On the helicopter, Xu Fan sat cross-legged, appearing completely unperturbed and utterly relaxed as he cultivated.

In the front seat, Old Xie kept glancing at Xu Fan out of the corner of his eye, his fists clenching tight intermittently, only to unclench repeatedly like a deflated ball, leaving none aware of what Old Xie was truly thinking with his flickering gaze.

The helicopter sped through the air swiftly, in the blink of an eye traversing countless mountains and rivers, and the scenery outside the window had long transformed from the steel forests of skyscrapers into barren wastelands.

"Is this... Tibet?"

In the back seat, Xu Fan suddenly opened his eyes, looking at the rapidly changing scenery outside the window with a slightly grim expression.

Tibet—at Huaxia's border—has always been vast and sparsely populated, incredibly desolate, yet it retained many mysteries. Xu Fan initially thought that the so-called ruins were controlled by numerous Hidden World Families, but now, unease was subtly bubbling within him.

The ruins lie at the border. Even if the Hidden World Families were utterly united and unbeatable, making sure no outsider took a share was nearly impossible.

The journey to these ruins had already subtly spiraled beyond Xu Fan's expectations and control, and they hadn't even reached the destination yet.

Of course, it wasn't that Xu Fan hadn't prepared beforehand; by now, he had offended every Hidden World Family. None would reveal something so secret to Xu Fan.

Moreover, the matter of the ruins was tantamount to a secret even among the Hidden World Families; ordinary ones weren't qualified to know specific details!

"Hehe."

In the front seat, Old Xie, whose gaze never lost its coldness, let out a similarly eerie laugh.

"What? Xu Fan, even you have moments of fear?"

"As your elder, I might as well be merciful and tell you some secrets about the ruins. The ruins were discovered decades ago, and for its ownership, various Cultivation Forces shed rivers of blood."

"After countless experts perished, the Cultivation Forces were forced to make concessions. Each year, the optimal number of people to absorb the ruins' energy is a hundred. Huaxia, being the country where the ruins are located, has fifty slots, while the other nations share the remaining fifty."

At this, Old Xie's gaze towards Xu Fan grew increasingly malicious, and his already sinister voice became even more chilling.

"In other words, those heading to the ruins each year are the most outstanding talents from every major force. You, Xu Fan, are merely an ordinary one among them!"

"Once in the ruins, life and death are left to fate! Being the first on the Earth List at the Entering Dao Realm Peak, Xu Fan, do you think the other young talents won't be interested in you?"

Hearing Old Xie's chilling words, Xu Fan felt his heart sink.

Despite the clear threat in Old Xie's words, some of it was indeed true.

Xu Fan's reputation was too great! For Xu Fan, this was certainly not good news! Especially in these life-and-death ruins—who knows, the moment Xu Fan appeared, he might become the target of all!

"So, Xu Fan, think carefully. If you regret it now, I might plead for leniency on your behalf in front of everyone, and maybe there would still be a remedy."

"If you persist in your ways and seek death, even I, as an elder, may not be able to save you."

Old Xie turned back to look at Xu Fan, his insincere smile full of malice.

"Hehe, thank you for your kind intentions, Old Xie."

Xu Fan, having already steadied his mind, coldly smiled at Old Xie and said, "However, my affairs need not trouble you, Old Xie."

If Xu Fan were really to die, would Old Xie be upset? He would most likely laugh out loud in joy, wouldn't he?

Everything Old Xie said was mere pretense, obviously meant to incite! Young and proud, Xu Fan was indeed most provoked by incitement, and Old Xie feared Xu Fan would change his mind at the last minute, so he said these things to block Xu Fan's retreat!

However, from beginning to end, Xu Fan never had the slightest intention of retreating.

If the world's geniuses assembled, so what? If becoming the target of all, so what?

Xu Fan's determination for power was indestructible!

"Hmph!"

In the front seat, Old Xie snorted coldly through his nose and turned away, ignoring Xu Fan, but deep in his eyes, a trace of smugness flitted by.

The four of Old Xie were already enemies with Xu Fan, and now they had completely torn off the pretense. How could Old Xie possibly reveal everything?

In reality, this year's journey to the ruins was fiercer than any previous year! And Xu Fan would surely be the first to face it!

The reason is simple; unknown to whom spread the news first, this year a Treasure would emerge within the ruins! This Treasure impacts the entire Cultivation World! It's said to be a Bronze Box, but what's within the box, even Old Xie and the others are unqualified to know.

But Old Xie could be certain that this year's ruins would be witness to an unprecedentedly brutal storm of bloodshed!

Though Xu Fan was seemingly doomed, withholding some information to ensure Xu Fan's quicker and more miserable death was undoubtedly a satisfying task for Old Xie and the others...

"We've arrived!"

Suddenly, Old Xie, who had been sitting with his eyes closed in the front seat, abruptly opened them and urgently instructed the helicopter to land.

"Kid! Head in this direction, walk for about ten miles, and you'll reach the ruins' entrance! Go quickly!"

In the middle of the barren desert, the helicopter lifted with a powerful roar, as if fleeing a plague, hurriedly flying back in the direction it came, leaving only Xu Fan behind.

Old Xie wasn't worried Xu Fan would take this chance to escape. In fact, the words he spoke earlier were to block Xu Fan's retreat!

Moreover, having reached this point, it was impossible for Xu Fan to flee even if he wished!

Old Xie had long investigated Xu Fan, and if the data wasn't wrong, at the ruins' entrance right now, there were quite a few people immensely interested in Xu Fan...

In the desert, Xu Fan stood silently, gazing at the departing helicopter's direction with narrowed, sharp eyes.

Originally, in Xu Fan's plan, Old Mu and the other three would surely not let him go, and Xu Fan was already prepared for a fierce battle with Old Mu and the others. After all, besides life or death, resolution between them was difficult by other means.

But what Xu Fan didn't expect was that Old Mu and the three would retreat at the last moment, sending him here in hopes of using the ruins to claim his life.

"Hehe, let you old folks live a bit longer..."

In the desert, Xu Fan retracted his gaze, turned decisively, and marched boldly in the opposite direction of the helicopter.

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