The Underworld’s Secrets and a Violent Entrance

“Wait,” Su Han said, a flicker of memory in her eyes. “You… weren’t you on the Star Tear Battlefield? How did you end up here?”

Luo Shang abruptly turned, a frown creasing his brow. “Who told you I went to the Star Tear Battlefield?”

“Bai Que said he received intel that you were trapped there, so he rushed over to support you.”

‘Damn it, the intel is fake. It’s a trap! Bai Que is in danger!’

“Should we go there now?”

“You stay here and gather information about the Elven race. While you’re at it, help me return the Wind Elf King’s key to him. I’ll be more than enough to help Bai Que!” With that, Luo Shang pulled out a green key, marked with the symbol of wind, and pressed it into Su Han’s hand.

“Oh, and that three-tailed demonic fox is quite cunning. She might be waiting to ambush you outside the array. Remember to be careful when you leave!”

“Ah… alright.”

“Hold on… this array, I don’t think I know how to break it…” Luo Shang scratched his head. “It seems I’ll have to continue with you after all. Hmph, let that brainless fellow Bai Que suffer a little.”

Before long, Qianzhe Ying led Su Han and Luo Shang to the tribe. Unlike the forest elf tribes they knew, which consisted of tents and even castles for their Elder Halls, this Dark Elf tribe surprisingly resembled a dwarven settlement, built entirely within caves.

Upon reflection, it made sense. In the Underworld, who would bother setting up tents? Excavating directly into the rock walls was far more practical than constructing castles.

“Little Ying, why are you back so soon?” a dark-skinned elf guarding the cave entrance greeted Qianzhe Ying warmly.

“Something happened. Quickly, go inform the Grand Elder. These two are my friends!”

“Alright!”

Qianzhe Ying led Su Han and Luo Shang into the cave. Inside, a long, deep tunnel stretched ahead, illuminated by glowing minerals that made it feel surprisingly spacious and bright.

After navigating three or four turns, they stopped before a secret chamber door. With a soft ‘click,’ the stone door slid open, revealing a small, white-bearded elf wearing a pointed magic hat and a black-purple robe. He stood directly before Su Han.

“Greetings, Grand Elder!” Qianzhe Ying and her companions knelt on one knee.

The Dark Elf Grand Elder first bade Qianzhe Ying rise, then narrowed his eyes at Su Han. His gaze then shifted to Luo Shang, and his eyes widened in apparent disbelief. “This… this is the fluctuation of Holy Spirit elemental energy?!”

Luo Shang simply nodded, offering no further words. The Grand Elder slowly began to speak.

“We Dark Elves occupy the first layer of this Underworld. The second layer is claimed by the Demonic Dragon race. The Lizardfolk, being weaker than us, live in the second layer, subservient to the Demonic Dragons. As for the third layer, no one knows its entrance. Legend says it seals a High Elf from the Dark Ages.”

“We Dark Elves rebelled from the Elven race precisely to guard this esteemed High Elf, interring them within the third-layer tomb of this Underworld.”

“The esteemed one prophesied that centuries from now, a Holy Spirit-aligned human would come to the Underworld to lead us back to the surface, and a maiden would subjugate the Demonic Dragon race, breaking the third layer’s seal to awaken them.”

“I have waited three hundred years for this… and at last, at last, I have!”

“To be frank, Grand Elder, I also intend to explore this third layer. However, to break its seal, one item is still missing: the Nine Netherworld Grass.”

“The Nine Netherworld Grass is found in the Demonic Dragon’s Lair on the second layer. We Dark Elves, alas, only occupy the most barren first layer of this world.”

“Elder, I have another request,” Su Han interjected suddenly.

“Speak, young lady.”

“May I ask where the Elven race resides now?”

“For that, you must journey to the third layer. The esteemed one will guide you! After all, it has been over a century since we left the Elven race…”

“Very well, then we shall take our leave!” Su Han pulled Luo Shang, ready to depart.

“Will the two of you not stay for a while?”

“No, time is short; we must go!” The thought of Bai Que being trapped on the Star Tear Battlefield made Su Han feel there was no time to lose.

“Elder, I’ll see them off!” Qianzhe Ying followed them out. The Grand Elder murmured, “Ah, three hundred years… my Dark Elf race can finally see the light of day again!”

“Do you trust what he said?” Su Han asked after they had moved away from Qianzhe Ying.

“Yes, his words are true. My master once told me the same.”

“Then where is the entrance to the second layer of this Underworld?”

