Exploration

"What do we do next? Find a way to escape, of course," Xu Yuan replied with a light chuckle as he got to his feet. He glanced once more at the princess's alluring curves, clicking his tongue inward. Now that she had this Black Death Armor on, why did she look even more provocative than when she was bare? No wonder this woman had claimed that leaving her chest unbound would ruin military morale. "That look of yours really makes a person feel unsafe." Meeting his scrutinizing gaze, Li Qingyan let out a faint sigh. "As a supreme commander, the most fundamental duty is ensuring that the moment your subordinates lay eyes on you, all their worries instantly turn into absolute trust." Xu Yuan cleared his throat and laughed softly. "With such breathtaking scenery right before my eyes, it's only natural for me, as the princess's future consort, to let my thoughts wander a bit to the future." "Fantasize about the future?" Li Qingyan cast him an odd look with her crimson phoenix eyes, then suddenly burst into a soft laugh. "This Palace feels you aren't daydreaming about the future, Consort, but rather hoping to overdraw that future right here in this crypt." "..." The corner of Xu Yuan's mouth twitched. By then, Li Qingyan had already walked up to him, saber in hand, her phoenix eyes brimming with amusement. Just as Xu Yuan was wondering what she meant to do, Li Qingyan suddenly let go. Her sheathed saber clattered to the ground with a dull thud. Then, rising slightly onto her tiptoes until she was eye-to-eye with him, she tilted her head close and breathed like orchids against his earlobe, her voice low, slow, and husky: "As I said earlier, whatever my consort wishes to do, this Palace will comply. If my consort wishes to seize the day, overdrawing that future on this Palace is by no means out of the question..." At this, Li Qingyan's lovely eyes curved slightly. Her fair, slender hands gently hooked around the back of his neck as she leaned back ever so slightly, her full chest proud, her supple waist arching softly, and her luscious, glossy red lips parting faintly. "What do you say... Would my consort care to try? If we were to simply die here, wouldn't my consort find it a terrible waste?" "..." Xu Yuan stared at her in silence. The crisp, valiant poise between her brows had dissolved into an intoxicating allure, but beneath the misty veil of those crimson eyes lay no passion—only an extreme, chilling detachment. After a long pause— *Smack!* Xu Yuan slapped Li Qingyan's hands away, his voice perfectly calm. "What time do you think it is, trying to seduce me now?" "Heh..." Glancing down at her slapped-away hands, Li Qingyan tilted her head, wearing a picture-perfect look of mild surprise. "Really... you don't want to?" Xu Yuan fixed his gaze on her. "If you wanted to warn me, why resort to this kind of trick?" Hearing those words, a genuine smile finally touched Li Qingyan's lips. "Who told this Palace that she must obey her consort without question? This was the only way left." With that, a trace of cunning flitted across her phoenix eyes. "Though what this Palace said just now was entirely in earnest, Commander." "Enough." Xu Yuan rolled his eyes at her. "This young master knows his limits." Li Qingyan took a step back, drew herself upright, and asked once more, "So what do we do next?" Xu Yuan pointed to the armor on his chest. "No rush. Your cultivation is high so you can't feel it, but the rate at which this Black Death Armor consumes Source Qi is quite a burden for me. I need to adapt and manage it first." With that, Xu Yuan closed his eyes to gauge the armor's drain on his Source Qi. Then he retrieved the Qingyu sword and gave it a couple of casual swings to test the physical enhancement granted by this brand-new black carapace. Indeed, an enhancement. In terms of quality, this white-tier Black Death Armor could not begin to compare with his Blood Jade Glazed Robe. However, the Blood Jade Glazed Robe focused primarily on defense and could resonate with the Blood Yuan Heart Calamity Art, allowing his Source Qi to circulate considerably faster whether in combat or cultivation. This Black Death Armor, by contrast, was built purely for slaughter. Xu Yuan remembered that in *Cangyuan*, the stat bonuses provided by this living creep armor were entirely comprehensive. And now, Xu Yuan was finally experiencing that enhancement firsthand. Having fed the black death creep with his Source Qi, his movement speed had increased by at least twenty percent compared to before. At the thought, Xu Yuan smiled faintly, though a sigh quickly followed. Such an increase in strength was mostly due to his bottom-of-the-barrel cultivation within the Chancellor's Manor; to this seductress of a princess beside him, it amounted to practically nothing. Unless she were to strip more of the black death creep from the corridor walls and continuously compress it into greater density. For now, however, his immediate priority was addressing the speed at which the armor devoured his Source Qi. A level ninety white-tier piece of gear, no matter how basic, was still level ninety. It was far beyond what a petty Soul Condensation realm cultivator like him could sustain on his own. As he pondered this, Li Qingyan seemed to realize the problem as well, and her voice carried a touch of concern: "Changtian, can you endure it with your cultivation?" Composing himself, Xu