# Chapter 40 — The Ancient Chamber
# Eastern Mountains — Underground Ruins
The underground chamber fell silent instantly.
Every cultivator gripped their weapons tightly while staring into the darkness beyond the massive cracked gate.
BOOM.
Another vibration shook the chamber floor.
Closer.
---
Dust slowly drifted from the ceiling while faint crimson mist spread between the ancient corpses scattered across the ruins.
The atmosphere beca suffocating.
---
Zhao Tianhe imdiately raised one hand.
“Defensive formation.”
Several formation masters moved instantly.
Golden symbols illuminated around the group while layered barriers spread across the chamber floor.
---
Xu Yuan quietly observed the enormous stone gate ahead.
Sothing about it felt wrong.
Not dangerous in the sa way as the crimson eye.
Older.
Quieter.
---
The cracked opening in the gate itself remained completely dark.
No light escaped from inside.
Not even spiritual fluctuations.
Like the darkness beyond it swallowed everything.
---
Then suddenly—
one younger cultivator pointed nervously.
“The corpses…”
Everyone imdiately looked downward.
---
Several ancient skeletons near the gate had moved slightly.
Not alive.
Pulled.
---
CRRRRRRK.
One corpse slowly dragged itself across the stone floor unnaturally.
Then another.
---
Lin Hao stared blankly.
“I officially hate underground ruins.”
Xu Yuan calmly answered:
“That opinion feels reasonable.”
---
The corrupted energy inside the chamber had begun activating the dead remains.
---
Several skeletons suddenly stood upright.
Black crystal growths spread across their bones while crimson light flickered within empty eye sockets.
Ancient weapons rose slowly from the ground.
---
“Destroy them imdiately,” Zhao Tianhe ordered coldly.
---
BOOOOOOM!
The chamber erupted into battle instantly.
Sword light flashed through darkness while spiritual techniques exploded across the ruins.
Ancient skeletal cultivators charged forward unnaturally fast despite their decayed bodies.
---
Xu Yuan drew his sword calmly and stepped forward.
CLANG!
His blade collided directly against a black crystal spear.
The skeletal warrior before him moved with terrifying precision.
Not mindless.
Instinctive.
---
Xu Yuan imdiately noticed sothing strange.
These corpses still retained fragnts of battle experience.
---
The system screen flickered.
> Corrupted ancient remains
>
> Threat Level:
>
> Moderate
---
Moderate.
That word lost aning long ago.
---
Another skeleton rushed toward Xia Yu from the side.
Before it could attack—
silver sword light flashed beautifully across the chamber.
SHING!
The ancient corpse split apart instantly.
---
Several nearby cultivators unconsciously retreated slightly afterward.
Because Xia Yu’s sword intent had beco sharper after the recent battles.
---
anwhile—
Lin Hao narrowly dodged three skeletal warriors simultaneously.
“This feels unfair!”
One skeleton swung a giant axe toward his head.
Lin Hao imdiately rolled behind Xu Yuan.
“Tactical positioning!”
“You an hiding.”
“Exactly.”
---
Even in dangerous situations—
his survival instincts remained flawless.
---
The battle continued violently across the chamber.
But gradually—
the expedition group gained control.
Most corrupted skeletons were already shattered apart across the ruins.
---
Then—
BOOM.
The underground vibration returned again.
Much louder.
---
Everyone froze.
Because this ti—
the sound ca from behind the gate.
---
CRAAAAACK.
The massive stone gate trembled slightly.
Dust exploded from its surface while ancient symbols illuminated faintly.
---
Sothing massive was approaching from the other side.
---
Zhao Tianhe’s expression darkened imdiately.
“All cultivators retreat from the gate.”
Nobody argued.
The pressure spreading from beyond the darkness felt horrifying.
---
Then suddenly—
Xu Yuan’s gaze returned toward the intact ancient sword held by the kneeling skeleton near the gate.
And this ti—
the sword reacted.
---
HUMMMMM.
A faint black glow spread across its surface.
---
The system screen flickered rapidly.
> Ancient soul weapon resonance detected
>
> Compatibility:
>
> Unknown
---
Xu Yuan frowned slightly.
Why was everything underground suddenly reacting to him lately?
---
Then unexpectedly—
the kneeling skeleton moved.
Not like the others earlier.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
---
Its empty skull lifted upward toward Xu Yuan directly.
Then—
with shaking hands—
it released the sword.
---
CLANG.
The weapon fell onto the stone floor before him.
---
The entire chamber beca silent.
---
Several cultivators stared in disbelief.
Even Zhao Tianhe narrowed his eyes sharply now.
Because unlike the corrupted corpses—
this skeleton showed no hostility.
Almost like…
recognition.
---
Xu Yuan himself remained cautious.
But the strange feeling from the sword intensified continuously.
Like sothing inside it was calling him.
---
Then—
the cracked gate behind the chamber exploded inward violently.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
A gigantic black arm covered in crystal corruption burst through the darkness.
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