Luo Chuan watched the two powerful beasts, noting the rare gravity in their expressions.
Something was wrong.
"The real reason?"
His curiosity stirred.
It seemed there was far more to these ancient ruins than he had initially thought.
"Alright," Luo Chuan said calmly. "Let's hear it."
Hu Kuang took a deep breath, as if preparing for something significant.
But just as he was about to speak—
Luo Chuan's expression shifted.
His mind was suddenly filled with a sharp, mechanical voice.
"Warning! Clerk Yao Ziyan is in mortal danger. Should you be transported immediately?"
His eyes darkened.
No hesitation.
"Yes."
Instantly, something awoke within him.
A mystic pattern surfaced in his gaze, ancient and unfathomable.
The very fabric of space unraveled before his eyes.
He could see its folds. Its structure. Its every imperfection.
With a flick of his wrist, Luo Chuan tore through reality itself.
A pitch-black rift appeared, swirling with chaotic spatial currents.
Without a moment's delay, he stepped inside—
And vanished.
The tear in space sealed shut behind him, as if it had never existed.
Hu Kuang and Mo Yuan stood frozen, staring at the empty spot where their boss had been just moments ago.
One moment, he was here.
The next, gone.
"Uh…" Hu Kuang muttered. "Did the boss just… leave?"
Mo Yuan rubbed his chin, deep in thought. "If we weren't seeing things… then yes."
Hu Kuang scratched his head, still trying to process what just happened.
He had only known Luo Chuan for a short time, but he had already figured out one thing—
Nothing ever seemed to shake the man.
He didn't panic. He didn't care.
It was as if nothing in the world could stir his emotions.
So why—
Why had he looked so urgent just before leaving?
Mo Yuan exhaled.
"Must've been something important."
Hu Kuang nodded slowly.
His gaze shifted toward the ruins in the distance.
"Now that the ancient ruins have appeared, it won't be long before they fully open. The sacrificial ceremony should be a success, right?"
Mo Yuan narrowed his eyes, focusing on the flickering phantom of the ruins.
"Naturally. The High Priest is overseeing everything. Why should we worry?"
Hu Kuang smirked.
"If only we had a true leader of the Monster Royal Clan. Then the Nine Stars Mountain Range wouldn't be a place where these Human cultivators could just waltz in."
Mo Yuan's expression turned cold.
"The Demon Emperor remains in seclusion. Who knows when he will reappear?"
Hu Kuang sighed.
Then—
A sudden buzzing filled the air.
Their expressions changed instantly.
This sound—
It was the Monster Royal Clan's emergency communication method.
And it was only used in moments of extreme crisis.
A pair of scales materialized before them—one in front of each.
The jet-black scales absorbed the light, swallowing it into their abyssal depths.
Then—
A wave of divine consciousness surged forth.
"Sacrificial crisis. Immediate support required!"
The message was brief.
But it was enough.
Hu Kuang and Mo Yuan stiffened.
Then—
Their eyes burned with rage.
As members of the Monster Royal Clan, they knew the truth behind this sacrifice.
It wasn't just important—
It was the key to their entire race's future.
They had spent centuries preparing for this moment.
Failure was not an option.
A deep, earth-shaking aura erupted from both of them—
Tyrannical. Overwhelming.
A tiger and an ape, standing on the precipice of war.