Chapter 1234: Deep Underground

"Really?" Han Li's heart leaped with joy as he asked.

"Heh heh, I won't make any grand claims about other matters, but when it comes to finding one of my own kind, I'm fairly confident." Qu Lin chuckled, somewhat smugly.

What Qu Lin didn't know was that Han Li's question wasn't directed at him, but at the Soul-Devouring Beast within the Flower Branch Space.

"Based on the fluctuations in Qu Lin's soul, he doesn't seem to be lying," the Soul-Devouring Beast's voice echoed in Han Li's mind.

"That's great! Let's hurry and find the old... I mean, that Devouring Gold Beetle," Xiao Bai said excitedly.

Han Li shot Xiao Bai a glare, and the latter shrank his neck, letting out a few dry chuckles.

"Fellow Daoist Qu, would you mind leading the way?" Han Li then looked at Qu Lin and said.

"This place is the Nine Yuan Temple, and the valley ahead looks fraught with danger—a veritable dragon's pool and tiger's den. Helping you sense the Devouring Gold Beetle in the valley is one thing, but asking me to guide you seems a bit excessive, don't you think?" Qu Lin sneered, speaking bluntly.

"I admit my request is somewhat demanding. If you have any conditions, feel free to state them," Han Li said calmly, without taking offense.

"I've recently reached a critical point in my cultivation and require a large amount of vital energy. I won't ask for much—if you can gift me fifty million immortal spirit stones, or treasures of equivalent value, I'll take the risk and help you out," Qu Lin said with a glint in his eye, smiling.

"Fifty million immortal spirit stones! Why don't you just rob someone!" Xiao Bai roared in anger.

"I've named my price. Whether you agree is up to you, Fellow Daoist Han," Qu Lin said indifferently, ignoring Xiao Bai's outburst.

"Fine, I agree. But you'll have to wait until we find that Devouring Gold Beetle before I pay you," Han Li said, giving Qu Lin a deep look.

"How straightforward! Then it's settled," Qu Lin laughed heartily.

"In that case, let's enter the valley immediately. But Xiao Bai, you and the Soul-Devouring Beast stay hidden in the Flower Branch Space and don't show yourselves. Fellow Daoist Lan and I, along with Fellow Daoist Qu, will go in to search," Han Li said.

Xiao Bai wanted to stay outside, but meeting Han Li's gaze, he swallowed his words and nodded.

Han Li waved his hand, sending Xiao Bai into the Flower Branch Space. Then, forming hand seals, he activated the black mask, enveloping himself, Lan Yan, and Qu Lin, and flew toward the valley, soon landing at its entrance.

As soon as they entered the valley, a gust of eerie wind howled out fiercely, carrying with it an intense aura of slaughter and resentment.

The three of them saw visions of mountains of skulls and rivers of blood stretching for thousands of miles. Boundless killing intent flooded their minds, as if trying to devour their souls.

Han Li activated his Divine Refining Art and immediately dispelled the killing intent.

Qu Lin seemed unfazed; golden light swirled around him, easily neutralizing the invasion. Only Lan Yan's face paled slightly, but she too recovered, though it was unclear what secret technique she used.

"Fellow Daoist Lan seems a bit frail. The road ahead is uncertain—you might want to reconsider, Fellow Daoist Han," Qu Lin said, glancing at Lan Yan before addressing Han Li.

"Fellow Daoist Lan, if you can't withstand the baleful aura here, I can also put you into the Flower Branch Space," Han Li said.

"No need. I can still hold on. I know the most about the Nine Yuan Temple, so it's useful for me to stay here," Lan Yan said firmly, shaking her head.

"Very well. Don't push yourself," Han Li nodded.

Qu Lin just chuckled at this and said nothing more, continuing deeper into the valley.

The valley floor was a black, stony ground with no buildings. Due to the eerie wind, no vegetation grew here, making it look desolate.

Qu Lin suddenly stopped, closed his eyes as if sensing something, and after a while said, "It should be right here."

"I've heard that Ghost Spirit Son built his palace and residence underground. It seems there's another world beneath here, but I wonder where the entrance is," Lan Yan murmured, scanning the surroundings.

Han Li activated his Netherworld Fiend Eye to carefully observe the environment, but refrained from releasing his spiritual sense to avoid detection.

He soon found something and, with a single leap, landed before a large black rock.

"This rock is the entrance?" Lan Yan asked in surprise, having detected nothing unusual about it.

Han Li smiled faintly without speaking and reached out with one hand.

Five beams of green light burst from his hand, coalescing into a several-zhang-tall green sword shadow, which then slashed fiercely at the large black rock.

The black rock suddenly erupted with dazzling black light, forming a black light pillar that rose to support the green sword shadow.

A sharp glint flashed in Han Li's eyes, and he made a chopping motion with his other hand.

A bolt of golden lightning shot out, striking the side of the black light pillar like hitting a snake at its vital spot.

