Godslayer: My Forbidden Ruins Master

"Run...run away?!"

Baili Pangpang's voice rose eight octaves, its sharp vibrato like the screaming of a chicken whose tail had been stomped on, instantly piercing the heavy silence in the air.

He stared wide-eyed at Lu Xuan, his eyes, which were squeezed small by his fat, as if what had just entered his ears was not Chinese, but some kind of terrifying alien babbling.

"Old Lu, are you serious? At this critical juncture? To run away right under the nose of that old master, the pinnacle of martial arts in the Great Xia Dynasty, who can pluck stars from the sky? What's the difference between this and setting fire to the police station with a gasoline can and then escaping in front of the chief?!"

The fat man's whole body was trembling, an instinctive fear of the name "Master Chen".

"Of course there is a difference."

Lu Xuan nodded solemnly, his expression as serious as if he were discussing some philosophical question concerning the survival of humanity.

"The difference is that we are the heroes who saved the fasting place, not the criminals who created chaos. You need to understand your role. Once the matter is done and the crisis is resolved, we should gracefully withdraw. In military strategy, this is called a 'strategic retreat,' do you understand?"

"Strategic my foot!"

Baili Pangpang felt his brain was boiling. Just as he was about to continue refuting, Lu Xuan ignored his bewildered expression and turned to look at Wu Laogou, who was standing to the side smoking.

At this moment, Wu Laogou seemed to have recovered from his heartache over the precious wine gourd.

The face, etched with the deep lines of time, still bore a profound and enigmatic smile.

With his hands behind his back, his hunched back appeared unusually upright at this moment, and his seemingly cloudy old eyes gleamed with a cunning and admiration that only those who had experienced great storms could understand.

"Old man, aren't you coming with us?"

Lu Xuan raised an eyebrow and asked, his tone tinged with a hint of probing.

"Go? Where to go?"

Old Wu slowly straightened up, patted the thick layer of dust off his backside, his movements were somewhat slow, but they exuded a sense of composure.

"This is the fasting place, my own little corner. My mission is not yet complete, and I haven't saved enough money for alcohol in this lifetime. I can't leave, I can't leave."

He raised his eyelids to look at Lu Xuan, a glint of unspoken understanding in his eyes.

"Besides, someone has to stay behind to clean up the mess, right? Look around here, what a mess this place is, with the Church of the Ancient Gods and dragon corpses. If no one takes the lead, if that stubborn old mule Master Chen gets angry, he might even slap this island into the sea to feed the fish."

"You little rascals can go without worry. This big black pot... no, this glorious and arduous cleanup work, I'll take it on."

Old Wu chuckled, his mouthful of yellow teeth standing out starkly in the dim light.

He pulled a crumpled cigarette from his pocket, one that looked like it had been sitting for ages, and lit it with a "click".

Take a deep breath.

The embers of his cigarette glowed and shone. He squinted contentedly, exhaled a thick smoke ring, and gazed at the rolling dark clouds in the northwest sky.

"Moreover... although that old master has a bad temper, he's not senile. Although this scene looks tragic, it's the best possible outcome. You kids ultimately held the line and prevented those lunatics from the Ancient God Church from causing chaos. Regardless of the process, the result speaks for itself, and you are meritorious."

At this point, Wu Laogou paused, his tone becoming somewhat wistful.

"Even if he sees this, he might just grumble a couple of times to save face, but he might not actually cause you any trouble. After all... if you hadn't fought so hard, this fasting place would probably be completely destroyed after today, not even a single intact brick would be left."

Upon hearing these words, Cao Yuan, who had been standing silently at the back, finally relaxed his tightly furrowed brows.

"Mr. Wu, I am deeply grateful and cannot express my thanks."

Cao Yuan bowed deeply to Wu Laogou, bending his back at a ninety-degree angle.

This is not just a matter of etiquette, but also a matter of respect.

