Proud Sword Soaring Clouds

Chapter 392: Chapter 284: Discovering New Ruins (2)

A hint of pride finally appeared on Shangguan Yutong’s face as she regained a sliver of confidence before Ling Xiao. After all, her self-esteem had taken a heavy blow seeing the boy who needed her protection just over a year ago suddenly switch roles with her.

Ling Xiao and Song Mingyue exchanged a look. If they wanted to keep their identities hidden, they would have to change their disguises. Besides, staying here any longer would just give their enemies an opportunity to attack.

In any case, they had already gotten what they came for. Plus, Ling Xiao had set up a Bewitching Array at the entrance to the cave on the island trapping the Ten Thousand Year Flood Dragon. No one would ever be able to find that entrance again. ’It’ll be interesting if the Qin Family gets carried away and exposes themselves!’

If those people arrived on the island and found no trace of a Tier Nine Magical Beast, they would naturally assume the Qin Family was playing games. This whole magical beast hunt would surely end on a sour note.

’As for Alliance Leaders, Elders... or any other exchanges and grudges, none of it has anything to do with me. I’ve already found the ingredients for the Small Returning Pill. Once I successfully refine them, I’ll give one to Song Mingyue and have her take it back to the Sea Domain Song Family. Then, I need to make another trip to Penzes Swamp to help the High Priest recover his strength!’

’And it’s also time to let Ye Zi know who her birth mother is!’

With these plans in mind, Ling Xiao nodded. He quickly disguised Shangguan Yutong and Song Mingyue again. Their previous appearances were already known, and with so many powerful experts on the island, Ling Xiao couldn’t afford to be careless.

After they were disguised again, Ling Xiao looked like a middle-aged man in his forties. Shangguan Yutong became a young woman in her twenties with slightly tanned skin. Song Mingyue was once again dressed as a refined young master, but she looked completely different from before. Though still dashing and suave, her height, temperament, and facial features had all been drastically altered!

Looking in the mirror, Shangguan Yutong couldn’t help but gasp in amazement. Ling Xiao’s Disguise Skill was simply miraculous. Moreover, he had produced all the materials and mixed them on the spot! It completely shattered her previous understanding of disguises.

The three of them walked outside. The area was still bustling with activity, and news of what had happened at the Lengning Palace residence hadn’t spread yet. Song Mingyue asked softly, "Can you contact clown?"

Ling Xiao nodded slightly. He had just called for clown telepathically, but he was quite far away. clown was currently rushing over.

The trio planned to head to the seaside first and find a more secluded spot to wait for clown. Every extra moment they lingered here increased the danger.

Just as they stepped out the door, they saw a large crowd of people surging in one direction. Many were talking amongst themselves as they walked. "Gods, the Qin Family is going to regret this. To think they were sitting on such a massive treasure right under their noses and didn’t even know!"

Another person sneered, "What’s there to regret? If it weren’t for that person from the Gu Family who knows Mechanical Skill, that place probably wouldn’t have been discovered for another ten thousand years!"

"But this is the Qin Family’s territory, after all," someone said. "So even if they discovered Ancient Ruins, don’t they still belong to the Qin Family?"

"Heh, you just don’t get it," someone said, showing off what he knew. "This island might be Qin Family territory, but while many of the families and sects at this event are third-rate, second-rate, or not even worth mentioning, several first-rate families have also come! I heard a mysterious super-family has also joined in. You think the Qin Family can possibly keep it all for themselves?"

"Gods, a super-family is participating too? That’s incredible! But it’s true, Qin Family Island is unbelievably lively this time. It’s never been this crowded before—over ten thousand people! The Qin Family’s wealth is truly astounding. I just hope this doesn’t break out into a free-for-all over treasure!" someone said worriedly.

"HAHAHAHA, a free-for-all would be great! If things don’t get chaotic, how are small-timers like you and me supposed to profit from the situation?"

"..."

