Before Chen Linjian and the expedition groups arrived, every major family had already dispatched people to explore the ancient ruins of the Ancient Orchid City. However, their findings were minimal, and as a result, not many still ventured to these ruins.
Chen Linjian, however, had acquired a map of the Ancient Orchid City Ruins, which is what spurred his decision to lead an exploration. Yet, the ruins spanned a vast area, and the map he held only gave a vague outline of the terrain.
Stepping out from the forest onto the stone-paved ground, Chen Linjian turned to address the group following him.
"Everyone, we’ve arrived at the Ancient Orchid City Ruins!"
He then pulled out the map, and as the crowd gathered around, he began explaining their options.
"Now, we have two routes we can take. Here’s the map!" Chen Linjian spread it out, pointing at the lines that marked the routes.
The group began discussing the options, with some offering insights. Several of them had been handpicked by Chen Linjian for their expertise in navigation and map reading.
"The first route leads us to the west gate. By following the city walls, we’ll reach the main part of the city quickly," Chen Linjian explained.
"But what will we find on that route? We should explore the houses for spoils!" one of his underlings chimed in, with others quickly agreeing.
"Yeah, we should definitely search around this area!" another added.
Chen Linjian paused, thoughtful. He then turned to Nie Li, surprising everyone by asking for his opinion.
"What do you think, Nie Li?"
Nie Li studied the map for a moment before speaking. "If you’re here just to search the houses, you’re wasting your time. The groups that came before us have likely already looted the commoners' homes. Even if we searched them again, we wouldn't find anything valuable."
"In a city, who holds the wealth? The commoners? Of course not. Most of the wealth is concentrated in the hands of the big families."
I watched from the side, and after glancing at the map, I stepped forward and joined the conversation. "This place spans hundreds of miles, with countless smaller areas. The commoners' houses were destroyed a thousand years ago during the beast attacks. Plus, the map we have is incomplete. How do you expect to identify where the larger families lived?"
"Go on," Chen Linjian urged, turning back to Nie Li.
Nie Li continued. "It’s not as difficult as it seems. The big families usually lived in more secluded areas. If you look at the map closely, you’ll notice that the buildings are more sparse in certain areas. That’s where the wealthier families resided. They often had their own courtyards."
All eyes shifted back to the map as Nie Li pointed at a specific location.
"Here! Look at this section—these larger buildings. That’s where the big families would have lived."
Chen Linjian frowned and said, "I have information that this area has been searched before. While a few items were found, there wasn’t any significant treasure. One of the families even tried digging underground but didn’t uncover any hidden chambers or passages."
Nie Li remained continued, "It's expected that these areas would have been searched already, but let's examine the map again."
He pointed to a specific location on the map. "This aristocratic family’s house is located along the city’s central axis. It's the most heavily guarded and secure area."
He then directed their attention to a spot just behind the house. "And this here? This should be where the City Lord’s Mansion is located."
Chen Linjian nodded, acknowledging the accuracy of Nie Li's deductions. However, he added, "But the City Lord’s Mansion has already been searched thoroughly by earlier expeditions, even below the building, with minimal discoveries."
Nie Li wasn’t deterred. "Let's keep going. A few dozen miles from the City Lord's Mansion, there are three distinctive areas. Do you know what these three places are?" he asked.
Chen Linjian nodded and answered, "One of these is the military training ground, where the City Lord's soldiers once drilled. The second is a heavily constructed stone fort made from some kind of black marble that couldn’t be damaged, even with chisels. As for the third, it's a forested area, overgrown with weeds and trees, but I’m not sure what it was used for."
Nie Li smiled. "You're not far off."
Chen Linjian’s eyes brightened. "So, these areas are suspicious? Could the stone fort be hiding something? Although it’s already been searched."
Nie Li explained further, "That stone fort was likely a disaster refuge, built to protect citizens during an attack or calamity."
"So, you think there might be a secret chamber there, after all?" Chen Linjian inquired, growing intrigued.
"Possibly, but the land near the stone fort is a trap area designed to ward off demon beasts. What I find most suspicious, though, is the military ground." Nie Li’s smile widened.
"Why would the military grounds be suspicious?" someone asked, puzzled.
After all, it was just a stretch of muddy land used for training soldiers—what could be hidden there?
