In a corner of the underground palace, Yuan Shu hid behind the tall, powerfully built Black One, keeping her peripheral vision fixed on Liye as he led his people into the passage ahead.
The moment a flash of golden light signaling that someone had entered the formation came from the passage, Yuan Shu lightly tapped a fingertip against her sleeve.
The Underground Palace Array Spirit, which had been dozing groggily, blinked its dazed, oversized eyes and poked its head out.
“The formations over there haven’t been moved yet, have they? Hurry up and get to work. Move the most dangerous formation nearby over there!”
Yuan Shu pointed toward the direction Liye had entered and quietly tempted the Array Spirit.
“After you’re done, I’ll give you another rainbow crystal.”
The thing the Underground Palace Array Spirit loved most was the rainbow crystal buried beneath the palace.
The spiritual energy radiating from those crystals could strengthen an Array Spirit and nourish its intelligence.
Unfortunately, they were difficult to obtain. Even the Underground Palace Array Spirit of the Acacia Sect, which had lived here for so long, had very little in reserve.
As its former master, Yuan Shu happened to have a small stash of them, all stored in the divine tree space.
Sure enough, the moment the Array Spirit heard that Yuan Shu would give it a rainbow crystal, its eyes lit up.
Ever since the former Acacia Sect Master, Yuan Shu, had fallen, no one had given it a reward. It had been an incredibly long time since it had seen a new rainbow crystal!
Thus, when the person before it proposed that it only needed to rotate the underground palace’s formations in exchange for a new rainbow crystal, it agreed without the slightest hesitation, overwhelmed with excitement!
Yuan Shu kept her word. The Array Spirit rotated the formations at the nine branching paths, and she gave it nine rainbow crystals.
And now, it was time for the tenth!
“Deal!”
The Array Spirit happily agreed. It then jumped from Yuan Shu’s sleeve, its rose-red body using the cover of her robes to quietly make contact with the formations beneath the ground.
A moment later, it used its formidable formation power to move the attack formation ahead in the underground palace.
The small formation with the strongest nearby offensive power was moved into the formation space Liye had just entered!
After completing the task, the little fellow cheerfully hopped onto Yuan Shu’s fingertip.
Its shrunken, fluffy body rubbed against Yuan Shu, looking at her with eager, pleading eyes like a dog begging for a treat.
The corner of Yuan Shu’s lips lifted. She pulled out a rainbow crystal and handed it to the Array Spirit.
Afraid that someone might snatch it away, the little fellow opened its mouth the instant the crystal appeared and sucked it inside.
Then it quickly shrank itself and hid in Yuan Shu’s sleeve.
Yuan Shu raised her head, an intrigued smile curling her lips as she turned her gaze toward the formation passage Liye had entered.
By chance, she met the gaze of Li Xie, who was at the front of the group.
After all, he was Yuan Shu’s Dao partner and knew her temperament well.
With just one glance, Li Xie guessed that the fact Liye had encountered formations with attacks a full level above his own at all nine forks was Yuan Shu’s doing!
Although he had no idea how she had managed it, Yuan Shu had once been able to identify the secret realm hidden within the Fallen Immortal Sect. Changing the layout of an underground palace formation did not seem impossible for her.
And the reason she had done this was most likely to vent his anger for him!
At the thought, Li Xie’s heart warmed. He could not help giving Yuan Shu a faint smile.
Yuan Shu winked at him and smiled back.
Their gazes met only briefly, for a few short breaths, but a demon cultivator dressed in black in the corner noticed.
The man first looked at Li Xie, then at Yuan Shu amid the crowd, and finally frowned.
…
About half an hour later, Liye staggered out of the underground palace passage.
“Bang!”
The instant his sword plunged into the ground, pain twisted his face, and he uncontrollably vomited a mouthful of blood.
“Third Prince!”
The Demon Physician beside him was startled and hurried forward to examine him.
