The morning sun rose, and soft morning light spilled over the vast sea of clouds.
An ancient and mysterious ruin stood silently in this sky kingdom.
Vines wrapped around broken stone pillars, and mottled walls spoke of the vicissitudes of time.
And this was the ancient ruin hidden on Sky Island—Shandora.
Lin Ning and his group, after a long journey, finally arrived at this legendary ruin.
Along the way, they no longer encountered any obstruction from the priests, which made one feel a touch of strangeness.
Zoro walked at the front of the group, looking around, and muttered in a low voice with a frown:
"The so-called priests, the so-called trials... are they just gone? It's really uninspiring."
Robin chuckled softly, a playful smile on her lips, and said:
"Perhaps they were scared away, after all, one only has one life."
Lin Ning crossed his arms, his gaze fixed on the area below the ruins, and slowly said:
"No, they haven't disappeared... There are many people in these ruins."
"Oh?" Luffy grinned, a look of excitement on his face.
He clenched his fist slightly and said excitedly:
"It's not just here, many people are gathering from all directions!"
Hearing this, Zoro immediately became interested.
His hand rested on the hilt of his sword at his waist, and a Battle Intent-filled smile curled at the corner of his mouth:
"Hmph, it seems we're finally going to have a big fight."
"Calm down," Sanji exhaled a smoke ring and said lightly,
"They're still far from us, but I imagine these guys won't be friendly."
However, compared to these battle maniacs, Usopp, Chopper, and Nami's reactions were completely different.
They looked bewildered, completely unable to understand why the others had suddenly entered a combat state.
They shouted in exasperation: "Who?! What are you talking about?!"
Lin Ning smiled slightly, turned to Nami and Usopp, and said seriously:
"Observation Haki is a very important skill, Nami.
And Usopp, you guys... once we find the Golden City, you'll all get special training."
"Huh?!"
Nami and Usopp's eyes widened in surprise upon hearing this.
Then, as if realizing something, their expressions became complicated.
But in just a moment, they gritted their teeth and nodded, determination burning in their eyes.
"Alright! If we're going to train, then let's do it!" Nami clenched her fist, her face full of fighting spirit.
Although Usopp was feeling nervous, he still straightened his chest, putting on a forced calm demeanor:
"Hmph hmph, I am a brave warrior of the sea in the future, what is this training!"
The group continued forward, Nami looked down at the map in her hand.
Then she looked around, noticing that although the buildings here were dilapidated, one could still vaguely discern their former glory.
She walked over to Robin, who was carefully observing the walls of the ruins, and asked: "Robin, have you found anything?"
Robin gently brushed away the dust from the stone wall, her fingertips touching the ancient script on it.
A hint of excitement and thrill in her eyes, she slowly said:
"If I'm not mistaken... below here is the legendary Golden City."
"Golden City?!" Nami's heart quickened upon hearing this.
"Yes," Robin nodded, her gaze deep as she looked ahead,
"Not only that, the massive Golden Bell described in the ruins... is also there."
Upon hearing the words "massive Golden Bell," everyone was startled.
Robin took a deep breath, her eyes growing even more resolute.
Her voice was filled with an uncontrollable anticipation: "It seems that a poneglyph still exists there!"
For a moment, the air seemed to freeze.
The poneglyph, that was the key clue to the hundred-year blank of the world.
And for Robin, this was not just a discovery.
It was her lifelong pursuit—she wanted to uncover the truth of history.
She wanted to know what that buried past truly was.
As a cold snort broke the silence, a sudden commotion came from deep within the ruins.
Immediately after, a large group of warriors in white robes emerged from the ancient ruins.
Leading them were three priests, their figures tall, their steps steady, and their Aura imposing.
"They're finally here..." Zoro stood at the front of the group, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
His hand on the hilt of his sword tightened slightly, seemingly ready.
These three priests, each with a powerful Aura, exuded an oppressive feeling that made people involuntarily fearful.
First to catch the eye was the tall, stern-faced priest—Ohm.
He wore a white robe, and his black cloak fluttered slightly in the wind.
His eyes were filled with endless hostility towards the Straw Hat Pirates, his lips tightly pressed, as if he was muttering curses.
"Damned Blue Sea people, to have found this place..." His deep voice spilled from his mouth, carrying a surge of towering rage.
Next was another priest—Gedatsu.
He wore a mask on his face, through which his sharp eyes could vaguely be seen, his figure slender, giving off an undeniable sense of oppression.
He slightly raised his head and said in a low voice: "To dare profane a god... unforgivable."
Finally, Shura, one of the three priests, had a cold smile on his face.
Every gesture exuded a hint of arrogance and disdain.
He said lightly: "You will pay the price for your foolishness."
"Don't say it so harshly," Sanji stepped forward lightly, a relaxed smile in his eyes.
Yet his voice held an undeniable sharpness, "If we didn't have some strength, would you give us a chance to speak?
You would probably have killed us on sight."
Although his words carried a hint of mockery, Sanji showed no signs of backing down; on the contrary, it was a confident provocation.
Lin Ning also stepped forward, a faint chill flashing in his eyes, the corner of his mouth slightly raised:
"That's right, that's the sorrow of the weak. They don't even have the right to speak."
"Damn it!" The three priests almost simultaneously roared in a low voice, their anger and irritation practically overflowing their words.
But they did not immediately act; instead, they stopped and watched these few people coldly.
Despite their towering rage, they knew well that these Blue Sea people were no ordinary individuals.
Especially that guy named Lin Ning, who possessed power comparable to the god Eneru.
"Hmph, don't think you can intimidate us with empty threats," Shura said with a sneer, but a hint of caution was revealed in his eyes.
He knew these people were not simple, especially the guy holding the halberd, whose strength was terrifying.
To split a mountain with one blow, that must be something only a god could do.
Gedatsu's eyes narrowed slightly, a glint flashing in them, as if he was carefully assessing the strength of the Straw Hat Pirates.
These priests of theirs were not only skilled in Observation Haki but also possessed astonishing combat power.
Yet even so, they still maintained sufficient reverence for Lin Ning and the others.
They understood that these people before them, like the god Eneru, were strong.
The threat of the strong was not just pure power; it was also that overwhelming Aura that no one could ignore.