Chapter 105 The Enchanted Fortress
In the heart of the ancient ruins, Long Tian engaged in a fierce battle against the bald man.
Thump!
Thrown a considerable distance, Long Tian was quick to rise, only to be struck down again by the relentless assault of the bald man. Bruises adorned his body, the flames still clinging to him despite his injuries.
But in the face of impending defeat, Long Tian summoned his strength. With a raise of his hands, the tattoos on his arms came to life, transforming into two massive black dragons that soared into the air.
Shock contorted the bald man's features as the dragons descended upon him, their claws sharp and fangs menacing.
"RAAAAAAWRGH!" The dragons' roar reverberated, accompanied by a flurry of attacks—claws slashing and black flames erupting.
Overwhelmed, the bald man found himself at the receiving end of the dragons' wrath. Their strikes were tangible, leaving deep claw marks on his body.
Summoning his last reserves of strength, Long Tian drew his Uchigatana, but it fell from his grip, useless.
"Shit!" he cursed, abandoning the weapon. Darkness swirled around him, merging with the blue flames and transforming into scorching black flames.
He lunged at the bald man, striking with a barrage of punches and martial arts techniques, the two black dragons aiding his assault.
Seizing the opportunity, his clone emerged behind the bald man, diverting his attention. One of the dragons lunged, severing the bald man's arm with a swift motion!
"Aaaaaargh!" The bald man's anguished cry filled the air, but before he could react more, the second dragon sank its fangs into his body, hoisting him into the air.
He tried to free himself, but its bite was so strong that its sharp fangs almost pierced his body.
The dragon carried him high into the air and then flew back, heading towards Long Tian below.
Long Tian's hand crackled with raging lightning. Seeing this, the bald man cursed, "Shit! Shit! Shit!"
Rumble!
The sound of thunder reverberated from Long Tian's hand, and the next moment, a burst of lightning struck the bald man, who was gripped by the black dragon.
A brilliant white light emerged as the bald man was completely engulfed by the burst of lightning.
Meanwhile, Xia Xiao and the other four were stunned as the shadow they had faced suddenly melted into darkness and dissipated like a mirage.
Their attention shifted to the source of the brilliant light—a spectacle born from Long Tian's lightning strike.
In a matter of seconds, the lightning vanished, leaving the two black dragons suspended in the air, devoid of the bald man. He had been reduced to ashes by Long Tian's lightning strike.
Gasping for breath, Long Tian trembled from the aftershocks of his attack. The battle could have endured longer, but he opted for swift resolution, employing the power of lightning and the black dragons to end it.
In an instant, the dragons transformed back into tattoos on Long Tian's arms.
A glint caught his eye—a small, intricately engraved gold piece lay on the ground. He picked it up, stowing it away in his spatial ring.
Approaching him, Xia Xiao and the others voiced their awe at Long Tian's victory.
"Long Tian, you truly vanquished that mysterious man. It's unbelievable," Xia Jun marveled.
"Yes, he could manipulate those peculiar shadows. We were fortunate to have you with us, brother," Long Feng chimed in.
"Indeed, our encounter with you earlier was serendipitous. Without you, we might not have survived," Xia Xiao added.
Long Tian simply smiled in response. "The battle was arduous; I need a moment's respite," he replied.
Xia Xiao nodded understandingly. "We sustained considerable injuries facing those eight shadows. Resting here seems wise. We can set up a campfire," she suggested.
"A splendid idea," Long Tian agreed.
With that, they built a camp, some venturing to hunt for food.
---
More than an hour passed. Long Tian and his companions still reclined, relishing the roasted meat of a forest pig they had captured earlier.
Rising, Long Tian gazed at Xia Xiao. "It seems our rest has concluded. Shall we proceed toward the rumor you mentioned?" he proposed.
Xia Xiao nodded affirmatively. "Indeed, it's time. And what about the others?" he inquired, glancing at his companions.
