157: Damn, there’s a desert at the bottom of the lake?

Three aged figures slowly emerged from the shadows of the main hall.

They all exuded the unique aura of a Martial Emperor.

Although they were only at the Early Stage of Martial Emperor, they were genuine Martial Emperors.

As soon as the three appeared, they formed a five-point star formation with Lin Fan and Nanny, surrounding Sima Ziqiu.

Their ability to remain hidden for so long under the nose of a half-step Martial Venerable was entirely due to a profound concealment Cultivation Technique from their Youlong Mountain Manor, which had already been Cultivated to the Transcendent stage.

Otherwise, an ordinary Martial Emperor would likely have been discovered by Sima Ziqiu the moment they approached the main hall.

The sneer on Sima Ziqiu’s face completely vanished.

He could clearly feel that these three suddenly appearing Elders were all Martial Emperors!

One, two, three, four, five!

A full five Martial Emperors!

What the heck.

This would be more than enough to destroy a first-rate Sect or aristocratic family, wouldn't it?

Now, they had all appeared here, and their target was him!

Sima Ziqiu's heart instantly sank to rock bottom.

He knew that today he had likely truly kicked an iron plate.

He felt an unprecedented level of difficulty.

“Now, is it enough?”

Lin Fan's voice was full of mockery.

Sima Ziqiu’s face alternated between green and pale.

He stopped speaking.

He knew that today's matter had no possibility of ending well.

Only a fight to the death remained.

“Attack!”

Lin Fan let out a low shout, and his figure was the first to charge out.

Six Paths Reincarnation Fist, Human Path!

“Kill!”

Nanny also let out a delicate cry, her small figure swooping down from mid-air, and with a wave of her small hand, divine light reappeared.

“Form up!”

The three Martial Emperor Elders attacked simultaneously; their Cultivation Techniques were connected by the same source, subtly forming a profound battle formation that sealed off all of Sima Ziqiu’s escape routes.

Rumble!

Five attacks pressed down from five different directions.

“Good timing!”

He no longer held back in the slightest.

He saw strange blackness appearing around his body.

“Not good! Retreat!”

Lin Fan’s expression changed dramatically!

He could clearly feel an extremely strange danger contained within that blackness.

But, it was too late!

“Puff! Puff! Puff!”

After neutralizing the five people’s attacks, the blackness violently vibrated, and then five torrents of energy, even more violent than before, rebounded from within.

Lin Fan and the five others retreated rapidly.

Even though they had already been prepared, they were still shaken by this rebound force, their Qi and blood surging, and a trickle of fresh blood spilled from the corners of their mouths.

And Sima Ziqiu, after unleashing such a bizarre Martial Art, was clearly not doing well either.

His handsome face was now twisted in pain, and a trace of black blood slowly flowed from the corner of his mouth.

He had clearly suffered a serious internal injury.

Both sides were injured.

Sima Ziqiu wiped away the blood from his mouth.

He knew he couldn't drag this out any longer!

Although these five guys were not as strong as him, they were numerous, and the strength of the white-robed young man and that little girl was terrifying.

He had to leave!

After repelling the five people's encirclement again, his figure retreated directly to the throne in the main hall, which was made of cold jade.

“Haha… Hahahahaha!”

His laughter was full of unwillingness and venom.

“Want to kill me?”

“In your next life!”

“All of you, just wait for me! The humiliation of today, in the future, I will surely repay a hundredfold!”

With that, he suddenly pulled a hidden switch on the throne.

A loud bang.

The wall behind the throne cracked open, revealing a dark passage!

Sima Ziqiu, taking advantage of the five people's unpreparedness, plunged into it.

The passage, after he entered, slowly closed at a speed visible to the naked eye!

“Not good! He’s trying to escape!”

Lin Fan’s expression changed dramatically, and without thinking, he wanted to chase after him.

But, it was too late!

By the time the five of them arrived, the other party had already disappeared into the darkness of the passage.