He knew perfectly well that Wu Laogou was taking the initiative to shield them from the anger and questioning of the Night Watch's higher-ups, using his life's achievements and reputation to shoulder all the risks himself.

"Go away, don't give me that nonsense."

Old Wu waved his hand dismissively, as if shooing away flies. "Get lost. I get annoyed just looking at you little brats. You're always causing me trouble. Remember, if you ever really make it big in the future, don't forget to ask someone to bring me two jars of good wine. If it's the kind of cheap wine that's been diluted with water, I'll curse your ancestors for eighteen generations."

"Definitely! It must be the best aged wine!" Lu Xuan nodded emphatically with a smile.

Just then, a weak footstep sound came from the ruins and rubble nearby.

Two disheveled figures, supporting each other, stumbled over.

It was Wang Lu and Fang Yanghui, the two night watchmen who had fought desperately in Zone B3 and almost bled to death.

Their uniforms were long gone, reduced to tattered strips of cloth hanging on their bodies. Their exposed skin was covered with deep, bone-revealing wounds and congealed black blood, and Fang Yanghui's empty sleeves were even visible.

Although their bodies had reached their limits, their eyes shone brightly, like torches that had been rekindled.

“Lu Xuan…and the Cao Yuan brothers…”

Wang Lu's voice was hoarse, as if he had a handful of sand in his mouth. He was so weak that he had to gasp for breath several times after each word, but his tone was filled with unwavering gratitude.

“If you hadn’t descended from the sky today… Old Fang and I, everything here, even the dignity of the Night Watch, would probably be gone.”

Fang Yanghui was also excited, struggling to straighten his back and salute, but he couldn't lift his severed arm, and the excruciating pain made his face turn pale.

He could only look at them with the most reverent, almost fanatical gaze: "We were blind to your greatness before and offended you greatly... If there is an opportunity in the future, our lives are at your disposal! We will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

Only those who have experienced it firsthand can understand that kind of despair.

In their despair, seeing Lu Xuan's godlike figure descending, his domineering aura that could cleave the sky with a single slash and command thousands of prisoners to submit, completely captivated the hearts of these two iron-blooded men.

That is absolute submission to the strong, and also unwavering devotion to one's savior.

"You flatter me. We are all Night's Watchmen, and this is simply our duty."

Lu Xuan did not boast of his achievements. He simply smiled faintly, reached out and gently patted Wang Lu's blood-stained shoulder, sending him a faint but gentle spiritual energy.

“We’ll still need your help to Elder Wu maintain order here. Although those prisoners are temporarily terrified, they’re all old hands with dark hearts. Don’t give them a chance to turn things around. If they think we’re weak, the chaos will repeat itself.”

"Understood! As long as we have a breath left, we will never let these bastards cause trouble again! Unless they step over my dead body!"

Wang Lu gritted his teeth, a bloodthirsty glint in his eyes, and made a soldier's promise.

"Alright, let's save the emotional stuff for the victory celebration."

Lu Xuan suddenly stopped smiling and looked up in that direction.

Even though they were hundreds of miles apart, the terrifying pressure that was getting closer and closer still felt like a thorn in their backs, as if even the sky was about to collapse under that will.

A subtle stinging sensation even spread across my skin; it was the oppressive force of the human ceiling, a warning from the level of the soul.

"Master Lao will arrive at the battlefield in three minutes. For a powerhouse of that level, shrinking the distance to an inch is just basic maneuvering. If you don't want to be caught, locked up, and forced to write a 20,000-word self-criticism, you'd better leave now."

"Fatty, Old Cao, let's go!"

Lu Xuan stopped talking and his eyes sharpened.

He grabbed Baili Pangpang, who was still muttering to himself and hadn't fully realized what was happening, and then suddenly grabbed Cao Yuan's arm with his other hand.

"Whoosh-"

With a swift movement, he sped towards the most precipitous cliff on the outskirts of the prison.

