"Great Elder, it seems they have entered the Underground Palace up ahead!"
Sunx Hu pointed towards the fiery tree ahead, reporting to the emaciated Elder.
The emaciated Elder’s shadowy eyes suddenly flashed with a scalding light.
Surely that must be Master Sanchi’s secret cultivation place from years past—the sought-after prize found without any effort!
However, he was also aware that considering it was Master Sanchi’s place, the restrictions and mechanisms inside would definitely not be few.
With this in mind, without a change in expression, he waved his hand at Sunx Hu and the others and commanded, "Sunx Hu, take some people and check it out!"
Sunx Hu and the others respectfully responded, then one after another, they leaped into the Underground Palace.
"Everyone split up and search carefully, be cautious and watch out for safety!"
As soon as they entered the Underground Palace, Sunx Hu waved his hands to the left and right and said with a deep voice.
"Yes, Senior Brother Sunx!"
The experts from Dragon Control Castle responded in succession, spreading out in a fan shape to commence a thorough search of the Underground Palace.
It was at that moment:
The previously calm lava Fire Sea suddenly shook violently and started burbling and spewing tongues of fire.
The attention of Sunx Hu and the others was completely drawn to it. Google seaʀᴄh N0v3l.Fiɾe.net
"Senior Brother Sunx, what’s happening?"
Someone asked with confusion, pointing at the bubbling lava Fire Sea.
Sunx Hu seemed to have perceived something and shouted alarmingly, "Danger, quick, retreat!"
However, before his words could fully leave his mouth, a multitude of lava burst forth, covering the sky and enveloping them with overwhelming force.
Many unfortunate ones didn’t have the time to react and were devoured by the lava, reduced to mere heaps of white bones.
Sunx Hu reacted the fastest, and being a true Golden Core Expert with strong defensive power, he managed to escape in time.
Aside from him, two Half Golden Core Experts who were further from the lava managed to narrowly escape the catastrophe.
The rest were swallowed by the lava, their souls dissipated into oblivion.
After the lava subsided, the figures of Li Chen and Ling Shuanghua came into view.
Surveying his surroundings, Li Chen said in a grave tone, "While the old guy hasn’t arrived, let’s take down those three first!"
Ling Shuanghua nodded, indicating agreement with Li Chen’s suggestion.
Sunx Hu glared with bulging eyes, bellowing, "You two thieves! Not only did you forge the Immortal Sect’s tokens, but also killed the disciples of Dragon Control Castle. Today, I will have you pay back the blood debt with your own blood!"
Before he finished speaking, like a leopard that has spotted its prey, he broke the sound barrier and shot out, heading straight for Li Chen.
And at a distance of twenty meters from Li Chen, a colossal Sword Rainbow thunderously descended.
Li Chen’s expression turned solemn; he stood still as a mountain, cross-blocking with his sword.
The clashing swords met mid-air, sparking off thousands of stars that fell with the wind, intermittently illuminating the dueling faces bright and dim.
In no time at all, both parties were locked in a life-and-death standoff.
Li Chen’s cultivation was merely at the Peak of Mid-stage Foundation Establishment—not even close to Sunx Hu, who had entered the Golden Core stage, an entire major level apart.
If one were to compare the depth of their True Yuan, Li Chen was at a significant disadvantage.
However, his True Yuan was exceptionally pure, and in terms of concentration, he was far superior to Sunx Hu.
Both sides had their own strengths, so in this head-on confrontation, although Sunx Hu had the upper hand from the start, he was unable to defeat Li Chen in a short period and the stalemate continued.
"Kid, your cultivation technique may be strong, but you’re only at Foundation Establishment after all. Today, I’ll let you truly understand the vast gulf between Foundation Establishment and Golden Core stages!"
Sunx Hu, with a fierce and triumphant look, taunted.
As he spoke, the True Yuan within him surged like a roaring river, climbing higher, enveloping Li Chen.
At this moment, Li Chen was like a solitary boat in the vast ocean, seemingly always on the verge of capsizing in the engulfing waves.
Seeing Li Chen on the brink of death, Ling Shuanghua was startled; she drew her Phoenix Call Sword, intending to come to his rescue.
But she was tightly entangled by two Half Golden Core Experts, completely immobilized, unable to move an inch or support Li Chen.
"Kid, prepare to die!"
Sunx Hu, seeing that Li Chen had become a lamb awaiting slaughter, bellowed like a devil.