Lin Fan and the others did not dare to enter directly, fearing a sneak attack.

“Damn it!” Lin Fan slammed a fist against the wall, his heart filled with unwillingness.

The three Martial Emperor Elders had already sustained serious internal injuries.

They looked at the passage, and fear and a desire to retreat appeared in their eyes.

“Young Hero Lin, let it go,” one of the Elders gasped, advising, “This place is too strange, and Sima Ziqiu’s methods are unheard of. Do not pursue a cornered enemy; it’s better for us to know when to stop and leave this place first.”

Just then, Yang Yi, along with a few Martial Artists who had fortunately survived, also arrived.

The battle outside had already ended.

The entire underwater palace was a river of blood, a complete mess.

After Yang Yi learned from Lin Fan and the others about Sima Ziqiu’s escape into the secret passage, he also pondered for a moment.

“We cannot pursue.”

His thoughts coincided with those of the three Dao Protectors.

His expression became somewhat solemn, “This underwater palace is full of strangeness. Many of those guards didn’t even know the most basic combat techniques; they only had Cultivation, looking as if it was forcibly instilled into them.”

“I captured a Shattered Void Realm prisoner, and that guy said that a few months ago, all of them were just unarmed ordinary people. It was the Palace Lord Sima Ziqiu who contacted a certain ‘God’ and bestowed this Cultivation upon them.”

“As for more details, they knew nothing.”

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present felt a chill in their hearts, and gasps of cold air rose and fell.

Contact a God?

Bestow Cultivation?

This… this was simply a fantasy!

But considering the various oddities of this underwater palace and Sima Ziqiu’s endless methods, they had no choice but to believe it.

“If that’s the case, then we absolutely cannot let him go!”

Lin Fan, after hearing everyone’s suggestions, shook his head.

“We have already offended him. If we let him escape, with his methods, if he hides and relies on that so-called ‘God’ behind him to create an even larger force, then, let alone us, even your True One Holy Land and Youlong Mountain Manor, Brother Yang, might not be able to rest easy!”

Yang Yi was silent for a while, then finally nodded heavily.

Lin Fan was right.

Cut the grass, root out the weeds!

He looked at the three Dao Protectors who were still somewhat hesitant.

“Three Elders, listen to my command.”

“Later, you will follow Brother Lin’s dispatch and pursue Sima Ziqiu together!”

This was a death order.

The three Martial Emperors all trembled in their hearts.

“Yes, Young Lord!”

Although they feared death, they were loyal to Youlong Mountain Manor.

“However, Young Lord, you…” One of the Elders looked at Yang Yi with some concern.

“I’ll stay,” Yang Yi waved his hand, “My strength would only be a burden if I went. Someone is needed here to clean up the battlefield, and to bring out the remaining people from the dungeon.”

The matter was thus settled.

Yang Yi stayed behind to clean up the aftermath.

Lin Fan, meanwhile, took Nanny and the three Martial Emperor Dao Protectors to the passage.

The five of them no longer hesitated and plunged in.

Inside the passage, it was pitch black.

From its initial spaciousness, it gradually became narrower.

The five of them were all cautious, moving forward while constantly on guard, fearing a sneak attack from Sima Ziqiu.

After walking for about half an hour or less.

Ahead, a glimmer of light finally appeared.

The five of them were invigorated and quickened their steps, emerging from the oppressive passage.

However, the moment they saw the scene before them.

Everyone stood frozen on the spot.

Before them was… a boundless, golden desert!

“How is this possible?!”

“We clearly felt like we were going down just now! How could… how could we suddenly end up in a desert?!”

“Could it be… some kind of Secret Realm?”

Lin Fan was also shocked and found it hard to believe.

Only Nanny, seeing such a sight for the first time, had her big eyes filled with curiosity.

She pointed at the endless yellow sand and asked in a childish voice, “Senior Brother, is this the bad guy’s home? It’s so big!”