Ise Ryuichi let out a low growl, was the first to reach out, and pressed his hand without hesitation onto the barrier of the ancient Torii Gate.
Kamiya Makoto followed closely behind, pouring all his remaining power into his palm and striking it hard!
Boom—
Two vastly different, yet equally resolute, forces touched the barrier, and the entire space let out a mournful wail, unable to bear the weight.
That invisible wall twisted and vibrated violently, and finally, with a crisp "crack," it shattered!
It's done!
An extremely dense, ancient energy, mixed with divinity and demonic aura, rushed out from behind the Torii Gate!
That energy was pure, vast, and ancient!
Just inhaling a single breath made every cell in Ise Ryuichi's body tremble with excitement!
Kamiya Makoto's pale face, due to overexertion, also regained a hint of color!
They had gambled correctly!
Within this place, there truly was an supreme power, enough to turn their fortunes around!
"Go!"
Ise Ryuichi could no longer suppress the wild joy in his heart and was the first to rush in.
Kamiya Makoto followed closely, his heart pounding violently with excitement, as if it would burst from his chest.
Beyond the barrier was an unimaginably vast underground cavern.
The cavern's dome was embedded with countless glowing minerals, illuminating the place as if it were daytime.
And in the deepest part of the cavern, an energy fluctuation, almost materialized, was wildly spreading outwards, like a lighthouse, guiding their direction.
The two men sprinted towards the direction of the densest energy, each step they took felt like they were treading on a staircase of hope.
However, when they finally, after much hardship, reached the depths and clearly saw the scene on the altar at the end of the cavern, both men's steps froze abruptly, as if a stasis spell had been cast upon them.
The wild joy and excitement on their faces instantly solidified, and then, little by little, they were replaced by a bone-chilling coldness.
They were stunned.
On the altar, there was indeed a giant ancient demon's remains; its ferocious skeleton still exuded a world-destroying pressure.
But at this moment, this supposed treasure trove of energy had become a shriveled "mummy" that had lost all its luster!
All its energy, all its divinity and demonic aura, seemed to have been sucked dry by something, leaving only an empty husk.
And behind the head of that giant remains, a man was leisurely sitting on a stone platform.
He was meticulously wiping his hands with a snow-white handkerchief, his posture as elegant as if he had just finished a lavish dinner.
At his feet, two beautiful figures were kneeling submissively.
Yukino Shita Chizuru was gently massaging his legs.
And the other, the Amaterasu Group's agent, Ruzuki Rin, was like the humblest maid, carefully tidying his trouser legs.
Ise Ryuichi's pupils suddenly contracted to pinprick size!
Ruzuki Rin?
It was also her who provided information to the Amaterasu Group… So, from the very beginning, all of this was a bait?
Lu Cheng had been waiting for a long time.
He saw the two people who had broken in, a "friendly" smile appeared on his face, and he even waved at them, as if greeting late guests.
"Oh, you're here?"
"You're a bit slow."
Lu Cheng's voice echoed in the empty cavern, every word heavily striking the hearts of the two opposite him.
"How is it, isn't this place nice?"
Lu Cheng stood up, stretched, and evaluated it in a tone of someone appraising a dish.
"The energy is abundant, it's just a little old in taste, a bit tough."
Boom—!
Golden flames instantly shot up from Ise Ryuichi's body!
"How… did you get in?!"
He squeezed out the words through gritted teeth, his voice hoarse.
If he was going to lose, he needed to understand why!
Kamiya Makoto, on the other hand, was completely stunned.
He looked at the man who was high above them and finally understood.
From beginning to end, their so-called alliance, their so-called hope, their efforts… all of it had been under this man's surveillance!
And, it was merely… his leftovers!
Was there anything more ridiculous, more cruel, in this world?
The light that had just ignited in Kamiya Makoto's eyes once again vanished, leaving only a dead, ashen gray.
Lu Cheng ignored Ise Ryuichi's rage and lightly jumped down from the stone platform.
He reached out and casually broke off a bone fragment from the remains that had lost all its energy.
Then, like throwing trash, he tossed it at their feet.
"Don't say I didn't give you a chance."
"Here, there's still some bone broth left; you two, share it."
These casually spoken words brought a humiliation that was ten thousand times more heart-wrenching than any malicious curse!
Ise Ryuichi was trembling with anger, almost spitting blood on the spot.
Lu Cheng, however, acted as if he hadn't seen his murderous gaze, turned around, and pointed to the secluded path he had come from.
"Oh, right."
"Next time, remember to ask if there's a shortcut."
After saying that, he didn't even bother to look at these two completely broken "failures" again, wrapped his arm around Yukino Shita Chizuru's slender waist, and, with Ruzuki Rin's respectful escort, leisurely walked towards that passage.
"You're welcome."
The last three words drifted lightly, completely crushing the last shred of hope in their hearts.