Dormitory group chat, my information updated daily.

On the way to the ruins, Lu Zhi pointed out the way and introduced the entire ruins to Xiao Yun.

"Actually, our understanding of this ruin is very limited. We only know that it was left behind by an ancient family that originated in the early period of what is known as the Second Era of the System. This family was once very powerful and is said to have ruled half of the continent..."

"Because the descriptions of the unearthed items mention the metaphor of 'burning blood into fire' extensively, and the characteristics and skills associated with the items mostly require blood and fire as a medium, I generally refer to them simply as the 'Blood Family' or the 'Fire Family.' It's just a code name; you can call them relics directly if you like."

"Currently, we have only explored the outer perimeter of the ruins. There are many kinds of wild monsters inside, and their abilities are mostly related to the characteristics of blood and fire."

"The most valuable items around the ruins, besides materials dropped by wild monsters, are treasure chests, blood-nourishing fruits, and fire springs. Treasure chests can yield equipment related to the ruins, blood-nourishing fruits can improve physical constitution and also nourish the body, and fire springs cannot be used directly. I refine them and use them as energy to craft alchemical items."

As she spoke, she handed Xiao Yun an alchemical artifact:

"I made it using materials from the ruins, referencing the runes on equipment dropped in the ruins. The effect is the same as the 'Poem of Blood and Fire' you used yesterday, only it's not as... terrifying as you made it."

As she said this, Lu Zhi glanced at Xiao Yun, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

During her exploration of the ruins, she encountered some powerful monsters, but none of them could unleash such a stunning effect after burning their blood as Xiao Yun.

Xiao Yun smiled, took the alchemy tool, glanced at it, and then returned it to Lu Zhi.

He wasn't interested in the alchemical artifact, but rather in the ruins themselves.

"Lu Zhi provided limited information; we still need to use the forecast system to investigate further."

Xiao Yun lowered his head and pondered for a moment before opening the system.

[Ding! Specified information: 'Blood and Fire' 'Remains', information retrieval in progress...]

[Relevant information has been updated...]

【Eternal Blood - Phoenix Family Ruins (Secret Realm): The noble bloodline has turned to ashes, the undying flame has been extinguished over the long years, the former glory has long since died, and only chaos and madness remain in the mortal world...】

[Regional Trait 1 - Blood Burning Disease: Upon entering the dungeon, you will uncontrollably enter a state of blood burning, weakening all healing effects.]

[Regional Trait 2 - Fire Syndrome: As the burning state deepens, you will see visions of the Phoenix family's past destruction, affecting your mind and making you more violent, irritable, and bloodthirsty.]

[Regional Trait 3 - Blessing of Death: The more deaths you cause, the more generously you will receive the blessing from the Eternal Blood, increasing your combat power, but also worsening your illness.]

[Regional Feature 4 - Undying Legacy: The ruins are divided into the outer ring, inner ring, and core area. When you traverse these three areas, complete all the trials, and reach the throne forged in blood and fire, you will gain unparalleled glory.]

[Regional Monster Information: Outer Ring: Bloodthirsty Bats, Flame Lizards, Sulfur Ravens, Ash Trees...]

"The ruins actually have three negative buffs? How come Lu Zhi and the others didn't notice?"

Xiao Yun secretly glanced at Lu Zhi, and seeing that she looked normal, he was filled with doubt.

"The team contract clearly states that deception is not allowed, so we can rule out that Lu Zhi deliberately concealed this information. In other words, the negative impact of the outer perimeter that Lu Zhi and her team explored—or rather, the outer ring of the ruins—was not particularly serious."

"Or perhaps the power of the ruins wasn't that strong before the full moon, and it didn't have a significant impact on the surrounding area, so they didn't notice it."

Xiao Yun had some guesses in his mind, but he would have to wait until he entered the ruins to verify them.

The group kept their heads down and hurried on their way. Soon, more than three hours had passed.

