Chapter 79

In the subsequent search of the second hall by the Green Cloud Sect, even with the previous incident of Li Hao being killed by a crossbow bolt and the underground palace passage being sealed, everyone was already on heightened alert, becoming increasingly cautious. After thoroughly investigating the second hall, two more members of the Green Cloud Sect died due to triggering a mechanism.

Among them was even a hall master of the Green Cloud Sect.

With the second hall, the Green Cloud Sect had already lost three people.

However, the Green Cloud Sect also reaped significant rewards in the second hall. There were as many as five lost divine weapons from the martial world, and several other mysterious weapons that even the members of the Green Cloud Sect could not identify. After testing, these mysterious weapons were found to be capable of cutting through metal and jade, and were on par with the five divine weapons they could recognize, showing no inferiority at all.

Two of these weapons were even found by Wei Zhuo, whom Ding Qi recognized, which made Ding Qi inwardly exclaim that this person's luck was really good. Even the demure young girl who had a special relationship with Wei Zhuo had a significant harvest in this hall, contributing a lot to the entire Green Cloud Sect.

The Green Cloud Sect also discovered three to four pieces of the Soft Hedgehog Armor, a treasure-like garment in the martial world.

Moreover, in addition to these divine weapons and garments, the Green Cloud Sect found nearly ten Sandalwood Pearls in the second hall, which were already impossible to find in the martial world. These Sandalwood Pearls were particularly precious to martial artists, as they could easily neutralize any kind of incense or drugs used in the martial world, making them extremely rare treasures.

There were also other valuable items, like Heavenly Silkworm Silk, which were discovered in the second hall, highly prized by martial artists.

This harvest was indeed abundant.

With these gains, the members of the Green Cloud Sect were somewhat able to recover from the shadow of losing three people.

After finishing the search of the second hall, the Green Cloud Sect gathered briefly and then proceeded to the stone door leading to the next place.

Half an hour later, the members of the Green Cloud Sect gathered in a small room. The faces of Zuo Zhong and others showed signs of hesitation.

This was just a small room, and after all the members of the Green Cloud Sect entered, it was completely filled.

However, this small room was quite peculiar. Apart from the members of the Green Cloud Sect, there was nothing else in the room. The walls of the room were as smooth as if they had been thoroughly polished, extremely flat.

The only thing on the smooth stone walls was a dozen stone doors, which appeared to be entrances leading in different directions.

In fact, after leaving the second hall and passing through a long downward corridor, the Green Cloud Sect entered this small room.

Since entering, they had already spent half an hour in this small room.

When they first entered the room, it was just as it is now, with nothing inside except the smooth walls.

Out of caution, the Green Cloud Sect thoroughly searched the small room, hoping to find some hidden items. However, the room was truly empty, with nothing inside except the dozen stone doors leading in different directions.

"Protector Qian, your meaning is that we must go through these dozen stone doors simultaneously to open the next place in the underground palace?" Zuo Zhong asked a protector of the Green Cloud Sect.

This Protector Qian had caught Ding Qi's attention in the previous hall. When Zuo Zhong looked at this person, Ding Qi also glanced at him. Then, he turned his gaze back to the dozen stone doors in the room, examining them one by one, as if trying to figure something out.

The reason Protector Qian caught Ding Qi's attention in the previous hall was that he was the one most knowledgeable about mechanisms among all the members of the Green Cloud Sect.

Thanks to his guidance in the previous hall, the Green Cloud Sect avoided more than just three deaths; many more people might have died unintentionally by triggering mechanisms.

Now, Zuo Zhong was asking this person because of his deep expertise in mechanisms. The protector had already figured out that this room itself was a mechanism.

"Indeed, that is my opinion. Moreover, if I am not mistaken, after we go through these dozen passages simultaneously, we will meet up at a certain place below."

He continued, "I have only seen similar records of such large-scale mechanisms in an ancient book about mechanisms. I did not expect to find such a mechanism in this operation. Otherwise, even with my deep study of mechanisms, I might not have figured out the principle of this mechanism within half an hour."

Hearing Protector Qian's words, Zuo Zhong frowned, showing a thoughtful expression.

"Since that is the case, it seems we have no choice but to split up and go through these dozen passages. What do you all think?" Zuo Zhong asked the other high-ranking members of the Green Cloud Sect.

After Protector Qian identified the room as a mechanism and suggested they split up to go through the dozen stone doors to open the next location in the underground palace, the high-ranking members of the Green Cloud Sect had already discussed this.

However, due to the various dangers present in the underground palace, the high-ranking members of the Green Cloud Sect were somewhat hesitant.

Now, it seemed that Zuo Zhong had finally made up his mind.

"It seems we have no other choice."

...

"Then let's do it this way!"

...

After Zuo Zhong made his decision, the other high-ranking members of the Green Cloud Sect, after some consideration, also agreed.

After all, they were well aware that if they did not open the next location in the underground palace and continue exploring, they would never find another exit. The final result would be that they would be trapped here to die.

With the decision made, the members of the Green Cloud Sect began to prepare to enter. This time, Ding Qi was grouped with two rather beautiful female disciples of the Green Cloud Sect to explore the situation behind one of the stone doors.

If an outsider saw this, they might suspect that Ding Qi was quite fortunate. However, Ding Qi could only smile bitterly.