Chapter 76: Pandora’s Box

Chapter 76: Chapter 76: Pandora’s Box

Staring at the sky.

It was at once an action, a state of mind, and even... an interjection.

The moment he lifted his head and saw the scene above, Su Han’s mind went completely blank.

’What... the hell is going on?’

’I don’t remember seeing any hollows in these trees when I flew up before.’

’What the hell are these gaping holes that have split open on the massive trees overhead?’

’Why... is sap constantly dripping from these cracked-open tree hollows?’

’Why does this give me the distinct impression of some ferocious beast, starved for millions of years, drooling at the sight of a delicious meal? What the hell is going on?’

Before he could figure out what was going on with the sap-dripping hollows above, Su Han suddenly felt what seemed like a small hand tickling him.

It was like a mischievous child trying to be friendly.

However... the instant he felt its hard touch, the hairs on Su Han’s body stood straight up.

If he were in the Prince’s Residence, he would have no objection to such a familiar gesture.

But he wasn’t in the Prince’s Residence. He was in a ruin with no signs of life other than the trees.

’These ruins... Father said they weren’t dangerous at all, and that I could take any opportunities I came across.’

’And my ancestor apparently came in here before, even leaving behind a Skill Tree with the Divine Technique, Nine Swords.’

’But... the master of these ruins was a terrifying entity from ancient legends, known as the Second Taboo.’

’In ruins like these, you can never be too careful.’

He spun around suddenly, but behind him, there was nothing suspicious besides the endless giant trees.

’So... am I just being too paranoid?’

DRIP...

Overhead, the sap continued to drip, and it even seemed to be picking up speed.

Despite its fragrant aroma of Spiritual Qi, Su Han was overcome by a sudden wave of nausea and instinctively dodged the dripping sap.

He sensed something strange behind him and instinctively turned his head...

Huh?

’Is it my imagination?’

’I clearly remember that the branch hanging down from this tree wasn’t in this position before. Did the wind move it?’

He watched, puzzled, for a while, but still, nothing behind him changed.

He focused his mind and scanned his surroundings.

He whipped his head around!

’Found you!’

"I knew it was you causing trouble."

Looking at the branch that had stealthily moved behind him, now less than ten centimeters from his back, a cold glint flashed in Su Han’s eyes.

His longsword left its sheath. In an instant, thousands of sword gleams flashed, and the surrounding branches were all cleanly severed. After falling, they writhed on the ground like severed tentacles until they finally went still.

But Su Han knew this didn’t mean he was safe.

Seeing countless branches stretching toward him, Su Han didn’t hesitate for a second. He shot skyward, breaking free just before they could close in.

Thousands of tentacle-like branches shot toward Su Han to crush him. He executed Moon Shadow Step in mid-air, shifting two meters upward as if using Instant Teleportation, then slashed down repeatedly with his sword in one hand.

He cut down the pursuing branches, gaining a moment of safety. ℯℯ𝑙.

"Hah... Father is as unreliable as ever. *This* is what he calls ’no danger’?"

"If this doesn’t count as dangerous, then his standards are way too high, aren’t they?"

Su Han was rendered speechless as he looked down at the forest. It had grown completely still again, as if trying to tell him, ’Don’t be afraid, we mean you no harm.’

If not for the severed branches he could faintly see on the ground through the gaps he’d cut, he almost would have believed that everything that just happened was an illusion.

With Su Han’s personality, he couldn’t just let an attack like that slide. He had to get even.

But... gazing down at the seemingly endless forest that stretched for thousands of miles, he hesitated. He decided against charging down to fight the trees by himself.

"I’ll spare you for now. But when I’m free, I’ll be back to settle this."

After leaving them with that threat, Su Han shot higher into the sky.

’I can’t stay in the forest. No matter how many skills I have, I’m no match for these endless, tentacled trees.’

’If I can’t beat them, I’ll just have to avoid them in the sky.’

Fortunately, while the forest had become terrifying for some unknown reason, the danger in the sky seemed to have passed.

He had been flying up here for a while, and the pressure that had crushed him and made him fall to the ground hadn’t reappeared.

Flying in mid-air, making sure the branches from the forest below couldn’t reach him even if they stretched, Su Han flew around aimlessly while searching the woods below for any golden-glowing Skill Trees.

He flew on...

...and on...

Suddenly, the light before him dimmed.

"Getting cloudy... Holy shit!"

Muttering in confusion, he looked up. He didn’t even finish his thought before letting out a curse.

He stopped short.

The instant Su Han stopped, a black shadow flashed past in front of him, diving downwards.

If he hadn’t stopped in time, he likely would have been hit head-on by the dark figure.

When the shadow missed its target and paused to charge at Su Han again, he finally got a clear look at it.

It was... a Golden Roc.

Su Han: "...Are you fucking kidding me..."

’It’s been seven or eight days since I entered the ruins, and besides myself and those trees, I haven’t seen a single living thing.’

’Things have been peaceful for over a week, so why are the giant trees suddenly turning into tentacle monsters and a Golden Roc launching a surprise attack?’

’Did I accidentally open Pandora’s box or something? How did these perfectly fine ruins suddenly get a fully equipped army and air force?’

He drew his longsword and began hacking away with his Suiyuan Swordsmanship.

Luckily for him, this Golden Roc—the first living creature he’d met in the ruins, strong enough to be in the Immortal Platform Realm—had a strong "fated connection" with him.

And so... it died by his blade.

「At the entrance to the ruins」

A group of Cultivators from Jiuzhou streamed through the Array and into the ruins. Among them were people from the Celestial Demon Sect and the Supreme Dao.

"Feifei, we don’t know what dangers these ruins hold. Stick close to me so we don’t get separated."

Standing beside his girlfriend, Zhao Yang seized the chance to take Lu Feifei’s hand, putting on a responsible air.

Lu Feifei shot him a look. "You say that like your cultivation is higher than mine. It’s not yet clear who’ll be protecting who."

Unfazed by his girlfriend’s scorn, Zhao Yang just chuckled. "My cultivation might not be as high as yours, but I’m better than you in other areas."

"Ugh."

Feeling her boyfriend’s grip tighten, Lu Feifei scoffed, a hint of playful annoyance in her voice.

"Now that the Array has been broken, these ruins have been fully activated."

"These are the ruins of a legendary, taboo entity. They’re certain to be fraught with danger. The Ancestor himself just warned us to be extremely careful."

"How can you be so flippant at a time like this?"

Zhao Yang: "..."

He looked at the Jade Talisman in his left hand, then at the girlfriend whose hand he held with his right, and couldn’t help but feel a little puzzled.

"How am I being flippant?"

"I have a Help Jade Talisman from a senior. If we run into a danger that neither of us can handle, I can ask the senior for help."

Lu Feifei: "..."