Chapter Eighteen: The Underground Palace

Ba Liming’s Rahu Blood Flame was an ancient divine art, handed down from the Demon Ancestor, vast in its power—hardly anything in heaven or earth could withstand it. Yet, it was truly the Rahu divine technique, profound and unfathomable, obscure and difficult to master. Even after a thousand years of arduous cultivation, Ba Liming had barely entered its threshold; combined with his own cultivation, at most he could threaten a Heavenly Immortal, but how could he possibly harm Qingxu, who was protected by the Jade Purity Immortal Talisman!

The Jade Purity Immortal Talisman was forged by Primordial Lord of Heaven, a Saint of the Hunyuan realm, unmatched in strength—even a Great Golden Immortal could not easily break it. How could an entry-level Rahu Blood Flame hope to touch it?

In the midst of hazy clear radiance, blood surged, demonic flames billowed, and Qingxu could not help but marvel in his heart.

“As expected of the ancient Demon Ancestor’s divine art. Even a mere superficial layer is so fierce. Without the Immortal Talisman’s protection, I would surely be gravely wounded!”

In truth, Qingxu was not only astonished by the Blood Flame’s might, but also thought of the Heavenly Demon Aspect.

It seemed that even among the manifestations of heaven and earth, there were degrees of power. Clearly, the aspect Ba Liming cultivated was much more profound than what Qingxu understood.

There were only two explanations: either the Primordial Lord had concealed something, or Daoist Hongjun had not passed down everything.

Boom!

The Jade Purity Immortal radiance flared brilliantly, utterly destroying the Blood Flame.

With the Immortal Talisman protecting his head, the Azure Nether Sword in hand, and the Five Fires Seven Birds Fan, Qingxu stood invincible beneath the innate heavens.

The Xu Earth avatar shifted slightly, forming a flanking position with Qingxu, blocking Ba Liming from front and back.

His greatest reliance—the divine art—proved ineffective. Ba Liming could not regain his composure; his expression was dark and grim. Seeing Qingxu and Xu Earth about to strike, knowing he could not withstand them, his eyes flickered cunningly, a strange light flashed, and he gave a sinister laugh: “Heh heh, the old ancestor has important matters today. Your life will be spared for now; I’ll claim it another day. The old ancestor departs!”

With that, he transformed into demonic light and fled, vanishing hundreds of miles in the blink of an eye.

“Leave your life behind first!” Ba Liming tried to escape, but how could Qingxu let him go? They had already formed karmic ties, and Ba Liming possessed ancient divine arts—a true threat. Rather than worry about him later, it would be better to slay this demon now, upholding heavenly justice. Besides, Ba Liming’s karmic burden was immense; destroying him would earn merits, even virtue.

Cloud-soaring, escape arts had their degrees. Qingxu, of the Jade Void lineage, naturally possessed superior techniques, far surpassing Ba Liming’s demonic light escape. However, Ba Liming, having manifested the Heavenly Demon Aspect, was at the mid-Earth Immortal stage; thus, their speeds were equal, and Qingxu could not catch up for the moment.

“Heh heh, I want you to chase me!” Ba Liming’s mind was filled with cunning laughter as he escaped.

Their chase and flight drew the attention of many beings; seeing their immense powers, none dared invite trouble.

Soon, Qingxu had pursued thousands of miles. At this moment, a grand mountain range appeared ahead: its terrain steep and majestic, peaks layered, countless ancient trees reaching skyward, miasma spread, insects, venomous snakes, fierce beasts—innumerable. Ravines of evil, deadly earth, and yin death permeated the land.

This mountain was none other than the Great Ba Mountain!

Upon seeing the Great Ba Mountain, Ba Liming immediately slipped inside, still laughing sinisterly.

Qingxu sneered. The Great Ba Mountain was indeed perilous, but to him it posed little threat. Not to mention the Jade Purity Immortal Talisman and the Central Xu Earth Apricot Yellow Banner—his protective treasures. Even relying solely on his own Jade Purity radiance, he could withstand all dangers within the mountain. Moreover, as a transformed innate spiritual treasure, his body was innately powerful, immune to blade and fire.