“If Lizardfolk can come to this first layer, then of course we can go to the second!” Luo Shang pursed his lips, gesturing towards Qianzhe Ying beside Su Han.

“Um, Sister Qianzhe Ying, do you know the entrance to the second layer of the Underworld?” Su Han asked with a beaming smile.

“Yes, I do. In the northern mountains, there’s a cave, and inside it, a tunnel leads to the second layer of the Underworld…”

Without the luminous minerals and crystals, this sunless Underworld would be no better than the Realm of the Undead.

What intrigued Su Han was that despite being underground and devoid of sunlight, the Underworld was not cold; in fact, faint, cool breezes drifted through. This was likely due to the massive array maintaining the environment, a truly grand undertaking.

What truly captivated her, however, was the magic crystal providing energy at the heart of that array. That was a treasure!

‘It must be at least a top-grade legendary crystal core, right? Hmm, probably on the level of an Abyssal Demon’s heart?’ Su Han rubbed her hands together, her eyes gleaming.

“Tsk, a High Elf Lord’s creation would hardly be as simple as just an Abyssal Demon’s heart and magic core,” Luo Shang scoffed, dampening her enthusiasm. “But don’t even think about it. You can’t get it. Not only do we lack the strength, but if we actually managed to take it, this entire Underworld would collapse, taking everyone with it!”

“Hmph, I was just thinking!”

Journeying northward, they occasionally encountered low-tier magical beasts: vampire bats, vampires, and even some low-level undead creatures. However, they hadn’t seen any skeleton warriors. After all, Undead Liches mostly thrived in the Realm of the Undead; the Underworld was primarily home to unique magical beasts.

“Roar~” A colossal Frost Beast was locked in combat with a black raven. Su Han and her companions gradually approached the northern mountains. These mountains of the Underworld stretched endlessly, like dark, predatory dragons, their jaws agape.

The cave entrance was located at one of the most prominent ‘dragon claws,’ where a six-pointed star array slowly rotated.

Black array clouds and shimmering crystal light could be seen around the mountains. Powerful magical beasts occupied this area, much like the Darkmoon Forest. The creatures here were not only rare and special but also incredibly strong. The weakest possessed a peak sixth-tier bloodline, and while stronger ones lay dormant, their auras suggested at least four ninth-tier magical beasts.

“To open the tunnel to the second layer, a peak seventh-tier magical beast must be sacrificed. Its blood will serve as the guide, and its crystal core as the power, to break the seal.”

As for forcing their way through, even if they had the strength, breaking the array that controlled entry and exit would cause it to collapse. Besides, why be so violent?

“That’s easy, leave it to me!” Su Han clapped her hands. Dragon wings extended from her back, whistling as she soared upwards, directly at the black giant eagle circling in the sky. In her Emperor Armor state, one hand shot out, grabbing its neck.

Of course, capturing a peak seventh-tier magical beast alive wasn’t as simple as it appeared. So, Su Han activated her ‘Gluttony’ state, intending to take it down in one swift move.

Though the black giant eagle’s species was unknown, it was a monster that had lived for nearly a century. It sensed danger and tried to evade, but Su Han’s hand, imbued with a golden hoop-like magic, clamped down on its neck, rendering it immobile.

“Caw~” With a long cry, the giant eagle in mid-air was slammed to the ground by Su Han, sliding for over ten meters before finally coming to a halt.

Qianzhe Ying was visibly startled by Su Han’s ferocity, while Luo Shang covered his eyes, muttering worriedly, ‘This girl is getting more and more violent.’

Perhaps due to the limitations of the Underworld, despite the giant eagle’s seventh-tier strength, its intelligence was akin to a three-year-old child. Thus, Su Han swiftly brought her hand down. A head flew off, purple blood splattering across the patterns of the six-pointed array.

She then dug out the crystal core from its brain and placed it within the array. The six-pointed array glowed intensely crimson, spinning faster before vanishing, revealing a long, silent tunnel.

The surrounding magical beasts, evidently accustomed to such events, showed no interest in approaching. And so, Su Han and her companions smoothly entered the tunnel.

“What, Sister Qianzhe Ying, are you coming in too?” Su Han asked with a grin.

“I… well, I’ve been to the second layer of the Underworld once before. Let me guide you!”

Su Han glanced at Luo Shang. Seeing no sign of displeasure from him, she agreed to let Qianzhe Ying accompany them.

Unlike the previous tunnel, this one wound sharply downwards. Before long, they saw the bright exit of the cave…