With a soft "puff," the black light pillar collapsed, and the black rock beneath shattered and disintegrated rapidly.

With a loud crash, the ground where the black rock had stood caved in, revealing a black cave several zhang in size.

Inside the cave, a staircase wound downward into the depths of the earth.

"Heh heh, Fellow Daoist Han certainly has impressive skills. No prohibition or hidden passage can escape your keen eye," Qu Lin said, taking a deep breath toward the black cave and laughing.

"If not for your certainty, I would never have found this place. Fellow Daoist Qu, please continue to lead the way," Han Li replied.

Qu Lin said no more and led the two as they leaped into the cave one after another.

Gusts of black eerie wind surged from below, forming whirlpools of various sizes within the cave, accompanied by wailing sounds, twice as intense as the wind outside.

The three quickly reinforced their protective spiritual light to withstand the bone-chilling wind.

On the walls of the cave, crystalline light flickered, and a layer of black ice had formed, exuding an intensely cold aura.

"This is Black Yin Profound Ice, which only forms in places with extremely dense ghostly qi and underground baleful yin power. It's an excellent material for refining ghostly cold immortal artifacts—extremely hard and also capable of soul attacks," Han Li immediately recognized the black ice.

Lan Yan and Qu Lin also soon identified the black ice. There was a considerable amount here, and collecting it all would yield a substantial fortune. But given the dangers of the place and their focus on finding the beetle, none of them bothered with the Black Yin Profound Ice.

The cave was deep. After descending the staircase for a full quarter of an hour, they finally reached the end, where the view opened up into a square hall about twenty to thirty zhang in size.

Several white round stones the size of fists were embedded in the ceiling, dimly illuminating the space.

The floor and walls were paved with bluish-black bricks, engraved with patterns that gave the place a solemn feel.

However, the hall was empty except for a doorway at the far end, behind which a black passage led deeper.

The howling eerie wind gradually weakened here, but the yin-cold ghostly qi grew denser.

Han Li and Qu Lin could withstand it, but among the three, Lan Yan had the weakest cultivation. Despite circulating her energy to protect herself, she still struggled against the cold, her teeth chattering and her blood vessels seeming to freeze.

Han Li noticed Lan Yan's condition and frowned slightly.

Just then, a purple light flashed in his hand, and a purple orb appeared, surrounded by a dreamy glow.

"Give this to Lan Yan to wear; it can effectively ward off ghostly qi," the Soul-Devouring Beast's voice sounded in Han Li's mind.

Han Li smiled faintly and tossed the purple orb to Lan Yan.

"Wear this."

Lan Yan was startled, then activated the purple orb. A pale purple halo enveloped her, and the intense yin-cold ghostly qi around her weakened by more than half.

"Thank you," Lan Yan said gratefully to Han Li, relieved.

Han Li waved his hand dismissively and strode forward.

Qu Lin and Lan Yan quickly followed, and the three soon passed through the hall and exited through another door.

Ahead lay a three-way fork, with three passages winding in different directions. The passages were dim, and even the Netherworld Fiend Eye couldn't see to the end.

Han Li frowned and extended his spiritual sense toward the three passages, but as soon as his sense left his body, a strange yin-cold qi invaded along it, rushing toward his soul.

"This place is really sinister. Don't release your spiritual sense," Han Li said hastily, retracting his sense while activating the Divine Refining Art to refine the strange cold qi that had invaded his mind.

Lan Yan nodded solemnly, while Qu Lin seemed already aware of this and remained unmoved.

"Fellow Daoist Qu, it seems Ghost Spirit Son's cave is enormous and full of prohibitions. We'll have to rely on you," Han Li said to Qu Lin.

Qu Lin nodded, half-closed his eyes as faint golden light flickered around him, then opened them and pointed to the leftmost passage, saying:

"This direction. Let's go this way."

Han Li nodded and continued to lead the way.

This passage was also long; after a full quarter of an hour, they reached the end, another fairly large stone chamber.

The chamber was empty, and it had two connecting passages leading in different directions.

Han Li frowned slightly and asked Qu Lin to continue sensing the Gold Devouring Beetle's location. Then, following the latter's guidance, they entered one of the passages and pressed on.

The underground space was a labyrinth of passages, vast in area. Fortunately, aside from the eerie wind and ghostly qi, no ghostly creatures attacked them.

With Qu Lin leading the way, the three advanced quickly and smoothly.

By Han Li's estimate, they had traveled several hundred li. According to Qu Lin, they were not far from the Gold Devouring Beetle's location.

Han Li showed no sign of relief upon hearing this.

After all, the journey had been too smooth. The cave of Ghost Spirit Son, who held a prominent position in the Nine Yuan Temple, should not have been so easy to breach.

Especially since he himself was absent—it shouldn't be this way.

Thinking this, Han Li revealed nothing unusual on his face, but he heightened his vigilance, closely sensing all movements around him.