Chapter 13 — From Ruins to the Dharma Lord's Throne

A month of preparation passed quickly, filled with training sessions for combat coordination between the six members of the group. Đông Vũ Khanh spent most of his time in the academy library, rummaging through ancient books and old maps to sketch out the safest route to the Ancient God Ruins, and at the same time contacting a few old sources that his family had kept in touch with since they were active in the White Wing Alliance.

"According to what I have gathered," Vũ Khanh spread an old leather map on the table in his private study, pointing to a point marked in red ink deep in the northern mountains, "The Ancient God Ruins are located about two days' journey from Borderland, surrounded by a dense forest called the Shadow Forest, where many expeditions have disappeared without a trace in the past."

"It sounds a lot more dangerous than Desolate Tomb," Bạt Sơn said, his voice a bit worried but his eyes remained steady.

"That's right." Vũ Khanh nodded. "So we need a detailed battle plan, clearly assigning each person's role. Nhược Đông will be in charge of the front-line defense with Bạt Sơn, forming a solid shield. Tịch Dao and Tuyết Nhi will be responsible for long-range attacks, providing support when necessary. Dịch Phàm, with the special ability to purify evil spirits, will be the key force to deal with any evil beasts we encounter. And I will observe the overall situation, coordinate tactics, and warn of danger in time."

During rehearsals, the group gradually learned to trust and complement each other. There were times when Bạt Sơn set up his earth shield half a beat too late, causing Tịch Dao to almost get hit by his teammate's practice attack, causing the two to argue heatedly in the middle of the practice field before making up with a small duel to relieve their frustration. There were evenings, Nhược Đông quietly stayed alone at the training ground after everyone had gone home to rest, honing each ice technique until it was absolutely proficient, because she knew clearly that, in the defensive formation, a small mistake of hers could cost the whole group.

The plan was agreed upon by the whole group after many discussions and rehearsals on the practice field. Director Hầu Đạt Sơn, although not completely reassured, also agreed to grant permission for the expedition, on the condition that the group must bring enough emergency communication talismans and report the situation periodically.

"I cannot stop you if you are determined," he said during the meeting before the departure. "But I want you to promise, if the situation gets beyond your control, withdraw immediately. There is no truth worth more than your lives."

"We promise, Headmaster." The whole group replied in unison.

Early on the morning of their departure, six people gathered at the main gate of the academy, each carrying the necessary luggage for the long trip. Tuyết Nhi convinced her father to allow her to participate, although Chiêu Bách Uyên also sent two additional personal guards from the Chiêu family to accompany the group in an emergency, stopping at the safety boundary near Vong Anh Forest to wait.

The journey to Biên Cương Tàn Dạ took nearly two days, crossing lands that became more and more desolate and barren as they approached the northern border. The rich landscape of the Tinh Quang plateau gradually gives way to sparse forests, bare hills, and finally the Shadow Forest - an old forest with giant tree trunks and dense foliage that completely obscures sunlight, creating a creepy, gloomy space even in the middle of the day.

On the way, the group passed through several small villages scattered near the border, where residents lived in a state of anxiety because they often suffered small attacks by evil beasts escaping from the Dark Alliance's influence area. An old man in the village, upon learning that the group were students of Tinh Quang Academy, pulled Dịch Phàm's hand back, his eyes cloudy with age but still shining with urgency. "Children, if possible, tell the academy to send more guards here. We have endured this fear for too long."

Those words deepened Dịch Phàm's determination to end the threat from the Dark Alliance, not only for his parents, but also for the countless innocent people who are living in fear every day.

"The atmosphere here is different." Nhược Đông commented, his voice low, his eyes carefully observing the surroundings. "I can feel a dark energy covering this forest."

"That's the reason why many expeditions went missing when they entered here," Vũ Khanh said, holding a special magic compass designed to navigate even in environments with aura disturbances. "The Shadow Forest is said to be affected by energy remnants from an ancient great war, rendering conventional navigation methods useless. We must follow the route we have calculated in advance, and must not separate from the group under any circumstances."

The whole group entered the forest in a tight formation, Bạt Sơn and Nhược Đông took the lead, Tuyết Nhi and Tịch Dao were in the middle, Dịch Phàm and Vũ Khanh went last to observe the overall situation. Dịch Phàm clearly felt the Mixed Origin Spirit Root in his body reacting violently to the heavy atmosphere of the forest, as if his body was warning of some huge source of evil energy hidden ahead.

After many hours of walking through narrow and dense paths, the group finally reached a clearing in the middle of the forest, where a giant stone structure was revealed, half submerged, half submerged under the soil and firmly attached by tree roots - the gate to the Ancient God Ruins.

Unlike Hoàng Lăng Ruins, whose decorative motifs were sophisticated, the entrance gate here had an ancient but menacing beauty. It was engraved with complex characters that emitted a pale red light, flashing continuously like a slowly beating heart.

"The protective array here is still much more active than the one at Hoàng Lăng Ruins," Tuyết Nhi commented, her sharp eyes observing every line carved on the stone gate. “It seems like this place really holds something important.”

Dịch Phàm stepped closer to the gate, stretched out his hand, and felt the strange energy emanating from inside. Unlike the familiar warm feeling from the jade piece, this flow of energy was cold, heavy, carrying a chilling, haunting feeling of pain and despair.

"Something is very wrong inside," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "I feel... suffering. A lot of suffering."

The group exchanged worried looks, but no one had any intention of turning around. After months of preparation, after all the sacrifices and determination put into this journey, they had come too far to retreat.

"We are well prepared for this situation," Vũ Khanh said, trying to keep his voice calm even though he could also feel the tension rising in the air. "Follow the plan, keep a tight formation, and be ready to retreat at the first signal of danger." Dịch Phàm nodded, placed his hand on the stone gate, feeling the Mixed Origin Spirit Root in his body resonating with the ancient formation. After a tense moment, the giant stone gate shook, emitting a rumbling noise like thunder, then slowly opened, revealing a dark corridor leading deep underground, where the pale red light of the ancient formation flickered as if welcoming, or perhaps, warning them of what lay ahead.

"Let's go," Dịch Phàm said, his voice filled with determination even though his heart could not avoid the ripples of anxiety. "The truth about my parents, about the Tàn Dạ battle, is waiting for us ahead."

The group stepped inside, the stone gate slowly closing behind them with a resounding noise, as if the Shangyuan continent itself was holding its breath waiting for what they were about to discover within this ancient and mysterious ruin.

Two Chiêu family guards stood outside the gate, according to the pre-arranged agreement, ready to rescue the group if it encountered danger it could not handle. Inside the dark corridor, the pale red light of the ancient formation shone on the faces of six young people, each with a different expression—Dịch Phàm with a steady look mixed with anxiety, Tuyết Nhi calm but highly alert, Bạt Sơn clutching his weapon ready to fight, Tịch Dao with a small flame flickering in her palm to light the way, Nhược Đông quietly observing every corner, and Vũ Khanh constantly recording every detail in his notebook.

No one said a word as they took their first steps into the ruins, only the sound of footsteps echoing on the ancient stone floor, mingling with the beating hearts of all of them.