The moment he checked Liye’s pulse, his expression changed dramatically.
“This… this… Your Highness, your aura is in turmoil, and your internal organs have been damaged! Third Prince, you have to hold on!”
As he spoke, the Demon Physician hurriedly took out several high-grade pills that stabilized the foundation and replenished vital energy from his medicine pouch, then fed them to Liye.
Only after quite some time did Liye’s breathing ease, and some color return to his face.
“What happened?”
The Demon King looked Liye up and down, his expression dark.
Liye moved his lips. With the support of his subordinates, he quickly rose and knelt properly.
“It was… it was this son’s incompetence. I mistakenly entered a high-level formation and was unable to withstand the attacks formed by its array patterns, which resulted in these serious injuries.”
“Father, those three branching paths over there… none of them can be taken!”
Liye gritted his teeth and explained, forcing himself to endure the pain in his chest.
The Demon King’s expression instantly darkened.
“What did you say?”
None of the three passages could be taken?
This was the closest route to the Earth Demon Fiend clan. If they had to take a detour, who knew how far the Earth Demon Fiend clan would get ahead of them!
He had never expected that after waiting here patiently for so long, this would be the answer he received.
Liye’s body trembled, but he still forced himself to speak.
“Yes, Father. It’s true. None of those three paths can be taken. If we want to continue forward, we can only take a detour.”
Liye lowered his head, his voice halting and broken, with a trace of fear creeping into it.
The Demon King’s face darkened. It was a sign that he was on the verge of erupting in anger.
Even his own son did not dare act recklessly before him!
Just as the Demon King was about to lose his temper, a clear, cool voice suddenly rang out from within the crowd.
“Father, I have also explored those three paths. Aside from one that is excessively dangerous, the other two can both be taken. They are nowhere near as terrifying as Third Brother claims.”
The Demon King turned his head, his gaze landing on Li Xie as he stepped out of the crowd. His brows immediately drew together.
“You’re saying that you explored them too?”
“Yes. I explored them twice. The first time, I sustained some injuries. The second time, I entered after Third Brother.”
“Your son dares stake his life on this: they can be crossed, and there will absolutely be no problem!”
Li Xie respectfully cupped his hands and spoke with complete seriousness.
The entire cavern suddenly fell silent.
Everyone looked at Li Xie, then at Liye, whose face was twisted with fury. For a moment, no one knew whom to believe.
“Li Xie, have you gone mad?”
Liye’s expression darkened. Anger at being humiliated surged through his heart, and he even abandoned the honorifics he normally used.
“I couldn’t get past the attack formations. Do you really think you can?”
Everyone knew that Li Xie was still only a demon cultivator in the Demon Infant Realm, while Liye was already at the pinnacle of the Demon Transformation Realm!
If nothing unexpected happened, he would be able to enter the Demon Void Realm within the next few years.
An attack formation he could not deal with—what right did Li Xie have to claim that he could?
And he had even brazenly claimed to have explored all three paths?
Did he think he was worthy?
“The Third Prince was injured. How could the Eldest Prince have explored the paths without being hurt? He must be lying.”
“Exactly. The Eldest Prince’s lie is far too childish.”
“That’s right. How could this possibly be true?”
The crowd began whispering among themselves. Almost everyone believed that Li Xie was talking nonsense.
Li Xie usually handled ceremonial events well enough, but when it came to strength and talent, the Third Prince was clearly superior.
After all, despite his young age, the Third Prince had already surpassed the Eldest Prince by far.
Li Xie calmly swept his gaze across Liye. A mocking curve touched his lips, but his voice remained firm.
“Father, every word your son has spoken is true. If you do not believe me, you may personally enter the formation and see for yourself!”
His tone was far too certain, and his decisive words left everyone present stunned.
Was the Eldest Prince really that confident?
Could it be that the formation had eyes and treated people differently?
Was it harsh toward the Third Prince, yet gentle toward the Eldest Prince?
