Qin Song didn't notice Yun Lintian's reaction and pressed on. "Senior Yun, with your power, you might be the only one who can uncover the ruins' secrets. We don't ask you to protect us—just... if the situation becomes dire, consider lending aid."
Yun Lintian finished his tea and stood. "I'll think about it."
Qin Song bowed deeply. "That is all we can ask for."
As Yun Lintian turned to leave, Qin Song added, "The expedition departs at dawn tomorrow from the western teleportation array."
Yun Lintian gave a slight nod before walking away, his two little followers scampering after him. Yue Zhihe followed silently, her mind racing with everything she'd heard.
The next morning, Yun Lintian followed Lan Huiqian to a vast open space where several massive skyships hovered in formation. The air buzzed with the energy of hundreds of powerful cultivators from various factions preparing for the expedition.
Yun Lintian's gaze swept across the gathering. There were a few familiar faces among them.
Xiong Yu stood with his nephew Xiong Ba, their auras aggressive.
Nie Tong and her disciple Ling Xuan, the latter looking much recovered from yesterday's ordeal.
Long Chen stood beside a breathtakingly beautiful woman in flowing silver robes—clearly his master, given the reverent way he addressed her.
Lan Huiqian's group consisted of dozens of Celestial Pavilion elders, including Jian Feng and a man Yun Lintian had never seen before but recognized instantly—Jian Kun, the First Elder.
The resemblance to Jian Feng was unmistakable, though Jian Kun carried himself with far more composure. His cultivation was at the peak of the True God realm, his aura refined yet restrained.
Jian Kun noticed Yun Lintian's gaze and offered a polite smile.
Yun Lintian nodded slightly in acknowledgment before turning away.
Lan Huiqian leaned closer. "Senior Yun, we'll be boarding shortly. The ruins aren't far—just a few hours by skyship."
Yun Lintian said nothing, merely following as the groups began boarding their respective vessels.
The skyships soared over the Eastern Sea, cutting through the clouds with effortless grace. Yun Lintian stood at the prow, watching the horizon while Linlin and Qingqing played nearby. Yue Zhihe remained a silent shadow at his side.
Lan Huiqian approached, holding a delicate jade pocket watch. "Senior Yun, this is for you."
Yun Lintian took it, examining the intricate engravings.
"Time flows unpredictably in the ruins," Lan Huiqian explained. "This watch is synchronized with the outside world. It will help you track how long we have before the gate closes."
Yun Lintian pocketed it without comment.
A few hours later, the skyships descended toward a desolate island in the middle of the sea. The moment they landed, Yun Lintian sensed it—a distortion in the fabric of reality, subtle but undeniable.
At the island's center stood a gargantuan stone gate, its surface covered in ancient runes that pulsed faintly with residual energy. Dozens of elite guards patrolled the perimeter, their expressions grim.
Lan Huiqian addressed the assembled factions. "The ruins will remain accessible for one year. After that, the gate will seal, and anyone left inside will be trapped indefinitely."
Murmurs spread through the crowd.
She continued, "We don't know what awaits us, but remember—no treasures are worth your life."
Xiong Yu snorted loudly. "Enough talk. Let's go."
Nie Tong shot him a cold look but didn't argue.
Lan Huiqian turned to Yun Lintian. "Senior Yun, if you would?"
Yun Lintian strode toward the gate without hesitation. The others followed, their nervous energy palpable.
As they approached, the runes flared to life, and the massive doors groaned open, revealing an abyssal darkness beyond.
Without pause, Yun Lintian stepped through.
The moment he crossed the threshold, the world around him warped.
Yun Lintian found himself standing in a vast, fractured landscape. The sky was a swirling vortex of distorted colors, and the ground beneath his feet shifted between sand, stone, and something that resembled living flesh.
The other cultivators materialized around him, their faces paling as they took in the nightmare scenery.
"By the heavens..." someone whispered.
Lan Huiqian steadied herself and spoke to her people. "Stay together. Do not wander."
Jian Kun's eyes narrowed as he surveyed the terrain. "The spatial laws here are unstable. One misstep could send you centuries into the past—or future."
Those who came here for the first time took Jian Kun's warnings to heart while those veterans said nothing.
After exchanging a few words, they quickly dispersed—each group heading toward their own objectives without hesitation. Only the Celestial Pavilion's forces remained behind, waiting for Lan Huiqian's instructions.
Lan Huiqian turned to Yun Lintian, her expression serious. "Senior Yun, let me explain the general situation here."
She pointed toward the center of the ruins, where a massive palace loomed in the distance, its silhouette flickering as if caught between different points in time.
"That is the Temporal Palace—the core of these ruins. It only opens on the third week of every month. Before then, no one can approach it."
Her finger then traced to the east. "That direction leads to the Garden of Lost Souls, where rare spiritual herbs grow, but time there flows unpredictably. Some have aged centuries in minutes."
Next, she indicated the west. "The Mirror Lake lies there. Its waters can show fragments of the past or future, but gazing into it risks losing oneself in illusions."
Finally, she gestured north. "The Abyssal Canyon—avoid it at all costs. Even True Gods who enter never return."
She finished her explanation and looked at Yun Lintian. "Will Senior Yun travel with us?"
Yun Lintian considered briefly before shaking his head. "I'll go alone."
Jian Feng's lips curled into a cold smirk, though he quickly masked it.
Good. The more isolated he is, the easier it will be to deal with him.
Jian Kun, however, spoke up with apparent concern. "Senior Yun, please be careful. If you encounter a time distortion, use the pocket watch to orient yourself. Find stable ground immediately."
Yun Lintian nodded. "Thanks for the information."
Without another word, he turned and walked toward the east, his figure soon swallowed by the shifting landscape.
The moment Yun Lintian disappeared, Jian Feng couldn't hold back his disdain.
"With that arrogance, he'll be dead before the week ends."
Lan Huiqian shot him a warning glare. "Enough. We have our own mission."
Jian Kun said nothing, his gaze lingering in the direction Yun Lintian had gone…