Chapter 34: A Fright in the Underground Palace

Deep within the underground palace.

Feng Qianning’s expression was one of intense concentration, a single lock of hair sliding down her flawless, fair cheek. At this moment, her face was unveiled, and she was refining a small cauldron no larger than her palm, its surface intricately carved with countless runes.

She had only glanced at that bamboo scroll before finding herself utterly vexed! Feng Qianning was now extremely sensitive to anything related to dual cultivation. As for the bamboo scroll, after acquiring it, she had used the Wind-Fixing Pearl and the Transmutation Gourd, channeling her killing intent to create the illusion of a treasure’s emergence, and had simply tossed it out.

It was a deliberate ploy to attract fools, thereby buying herself time to refine the true treasure.

Sure enough, those people fell for it—like dogs catching the scent of a bone, they raced off in hot pursuit.

As for the claim that she was trapped by the formation, it was sheer nonsense; she had set the formation herself!

They were so easily deceived, never considering that if she was prepared to announce the opening of the Yan Dang Mountain ruins, she would not have come unprepared. Yet they actually believed it was her first time here… their gullibility left her speechless.

Of course, she couldn’t entirely blame them. Within this massive underground palace, aside from the bamboo scroll and the small cauldron, Feng Qianning had not touched anything else.

So, when the group from Zhaoyang Sect and others arrived, it seemed as though Feng Qianning had only just entered ahead of them.

Her boldness was the reason she dared to speak to them at all—after all, a woman who could steal treasures from a great demon’s lair and then leave her name behind was capable of anything.

Her reputation was already well-established…

“This thing is so difficult to refine! Even with the Transmutation Gourd, it’s going to take a lot of time. I hope those fools will fight over that wretched bamboo scroll… give me a little more time,” Feng Qianning whispered to herself.

But in the next instant, she was dumbfounded—the crowd that had just left was now surging back, a mass of figures returning!

She knew full well what sort of people made up the righteous sects—it was hard to imagine what had happened. Had they already settled things so quickly? Weren’t they supposed to split their heads open fighting over the scroll, each party calling for reinforcements—one group to continue the fight, the other to prepare for an assault on her, the infamous demoness?

Had they suddenly changed their nature? Or was there now an overwhelming expert among them?

…

Outside the formation.

Ling Chen and the other disciples from the major sects, along with some formidable wandering cultivators, all wore expressions of delight.

The formation was still intact; Feng Qianning remained trapped, which meant everyone still had a chance at obtaining the Transmutation Gourd and the Wind-Fixing Pearl, as well as the famed treasures and inheritance of the North Sea Dragon Palace ruins!

The bamboo scroll was valuable, but Feng Qianning herself was the true “treasure trove”!

The middle-aged man from Sword Soul Pavilion, Qiao Zhen from Moon-Inspiring Hall, Xue Lei from Celestial Radiance Palace, and other masters at the Art Realm level all had calculating gleams in their eyes.

Qiao Zhen proposed, “Why don’t we all sign an agreement to work together against this demoness, then split her treasures according to their value afterwards?”

“I’ve no objection,” said the middle-aged man from Sword Soul Pavilion.

“Nor do I,” Xue Lei from Celestial Radiance Palace agreed.

“Azure Scale City consents as well,” Dong Shanbai added.

“Lingyun Sect has no objections,” said Huo Qing.

One after another, representatives from the top ten sacred grounds and major sects voiced their support.

It was not just because Feng Qianning was difficult to deal with, but also because the dominant force here remained the Zhaoyang Sect.

Even if some mocked Ling Chen, it was undeniable that he was a young master at the Microcosmic Realm.

Practitioners at the Qi Absorption or Void-Gazing level had no right to speak before him.

Xuan Xiao, Tang Qingxuan, and the two elders were also at this tier.

Even the taciturn young woman Chu Wanqing was well-known among the top ten sacred grounds. She was also one of Zhaoyang Sect’s most outstanding young prodigies, only half a step from the Microcosmic Realm.

Rumor had it that Chu Wanqing’s talent was no less than Ling Chen’s; it was only that Ling Chen, as the young sect master, had a greater reputation.

Moreover, there were dozens of Zhaoyang Sect inner disciples here, ranging from peak Qi Absorption to Void-Gazing levels—though not the highest in cultivation, all were highly experienced.

Therefore, unless the others from the ten sacred grounds and powerful wanderers could unite as one, only then could they outweigh Zhaoyang Sect and maximize their gain in the fight against the demoness Feng Qianning.

As this group swiftly formed an alliance, the members of Zhaoyang Sect remained silent and unmoved—neither joining in nor voicing opposition.

Ling Chen, in particular, could scarcely conceal his disdain—these rabble, however numerous, were but a disorganized mob!

Qiao Zhen turned to Xuan Xiao and asked, “Do the friends from Zhaoyang Sect have no wish to join the alliance?”

Xuan Xiao replied blandly, “Why join an alliance? Exploring ruins relies on one’s own abilities, not on forming teams to hunt for treasure.”

Qiao Zhen nodded, “Very well, then let’s each depend on our own strengths!”

Hu Jiuyan stood among a group of wandering cultivators, her mood still somber.

She kept forcing herself to accept: people always seek higher ground. Her younger brother had no enmity with Zhaoyang Sect, and it was only natural to be tempted by the earnest invitation from the world’s foremost sect.

That he had cared enough about their friendship not to expose her identity as a demon disciple was kindness enough.

