"Master, I'll come out too."
Hu Miao also appeared.
"Alright."
Ye Yunfei nodded.
Hu Miao was once a great demon in her own right, well-traveled and knowledgeable. Moreover, as a Primordial Heavenly Fox, her Soul Power was exceptionally profound and she was skilled in illusion techniques, allowing her to hold her own perfectly well in such an environment.
Ye Yunfei, Huang Shang, and Hu Miao quickly arrived before the centermost palace.
Up close, they could now see nine pitch-black rivers coiled around the palace like nine dark dragons, flowing peacefully into it from nine different directions!
These nine black rivers appeared extremely bizarre, their waters black as ink reflecting a sinister luster that seemed as if they could devour a person's soul.
"Master, these nine rivers seem to have been deliberately arranged," Hu Miao exclaimed in surprise as she scrutinized the nine dark rivers.
"Indeed.
This arrangement is called the Nine Dragons Crowning Pearl Underworld Formation.
These nine rivers are called Nether Rivers, specially designed to collect the Yin Qi from the surrounding area and channel it into this palace.
Therefore, the Yin Qi inside this palace is bound to be extremely dense," Ye Yunfei explained to Hu Miao.
"Nine Dragons Crowning Pearl Underworld Formation...?"
This was the first time Hu Miao had heard of it, and she felt very curious.
"We must be careful when we enter later, guarding our Soul Bodies vigilantly. We absolutely cannot allow the Yin Qi inside to corrode us.
Otherwise, it would be very easy to lose one's nature and transform into some sort of ghostly creature," Ye Yunfei cautioned Hu Miao.
"Old Huang, you have nothing to fear.
The Yin Qi in this palace is great nourishment for you.
Cultivating here would be tremendously beneficial.
You might even manage to achieve a breakthrough," Ye Yunfei said to Huang Shang.
"Indeed.
I can sense that this palace holds great allure for me," Huang Shang nodded.
"Let's go.
Let's go in and have a look," Ye Yunfei said.
Then, Ye Yunfei, with Hu Miao and Huang Shang in tow, carefully skirted the nine Nether Rivers and entered the palace.
At the same time.
"What kind of place is this?
The ghostly energy is so thick, it's terrifying!"
"Watch out! There are bats!"
...
Shouts of alarm echoed through this subterranean world.
Accompanying them was the continuous sound of fighting.
It turned out that the several thousand martial artists from outside had finished excavating the large crystal ore vein and, following the underground passage, had forced their way in!
Currently, those human martial artists had encountered Ghost Bats, Ghost Crows, and Yin Soldiers and were engaged in combat.
Instantly, the dead, silent, and vast underground world became lively.
"This place is so mysterious. Could there be some treasure hidden here?"
"Let's search around!"
...
The several thousand martial artists ran amok, wanting to search for treasures.
At this moment.
Ye Yunfei, Hu Miao, and Huang Shang were already inside the palace.
Inside, the Yin Qi was so thick it had coalesced into a dark, gurgling and flowing liquid.
The space was filled with a sinister and bone-chilling atmosphere.
In the palace stood a platform resembling a pyramid, its top a flat stage.
On this platform lay an enormous stone coffin.
"We finally get to meet the master of this underground world," Ye Yunfei said, his gaze fixed on the stone coffin.
"Master, are you saying this underground world was created by the master within this stone coffin?" Hu Miao asked.
"Exactly.
He is certainly an elite powerhouse of the Ancient Demon Race.
Before his death, he set up this Nine Dragons Crowning Pearl Underworld Formation in the underground world to nourish his demonic body, hoping to revive one day," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"However, since I've stumbled upon it,
I cannot allow him to resurrect," Ye Yunfei sneered coldly.
The Ancient Demon Race was an enemy of the Tianxuan Continent. If this Ancient Demon Race expert were to revive, he would certainly wreak havoc across the continent.
"Hahaha, I never imagined that so many living people would barge in today.
Excellent.
This venerable one shall be revived this very day!"
Suddenly, a piercing, maniacal laugh emanated from within the stone coffin.
