World of Rules

... 

Silence filled the air for a moment, but the shock was evident on the faces of the two men and the old man from the Han family. None of them had expected the Mo family patriarch to possess such hidden strength. Even the Lian family patriarch, who thought he knew his ally's power well, couldn't hide his surprise.

The old man groaned in pain, his stern expression wavering for a moment as he retreated toward his two companions. He had suffered serious injuries—his left hand was completely burned, rendering it useless.

"Patriarch, are you alright?" one of the men asked in a grim tone, while the other glared at the Mo family patriarch with hatred in his eyes.

However, the Mo family patriarch wasn't in good condition either. Sweat dripped from his forehead, and the flames surrounding him were gradually weakening. The last attack had been more than his body could endure, and the toll it took on him was evident.

Yet, he had no time to dwell on it. Seeing his ally surrounded, inching closer to death, made him realize that his fate would be no different if the battle continued.

Then, suddenly, the Lian family patriarch made an unexpected move—

He lowered his guard and took a step back.

There was no need for words. In the next instant, after a brief exchange of eye contact, both of them dashed at full speed toward the blue barrier at the end of the hall.

"Stop them!"

The three from the Han family immediately noticed their movement and rushed after them to block their escape.

"You won't get away!"

The old man shouted in fury. Despite his injuries, he launched a wave of ice to obstruct their path.

But the Lian family patriarch raised his hand, and the ground beneath them shattered, forming a protective barrier of rocks.

At the same time, the Mo family patriarch unleashed a fiery explosion, creating a vortex of flames that halted their pursuers for a brief moment.

"Now!"

Wasting no time, the two made their final push and leaped directly into the blue barrier!

"Nooo—!"

The old man's furious cry echoed, but it was already too late.

In the next instant, the two figures vanished inside the barrier.

...

The three from the Han family stood before the blue barrier, their expressions grim as they stared at the shimmering waves that formed the entrance to the inner formation. None of them spoke for a moment, but their frustration was palpable.

"We lost the formation tablet..." one of them muttered, struggling to suppress his frustration.

"That means we won’t have any advantage inside," the second man added, his voice laced with bitterness. "We were counting on the tablet to control the environment within, but now... we're in trouble."

The old man, still recovering from his injuries, furrowed his brows deeply. "The inner formation isn’t as easy to break as this blue barrier. On the contrary... it’s easier to crack from the outside. But from within? No one really knows how it works."

The three exchanged glances before the heavier man spoke after some thought. "If that’s the case, why don’t we just stay here and wait? Eventually, they'll have to come out, and when they do, we can take them down easily."

But the other man shook his head in disagreement. "We can’t do that. Don’t forget—someone else entered the formation before them."

The old man’s eyes narrowed upon hearing that. "You’re right. We can't risk letting him claim the treasures alone."

After a short discussion, the three reached a final decision—they wouldn’t allow anyone to obtain the treasures within the inner formation. Instead of waiting for their enemies to emerge, they decided to enter the barrier without hesitation, ensuring that no one else could reap the benefits.

Boom!

Their bodies surged through the barrier, swallowed entirely by the cold blue light.

...

Not far from the barrier, a dark figure moved silently, stepping into the spot where the three had stood just moments ago.

He stood still for a brief moment, observing the barrier in silence.

Then... he smiled.

But it wasn't a kind smile—it was cold, sharp as a blade.

"Things are getting more interesting than I expected..."

With a calm step, the dark figure advanced—

And entered the barrier.

It was Di.

...