En route to the central pagoda, the fifth and final of the five, Bai Zemin couldn’t help but recall the battle that had taken place three days prior on this very spot.

Despite being only two attacks, and lasting less than ten minutes, his confrontation with King Kang Guiying was undoubtedly Bai Zemin’s most challenging battle to date. Even his clash with the First Order Blazing Beetle during his time at the university compound hadn’t come close to bringing Bai Zemin to the brink, although it had been significantly more intense.

The battle between Bai Zemin and Kang Guiying was a battle that literally shook the earth, illuminated the skies, and shattered mountains. Leaving aside the first attack that nearly reduced Bai Zemin to a corpse, the second clash between the two men was destructive, a level of devastation few would likely witness again for years to come.

Ironically, however, it was also the battle in which Bai Zemin had no choice but to fight… and the battle in which he lost someone who unexpectedly became important to him.

“We are here.”

Shangguan Bing Xue’s voice jolted Bai Zemin from his reverie, and as he looked ahead, he realized the group had arrived at the fifth pagoda of the Five Silver Pagodas.

Bai Zemin took a deep breath and nodded, then turned around, his expression serious, “Though theoretically the trial is over, and we should now claim our victory, it seems more enemies await us ahead. According to King Kang, Kang Guiying, the creator of these ruins and former owner of everything here, the number of enemies awaiting us in the final ruin is certainly not small.”

They all listened in silence, their expressions grave. Though none of them believed they would lose now that they had overcome so many trials and hardships, it was precisely because they had faced so much adversity to reach this point that they knew underestimating what lay ahead could be their undoing.

“For the upcoming battle, I want the following to form the second front line… Shangguan Bing Xue, Chen He, Zhong De, Cai Jingyi, Wu Yijun, Sun Ling, Huang Tian, Feng Hong, Feng Tian Wu, Teng Hua, Liang Jing, Nangong Lingxin, Xia Ya, Zeng Yun…”

Bai Zemin called out the names of over forty soul evolvers above level 40. Among them were mages like Feng Tian Wu, Feng Hong, Zeng Yun, Xia Ya, and archers like Chen He, and several others.

Surprisingly, none of the mages or archers called to the second front line showed fear or incredulity, even though the most logical approach would have been to position them behind the melee fighters with naturally higher defensive capabilities.

This was because each and every one, whether a mage like Feng Tian Wu or an archer like Chen He, possessed skills that allowed them to engage enemies at close range or prevent enemies from getting too close. There were also others, like Chen He himself, who, in addition to being skilled in ranged attacks, were formidable melee fighters with stats well above average, capable of battling Second Order existences.

Seeing the unwavering confidence in the expressions of those he had called, Bai Zemin nodded with a slight smile of satisfaction.

These individuals, though having fought alongside him relatively little compared to the countless battles Bai Zemin had fought with other soul evolvers and soldiers of his Transcendent faction, were all brave warriors worthy of trust on the battlefield.

Bai Zemin truly hoped none of them would perish in combat, as they would undoubtedly become valuable brothers and sisters in arms in the future. However, even with his confidence, the same unease he had felt on the first day, deep within the forest on their way to the Five Silver Pagodas, returned.

“Does anyone have any questions before entering the ruin? Once inside, I expect everyone to focus 100% on exploration, combat, and survival, and forget everything else.” Bai Zemin said, his gaze sweeping over the assembled group for the third time.

Bai Zemin quickly saw Feng Tian Wu raise her hand, gently like a student awaiting permission to speak in class, and he nodded in her direction. “Proceed.”

Feng Tian Wu lowered her hand, her expression firm. “While we likely already know the answer, just to be sure, who will form the first front line?”

Bai Zemin nodded, his voice confident. “Of course, the first front line is composed of me, and no one else.”

Feng Tian Wu nodded, her expression unchanged, as did everyone else, as if it were a matter of course.

“Any other questions?”

After a few seconds of silence, Bai Zemin took the first step, and just before his body was teleported to the final ruin, he called out:

“Move!”

* * *

Like well-oiled machines, as the group led by Bai Zemin was teleported beyond the entryway of the fifth pagoda, they immediately assumed attack or defense positions, carefully observing their surroundings.

This place was unlike any of the three previous ruins Bai Zemin had seen.

The first ruin was a large chamber with multiple compartments filled with pills, the second a small forge with tools and materials for crafting, and the third a vast library containing historical texts and potion recipes.

