Free Web NovelChapter 198: Chapter 194: The Mystery of the Sleeping Underground Palace
Deep in the cave, Ian found a small grotto.
The entrance was hidden and the inside was dry. It wasn’t large, but there was enough room for him.
He used his Floating Crystal Guards to set up a simple perimeter at the entrance. After sprinkling some powder to mask his scent, he finally sat down.
First, he checked his loot.
There were five Void Anchor Stones, each the size of a fist. They were heavy, with silver patterns flowing slowly across their surfaces. They were cool to the touch and gave off a strange "anchoring" sensation.
He picked one up and probed it with his Spiritual Power.
BUZZ!
A clear sense of coordinates appeared in his mind, as if a single point was firmly fixed in the endless Void.
And it wasn’t just one. The five Anchor Stones faintly resonated with each other, as if they could form some kind of array.
’This stuff is incredible.’ Ian carefully put them away.
With these, he could try to build an Abyssal Altar and communicate with an Otherworld when he got back.
But that was all contingent on him getting out of the Underground Palace alive.
Next, he took out the items he’d looted from Blood Slaughter.
It was a dark red Metal Token, warm to the touch. The front was engraved with a burning crown, and the back had a line of small text.
’A Deep Red Order.’ This meant Blood Slaughter’s position in the Deep Red Royal Court was not low; he was at least Deacon Level.
Ian set the token aside and looked at the Recording Crystal.
He infused it with Spiritual Power.
Images and text appeared before his eyes.
It wasn’t Blood Slaughter’s record, but seemed to be a much older, copied fragment from the Deep Red Royal Court’s internal archives.
The image was a bit blurry, but he could make it out.
It depicted a massive, circular, three-tiered underground altar. Each tier was covered in dense, intricate Runes.
In the center stood a black stone pillar, and floating above it was a... Void Anchor Stone.
No, not just one.
There were dozens of Anchor Stones, arranged in a complex formation, collectively stabilizing a constantly twisting dark vortex at the altar’s center.
There was explanatory text next to the image:
[Core of the Sleeping Palace: Sleeping Altar]
[Builders: Ancient "Soul Weaver" Civilization (Suspected)]
[Function: To stabilize space with the Void Anchor Stone Array and maintain the seal on the "Cocoon of Slumber"]
[Warning: The altar’s Energy has weakened, and the seal is loosening. If a large number of Anchor Stones are removed, the seal will completely collapse, releasing the ancient calamity sealed within the "Cocoon of Slumber"]
Ian’s heart skipped a beat.
’Cocoon of Slumber? An ancient calamity?’
He continued reading.
The next part was the Deep Red Royal Court’s investigation records.
[...According to interpretations of the ruins’ inscriptions, the "Soul Weaver" civilization, in their pursuit of immortality, conducted a clan-wide "Soul Weaving" ritual in an attempt to merge the Will of their entire people and ascend to a higher existence.]
[The ritual failed. The collective Will merged with the taint of Abyssal Energy, giving birth to an indescribable entity, codenamed "Void Weaver."]
[The "Soul Weaver" civilization exhausted its remaining strength to seal it within the "Cocoon of Slumber," using the Void Anchor Stone Array to maintain the seal, leading to their own civilization’s destruction.]
[The remaining areas of the Underground Palace are the legacy of the "Soul Weaver" civilization, including the Alchemy Magic Plant Garden, the Illusion Corridor, the Will Corridor... all were auxiliary facilities for the ritual.]
[Recommended Actions: 1. Remove the Anchor Stones, causing the seal to collapse and release the calamity, then seize the "Soul Weaver" legacy amidst the chaos. 2. Maintain the seal and excavate slowly.]
[Note: If enough Anchor Stones are acquired, it may be possible to use a Deep Red Secret Technique to reverse-control the "Void Weaver" and turn it into a weapon of war...]
The record ended abruptly there.
Ian lowered the Crystal, silent for a long time.
’So that’s how it is.’
’The Underground Palace isn’t some ordinary ancient ruin at all. It’s a tomb built by a civilization to seal away a monster of its own creation.’
’Every hundred years, it drifts to the edge of the Wizard World, absorbs Magic Power to stabilize itself, and then floats back into the Void.’
’The Void Anchor Stones are the key to the seal. Take too many, and the monster gets out.’
’It’s not that they don’t know the danger of releasing the "Void Weaver." They just want to take a gamble.’
’A gamble that they can control that monster and turn it into a weapon of war.’
"Madmen," Ian cursed under his breath.
But on second thought, he understood.
Among the three great powers, the Deep Red Royal Court had always been the most aggressive, preferring to solve problems with blood and violence.
If they could control an ancient calamity, their influence in the region would increase dramatically.
They might even... be able to unite the continent with it.
But then, his thoughts turned to himself.
He had taken five Anchor Stones.
He didn’t know how many altar arrays there were, or how many stones were needed in total for stability.
But five... would definitely have an impact.
The thing that was chasing him earlier was most likely a part of the "Void Weaver," or a derivative of it.
It had reacted to the Anchor Stones and pursued him all this way.
"This is trouble," Ian frowned.
If the seal really did collapse, the entire Underground Palace would be doomed.
He was still inside; whether he could even escape was a question.
Moreover, the people from the Deep Red Royal Court were definitely making their move in secret. Someone might already be trying to destroy the altar.
He had to leave the Underground Palace as soon as possible.
But he was unwilling to just leave like this.
"The legacy of the ’Soul Weaver’ civilization... I don’t know about the rest, but that small silver tree and the Five Fruits are definitely treasures."
’And that "Soul Weaving" ritual mentioned in the record...’
