The ancient forest gradually returned to silence.
The Golden Spirit Tree continued swaying gently in the wind.
Golden radiance flowed from its branches.
Everything appeared peaceful.
Yet Lin Shuan's expression had already become extremely serious.
Hidden among the leaves of a towering ancient tree, he carefully watched the black-robed figures moving through the forest below.
Their movements were swift.
Disciplined.
Precise.
Not a single unnecessary action.
Not a single unnecessary word.
It was clear they had undergone strict training.
Lin Shuan narrowed his eyes.
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
The Imperial Treasury Realm was supposed to allow only a single entrant.
The stone tablet had stated it clearly.
Only one participant may enter.
Then where had these people come from?
His gaze slowly swept across the group.
Ten.
Twenty.
Thirty.
There were far more than he initially expected.
And every one of them possessed a powerful aura.
As he observed more carefully—
his eyes suddenly focused on a symbol embroidered upon their robes.
A black dragon.
Its claws extended.
Its head raised toward the heavens.
The moment he saw it—
a memory surfaced inside his mind.
His pupils contracted.
His fists slowly clenched.
A cold killing intent flashed through his eyes.
"Yu Long Sect..."
The words escaped through gritted teeth.
Inside the pendant—
even Tian Wuchen became silent.
He knew exactly what those two words meant to Lin Shuan.
The destruction of the Lin Clan.
The countless deaths.
The blood.
The hatred.
Everything pointed toward the same enemy.
Yu Long Sect.
Lin Shuan stared at them quietly.
His breathing gradually slowed.
But the killing intent inside his heart continued growing.
For many years—
he had never forgotten.
Not even for a single day.
The destruction of his clan had become a scar carved into his soul.
One day—
he would repay that debt.
Every last bit of it.
Meanwhile—
his observations continued.
Soon—
he noticed another alarming detail.
Not a single member of the group was weak.
Every cultivator he sensed had already reached Soul Spark Rank or above.
Some possessed auras far stronger than ordinary Soul Spark cultivators.
Several individuals were even more dangerous.
Although they deliberately concealed their cultivation—
Lin Shuan could still feel faint traces leaking from them.
Those people were undoubtedly stronger.
Much stronger.
His expression darkened.
"So many experts..."
"It seems Yu Long Sect truly deserves its reputation as the strongest force within the empire."
Even Lin Clan at its peak would have struggled to gather so many powerful cultivators simultaneously.
Yet Yu Long Sect had casually sent them into the Treasury Realm.
This alone revealed the terrifying foundation hidden beneath the sect's surface.
Tian Wuchen finally spoke.
"You should be careful."
Lin Shuan nodded.
"I know."
The old monster continued.
"Their objective is definitely not ordinary treasure."
Lin Shuan agreed immediately.
There was no reason for Yu Long Sect to send so many experts merely to gather spiritual herbs or cultivation resources.
Not here.
Not in a place as mysterious as the Treasury Realm.
They were searching for something.
Something important.
Something worth risking so many powerful cultivators.
Perhaps a hidden inheritance.
Perhaps an ancient artifact.
Perhaps something even more valuable.
Then another possibility appeared in Lin Shuan's mind.
His eyes narrowed.
"...Or perhaps they're searching for me."
The thought wasn't impossible.
Yu Long Sect had already shown interest in him before.
And his identity remained dangerous.
If they discovered the truth—
they would never allow him to survive.
Tian Wuchen remained silent for several moments.
Then replied.
"Possible."
"But unlikely."
Lin Shuan frowned.
"Why?"
"Because if they were truly here for you, they wouldn't be moving like treasure hunters."
The old monster's analysis was calm.
"They are searching for a location."
"Not a person."
Lin Shuan observed carefully.
The more he watched—
the more he realized Tian Wuchen was correct.
The group wasn't spreading out.
They weren't conducting a manhunt.
Instead—
they were moving toward a specific destination.
Almost as though they already possessed a map.
Or instructions.
One black-robed elder occasionally removed an ancient compass from his robe.
