Lin Yun told Qin Xiyan everything he had learned, one five and one ten, leaving nothing out. After hearing his account, Qin Xiyan was silent for a long time. It seemed the history of the Nether River Dragon Palace was even more profound than they had imagined.
"If that's the case, doesn't that mean Wang Chengan is from that era?"
Lin Yun nodded. It was highly likely. The only thing he found strange was that Wang Chengan seemed to know a great deal about many things, including his own current situation. For now, however, these questions could only be buried deep in his heart, with no immediate answers.
"There are still many questions that you and I cannot yet understand," Lin Yun said. "Although this first level has some cultivation methods, they are far too inferior compared to our own."
Lin Yun possessed a photographic memory, so he had already skimmed through many of the cultivation manuals in a short time. He had to admit, they were vastly outdated. The only thing worthy of praise was some of the unrestrained, imaginative ideas within them, which could perhaps still be of use.
That man, Wang Chengan, had sinister motives. Not only was he using them to gain his own freedom, but he also hadn't bothered to tell them that nothing here would be of any real help. But Lin Yun had known from the start that Wang Chengan was not so easily dealt with. He had already committed the location of this place to memory. When the time came for Wang Chengan to try and tear down the bridge after crossing, Lin Yun would have his own ways of dealing with him.
After several hours, Lin Yun and Qin Xiyan secretly discussed some countermeasures before finally emerging from the Hidden Heaven Pavilion.
Seeing the two of them, Wang Chengan sneered. "How strange. You don't even understand the ancient script, yet you spent so much time in there. What, did you think that by memorizing all the text, you would one day be able to figure out what it says?"
Lin Yun didn't take the bait. "We will not go back on our promise to you, unlike some people. Tell us, how can I free your physical body?"
Although Wang Chengan was slightly displeased by Lin Yun's tone, regaining his freedom was the most important thing right now. "Follow me. You can rest assured. As long as you help me successfully free my body, I will naturally tell you how to ascend to the next level."
The group quickly passed through the Hidden Heaven Pavilion. Under Wang Chengan's lead, they arrived at the entrance to an underground palace. The location was extremely obscure. If Wang Chengan hadn't led them, Lin Yun feared he might never have discovered that such a place even existed within the Nether River Dragon Palace.
"This place is so well hidden," the Chongqing Bird commented. "The true secrets of the Nether River Dragon Palace must be here."
Lin Yun deeply agreed, nodding his head. Who would have thought that within the vast palace, there was another, even more mysterious underground one?
The entrance to the underground palace was narrow and rugged, the walls covered with sharp protrusions. It was clear that its construction had been quite rushed. The main focus had been on concealing the entrance. In the initial tunnel, there was not even a source of light. Lin Yun could only channel his Yuan Qi to barely illuminate his surroundings.
But as they ventured deeper, more than a dozen branching paths appeared before them. Each one could lead to a bottomless abyss or a complex network of traps. One wrong step would mean certain death. It was a testament to how many preparations the creators had made to protect the secrets within.
However, with Wang Chengan here, they obviously didn't need to worry about such things. He seemed incredibly skilled at navigating the so-called traps and secret passages. In just one hour, he had led them through the many trials of the initial path.
Just then, the space before them opened up. They had arrived in what looked like an underground city. But strangely, while there was a marketplace and some shops, the scale of it all suggested that only a small population had ever lived here. And at the very center of the city stood a massive, high tower.
"This doesn't look like a place for living," Lin Yun muttered.
Qin Xiyan nodded in agreement. "Judging by both the layout and the traces of life, this looks more like a prison. It seems a group of people were trapped here, researching something."
A spark of gossip ignited in Lin Yun's heart. The Baleful Blood Dragon Clan was so powerful; what could they have been researching?
Wang Chengan simply walked ahead. He had, of course, heard their discussion but neither stopped them nor offered any explanation. Everything was shrouded in mystery.
Finally, after an unknown amount of time, they reached the central location. Wang Chengan pointed at the door of the high tower. "Open the door."
Lin Yun narrowed his eyes at him. As if reading his mind, Wang Chengan said with a smile, "Don't worry. This door poses no threat. With your strength, you can enter with ease. You see my current state. If I were to go up, I'm afraid it would be… troublesome."
Half-believing, half-doubting, Lin Yun nodded and walked forward. Qin Xiyan, however, stood close to Wang Chengan. If he had deceived them in any way, she was prepared to risk her own life to ensure he wouldn't escape unscathed.
"You can relax. We are partners right now. How could I possibly harm you?" Wang Chengan said with a laugh, knowing what she was thinking. These things might be a problem for others, but he paid them no mind.
Lin Yun had now reached the entrance. The moment he placed a hand upon the door, he felt a powerful energy surge towards him.
At the same time, Ezu's extremely serious voice echoed in his ear. "If you don't want to die, use the artifact on your wrist to shield yourself, now!"
Feeling the power continuing to pour into him, Lin Yun instinctively trusted Ezu's words. He injected his Yuan Qi into the Yuqili bracelet. It was the first time he had ever used it in this way.
He immediately felt an icy-cold sensation spread throughout his body. The force from the door stopped abruptly, as if it had been cut off by something.
Then, he heard the heavy sound of mechanisms turning. The door slowly began to open.
After speaking, Ezu had once again fallen silent. But Lin Yun had roughly guessed what had just happened. This door was a barrier against all spiritual beings. Both Ezu and Wang Chengan would be threatened by it. The reason Ezu hadn't warned him sooner was likely because he hadn'