Douluo: One man returns, Fan Tianyin smashes Tang San to death

Lu Yu's gaze fell on the man's black clothes. The viscous substance on the clothes shone with a faint dark red hue under the white light, like some kind of ominous mark.

He also noticed the man's posture as he leaned against the wall; his back seemed to be glued to the wall by something, unusually stable, not just a simple reliance.

Lu Yu felt a sudden unease, sensing something was amiss, but he didn't point it out immediately. He simply said, "Let's survive first."

As soon as he finished speaking, dense footsteps echoed from the depths of the passage again, and a horde of mummies surged in like a tide. Leading them was the Soul Venerable-level mummie, which was tall, moved swiftly, and had an even stronger red light in its eyes.

Lu Yu shouted, "I'll deal with the big one, you take care of the others!"

Hu Liena nodded, her figure flashed, and the short blade in her hand turned into a cold light as she met the oncoming horde of dried corpses.

Her movements were swift and fierce, each strike precisely hitting the joints of the mummified corpse. Wherever the blade passed, the mummified corpse broke apart, its fragments scattering all over the ground.

Even with her soul power limited, her fighting style remained fluid and powerful, carrying a formidable killing intent.

The injured man leaned against the wall, staring in disbelief at Hu Liena's battle.

He had seen countless Soul Masters torn apart by mummified corpses in the underground palace, all of whom were powerless to resist due to their limited Soul Power.

Yet this woman, despite having her soul power suppressed, was still able to handle the encirclement of more than ten mummies with ease, and even shattered several of them directly.

He swallowed hard and muttered, "Is...is this even human? It's a monster!"

His gaze then turned to Lu Yu, his eyes showing a more complex expression.

Lu Yu was currently engaged in a fierce battle with the Soul Venerable-level desiccated corpse.

His fists, imbued with the power of the Eight Extremes Collapse, each punch accompanied by a deafening roar as it slammed into the mummified corpse.

However, the mummy's body was like an impenetrable fortress; punches only produced dull thuds when they hit it, and the mummy felt no pain. Its thick skin and flesh did not affect its movements at all.

Blood began to seep from Lu Yu's fists, his skin tearing from the repeated hard collisions, the pain excruciating, but his expression remained calm, his eyes burning with an indomitable fighting spirit.

The battle lasted for seven minutes, and Lu Yu and the dried corpse were still evenly matched.

He tried changing angles to find the mummified corpse's weaknesses, but found that although the corpse's movements were stiff, it was unusually agile and almost grabbed his arm several times.

After dealing with the other mummies, Hu Liena quickly arrived to provide support. Her short blade flashed coldly as she slashed at the mummie's neck, leaving only a shallow mark.

Although the two of them managed to suppress the mummified corpses, the situation remained passive. More footsteps could be heard faintly coming from the surrounding passage, indicating that more mummified corpses were approaching.

Lu Yu gritted his teeth, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

He knew that continuing the fight would only attract more mummies, and with their soul power limited, they simply couldn't hold out for long.

He abruptly took a step back, turned his gaze to the man leaning against the wall, and asked in a deep voice, "Is the route map you mentioned real? If it's even slightly fake, we'll all die here!"

The man's face turned pale. He quickly raised his hands and said urgently, "I swear! The map is real! I know the way. As long as you take me with you, we can leave alive!"

His voice trembled slightly, yet it also carried a hint of urgent pleading.

Lu Yu's gaze lingered on the man for a moment, trying to discern the truth from his eyes.

The eerie wind blew through the underground palace again, bringing a bone-chilling cold. The white lights flickered on the walls, like countless eyes watching them.

The mummified corpse's low growls came from deep within the passage, growing closer and more intense.

A moment of hesitation flashed through Lu Yu's mind. Trusting this man of unknown origin might be the only way out, but it could also be a deadly trap.

He took a deep breath, his gaze hardening, and turned to Hu Liena, saying, "Get ready, let's take a gamble."

The air deep within the underground palace was filled with a musty and damp smell. Dim firelight flickered on the stone walls, casting long shadows, as if telling the story of the ancient ruins accumulated over the years.

Lu Yu walked steadily, gripping a short blade that gleamed faintly in his hand, his eyes sharp as an eagle's as he scanned his surroundings.

Hu Liena followed closely behind him, her long golden hair shimmering slightly in the firelight, but her brows furrowed with wariness, her gaze frequently falling on the mysterious man beside them.

The man was thin, his face hidden in the shadow of his cloak, and his lowered eyelids made it impossible to see his expression, but every step he took was unusually firm, as if he knew the path of this underground palace by heart.

Are you sure this guy is really trustworthy?

