The moment Hu Kuang and Luo Chuan arrived, the entire crowd was thrown into commotion.
To be precise—
It was because of Hu Kuang.
"Look! Another monster is coming!"
A sharp-eyed cultivator shouted, drawing attention skyward.
"That's the Black Tiger King! I never thought it would show up here too!"
"I heard that the Black Tiger King is part of the Monster Royal Family in the Nine Stars Mountains. If it's here, then the Monster Royal Family must be involved in the opening of these ruins!"
"Ancient ruins hold fortunes beyond imagination. Whoever is destined will claim them!" someone said coolly.
"Heh! You humans talk as if these ruins belong to you!"
A deep sneer rang out.
A golden-furred Demon Ape stepped forward, its body radiating savage power.
Its fur gleamed as if bathed in molten gold, its eyes burning with battle intent.
The tension between the monsters and human cultivators was already thick—
And the ruins hadn't even opened yet.
However, most of the true powerhouses remained silent, conserving their energy for what lay ahead.
This was not the time for pointless conflict.
Hu Kuang moved swiftly, his speed causing the air to tremble.
In mere moments, he soared over the gathered forces—
And that was when everyone noticed.
The Black Tiger King wasn't alone.
There was a man on his back.
And he wasn't just riding—
He was sitting there like it was the most natural thing in the world.
For a brief moment—
Silence.
Then—
"The Black Tiger King… is being ridden?"
"Who is that man?"
"Wasn't the Black Tiger King famous for hating humans? How could he willingly become someone's mount?"
The gathered cultivators and monsters were stunned.
A monster of Hu Kuang's status—a royal-blooded beast—should never lower itself to be a human's mount!
And yet—
Here he was.
"Who is that young man? There's no record of someone like him in the Azure Continent."
"To make the Black Tiger King submit… he must at least be at the pinnacle of Pathseeker! Maybe even an Eminence!"
The whispers spread like wildfire.
All eyes were locked onto Luo Chuan and Hu Kuang.
Then—
Boom!
With a low rumble, Hu Kuang landed on the ground.
Luo Chuan rose from his back, his movements calm and effortless.
The moment his feet touched the ground, Hu Kuang's massive form began to shrink.
In the blink of an eye, the towering tiger had become no larger than a hunting cat, standing obediently at Luo Chuan's side.
It was an image so absurd that even the most battle-hardened warriors found it hard to process.
A monstrous silence fell over the area.
The cultivators and monsters stared.
Was this really…
The same ferocious Black Tiger King?
A deep sigh shattered the quiet.
"Hu Kuang… I never thought I'd see the day you'd willingly lower yourself to a human's mount."
A figure stepped forward.
It was Mo Yuan, a beast with thick, iron-like fur and piercing golden eyes.
His gaze held undisguised disappointment.
"Have you thrown away the dignity of the Monster Royal Family?"
Hu Kuang curled his lips.
Dignity?
Hah.
Could dignity give him mineral water that improved his bloodline?
Could dignity provide him with those divine spicy strips and cola?
Did dignity offer games that increased his cultivation?
If all he had to do was be a mount and he could enjoy all of that…
Then what was dignity worth?
Instead of explaining, Hu Kuang simply smirked.
"You don't understand," he said lazily.
"The boss is far beyond your imagination."
His words sent shockwaves through the gathered crowd.
Even Mo Yuan's expression shifted slightly.
For Hu Kuang—a monster of the seventh rank—to say something like this…
It meant only one thing.
This seemingly ordinary young man was stronger than him.
Far stronger.
The implications were terrifying.
Among all the beings present, there were only a dozen Pathseekers.
And not a single Eminence.
If this man was truly stronger than Hu Kuang…
Then what realm had he reached?
Could it be…
That he was already a Eminence?
And if so—
Who was he?
When had such a young powerhouse appeared in the Azure Continent?
Meanwhile, Luo Chuan remained completely indifferent to the chaos around him.
All the stares, whispers, and speculation—
He ignored them.
The only thing on his mind was when these ruins would finally open.
After all—
That was what he was here for.