Bonfire party, a night spent in the ruins.

Braum once again entered his Primordial Giant form, his size expanding significantly!

The next moment, his fan-like hands grabbed the two iron doors, and he exerted force!

"Rumble—"

With a dull, booming sound, the two massive iron doors were dragged by him and began to slowly close.

In no time, they were completely shut.

The light inside the ruins instantly dimmed.

It was somewhat awkward that because they had dismantled everything in this building that could be taken apart.

Including the equipment that provided lighting, the interior of the building had now become pitch dark.

Although a little faint light could still be seen through several square windows in the ceiling area, this amount of light was clearly insufficient.

Just then, Isabelle tapped her staff against the ground.

"Hum—"

The next moment, bright holy light erupted from the tip of her staff.

In an instant, it illuminated the entire interior of the building.

A smile appeared on Cao Xing's lips, and he couldn't help but exclaim, "Having a Legendary Saint Light Sage by my side is truly convenient; it's like having a mobile, large-scale light bulb."

He paused, then looked at everyone in front of him and said, "Alright, everyone, find a place to rest right here. We will be staying here tonight."

Upon hearing this, everyone relaxed and began looking for comfortable corners.

Cao Xing took some wood and coal from his backpack and began to build a fire.

"Crackle—crackle."

As sparks flew, the piled-up wood gradually ignited.

The orange-red flames gradually grew, casting flickering shadows.

Fortunately, this building was not completely enclosed, and air could flow in from outside.

Otherwise, it would have been impossible to start a fire.

"Pop—pop—"

As the wood burned, it emitted waves of warmth, causing the temperature inside the building to continuously rise.

Following the heat source, everyone gathered around the bonfire.

Even the massive creatures like the Mammoth Dabai and Volibear lay on the ground, their backs against the fire.

Little Chuchu, Elisa, and others leaned against these giant beasts, lying within their thick fur.

They also invited Bai Zhi to come over and lie on Volibear's fur.

The Snow Storm Bear's fur was quite thick and soft; lying on it felt like sinking in, and one couldn't help but relax completely.

"Hoo—" Bai Zhi gently exhaled a breath of cold air.

Next to her, Elisa grabbed her arm and asked, "Sister Bai Zhi, it's very comfortable, right?"

Bai Zhi nodded gently and replied, "Yes—"

"Hehehe—" The little girl Elisa giggled softly.

Then she continued chatting with Bai Zhi.

Time flowed slowly.

When not exploring, time passed quite quickly.

In the blink of an eye, forty minutes had passed.

That is to say, it was exactly midnight.

Although Cao Xing and his group were inside the building, they could still feel some kind of change occurring outside.

It was as if some kind of power had suddenly erupted!

The temperature of the entire ruins plummeted suddenly!

Cao Xing's expression shifted slightly, and he quickly said, "Attention—"

Upon hearing this, everyone instantly perked up.

Although they were inside the building and theoretically shouldn't be threatened, under this bizarre thick fog, no one could say for sure.

Just as they were on alert, the entire ruins underwent a special change.

From that massive inner city, the fog suddenly surged significantly!

Like surging ocean waves, it swept over, rolling and racing across this desolate land!

And it rapidly spread outward.

In less than five minutes, it had completely enveloped the entire outer perimeter of the ruins.

Both the inner and outer areas of the Lost Royal City were now shrouded in endless fog.

Only a few faint lights could be seen emanating from within the fog, like stars in the pitch-black night sky.

These lights were naturally the adventurer camps at the entrances of the ruins.

There were also many people, like them, hiding in the buildings of these ruins.

At this moment, Cao Xing and the others focused their attention, listening to the movements outside.

Just then, they suddenly heard the sound of dense crawling coming to their ears.

"Scritch-scratch—"

These sounds arose from all around the building, and were even coming constantly from overhead.

It was like countless insects crawling around the building; this feeling was exactly the same as when they encountered the Sinking Mist Disaster.

