The warm organs, the pulsating heart, the vivid blood flowing in a rushing cascade upon the ground—these deeply entered Zhang Yuanqing’s eyes and seeped into his mind. He knew this journey into the underground palace was extremely perilous, that everyone might die at any moment. Yet, watching Zhao Chenghuang fall right before him still proved hard to accept. A surge of emotions rose within him—anger, astonishment, fear, and above all, guilt. Though he had repeatedly emphasized the dangers before the expedition, though all the team members were seasoned practitioners of the spiritual realm, accustomed to death, Zhao Chenghuang’s passing still bore a profound connection to him. After all, his teammates had been chosen by him, and it was he who had guided Zhao Chenghuang onto this path of certain demise. This scene also struck the eyes of Sun Miaomiao, Tianxia Guihuo, and Xiahou Aotian, who had just regained their composure. A deep chill spread through the group. Sixth level?! A single sword strike had dispatched Zhao Chenghuang. There was no doubt that this colossal warrior statue’s combat prowess had reached the pinnacle of the Saint stage. But it hadn't reached the sovereign yet; otherwise, not only Zhao's spirit guardian would be dead, but everyone else as well. "Damn it!" Zhang Yuanqing roared, as though stimulated, leaping into the air and driving his drumming golden hammer down onto the giant soldier's head. He moved with incredible speed, like a strong-legged grasshopper springing into action. A flash of his shadow, and he was already at the giant soldier's side, hammering it down with full force. The giant soldier tilted its head slightly. "Thud, crack…" The golden hammer struck the right shoulder, splitting it into fine cracks. The attacked giant soldier swung its arms, its bronze sword sweeping across with lightning speed. Zhang Yuanqing's body soared into the air, unable to dodge—there was no time even to summon the Star-Dashing Technique. The sword light flashed and vanished, and the hazy glow around him shattered, his Unyielding Guardian Mirror on his chest split in two and completely damaged. Zhang Yuanqing's body splashed up with a dramatic spray of water. He should have been severed by the blade—thanks to his Yin-Yang robe, he had narrowly escaped Indeed, it was precisely because of this artifact that he dared to take the risk. The splashing water instantly returned to its original form, restoring the warrior to solid flesh. Zhang Yuanqing felt a sudden chill, his anger fading instantly. Without time to mourn the artifact, he immediately activated the Star-Flight Technique. Transforming into a stream of light, he coalesced beneath the archway, but his right hand—holding the Drumming Purple-Gold Hammer—was now cracked at the knuckles, bleeding profusely, and his forearm had fractured. This prematurely ended his use of the small pumpkin. The resonant function of the Drumming Purple-Gold Hammer affected both the enemy and the wielder simultaneously, allowing only ten minutes of continuous use. Beyond that duration, the body would disintegrate under the resonance. With his forearm now broken, if he attempted to use the hammer again, the entire arm would be rendered useless. As he glanced swiftly around, he just happened to see Lady Yin Yao lifted high by a spear, and observed Sun Miao and Tian Xia Gui being hurled into the air—Lady Yin Yao’s right arm twisted, and Tian Xia Gui’s chest was dented. The entire formation was instantly shattered! At that moment, he heard a solemn voice from behind him, Zhao Chenghuang's: "You've been too impetuous. If it weren't for this robe, you'd already be dead." Turning around, there stood Zhao Chenghuang in black robe and black trousers. "You're not dead?" Zhang Yuanqing was both startled and delighted, glancing again at the body on the ground—where once warm organs and vivid blood had now turned to black ash. Observing Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun's joyful expression, Zhao Chenghuang's face, rarely soft, now radiated gentle warmth. "My grandfather gifted me a life-sustaining item—a consumable for a Wuzhu (divination and healing) specialist." He then strained his face, adding with a slight tremor: "A consumable worth thirty million... This one will be irreplaceable for a long time to come. It's as if I've sacrificed my life for nothing." For now, he was simply glad to be alive! Zhang Yuanqing immediately shouted to the silver-pearl Princess and the others: "Zhao Chenghuang is still alive—let's retreat now!" And he