As the laughter rang out,
vast numbers of Ghost Bats, Ghost Crows, and Yin Soldiers appeared within the underground world and began to frenziedly attack the several thousand human martial artists.
Immediately, many martial artists at the True Manifestation Realm level were slain by these ghostly creatures.
It had to be remembered that the Ghost Bats, Ghost Crows, and Yin Soldiers possessed terrifying strength that was far beyond what those True Manifestation Realm martial artists could withstand.
Caw! Caw!...
Inside the palace where Ye Yunfei stood, large numbers of Ghost Crows also appeared, blanketing the sky like dark clouds as they charged to attack the trio.
Each Ghost Crow possessed strength equivalent to the early or mid Foundation Establishment Realm!
"Old Huang, don't worry about us two.
Seize the time to absorb as much Yin Qi here as possible.
You are a Ghost Cultivator, the same type of being as those ghost creatures. They won't actively attack you," Ye Yunfei instructed Huang Shang.
"Understood," Huang Shang nodded.
He immediately found a corner in the palace and began cultivating, absorbing the dense Yin Qi within.
With a sweep of his hand, Ye Yunfei simultaneously sent forth the Void Blade and five spirit swords, engaging the Ghost Crows in battle.
At the same time,
Ye Yunfei unleashed his Heavenly Soul Sword, continuously assaulting the Ghost Crows.
One characteristic of the Heavenly Soul Sword was its incredible speed.
It moved as fast as thought itself!
Wherever Ye Yunfei's will directed it, the Heavenly Soul Sword would arrive instantly!
Thus, although there were many Ghost Crows, they could not gain the upper hand against Ye Yunfei.
Hu Miao released her demonic energy; within a radius of several zhang, none of the Ghost Crows could approach.
However, the martial artists outside did not possess such formidable methods as Ye Yunfei and Hu Miao.
Under the assault of the numerous Ghost Bats, Ghost Crows, and Yin Soldiers, more and more human martial artists were slain.
Especially those weaker ones at the True Manifestation Realm — they were killed almost as soon as they met the enemy.
Shrieks of agony filled the underground world.
In mere moments, the number of slain human martial artists exceeded a thousand at the very least!
Corpses littered the ground, and rivers of blood flowed.
"If I'm not mistaken,
this platform must be concealing a large quantity of Soul Stones!"
Ye Yunfei muttered to himself, his gaze falling on the pyramid-like platform.
This was because Soul Stones contained copious amounts of Soul Power essence, which could be used to nourish remnant souls.
That Ancient Demon Race expert had set up the Nine Dragons Crowning Pearl Underworld Formation to preserve the essence of his demonic body.
At the same time, he most likely also made some arrangements to nourish his remnant soul.
Soul Stones were excellent material for that.
Ye Yunfei had already detected the aura of Soul Stones emanating from beneath that platform.
"Since I've encountered it, there's no need to be polite," Ye Yunfei said, suddenly activating his Shadow Mantle and vanishing from sight.
When he reappeared, he was already standing beside the platform.
Boom!
Ye Yunfei swung his fist, smashing it toward the base of the platform.
Five million jin of physical strength, supplemented by ten wisps of Profound Yellow Heavy Qi.
A combined force of nearly nine million jin poured entirely onto the base of the platform.
Rumble...
Almost instantly, the platform collapsed.
Clatter...
Just as Ye Yunfei had suspected, a great quantity of Soul Stones spilled out from within the collapsed platform.
Their sheer number made Ye Yunfei's eyes light up, and his breathing instantly grew heavy.
"This time, the gains are immense!"
Without any hesitation, Ye Yunfei began collecting those Soul Stones at his fastest speed.
"Hu Miao, come help quickly!" Ye Yunfei called out.
"Yes, Master!"
Hu Miao also rushed over immediately to help collect the Soul Stones.
"Damn it!
Human brat, you seek death!
How dare you take my belongings!"
The moment the platform collapsed, the stone coffin atop it immediately shot into the air, suspending itself in mid-air. Simultaneously, an enraged roar erupted from within the coffin.