However, regardless of whether it was the first or third ruin… they all paled in comparison to the place they had been transported to.

The sheer size of this place was overwhelming; comparing it to the first ruin, arguably the largest so far, was like comparing China to Luxembourg – there was no scale to measure it.

Above their heads, over a thousand meters high, were enormous boulders, suggesting this place might be hidden deep underground. Embedded in the rocks on the ceiling were small, emerald-colored stones, which, when joined together, provided illumination, meaning the surroundings weren’t completely dark.

The smell of damp earth was overwhelming, and a single breath was enough to understand that there was virtually no fresh air circulating.

Besides…

“What’s that smell?”

“It smells just like when I forgot to bathe my dog for half a year.”

“Honestly, what is this foul odor?”

“It smells like… well, shit.”

More than a few soul evolvers began to frown as they ventured deeper. The situation reached a point where most couldn’t help but voice their complaints.

There was only one path forward; straight ahead!

The sides and back were also blocked by rock, leaving no choice but to advance. However, with each step, the putrid smell intensified. After several minutes, it became so unbearable that, if not for the fact that each person present had bathed in the blood and viscera of their enemies multiple times, they might have all succumbed to vomiting.

“It’s just as I suspected,” Bai Zemin said, his expression slightly worried as he led the team a few meters behind.

“What is it?” Shangguan Bing Xue grumbled.

Her beautiful face was grim, and the flames of anger in her blue eyes indicated she was far from pleased with this place.

“This smell is animal excrement,” Bai Zemin said in a low voice, the echo of their footsteps accompanying his words. “So far, all we’ve encountered in the previous ruins were golems created by human hands, which is why we haven’t gained any Soul Power from defeating them. However, King Kang warned me of the danger within this fifth ruin, even though it should be empty after overcoming the final trial of the fourth pagoda.”

“Animal excrement? How much must those animals have defecated for the smell to spread everywhere? This place is enormous!” Zhong De grumbled through gritted teeth.

“Shut up, Zhong De.” Nangong Lingxin frowned, annoyed.

“No, you shut up, Nangong!” Zhong De retorted.

The two seemed determined to continue arguing, but when they saw Bai Zemin’s cold gaze over their shoulders, they froze, quickly silencing themselves and continuing forward.

Bai Zemin kept his gaze on them for a few seconds before turning forward, continuing his analysis. “It seems that at some point in the past, a species of animal infiltrated these ruins and built their nest here. The number of creatures needed to saturate this place with this stench must be in the millions, given the size of the cave.”

“Millions?” Chen He exclaimed, his eyes wide with shock, “Weaver ants!”

Hearing Chen He’s gasp, everyone froze. The great battle against the weaver ants was still fresh in their minds, a war where, but for Bai Zemin and Shangguan Bing Xue, the human squad would have been annihilated.

“Weaver Ants,” Bai Zemin confirmed, confirming everyone’s fears.

“Ever since we defeated that army of weaver ants, I’ve wondered why they haven’t returned for revenge. After all, weaver ants are known for their vengeful nature. However, strangely, even after so many days, no weaver ants have appeared, and so far, not a single ant at the commander or general level has shown up; they were all either First Order collectors or First Order soldiers.”

A glint of cold light flashed in Bai Zemin’s black eyes as he muttered to himself:

“Now I finally understand.”

Though these last words weren’t directed at anyone, in the silence of the cave, they were clear as a flowing river.

None of those present were fools; otherwise, they wouldn’t have survived this long. Therefore, it wasn’t difficult for them to understand the rest without further explanation from Bai Zemin.

“… This is great, now the ruins have become a weaver ant nest, and as if that wasn’t enough, we’ll have to fight for what should already be ours.” Shangguan Bing Xue shook her head, grumbling.

“Well… Bing Xue, look on the bright side.” Wu Yijun said suddenly.

“Bright side?” Shangguan Bing Xue looked at her doubtfully. Her mood was truly terrible. She said, in a voice only Wu Yijun and she could hear, “This cave is damp, the wind isn’t blowing, we have millions of enemies to face, including First and Second Order existences, and there might even be a Third Order queen. As if that wasn’t enough, we have to deal with this smell… Where do you see the silver lining?”

Wu Yijun smiled sweetly, her eyes gentle and kind, causing Shangguan Bing Xue’s eyes to shine… but the shine faded as Wu Yijun’s next words were anything but sweet.

“At least, this isn’t a spider’s nest. Isn’t that good?”