was the first to vanish into starlight. The entire realm has the ability of teleportation; Sun Miaomiao and Princess Yin Yao can also vanish at will. But Xiaohou Aotian, lacking such a skill, had already strapped on his jet-pack and leaped down from the 100-meter-high Hanbaiyu platform. The remnants of their forces, trembling and dashing, fled without looking back, only pausing when they saw neither of the two soldier statues pursuing them. "Where did your grandfather obtain these life-saving props? I'd like to have one for my own grandfather too," Sun Miaomiao said, her face bright despite her injuries. "I don't know," said Zhao Chenghuang, speaking honestly. While they exchanged words, Zhang Yuanqing drew forth the mountain deity's staff, healing the wounds of Tianxia Guihuo and Sun Miaomiao, then placed his palm on Princess Yin Yao's shoulder, channeling the power of the Yin to nourish her. "Those two soldier statues are level 6, and likely at the peak of that level," Xiaohou Aotian said, pacing anxiously. "This is beyond what we can handle. We should just retreat." Sun Miaomiao, unwilling to give up, replied, "Are Xiahou Aotian’s mouth twitched, his heart aching so much he could hardly breathe, and he snapped, “Don’t mention this matter anymore!” Tian Gui, seated by the pond, spoke slowly, “I lost a divine artifact of Saint-tier quality. Xiahou Aotian lost 480 million, Zhao Chenghuang lost his life, and Yuan Shǐ Tianzun lost an artifact as well. If we abandon now, would you be content? I certainly wouldn’t be.” Xiahou Aotian grew frantic, “I’ve already said we shouldn’t talk about money anymore. I still haven’t repaid the 800 million, and now I’ve accumulated another 480 million—what have I gained? I’ve ended up owing the family 120 million. But what can I do? Even if I’m unwilling, the six-tiered forces can slaughter you like dogs—so simple. And their Xirang content is even higher; no matter how many times they’re shattered, they always regenerate. Well, then, let’s just take the debt. At least we’ll still be alive.” “You’re supposed to be the protagonist, aren’t you Xiahou Aotian sneered. As the argument was unfolding, a loud slap suddenly interrupted the group. Turning to see the source, Xiahou noticed Yuan Shǐ Tianzun with a prominent swelling on his right cheek—having been slapped by his own Yin Shi. "What's going on?" Xiahou Aotian exclaimed, annoyed. "Nothing, just a slap to refresh my spirit," Zhang Yuanqing casually replied, while silently stepping away from Yin Yao, the Princess. He had been slapped for a reason—he had used the Mountain God's staff twice in a short span, and the resulting passion had grown increasingly intense, making him find the Princess's delicate features especially appealing, almost breathtaking. Unable to resist, he had reached out to gently touch her chest and buttocks. Just as he intended to press closer and brush against her, he was slapped back, which cleared his mind. Though it hurt, the surge of passion had somewhat subsided. For now, he could not use the Mountain God's staff again, or else it wouldn't have been just one slap that would have done—it would have required more force, and then he would have had to say: "The Demon King may go, I shall follow as well." Then the teammates would witness the scene of the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign being pursued by his own shadow corpses. Of course, the King of Cats' speaker has still not played the past stories of the Princess and the Demon Sovereign, and I'm not sure whether the Demon Sovereign actually managed to summon the corpses. Zhang Yuanqing murmured to himself. "Really?" Sun Miao Miao clearly didn't believe this account; she stepped closer and examined Yin Yao, the Princess. "Your shadow corpse is no ordinary one—just now I saw her perform the Star-Flight technique." "That's just the effect of the props," Zhang Yuanqing lied, then quickly changed the subject, saying, "Just now, I noticed that those two military statues are more advanced than the ones on the steps—they possess skills, though not complete. That's good news. If they were truly at the peak of Level Six, we could consider retreating. Destroying those two statues isn't difficult—we have cannons and my Thunderstorm Cannon with sufficient destructive power. The real challenge is preventing them from restoring themselves. Zhao City God, can your storage box effectively contain and suppress those two shadow corpses? Zhao Chenghuang shook his head: "The more likely scenario is that the storage box has been