Lu Zhi stopped in front of a mound of earth that was about two or three stories high.

"arrive?"

Xiao Yun asked, and Lu Zhi nodded. Just as she was about to say something, she heard a sweet cry from the other side of the earthen slope.

"There's a historical site here!"

Before the words were finished, another group of people arrived at the earthen mound. The glamorous girl at the head of the group, heavily made-up, saw Lu Zhi and gasped in surprise, covering her mouth as she exclaimed:

"Oh my, isn't this our Minister Lu? What a coincidence!"

"Willow Stream Moon!"

Lu Zhi asked coldly:

"How did you find this place?"

"Ah, I didn't understand what Minister Lu meant."

Liu Xiyue covered her mouth and chuckled softly, her charming fox-like eyes sparkling:

"The wilderness is so vast, it's not surprising that I might happen to find a ruin, right?"

"happen?"

Lu Zhi snorted coldly, completely disbelieving her nonsense.

This place is so remote, and the real entrance has been concealed by runes. There is nothing unusual about this small hill. How did Liu Xiyue know there were ruins here?

"So much preparation, so many people brought, even your lover from Building 9 was called over, and you still say it was a coincidence? Do you think I'm stupid?"

Lu Zhi's eyes flashed with anger as she looked at the boy standing next to Liu Xiyue.

"Gong Shuo, who exactly planted spies among me, you or this bitch?"

"Hehehe, Minister Lu, don't be angry."

Gong Shuo smiled and said:

"Besides, we're all in the student council, so naturally we should share the good stuff as a family."

"Who says we're family?"

Lu Zhi snorted coldly and waved her hand:

"I discovered this site, and I'm leaving immediately."

"Hmph, so what if you don't leave? Are you planning to make a move?"

Liu Xiyue narrowed her fox-like eyes, sizing up Xiao Yun and his group with a look of complete confidence.

"You only have a dozen or so people, while we outnumber you by more than three times, and most of us are professionals. Do you dare to make a move?"

Lu Zhi's heart sank, and she subconsciously looked at Xiao Yun.

Xiao Yun remained calm, his eyes surveying the earthen slope, showing no regard for Liu Xiyue and the others.

Behind him, Ji Mingyu and the others stood with their arms crossed, smiling as they watched Liu Xiyue and the others, seemingly eager to try their luck.

It's good to have more people; more people means more interesting things to discover.

Lu Zhi calmed down instantly and chuckled softly:

"So what if we take action?"

"you!"

Liu Xiyue's smile froze.

Seeing Lu Zhi's confidence, she felt a little uneasy.

Just as the two groups were locked in a stalemate, a middle-aged man suddenly stepped out from beside Liu Xiyue.

"Classmates, we're all in the same boat in this strange world. Why be so hostile? Besides, this ruin is full of resources. Wouldn't it be better if we explored it together?"

As he spoke, he looked at the silent Xiao Yun and smiled:

"Xiao Yun, what do you think?"

"Teacher Shen is right."

Xiao Yun smiled faintly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

Xiao Yun wasn't surprised that Shen Ze recognized him.

Shen Ze and Jiang Shangzhen's offices are separated by only one wall, and since they are the same age, they often exchange academic ideas.

However, during each academic exchange, Xiao Yun and his disciples would completely dominate Shen Ze's students, and Shen Ze himself would also be completely dominated by Jiang Shangzhen.

Therefore, the two families did not get along well. Moreover, according to Jiang Shangzhen, the conflict between the two families intensified after the time travel. In addition, Jiang Shangzhen became the chief alchemist, which made Shen Ze even more envious, and he made many sabotage efforts, both openly and secretly.

Although Jiang Shangzhen was highly skilled and never took Shen Ze's underhanded tactics seriously, he did warn Xiao Yun that if such a villain were on the opposite side and they happened to run into him, they should definitely kill him.

"It seems that this guy took the opportunity to rise to power after Teacher Jiang left."