Cao Xing thought to himself, "It seems the fog here is indeed related to the Sinking Mist Disaster."

Thinking of this, his gaze couldn't help but fall on Elisa, who was in the crowd.

Back then, this little girl was almost taken away by the creatures in the fog because of the eruption of the fog disaster.

I wonder if she will be affected here?

However, after observing for a moment, he found that the little girl didn't seem to have any special reaction and was still whispering to Bai Zhi.

Besides the sounds of those insects, everyone also heard waves of sobbing.

"Wuwu—wuwu—"

This crying sounded like it was coming from a group of women, revealing a sense of chill and eeriness.

Everyone knew that these sounds were made by the vengeful spirits in the fog.

However, even these vengeful spirits followed the same rules.

That is, they could not forcibly break into these buildings and were just wandering in the fog.

After being on guard for a while, those sounds gradually faded away and eventually disappeared completely.

Cao Xing said, "Alright, you can relax now; everyone, do whatever you were doing."

Upon hearing this, everyone put down their weapons.

In fact, with their current strength, they didn't need to be this careful.

But Cao Xing adhered to the principle of "Better safe than sorry," and before figuring out the strength of the creatures in the fog, he preferred to keep a low profile.

Of course, if the other party actively provoked them, just like the creatures in the fog wanting to take Elisa away back then.

Then Cao Xing would not hesitate to lead everyone to strike and meet the guys in the fog!

Moreover, compared to a few months ago, their strength was no longer what it used to be!

Not only did they possess the combat power to confront a Demigod head-on, but Cao Xing also held the [Heart of the God of Filth]!

This thing was a trump card that could be used to deal with gods.

Of course, this heart only had one chance to be used, and unless they truly encountered an unbeatable enemy, it was best not to use it lightly.

At this time, Cao Xing suddenly took out a few kilograms of Legendary Giant Rhinoceros Meat from his backpack, and then took out a piece of wild boar meat weighing several tens of kilograms.

He had obtained a large amount of Legendary Giant Rhinoceros Meat last time, and had even traded a batch of it on the market.

But these beast meats that could increase attributes had not yet been consumed by himself or other territory members.

"Everyone, we're having barbecue tonight."

Upon hearing this, everyone cast their gaze over, and a few glimpses of longing appeared in their eyes.

Cao Xing took out two long spears and a few iron rods to make a simple barbecue grill.

After the open flames of the fire died down, he added a large amount of coal.

Then he skewered the Legendary Giant Rhinoceros Meat and the wild boar meat and roasted them over the charcoal fire.

He also took a jar of Golden Honey from his backpack and brushed a layer on from time to time.

The amber honey dripped onto the charcoal fire, making a "sizzling" sound.

In no time, the rich aroma of meat mixed with the sweetness of honey instantly spread, filling every corner of this hall.

"Sniff, sniff—"

Elisa's nose twitched constantly in the air, and she murmured, "Such a fragrant smell, I want to eat it so much!"

She immediately gave up continuing to chat with Bai Zhi and instead crowded up to Cao Xing's side, staring fixedly at the barbecue grill; others also cast their gazes over.

Cao Xing chuckled, "Don't worry, everyone gets a share."

He turned the skewers to ensure each side was heated evenly, "However, there are two types of beast meat here. One is quite precious, so I can't let you use it as a staple food."

"Everyone, just eat it mixed with the wild boar meat."

Everyone nodded vigorously.

For them, the aroma of the food was already attractive enough!

They didn't care what kind of meat it was.

About ten minutes later, both the large and small pieces of beast meat had been roasted to a golden yellow, and they looked appetizing just by sight.

Cao Xing began to take out a short knife and some paper to portion out the barbecue according to everyone's share.

When the crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside beast meat was distributed to everyone's hands, everyone couldn't help but swallow their saliva.

Then, Cao Xing announced, "Alright, start enjoying."

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately dug in impatiently.

Elisa held the meat in both hands and wolfed it down; in no time, she was eating until both her cheeks were bulging.

