Chapter 174 Opening the Ruins

The Himalayas, glacial valleys.

For four months, Ruan Ning's team had been lying in wait in this desolate place at an altitude of 6,000 meters, relying on Ruan Ning's mental barrier and Qin Li's defensive domain to evade the Xi family's three thorough searches.

Deep within the canyon, four vessels hung suspended in front of Ruan Ning, their resonant light barely illuminating the ice cave. They all pointed towards the depths of the ice wall, but it was as if they were separated by an unbreakable layer of thick glass.

"Six hours left, the Black Tide fluctuations will reach their peak." Shen Yan stared at the energy detector, the curve on the screen rising and falling like a heartbeat.

"The Shen family and the Fuxing Society have arrived at the foot of the mountain. They have brought at least three large energy focusing devices."

Qin Li retrieved the binoculars from the cave entrance: "Xi Yuan's men have also arrived, guarding the entrance to the canyon. It seems they want to get a share of the spoils after the Shen family opens the ruins."

Lin Yan wiped the thin layer of ice off the blade: "We really can't open it?"

Ruan Ning shook her head: "The resonance of the carrier is only enough to sense the location, but it lacks the 'key' to open it or a specific frequency. It's like knowing where the door is, but not having a doorknob."

She looked at the gloomy sky outside the cave, "We can only wait for them to force their way in and slip in amidst the chaos."

Zhou Min said worriedly, "They must have been on guard when they broke down the door. It won't be easy for them to get in."

"That's why we have to wait until the most chaotic time."

Ruan Ning put away her device. "Qin Li, Lin Yan, Zhou Min, you create chaos on the flanks to draw Xi Yuan's attention. Shen Yan and I will approach the entrance from the other side. Da Huo will use the flames to clear a path during the most chaotic moment, covering our charge in. Remember, the goal is just to get in, not to engage in prolonged combat."

Everyone nodded and began a final check of the equipment.

Six hours later.

The energy field in the canyon became viscous and turbulent, and the ice crystals floating in the air began to vibrate and shatter spontaneously.

On the distant horizon, visible black energy ripples spread across the sky—the peak of the Black Tide had begun.

Almost simultaneously, a deep rumble came from below the canyon!

Three enormous, radar-like energy focusing devices were pushed by the Shen family to a point 500 meters in front of the ice wall, their surfaces illuminating with blue and white patterns. Researchers from the Revival Society were operating them intently nearby.

"Charging begins! Target locked!" someone shouted.

A sphere of light condenses at the front of the energy focuser, and the light grows brighter and brighter!

Deep within the ice wall, the resonance of the ruins suddenly intensified, and the four carriers vibrated violently in Ruan Ning's hands.

"Now!" Ruan Ning shouted.

Qin Li and his two companions darted out from the side like cheetahs, heading straight for the flank of the Xi family's camp!

Qin Li activated his full defensive domain, withstanding several energy beams head-on, followed closely by Lin Yan's sword and Zhou Min's mental attack!

Xi Yuan was indeed drawn in: "Stop them!" He brandished his dark red spear and led his men to meet them.

Below, the energy focuser is fully charged!

"emission!"

Three thick blue and white beams of light simultaneously slammed into the ice wall!

There was no loud noise, only a buzzing sound as if space itself was being torn apart.

The ice wall did not break, but instead rippled violently like water, with the center point collapsing inward and rotating to form a bottomless, pitch-black vortex!

The entrance to the ruins has been forcibly torn open!

"Charge in!" someone in the Shen family's team roared, and several figures rushed towards the vortex.

Seeing this, Xi Yuan forced Qin Li back with a single shot, then turned into a red light and shot towards the entrance!

Other lurking forces could no longer hold back and showed themselves, rushing towards the ever-growing black vortex!

The canyon instantly descended into chaos, with energy explosions and deafening shouts of battle.

"Go!" Ruan Ning and Shen Yan rushed out from their hiding place, clinging to the shadows of the ice wall like two ghosts, weaving through the gaps in the melee.

We're still a hundred meters from the vortex!

Xi Yuan caught a glimpse of Ruan Ning out of the corner of his eye, and his eyes flashed with a fierce light: "It's you!" He actually gave up rushing into the vortex, turned his spear around, and a blazing spear light tore through the air, piercing straight for Ruan Ning's back!

Without turning his head, Ruan Ning condensed his spiritual power into a shield behind him.

Shen Yan turned around, raised his gun, and fired. The bullet hit Xi Yuan's protective energy, sparking, and only delayed him for half a second.

A roaring fire erupted from the flank, a golden pillar of flame shooting towards Xi Yuan! Xi Yuan swept his spear horizontally, splitting the pillar of fire in two, but he was also forced back a step.

This is the only chance!

Ruan Ning gritted her teeth and pushed the resonance of the four carriers to the limit. A layer of four-colored light enveloped her and Shen Yan, and their speed increased dramatically, shooting towards the vortex like arrows released from a bow!

Xi Yuan roared and wanted to chase again, but he was held back by Qin Li and Da Huo, who attacked from the side.

Fifty meters! Thirty meters!

The vortex inlet began to contract unstablely, and energy turbulence appeared at the edges.

Ten meters!

Ruan Ning could even feel the suction force coming from the depths of the vortex.

Just then, a dark figure suddenly appeared from the side!

He was a fourth-tier speed-type ability user in the Shen family's team, wearing a mask and wielding twin blades, aiming straight for Ruan Ning's throat!

Too fast! Ruan Ning was focused on using her mental energy to fight off the vortex's suction and maintain the resonance with her vessel, and didn't have time to defend herself!

Shen Yan suddenly pushed her aside and used his body to shield her!

Pfft!

The double blades pierced Shen Yan's left shoulder, and blood splattered everywhere.

"Shen Yan!" Ruan Ning's eyes were bloodshot.

Shen Yan grunted, but his right hand gripped the other's wrist tightly. His metal-type superpower erupted, crushing the other's wrist bone! At the same time, he kicked the man away.

"Quickly...go inside!" Shen Yan's face turned deathly pale.

Ruan Ning grabbed him and unleashed her last bit of mental energy, turning it into a force that propelled Shen Yan as they slammed into the vortex entrance, which had shrunk to only one person's width of space!

The moment the two figures disappeared into the darkness, the vortex suddenly closed, transforming back into a solid ice wall.

All that remained were a few deep cracks in the ice wall and the deafening shouts of battle outside.

Inside the ruins.

Ruan Ning and Shen Yan fell from a height and rolled several times before stopping.

It was pitch black all around, with only the sound of the two people breathing heavily.

Shen Yan's shoulder wound was still bleeding, and Ruan Ning used her wood-based supernatural abilities to heal him.

"Is this the ruins?" Shen Yan's voice was weak.

Ruan Ning took out a flashlight. The faint light illuminated their surroundings—they were in an extremely wide metal corridor with matte dark silver walls covered with incomprehensible patterns.

The four carriers in her arms were slightly warm, their resonance pointing to the depths of the passage.

"Could Xi Yuan and the Shen family... have come in too?"

Ruan Ning shook her head: "The entrance was only open for a few seconds before it was closed after we came in. If they want to reopen it, they'll have to wait until the next energy focusing recharge, or find another way."

She looked into the depths of the passage. "Let's go in now. Find the control center, or see what this ruin holds."

The passage was long, and footsteps echoed in the empty space. After walking for about ten minutes, a faint light appeared ahead.

The two approached cautiously and discovered that they were in a huge circular hall.