The morning mist slowly drifted away as the first rays of sunlight touched the ancient land.
Alex stood silently before the enormous stone gate.
For several moments, he simply stared.
The gate towered nearly thirty meters into the sky, standing like an immortal guardian that had witnessed countless generations rise and fall. Its once magnificent surface had been scarred by time. Deep cracks spread across the giant stone pillars like veins, while thick vines wrapped themselves around the ancient carvings, almost swallowing them completely.
Massive rocks lay scattered across the entrance.
Some were as large as houses.
Others had been split cleanly in half, their broken surfaces covered in moss and centuries of dust.
Broken statues rested among the ruins.
Most had already lost their heads or arms, making it impossible to identify whom they once represented.
Ancient pillars leaned dangerously in every direction, as though a single gust of wind could cause them to collapse forever.
The surrounding air carried an indescribable silence.
No beast dared approach.
No birds sang above.
Even the wind seemed unwilling to disturb this forgotten place.
Alex slowly walked toward one of the fallen stone slabs.
Half of it had sunk beneath the earth.
The remaining portion was covered with faded characters.
He brushed away the dust with his sleeve.
Ancient letters gradually appeared.
"Baspina Speenzo Castle."
Alex frowned.
"Castle?"
Yi Zhau floated beside him.
His old eyes carefully examined the words.
"It seems these ruins once belonged to an ancient castle."
Alex looked around.
"This place... doesn't feel like an ordinary ruin."
Yi Zhau nodded slightly.
"It isn't."
"The aura surrounding these ruins has existed for thousands of years."
He looked toward the massive gate.
"Even after all this time... traces of its former power still remain."
Alex swallowed quietly.
Who exactly had built such a place?
And what had destroyed it?
No answer came.
Only silence welcomed them.
Yi Zhau slowly raised his hand.
"The map ends here."
Alex nodded.
"So the treasure should be inside."
Yi Zhau smiled faintly.
"If fate favors you."
The two stepped toward the ancient entrance.
The moment Alex crossed the gate—
A cold breeze brushed across his body.
His heartbeat suddenly accelerated.
For an instant, it felt as though invisible eyes were watching him from every direction.
Alex instinctively looked behind.
Nothing.
The forest remained peaceful.
When he looked forward again—
Darkness swallowed everything.
The sunlight outside had completely disappeared.
Only endless darkness stretched ahead.
Alex frowned.
"This place..."
"...feels alive."
Yi Zhau calmly replied,
"Ancient inheritances often possess strange phenomena."
"Remain calm."
"Fear clouds judgment."
Alex took a deep breath and continued walking.
The corridor stretched endlessly before them.
Its walls were carved directly into black stone.
Countless mysterious symbols covered every surface.
Some resembled stars.
Others resembled beasts.
Several appeared to depict battles between cultivators powerful enough to shatter mountains.
The deeper they walked—
The colder the air became.
Water droplets slowly fell from the ceiling.
Each drop echoed throughout the silent passage.
The atmosphere grew increasingly oppressive.
After walking nearly a hundred meters—
Something unexpected happened.
Without warning—
Flames erupted.
One torch.
Then another.
Then dozens.
Within seconds—
Hundreds of ancient torches ignited one after another.
Golden flames illuminated the corridor.
Alex instinctively stepped backward.
The sudden light startled him.
Yi Zhau remained calm.
"It seems the ruins have acknowledged our arrival."
Alex carefully observed the torches.
"Who lit them?"
"No one."
Yi Zhau stroked his beard.
"Formation arrays."
"They continue functioning even after thousands of years."
Alex looked amazed.
"They're still active after all this time?"
Yi Zhau smiled proudly.
"When your cultivation reaches a sufficient level..."
"You'll understand that time alone cannot destroy everything."
The torches created a clear path ahead.
Every flame pointed in the same direction.
Almost as if inviting them forward.
Alex and Yi Zhau exchanged glances before continuing.
Several minutes later—
The corridor suddenly ended.
A massive circular platform appeared before them.
The opposite side lay nearly twenty meters away.
Between them—
Nothing.
Only a bottomless abyss.
Alex slowly approached the edge.
He picked up a loose stone and threw it downward.
The stone disappeared into darkness.
Several seconds passed.
No sound returned.
Alex narrowed his eyes.
"There isn't even an echo."
Yi Zhau observed the platform carefully.
