"From the textual clues, the reason this underground palace was built was because the sect leader named Qin Yuzhi sensed another existence awakening within her?"

"This condition seems to have started when she dreamed of becoming another person?"

"So she constructed this Cloud Dream Palace to bury that existence."

"Things are getting interesting..."

Tian Miao's face flushed with excitement as she quickly analyzed the situation.

She seemed to harbor an immense fascination for the unknown.

"Another existence awakening inside her?"

Ying Bing pursed her lips, recalling her past life.

She, too, had often dreamed of unfamiliar scenes back then, though she dismissed them as mere distractions from her cultivation.

Yet, through it all, her determination to pursue the Dao grew firmer, as if a voice in her heart constantly urged her:

"If you do not ascend as an immortal, if you do not reach the heavens, all will be but fleeting illusions."

"You’ve finally come..."

The words drifted on the wind, emerging from the empty void. Ying Bing froze.

Li Mo felt goosebumps rise on his neck.

Another existence awakening within one’s body...

The implications in these words were staggering.

The tomb guardian beasts existed to protect the grand tomb, yet they had targeted the Ying Family...

Did this mean the Black Nian Beast believed the tomb—this so-called Cloud Dream Palace—would only be safe if the Ying Family was utterly eradicated?

Now that the tomb had opened, it was indeed because of the "ice block" (Ying Bing)...

But the text cut off abruptly at the critical moment!

"One day, when I hold the blade in my hand..."

"What are you saying?" Tian Miao snapped out of her thoughts.

"Nothing."

Li Mo silently shelved his inner monologue, gripping the ice block’s small hand tightly to steady himself.

Huh?

Why is her hand so cold?

He turned to look.

Ying Bing’s face was pale as frost-laden snow, her eyelashes trembling faintly, as if haunted by unpleasant memories.

Sensing the turmoil in her heart, Li Mo squeezed her hand tighter and asked softly,

"Ice block, what’s wrong?"

"You didn’t hear it?"

"Hear what?"

"Someone ahead... is speaking. Calling for me." Ying Bing lowered her gaze, murmuring,

"The voice... is getting... louder."

"!"

Li Mo recoiled slightly, cold sweat instantly drenching his back. He hadn’t heard anyone speaking.

And they were supposed to be the first to reach the depths of the palace—how could there be anyone ahead?

"Should we... turn back?"

Li Mo’s expression turned grave.

They always had an escape route—they could retreat into his pocket dimension. No matter how eerie the presence, surely it couldn’t follow them there.

The problem was, exiting the pocket dimension would return them to the same spot.

Some things had to be faced eventually.

The Somersault Cloud...

...could only carry him alone. The prayer beads he had given Ying Bing were a creation of the Seventh-Realm Profound Sovereign, but their efficacy here was uncertain.

"It’s probably too late for that."

Tian Miao shook her head, taking a deep breath. "The thunder behind us is getting closer. Not that it matters to me."

That thunder was the Seventh-Realm Profound Sovereign backing the Crown Prince.

He was closing in fast!

"Then we press forward!"

Li Mo made the call without hesitation.

He pulled Ying Bing along, signaling Tian Miao, and the three of them hurried ahead.

The space ahead suddenly widened.

The cavern was vast, its walls embedded with countless luminous pearls casting a soft glow that illuminated the grand tomb’s outline.

Massive bronze pillars, thick enough to require five people to encircle, rose from the ground, supporting the ceiling. Four such pillars stood at each cardinal direction, each engraved with intricate totems.

Their design bore some resemblance to those seen in the Blood Phoenix Secret Realm, though far more majestic.

At the center of the tomb stood a palace entirely crafted from crystal-clear glass, its radiance shimmering like a mirage. Ethereal hues danced across the walls, mimicking the auroras of the heavens.

Cloud Dream Palace...

This was the true Cloud Dream Palace.

Around it lay over a dozen desiccated corpses. Even in death, their bodies retained a lifelike vigor, hinting at the immense power they once wielded.

Were these the high-ranking members of the Demon Summoning Sect from back then?

Through the open palace doors, a crystal coffin could be seen—the source of the eerie glow.

Was the celestial city reflected in the sky a projection of this very palace?

"Let’s go, let’s go!"

Tian Miao charged ahead without hesitation.

"Ice block..."

Li Mo glanced worriedly at Ying Bing’s pallid face.

He had already used his Heavenly Eye to check her fate, but what unsettled him more was that her recent experiences had become a blur.

We’ll have to enter to find out.

"I’m fine."

Ying Bing forced a composed smile, though it looked strained.

"I am an exalted immortal, after all."

"That voice better not be trouble for you, or this ‘Divine Hammer Little Tyrant’ won’t let it slide."

Li Mo flashed a thumbs-up, his face the picture of reliability.

Ying Bing stared at him blankly, her gaze reminiscent of the little ice block from her dreams.

Yes, she was remembering those dreamt events now.

The little Li Mo who tricked her into calling him "big brother" in the dream overlapped with the present Li Mo—both radiating the same reassuring presence...

"Mm!"

The two caught up to Tian Miao.

And just like that, they stepped into the crystal palace.

BOOM!

A thunderous explosion echoed from behind. The stone passage they had come through ruptured, revealing a gaping hole wreathed in crackling lightning.

The walls writhed, attempting to mend themselves, but the relentless storm of thunderbolts tore them apart anew.

A figure emerged from the chaos—an elder with his hands clasped behind his back, strolling forth with leisurely grace.

"Your Highness, this must be the main tomb. Its origins are no trifling matter—it took some effort even for this king to breach it."

"My thanks, Royal Uncle."

Jiang Yu cupped his hands in respect, though his dual-pupiled eyes burned with barely restrained excitement.

Could the key to unraveling the celestial city hovering over the imperial capital lie here?

"We should be the first to—"

His gaze snapped forward, pupils contracting abruptly.

In the distance, three figures had just stepped into the crystal palace.

"It’s them?!"

BOOM—

Another deafening blast.

The opposite wall shattered as well, revealing Tan Zhuyin and his group. They looked far worse for wear, each bearing injuries.

Had it not been for their affiliation with the Demon Summoning Sect—and the fact that the last powerful Corpse Demon hadn’t attacked them—they might have been wiped out entirely.

"Why isn’t the Immortal Elder Brother responding to me...?"

Luo Yexian muttered to himself before looking up in shock.

"Nephew Saint, they’re going in!"

"Outrageous! How dare they take the lead in His Highness’s presence?!"

The silver-armored Sky Patrol commander lunged forward, streaking toward the palace entrance alongside the two Demon Summoning Sect Dharma Kings.

CLANG!

At that moment, the crystal palace doors began to move.

Just before the two figures could reach them, the doors slammed shut with a resounding crash.