"Let's proceed," Long Jun and the rest consented.
"Very well, onward we go," Xia Xiao declared. With that, they resumed their journey toward the rumored destination.
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As the day waned, Long Tian and the others found themselves standing before vast ancient ruins, reminiscent of the ones they had encountered before, albeit much grander in scale.
Xia Xiao consulted the map he had brought, confirming that they were indeed at the rumored location marked by the 'X' on the map.
"It's peculiar; we should have reached our destination by now. Are we thousands of years too late?" he said.
"Let me have a look," Long Tian said, taking the map and scrutinizing it closely.
Their position was undeniably at the marked 'X,' pinpointing the epicenter of the rumor.
"There must be something we're missing. Perhaps it's buried or concealed beneath the surface," he suggested, his eyes narrowing in thought.
"In that case, we'll have to explore every nook and cranny of this place," Xia Xiao affirmed.
With unanimous agreement, they set out to investigate the area, their eyes scanning for any hints or clues that could unlock the mysteries of the ruins.
---
After a considerable search, Long Feng's voice cut through the ambient forest sounds, excitement lacing his tone. "I've found something!"
Immediately, everyone gathered around Long Feng, their eyes fixed on the discovery. "What is it?" Long Tian inquired.
Long Feng pointed towards a one-meter-tall pillar adorned with intricate carvings. Its presence exuded an aura of enigma.
"Do you sense it? There's something extraordinary about this pillar," he exclaimed.
Xia Xiao chimed in, echoing Long Feng's sentiments. "Indeed, this pillar feels distinct. There's more to it than meets the eye."
Long Tian approached the pillar, his gaze focused. The carvings, while intricate, appeared incomplete, as if they were part of a larger, interconnected pattern.
He furrowed his brow in concentration, contemplating the puzzle. If only Shen Yulan were present; her expertise might have shed light on this enigma.
After a moment of contemplation, Long Tian's eyes lit up with understanding. "I believe I've grasped something. These carvings seem incomplete, as if they are meant to connect with others. If my intuition serves me right, this pillar isn't the only one," he declared.
His revelation elicited nods of agreement from the group, acknowledging the plausibility of his explanation.
"In that case, we need to search further. If any of you stumble upon another pillar, stay put. There might be several of these pillars scattered around," Xia Xiao instructed.
The group affirmed their understanding, preparing to resume their exploration. Just as they were about to disperse, Long Tian intervened.
"Wait a moment," he said, his voice commanding their attention.
Long Tian didn't explain with words but rather with actions. He gently caressed the pillar, injecting his aura into its surface.
Seconds passed, and the carvings on the pillar glowed with a dim, mesmerizing purple light.
A sense of awe washed over everyone. "Incredible, it's glowing. Your intuition is remarkable, Long Tian," Xia Xiao praised, admiration evident in his eyes.
Long Tian grinned in response. "This means the puzzle can be solved. If any of you find another pillar, infuse it with your aura," he instructed.
"Understood," the group chorused in unison. With renewed determination, they resumed their exploration of the ruins, their eyes sharp for any signs of similar pillars.
The vastness of the place, surrounded by towering trees, made their search challenging yet all the more exhilarating.
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As the sun dipped below the horizon, enveloping the world in darkness, the ancient ruins came alive. Eight pillars emitted a radiant purple light, illuminating the night.
Long Feng and Xia Jun, in their exploration, stumbled upon another pillar. With determination, they injected their aura, igniting the pillar in a luminous display.
Not long after that, the ground trembled beneath them, unsettling their balance. In the following moments, the ruins—once scattered fragments of the past—floated in mid-air, aligning seamlessly to form a colossal, imposing structure.
Stunned, the group sprinted towards the entrance, gathering before the gate in sheer awe.
"Your intuition was right, Long Tian; it's formed into a castle of this magnitude," Long Feng marveled.
Long Tian grinned, "Well, let's venture inside."
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