The three of them exchanged glances. A faint smile appeared on Song Mingyue’s face. "Brother Ling, how about we go check out the commotion?"

A corner of Ling Xiao’s mouth lifted. "As you wish, Brother Song. It might be good to blend in with the crowd and take a look. Let’s just hope it’s not a Qin Family scheme."

Although Shangguan Yutong didn’t really want to go, she saw how interested the other two were and had no choice but to follow. Fortunately, their current disguises were completely different from their previous ones, making them utterly unrecognizable.

Besides, Ling Xiao’s perception was extremely sharp; he would immediately know if anyone was tailing them. As long as they didn’t have to fight, they had no fear of being recognized.

It turned out the Qin Family Island was vast. The inhabited area was just a tiny fraction of it, with large swathes of desolate land. Among the families attending the exchange event was the Gu Family, renowned as a "Mechanical Master Family"!

In terms of combat strength, the family was second-rate at best, with its strongest members only reaching the rank of Sword Emperor. Even so, not even the super-families dared to underestimate the Gu Family!

This was because, from ancient times to the present day, every generation of the Gu Family had produced a Mechanical Grandmaster!

Ancient Ruins were often protected by incredibly precise mechanisms. Even after a hundred thousand years, these mechanisms retained their formidable power! Their exquisite craftsmanship and immense strength were a headache even for many experts at the Sword Emperor level!

In the case of exceptionally formidable Ancient Ruins, a single, intricate mechanism could even control the raising and lowering of the entire structure!

If someone unfamiliar with Mechanical Skill were to enter rashly and the entire ruin sank, they would be trapped—unless they possessed heaven-defying power. Otherwise, even a master like a Sword Venerable would be imprisoned!

After all, while a Sword Venerable is powerful, they are not a god!

If you threw them into a stone chamber with walls hundreds of meters thick and sank it a thousand meters underground, they wouldn’t be able to get out either!

This was where the value of a Mechanical Master became apparent. They were experts in mechanisms. Basically, any place with mechanisms could be cracked by them. Even if they couldn’t do it instantly, they could solve it if given enough time!

Thus, a saying circulated among the hidden families and sects: "There is no mechanism the Gu Family can’t solve!" Some even claimed that members of the Gu Family had actually participated in designing many of these mechanisms back in the Ancient Era!

The person who discovered these Ancient Ruins was a disciple from a third-rate family. He had accidentally found a flat slab of rock in a stream! It even looked like there were characters carved on it!

According to the Qin Family, that stream had always been there and had never changed. An earlier set of Ancient Ruins had already been discovered on this desolate island, located directly beneath the current Qin Family residential area.

The treasures inside those ruins had long since been cleared out. The Qin Family had, of course, tried to find a second set of Ancient Ruins on the island over the years, but no one had ever succeeded.

The disciple who found the rock grew curious and carefully cleared away all the surrounding pebbles. To his utter astonishment, he discovered that the slab of rock was far larger than he could have ever imagined!

He even went several dozen meters downstream and eventually found another similar slab. It looked like it was connected to the one he had found earlier!

The matter quickly drew the attention of many people, including members of the Gu Family. As expected of a family of Mechanical Masters, a young disciple from the Gu Family, who was only a Tier One Demon Swordsman, found an entrance in less than half a day. It was located on the side of a mountain. At this, the entire Qin Family Island was thrown into an uproar!

There was an unwritten rule among the families and sects: finders keepers. Whoever discovered the ruins, owned them!

But the current situation was a mess. If things weren’t handled carefully, a massive conflict could easily break out!

So, representatives from many of the major families and sects were now at the scene, discussing how to excavate the ruins and how to divide the spoils. As for the fellow who discovered it, he was guaranteed a share no matter what!

The guy was so excited he nearly fainted!

Of course, all of this was predicated on no world-shaking treasures being unearthed from the ruins.

If a truly rare treasure appeared, it would be a miracle if a violent struggle didn’t break out.

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