Nie Li’s voice was steady and certain. "The most inconspicuous places are often the best hiding spots. Furthermore, the City Lord chose to place the military ground on the central axis of the city, which isn’t by chance. Something important is likely concealed beneath it."
He pointed at the military ground on the map. "We’ll focus our search here!"
"Alright, that’s settled!" Chen Linjian agreed, decisively. With a clear plan they could save time and avoid unnecessary detours.
Chen Linjian's underlings exchanged glances. Nie Li’s reasoning had earned their respect, and no one questioned his authority in making the decision. In fact, they now felt it was only fair that Nie Li should have the first pick of any treasure they found.
Meanwhile, Huyan Lanruo lifted her head, her eyes sparkling with admiration. Nie Li's sharp, logical mind only made her admiration grow deeper. 'The man I’ve chosen is naturally extraordinary!’ she thought proudly. Though Nie Li had been ignoring her, Huyan Lanruo's determination never wavered—her focus remained entirely on him.
If Nie Li knew what was going through Huyan Lanruo’s mind, he might have burst into tears. Why did he have to step into the spotlight? Now that she had her sights set on him, he feared he’d never be able to shake her off.
Oblivious to her thoughts, Nie Li calmly reached into his backpack, pulling out a crossbow bolt and some Purple Hazegrass powder. He carefully smeared the agent onto the arrowhead, preparing for whatever lay ahead.
"Okay, off we go!" Chen Linjian shouted, his voice rallying the group as they began advancing towards Ancient Orchid City. They moved cautiously along the edge of the walls, taking a relatively quick and safe route. The original path would have been far more difficult, as demon beasts were known to lurk in the complex terrain.
I followed behind my group, thinking about the new information. So Nie Li is convinced the military ground hides something because of its unassuming nature. But the same could be said for plenty of other places in these ruins. The Ancient Orchid City was vast, with countless potential hiding spots.
Couldn't there be hidden areas beneath old houses? Or maybe something buried under the stone structures? I glanced around at the ancient, crumbling walls. There might even be an underground passage or a hidden treasure beneath a major landmark.
The ruins span over a hundred miles. Even with a group of 48 people, searching the entire area would take months.
I narrowed my eyes in suspicion. Is Nie Li really being honest to save us time? Or is he lying to distract everyone and claim the treasure for himself?
I couldn't take this information with certainty. But throughout my journey, the opinions and insights of others had given me a better understanding of how to assess situations like this. I needed more than gut feelings—I needed facts.
Summoning my template, I created a new mission. I input all the relevant information about Ancient Orchid City, along with the mental image of the map I had memorized. In response, a 3D holographic model of the city materialized in front of me, hovering silently.
Run a predictive analysis, I commanded mentally. Immediately, the template began processing the data, cross-referencing landmarks, terrain details, and Nie Li's claims. As the information was analyzed, glowing hotspots started appearing across the city model—potential locations where something valuable or hidden might lie.
I watched intently, hoping this would give me the edge I needed. If Nie Li's right, his chosen location should align with one of these hotspots. If not, I'll know exactly where else to look.
Inside the ruins of Ancient Orchid City
The group was having difficulties moving forward. Occasionally, there would be Blue Armed Apes appearing. These demon beasts have a height of two meters; their thick arms were like pillars but were very agile, and all were Silver-ranked.
Six Blue Armed Apes were moving across the walls of the ruins, tailing our group.
These Blue Armed Apes have fearsome intelligence. Realizing that there were many people, they didn’t go forward and only tailed us, waiting for a chance.
"These Blue Armed Apes are really annoying!" Chen Linjian frowned. Although these Blue Armed Apes did not charge at them, they were a threat, but our group couldn’t do anything to them. And as time passed, more and more Blue Armed Apes would gather together, and once the amount had increased, they would group up to attack.
At this moment, sou a sound was heard. Chen Linjian and the bunch soon saw it was an arrow. The arrow moved and struck a Blue Armed Apes. That ape was hit in the face; it wailed and fell from the high wall, landing heavily on the ground, causing dust to cover the surrounding area. It struggled on the ground but was unable to get back up.
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Seeing that, Chen Linjian immediately rushed over, wielded his sword, and chopped downwards. Plop The blood of the Blue Armed Apes splattered with the demon beast dead on the ground.
The group looked backwards in amazement and only saw Nie Li had fired.
