After a night of rest, Ian emerged from his room the next morning. He approached Henry directly and said firmly, "Henry, I need to go to the Valley of Despair." This was one of the dangerous areas Henry had mentioned while briefing Ian on the ruins the previous day. The name was coined by Henry and his team because the valley evoked a sense of despair.
Henry's expression changed slightly as he looked at Ian with concern: "Are you really sure you want to go there? You know, it's one of the most dangerous areas in the ruins. We once sent people in to explore, but they never returned..."
Ian nodded firmly: "I understand the dangers of this mission, but since we can't find any clues to leave the ruins elsewhere, perhaps the Valley of Despair is the key."
Henry sighed deeply: "Have you already thought of something?"
Ian smiled slightly but did not elaborate, only saying in a low voice: "Perhaps, but I can't be certain yet. I must go and investigate the situation myself."
Henry remained silent for a moment before speaking decisively: "Let me go with you. There are too many unknown dangers in the Valley of Despair; having someone along would be safer."
Ian shook his head firmly: "No, I'll go alone this time. I'm not very confident, and it's better to act alone. Stay here and keep an eye out for Mia's whereabouts. If she really entered the ruins, I want to know her situation as soon as possible."
Henry sighed softly, his eyes filled with concern: "Alright, I'll keep looking for Mia's whereabouts. You must be careful."
Ian nodded in understanding and turned to leave. Just then, Henry suddenly called out to him: "Wait, Ian."
Ian turned around in confusion and looked at Henry.
Henry turned around and pulled out a simple map from his pocket, handing it to Ian: "This is the map we've pieced together over the years, marking the conditions and locations of each area within the ruins. It might be helpful to you. There's also a special mark on the map indicating the location of another tribe, which is quite close to Despair Valley. The tribe's leader is named Milos, and he was part of the same group of explorers who entered the ruins with me. We used to get along well. If you pass by there, you might consider seeking his assistance."
Ian took the map, a flash of gratitude in his eyes: "Thank you, Henry. This information is very useful to me."
Henry smiled slightly, patting Ian on the shoulder: "Go ahead, be careful, and I'll wait for you to return. If you really find a way out, remember to come back and tell me."
After bidding farewell to Henry, Ian immediately set off for Despair Valley. He studied the map carefully as he walked, constantly observing the surrounding environment and details along the way, hoping to find other useful clues.
After three days of arduous travel, Ian finally arrived near Despair Valley. Following the markings on the map, he quickly located Milos's tribe. This tribe was slightly larger than Henry's. However, upon entering the tribe, he found there were very few people, mostly women and children, and their strength was also quite weak.
A young man stopped Ian: "Who are you, and what are you doing here?"
"I'm looking for your leader, Milos. I'm his friend." Seeing that Ian had no hostile intentions, the young man led him to Milos. Inside the house, a burly man was sitting cross-legged on the ground. He looked up at Ian with a cold and wary gaze: "Who are you? I don't recall having such a young Luminary-level powerhouse among my friends."
Ian was startled. He had been hiding his strength all along, yet this man could discern his power at a glance. He wasn't an ordinary person.
Ian remained calm and said, "I came from Henry. I'm looking for a way to leave the ruins. My name is Ian. Henry told me you might be able to help me."
Milos snorted coldly, his tone brimming with suspicion: "Henry always trusts outsiders too easily. But he's not a fool. Since you were recommended by him, I suppose I can listen to what you have to say."
Ian sensed Milos's guardedness and didn't bother to explain further, getting straight to the point: "I've come here to head to the Valley of Despair to find a way out of the ruins. I hope you can tell me the latest news about that place, since your tribe is so close to it, you should know more."
When Milos heard the words "Despair Valley," his expression turned grim: "Do you know what happened there recently?"
Ian shook his head slightly: "Henry only told me that it's extremely dangerous there, and no one has ever returned alive. I want to know what exactly happened."
Milos sighed, his expression growing sad and solemn: "Just a few days ago, an unusual energy fluctuation suddenly emanated from Despair Valley, leading our tribe to believe it was an opportunity to leave the ruins. I tried to dissuade many people, but no one listened. Except for women, children, and those with weaker abilities, most entered the valley and never returned. I still don't know if they're alive or dead."
Ian furrowed his brows. Was this why there were so few people left in the tribe? His heart grew heavier: "Have you ever seen such energy fluctuations before?"
Milos shook his head: "Never. That's why so many people thought it was an opportunity to leave. But now it seems like it might have been a trap."
After a brief silence, Ian spoke firmly: "Regardless, I must go in and investigate myself. Perhaps there are clues inside."
Milos stared at Ian for a long time before finally nodding. "Since you've made up your mind, I won't try to talk you out of it. The Valley of Despair is a circular valley. I know a path that can save you a lot of time. I discovered it by chance a few years ago. Just be careful—the unknown dangers of the Valley of Despair far exceed our imagination."
Ian stood up and thanked Milos: "I'll be extra careful. Thank you for the warning."
Ian and Milos left the tribe together, following the path Milos had mentioned to reach Despair Valley. The deep, dark valley emanated an eerie and dangerous aura, sending a chill down one's spine.
"I can only take you this far. Keep going straight ahead to enter the valley. What happens once you're inside, I don't know. All I know is that once you enter the valley's boundaries, you'll disappear from my sight. Be careful."
Ian walked forward alone. The moment he entered the valley's range, he felt a powerful energy pressure, but it quickly vanished. Ian turned to look back, and Milos was still standing in the same spot. Ian waved at Milos, signaling that there was no danger, but Milos seemed to not see Ian at all, standing there motionless. Ian tried to step forward to call out to Milos, but was blocked by an energy barrier in front of him.
At that moment, Ian realized what the so-called Valley of Despair was all about. A massive energy barrier enveloped the valley, separating the interior from the exterior, and the barrier was one-way—you could enter but not exit.
After understanding his situation, Ian could only proceed inward. If his judgment was correct, the opportunity to leave lay within.