Yuan turned back with a faint smile. "Don't worry, of course I can." Under Li Qingyan's watchful eye, Xu Yuan unhurriedly took a Qi Source Pill from his Sumeru ring and swallowed it, then brought out a Source Crystal the size of a goose egg. Under his conscious guidance, the black death creep clinging around his arm instantly came alive, coiling upward and engulfing the crystal in his palm. A moment later— *Crack—* A crisp, subtle fracturing sound echoed from within the creep. The goose-egg-sized Source Crystal was crushed into fine powder, its essence quietly channeled as nourishment throughout his body. Having done this, Xu Yuan looked up with a smile. "Problems that money can solve aren't real problems." "..." Li Qingyan could not help but chuckle, then rolled her eyes in mild exasperation. "Show-off." Unbothered, Xu Yuan looked down both ends of the corridor and warned in a low voice: "Qingyan, even though we have the Black Death Armor now, we must not let our guard down. This armor only prevents high-tier aberrant ghosts from tracking us through the creep. If they get close enough, they'll still be able to tell us apart." Li Qingyan pondered for a moment, glanced at him, and decided to offer a reminder of her own: "Consort, these aberrant ghosts seem naturally capable of shielding themselves from intent-souls. One can only detect them through sight and sound." "I know that." He had learned this not from *Cangyuan*, but from Old Man Luo. As someone who had lived through the ancient catastrophe of the aberrant ghosts ten thousand years ago, Old Man Luo had spent plenty of time chatting and shooting the breeze with Xu Yuan, who was naturally curious about such creatures. Old Man Luo had shared a great deal of information about them. Among those details was their immunity to intent-soul detection. Furthermore, when that low-tier aberrant ghost attacked earlier, Xu Yuan had already experienced that sensory void for himself. Pausing briefly, Xu Yuan pointed in the direction opposite to where the shockwaves had come from, gesturing for them to talk as they moved. "The Barbarian King's side has probably become ground zero. We need to head the other way. Also, detecting the movements of aberrant ghosts isn't limited to sight and hearing; you can use Source Qi as well." Carrying her saber, Li Qingyan matched his pace. In the form-fitting armor, her figure looked both valiant and captivating. "Source Qi? By releasing it outward?" "Of course not. If you let your Source Qi disperse, you might sense them, but the aberrant ghosts will catch your scent just as easily." Xu Yuan shook his head. After rummaging through his Sumeru ring for a moment, he retrieved a sheet of paper filled with writing and handed it over. "This is a specialized technique for manipulating Source Qi. The old ghost residing inside the soul ring gave it to me." "..." Li Qingyan accepted it with a thoughtful hum and lowered her eyes to study the secret art recorded on the page. Xu Yuan glanced at her solemn expression, then turned his attention back to surveying the pitch-black corridor. In *Cangyuan*, this Silent Crypt had been a dungeon structured like a maze; in reality, it was bound to be thousands of times more complex. If they wanted to escape, they first had to determine their location within this vast tomb. As for how to get their bearings, Xu Yuan had no flawless plan. They could only follow this path forward and hope to run into some kind of distinctive landmark. Walking in silence, fifteen minutes slipped by. The passage remained the same unending tunnel. The black death creep growing along the walls swayed gently with the convective drafts, showing no sign of reaching an end. Xu Yuan withdrew his gaze and looked toward Li Qingyan. Seeing that she had already stowed the paper away, he said with a light chuckle: "There's no need to rush this secret technique. We won't be getting out of this crypt anytime soon, so you can take your time—" "I've already learned it." "?" Xu Yuan froze. *Tch, do all these geniuses learn things this fast?* Li Qingyan handed the paper back to Xu Yuan, leaning in slightly with a tilted head and an amused smile. "This Palace has already mastered it. Does my consort find that surprising?" "..." After a beat of silence, Xu Yuan took the paper back and looked away, his expression unchanged. "Taking fifteen whole minutes to learn it—what's there to be proud of? Back then, I mastered it after a single glance. Still, good that you've got it down." "Heh..." Li Qingyan chuckled softly, watching him without a word. Xu Yuan smacked his lips and cleared his throat lightly. "My cultivation is relatively weak—" "Relatively weak?" Li Qingyan cocked her head. "..." Taking a deep breath, Xu Yuan glared at her. "My cultivation is very weak! My detection range and endurance can't compare to yours, Qingyan, so keeping watch during this journey falls to you." Li Qingyan cupped her hands toward Xu Yuan, a radiant smile on her face. "Qingyan accepts the order. I will surely protect Your Lordship's safety." Xu Yuan opened his mouth, but the words died into a faint sigh. Ignoring the princess's mischievous streak, he continued his low-toned briefing: "Aberrant ghosts possess immortality, but immortality comes at a price." Li Qingyan faithfully played the role of an attentive subordinate. "A price?" "Loss of sentience." Xu Yuan stated bluntly, "You probably realized