Braum grabbed the entire piece of roasted meat and tore off a large chunk in a heroic manner.

Even the newly joined priestess Farnaz, Bifer Blackheart, and the others could not resist the temptation of the beast meat and began to feast.

"Earth Mother above—"

The Minotaur Chieftain's bell-like eyes gleamed, and the thick arm holding the beast meat trembled slightly.

"Cairne Bloodhoof has never eaten such delicious roasted meat. It makes this Minotaur feel full of strength; every bite is like drinking the blessings of the ancestors!"

Bifer Blackheart, feeling the energy surging within his body, also exclaimed, "This beast meat contains some kind of magical power; it has made me stronger—"

Everyone marveled at the magic of the Legendary Giant Rhinoceros Meat!

Cao Xing smiled and took a few pieces of raw meat from his backpack, feeding them to his pets, Magic Dragon Bingbing, the Mammoth Dabai, and others who were waiting eagerly.

As the delicious food settled in their stomachs, the atmosphere in the hall became even more lively.

That fellow Braum even started humming a song quietly.

"When the ancient dragon in the depths of the cave begins to awaken~ Cursed stars dance in its dragon eyes"

"A fool carries a rusted longsword, the hilt wrapped in linen rope braided by his little sister~"

The low singing voice echoed in the hall, accompanied by the melody.

Cao Xing just wanted to ask Braum to be quiet, so as not to attract the attention of creatures in the mist.

City Lord Oran saw his thoughts and said, "Lord Cao Xing, do not worry. The mist in these ruins is somewhat different from the true Smog Disaster."

"Here, even if we shout, it will be fine as long as we do not enter the mist."

Hearing this, Cao Xing was somewhat surprised.

He looked up at Qinong.

The old man nodded slightly, confirming City Lord Oran's statement.

Braum, hearing this, immediately raised his voice even more.

"He said, 'Dragon blood is just a bit hotter than ale,' and stepped on the stairs piled with skulls to push open the bronze door—"

"A sigh of sulfur came from behind the bronze door, and twelve eyes opened within the torrent of gold coins~"

While singing, the fellow also used his shield to tap lightly on the ground, playing a simple rhythm.

At the same time, Bifer Blackheart seemed to have heard this ancient ballad and began to hum along.

"Foolish mortal, your blade is still covered in breadcrumbs; why not kneel and become my two hundred and third collection item~"

"But the fool's sword suddenly began to sprout, and roses planted by his little sister bloomed from the linen rope~"

Compared to Braum's deep and penetrating voice, Bifer Blackheart's singing was lower and more magnetic.

Everyone followed along and hummed.

"Dragon breath dances a funny dance on the petals, and the bone dragon was poked in its left eye by the fool in shock~"

As the melody rose, the atmosphere in the hall became even more lively.

Seeing this scene, a smile appeared on Cao Xing's face.

It must be said that in this wilderness shrouded in mist, hiding in a room with a campfire, eating roasted meat, and humming a song, it certainly had a unique charm.

Thus, he also took a large barrel of [Craft Rum] from his backpack, along with dozens of wine glasses.

Cao Xing pulled out the wooden cork with force, and immediately, an aroma of wine mixed with notes of vanilla, caramel, and oak spread out.

"Come, everyone, let's drink to our hearts' content."

As he finished speaking, everyone happily stepped forward, using their glasses to fill up with the fine wine from the barrel.

"Cheers, everyone!"

After several rounds of drinks and having eaten their fill, everyone's faces were flushed with satisfaction.

Someone suggested, "Why don't we tell stories?"

Thus, naturally, the dinner party entered its second round.

Which was the late-night storytelling session.

It was that fellow Braum who spoke first, telling the story of when he was a ship captain in his dream.

"I was drifting on the sea when I suddenly saw that ghost ship!"

"The sails were as tattered as an old woman's foot wraps, and the deck was crawling with waving seaweed!"

