The grand hall, considered the largest and most magnificent chamber within the City Lord's mansion.
To many, it was undoubtedly the place most brimming with treasures. Consequently, both the Dark Association and the Light Palace were rushing towards it at the fastest possible pace.
Some were even fighting each other in the process.
Ye Cangtian, with Gu Yue in tow, followed closely by Huang San and Huang Wu.
Hearing the commotion behind him, Ye Cangtian couldn't help but glance back, only to see that everyone else had already entered.
"Sir, they're all rushing in!" Huang Wu urged him as he stopped.
"Lord Qing Dao and others are over there. What would we gain by just following them?"
Ye Cangtian rubbed his nose, looking at the rows of buildings, and then suddenly smiled, "Let's not compete with them. With so many people going, they'll surely end up bloody and battered. It's better to try our luck elsewhere!"
He hadn't intended to fight for the Heart of the Ruins this time. Although Secretary Liu had mentioned it before he came, Ye Cangtian wasn't foolish.
With a Earth-level expert like Qing Dao present, and a Red-robed Archbishop from the Light Palace, any one of them was someone he couldn't handle.
Moreover, given his current status, even if he did obtain the Heart of the Ruins, he would likely have to hand it over to the Dark Association.
Therefore, Ye Cangtian knew exactly what he needed to do.
While most people were focused on the main hall, he could take the opportunity to explore other side halls first!
Huang San shared the same sentiment and nodded, "I think what you said makes sense, Sir. True treasures are not for us. It's best to gather more cultivation resources while we have the chance!"
Huang Wu realized it was indeed logical and said no more.
The four of them soon slipped away from the back of the group and turned towards other side halls, as quite a few smaller factions were already heading in that direction.
The buildings of the entire City Lord's mansion were remarkably well-preserved, with even fewer traces of decay from the passage of time.
The wooden doors of some of the side halls were still intact, with their vermilion lacquer largely unfaded.
Several mercenaries from smaller factions were standing before the door of a side hall, frantically smashing at it, but they couldn't budge it.
Meanwhile, Ye Cangtian and his group arrived at another house. They tried, but even with their considerable strength, the door remained unmoving when they applied force.
Of course, not all rooms were impassable.
When Gu Yue approached the door of another room, she gave it a gentle push, and it opened.
Seeing this, Ye Cangtian suddenly understood and quickly said to Huang San and Huang Wu, "Let's split up and search for rooms that can be opened."
There was no point in wasting effort on places that couldn't be forced open. While the crowd here was still sparse, they should first scavenge what they could.
The two exchanged glances and soon went off to try other areas.
Ye Cangtian and Gu Yue entered the open house before them.
The room was not large, and the interior was simple, containing only a bed and a table. All other decorations and items had long since turned to dust.
Although ordinary items would still be affected by the erosion of time, they were much better off compared to the stone houses outside which had also suffered damage.
The room was empty. However, Gu Yue discovered something unusual by the head of the bed and retrieved three crystal stones from it.
Ye Cangtian chuckled, "Not bad, much easier than fighting stone golems!"
Just by casually opening a room like this and obtaining three ordinary crystal stones was indeed simpler than directly defeating stone golems.
The two quickly began searching other houses.
There were many houses, with rows of rooms in almost every side hall.
However, not every room could be opened, and not every empty room yielded any rewards.
Gradually, almost all remaining factions and lone wanderers had arrived.
Some were even fighting fiercely over the resources within the rooms. Even members of the same organization would not hesitate to stab a companion in the back for one or two crystal stones.
Someone, having found crystal stones in a room, happily emerged.
But the next moment, they were targeted by others, leading to a scene of murder and plunder!
Human greed and weaknesses were displayed in their entirety at this moment!
...
Compared to other factions, the Dragon Group was spared much of the trouble!
After all, the Dragon Group had a substantial number of members, with over a dozen Dragon Group members, and their strength was far beyond that of ordinary mercenaries and assassins.
Therefore, no one dared to plot against them.
At this time, Shangguan Yun and Mu Chenglong unexpectedly found a rather special room, filled with many weapons hanging on the walls.
There were long sabers and spears, though only the spearheads of the spears remained.
Soon after, Xu Shian discovered many sets of armor in an adjacent room.
Mu Chenglong said solemnly, "It seems this side hall, the entire side hall, is a former military warehouse."
Everyone nodded slightly, thinking it was likely so.
Otherwise, why would there be so much armor and weaponry here?
Xu Shian, his eyes wide with excitement, touched the armor and exclaimed, "We've struck gold! This armor looks very sturdy, still usable after all these years. If we could take it all back..."
"Forget it, you take it back? How would you carry it?" Shangguan Yun rolled her eyes at him as if he were an idiot.
Taking one or two sets might be feasible, but with hundreds of sets of armor here, each weighing a considerable amount, how could he possibly move it or carry it?
This guy really wasn't using his brain!
Xu Shian also realized the impracticality of his idea and expressed his regret.
"Everyone can take one suitable weapon. I don't think this City Lord's mansion will remain so peaceful," Mu Chenglong said, looking around thoughtfully.
Zhang Liang also furrowed his brow and nodded, "Something is indeed strange!"
Logically, there were so many stone golems patrolling outside the City Lord's mansion, even powerful stone golem captains. It was improbable that this mansion would be completely devoid of danger.
Everyone else also looked solemn. The current tranquility did not mean it would last.
Since the City Lord's mansion was the core of the entire ruin, it was bound to be extraordinary.
However, at this very moment.
A scream suddenly echoed from afar!
Everyone's expression changed. They quickly ran out of the rooms, only to see remnants of armed forces fleeing in terror from another side hall.
"What's going on here?"
Xu Shian emerged, still carrying a large saber in his hand. His injuries had mostly healed, otherwise, he would have struggled to even hold it.
"It seems something has happened in that side hall! No, stay away from these rooms, quickly!" Mu Chenglong shouted, having a bad premonition.
Everyone's hearts jolted, and they instinctively looked back at the rooms they had just entered.
Although they didn't know what was happening, Mu Chenglong had experienced numerous battles on the border for a long time, so his sense of crisis should not be wrong.
And in the next moment.
The previously open rooms suddenly seemed to be driven by some force and closed automatically.
Not just one room, but all the nearby rooms closed simultaneously.
And in a room not far away, two assassins from a small faction had entered earlier and hadn't managed to retreat.
When the doors closed, piercing screams immediately emanated from within.