damaged, causing all the soldiers to surge out together." That would be quite a challenge—based on the attack power just witnessed from that soldier, the Yin-Yang robe's array couldn't contain them both. Although Little Red Cap has her own spatial capacity, she herself cannot accommodate entities of a higher rank than herself. The Eight-Foot Mirror, though a master artifact, doesn't function primarily as a seal. Zhang Yuanqing found himself at a loss. Among them, there was no outstanding artifact capable of subduing a Level 6 entity. Tianxu Guihuo said: "Xia Hou Aotian, as a physician of the Way of the Dao, it's your responsibility to resolve this issue." Everyone thought: "That's a well-placed assignment." "Let me think, let me think…" Xia Hou Aotian furrowed his brows, tapped his head, and spoke to himself as he analyzed: "They rarely die—they possess souls, but these souls are evenly distributed throughout their bodies, nurtured by Xisang. Night-Wanderer's techniques find it difficult to take effect on them." "We shouldn't have any seals or tools capable of restraining a Sixth-Rank Saint. To achieve victory against the stronger forces, we'll have to find an alternative approach." "How so?" The group brightened, thinking that despite his serious personality flaws, his professional competence was certainly commendable. "Based on the principle of the Five Elements' mutual generation and control, even though Xishang is the highest-grade material, it's still susceptible to the power of Wood. Therefore, theoretically, if we possess high-quality tools of the Beast King class—specifically, those with plant-based functions—we can counteract their strength." Xue Hou Ao Tian explained. "For instance, if we allow plants to grow on Xishang, the plants will absorb and gradually consume its power, thereby weakening it." "Could the Mountain God-class tools work, as long as they're plant-based?" Zhang Yuanqing asked. He did have a Beast King-class bracelet, but it was of only mid-to-high quality and not plant-based. "The key isn't the plants themselves, but the plants capable of absorbing the power of Xishang. The Mountain God is a soil-type creature, and the plants he generates lack this special quality," said Xia Hou Ao Tian. "Ah, I have!" said Sun Miao Miao, raising her hand. "I have seeds of the Ghost-Face Vine, cultivated by the Grand Elder of the Hundred Flowers Assembly. These seeds grow immediately upon planting, are bloodthirsty, and excel at restraining enemies. I exchanged for them originally to compensate for the Star Official's lack of group attack capabilities." The Hundred Flowers Assembly and the Taiyuan Sect are the closest allies. Zhao Chenghuang said calmly, "The quality of the Ghost-Face Vine seeds isn't sufficient to suppress a Level 6 soldier statue." "No, it can!" Zhang Yuanqing brightened. "My Mountain God staff can transform plants, granting them significant enhancement. Of course, that's not enough—given the soldiers' strength, the Ghost-Face Vines would be cleared away as soon as they begin to grow. Therefore, we must scatter the seeds after defeating the soldier statues." The Ghost-Face Vine can't handle intact soldier statues, but it should have no problem with scattered debris. Xiu Hou Ao Tian slammed his palms together, "That works!" After finalizing a detailed strategy, the group set off once again. Xiu Hou Ao Tian marched proudly at the forefront, Tian Xia Gui and Zhao Chenghuang carrying the heavy artillery at the rear. Zhang Yuanqing, walking in the middle, thought: If the Cat King speaker were here, it would surely play an exciting, dramatic soundtrack to add to the atmosphere. Unfortunately, it wasn't. At that moment, he wore a robe of Yin-Yang divinity, sturdy soles of Hou Tu boots, a lucky pendant around his neck, wind-quick gloves on both hands, and a purple-gold shield in hand. When they returned to the Hall of Immortality, two towering soldier statues stood quietly at the entrance, guarding the now-empty palace as they had done through countless past years. Thud! The artillery base settled heavily, producing a deep resonance, and the ground trembled beneath it. At the same time, the warrior terracotta figure turned its head toward the group of defeated troops, sending out a surge of mental energy: "Any who dare intrude upon the Emperor's inner chambers shall be executed without mercy!" Another wave of intimidation! Under the pressure of rank, Sun Miaomiao and the others inevitably experienced mental disturbances, falling into a state of stunned stillness. Only