Then smiled.
"The path is above."
Alex looked upward.
Large stone platforms floated through the darkness.
Some remained completely still.
Others slowly moved from side to side.
Alex immediately understood.
"I have to jump across."
Yi Zhau folded his arms.
"Exactly."
Alex smiled.
"This shouldn't be difficult."
Without hesitation—
He leaped.
His body landed perfectly upon the first platform.
The stone shook slightly beneath his feet.
Alex immediately jumped again.
Second platform.
Third.
Fourth.
Each leap required perfect timing.
Some platforms moved unexpectedly.
Others tilted beneath his weight.
Several nearly caused him to lose balance.
Halfway across—
A loud rumbling echoed.
Alex looked upward.
His expression changed instantly.
A gigantic stone block was falling directly toward him.
Without thinking—
He kicked off the platform beneath him.
His body spun through the air before landing upon another floating stone.
The giant block crashed behind him.
The impact shattered three platforms completely.
Fragments disappeared into the endless darkness below.
Alex released a deep breath.
"That was close."
Yi Zhau laughed.
"If that frightened you..."
"...then you're far from ready."
Alex smiled helplessly.
"Master, encouraging words would also be appreciated."
Yi Zhau snorted.
"You survived."
"That's encouragement enough."
Several more jumps later—
Alex finally reached the opposite side safely.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"One obstacle completed."
Yi Zhau smiled mysteriously.
"Who said there was only one?"
Alex's smile froze.
Before he could ask—
A metallic sound echoed.
Click.
Click.
Click.
The walls trembled.
Tiny holes suddenly appeared on both sides of the corridor.
Alex's instincts screamed danger.
Yi Zhau shouted,
"Dodge!"
The next moment—
Hundreds of arrows burst from the walls.
Their tips glowed with a faint green light.
Poison.
Alex immediately moved.
His strengthened body allowed him to react instantly.
He leaned sideways.
Three arrows passed beside his face.
He rolled forward.
Another volley struck the ground where he had stood moments earlier.
The arrows continued relentlessly.
Left.
Right.
Above.
Below.
Alex's figure blurred through the corridor.
His breathing remained steady.
Every movement became more precise than the last.
One arrow grazed his shoulder.
The fabric tore apart.
Fortunately—
It failed to pierce his skin.
The First Body Manifestation Technique had already strengthened his body considerably.
After nearly half a minute—
The arrow rain finally stopped.
The corridor returned to silence.
Alex leaned against the wall.
"These ruins really don't welcome visitors."
Yi Zhau laughed loudly.
"If treasure were easy to obtain..."
"...everyone would become an emperor."
The two continued deeper.
The atmosphere gradually became even stranger.
Ancient murals covered the walls.
Most had faded.
Yet one painting remained unusually clear.
It depicted countless cultivators kneeling before a figure seated upon a throne.
The figure's face had been deliberately destroyed.
Only the throne remained intact.
Alex stopped walking.
"Who was that?"
Yi Zhau narrowed his eyes.
"I don't know."
"But someone intentionally erased his identity."
Alex silently memorized the mural before moving onward.
Time slowly passed.
The corridor seemed endless.
Left.
Right.
Straight.
More corridors.
More ancient halls.
Every turn looked identical.
Even Alex began doubting the map.
After another hour—
He finally sighed.
"Master..."
Yi Zhau glanced toward him.
"What?"
"I think we've taken the wrong path."
Yi Zhau raised an eyebrow.
Alex looked around helplessly.
"We've been walking forever."
"There isn't any treasure."
"There isn't even another person."
"This place feels endless."
Yi Zhau smiled calmly.
"There is no wrong path."
Alex frowned.
"Then why haven't we reached the end?"
Yi Zhau looked ahead.
"Because ancient ruins were never built for impatient people."
"They test strength."
"They test intelligence."
"And above all..."
"They test patience."
Alex sighed.
"So we keep walking?"
Yi Zhau nodded.
"We have no other option."
Alex laughed bitterly.
"I suddenly miss fighting beasts."
The old master burst into laughter.
For the first time since entering the ruins—
The silent atmosphere became slightly lighter.
Neither of them noticed—
Far ahead...
Beyond the endless corridor...
A vast chamber waited in absolute silence.
And within that darkness...
Someone had already arrived before them.
