The old man slowly walked up to the dozens of people waiting outside. He squinted, surveying the crowd with what he seemed to believe was a benevolent expression. However, a strange look flickered in his eyes when he saw Feng Shanshan beside Mu Chen. He didn’t let his gaze linger, quickly shifting it to Mu Chen instead. After sizing Mu Chen up and down, the old man’s expression turned to one of contempt. He shook his head and said, "The Empire really isn’t what it used to be. To think they’d dare send a mere Martial Artist at the Martial Spirit Realm to the Senluo Ruins."

"What? Someone at the Martial Spirit Realm is here for the Senluo Ruins? He must have a death wish!"

"Haha, what a joke. His Empire must want him dead. They’re deliberately using this method to make him lose all face before he dies a quiet death."

"Tch... He dug his own grave."

"..."

Hearing the jeers and mockery around him, Mu Chen’s brows furrowed slightly. He knew, of course, that they were talking about him. But this was their territory, and he was an exceptionally calm and collected person. So, the slight frown on his face smoothed out, and his expression became indifferent, as if they weren’t talking about him at all.

The old man, seeing that Mu Chen’s expression hadn’t changed at all, let out a soft sound of surprise. "Well now, it seems I misjudged you. You do have some mental fortitude. However, you can’t survive the Senluo Ruins on fortitude alone. I hope certain people are prepared... That place is no playground for sightseeing!" As he spoke, a cold glint flashed in his Snake Pupils, a gaze that successfully intimidated everyone present—except for Mu Chen.

"Hmm?" The old man made another sound of surprise. A grin spread across his face, and his crimson tongue flicked out to lick the corner of his mouth before he said, "This looks like it could be fun."

The gesture sent a chill down everyone’s spine. In that instant, they all shared the same illusion: the one standing before them wasn’t an old man, but a giant Blood Python.

Wan Xian’Er whispered, "That old man is so disgusting."

Mu Chen gave a wry smile and patted Wan Xian’Er’s head. "We’re in public. Say less."

Wan Xian’Er gave Mu Chen a playful glare but actually fell silent. She didn’t even realize it herself, but back in her family, she barely listened to her own father, yet she was surprisingly dependent on Mu Chen.

"I’ll cut the nonsense. Among you dozens, only twenty-six are participants in the Senluo Ruins. The rest are companions. Here are the rules of the Blood Python Family: companions are allowed, but each participant may only bring one to wait at the entrance of the ruins. To avoid conflict, everyone else should leave now. If you’re worried about your Empire’s participants, the Blood Soul Imperial City welcomes you. The Blood Python Family will reimburse any and all expenses for your stay here." The old man once again flicked out his crimson tongue, making a hissing sound that gave Xu Fei goosebumps.

"Mu Chen, my friend, there’s not much in this world that scares me, but I’m absolutely terrified of anything snake-like. I think I’ll sit this one out and not enter the Blood Python Family’s territory. As for you, Miss Xian’Er, if you don’t want to go in either, we can wait at a hotel for Mu Chen to return." Beads of sweat dotted Xu Fei’s forehead, a testament to just how much he feared the Blood Python Family.

But Wan Xian’Er said, "No way. I’m going in with Mu Chen and Sister Shanshan. Otherwise, there won’t be anyone to meet them when they come out. Besides, if something happens, I’ll be the first to know. Brother Xu, you can just wait for us out here."

Mu Chen was about to refuse, but seeing Wan Xian’Er’s exceptionally determined expression, he smiled helplessly and said, "Alright then. I’m still a little worried, but for some reason, I just don’t feel like you’ll be in any danger."

Wan Xian’Er giggled, thinking, ’I’m the young miss of the Ding Palace. What danger could I possibly be in?’

Xue Sha glanced at the fifty-one people behind him—Feng Shanshan was the only one without a companion—and turned away coldly. "Follow me. Our Noble Family isn’t as safe as it looks. If you get lost, you might just become food for the Blood Pythons, hehehehe..."

As Xue Sha walked on, his sinister laughter echoed, creating an eerie atmosphere that made everyone behind him hold their breath. Mu Chen glanced around and discreetly began to extend his Spiritual Power. However, it was blocked by a much stronger Spiritual Power before it could even spread two meters. Startled, Mu Chen quickly looked to his side. He saw Feng Shanshan shaking her head, her expression grave. He realized then that the one who had blocked his Spiritual Power was none other than the woman beside him.

"Never release your Spiritual Power recklessly in the Blood Python Family. It will cause you a great deal of trouble."

An ethereal voice had entered Mu Chen’s ears. Having just had his attempt blocked, Mu Chen showed no outward reaction, simply giving a subtle nod. Feng Shanshan smiled slightly. ’Looks like this temporary teammate of mine is quite sharp-witted.’

Led by Xue Sha, the fifty-one people walked for a very long time before finally arriving at a vast, open space. The clearing was empty save for a ring of tall, straight trees and a single, giant stone carving of a python. The colossal sculpture was modeled after an Emperor Blood Python—imagine a King Cobra, but rendered in solid crimson.

The Emperor Blood Python’s thick, long body was coiled, its sharp, cold gaze fixed ahead as if it had spotted its prey. Its cavernous mouth was open in an exaggerated gape, exposing sharp fangs and a crimson tongue to the air. Under the sunlight, its crimson body looked so lifelike that even Mu Chen couldn’t help but marvel at the divine craftsmanship of the artisan who carved it.

Once everyone had come to a stop, four more men walked out from behind the stone carving. Like Xue Sha, they all had crimson hair and Snake Pupils. Upon seeing the fifty-one newcomers, the four men grinned simultaneously and said in a chilling tone, "Welcome."

Their cold gazes were like predators eyeing their prey, sending a shiver down the spines of the fifty-one arrivals. To break the silence, Xue Sha spoke up. "There are only five minutes until the ruins open. When the time comes, the twenty-six of you with qualification tokens should present them and enter directly through the Blood Python’s mouth. If your token is fake, this Blood Python carving will bite you in half at the waist! Hehehehe..."

At his words, everyone felt a phantom chill run through their midsections and instinctively broke eye contact with the Emperor’s Blood Python Stone Carving. His attempt to break the silence had only made the scene even quieter.

Five minutes isn’t a long time, but in this atmosphere, it felt like a century. No one dared to move a muscle. Of all the people present, only two were completely expressionless: Mu Chen and another man with a red face. Mu Chen glanced at the man and, in that single look, identified his Elemental Power Attribute: Fire Attribute! And an extremely potent form of it at that. ’No wonder he’s so calm. It must be because his Attribute counters them.’

HUMMM!!

Just as everyone felt the time was up, the Emperor Blood Python Stone Carving suddenly began to tremble. Immediately after, its crimson eyes flashed with red light, and a distorted Spatial Rift, like a black hole, appeared in its gaping maw. Seeing this strange phenomenon, all fifty-one people looked up.

Their guide, Xue Sha, chuckled darkly. "Chosen little ones! The gate to the Senluo Ruins is now open! Will you find fortuitous encounters and priceless treasures within, emerging to awe the world? Or will you bury your lives in that bottomless, abyssal Spatial Rift? It all depends on your own destiny! I wish you all the good fortune of coming out alive!"