Hu Liena's voice was low and tinged with doubt, her tone revealing her usual caution.

She turned to look at Lu Yu, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes, "We're being chased so closely by those mummies, if we just follow him around, won't we fall into an even bigger trap?"

Lu Yu didn't stop walking, but his gaze sharpened slightly, and he said in a deep voice, "Nana, I know you're worried, but we don't have many options right now."

He paused, his voice low and calm, "Although the leader of those mummies is not strong, there are too many of them. If this goes on for too long, our soul power will be exhausted, and we will only be in greater danger."

At least this guy knows the way; following him is better than being worn down by a dried-up corpse.

Hu Liena frowned, clearly not entirely agreeing with Lu Yu's decision, but she didn't say anything more, only gripping her weapon tightly and remaining highly vigilant.

The horde of mummies behind them continued to close in, their low growls echoing through the narrow passage, like the whispers of countless vengeful spirits.

Although those mummies were inanimate objects, due to the original owner of the underground palace's arrangement, the remaining thoughts gave them a strange consciousness. Once they sensed the presence of living people, they would surge towards them like a tide.

"The third fork in the road on the left!"

The mysterious man suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse yet clear, carrying a hint of urgency.

Without hesitation, Lu Yu flashed forward and exerted his strength, unleashing a cold light with the short blade in his hand. With the infusion of soul power, a low hum resounded in the air.

He shouted in a low voice: "Eight Extremes Collapse!"

His soul power erupted, transforming into a violent shockwave that slammed into the horde of dried corpses chasing after him.

Dozens of mummies were scattered by the shock, their withered limbs crashing against the stone wall with a sickening cracking sound.

Taking advantage of the brief moment when the mummified corpse was forced back, Lu Yu grabbed the man's arm and said in a deep voice, "Let's go!"

The three quickly turned to the left passage, their steps swift, as the roars of the mummified corpses drew closer behind them once more, like an endless nightmare.

Ancient runes were carved on the stone walls on both sides of the passage. Lu Yu glanced at them and vaguely recognized that these runes were related to soul power formations. He couldn't help but think: The owner of this underground palace is indeed not simple.

After several detours, the route the man pointed out proved effective; the mummified corpse's pursuit was gradually shaken off, and its roars became distant. The three finally stopped in front of a spacious hall.

Under the firelight, the hall was empty, the surrounding stone walls were smooth as a mirror, and only a broken stone statue stood in the center. The face of the statue was blurred and indistinct, as if it had been eroded away by time.

"There's...nothing here?"

Hu Liena frowned, looked around, and asked with a hint of doubt, "What are we doing here after running for so long? Is there some kind of exit here?"

The mysterious man chuckled softly, his voice carrying a profound meaning: "What you've seen is far too one-sided."

He slowly walked to the left side of the hall, his gaze fixed on a seemingly ordinary stone wall, and reached out and gently pressed a spot on the stone wall.

With a deep rumble, the floor of the hall trembled slightly, and the stone wall slowly slid away, revealing a deep passage with a faint light shining from the end.

Lu Yu's eyes flashed, and he said in a deep voice, "You know quite a lot."

He didn't rush in, but carefully observed the entrance to the passage. He quietly probed out with his soul power, and after confirming that there were no traps or mechanisms, he nodded slightly and said, "Let's go in and take a look."

Hu Liena frowned and whispered, "Lu Yu, this place... I just feel like something's not right."

She paused, her gaze falling on the mysterious man. "How does he know so much? We don't even know who he is."

"There's no time to dwell on this now."

Lu Yu's tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable determination: "The mummified corpses could catch up at any moment. Let's go inside first."

He stepped into the passage first, and Hu Liena gritted her teeth and had no choice but to follow. The mysterious man walked silently at the back, his eyes under his cloak unfathomable.

The passage wasn't long; after walking about a hundred steps, the three of them suddenly found themselves in a bright and open space.

An ancient secret chamber appeared before them, its interior softly lit, with glowing crystals embedded in the walls, emitting faint fluctuations of soul power.

In the center of the secret room stood a stone table, on which lay several silvery-white herbs, emitting a delicate fragrance. These were the extremely rare Silver Snow Grass.

Along the wall was a row of old bookshelves, filled with yellowed ancient books, and the air was filled with a strong aura of soul power.

Lu Yu's pupils contracted slightly, and he murmured, "The soul power here... is twice as strong as outside."

He walked slowly forward, his gaze sweeping over the silver snow grass on the stone table, then turning to the bookshelf, casually picking up an ancient book to read.

The ancient book's cover is engraved with intricate runes, and its contents record a Soul Master's cultivation insights.