The wind whistled in my ears.

Just as he was about to step out of sight, Lu Xuan turned back.

Through the swirling dust, he took a deep look at the figure standing in the center of the ruins, his back slightly hunched yet appearing incredibly imposing at that moment.

"Take care, Mr. Wu!"

These four words drifted away in the wind.

"Get lost, you little brats." Old Wu waved his hand with a laugh, not turning around, but the cigarette butt between his fingers trembled slightly.

Lu Xuan didn't linger and sped off with the two of them, crushing the pebbles under their feet into dust.

In just a few breaths, they were already standing on the cliff at the very edge of the fasting place.

At that moment, the world seemed to be split in two.

Behind them lay ruins and remnants of order, while ahead stretched an endless, turbulent black sea.

The cliff is hundreds of meters high, and after the shockwaves from the battle, its edges are already teetering on the brink of collapse.

Looking down, the jagged black reefs, towering like sharp swords, loomed in and out of sight amidst the roaring waves, resembling the bared fangs of a giant beast from the abyss.

At this time, the storm had not yet subsided. The raging waves relentlessly crashed against the rocks, sending up white sprays tens of meters high and emitting a deafening roar, as if a thousand horses were howling.

The gloomy sky and the black sea meet in the distance, indistinguishable from one another, forming a picture of an abyss that could swallow all living things.

"I...we're not...really going to have to go down from here, are we?"

Baili Pangpang stood on the edge of the cliff and poked his head out to look down.

The overwhelming sense of loss made his legs go weak instantly, his stomach churned, and his face turned as pale as an A4 sheet of paper.

"Old...Old Lu, isn't that too high? Over a hundred meters! According to the free-fall formula, what's the difference between hitting the water and hitting concrete? If someone jumps in, they'll be smashed to pieces!"

The fat man clung tightly to a protruding rock beside him, his voice trembling with sobs.

"And look down there! It's all reefs! It's pitch black and you can't see how deep it is. What if you run into one? Your head will be smashed open!"

"And most importantly... can you swim? Do I have a swimming ring? We don't have any diving equipment! With waves this big, even if we don't fall to our deaths, we'll be swept into the whirlpools and drown!!"

Baili Pangpang is on the verge of a breakdown.

This is hardly a case of running away.

This is clearly suicide! And the kind of suicide where the body is completely mutilated!

In contrast, Cao Yuan was much calmer, but his brows were slightly furrowed.

He looked at the surging sea and assessed his landing point: "The waves are too big, and the ocean currents are chaotic. An ordinary person would surely die if they went down. Although we are ability users, at this height... even the slightest mistake could rupture our internal organs."

"There's no time to hesitate."

Lu Xuan completely ignored their analysis.

He looked up and felt the terrifying aura that had descended upon him, almost crushing his bones.

That's Master Chen's aura!

That aura was like a Damocles' sword hanging overhead, carrying the majesty of judgment, ready to fall at any moment and imprison them in place.

Once that old man is on the ground, he won't be able to leave even if he wanted to.

"trust me."

Lu Xuan only said those two words, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

Then, amidst Baili Pangpang's terrified screams and under Cao Yuan's astonished gaze,

Lu Xuan gave them no chance to mentally prepare or think. His arm muscles tensed instantly, and he exerted force violently!

"Aaaaaahh ...

"Let's go!!!"

Lu Xuan carried Baili Pangpang, who weighed nearly 180 pounds, in one hand and Cao Yuan, a cool-looking man, in the other, as easily as if he were carrying two chicks waiting to be slaughtered.

He bent his legs slightly, channeled spiritual energy into the soles of his feet, and then exerted force!

"Oh!"

The giant rock on the edge of the cliff, weathered by wind and rain, instantly cracked into a spiderweb-like pattern under this one step, with rubble exploding!

Using this terrifying recoil force, Lu Xuan, along with the two others, like a roc spreading its wings, charged headlong into the dark abyss against the raging wind and torrential rain!