Roars of demon beasts echoed from the depths of the Ancient Orchid City Ruins. Occasionally, groups from Glory City ventured here to explore, hoping to uncover forgotten treasures or knowledge. Today, as one such group began their expedition, another ominous party appeared at the entrance of the ruins.
Fifteen figures, draped in black robes, moved silently toward the city. Their presence was unnatural, like shadows creeping over the ancient stones. At their head was a tall man, his gaze sharp as it swept over the landscape.
"Are you certain there are children from noble families here?" the tall man asked, his voice cold and commanding. His name was Yun Hua, a Deacon of the Dark Guild.
"Yes, Yun Hua Deacon," replied one of the black-robed men, his tone deferential.
Yun Hua's lips curled into a sinister smile. "Good. Capture the three highest-ranked kids. We'll ransom them to their families. As for the others—kill them."
The Dark Guild was a malevolent force in Glory City, infamous for kidnapping nobles and extorting their families for ransom.
Like parasites, they thrived in the city's underbelly, using any means necessary to gather wealth and resources for their guild members. Despite numerous attempts by the city's elite to root them out, the Dark Guild had always managed to slip away, vanishing like mist before the wind.
Rumor had it that the Dark Guild’s headquarters lay hidden deep within the St. Ancestral Mountains, far from the reach of Glory City’s forces. Even Lord Ye Mo, one of the most powerful figures in the city, had been unable to destroy them.
Without a sound, the black-robed figures vanished into the shadows, swiftly moving toward the ruins of Ancient Orchid City, their deadly intent clear.
Meanwhile, after the first ape fell, the remaining ones roared furiously, their cries shaking the ground as they charged at us.
"Everyone, ready your crossbows!" Chen Linjian shouted.
Without hesitation, his men sprang into action. Those armed with crossbows raised them in unison, unleashing a barrage of bolts at the oncoming apes. Those with swords and spears quickly formed a defensive line, shields raised, and weapons at the ready as the apes rapidly closed the distance.
Despite their efforts, Chen Linjian’s men soon realized their arrows were barely effective. The apes were fast, dodging most of the incoming projectiles, and their thick hides rendered the arrows that did land nearly useless.
Nie Li, however, maintained his calm, his sharp eyes tracking the apes’ movements. His accuracy was impeccable—each of his shots aimed for their weak points. In his previous life, his archery skills had reached extraordinary heights.
I took a quick step back, narrowly avoiding the swipe of a massive paw. An ape lunged at me with fury. With a well-placed punch, I struck the beast hard in the face, sending it stumbling back.
The creature was relentless. It regained its balance almost instantly, and its eyes locked onto me as it charged once more.
Back and forth, I unleashed a flurry of martial arts techniques, striking the ape repeatedly with precise blows, and each hit sent the beast staggering.
As the ape swung wildly at me, I dodged, its fist crashing into the ground and shattered the stone beneath. Seizing the moment, I leapt into the air and delivered a powerful kick. The impact sent the ape flying several meters before it crashed heavily to the ground.
Without wasting any time, I reached into my belt, pulled out three shuriken, and hurled them at the downed beast. Each one struck true, embedding deep into its flesh and leaving it howling in agony. Blood dripped from its wounds as it struggled to rise, but I was already moving.
With a swift, decisive motion, I slashed at its neck with my blade. The ape collapsed, its body trembling as it tried to stand once more. Before it could rise, arrows from the nearby group rained down upon it, pinning it to the ground and ending its life.
The battlefield quieted. After a few tense moments, the other groups finished their battles with the remaining apes. The Blue Armed Apes, though a formidable one-star silver rank beast, had fallen to our combined efforts. Even so, it was clear that victory had not come easily.
However the number of beasts continued to grow. Drawn by the sounds of battle, more apes appeared, their massive forms crashing through the trees.
“Roar!” A deafening roar echoed through the air, causing the ground beneath our feet to tremble.
"It’s a spiritual-grade demon beast!" Nie Li's voice was tense.
In the world of demon beasts, their strength is categorized similarly to humans: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Black Gold, and Legend rank. But within these ranks are further distinctions—ordinary, spiritual, and emperor-level demon beasts. Unlike the ordinary apes, a spiritual-grade ape possesses not only greater intelligence but also far superior strength. Emperor-level beasts, on the other hand, are said to have the ability to transform into human form.