Once inside the mountain, Qingxu gradually lost sight of Ba Liming, mainly due to the terrain and lack of local advantage.

As time passed, Ba Liming’s figure became ever harder to find, and Qingxu grew anxious. If he could not slay this demon now, future troubles would be great.

At the height of urgency, he chased into a valley—no trace of Ba Liming was to be found.

“Damn it!”

Frustrated, Qingxu suddenly noticed the valley was strange: desolate, devoid of vegetation, life extinct, the ground scorched black. At the center was a corridor leading deep underground.

“Could it be the demon’s lair is below?” His heart stirred. With the Jade Purity Immortal Talisman, Qingxu’s courage grew, and he leapt in without hesitation.

The corridor was pitch black, hand before face invisible. But to Qingxu, it mattered little; his immortal eyes could probe all things, his mind sense penetrated thousands of miles of the cosmos.

Rumble!

Just as Qingxu entered the corridor, a loud noise sounded from the entrance behind him—it closed shut. Ba Liming’s sinister laughter faintly echoed.

“Not good! It’s a trap.” Qingxu was alarmed, hurried to turn back, but it was too late—the entrance was sealed.

Bang!

The Azure Nether Sword slashed forth, bursting with dazzling fire, but to no effect.

“Heh heh heh, boy, prepare to die! This is the domain of an ancient mighty one—your divine arts are far from enough…” Ba Liming’s cold laughter faded away.

Ancient mighty one?

“Could it be the Demon Ancestor Rahu?” Qingxu was shocked. If this was truly Rahu’s work, his fate would be dire!

“Wait—I have the teleportation within the Jade Purity Immortal Talisman, why fear?”

The Jade Purity Immortal Talisman, bestowed by Primordial, contained a method to randomly teleport thousands of miles away—a Saint’s secret art.

But this teleportation could only be used once; once spent it was gone. Unless at the brink of death, Qingxu was reluctant to use it.

“Let’s go down and see!”

Slaying Ba Liming was now impossible; most likely he had long since escaped. Qingxu could only let it go, focusing on what lay ahead.

The corridor seemed crafted, yet also like a natural formation. About ten feet high, thirty feet wide, plunging nearly vertically down.

He descended step by step, the Jade Purity Immortal Talisman and Central Xu Earth Apricot Yellow Banner deployed, cautious and alert, prepared for any danger.

The corridor’s length was unknown; Qingxu walked for ages, never reaching the bottom. Along the way, he noticed something: there was no spiritual energy here, so any immortal power spent could not be replenished.

“I wonder what danger awaits. Judging by that Ba Mountain demon’s words, it must be great!”

A thousand thoughts surged as Qingxu’s heart jolted—the corridor had finally ended.

A few steps down the stair, his eyes lit up: amidst blood-black radiance, a palace appeared before him.

Blood-red foundations, black halls, absolute majesty, a supreme domineering aura filled the air. Only then did Qingxu discover that underground, a world of tens of thousands of miles had formed, the central palace floating for thousands of miles.

“An underground palace? I wonder whose divine art created this—truly terrifying!”

To carve out such a realm deep beneath the earth, forge palaces—the power required was beyond Qingxu’s imagination.

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In the Jade Void Palace of Kunlun Mountain!

Primordial Lord of Heaven, immersed in the mysteries of the Dao, suddenly opened his eyes in shock.

“Qingxu? His trace is lost in the Dao of Heaven? How can this be!”

Heaven’s Dao governs the vast wilderness, all living beings, everything of all ages. Primordial, as a Saint, attuned to the Dao of Heaven, and as Qingxu’s master, could easily trace his whereabouts. Now, unable to find him—this was truly extraordinary!

He could not help but sense the Jade Purity Immortal Talisman he had forged personally, which should be linked to his mind. Yet now, even that connection was gone.