Scream after scream echoed through the air, and the Exotic Beasts ahead seemed even more formidable. Witnessing limbs and severed arms being flung about, Han Yan felt a chill in her heart.
By this point, she could no longer afford to worry about the life and death of others; she simply did not have the energy to care. These people insisted on believing the lies the Qu family spun, completely disregarding her warnings. Just before, there had been a chance to retreat and survive, yet no one took it. Though her strength was not inconsiderable, she was incapable of saving so many.
All she cared about at this moment was Mu Feng’s welfare—that fellow might be foolish, but at least he showed concern for his kin, a redeeming quality that suggested he was not beyond help. It would be a shame if he foolishly threw his life away.
"Let’s hurry." Han Yan thrust her sword with all her might, slaying the Fierce Bear in front of her, and rushed forward without her feet barely touching the ground.
Yan Yuchu noticed Han Yan’s worry and, guessing she was anxious about something, also quickened his pace.
Without Mu Cheng and Wu Qiuyun, the two of them moved much faster and soon caught up with the group ahead.
By this time, Qu Fengting had already charged to the entrance of the palace, pushing hard against the great doors.
Excitement was written all over his face, and his hands trembled ever so slightly as they pushed the doors.
Finally, he had arrived. Soon, he would behold the Ancient Treasure that the Qu Family Ancestor’s will spoke of. Although their group had paid a steep price, with nearly a thousand Swordsmen reduced to less than two hundred survivors, what did that have to do with him? If he could obtain the strange treasure, what did it matter how many had died?
He wasn’t the least bit concerned about repercussions from this event being exposed; as long as he had the strange treasure, not even the Royal Family of Anyun Country would dare to hold him accountable. He had nothing to fear.
At last, the great doors were pushed open.
Sunlight flooded in, and the first thing that caught the eye were the sixteen massive stone columns, like the God’s pillars from legend that support heaven and earth, holding up the high vault of the ceiling. Between these giant pillars stood an altar carved from a single block of granite.
At the very center of the altar, a beam of light shot down from above the dome, about a foot in diameter.
"Found it!" Unable to contain his ecstasy any longer, Qu Fengting charged toward the beam of light.
"Boom!" A muffled thud echoed as Qu Fengting staggered backward several steps from the impact, knocking several people who were following close behind flying.
From a distance, Han Yan witnessed this scene and felt her heart leap; clearly, this beam of light was the Seal mentioned by the Wu Family Ancestor, and the strange treasure must be within it.
"Alliance Leader," Mu Feng caught Qu Fengting, who was spitting out blood. Latest content published on novel·fire.net
The others, initially filled with hope rushing into the palace, came to an abrupt halt upon seeing Qu Fengting so seriously injured.
"This is a Seal used to block the passage. We must break it in order to escape from the Exotic Beast Valley," Qu Fengting explained to them, trying to soothe the unsettled breath in his chest.
"What should we do?" the others asked anxiously, like ants on a hot pan.
They had barely broken free from encirclement, from a thousand Swordsmen to less than two hundred remaining. Now unexpectedly facing a blockaded passage sealed by a Seal heightened their despair and anxiety.
"In the ancient books treasured by my Qu family, there is knowledge of the Sealing Technique. I have learned some; you all fend off those Exotic Beasts while I break the Seal," Qu Fengting said solemnly.
"Alliance Leader, please hurry. We won’t be able to hold on much longer," one of his trusted aides urged Qu Fengting desperately.