"..."

Opening her eyes, Tian Cheng turns around.

Within the settling dust cloud is the shadow of an odd figure.

*Grrroooo...!* hearing the sound of an unknown beast growling with clear displeasure, the expression of everyone who was awakened by the explosion turns solemn.

"..."

As the dust cloud settles further, the figure of Long Hua is revealed with his shirt mostly ripped to shreds.

"Surnamed Long, what are you...-?"

While asking this, Shao Tianming's expression gradually turns to one of bewilderment.

A narrow white body—reminiscent of a spine, covered in bone spurs; this odd creature—that looks incredibly different from the common wildlife, that can be found in the wastelands of Grounded Cities, possesses four scythe-like arms that are currently directed at its oppressor with hostile intent.

Other traits of this odd creature are its footless legs, and a sharp blade-like tail. However, the most unusual of its traits would have to be its possession of two heads.

*Grrroooo...!* glaring upwards with their azure-colored eyes, the odd creature is clearly displeased to have its heads be stepped on by Long Hua.

"..."

Tightening his fists, Long Hua glares back at the defiant creature.

For the most part, his body has been restored to look as human as possible; the only difference from before would have to be the faint scale patterns—that are currently covering the right side of his shoulder, chest, and back.

"..."

Noticing the scale patterns on Long Hua's body, Ye Chen frowns. The question of whether this is an effect of Partial-Apotheosis appears in his head, but it seems rather unlikely.

Not a single Sinner on the frontlines—according to his experience, has demonstrated a Partial-Apotheosis that had allowed them to summon a creature. Still—

(As far as I'm aware of, not a single Sinner that possesses a Relic—that is fused to their body, has ever managed to accomplish a Partial-Apotheosis, since they tend to fully Apotheosize instead.)

The same thoughts appear in Shao Tianming and Wang Yongning's head.

"..."

Focusing his killing intent onto the odd creature, Long Hua lowers the pressure that he is exerting onto his feet, and says—

"Go."

*Grrroooo!* throwing Long Hua off its heads, the odd creature charges forth at a neck-breaking speed, and within the blink of an eye, it appears directly on top of the oasis.

Raising its four scythe-like arms upward, the odd creature rotates its body—prior to diving downwards, heads first.

*Boom!!!* a pillar of water erupts from the odd creature's entry, and similarly, to a colossal drill, the odd creature pierces through the sand and dirt—along with any pieces of treasure that got in its way!

Taking out his black coat—from the storage pouch, Long Hua lands beside Tian Cheng.

Tearing his ripped shirt off, and inserting his hand into the coat, Long Hua asks—

"Surnamed Shao, you're a smart person, aren't you?"

"..."

Towards Long Hua's question, Shao Tianming's expression darkens. From the looks of it, the former intended to drag the entirety of the Ashen River Hall downwards—into the deeper levels of this ruins' offering ground.

"You want to use us to find the teleportation magic array that will let you leave this ruin?"

"Use? Don't make it sound so ugly. Your hall stands to benefit from this as well. Maybe, just maybe, you might even be able to find more clues on the Immortal Sealing Chain in the deeper levels of this offering ground? From what I know of it, it should be something capable of sealing off an Immortal's strength, right?"

Hearing this, and being hit at where it hurts them the most, Wang Yongning's expression also darkens.

(A device capable of sealing off an Immortal's strength?)

Raising his head, Ye Chen's eyes gave off an unusual gleam of sharpness.

"..."

As the oasis's waters begin to bubble like a pot of hot oil, Long Hua doesn't wait for Shao Tianming and Wang Yongning's reply, as he and Tian Cheng make a run towards the oasis.

"..."

Glancing at the oasis as well, Ye Chen is the third person to run towards it, while summoning out his Relic.

Asking to use the Ashen River Hall's dimensional rift to leave this ruin is bound to have restrictions attached to it. Rather than having to deal with these restrictions, it would be much better to take a chance at exploring the deeper levels of this ruin.

As soon as Long Hua and Tian Cheng's figure vanish into the water-devouring pit, a pillar of light blasts upwards, and swallows them whole.

Simultaneously, the two feel as if they were being tossed about in a chaotic maelstrom.

With his mind already made up, Wang Yongning takes a step towards the oasis with his daggers drawn, while asking Shao Tianming—

"Well then, are you coming along?"

"Of course. Finding those devices is our main priority, after all."

As Ye Chen approaches the oasis's waters, numerous tendrils rise, and close in on him.

"..."

Towards the incoming water tendrils, Ye Chen tilts his weapon, to have its side facing forward.

Pushing against the wind, Ye Chen swings the greatsword, while reinforcing his strike through gravity manipulation, and—

*Boom!!!* as soon as these tendrils make contact with the greatsword—that is akin to a moving wall being hurled forward at high speeds, they are instantly pulverized into tiny water droplets!

Closing in on the pillar of light, Ye Chen leaps forward without any hesitation.

Holding the military rank of colonel, he has a responsibility to fight off the Immortals, even if the society of this world views his identity as a Sinner in a negative light—or so, a proper patriot would demand of him.

However, in all honestly, such obligations are the furthest thing away from Ye Chen's head when he is made to fight against an Immortal.

To him, fighting against the Immortals is a means for him to make amends for his mistake—from his younger years, that ultimately resulted in a girl losing her caring father.