"I rushed directly into the captain's quarters. The captain tried to draw his sword, but I punched that ghost captain down with one blow!"

Braum made a gesture of throwing a punch, which caused everyone to burst into laughter.

After Braum finished, the Minotaur Chieftain also began to speak, "Earth Mother above, Mr. Braum's adventure story is truly wonderful."

"Let me also tell some ancient legends passed down in the Minotaur tribe—"

Cairne Bloodhoof's bovine eyes twinkled with the light of reminiscence, his deep voice sounding as if it came from the ancient past.

Everyone was once again enthralled.

Just like that, the night passed quickly.

When the campfire turned into a pile of dark red embers, the cold and gloomy aura gradually faded away.

At 6:00 AM, when the system prompt sounded.

The mist that shrouded the entire ruin dissipated rapidly like a receding tide, all retracting back into the inner city.

Cao Xing looked up and, through the window above, saw a hazy glimmer of light.

City Lord Oran said, "Lord Cao Xing, we can continue our journey."

Cao Xing nodded slightly, stood up, and stretched his body.

Then he said, "Everyone, pack up; we are ready to head out."

Hearing this, everyone stood up.

Braum was the first to jump up and stride toward the two metal doors.

Then he pushed hard with all his might.

"Rumble—"

The heavy metal doors were quickly pushed open by him, and a dim light appeared before them.

Come to think of it, Cao Xing had felt a bit strange yesterday.

This Lost Royal City was clearly underground; how could there be such twilight-like light?

He observed carefully for a while.

Finally, he discovered that the light source seemed to come from some towering building in the center of the Lost Royal City, like a dying sun, providing a faint light source for the entire ruin.

"The light source comes from inside the city, and it turns off at night, only to automatically turn on the next day."

A thought could not help but emerge in Cao Xing's mind: "Could it be—that there are still people active in the inner city?"

"Or is it some ancient device left behind by the Asura civilization that is operating automatically?"

This thought made him even more curious, and he was even impatient to enter the city to explore.

However, the inner city was still shrouded in mist, and it was not yet time for it to open.

Cao Xing gave up on this idea.

He withdrew his gaze, turned to everyone, and said, "Everyone, cheer up. Our task today is to continue exploring the city."

"Yes, Lord!"

Everyone responded in unison.

Cao Xing mounted the Mammoth Dabai and, leading a team of dozens of people, set off toward the wilderness ahead.

Along the way, they bypassed many areas shrouded in mist.

After advancing seven or eight kilometers.

A black shadow condensed beside Cao Xing like black smoke.

It was the Legendary assassin—Sarah.

She said solemnly, "Lord, I just went ahead to scout and discovered some anomalies."

"Many locations I marked yesterday have already been submerged by thick fog."

"There are also many places that were originally shrouded in thick fog, but today they have dissipated, revealing their true appearance."

Hearing this, a thoughtful look appeared in Cao Xing's eyes.

"Many locations are submerged by thick fog, and new places are revealed."

"This means that the areas we can explore each day are entirely determined by the situation of the mist."

He seemed to realize something, "No wonder they said that so far, the exploration range of the entire ruin is less than 3%."

"If this continues, and if this thick fog does not dissipate, I'm afraid it will be impossible to explore this ancient ruin in a lifetime."

"Or perhaps, a powerhouse capable of ignoring this mist enters, kills their way into the city, and clears the source of the mist—"

Thinking of this, his gaze turned back to that towering city wall.

Shaking his head, Cao Xing led everyone to continue bypassing those thick mists.

After traveling for about five or six kilometers.

Bai Zhi suddenly stopped.

She pointed to an area on the left and said, "Cao Xing, another building has appeared there."

Hearing this, everyone looked in the direction she was pointing.

A black building that looked square and over twenty meters tall was looming faintly.

Looking at it from afar, it resembled a metal box.

The architectural style of the Asura civilization was still so unique.

City Lord Oran exclaimed, "Lord Cao Xing, we are very lucky; we have only walked such a short distance and have already discovered another building."