Chen Linjian’s expression darkened. "What’s its strength?"
Nie Li quickly gauged the beast's power based on the intensity of its roar. "5-star Silver rank, almost at Gold rank."
Nie Li frowned. "A spiritual-grade beast of this level can rival a Gold-rank human expert. We don’t have anyone strong enough to face it. The most powerful member of our team is only 3-star Silver rank." His words carried a heavy implication—dealing with this beast would be no simple task, especially with the growing number of ordinary apes surrounding them. If the fight dragged on, they could easily be overwhelmed.
Suddenly, a massive Blue Armed Ape, larger than the others, leaped onto the top of the nearby ruins, glaring down at us with intelligence burning in its eyes.
"Follow me!" Nie Li shouted, making a split-second decision as he darted into the nearby forest.
The group hesitated for a moment before quickly following his lead, disappearing into the dense undergrowth.
Furious, the spiritual-grade ape pounded its chest, bellowing loudly. At its command, the lesser apes charged after us, crashing through the trees in pursuit.
But while the apes were fast on open ground, the dense forest slowed them down. Their large size made it difficult for them to navigate the thick foliage.
"Formation!" Chen Linjian commanded, his voice steady.
The group quickly fell into a defensive circle, the Silver-rank experts under his command drawing their weapons. As they prepared for the apes' attack, the archers on the outer edge loosed arrows at the beasts, aiming for any exposed weak spots.
Chen Linjian and his Silver-ranked soldiers met the beasts with a barrage of slashes and strikes. The air filled with the sounds of battle—metal clashing against the tough hides of the apes and the beasts’ enraged growls.
Meanwhile, I stood within the formation, calmly assessing the situation. Having a Gold-rank servant by my side certainly made things easier. While the others struggled to fend off the beasts, I knew our chances of survival were significantly higher with his protection.
The battle raged on, but I remained focused, watching for any opening or opportunity to turn the tide.
The spiritual-grade Ape used the smaller beasts as mere distractions, probing the group's defenses. Its presence filled Nie Li with unease. With his strength only at 1-Star Bronze rank, facing these beasts head-on was impossible. In his past life, when Ye Ziyun and the others explored the Ancient Orchid City Ruins, they never encountered a spiritual-grade demon beast like this.
"We’ll lure it towards the fort!" Nie Li shouted, his voice urgent. The fort's defenses were tighter and could offer them some measure of protection against the ape’s onslaught.
With a deafening roar, the spiritual-grade Ape finally made its move. It leaped into the air, closing the distance in an instant, and swung its massive arm down on one of Chen Linjian’s men who had strayed too far from the group.
Boom! The ape's enormous hand slammed into the man, sending him flying across the clearing. He crashed into a towering tree with a sickening thud. Despite being a 2-Star Silver rank, the man stood no chance. His death in a single blow shook the entire group, many of whom had never faced such a formidable opponent. Fear gripped their faces, pale from shock.
Reacting to the attack, the rest of the group redirected their firepower at the ape. Crossbow bolts and energy attacks flew toward it, managing to land some blows, though they only barely injured the beast.
"This thing is too powerful!" Nie Li muttered through clenched teeth. "And it's the leader of the pack. Its roars are calling more beasts. We’re too big a target. We need to spread out!"
Chen Linjian, assessing the situation, nodded. "Alright, we'll split into four teams and meet at the fort!"
Sou! Sou! In a flurry of movement, the group scattered, breaking into smaller teams. Six squads darted off in different directions, hoping to lessen the ape's pursuit by dividing their forces.
The spiritual-grade Ape paused, surprised by their sudden dispersal. Its strategy to pick them off one by one seemed foiled—until its eyes locked onto Nie Li’s group. Letting out another thunderous roar, it charged after them.
Nie Li’s face tightened into a bitter smile. "Why does it have to be us?" he muttered under his breath. His group was among the weaker ones, which seemed to make them an appealing target for the rampaging ape.
Meanwhile, our group had managed to fend off the apes that pursued us, steadily making our way toward the same direction as Nie Li’s group. As we moved, it became clear that Nie Li was trying to play the hero.
"You guys go first! Hurry!" Nie Li shouted, retrieving several bottles of medicinal agents from his interspatial ring.
Huyan Lanruo’s eyes reddened at the sight. In the face of danger, Nie Li wasn’t thinking about escaping but was determined to cover their retreat.