Zhang Yuanqing, before the wave of intimidation reached him, gently pressed his index finger against his forehead. Instantly, blue pigment emerged, spreading rapidly from the forehead to cover his entire face. Black and white lines were drawn at the eyes and mouth, forming a resolute, unyielding facial mask. With the blue face, Zhang Yuanqing gained a 50% increase in endurance and immunity to three mental attacks. After successfully withstanding the intimidation, Zhang Yuanqing calmly observed the massive warrior terracotta figure charging toward him in a blur. Without hesitation, he grasped the Yin-Yang robe draped over his shoulder and tossed it into the sky. The Water-Fire Array materialized, encompassing both parties. Within the fire array, a red clay figure rose, holding a golden-purple shield, facing the giant terracotta warrior, shouting excitedly: On the other side, the black clay figure wore wind-wielder gloves, lifting ethereal waves and gales to hurl them toward the spear infantry figures. It successfully withstood the assault for two seconds before being pierced by a spear, shattering into fragments with a loud crack. Behind the crimson clay figure, a surge of cold energy rippled, and the ghost bride in her wedding gown charged toward the bronze sword infantry figure, attempting to halt its advance. However, just as she made contact, she was knocked back—her attempt to attach failed due to the vast gap in positioning between the two. The sword infantry figure advanced, delivering a straightforward, decisive blow. The flame-clay figure raised her golden-purple shield. Glrrr—under the grating sound of metal bending, the shield was cleaved in half, and the flame-clay figure’s half-body crumbled. At that moment, a wave of flames surged from behind the crimson clay figure, engulfing the entire figure in fire. The celestial flame figure, blazing from head to toe, surged forward and delivered a powerful punch to the infantry figure’s face. With the combined strength of the enraged figure and the flame formation, its explosive power now rivaled the peak of Level 4. Boom! The flames erupted in layers, exploding against the faces of the soldier statues, sending their three-meter-tall bodies staggering. The powerful rebound force sent Tian Xia Gui flying backward, breaking bones in his right arm. As he flew, Sun Miao Miao stepped forward, wielding a translucent whip formed by a spiritual servant and infused with cool qi. She strode out, raised her arm, and with a sharp, decisive motion, drew her white, elegant wrist across the statue’s face. Crack! The whip struck the statue’s face, causing it to stiffen momentarily. Though the Divine Whip is effective against any entity with a soul, the soldier’s soul was evenly dispersed throughout the Xī Rǎng body, so the effect was somewhat diminished. Yet Sun Miao Miao only needed a brief moment of control. "Clear the way!" Xiahou Aotian roared. The attacks from Zhang Yuanqing and others had given him the crucial moment to aim. While Sun Miao Miao and Tian Xia Gui both activated their flight techniques, the crimson terracotta figure charged forward, leaping toward the three-meter-tall bronze sword statue and wrapping his arms around its legs—perfectly positioned to reach that height. The very next moment, a golden fireball—resembling a miniature sun—roared into the bronze sword soldier statue, followed by a second. Waves of golden light surged and surged, overwhelming the scene, first tearing through the two figures, then the barrier formed by the yin-yang spell array. For the first time, under the power of the master-tier energy package, the yin-yang spell array barrier was shattered. The spell robes drifting slowly from the sky settled gently upon Zhang Yuanqing. At Zhao Chenghuang's fingertips, black, sharp ghost claws shot out; his skin turned deep indigo, veins bulging with powerful yin energy, which condensed into frost upon the ground. He dissolved into starlight, appearing behind the spear soldier statue, then swiftly drew his hands across. Fine sand and gravel cascaded down. The spear soldier turned and delivered a powerful kick straight into Zhao Chenghuang's chest, sending him flying. As the soldier prepared to pursue, Lady Yin-Yao, holding the mountain deity's staff, descended from the sky, her vine-woven staff sweeping vertically, creating a sharp crack in the air. The soldier raised his spear. Thud! Lady Yin Yao was hurled backward, and the spear soldier statue likewise retreated step by step. The ducal status of the