Xiao Yun stared at Shen Ze's gold-trimmed robe, his eyes filled with a deep, unfathomable light.

"I'll have to find a chance to kill him later."

There are too many people around, and if word gets out, it will damage the reputation of our sect.

But things are different in the secret realm. With the advantages brought by the system, Xiao Yun has countless ways to trick Shen Ze.

On the other side, Shen Ze smiled at Xiao Yun, his eyes filled with a deep, mysterious light.

"Knowing we have ill intentions, yet remaining calm—either they are genuinely naive, or they are deeply cunning and scheming; it's terrifying!"

Since Xiao Yun is Jiang Shangzhen's student, Shen Ze guessed that Xiao Yun was the latter.

This child must not be allowed to live!

A cold glint flashed in Shen Ze's eyes, then he nodded with a smile and said:

"In that case, let's go in together, so we can all look out for each other."

Lu Zhi frowned, somewhat reluctant, but after receiving a signal from Xiao Yun, she held back.

Lu Zhi deactivated the concealment rune, opened the gate to the secret realm, and the two groups entered side by side.

A flash of light, and the scene before my eyes suddenly changed.

A dilapidated and desolate underground space appeared before them.

Blood-red streams flowed across the vast land, blazing flames were everywhere, and bloodstains covered the ruined buildings, some even stained with gruesome flesh and blood.

On the pitch-black ceiling above, clusters of flesh and blood spewed out hot air, and thick smoke mixed with the pungent smell of sulfur filled the nostrils.

At the edge of the horizon, a pitch-black pyramid stands majestically.

"This area is what I meant by the outer perimeter. Where do you plan to start?"

Lu Zhi asked, and Xiao Yun looked at the pyramid and pondered for a moment.

"That pyramid must be the center of the ruins, right? Have you found the entrance?"

"Found it, but the entrance is locked, and I can't find a way in."

"Is there a special way to enter?"

Xiao Yun's eyes flashed, and he took a step forward.

"Let's go take a look first."

Lu Zhi and the others nodded and followed behind Xiao Yun.

No sooner had Xiao Yun and his group arrived than Liu Xiyue followed them.

Lu Zhi frowned, about to speak and drive him away, when she saw Shen Ze staring at the runes on the pyramid gate and walking up with a solemn expression.

"If we open the door the way described above, it won't be easy to get in."

"Oh? Teacher Shen can understand the runes on these?"

Xiao Yun was somewhat surprised, while Shen Ze smiled slightly:

"This is the direction of my research after I transmigrated. I can't say I understand it completely, I can only say I have a basic understanding of it."

Xiao Yun nodded, a sigh escaping his lips.

"No wonder he can be an adversary of Teacher Jiang; he's got some skills."

Xiao Yun turned to Shen Ze, humbly seeking his guidance:

"Please tell me how to enter, Teacher Shen."

If Shen Ze can really find a way to open the door, he can save himself from having to send a warning message.

Shen Ze nodded slightly, not keeping him in suspense any longer:

"According to what they say, we need to find someone with S-level talent and use their blood to open the door."

"S-rank talent?"

Liu Xiyue and the others behind them exclaimed in surprise and frowned.

"Why not just mix the blood of several people with A-level talents together?"

Shen Ze shook his head:

"This isn't like buying vegetables at a market; there's no room for bargaining when it comes to alchemical rituals."

Lu Zhi, who was standing to the side, also frowned.

"The blood of an S-rank talent... are the entry requirements for this relic really that stringent?"

If that's the case, based on the information she knows, there's only one person in the entire Ancient Capital University area who seems to meet this condition.

"Am I really going to go find that hypocrite Qi Huiming?"

Lu Zhi was momentarily at a loss. She secretly glanced at Xiao Yun, only to see him silently bowing his head.

"It seems he has no other choice."

Lu Zhi sighed softly, not too disappointed.

That's true. Although Xiao Yun is powerful, S-level talent is extremely rare, so it's normal that he doesn't have it.