Gaze
The wind and snow were endless.
The crowd stumbled and walked in the accumulated snow, only the howling sound of the wind echoing in their ears.
About twenty minutes had passed since they entered the Ancient Vault of the Imperial Path. Besides the endless wind and snow in front of them, not even a ghost's shadow could be seen...
The icy cold stimulated everyone's nerves, freezing their cheeks beet-red. Coupled with the hunger from the long trek, everyone only felt their bodies weighed a thousand catties... Both their bodies and spirits were gradually approaching their limits.
By the end, even the tallest and sturdiest Zhu Zhong couldn't hold on anymore.
"There are a few trees ahead, they can block the wind a bit... Let's go there and rest for a while."
Without a second word, he occupied the thickest tree among them and sat down. This place relatively caught less wind. The others naturally didn't dare to fight Zhu Zhong for the spot, and could only quickly snatch the other few smaller trees, some even coming to blows over it.
As they fought, some people became stunned, looking at the nothingness in front of them, as if there was something there.
"If a few of us gather together with our backs facing outward, we can also resist some of the wind and snow." Wu Qiong walked up to them and said.
Under Wu Qiong's organization, that group of marginalized people who didn't dare to fight immediately huddled into a group. Dozens of people pressed their bodies against each other, using their backs to resist the external wind and snow, but it was indeed much warmer within the crowd.
The Hemp-Clad Youth didn't plan to fight Zhu Zhong and the others for a tree, so he brought Ah Qian and joined them as well.
"What exactly are you looking at?" Seeing Wu Qiong staring blankly in front of her again, the Hemp-Clad Youth frowned and asked.
Wu Qiong looked at him deeply. After hesitating for a moment, she still said:
"You... perhaps, need to take some initiative. After you actively do certain things, you will also see..."
The Hemp-Clad Youth's eyes were full of incomprehension.
"Give it to me... I'm telling you to give it to me!!" A sound of dispute came from the side.
They saw Zhu Zhong knock a youth to the ground with a kick, his hand grabbing his collar, seemingly snatching something. That youth's hand was tightly gripping half an unfinished flatbread, still struggling with all his might.
"This is mine!"
"You are so weak, eating it is useless, it's better to let me eat it! I have a lot of strength! I can help you guys escape!"
"I won't!! This is mine!!"
"You're courting death!!"
Seeing him refusing to let go no matter what, Zhu Zhong was instantly furious, kicking him fiercely in the head, directly kicking his nose bridge crooked. Fresh blood flowed profusely from his nose, and even a few of his teeth were knocked out.
The force of this kick was truly not small. That youth's brain instantly went blank, but his hand still wouldn't release the flatbread no matter what, as if he had already frozen stiff.
"I told you to let go! I told you to let go!! Trash!! Bitch!!"
Zhu Zhong didn't have the slightest intention of stopping, frantically continuing to kick the youth's head and stomach with his feet, his face incomparably sinister!
Seeing this scene, the hearts of the others all leaped to their throats. At the end of the day, they were all a group of children. Frightened silly for a time, they forgot to go up and stop him... Moreover, they had all seen Zhu Zhong's strength and violence, who would have the courage to go up and stop him?
The Hemp-Clad Youth not far away tightly locked his brows...
He glanced at the tall and burly Zhu Zhong, then glanced at the other children beside him who feared him. Wisps of faint light flickered in his eyes, not knowing what he was thinking about.
Zhu Zhong's kicks became heavier and heavier, gradually beating the youth until he had no reaction. Just as fresh blood was about to dye the earth, a figure appeared in front of him.
"Enough!" The Hemp-Clad Youth spoke in a deep voice.
Zhu Zhong's footsteps paused, those angry eyes glaring at the Hemp-Clad Youth,
"What are you? You say enough and it's enough?!"
"If you keep beating him like this, he'll be beaten to death by you." The Hemp-Clad Youth's gaze was cold and sharp,
"Don't forget we are all watching. If you kill him, when we arrive at the Tianshu Domain, someone will definitely report you for murder... Either you kill him and then kill all of us; or you just wait to go to jail in the Tianshu Domain!"
Hearing these words, Zhu Zhong visibly hesitated.
Even if he was ignorant of the ways of the world, he always knew what the word jail meant... He turned his head and swept his gaze over the other children. The latter all lowered their heads and avoided his gaze, seemingly not daring to meet his eyes.
Zhu Zhong remained silent for a long time, gave a cold snort, and pulled his foot back.
"You're acting very arrogant." Zhu Zhong's eyes narrowed slightly. "Want to fight me?"
"Do you think you have a lot of strength?" The Hemp-Clad Youth wasn't afraid at all, speaking indifferently, "I can drag over the 'Holy Remains' weighing hundreds of catties, I can also blow your head up with one punch... Do you want to try with me?"
Zhu Zhong seemed to be frightened by the Hemp-Clad Youth's imposing manner. Recalling that he did indeed drag the Holy Remains by himself just now, a hint of wariness visibly appeared on his face.
Hunger filled his body. Zhu Zhong didn't want to fight it out with the Hemp-Clad Youth at this time either, just giving the Hemp-Clad Youth a vicious glare,
"Just you wait."
He turned around and continued walking into the wind and snow.
After Zhu Zhong left, the surrounding crowd also heaved a sigh of relief, a trace of awe added to their gazes looking at the Hemp-Clad Youth...
Almost at the same time,
A string of golden text floated up before the Hemp-Clad Youth's eyes:
[Two Emperors cast their gazes upon you].
The Hemp-Clad Youth stood frozen in place.
...
"Is this the entrance to the Ancient Vault of the Imperial Path..."
Chen Ling's trio crossed the desolate earth, finally arriving at the location of the Ancient Vault of the Imperial Path. They drifted down in front of the stone door, looking around in surprise.
"It really is quite tattered." Jian Changsheng shrugged.
"After all, it has been abandoned for so many years, most of the areas inside should have already lost effect." Sun Bumian pointed to the very top of the Ancient Vault of the Imperial Path, that golden spire with vast imperial power. "There is the core of the entire Ancient Vault."
"That high? After we go in, we won't have to climb the stairs to get up there, right?" Jian Changsheng was somewhat displeased.
Sun Bumian: ...
"Even if you want to 'climb stairs', you have to have the qualifications to enter first." Sun Bumian turned to look at Chen Ling. "I'll say it again, the Ancient Vault of the Imperial Path is not a place just anyone can enter... If we can't open the door in a while, don't blame me for not reminding you."
Chen Ling didn't answer. He walked straight in front of that magnificent stone door, slowly placing both hands on its surface...
One second,
Two seconds,
Three seconds...
Seeing that the Ancient Vault of the Imperial Path had no reaction at all, Sun Bumian revealed an expression of 'as expected', and was just about to open his mouth to say something, when an explosive roar like a clap of thunder resounded from behind the door!
Dong—!!!
A golden hurricane swept out from the gradually opening crack in the stone door, the vast imperial power blowing the clothes of the three of them to flutter wildly. Chen Ling's Great Crimson Theatrical Robe was bright red like blood amidst that gold!
"This... How is this possible? You are not the [Emperor], yet you can actually open the door?!" Sun Bumian spoke in shock while resisting the strong wind.
In the vast golden hurricane, a line of text suddenly flashed before Chen Ling's eyes:
[Four hundred and ninety-four Emperors cast their gazes upon you]