Night covered the Baspian Forest once again.
The moon hung high above the ancient trees, casting pale silver light across the endless wilderness. Cold winds moved between the towering trunks, carrying distant beast cries from deep within the forest.
Near a small campfire, Alex sat quietly.
The flames danced before him.
Yet his attention wasn't on the fire.
It was on the storage ring resting in his palm.
The ring he had taken from the unconscious warrior.
Since obtaining it, a strange feeling had lingered in his heart.
The ring appeared ordinary.
Yet something about it felt unusual.
Alex rotated it slowly between his fingers.
Its surface reflected the firelight.
After a few moments, he released a strand of soul power toward it.
The instant his soul touched the ring—
A crimson glow erupted from its surface.
The ring trembled.
Alex's expression changed.
Before he could react—
His vision blurred.
The surrounding world disappeared.
...
Inside Alex's Soul Sea.
Dark waters stretched endlessly beneath a black sky.
The Heroic Eagle Eye floated silently above the ocean of consciousness.
Then—
A crimson aura appeared.
It flowed across the Soul Sea like blood spreading through water.
The red mist continued gathering.
Slowly.
Silently.
The atmosphere became colder.
Heavier.
The crimson energy eventually formed a towering silhouette.
A humanoid figure.
Tall.
Motionless.
Its body was composed entirely of red mist.
No face.
No features.
Only two scarlet eyes.
The eyes stared directly at Alex.
A strange pressure spread through his Soul Sea.
The figure didn't speak.
Didn't move.
Yet Alex felt as though a terrifying demon was observing him from the darkness.
The crimson aura swirled around the figure endlessly.
The scarlet eyes grew brighter.
For a brief moment—
Alex felt as though those eyes could see every secret hidden within his soul.
The pressure increased.
His instincts screamed danger.
Without hesitation, Alex severed his connection with the ring.
The vision shattered instantly.
...
Back in reality, Alex opened his eyes.
His breathing had become heavy.
Cold sweat covered his forehead.
The ring fell onto the ground beside him.
The crimson glow disappeared.
Everything returned to normal.
But Alex remained silent.
The image of those scarlet eyes lingered in his mind.
The rest of the night passed uneasily.
---
Morning arrived.
Golden sunlight descended through the forest canopy.
Birds sang among the branches.
The darkness of the previous night gradually disappeared.
Yet Alex remained distracted.
Yi Zhau emerged from his Soul Sea and immediately noticed.
"You look troubled."
Alex sighed.
"It's about the ring."
He explained everything.
The crimson light.
The strange vision.
The red-eyed figure.
After listening, Yi Zhau remained silent.
Then he slapped his forehead.
"Holy stupid."
Alex blinked.
"What?"
Yi Zhau looked at him as if he had lost all intelligence.
"Of course it rejected your soul power."
"The ring doesn't belong to you."
Alex rubbed his nose awkwardly.
"...Then how do I open it?"
"Blood."
Yi Zhau answered immediately.
"Drop your blood onto the ring."
Alex followed the instruction.
A small cut appeared on his finger.
A drop of blood landed on the ring.
The ring trembled.
The crimson light flashed briefly.
Then—
The seal opened.
Alex quickly examined the contents.
His excitement rose.
Then immediately vanished.
The ring was nearly empty.
There was no treasure.
No pills.
No spirit stones.
No techniques.
Only a single ancient map.
Alex stared blankly.
"...That's it?"
Yi Zhau laughed.
"You truly lack experience."
Alex frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Yi Zhau crossed his arms.
"The owner most likely belonged to a sect or organization."
"Valuable resources are often protected by special seals."
"If the ring falls into another person's hands, the treasures automatically return to the organization."
Understanding appeared in Alex's eyes.
"So everything disappeared?"
"Exactly."
Yi Zhau pointed toward the map.
"But they couldn't seal information."
Alex looked down.
The map was old.
Several corners had been damaged.
Ancient symbols covered its surface.
At the center—
A route was marked.
And at the end of that route—
A strange symbol had been drawn.
Yi Zhau narrowed his eyes.
"A treasure location."
Alex immediately stood.
His disappointment disappeared.
"When do we leave?"
Yi Zhau smiled.
"Now."
---
The journey began immediately.
Alex followed the directions marked on the map.
Hours passed.
The forest gradually changed.
The trees became thinner.
The sunlight disappeared.
A strange white mist began appearing around them.
At first it was faint.
Then thicker.
And thicker.
Soon the entire area was covered by fog.
Visibility dropped dramatically.
The atmosphere became eerie.
The world beyond a few meters completely vanished.
Alex frowned.
"This place feels strange."
Yi Zhau floated beside him.