"Hurry up! Don’t waste time on me!" Nie Li urged again. "I have my own way out. If you don’t split up and run now, none of you will make it out alive!"
After a brief hesitation, the group obeyed, disappearing into the dense forest.
The spiritual-grade Ape charged at Nie Li, swinging its massive hand down toward him. Nie Li quickly dropped to the ground and rolled just in time. Boom! The ape’s palm struck the earth, sending shockwaves through the ground and shattering rocks all around. Debris flew, and two sharp fragments grazed Nie Li’s arm, drawing blood.
The ape hammered its chest and stamped the ground, preparing for another strike.
Nie Li’s brow furrowed as he realized the peril he was in. He could sense the beast's powerful soul force emanating from its body, like a protective membrane enveloping its head. The spirit within the ape was a formidable presence.
"Break!" Nie Li bellowed, focusing all of his soul force into a single, concentrated strike at the ape’s head.
The mental assault hit the spirit inside the ape’s mind, causing it to tremble violently. The beast staggered, its movements momentarily stunned by the psychic blow.
Nie Li knew he couldn't defeat the ape in direct combat—its flesh was too tough for even a sword to pierce. Seizing the opportunity, he sprinted toward the forest, his heart pounding.
The ape, disoriented from Nie Li's mental attack, took a moment to recover. By the time its vision cleared, Nie Li had already put some distance between them. Enraged, the spiritual-grade beast let out a furious roar and bolted after him, tearing through trees and foliage with brute force.
Nie Li could hear the beast closing in, its thundering footsteps growing louder. Anxiety gnawed at him as the gap between them narrowed. He pushed himself deeper into the forest, weaving through the dense trees. Just as he was about to reach a thicker part of the woods, Nie Li sensed the presence of another group nearby.
This group wore black robes, their faces obscured by hoods, and on their backs was a sinister black demon insignia.
As they spotted Nie Li, confusion crossed their faces. What is a kid doing here? they thought. Even more puzzling was how he managed to survive in such a dangerous place. They had been drawn to the area by the roar of the spiritual-grade Ape while searching for Chen Linjian’s group.
"This brat might be a noble’s child. Capture him!" The leader, Yun Hua Deacon, barked. At his command, two black-robed figures moved swiftly to surround Nie Li.
Rumble! The ground quaked as the spiritual-grade Ape emerged from the dense forest, bellowing in rage and charging straight for Nie Li. Without hesitation, Nie Li sprinted toward the black-robed men, forcing them to shift their focus.
Seeing the approaching beast, the black-robed men quickly formed a defensive formation to brace for impact.
Nie Li, in the meantime, darted to the side just in time to avoid the ape's massive palm, which grazed his back. His swift reaction spared him from a devastating blow.
"Kill it!" Yun Hua Deacon shouted, and his men unleashed their swords toward the Ape in a flurry of strikes.
The fierce battle erupted, with sparks flying as metal clashed with the creature's thick hide.
Nie Li caught his breath, a smirk playing on his lips. "I’ll leave this blue-armed ape as a gift for you! I’m off!" He called out, ignoring the pain from his injuries and darting deeper into the forest.
He soon caught up with his group, which had now joined forces with ours. The Dark Guild assassins, too preoccupied with the raging ape, could only watch as Nie Li slipped away.
Yun Hua Deacon’s face darkened with rage. He had been outwitted by a mere child.
After a half hour, a familiar figure emerged from the underbrush—Ye Ziyun.
"Why are you here?" Nie Li asked, frowning in surprise.
Ye Ziyun wasn’t part of their group. She had come to check the area but seemed equally concerned as she noticed the wounds on Nie Li’s body.
Nie Li knew that Ye Ziyun didn’t harbor romantic feelings for him, but her willingness to help brought back memories of his previous life. After Glory City was destroyed, he had followed the exodus of survivors, weak and lost. It was Ye Ziyun who had risked her life to save him back then.
The thought stirred his heart, though he remained silent.
"We need to leave immediately; those people will catch up soon!" Nie Li urged in a low voice.
"Those people?" Ye Ziyun asked, puzzled.
"It’s the Dark Guild," Nie Li explained while they resumed running. "They’re assassins. They were after us but are now tied up fighting the spiritual-grade Ape."
The two hurried toward the rendezvous point as darkness began to descend.