Lu Yu quickly scanned the information, his brows gradually furrowing: "The master of the underground palace cultivated for hundreds of years, attempting to gain the soul bone needed to become a god through the training of the array... but ultimately failed and perished."

He paused, his gaze sharpening. "The mummies here are probably the guards he left behind, and the body we saw earlier... is very likely him."

Hu Liena, standing to the side, also noticed the abnormality in the soul power and said in a deep voice, "With such abundant soul power, this should be the core area of ​​the underground palace."

She looked at the Silver Snow Grass on the stone table, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. "This Silver Snow Grass is of extremely high quality. If we can take it with us, it will greatly help us break through our cultivation levels."

Lu Yu nodded slightly and reached out to collect the Silver Snow Grass, but suddenly heard a series of hurried footsteps behind him.

He turned around abruptly, his soul power erupting instantly. He held the short blade horizontally in front of him, his gaze coldly fixed on the entrance to the secret chamber.

Hu Liena quickly entered battle mode, her spirit rings glowing beneath her feet, and a bewitching aura emanating from her.

Eight figures filed in through the passage. The two at the head possessed exceptionally powerful auras; they were actually two Title Douluo! Among the following group, a tall Soul Master locked his gaze on Lu Yu, his eyes flashing with intense killing intent. He gritted his teeth and said, "Lu Yu! I didn't expect to run into you here!"

This man was none other than a member of the Myriad Races and the Gara Empire. Several years ago, his team had been defeated by Lu Yu, and now old and new grudges surged in his heart. "I've wanted to kill you for a long time. This time, you'll have a hard time leaving alive! But I can be merciful and leave you with a whole corpse!"

Lu Yu's gaze turned cold as he slowly put down the Silver Snow Grass in his hand and said in a deep voice, "Myriad races, it's been a few years, and your tone has become increasingly arrogant."

He glanced around at the eight people, his tone calm yet tinged with a chill, "I discovered this Silver Snow Grass first. First come, first served, understand?"

The leading Title Douluo sneered, his voice deep and thunderous: "Lu Yu, you're just a Soul Douluo. In this secret chamber brimming with soul power, the eight of us working together are no match for you and Hu Liena!"

He glanced at Hu Liena, a hint of apprehension flashing in his eyes. "The Holy Maiden of the Spirit Empire, hmph, today you two will both stay here!"

Another Title Douluo, Yang Shan, stepped forward, his eyes filled with arrogance: "Lu Yu, your talent is indeed amazing, but it's a pity you don't know when to stop. You failed to serve my Gara Empire and instead helped the Spirit Empire. Today you must die!"

His soul power suddenly erupted, and nine soul rings lit up beneath his feet, unleashing a powerful pressure that swept through the secret chamber.

Hu Liena's expression changed slightly, and she whispered, "Lu Yu, they outnumber us, we..."

Before she could finish speaking, Lu Yu raised his hand to interrupt her, calmly looking at Yang Shan, and slowly said, "You seem to have forgotten that there is no soul power supporting the outside of this underground palace. If we fight here, and the secret chamber collapses, none of us will be able to get out alive."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's expression changed slightly.

A flicker of hesitation crossed the eyes of all the races, but Yang Shan sneered and roared, "Don't try to scare me with these tricks! I won't be at peace until I kill you today!"

He flashed forward, his soul power erupted, and a huge battle axe materialized in his hand, which he swung fiercely at Lu Yu.

"Yang Shan, you've gone mad!"

Li Yan, who was in the interception team, changed his expression drastically and shouted urgently, "If this place really collapses, we'll all die!"

But Yang Shan was already blinded by rage and ignored all advice. His battle axe stirred up a gust of wind as he charged straight at Lu Yu.

Lu Yu's gaze sharpened, and instead of retreating, he advanced. His soul rings lit up, and the soul power fluctuations of the Eight Extremes Collapse instantly erupted.

He let out a low shout, and his short blade met the battle axe. The moment their soul forces collided, a deafening roar echoed through the secret chamber.

The silver snow grass on the stone table trembled slightly, the ancient books on the bookshelf fell down with a rustling sound, and the walls of the secret room also trembled with a heart-palpitating vibration.

The battle was about to break out, and the confrontation between Lu Yu and Yang Shan cast a tense atmosphere over the entire secret chamber.

Hu Liena gripped her weapon tightly, her gaze sweeping over the other Soul Masters, ready to face any possible encirclement.

In the dimly lit space, the air seemed to solidify, carrying a heavy sense of oppression.

Lu Yu stood in the middle of the narrow passageway, his gaze sharp as a knife, silently watching Yang Shan across the way. (End of Chapter)