Destiny of Elemental Infinity
Chapter 18 – The Ancient Ruins (Part 1)
The morning mist slowly drifted away as the first rays of sunlight touched the ancient land.
Alex stood silently before the enormous stone gate.
For several moments, he simply stared.
The gate towered nearly thirty meters into the sky, standing like an immortal guardian that had witnessed countless generations rise and fall. Its once magnificent surface had been scarred by time. Deep cracks spread across the giant stone pillars like veins, while thick vines wrapped themselves around the ancient carvings, almost swallowing them completely.
Massive rocks lay scattered across the entrance.
Some were as large as houses.
Others had been split cleanly in half, their broken surfaces covered in moss and centuries of dust.
Broken statues rested among the ruins.
Most had already lost their heads or arms, making it impossible to identify whom they once represented.
Ancient pillars leaned dangerously in every direction, as though a single gust of wind could cause them to collapse forever.
The surrounding air carried an indescribable silence.
No beast dared approach.
No birds sang above.
Even the wind seemed unwilling to disturb this forgotten place.
Alex slowly walked toward one of the fallen stone slabs.
Half of it had sunk beneath the earth.
The remaining portion was covered with faded characters.
He brushed away the dust with his sleeve.
Ancient letters gradually appeared.
"Baspina Speenzo Castle."
Alex frowned.
"Castle?"
Yi Zhau floated beside him.
His old eyes carefully examined the words.
"It seems these ruins once belonged to an ancient castle."
Alex looked around.
"This place... doesn't feel like an ordinary ruin."
Yi Zhau nodded slightly.
"It isn't."
"The aura surrounding these ruins has existed for thousands of years."
He looked toward the massive gate.
"Even after all this time... traces of its former power still remain."
Alex swallowed quietly.
Who exactly had built such a place?
And what had destroyed it?
No answer came.
Only silence welcomed them.
Yi Zhau slowly raised his hand.
"The map ends here."
Alex nodded.
"So the treasure should be inside."
Yi Zhau smiled faintly.
"If fate favors you."
The two stepped toward the ancient entrance.
The moment Alex crossed the gate—
A cold breeze brushed across his body.
His heartbeat suddenly accelerated.
For an instant, it felt as though invisible eyes were watching him from every direction.
Alex instinctively looked behind.
Nothing.
The forest remained peaceful.
When he looked forward again—
Darkness swallowed everything.
The sunlight outside had completely disappeared.
Only endless darkness stretched ahead.
Alex frowned.
"This place..."
"...feels alive."
Yi Zhau calmly replied,
"Ancient inheritances often possess strange phenomena."
"Remain calm."
"Fear clouds judgment."
Alex took a deep breath and continued walking.
The corridor stretched endlessly before them.
Its walls were carved directly into black stone.
Countless mysterious symbols covered every surface.
Some resembled stars.
Others resembled beasts.
Several appeared to depict battles between cultivators powerful enough to shatter mountains.
The deeper they walked—
The colder the air became.
Water droplets slowly fell from the ceiling.
Each drop echoed throughout the silent passage.
The atmosphere grew increasingly oppressive.
After walking nearly a hundred meters—
Something unexpected happened.
Without warning—
Flames erupted.
One torch.
Then another.
Then dozens.
Within seconds—
Hundreds of ancient torches ignited one after another.
Golden flames illuminated the corridor.
Alex instinctively stepped backward.
The sudden light startled him.
Yi Zhau remained calm.
"It seems the ruins have acknowledged our arrival."
Alex carefully observed the torches.
"Who lit them?"
"No one."
Yi Zhau stroked his beard.
"Formation arrays."
"They continue functioning even after thousands of years."
Alex looked amazed.
"They're still active after all this time?"
Yi Zhau smiled proudly.
"When your cultivation reaches a sufficient level..."
"You'll understand that time alone cannot destroy everything."
The torches created a clear path ahead.
Every flame pointed in the same direction.
Almost as if inviting them forward.
Alex and Yi Zhau exchanged glances before continuing.
Several minutes later—
The corridor suddenly ended.
A massive circular platform appeared before them.
The opposite side lay nearly twenty meters away.
Between them—
Nothing.
Only a bottomless abyss.
Alex slowly approached the edge.
He picked up a loose stone and threw it downward.
The stone disappeared into darkness.
Several seconds passed.
No sound returned.
Alex narrowed his eyes.
"There isn't even an echo."
