As the treasures within the grand hall were claimed one after another, the Underground Palace quietly underwent changes. Unbeknownst to them, a broad passage had appeared, leading deeper into the mysterious palace.

Opinions diverged on whether they should continue venturing deeper. Chen Mengze, Li Zhong, and Yao Ting wanted to take the risk and explore further. Song Fang, Jiang Yingying, and Peng Chenshu, on the other hand, were satisfied with their current gains. They found the Underground Palace unsettling and were reluctant to journey further. Lu Ming was still undecided.

After some consideration, Shen Mo stated seriously, "I think it's best we leave now!"

Li Zhong immediately grew anxious. "Junior Brother Shen, it's one thing to keep a Spirit Storage Rat as your Spirit Pet, but why are you as timid as one? The outer areas were filled with treasures; surely there must be even greater treasures in its depths! To acquire valuable treasures, we must take some risks!"

Having spent some time together, Shen Mo knew his Senior Brother Li was outspoken. He chose not to pick a quarrel with him. After a moment of thoughtful silence, he explained, "Firstly, this tomb, which also serves as an Underground Palace, isn't as straightforward as you might think."

Earlier, he had sent his Spirit Storage Rat to explore. He had learned then that powerful creatures guarded the inner palace. His tiny companion had sensed something that scared it witless. When they stumbled upon the Human Ghost General, Shen Mo initially thought it was what had frightened the Spirit Storage Rat. However, after further communication with the creature, he realized it wasn't the Human Ghost General that had startled it! The terrifying aura that had once alarmed the Spirit Storage Rat now seemed to be hidden. Shen Mo speculated that if they ventured deeper, they might encounter the terrifying creature mentioned by the spirit rat. Perhaps it might even be Prince Yongzuo himself!

Upon hearing this, thoughtful expressions appeared on their faces.

"Also, did you not notice... The Human Ghosts in the grand hall were all civil and military officials of the Liewu Dynasty? And the Human Ghost General claimed that we had broken into the royal palace of the Xingwu Dynasty!"

"The Xingwu Dynasty was likely the name Prince Yongzuo chose for his new dynasty. He had transformed this Underground Palace into his new dynasty's seat of power."

Li Zhong wore a puzzled expression. "What does that mean?"

Not just him, Chen Mengze and the others also looked confused. After all, without the "Insight into All Beings" talent, they couldn't fathom the origin of the Human Ghost officials.

"Tombs of the powerful are generally of two types: one to pass on a legacy, the other to eliminate unwelcome intruders like us. However, this Underground Palace, which Prince Yongzuo painstakingly constructed, fits neither category. It's more like he's using us to reenact the fall of the previous dynasty!"

As Shen Mo elaborated, the palace master's intentions gradually became clearer.

"From what I know, before the fall of the previous dynasty, all the civil and military officials had conspired with the new reign," Chen Mengze, seeming enlightened, supplemented Shen Mo's statement.

Shen Mo nodded subtly. It appeared that Chen Mengze had understood what he was implying.

Generally, the Five Great Sects wouldn't interfere in a normal transition between dynasties. As long as it didn't lead to utter devastation and mass slaughter, they wouldn't intervene. The Red Flame Country would still be the Red Flame Country. A new dynasty taking power merely meant a change in the secular elite. It could also sweep away the corruption of the old regime, allowing the Red Flame Country to rejuvenate. The Five Great Sects would still be high above, enjoying the offerings of countless citizens.

「Over three hundred years ago.」

At the end of the Liewu Dynasty, the civil and military officials, rather than supporting the faltering dynasty, were in league with the new one. They reaped considerable benefits! The lecherous received peerless beauties sent by the new dynasty. The avaricious obtained gold, silver, and treasures. The cowardly were promised that they and their families would be spared. Those hungry for power were offered high official posts and generous stipends. Then, one by one, they eagerly betrayed the Liewu Dynasty's military intelligence and armors, scheming to bleed the old dynasty dry.

How could Prince Yongzuo not resent them?

Yet, just as the new dynasty was established and about to deal with these officials from the former Liewu Dynasty, Prince Yongzuo supposedly rescued them. He then had them buried alive in his tomb, transforming them into Human Ghosts! It's hard to say whether this was a rescue or revenge.

And now, Shen Mo and his group had arrived. Much like those who had overthrown the Liewu Dynasty back then. Upon entering the Underground Palace, they, too, had annihilated the army that once defended the Liewu Dynasty. They then encountered the civil and military officials. They bribed some with gold and silver, intimidated others with force, and lured yet others with beauty... thereby seizing a vast amount of treasure from them.

At the mention of using beauty as bait, Yao Ting, the elite of Stars Peak, blushed slightly. Just moments before, to bypass the Prohibition in one of the grand halls and claim its treasure, she had to strike various seductive poses depicted in drawings. Since she was alone in the hall, and the Human Ghosts weren't truly alive, Yao Ting complied for the sake of a high-grade profound level magic artifact.

Shen Mo glanced at Yao Ting. He found her flushed face a bit strange.

Then he continued, "If it's as I suspect, and Prince Yongzuo built this Underground Palace out of obsession... The fate of those Human Ghost officials won't be good! As for the eight of us, our fate will be no better. Whatever treasures we've obtained, we'll have to return them with interest. Indeed, as reflections of that new dynasty, Prince Yongzuo might even execute us on the spot."

Their expressions grew exceedingly grim.

After a while, Yao Ting hesitantly said, "When Prince Yongzuo was deposed, the Liewu Dynasty was at its peak. By the time the former dynasty fell, even if he had cultivated to the late-stage Spirit Sea Realm, he would have only had a few decades of Lifespan remaining. Based on this calculation, he should have been dead for two hundred years..."

Before Shen Mo could say anything, Jiang Yingying cut in, "There must be a Secret Technique of longevity. Otherwise, these civil and military officials of the former dynasty, even as Human Ghosts, couldn't have survived for over three hundred years!"

True. Compared to Human Cultivators, demonic beasts, Soul Ghosts, Human Ghosts, and similar beings generally possess longer lifespans. However, Human Ghosts merely at the Peak of Class I could not possibly survive for three hundred long years.

"Besides..." Shen Mo continued, "The Prohibitions deeper within this Underground Palace are far more formidable than those in the outer areas. Even if Prince Yongzuo is truly dead, I have no desire to proceed further according to this Underground Palace's design. At that point, should the Formations and Prohibitions activate in concert, we would be utterly powerless to escape."

Shen Mo's words finally persuaded Chen Mengze, Li Zhong, and Yao Ting.

Once their decision was made, they wasted no more time. They summoned their magic artifacts and flew on them towards the exit of the Underground Palace.

"Sigh!"

Just then, a faint sigh drifted from the depths of the Underground Palace.

Shen Mo felt a chilling sensation, even stronger than what he had felt when he first encountered the Ghost General in the Ghost Nation Ruins.

SWOOSH!

SWOOSH!

SWOOSH!

As streaks of light, they dared not pause even for an instant, scrambling desperately towards the palace gate!

Only after exiting the palace gate and flying out through the breach in the outer layer of Prohibitions did Shen Mo feel the bone-chilling cold finally recede.

However, even outside the Underground Palace tomb, they dared not linger. They continued upwards along the tunnel they had dug, heading for the surface.

Shen Mo, not forgetting, deployed his Sword Array and collapsed the tunnel behind them.