Ian suddenly remembered that his panel had gained a trace of a Crystallization Attribute when he absorbed the [Eye of the Gazer].
’What the "Soul Weaver" civilization pursued seemed to be some kind of "weaving" and "ascension" of a collective Will.’
’Is there... a connection between them?’
He now had two choices.
One, find an exit immediately and leave the Underground Palace. This was the safest option, but he might miss out on other treasures deeper inside.
Two, press deeper and go check out the core area of the Underground Palace. The risk would be immense, but so would the potential rewards.
Ian hesitated for a few seconds, then his gaze grew firm.
’I’ve come this far.’
He recalled the faint but stable Rule Fluctuation he had sensed back in the Illusion Corridor.
That fluctuation was very similar to the Void Anchor Stones, but more obscure and more "concentrated."
That was very likely the location of the core area, the Sleeping Altar.
Besides, the people from the Deep Red Royal Court were also looking for it.
If they really intended to destroy the altar and release the "Void Weaver," the entire Underground Palace would be plunged into disaster.
While Ian had no desire to be a savior, he didn’t want to die here for no reason either.
’I have to go see,’ he decided.
However, he couldn’t be reckless.
He took a Scroll from his Dimension Ring—something he had looted from the Deep Red Witch—and quickly scanned it.
It recorded several commonly used contact signals and passwords.
Ian memorized a few of the simpler ones, then took out that Deep Red Token and held it in his hand.
"Gaga, if we run into anyone from the Deep Red Royal Court, shrink into the shadows and don’t come out."
"Understood, gaga." Gaga nodded, its small eyes blinking. "But what if a fight breaks out?"
"If there are too many of them, we run," Ian said bluntly. "Survival comes first."
He packed his things, checked his gear one last time, and after confirming everything was in order, walked out of the grotto.
The cavern was large, with many branching paths.
Ian followed the map he had seen on the Metal Plate, heading toward the red dot marked "Suspected Core Area Entrance."
The path was quiet. Occasionally, he would encounter some Demons native to the Underground Palace.
For instance, fist-sized glowing beetles or Rock Snakes lurking in the shadows.
Ian avoided them when he could and dealt with them quickly when he couldn’t, trying not to make too much noise.
After walking for about half an hour, a downward slope appeared ahead.
The slope was steep and the ground was slippery, covered in dark green moss.
Ian lightened his steps, moving cautiously downward.
The farther down he went, the lower the temperature dropped, and the sweet, cloying smell of decay grew fainter.
In its place was an ancient scent, as if the smell of Metal and Stone had been sealed away for a thousand years.
At the bottom of the slope was a massive gate.
The gate was forged from dark gray Metal, its surface covered in traces of rust, but its overall structure was intact.
The gate was over ten meters high and five or six meters wide. It was covered with dense Runes that were currently emitting a faint, pale blue glow.
The gate was shut tight, and two people stood before it.
Both wore Deep Red Long Robes—a man and a woman, conversing in low voices.
The man was tall and thin, holding a dark red Magic Staff.
The woman was petite, but her eyes were sharp, and a string of Skulls hung from her waist.
Unlike the Warlock, the Witch stood on a Stone Slab engraved with ancient Runes, its purpose unknown.
Neither of their auras was weak; both were experts at the Liquid Stage.
Ian hid around the corner of the slope, held his breath, and listened carefully to their conversation.
"...How long have they been in there?" the Warlock asked.
"Almost two hours."
The Witch’s voice was cold. "The situation inside is unclear. We’d best not make any rash moves."
"I know," the Warlock sighed. "But just standing guard here isn’t a solution. What if..."
"There is no ’what if’," the Witch interrupted him.
"Phoenix brought the ’Blood Sacrifice Order.’ Even if they are attacked by a mob, they can escape unscathed. We just need to guard the gate."
The Warlock nodded and said no more.
Ian’s heart sank.
’Sounds like there are a lot of people inside, and Phoenix went in too? And brought some "Blood Sacrifice Order"?’
’It seems the Deep Red Royal Court was thoroughly prepared for this operation.’
Ian withdrew his gaze, his fingers brushing against his Dimension Ring.
He had originally planned to take out the Deep Red Token and try to bluff his way through, but he quickly dismissed the idea.
’Too slow, too much trouble.’
’And... unnecessary.’
He felt the faintly golden motes of light in his Sea of Spirit and the surging Power in his body.
The Frost Ash Beam was already gathering at his fingertips, a Gravity Collapse Ball was ready to form at a moment’s notice, and within his sleeve, Gaga’s claws tightened slightly in the shadows.
’So what if Phoenix is inside?’
’I’ve fought my way through this Underground Palace. Blood Slaughter is dead, Samael is dead, and the entire Curse of the Dead Squad has been wiped out.’
Ian looked down at his palm, the lines clear and distinct in the dim light.
Now... it seemed he was truly afraid of no one.
"Gaga," he said in a low voice, "When I make my move, don’t come out right away."
"Understood, gaga," came Gaga’s voice from the shadows, tinged with eager anticipation.
Ian took a deep breath. He stopped concealing his aura and slowing his pace.
He stepped out from the shadows and walked steadily down the slope.
His footsteps made clear "TAP, TAP" sounds on the Rock.
The footsteps immediately alerted the two guards.
"Who’s there?!"
The Warlock spun around, the tip of his Magic Staff glowing with a dark red, bloody light that illuminated his wary face.
The Witch also instantly adopted a combat stance. The string of Skulls at her waist rotated with a CLICK-CLACK, and ghostly green flames ignited in their empty eye sockets.
Ian didn’t stop. He continued walking forward.
Closer and closer...
