Chapter Forty-Eight: Entry

Upon hearing this, Elder Wu’s mood improved somewhat. Seeing Nangong Xue’s unwavering determination, he could only nod in agreement.

“Roar!”

As the two conversed, another beastly roar echoed, even closer now to the territory of the Demon Ape Tribe. Clearly, its owner was racing this way.

Elder Wu wasted no further time. He glanced around at the mercenaries still locked in combat with other demon apes, but ignored them. Instead, he turned to the four martial guards assigned to protect Nangong Xue and instructed, “I’ll open the stone gate. When I do, all my strength will be focused on that task—I won’t be able to tend to anything else. You four, guard the entrance. Don’t let any mercenaries slip inside.”

“Yes, Elder Wu!” the four martial guards replied in unison, respectfully.

“Let’s go!”

With a wave of his hand, Elder Wu led the charge toward the cave entrance carved into the mountain wall. Nangong Xue followed closely, while the four martial guards flanked her, clearing away any demon apes that threatened their passage.

“Boy, they’re on the move. Are you ready?” Elder Mu’s voice reminded Ye Cheng in his mind.

“Yes.” Ye Cheng had already noticed Elder Wu’s actions. His eyes were fixed intently, prepared to slip in at the precise moment the stone gate opened.

A few heartbeats later, Elder Wu and his party dodged several waves of demon ape attacks and landed just before the stone gate set into the mountain wall. The four martial guards immediately surrounded the gate, unleashing their blood energy. Four powerful auras spread out, intimidating all around.

“So, they’re all peak Blood Qi Realm experts.” Sensing the fluctuations from their bodies, Ye Cheng easily discerned their cultivation. The corners of his mouth curled into a bitter smile, and he was left awestruck by Yongle City’s strength.

A peak Blood Qi Realm martial artist could easily hold a position of authority in a small place like Luoyang Town, perhaps even serve as an elder or enforcer within a faction. Yet in Yongle City, such experts were mere martial guards—a stark contrast that spoke volumes.

Upon reaching the stone gate, Elder Wu wasted no words. He quickly circulated his Yuan Qi, channeling it all into his hands. Gripping the base of the gate, he heaved upward with every ounce of his strength. His aged face flushed red with exertion.

With a deep rumble, the ancient stone gate slowly rose.

The gate’s massive sound echoed through the territory, drawing the attention of mercenaries still entangled with demon apes. But upon sensing the formidable blood energy of the four guards, their eyes hardened. Some had entertained thoughts of entering the cave, but now, faced with those four standing sentinels, they could only offer helpless smiles—success seemed impossible.

Among the mercenaries, Captain Wang also smiled bitterly. He too had hoped to enter. Although he himself was at the peak of the Blood Qi Realm, if only one guard were posted, he might have tried his luck. But with four guarding the entrance, all equal to himself in strength, he had no confidence he could break through.

As the stone gate was lifted high enough, it revealed half an entrance—beyond it, nothing but darkness.

At that moment, Nangong Xue moved. With a sudden burst of speed, she darted through the half-open doorway, her figure disappearing into the darkness within a single breath.

As Elder Wu opened the gate, Ye Cheng had already rushed in from afar and now stood not far from the entrance. Yet the four guards blocking the door held him back.

He hesitated for a moment, then called out, “Master, lend me your strength.”

Without the slightest hesitation, Elder Mu responded. He knew that Ye Cheng alone could never break through the defenses of four peak Blood Qi Realm martial guards.

A surge of pure, immense Yuan Qi erupted from within Ye Cheng. His form shot forward, racing toward the open stone gate.

“Stop!”

The four guards saw the youth charging at the entrance and shouted in unison. All four struck simultaneously, their blood energy coalescing into countless blood fists that hurtled toward Ye Cheng.

“Hmph.”

A voice, aged and world-weary, escaped Ye Cheng’s lips—a cold snort that reached the guards’ ears. Their gazes grew strange. How could a youth who looked barely seventeen or eighteen speak with such an ancient tone? It was odd, but they did not know that Ye Cheng’s body was now controlled not by himself, but by a mysterious master.

Ye Cheng, in the midst of his charge, waved his hand. A streak of green Yuan Qi lashed out, instantly dispersing all the blood fists. Then, another torrent of Yuan Qi shot from his palm, smashing toward the four guards outside the stone gate.

“Boom!”

The four martial guards felt the power of the attack and scattered in unison. The Yuan Qi strike missed, crashing into the ground and leaving a deep trench.

Elder Mu had no intention of killing, merely controlling Ye Cheng’s body to force the four obstacles aside. As they scattered, Ye Cheng seized the opportunity, accelerating and rushing along the path carved by his previous attack, leaving the four guards behind.

Seeing someone break through, Elder Wu’s pale face froze in surprise. He quickly withdrew his hands from the gate. The moment Elder Wu released his grip, the stone gate fell heavily back into place.

“Whoosh!”

As the gate fell, Ye Cheng’s figure arrived in a flash. Before Elder Wu’s eyes, he disappeared into the darkness beyond the stone gate.

Staring at the sudden intruder, Elder Wu was powerless. He had already exhausted all his strength; the effects of the berserk energy potion had faded. Now, he couldn’t muster a bit of power to stop him. He could only watch as the figure slipped inside.

With Ye Cheng’s disappearance, the stone gate—forged from rare materials—slammed down, emitting a deep, muffled sound.

As they gazed at the fallen stone gate, the crowd dismissed any lingering thoughts. Although someone had just broken through the four martial guards, none believed they could accomplish such a feat themselves.