Chapter 202: Entering the Ancient Treasure
"The holder of the fourth ancient key has finally arrived," murmured the leaders of the three dynasties that already possessed the ancient keys as they looked up.
Their movements silenced the quiet murmurs that had filled the grand hall, and many onlookers turned their eyes toward the hall's entrance with awe. After all, the fourth key was held by the Flame Alliance, whose leader, Lin Langtian, had recently gained a powerful reputation in the region.
In fact, some had even begun comparing Lin Langtian to the famous Sword Prince from the northeastern region. The Sword Prince, from a humble dynasty himself, had gained power and skill through an ancient inheritance, becoming a renowned figure in the northeast. Similarly, Lin Langtian, who came from a modest background, had founded the Flame Alliance and demonstrated remarkable power, rivaling even the Sword Prince.
"Heh, looks like everyone's waiting for me…" A light laugh suddenly echoed from outside the hall, drawing everyone's attention.
The air stilled, and a sea of curious glances turned to the hall's entrance. Even the three leaders—Hong Zong, the large tattooed man from the Wild Dynasty; You Qian, the coolly beautiful woman from the Youquan Dynasty; and Cao Zhi, the pale but handsome Prince from the Great Wei Dynasty—watched the entrance with a touch of tension. This Flame Alliance, after all, was a new power that had burst onto the scene, turning heads and stirring curiosity.
In the history of the Hundred Dynasties War, it was rare for low-level dynasties to stand out; at most, one or two lucky geniuses might appear. Yet, Lin Langtian had won one battle after another since his arrival in the ancient battleground, even defeating Shi Kun.
In the sunlight streaming through the doorway, footsteps sounded as Lin Langtian and his team, numbering several dozen, walked into the spacious hall.
The eyes of everyone present instantly focused on this new group. Lin Langtian led the way, and his gaze fell upon the three figures before him. He could sense the power of the ancient keys held by these three, and their auras rivaled—even surpassed—that of Shi Kun.
"Now that Leader Lin is here, we finally have all four ancient keys! The treasure can be unlocked at any moment!" Hong Zong, the leader of the Wild Dynasty, said with a hearty laugh, looking at Lin Langtian.
Beside him, You Qian from the Youquan Dynasty and Prince Cao Zhi of the Great Wei Dynasty also greeted Lin Langtian with respectful nods. "Leader Lin, we've heard a lot about you."
Lin Langtian returned their nods, lifting his hand to reveal the ancient key he held. With his current power and fame, he didn't hesitate or feel the need to be overly cautious in displaying his key.
"Haha, Leader Lin does indeed get straight to business!" Hong Zong laughed, clenching his own hand to reveal his ancient key. Following his lead, You Qian and Cao Zhi exchanged a look, then each revealed their own ancient key.
The four ancient keys were assembled!
Seeing this, the onlookers' eyes lit with intense greed. These keys were the crucial items needed to open the ancient treasure! But despite their desire, no one dared make a move—the dynasties holding these keys were some of the most powerful in the region, and stealing from them would be suicide.
"Now that all the keys are together, let's waste no time. Let's proceed to the altar and unlock the treasure," You Qian said, casting a small smile toward Lin Langtian.
With no objections, Lin Langtian and the others agreed, stepping out of the hall toward the altar located at the city center. It wasn't far; in moments, they arrived at a tall, altar-like structure. Strange symbols covered the altar's base, giving off faint pulses of energy.
This was the site where the ancient treasure would be unlocked!
With Lin Langtian and the other three leaders gathered at the altar, the entire city erupted into a frenzy. People from both within and outside the city streamed toward the altar. Within minutes, the city's streets, buildings, and even the skies were packed with onlookers.
Under countless watchful eyes, Lin Langtian and the other three leaders exchanged glances and then each took out their ancient keys.
As the four keys appeared, they began to emit a soft hum, glowing and resonating together until beams of light rose from each key, enveloping the altar. The strange symbols on the altar began to pulse and shift, forming a massive, ancient door of light.
Creak…
With a deep, echoing creak, the ancient door slowly opened, releasing an air of mystery, as if a secret world that had been locked away for countless ages was finally stirring.
The ancient treasure was open!
As the enormous door in the sky opened, the energy of the world itself seemed to boil and churn.
Boom!
The silence lasted only a moment before the entire crowd exploded into action, surging toward the ancient doorway in a flood of excitement and anticipation.
Lin Langtian gazed at the skyward crowd and shook his head. With a wave of his hand, Mo Ying and the others quickly gathered, sticking close behind him.
"Senior Brother, the treasure has finally been opened!" said Mo Ling and Liu Yuan, barely containing their excitement.
"Yes, let's head in, but stay close together and be on guard against sudden danger," Lin Langtian advised.
While he hadn't brought the entirety of the Flame Alliance, he had chosen their best members for this trip. If they suffered heavy losses inside, it would be a considerable blow.
"Understood, Senior Brother," Mo Ling and the others replied, their respect evident.
Lin Langtian nodded and, watching the sea of people pushing through the door, moved to follow. Just as he stepped forward, he reached out and reclaimed his ancient key, pulling it back into his grasp.
Holding the ancient key tightly, he led the members of the Flame Alliance, finally blending into the massive crowd and stepping into the ancient doorway.
(End of Chapter)
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