lady, combined with the extraordinary strength from the Mountain God's staff, allowed her to hold her own against this formidable soldier statue. Zhao Chenghuang returned to the fray, joining Lady Yin Yao in holding the spear soldier statue at bay, his balance, agility, and strength amplified by the Beast King bracelet, further bolstered by the Mountain God's staff. To his surprise, he realized that Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn's ghostly corpse could now serve as a solid frontline force. How strong was this ghostly body—how had Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn obtained it? Zhao Chenghuang felt a surge of admiration, then quickly suppressed the somewhat inappropriate sentiment and focused on supporting the battle. At the moment of his physical reincarnation, Zhang Yuanqing shouted toward the distance: "Zhao Chenghuang, retreat—I'm about to enter a transformation!" This was a clear signal to Zhao Chenghuang that the ghostly body needed to be withdrawn. As the golden flames faded, black fragments and fine sand spread across the ground, both near and far—the largest remaining piece being Sun Miao-miao, already prepared, reached into her pocket, grasped a handful of black seedlings, and tossed them out. The black seeds rained down like scattered beans, pattering onto the ground with a crisp sound. They automatically sought out surrounding energy for growth and swiftly attached themselves to the remains of the soldiers' statues, rooting and sprouting rapidly. Within just a few seconds, lush green vines spread across the ground, bearing clusters of leaves adorned with black patterns resembling demons. The vines trembled violently, but the source of the tremor was not the vines themselves—it was the soil beneath them. The vines strained to restructure their forms, yet the root systems of the ghost-faced vines constrained their natural instincts, resulting in a tense struggle between the two. Seeing this, Princess Yin Yao immediately stepped back, raising the emerald gem at the tip of her staff and directing it toward the ghost-faced vines, activating the transformation function. Gentle waves of green light radiated outward, bathing the vines in the glow. They grew swiftly and became increasingly lush, while the ghostly black patterns on their leaves grew more menacing. The black sand and fragments ceased trembling, as if frozen. "Good! It's working!" exclaimed Xue Hou Ao Tian. "Get out of the way!" the latter voice came from Zhao Chenghuang. Free from the entanglement of Lady Yin Yao, the spear infantry pushed back Zhao Chenghuang and charged fiercely toward the others. "He's not very intelligent. I'll handle him; I'll deal with the rest." Zhang Yuanqing hurriedly removed his Hou Tu boots and pulled out his sliding cleat shoes. Xue Hou Ao Tian also scrambled, adjusting his cannon's aim. Sun Miao Miao materialized as a streak of starlight behind the spear infantry, raising her ethereal whip... Just as she completed this maneuver, the infantry suddenly turned around, driving a sharp counter-thrust with his spear that pierced straight through Sun Miao Miao's chest. Her defensive gear barely registered, and was instantly destroyed. The spear itself was unusually long—crafted specifically for the three-meter-tall giant infantry figures—so the impact didn't feel like a chilling stab, but rather a deep, penetrating force. Instead, the vertebrae, heart, lungs, stomach—all were torn out, leaving the body hollow. Sun Miao-miao's pupils instantly dimmed. Such injuries would surely be fatal even for a star official with strong vitality. Yet in the very next moment, her eyes flashed with bright, vibrant light, sharp and resolute. She clutched the spear tightly in both hands and shouted, "Fire! Zhao City God, take my spirit body out of the academy and deliver it to my grandfather—I'm transferring to a spiritual servant!" She now had no chance to retreat. Perhaps it was a final surge of strength, Sun Miao-miao's power was extraordinary, and she held the spear so firmly that the soldier statue couldn't pull it free. "Excellent, Sun Miao-miao—I'll never forget this," said Xue Hou Ao-tian, his face solemn and heroic, as he pressed the trigger. "You actually fired!" Zhang Yuan-qing quickly realized and kicked the cannon's mouth. A golden light, like a sun shrunk to a point, shot upward and exploded against the sky, sending countless gems and pearls cascading down. Zhang Yuan immediately transformed into starlight and appeared beside Sun Miao Miao. With one hand gripping