Immediately after, his arms lifted, and raising his Magic Sword with ferocity, he prepared to cleave Li Chen into two on the spot.
However, in that very instant;
A dazzling red laser, like the Pangu God splitting heaven and earth, violently tore through the thick True Yuan prohibition, bursting through Li Chen’s body with the force to destroy the ancient and decayed.
As the True Yuan dissipated, there stood Li Chen, with a black metal cylinder perched on his shoulder, aiming straight at Sunx Hu’s chest.
Sunx Hu’s body stiffened on the spot, his face filled with disbelief, and the spark of life rapidly fading from his eyes.
"Damn it, you, you, what kind of Magical Treasure is this?"
Before he could finish his sentence, Sunx Hu’s arm, still raised with the Magic Sword, had already fallen with a thunderous crash, and he tumbled into the Fire Sea of magma, turning to ashes, with not even a bone left behind.
Naturally, the Magical Treasure Li Chen used was the Nuclear Magnetic Laser Cannon he had snatched from the Mayan Star people.
Sadly, the energy stored inside was only enough for that one shot.
However, those two Half Golden Core experts did not know that Li Chen’s Magical Treasure was a one-use item.
They saw it directly blast away Sunx Hu, a Golden Core Early Stage Senior Brother, and were instantly terrified out of their wits, losing all will to fight, and instinctively wanting to flee for their lives.
"Where do you think you’re going!"
Ling Shuanghua released her Amber Red Rhombus, ensnaring one of them.
Before the trapped man could even try to break free, her Phoenix Call Sword had already performed a Sky Breaking Slash.
Blood spurted, a slash beheading its victim!
By then, the second person had reached the entrance of the Underground Palace and was just about to leap out when Li Chen suddenly closed in and forcefully struck down with a palm, aiming for the top of the skull.
Instantly, his head exploded like a ripe watermelon that had been forcefully smashed.
White brain matter and gushing blood mixed together, splattering everywhere in a nauseating scene.
Seeing such a gruesome sight made Ling Shuanghua frown deeply.
But when she looked at Li Chen, her somewhat grimy face revealed a beautiful smile.
She smiled for their unspoken coordination just now.
Li Chen also smiled back at her, but at this moment, his spirit remained highly tense, with no sign of relaxation, his expression more solemn than ever, as if facing a great enemy.
Li Chen was very clear in his heart that all of this was nothing but an appetizer. The real challenge was still to come!
The Great Elder of Dragon Control Castle, a Golden Core Late Stage expert, not to mention there was also a Fourth-level Late Stage Black Water Snake.
The strength gap between them was too vast, even a surprise attack would be mere tickling—incapable of dealing serious damage, let alone killing outright.
His only hope now was to reestablish the Three Thousand Sword Spirit Formation with the help of the Fire Sea, to trap the Great Elder and the Black Water Snake.
Then, using this opportunity, he would operate the Nine Heavens Star Technique and forcefully annihilate his opponent.
But as to whether this plan would succeed, he too had no confidence—it was at best a fifty-fifty chance.
With this in mind, Li Chen turned to Ling Shuanghua and said, "You’re injured now and staying here will only be a burden to me. I’ll take you to the vicinity of the magma where it’s safer behind a defensive barrier!"
After speaking, Li Chen did not wait for Ling Shuanghua to respond. He forcibly plucked her into his arms and whisked her away over the magma.
Ling Shuanghua was resentful about being called a burden by Li Chen.
However, once Li Chen held her in his arms, her pride dissipated in an instant, and she just wanted to be a little woman who was protected.
"This place is relatively safe, just stay here, and I’ll go out there and take care of that old guy!"
After setting Ling Shuanghua down, Li Chen casually reminded her.
When Ling Shuanghua saw Li Chen about to leave, she suddenly called out to him.
"Hey, wait a minute!"
Li Chen, surprised, turned back and asked, "Is there something else?"
Ling Shuanghua stood still for a moment, then handed him a talisman enveloped in lightning.
Li Chen was stunned momentarily and looked down, almost popping his eyes out.
"A Nascent Soul Talisman? Didn’t you say you were out of them?"
Ling Shuanghua rolled her eyes at Li Chen and indignantly pointed at the talisman in his hand, "Are you blind? This is a Nascent Soul Talisman, not a Golden Core Talisman!"
Today, I had friends visit, and I’ve been out enjoying the day, my apologies, apologies, apologies! [Important things must be said three times]
Today is the 30th, and tomorrow is New Year’s Day—may everyone achieve their hearts’ desires in the new year!