This conversation between Wu Guang and a lizardman finished an hour or so later. They discussed several things more and Wu Guang shared everything he knew about the low-tier beastmen.

Among the other ones, there was a question from the lizardmen on why Wu Guang always said humans of this plane and not humans as a race. To which Wu Guang for the first time of his arrival to this world revealed his real self. This was outside his character, but Wu Guang knew that any beastmen who said so would never reveal any secrets, preferring to be killed before. And in truth, he did want to reveal himself to at least someone, as his personality was still half mixed with the original one of the body.

The lizardmen also asked for a name from Wu Guang, after all, if a contract was formed he would be named anyways and he received one - Kass Shaa'r. Which in beastmen language would be written and translated as 'Life Friend'. There was also another meaning to Kass which was Green, so the name suited both the looks, intentions, and hopefully future.

Before the lizardmen, now Kass Shaa'r retired and went back to the place he was living now they agreed to meet here in exactly six months. Wu Guang also answered a previously asked question right before he left. The question was why he did not see any brethren or any other beasts when regaining consciousness, albeit the truth was pretty cruel

"When a heavenly evolution takes place, all of the life force and qi around is gathered into the being undergoing it. So even if it pains me to say it, all of them were consumed for the evolution"

"I see... Well, at least now I know what happened. Let's meet in six months there, Wu Guang. For that time I hope that I will grasp all the knowledge I have and become useful" With this said he exited the building and quickly disappeared towards the north.

***

Wu Guang calculated that he had used up at least three hours for this unexpected conversation and so in place of leaving to hunt he decided to use the remaining time before Yuan Taotu return to hide any possible tracks and clues about it happening at all. In truth, he did not want to hide it, but because even Yuan Taotu would not understand how it was possible to dialogue with a beast, Wu Guang decided to do it so. Actually, Wu Guang thought that in reality except him who had met an enormous quantity of beast people and even had several of them living in the Astral Forest he ruled, no person on this plane would speak with Kaas Shaa'r. Even though the latter understood and could communicate in the common language.

While erasing the tracks Wu Guang internally was feeling pretty happy. Not only he had found a companion that could reach a strength equivalent to the most powerful cultivators in this plane, but also found out the answer to the matter of the disbalance in qi. "So the lack of astral component in qi around the zone is because the evolution used it up. This also explains why it still did not recuperate" Solving this single of many pending questions, Wu Guang's mind changed tracks and returned to a favor he had asked of Shaa'r.

The favor was actually nothing important in the grand course of things he was involved but at least it could help him right now. He had asked Shaa'r who's senses should be equivalent to an Earth realm beginner to scan the surroundings and tell about what he could sense. This was done in hope of finding the secret behind the ruins, after all, any information, relics, or even treasures were extremely valuable to Wu Guang right now. He could have used his own consciousness to scan the place, but in truth, he feared overtaxing it. Considering that the consciousness and soul were not fully connected to his current body, he had decided a few days ago to stop any usage of them until he connected them.

The favor wasn't a big deal, and actually, it had benefited the not fully awakened lizardman as well. Kass Shaa'r was recently awakened and so had no opportunity to learn his new abilities, after all, a direct evolution from a simple non-spirit beast was too extreme. Thankfully the senses and consciousness of a beastman operated similarly to the humans, so Wu Guang managed to explain and guide him.

And so the results of that scan were what now occupied Wu Guang's mind. There were indeed two secret rooms, but they were obscured by runes, so he would need to find and disrupt them to reveal the entrance. Kass Shaa'r did manage to pinpoint their location, albeit not perfectly. So Wu Guang decided to wait for Yuan Taotu and then search for them using other methods.

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***

Yuan Taotu returned right with the sunset and found a meditating Wu Guang right before the doors of their base. Unbeknownst to him, Wu Guang had just finished clearing all the qi tracks that a Spirit beast and especially a Saint one would leave. For this process, the best option was to use the surrounding qi. And so for the next hour, Wu Guang constantly used his 'Flame Fist' and 'Flame Kick' techniques with a few short breaks for recovering.

Yuan Taotu noticed the disturbed qi, but simply noted that his partner was supposed to hunt and not train.

"Sorry, I felt a bout of inspiration when I arrived here and so decided to not miss it" was the excuse Wu Guang came with, and from the other party's reaction, it was believed.

After his partner told him about his hunting exploits, which were actually pretty similar to the previous days in being a dozen or so non-spirit beasts, Wu Guang changed the theme

"I found that there are indeed secret rooms in the building"

"Really?" Yuan Taotu asked in surprise, at least as far Wu Guang knew that the fact that such twitching of the eyelids signified surprise.

"Yes. I briefly uncovered a few runes while training"

"Yes. So?"

"I did not manage to pinpoint the critical junctures so I decided to agitate the qi inside and simply wait for it to return to normal before trying to find them"

"It should be time then?"

"Yes... Well it should be about time, let's go in"

The pair slowly pushed the doors open and entered the main hall they occupied for the camp.

Agitating the qi or if worded more simply using qi, absorption, and control techniques during a time so the qi changes its normal flow. This was the only available search strategy for any cultivator that could not expand the consciousness, either because of the lack of capacity as in their case or because of some restriction. As runes and formations as well qi creatures including cultivators needed a flow of qi to work or sustain themselves, the agitation and subsequent tranquilization would let an observer determine the direction of any active absorption.

Considering the size of the room it was an impossible task, but Wu Guang had said that he mostly located them. This reduced the area to search and so Yuan Taotu was sure that they would manage.

His assumptions proved to be correct as indeed both of them quickly found several qi currents that flowed towards two spots of the side walls.

With the center of the absorption located the pair would now simply need to damage the wall there. It would take several attempts until they hit any of the runes. But when they did, it would disrupt the entire set. Normally runes were hidden, but indoors and in a restricted area they should be far less protected.

Wu Guang was surprised that the system used to hide the rooms was a rune one as from what he knew formation should have worked fine before the cataclysm. And as the ruins predated it, they should have used formations for such. Still, he could not answer this right now, so he could only add it to the long list of other unsolved questions.

One would think that the rooms were cleared and evacuated with the rest of the things inside the building. Still, Wu Guang knew that secret rooms normally contained sensitive things and as some could not be shown to the outer world, something may remain.

Both of them wanted to enter right away, but Wu Guang proposed to wait until the morning, to which Yuan Taotu agreed after listening to the reasons. The main point was that they would be fully rested and prepared. But the most convincing was far simpler, the night was the time of the yin, and any ghost or spirit that could exist in such a forgotten location would be stronger.

Wu Guang convinced Yuan Taotu that they should be safe tonight and so proposed to take turns to sleep as before. It did take a bit of insistence, but sleep was indeed needed, and so the latter agreed.

When morning arrived, even before eating they proceeded towards the place they had marked. It took them a few attacks, but in the end, they did damage a rune or two and a stone door became visible. They had decided beforehand to explore one passage at a time and so did not proceed to the other marked location, opened this until now hidden door. It was a bit heavy, but they managed in the end. After opening, they saw a small, not more than a few feet corridor that ended with another door, this one made of reinforced steel.