his spear to join in the struggle, he raised the other. From afar, a shield half-extended soared toward him, delivering it to his master. The purple-gold shield melted and reshaped itself into a large-caliber hand cannon, its thirty-centimeter barrel radiating an imposing presence. Zhang Yuan depressed the trigger. A hissing sound emerged from the muzzle, with purple electric arcs leaping. A sphere of deep purple lightning surged forth, sweeping toward the soldier statues. At the same time, Sun Miao Miao drew out her divine whip. Crack! Thunderous boom! The violent gusts exploded, with electric arcs rippling outward in wave-like patterns across the plane. The upper halves of the soldier statues were shattered. In terms of destructive power, the spherical lightning nearly reached the pinnacle of the Saint stage. Zhang Yuan then launched a third, and then a fourth spherical lightning bolt, completely reducing the soldier statues to fragments. Without pausing, he retracted the storm cannon, one arm cradling the now limp Sun Miao Miao, and with the other reached into her satchel, retrieving the last handful of seeds, The seeds tumbled to the ground, automatically seeking nourishment, taking root on the dark fragments and growing swiftly. At the same time, Lady Yinyao immediately activated the metamorphic function of her staff. Zhang Yuanqing didn't look at this scene; he gently laid down Sun Miao Miao, speaking softly, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. I can save you..." From his inventory, he retrieved a vial of life essence. With difficulty, Sun Miao Miao lifted her hand and pushed it against his arm, "I'm not afraid, I'm not...” "Whether you're afraid or not doesn't matter," Zhang Yuanqing said, not wanting to hear her chatter. He opened her hand and swiftly injected the life essence into her neck vein. This vial of life essence was part of the Shie family's compensation. Master Yuanshiben can be quite gentle at times... Sun Miao Miao's dark, bright eyes silently watched him. A few seconds later, her pale complexion gradually regained color, and cells rapidly divided and tissue regenerated within her hollow chest cavity. As Zhang Yuanqing withdrew his spear, her organs visibly grew and repaired themselves. Sun Miaomiao felt her vitality gradually returning, still lying there, gazing at Yuan Shi Tian Zun, and said: "Just now, I meant to say that I have my own source liquid of life." "...Alright, then, you return me one." Sun Miaomiao turned her head with a proud pout, a slight smile playing at her lips: "No way." Zhang Yuanqing was furious, about to demand the liquid, but suddenly found himself captivated by the grace in her eyes. He lowered his gaze, stared for a few seconds, and murmured: "Hard to believe..." Sun Miaomiao was taken aback, then realized what had happened, quickly covered her chest, blushing furiously, and shouted: "You obnoxious rogue!" Sun Miaomiao looked at Zhang Yuanqing's youthful expression, not expecting him to be only a C-tier. Zhang Yuanqing remained composed, rose gracefully, and glanced over the two areas now covered by ghost-faced vines. The remains of the soldier statues had been fully suppressed. "Success! Ahahaha! A boundless fortune awaits this protagonist!" After a brief rest, once Sun Miaomiao's condition was fully restored, the group carefully What treasures lie within the Emperor's private chambers? Creak—slowly, the heavy hall doors part, the ancient hinges groaning with age. A musty scent rushes in. Behind the doors stands the main hall, supported by nine bronze pillars, the floor dusted with gray, spacious and solemn, ending in a high platform with the throne and a wide writing table. Along the path leading to the throne, nine bronze statues stand on either side, dressed in flowing robes, each in a bowed posture. To the left and right of the main hall are quiet rooms, warm pavilions, sleeping quarters, tea rooms, and attendants' chambers. Zhang Yuanqing and his companions tour the front hall, finding nothing of value, and without hesitation, proceed to the back hall. The back hall has two bronze doors. Zhang Yuanqing and Tian Xia Gui stand on either side, pressing their palms against the bronze doors, gently pushing them open. Creak—creak—the heavy bronze doors unfold, inch by inch, until fully opened. Inside, the candlelight is bright, with dozens of oil lamps burning quietly, casting a warm golden glow that illuminates the hall's furnishings. "Gurgle~" "Gurgle, gurgle~" The sounds of swallowing continue to echo at the door.