just as he pondered what to do, an idea sparked in his mind.
"System," Wang Lei asked, "can I store things inside you?"
[System Response]
"You can store anything in the system's inventory."
A grin crept onto Wang Lei's face. He opened the system interface and, with a flick of his hand, stored the massive bodies of the golems and the snake within the system. The weight that once burdened him vanished instantly.
Suddenly, a screen appeared before him.
[System Alert]
"You have unlocked a special function: Teleportation. You can now teleport anywhere within this ruin using the controller."
Wang Lei examined the mysterious cube, searching for a location to teleport to. However, as he studied the cube, he saw something that stopped him in his tracks—outside the cube, many people were battling monsters.
Wang Lei's inner thought:
So many people are here… but why?
Then it hit him. Of course. It's a ruin. People must have discovered this place and come here searching for treasure.
Among the chaos of battle, two figures caught Wang Lei's attention. One was releasing a massive shockwave of thunder that wiped out monsters in an instant. The other used raw force, crushing beasts with overwhelming power.
Wang Lei's inner thought:
Who are these two? They're incredibly strong…
Realizing the danger, Wang Lei felt a surge of anxiety.
If they find me, they'll probably kill me for whatever treasures I've gathered, he thought. He had no intention of crossing paths with such powerful people.
He quickly decided to teleport directly to his next destination, avoiding them altogether. But before doing so, Wang Lei sent a large, glowing message at the entrance of the city:
"Don't enter this city."
Satisfied, he activated the teleportation and disappeared, reappearing directly at the portal that led out of the ruin. However, as he stood before the portal, another thought crossed his mind.
If the ruin has been discovered, there will definitely be guards stationed outside.
Wang Lei knew from experience that the guards who protected ruins and dungeons were usually not awakeners. Their job was merely to prevent ordinary people from wandering into dangerous places.
Wang Lei's inner thought:
If I use my 'Night Walker' skill and move at full speed, they won't be able to see me.
Not wasting any time, Wang Lei activated his Silent Steps and Night Walker skills, blending into the darkness. His figure blurred as he crossed the portal, slipping past the guards unnoticed. He seamlessly mingled with the crowd of normal people, his presence completely concealed.
Scene Shift: Zhang Tao and Kim Yun
Zhang Tao wiped the blood off his sword, a smirk of superiority on his face.
"These monsters are too weak. They can't even survive one of my attacks. But what can you expect from a white-ranked ruin?" he said with disdain.
Kim Yun, his rival, stood nearby, wiping out waves of monsters with ease using his thunder powers. Just as Zhang Tao prepared to press forward, something caught his eye—there, on the horizon, was a city. A massive, ancient city standing tall in the middle of the ruin.
The group advanced toward it, curiosity piqued. But as they neared the entrance, they saw a large glowing message written in Chinese:
"Don't enter."
The words shocked everyone present. How could there be a message in their language inside an ancient ruin?
Zhang Tao muttered,
"Someone's definitely been here before us." His eyes narrowed with suspicion.
His voice dripped with arrogance as he added,
"What kind of fool thinks a message like this will scare us off?"
Kim Yun, ever cautious, responded,
"Regardless, we should proceed carefully. We don't know what's inside this city. I'll go in with the first scouting group, just to be safe."
Zhang Tao scoffed,
"What? You want all the treasure for yourself?"
The other hunters in their group began to stir, siding with Zhang Tao. Encouraged by their support, they decided to ignore the warning and enter the city en masse. Kim Yun, with his thunderous powers at the ready, led the way, while Zhang Tao and the others followed, determined to find whatever lay hidden in the depths of the ruin.