Chapter 936: Realm Of The Holy Ruins (2)

“This is the Huangliang Desert, the outer region of the Holy Ruins,” the Grand Princess said as she leaped onto a high wall. “We have now penetrated about one thousand five hundred kilometers into the Huangliang Desert. If we continue forward, we will enter its deeper regions, where strange occurrences could happen. Be cautious, as danger can strike at any moment.”

Information about the Huangliang Desert instantly flashed through Li Xiaofei’s mind. This desert contained many sand-dwelling beasts of various kinds. Although they were called beasts, they were actually not living creatures. They were a strange type of monster that existed in a state between life and death. They could be born from the desert at any time, and just as easily dissolve back into sand.

When they emerged, they would attack any nearby creatures and drain their energy. Once they were killed, however, they would leave behind some energy crystals. These crystals were known as Evolution Coins, which was the currency of the Reaper world.

Reapers could devour the energy within the crystals to enhance their strength, purify their bloodlines, and increase their combat power. After reviewing the relevant information, Li Xiaofei found himself deeply curious about these sand-dwelling beasts. It was hard to imagine what a creature that existed between life and death might be like.

Moments later, he saw one for himself. In the distance, a stretch of yellow sand appeared completely lifeless, yet suddenly the sand grains seemed to be drawn together like iron filings to a magnet. In an instant, they gathered into a swirling mass of sand that rushed toward the group.

The elder known as Long stepped forward and cleaved the sand mass apart with a mountain-splitting axe. The sand dispersed silently, but several hundred pale yellow, round crystals tumbled out from within the scattered grains of sand. Elder Long extended his palm and summoned all the pale yellow crystals into his grasp.

“Level Four Evolution Coins. Collect them,” he said, scanning the crystals expressionlessly before ordering the guards behind him to store them away.

Li Xiaofei’s eyes were filled with surprise and curiosity.

Was that sand mass just now a sand-dwelling beast? It truly was strange.

These things, formed randomly from the accumulation and combination of sand grains, left him wondering what force brought them together. They clearly possessed no sign of life, yet they could move like a living creature and had a wild and frenzied desire to devour and slaughter living beings. Intriguingly, they could also be killed.

𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

After their deaths, they would release energy crystals. Just how were these things created? It was Li Xiaofei’s first time encountering such creatures. When another sand-dwelling beast emerged, Li Xiaofei stepped forward.

He swung his Darkblade, cleaving apart the rolling, wheel-like monster. He found that killing a sand-dwelling beast felt no different than hunting a wild animal. Even ordinary weapons could harm and kill the sand-dwelling beasts if one had enough strength. Ordinary sand-dwelling beasts possessed a combat strength equivalent to stage four to stage five. Elite sand-dwelling beasts were comparable to stage six.

For Reapers, these lifeless but highly aggressive creatures were definitely a deadly threat. Experts from the six great clans also joined the fight, hunting the sand-dwelling beasts and clearing a path.

Everyone obtained a significant amount of Evolution Coins. However, none of them had come for this kind of reward. After spending approximately three days, they finally emerged from the Huangliang Desert.

As the outer region of the Holy Ruins, the desert’s only value lay in hunting the sand-dwelling beasts for their Evolution Coins. It was considered one of the more barren areas of the Holy Ruins, offering few opportunities and no hidden realms.

At the desert’s edge lay a narrow oasis. A marshy grassland also came into view beyond the oasis. From a distance, the green meadow looked full of life.

At the same time, some ancient and massive white statues, carved in the likeness of big-nosed giants, lay half-submerged in the swamp, resembling ancient slumbering gods in the water.

The scenery looked tranquil and beautiful, like a living painting. But everyone could sense the danger within. Silver bubbles continually rose from the transparent and clear shallow water, radiating a menacing aura.

“The Pure Water Swamp, an outer region of the Holy Ruins. This is a level-three danger zone. There is a certain probability that hidden realms will emerge. Those below stage five who enter such realms have a seventy percent mortality rate. Stage six has a thirty percent mortality rate, and stage seven has an eight percent mortality rate,” the Grand Princess said slowly.

Li Xiaofei felt his heart jolt. They had finally reached a region that contained hidden realms. He had long wanted to experience what these hidden realms within the Holy Ruins were really like.

Everything he had read about them had been very vague. Moreover, an in person visit would always be clearer than reading about it in text.

Everyone skimmed quickly across the surface of the water. This swamp covered an even larger area than the Huangliang Desert they had just passed through. Looking around, there were meadows, shallow ponds, and white statues of various shapes everywhere.

After half a day, they still had not reached any sign of human settlement. Suddenly, a scream of pain rang out. Li Xiaofei quickly turned toward the sound.

He saw a warrior from the Yeniao clan suddenly caught by a statue in the swamp and instantly crushed into a pulp. The warriors of all the great clans immediately leaped into the air like startled flies, keeping their distance and warily eyeing the white statues below.

A look of surprise crossed Li Xiaofei’s face.

The white statues were not living beings, and there were no mechanisms or energy formations inside them. Even the six-armed statue that had just killed the stage five warrior from the Yeniao clan was the same. It was a mystery why they suddenly attacked.

Who or what enabled them to launch a surprise attack?

thought Li Xiaofei.

Whoosh whoosh.

Dozens of energy beams slammed into the white statue. The statue instantly shattered with a thunderous crash. Scattered stone fragments splashed into the water, stirring ripples. But the Yeniao clan experts’ probing attacks achieved nothing more.

No further chain reactions were triggered. Zhou Shisan’s expression remained utterly calm. The death of one or two ordinary warriors was nothing new. However, many people became more cautious.

“Be careful,” Wei Xiaotian approached Li Xiaofei and whispered. “Once a white statue’s death sacrifice starts, it means a hidden realm is certain to open. If you notice anything unusual around you, stay alert. Once we’re inside a hidden realm, everyone is on their own. Don’t be fooled by how easy the Grand Princess makes it sound, even a stage seven or eight expert could fall inside a level-three or four hidden realm.”

Li Xiaofei glanced at him. “Are you worried about me?”

“What else? We’ve at least had some good times together,” Wei Xiaotian replied.

“Get lost,” Li Xiaofei shot back. “If you can’t talk properly, just keep quiet... If you really care about me, then tell me the whereabouts of Si Kongxue and my daughter.”

Wei Xiaotian said, “I didn’t tell you before because I was afraid you’d act rashly. Now I’m not telling you because I’m worried for your safety. But since you insist on asking, I’ll tell you.”

He actually agreed.