Chapter 147: The Underground Palace

After much deliberation, Lin Fan felt that a trip to the underground palace was necessary. Furthermore, if he could leverage external forces, he would have no need to fear the Mo Family Patriarch and Yi Ming; at the very least, his safety would be guaranteed.

However, things would be different within the Yi family territory. The area was protected by a grand formation personally established by the Nine-Segment Whip, and the dangers lurking within were unknown. If those two were to join forces against him, he feared he might not escape with his life.

After consulting for a while longer, the three parted ways. Lin Fan found a place to stay within the Yi family territory, as they planned to explore the underground palace in three days' time.

"The underground palace sounds ancient. It is unlikely that the Yi family territory was built directly above it by mere coincidence; it is highly probable that the Nine-Segment Whip did this intentionally."

Upon returning to his quarters, Lin Fan pondered the information shared by the Mo Family Patriarch and Yi Ming. He sensed they had ulterior motives, but despite his constant speculation, he could not determine what they were.

"Forget it. I will cross that bridge when I come to it. I have no intention of competing for their opportunities; I only need the teleportation array."

Unable to find an answer, Lin Fan finally gave up, deciding to adapt to whatever circumstances might arise.

Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, the three days had elapsed. The appointed day had arrived.

"Is this the underground palace?"

Lin Fan frowned. Before him lay a bottomless abyss, shrouded in gloom and devoid of light.

"That is correct. We discovered this palace roughly two years ago, though we have only just begun to explore it now," Yi Ming said solemnly, his eyes reflecting clear apprehension.

"Discovered two years ago and only exploring now? That must be to keep it hidden from the Nine-Segment Whip."

Lin Fan understood everything the moment Yi Ming finished speaking. It seemed the Yi family was no longer satisfied with relying on the Nine-Segment Whip to dominate the Ancient Buddha Domain.

"There is demonic energy in the palace."

Lin Fan spoke, employing his Qi-gazing technique. He could vaguely discern the silhouettes of demonic beings.

"How did you know?"

Yi Ming looked at Lin Fan with curiosity, though he quickly understood. Having learned from Yi Yuan that Lin Fan hailed from the Heavenly Martial Domain—coupled with the recent reports of demonic activity there—he no longer found it so strange.

Lin Fan did not bother to explain. Upon arriving here, he felt the danger of the palace even more acutely, especially since it involved the demons, the sworn enemies of humanity.

"Do you know the origins of this palace?" Lin Fan asked, looking at Yi Ming and the Mo Family Patriarch, hoping to extract more information.

"Since we have reached this point, we will not keep it from you. This was originally the residence of a powerful human, later used to suppress the demons," the Mo Family Patriarch said with a frown.

Lin Fan ignored him, instead looking deeply at Yi Ming. Given that this was the Yi family’s territory and they had discovered it two years ago, it was impossible for them to be ignorant of its true nature.

"The Yi family has a long history. Our ancestors were figures from the primordial era; while not world-renowned, they held a certain reputation. The Nine-Segment Whip is our ancestor’s ancestral artifact. As for this place, it is actually the mausoleum of our ancestor. It was only later that a misfortune befell him, causing even the mausoleum to become demonized," Yi Ming sighed, finally revealing the true secret.

"What is your purpose in entering this place?" Lin Fan asked after some thought, posing the question he had wanted to ask all along.

"With the Nine-Segment Whip lost, the status of the Yi family is insecure. I want to enter the mausoleum in hopes of obtaining the method to control the whip so I can recall it. Secondly, I seek my ancestor’s legacy."

Yi Ming was forthright. In truth, he was still unaware that Yi Yuan had died at Lin Fan's hands. The previous kill order was merely a pretext; otherwise, he would never have consulted with Lin Fan and would have resorted to violence long ago.

"So that is how it is."

Lin Fan nodded, though he did not fully believe him. He suspected that Yi Ming wanted to seize control of the Nine-Segment Whip to alter its status of supremacy.

"Let us go in. As we discussed, I want half of the Yi ancestor’s legacy; I have no need for anything else," the Mo Family Patriarch interjected. Although he had been quiet until now, both men knew he had his own agenda.

"The Yi ancestor was rumored to be at the peak of the Emperor realm, one of the few powerhouses below the Ancestral realm. His mausoleum must contain great terrors. Since I lack the Yi family bloodline, the risks are too high," Lin Fan reasoned. "Other opportunities do not concern me. I only want the teleportation array."

Lin Fan did not believe there could be any treasure in the mausoleum superior to the fragments of the Human Emperor's holy image, so he remained uninterested.

"Very well. Proceed with caution once we enter. Because of the misfortune that occurred, it is..." Yi Ming trailed off, leading the way into the abyss. Lin Fan and the others followed close behind.

"It is so deep. We have descended a thousand fathoms, yet there is still no end in sight."

The abyss was devoid of light, wreathed in black mist. Initially, the passage was narrow, with rocks within reach, but after a thousand fathoms, it widened significantly, stretching into the vast unknown.

In an instant, they descended another two thousand fathoms. The space below grew increasingly expansive, appearing almost like a small world of its own.

"This is a small world that once belonged to my ancestor," Yi Ming’s voice echoed. They had reached the bottom, which Lin Fan estimated to be nearly ten thousand fathoms below the surface of the Yi family territory.

"As I thought."

Lin Fan wore a look of realization; he had seen the small world of the old woman before, and it was much like this.

Before them stood a colossal palace, a thousand fathoms in size. It was crafted entirely of bronze, ancient and simple, exuding a heavy aura of antiquity. Black patterns sprawled across its surface like the veins of heaven, vaguely resembling a green dragon from the distant past.

The palace doors stood ajar, releasing a cold wind laced with an inexplicable aura that chilled them to the bone.

The three men stepped inside. While the Mo Family Patriarch and Yi Ming had been here before, this was Lin Fan’s first time, and he was struck with overwhelming shock.

The walls were etched with countless runes and murals. There were three murals in total. The first depicted a giant python roaring at the heavens, with a claw beneath it on the verge of transforming into a dragon. But what shocked Lin Fan most was not the python, but the figure above its head.

There stood a god-like man, ethereal as an immortal, holding one hand upon the python’s head, pinning it down.

"This person..."

Lin Fan’s heart skipped a beat, and his expression shifted. He felt the fragments of the Human Emperor’s holy image within his body trembling.

"Could there be another fragment of the Human Emperor's holy image here? But the feeling is different."

Lin Fan pondered the mystery of the palace. He could not confirm what lay within, but there was no doubt it was connected to the Human Emperor.