this when you scouted ahead earlier, didn't you? The vast majority of aberrant ghosts in this crypt are nothing more than mindless beasts." Hearing this, the smile vanished from Li Qingyan's face, her voice turning crisp and cold. "The ones this Palace encountered earlier were merely low-tier aberrant ghosts. What about the high-tier ones...?" "The same," Xu Yuan said decisively. "Over ten thousand years, even an aberrant ghost transformed from a Saint would lose its intellect." Li Qingyan's chest rose and fell slightly as her knitted brows smoothed out. At the same level of cultivation, the difference between having sentience and lacking it was like night and day. Noticing what she was thinking, Xu Yuan let his gaze drift across the supple, slender curve of her hips, remarking with a grin: "Those high-tier aberrant ghosts can assimilate people. If you end up turned into one because of carelessness, Qingyan, you might as well let me overdraw that future right here." Li Qingyan covered her mouth and chuckled, replying half-jokingly, "My consort truly cares for me. Still, even if this Palace were transformed, I shouldn't turn into a monster like that right away, should I?" "Probably not. So when the time comes, maybe it can still be done while you're warm." "?" Li Qingyan's phoenix eyes went wide, both amused and exasperated. In the next instant, Xu Yuan reached out and wrapped an arm around her slender waist. Turning to look at her, he smiled gently: "Don't worry. Even if you get assimilated, I have ways to save you." Li Qingyan glanced at his groping hand. "Relying on... your Soul Condensation realm cultivation, Consort?" "What did I just say? Don't question my words." Xu Yuan's eyes narrowed. *Smack!* He gave her pert, rounded backside a firm swat. "That's a punishment. Don't let it happen again." "..." Li Qingyan bit her lip and let out a slow breath. Her ruby-like eyes fixed on him, curving into two dangerous crescents. "Very well, not again. But after punishing this Palace... could my consort perhaps loosen his grip a little? If a high-tier aberrant ghost launches a surprise attack while you are clinging so close, you might get hurt, you know." "Stingy." After locking eyes for a breath, Xu Yuan withdrew his hand and shifted the topic: "The aberrant ghost in the deepest part of the crypt is an exception. Unlike the others, it possesses a high level of intelligence." "Why?" Li Qingyan asked, puzzled. "How would I know?" Xu Yuan gave a brazen retort, though after a moment's contemplation, he offered a deduction: "I imagine its ability to retain sentience after ten thousand years has something to do with the place where it slumbered." In *Cangyuan*, that aberrant ghost boss had slumbered in a place resembling a sacrificial altar. He had not understood the reason back then, but connecting it with what Old Man Luo had told him, the aberrant ghosts in this Silent Crypt were likely a small remnant faction that had fled the encirclement of human powerhouses ten thousand years ago, hiding deep underground to eke out a miserable existence. With that realization, Xu Yuan suddenly grinned. "Of course, right now it has probably gone off to hunt down the Barbarian King. And if I remember correctly, there should be some treasures where it slept." Li Qingyan's gaze focused sharply. "Consort, you want to go to its resting place?" "Depends on the situation. Scavenging some spoils would be ideal, but for now, we'd best focus on finding a way out." Xu Yuan did not deny it, but neither was he blinded by greed. If the one by his side were Sister Lou Ji or his maternal uncle, the Sword Saint, he would have cleared this dungeon completely and swept every treasure clean. Unfortunately, the one beside him was Li Qingyan. The smartest choice was to escape first and bring reinforcements. "In that case, let us pick up the pace," Li Qingyan suggested softly, honoring their agreement. Xu Yuan thought it over and nodded in agreement. "This crypt seems massive. At our current speed, we won't find a thing even in ten days." Hearing this, Li Qingyan bent down and scooped Xu Yuan directly into a bridal carry. "Changtian, relax." "..." Xu Yuan went rigid. As her Source Qi surged into his body, Xu Yuan sighed inwardly. He reached up and hooked his arms around her fair neck, resigning himself to the princess's whims. *Well, it's not the first time she's pushed her qi into me anyway.* *Still, being carried like a princess by an actual princess... that's something else.* As his thoughts drifted, the wind began to howl in his ears, and the walls of the corridor blurred past at blinding speed. Along the way, he caught glimpses of a few low-tier aberrant ghosts lying dormant across the creep, but before they could even react, Li Qingyan had already swept past them. This crypt was truly vast—so vast that even after sprinting at full speed, they encountered no high-tier aberrant ghosts. After an unknown amount of time, Xu Yuan felt the rushing wind die down. He opened his eyes, and his pupils shrank slightly. The corridor had reached its end. The two of them stood at the edge of a colossal precipice, chilling convective drafts howling past them, while beneath their feet lay a pitch-black, bottomless chasm. With the help of the Source Qi Li Qingyan had infused into him, Xu Yuan could faintly make out the scene veiled in darkness. Beneath the abyss lay a gargantuan underground city!