After checking it—
he would point in a direction.
The others followed immediately.
Lin Shuan's eyes flashed.
"A guide."
"Or a clue."
Tian Wuchen agreed.
"They know where they're going."
For a moment—
Lin Shuan considered leaving.
After all—
he had already obtained eight Golden Spirit Fruits.
That alone was a tremendous harvest.
There was no need to provoke an entire group of powerful Yu Long Sect experts.
It would be safer to continue searching elsewhere.
Yet—
another thought surfaced.
If so many experts were moving together...
The treasure they sought must be extraordinary.
Perhaps a treasure even more valuable than the Golden Spirit Fruits.
Perhaps an ancient inheritance.
Perhaps one of the greatest opportunities within the Treasure Region.
His eyes gradually brightened.
Then a smile appeared.
A dangerous smile.
Tian Wuchen immediately recognized it.
"Oh no."
Lin Shuan ignored him.
The old monster sighed.
"I know that look."
"You've already decided."
Lin Shuan grinned.
"Maybe."
"Definitely."
"Absolutely."
Tian Wuchen almost laughed.
Despite everything—
this brat truly possessed the heart of a cultivator.
Danger attracted him.
Opportunities attracted him.
And if both appeared together—
he became impossible to stop.
The old monster eventually shook his head.
"Fine."
"But don't be reckless."
Lin Shuan nodded.
Then looked toward the distant Yu Long Sect group.
His eyes became cold.
"If they're searching for treasure..."
"I'll take it first."
"If they're searching for an inheritance..."
"I'll obtain it first."
"And if they're searching for something dangerous..."
A dangerous glint flashed through his eyes.
"Then perhaps I can eliminate a few enemies along the way."
Tian Wuchen coughed.
"Try not to die first."
Lin Shuan laughed quietly.
Then—
his Luo Essence began circulating.
Crack.
Crack.
Tiny arcs of lightning appeared around his feet.
The Lightning Immortal Path activated silently.
Unlike before—
he wasn't using its full speed.
Only enough to conceal his presence and move quickly.
His body gradually blurred.
The surrounding shadows swallowed him.
WHOOSH!
Lin Shuan disappeared from his position.
Like a ghost.
Like a hunter.
Far ahead—
the Yu Long Sect group continued advancing through the forest.
Unaware that another shadow now followed them.
A shadow filled with patience.
And hatred.
Ancient trees rushed past as Lin Shuan moved silently between branches.
He remained hundreds of meters behind the group.
Far enough to avoid detection.
Close enough to observe.
Hours passed.
The deeper they traveled—
the stranger the environment became.
The beautiful forests gradually began changing.
Ancient trees became twisted.
The golden sky dimmed slightly.
Cracks appeared throughout the land.
Floating islands drifted overhead.
Some were entire mountains.
Others contained ruined forests.
Broken fragments of the world drifted through the void beyond sight.
The signs of decay became increasingly obvious.
This realm had once been magnificent.
Divine.
Perfect.
But now—
something was slowly destroying it.
Lin Shuan couldn't help feeling amazed.
Just how ancient was this place?
What kind of existence had created such a world?
Even Tian Wuchen occasionally fell silent while observing the surroundings.
The deeper they went—
the more extraordinary everything became.
Then suddenly—
the leading elder stopped.
Immediately—
the entire Yu Long Sect group halted.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
The elder looked toward a distant mountain.
A mountain floating in midair.
Half of it had already broken away from the world.
Ancient ruins covered its surface.
Broken pillars.
Collapsed palaces.
Weathered statues.
A forgotten civilization.
The elder slowly smiled.
"We found it."
Lin Shuan's eyes narrowed.
Found what?
Excitement surged inside him.
He carefully concealed himself behind a giant tree.
Watching.
Waiting.
Because he knew—
whatever came next...
Would reveal exactly why so many Yu Long Sect experts had risked entering the Treasury Realm.
And perhaps—
it would become the greatest opportunity he had encountered since arriving in this mysterious world.