At that moment, the world seemed to stand still.

Everything slowed down in that instant.

The wind howled in my ears, like the whisper of death.

Before them stretched an enormous, rapidly expanding sea, its black waters seemingly alive, churning and surging in welcome.

Baili Pangpang's scream was drawn out long and deep in the fierce wind, even drowning out the sound of the waves.

"Lu Xuan, you big jerk!!! I'm terrified of heights!!!"

"And I haven't even finished digesting my breakfast yet!!!"

The feeling of weightlessness enveloped the three of them, and all the power struggles, schemes, responsibilities, and burdens were left behind at this moment.

Only the most primal, falling pleasure.

"thump!!"

"thump!!"

"thump!!"

Three figures, propelled by immense gravitational acceleration, darted like cannonballs, avoiding the deadly reefs, and crashed heavily into the icy, bone-chilling seawater.

The sea exploded.

The enormous impact sent up white sprays of water tens of meters high.

Seawater instantly filled their mouths and noses, and the icy, suffocating feeling didn't last long. The three of them were then swept away by the surging waves and swallowed up in an instant. They were carried away by the undercurrent and disappeared without a trace.

On top of the cliff.

Only the howling sea wind swirled around, telling the story of the madness and determination of that leap.

A few minutes later.

Among the ruins.

Old Wu had a nearly burnt-out cigarette dangling from his mouth, his eyes squinting as he let the smoke sting his eyes.

He gazed into the distance in the direction where the three had disappeared, the waves on the sea still surging, as if nothing had happened.

A deeply emotional smile slowly appeared on that wrinkled face.

"It's great to be young..."

"This reckless, crazy energy is just like we were back then."

He slowly exhaled a puff of smoke, the bluish-white smoke swirling in the wind, as if sketching in his cloudy pupils the faces of those who had long since passed away, yet remained as vivid as ever.

That was his era, and his comrades-in-arms.

"Alright, everyone's gone, it's time for this old man to get back to work."

It wasn't until the cigarette burned down to the point of burning his fingers that Wu Laogou seemed to wake from a dream, clapped his hands, threw the cigarette butt at his feet, and stomped it out forcefully.

Then, he slowly turned around.

In the instant he turned around, the kind and joking old man who had been so friendly to Lu Xuan was gone.

An extremely cold, eerie, and powerful mental pressure erupted from his seemingly aged body without reservation.

The feeling was like a sleeping beast opening its scarlet eyes.

He looked at the prisoners in the square who were starting to get restless and whose eyes were darting around because of Lu Xuan's departure, as well as the troublemakers who were trying to take advantage of the chaos.

Old Wu's age-spotted lips slowly curled into a chilling smirk.

"Listen up, all of you."

Wu Laogou's voice wasn't loud, and there was no roaring, but it seemed to possess some kind of soul-piercing magic, clearly drilling into everyone's ears and exploding in their minds.

"That young devil may be gone, but I, the old man, am still here."

His cloudy eyes gradually cleared, but they were filled with murderous intent.

"Anyone who thinks their head is harder than that dragon is welcome to try making a scene again."

"Let's see if your pathetic forbidden ruins can activate faster, or if my 'dream'... can be realized faster!"

boom--!

The moment the words left his mouth, the surrounding air seemed to distort.

In short, it was like a pillar of strength.

Those prisoners who were just thinking of taking advantage of the chaos to stir up trouble felt a sharp pain in their minds, instantly recalling the terrifying scene of the dragon descending and being dominated, as well as the countless psychological traumas Wu Laogou had left in this prison in the past.

A chill that seemed to emanate from the depths of their souls made their knees go weak.

Pfft!Pfft!

One after another, the sound of kneeling rang out.

The prisoners were terrified, their faces ashen. They knelt obediently on the gravel-strewn ground, their heads pressed against the earth, drenched in cold sweat and trembling like leaves.