Chapter 156: Underground Corridor

"What should we do? Should we look around to see if there is a way down?" Hua Piaowu asked anxiously, gazing around in search of a path leading downwards.

However, the surroundings were pitch black.

Nothing could be seen at all.

Jiang Yuchen stared intently at the dark pit and slowly said, "We cannot act rashly right now."

"Let's wait here for dawn."

Su Li said with concern, "But there are at least three hours left until dawn."

"If Xu Han is injured..."

Jiang Yuchen shook his head. "Precisely for that reason, we must wait here."

"In the dark, you cannot see anything clearly. Once any accident occurs, our team will suffer further casualties, and no one can bear that responsibility."

Everyone fell silent.

Indeed.

With the night being so dark, they could see nothing, making accidents all too easy to happen.

Eventually, everyone nodded and sat down to wait.

...

Meanwhile.

On the other side of the deep pit.

A five-person team stood at the edge of the abyss, gazing down into the bottomless void.

At the lead was a monk wearing a yellow kasaya.

"Captain, the commotion we heard earlier should be right here."

A man with an eagle perched on his shoulder spoke up.

The monk nodded slightly and slowly closed his eyes, as if sensing something.

After a moment.

He opened his eyes, frowned, and said, "I can sense that this place below is filled with a sinister and malevolent aura."

The others exchanged glances.

"Captain, perhaps we should just leave this place."

"After all, our purpose for this trip is that treasure; let's avoid unnecessary complications."

Staring into the pitch-black pit, the monk suddenly declared, "No, we should go down and take a look."

The others widened their eyes in disbelief.

Did they hear him correctly?

The captain actually suggested going down to take a look?

The man with the eagle on his shoulder asked doubtfully, "Captain, why should we go down?"

"Didn't you just say that the place below is filled with a sinister aura?"

"If we go down, aren't we just asking for trouble?"

The monk shook his head. "No, this place is likely the result of a newly fused secret realm."

"Since the secret realm has just fused, it means this place has never been explored or developed."

"Although there is a sinister aura below, it is very likely that hidden treasures of the secret realm are stored here."

"We will go down to scout first; we might just find something unexpected."

The group hesitated.

However, since the captain had made up his mind, they could hardly object and could only nod in agreement.

The monk continued, "Wait until dawn. Chaichai, you will use your pet to take us down later."

Chaichai was the man with the eagle on his shoulder.

He nodded.

After all, among the entire team, only his eagle possessed the ability to fly.

They sat down and patiently waited.

...

In the main command headquarters.

Everyone stared at the screens, waiting for dawn.

At this moment.

Footsteps suddenly echoed from outside.

Shortly after.

A middle-aged man accompanied by two bodyguards walked in.

The middle-aged man was about one hundred and eighty centimeters tall, dressed in a luxurious long robe, and possessed an imposing demeanor that commanded awe without anger.

His gaze, in particular, was so piercing that people dared not meet his eyes.

Upon seeing this man.

Jiang Bin and the others instantly saluted him.

"Greetings, Lord Governor!"

Nan Yuansi nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

His gaze remained fixed on the elderly man seated at the very front.

He strode quickly behind the elder, bowed his head, and said respectfully, "Your student Nan Yuansi pays respects to the Headmaster!"

"I have long wished to visit you, but I have been overwhelmed by official duties and unable to find the time. I hope the Headmaster will forgive me."

Ye Yuanzheng did not turn back, continuing to gaze at the screen, and asked, "Been busy lately?"

Nan Yuansi nodded. "Some matters arose at the central headquarters recently."

Ye Yuanzheng continued, "Indeed, as a dignified Lord Governor shaking your region, being busy is only natural."

"As for why I summoned you here today, go ask your secretary yourself."

Nan Yuansi glanced back at Ni Wei.

Ni Wei was already pale with fright, standing aside and trembling, not daring to utter a single sound.

He frowned slightly.

He knew the Headmaster's temper all too well.

Unless it was a matter of utmost importance, the Headmaster would never have summoned him in such a rushed manner.

He walked straight up to Ni Wei and asked in a deep voice, "What is the meaning of this?"

Ni Wei kept his head down, too terrified to say a single word.

Nan Yuansi turned to Ni Wei's bodyguard. "You speak. If you dare conceal anything, you know the consequences!"

The bodyguard trembled all over and immediately spilled every detail of what had just transpired.

Upon hearing the account, Nan Yuansi's face turned livid with rage.

He stared coldly at Ni Wei and said, "Starting from today, your position as secretary is revoked."

"Return to the central headquarters immediately, and you will be personally responsible for cleaning all the restrooms in the administrative office!"

"Get out!"

Trembling violently, Ni Wei hurriedly scurried out of the main command room.

Nan Yuansi returned to stand behind the Headmaster and bowed his head. "I am sorry, Headmaster! My judgment of people is clearly flawed."

Ye Yuanzheng nodded slightly. "Very well, go attend to your duties if you have matters to handle."

Nan Yuansi hastily shook his head. "I have already arranged everything."

"Coming here today, I merely wished to catch up and reminisce with you properly."

Ye Yuanzheng finally turned his head to glance at him and said, "Then join me in watching the performance of these little ones."

"Yes!"

...

Xu Han slowly opened his eyes.

Dazzling sunlight pierced into his vision.

He abruptly jerked awake and sat up, only for a wave of sharp pain to rack his body.

He looked down to check his physical condition.

His entire body was covered in blood.

Even his health points had dwindled to a mere sliver.

He let out a slight sigh of relief.

Fortunately, his physique was strong enough. Had it been anyone else, they surely would have been dashed to pieces by the fall.

He raised his head to look upward.

A massive crater had been smashed into the ceiling above.

Without a doubt, he must have fallen in through that very opening.

Bathed in the golden sunlight, his injuries were rapidly healing.

After a short while, the wounds on his body had mostly recovered.

Only then did he survey his surroundings.

The area consisted of a stone-built tunnel.

Both sides of the tunnel were inlaid with smooth, glowing blue-gray stones.

These stones emitted a faint radiance, barely illuminating the corridor.

His gaze extended forward along the passage.

The front was shrouded in darkness, with no end in sight.

A puzzled look crossed his face.

Wasn't he fighting those members of the Annam team?

Then there seemed to have been an earthquake.

When he woke up, he was in this ghostly place.

Who would have thought?

Beneath the desert lay hidden such a tunnel!

A thought stirred within his heart.

This desert was part of the secret realm, yet it had just recently fused with the world.

That being said, this place had never been explored by anyone, meaning it very likely harbored valuable treasures!

He simply had to explore it thoroughly!

Before doing that, however, he needed to report his safety to the others.

With a thought, he summoned his little eagle.

He instructed the eagle to fly back and report that he was safe, while also following along with the team.

That way, he would be able to locate the team's whereabouts at any time.