"Be careful."
"The map indicates this area is called the Fog Valley."
Alex looked around.
The mist moved unnaturally.
Almost as if it were alive.
The forest had become silent.
No birds.
No insects.
Nothing.
Only the sound of their footsteps.
Suddenly—
Yi Zhau's eyes narrowed.
"Stop."
Alex froze instantly.
"What happened?"
Yi Zhau pointed toward the ground.
Alex followed his gaze.
His expression changed.
Bones.
Animal bones.
Human bones.
They were scattered throughout the valley.
Some were old.
Others appeared recent.
Alex felt a chill.
This place was dangerous.
Very dangerous.
The two continued forward carefully.
Several minutes later—
A strange movement appeared inside the fog.
Alex immediately became alert.
Something was moving.
Slowly.
Silently.
Then—
The ground beneath him suddenly exploded.
A massive vine shot upward.
The thick green vine wrapped toward Alex's leg.
Alex reacted instantly.
Elemental energy surged through his palm.
He struck downward.
The vine shattered.
Yet before he could relax—
More vines emerged.
Ten.
Twenty.
Dozens.
They erupted from every direction.
The fog concealed them perfectly.
Alex's expression darkened.
"What are these things?"
Yi Zhau answered calmly.
"Carnivorous Spirit Plants."
The vines attacked relentlessly.
Their sharp thorns resembled blades.
One vine struck a nearby tree.
The trunk split apart instantly.
Alex immediately moved.
Several vines pursued him.
Others attempted to trap him.
The entire valley seemed alive.
Water energy gathered around Alex's hands.
He unleashed multiple attacks.
The vines shattered repeatedly.
Yet new ones continued appearing.
Yi Zhau observed calmly.
"Don't waste your energy."
Alex avoided another attack.
"Then what should I do?"
Yi Zhau pointed ahead.
"The main body."
Alex looked carefully.
Through the dense fog, he finally noticed it.
A gigantic plant.
Its roots covered the valley floor.
Its massive flower resembled a giant mouth filled with sharp teeth.
The vines originated from it.
Alex immediately understood.
The plant was controlling everything.
Without hesitation—
He charged forward.
The vines attempted to stop him.
They attacked from every direction.
Alex endured several minor cuts while advancing.
Finally—
He reached the giant plant.
Water energy condensed into his palm.
The attack erupted forward.
The strike landed directly upon the flower.
A deep wound appeared.
The giant plant trembled violently.
Its vines lost control.
Alex attacked again.
And again.
The flower finally split apart.
Green liquid spilled onto the ground.
The entire valley became silent.
The vines collapsed lifelessly.
Alex released a deep breath.
Yi Zhau nodded slightly.
"Better."
Alex smiled.
"Only better?"
Yi Zhau snorted.
"Don't become arrogant after defeating a plant."
The two continued deeper into the valley.
Hours later—
The fog gradually disappeared.
Sunlight returned.
Fresh air filled the surroundings.
Then—
They saw it.
Alex stopped walking.
His eyes widened.
Before them stood an enormous ancient gate.
The gate was over thirty meters tall.
Covered in cracks.
Covered in ancient symbols.
Time had eroded parts of its structure.
Yet an ancient aura still surrounded it.
The ground around the gate was covered with broken pillars and ruined statues.
The atmosphere felt ancient.
Mysterious.
As if the ruins had existed for thousands of years.
Alex stared silently.
"So this is the treasure location..."
Even Yi Zhau's expression became serious.
"This ruin is older than I expected."
The ancient gate stood silently before them.
Waiting.
As if it had been waiting for countless years.
At that same moment—
Far away from the Baspian Forest.
Inside a massive stone hall.
A crimson symbol suddenly lit up.
The hall trembled.
Several cultivators immediately looked toward it.
At the center stood a middle-aged man dressed in black robes.
His eyes opened slowly.
A dangerous smile appeared on his face.
"The ring has activated."
The surrounding cultivators lowered their heads.
The man looked toward the distant horizon.
His smile widened.
"The ruins..."
His voice echoed through the hall.
"Prepare yourselves."
"We leave immediately."
The pressure inside the hall increased.
Several cultivators felt chills running down their spines.
The black-robed man turned toward the glowing symbol.
His smile carried an unsettling coldness.
"Whoever opened that ring..."
"...I hope you survive long enough for us to meet."
His laughter echoed through the hall.
Cold.
Creepy.
Filled with hidden malice.
Meanwhile—
At the ancient gate of the ruins—
Alex had no idea that new enemies had already begun moving toward his location.
And that the inheritance hidden within these ruins would become the beginning of an entirely new chapter of his destiny.