One was the “martial alliance leader” of the righteous path, the other a demoness scorned and hunted by all—was there really any contest?

Still, she was deeply hurt. After all… she had been the first to arrive!

The situation before her filled her with dread; her Saintess master was still trapped within the formation, surrounded by all these people outside. Even if her master’s cultivation and strength were great, two fists could not prevail against so many hands.

“It looks like my days as a Gold Nation thief-catcher are over. Even if I survive today, I’ll only ever be a demoness from now on…” Hu Jiuyan sighed softly. She truly loved the mundane world, loved upholding justice.

Perhaps… this was simply her fate.

With that thought, a steely resolve gradually filled her eyes.

“I, Hu Jiuyan… am not without the power to fight!”

At that moment, a shrill scream erupted from a nearby corner where someone was stealthily exploring the underground palace.

A figure bolted toward them in utter panic from the darkness.

“Bugs! Horrible bugs! Help me, I’ve been bitten—there’s deadly poison!” the man shouted, collapsing to the ground not far from the crowd and struggling to rise.

The next moment, a horrifying scene unfolded.

Smoke began to rise from the body of the wandering cultivator, clad in tight-fitting clothes!

At first, everyone thought he was on fire, but soon realized his garments were being corroded away, revealing the flesh beneath—also melting away!

Someone, summoning their courage, approached with a torch to investigate, only to scream in agony.

“Something bit me!”

“My body’s burning—help me!”

He stared in terror at his torch-bearing arm, watching as smoke began to rise from his sleeve as well.

Without hesitation, someone chopped off the afflicted arm.

The man howled in pain as his arm, still clutching the torch, fell to the ground.

“Stay away! There are unknown venomous insects in the underground palace!” someone shouted.

But there was little need for warning; the crowd was already retreating.

The more experienced wanderers and disciples of the ten sacred grounds began to scatter medicinal powder on the ground and light more torches.

The underground palace became brightly illuminated.

The man who’d lost his arm, lucky to be alive, quickly returned for emergency treatment with the help of his companions.

Xue Lei of Celestial Radiance Palace flicked her fingers, sending a gust of wind that stripped away the garment from the severed limb, revealing a pitch-black arm being rapidly corroded to the bone.

There was an outcry of horror.

Meanwhile, the man who had just died swiftly dissolved away, leaving behind only a puddle of foul-smelling black water.

The crowd was thrown into an uproar.

Even though the victim was but a wandering cultivator at the Qi Absorption stage, the poison was terrifying indeed.

A faint whistling cut through the air.

Xue Lei released a golden needle, pinning it into the black puddle. Instantly, the water wriggled wildly and, upon closer inspection, a nearly invisible, threadlike worm could be seen writhing in agony.

“It’s a Black Fiend Threadworm! How could such a thing exist in the underground palace?” someone exclaimed, recognizing the creature.

“It must be the work of that demoness Feng Qianning!”

“Yes, it must be her!”

The Black Fiend Threadworm—a rare “demon insect,” utterly translucent and scarcely two inches long, with exceptional ability to hide. Even spiritual power and divine sense struggled to detect it.

It loved to burrow into living beings, rapidly corroding and absorbing their flesh and blood until nothing remained but black water—eventually, even the water would vanish once fully absorbed!

Thus, it was also called the “Vanish-Without-a-Trace Worm,” a poison dreaded by all cultivators.

Hearing them slander her Saintess, Hu Jiuyan almost couldn’t help but retort aloud: Even our Heaven’s Net Sect doesn’t have these things—how could the Saintess be responsible?

At this moment, the more powerful practitioners were already taking defensive measures, some even attempting to catch the Black Fiend Threadworms.

Terrifying as they were, these worms were also prized ingredients for alchemy. Capturing a few could be quite profitable.

But in the next instant, the palace echoed with a chilling hiss, and countless snakes of all varieties slithered in from all directions—a writhing, dense mass that chilled the spine.

“Where did all these snakes come from?”

“Heavens! That’s a Blood Fiend Serpent—and a Golden Thread Viper…”

“We’re surrounded by venomous snakes!”

“It must be that demoness Feng Qianning again…”

As shouts of alarm rang out, the crowd sprang into action. None of these were ordinary snakes; like the Black Fiend Worms, they were demonic creatures!

Their scales were exceptionally tough—even a cultivator at the Void-Gazing level would have difficulty breaking through their defenses in a single strike.

A Qi Absorption level attack would usually leave only a faint scratch on the scales.

Suddenly, the Zhaoyang Sect elder skilled at divination shouted, “This has nothing to do with Feng Qianning! The master of this underground palace is certainly no righteous cultivator, but a true demon of the highest order. This is the Extreme Yang Heavenly Fiend Ground! The spot where that demoness stands is the eye of the formation—she’s doomed! We must leave at once!”

Even as he spoke, some had already fallen prey to the venomous snakes; their fangs pierced flesh with ease, and screams of agony rang out as chaos erupted.

Everyone fought desperately, blades and swords flashing as they hacked at the encroaching snakes, but there were simply too many!

It was impossible to kill them all. At this rate, even masters at the Microcosmic Realm would be hard-pressed—so, fighting as they withdrew, the crowd began to make for the exit.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Hu Jiuyan slipped over to the formation and sent a message inward, inquiring after the Saintess’s condition.

The moment she drew near, a voice sounded in her spiritual sea—Feng Qianning’s transmission: “What are you doing here? Leave at once! Run, as far as you can! Take Qin Yue with you—don’t let him be harmed!”