Yi Zhau observed the platform carefully.
Then smiled.
"The path is above."
Alex looked upward.
Large stone platforms floated through the darkness.
Some remained completely still.
Others slowly moved from side to side.
Alex immediately understood.
"I have to jump across."
Yi Zhau folded his arms.
"Exactly."
Alex smiled.
"This shouldn't be difficult."
Without hesitation—
He leaped.
His body landed perfectly upon the first platform.
The stone shook slightly beneath his feet.
Alex immediately jumped again.
Second platform.
Third.
Fourth.
Each leap required perfect timing.
Some platforms moved unexpectedly.
Others tilted beneath his weight.
Several nearly caused him to lose balance.
Halfway across—
A loud rumbling echoed.
Alex looked upward.
His expression changed instantly.
A gigantic stone block was falling directly toward him.
Without thinking—
He kicked off the platform beneath him.
His body spun through the air before landing upon another floating stone.
The giant block crashed behind him.
The impact shattered three platforms completely.
Fragments disappeared into the endless darkness below.
Alex released a deep breath.
"That was close."
Yi Zhau laughed.
"If that frightened you..."
"...then you're far from ready."
Alex smiled helplessly.
"Master, encouraging words would also be appreciated."
Yi Zhau snorted.
"You survived."
"That's encouragement enough."
Several more jumps later—
Alex finally reached the opposite side safely.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"One obstacle completed."
Yi Zhau smiled mysteriously.
"Who said there was only one?"
Alex's smile froze.
Before he could ask—
A metallic sound echoed.
Click.
Click.
Click.
The walls trembled.
Tiny holes suddenly appeared on both sides of the corridor.
Alex's instincts screamed danger.
Yi Zhau shouted,
"Dodge!"
The next moment—
Hundreds of arrows burst from the walls.
Their tips glowed with a faint green light.
Poison.
Alex immediately moved.
His strengthened body allowed him to react instantly.
He leaned sideways.
Three arrows passed beside his face.
He rolled forward.
Another volley struck the ground where he had stood moments earlier.
The arrows continued relentlessly.
Left.
Right.
Above.
Below.
Alex's figure blurred through the corridor.
His breathing remained steady.
Every movement became more precise than the last.
One arrow grazed his shoulder.
The fabric tore apart.
Fortunately—
It failed to pierce his skin.
The First Body Manifestation Technique had already strengthened his body considerably.
After nearly half a minute—
The arrow rain finally stopped.
The corridor returned to silence.
Alex leaned against the wall.
"These ruins really don't welcome visitors."
Yi Zhau laughed loudly.
"If treasure were easy to obtain..."
"...everyone would become an emperor."
The two continued deeper.
The atmosphere gradually became even stranger.
Ancient murals covered the walls.
Most had faded.
Yet one painting remained unusually clear.
It depicted countless cultivators kneeling before a figure seated upon a throne.
The figure's face had been deliberately destroyed.
Only the throne remained intact.
Alex stopped walking.
"Who was that?"
Yi Zhau narrowed his eyes.
"I don't know."
"But someone intentionally erased his identity."
Alex silently memorized the mural before moving onward.
Time slowly passed.
The corridor seemed endless.
Left.
Right.
Straight.
More corridors.
More ancient halls.
Every turn looked identical.
Even Alex began doubting the map.
After another hour—
He finally sighed.
"Master..."
Yi Zhau glanced toward him.
"What?"
"I think we've taken the wrong path."
Yi Zhau raised an eyebrow.
Alex looked around helplessly.
"We've been walking forever."
"There isn't any treasure."
"There isn't even another person."
"This place feels endless."
Yi Zhau smiled calmly.
"There is no wrong path."
Alex frowned.
"Then why haven't we reached the end?"
Yi Zhau looked ahead.
"Because ancient ruins were never built for impatient people."
"They test strength."
"They test intelligence."
"And above all..."
"They test patience."
Alex sighed.
"So we keep walking?"
Yi Zhau nodded.
"We have no other option."
Alex laughed bitterly.
"I suddenly miss fighting beasts."
The old master burst into laughter.
For the first time since entering the ruins—
The silent atmosphere became slightly lighter.
Neither of them noticed—
Far ahead...
Beyond the endless corridor...
A vast chamber waited in absolute silence.
And within that darkness...
Someone had already arrived before they came
Chaos Begains...