"Then hurry up and tell me, what is it exactly?"

Jiang Feng’s curiosity was thoroughly piqued.

"The Royal Family has found a way to break the Underground Palace Restriction Array. They want the cultivators from Purple Bamboo Forest to go inside together and take a look. Haven’t you always been interested in the Underground Palace? Now you finally have a chance to enter. Perhaps you’ll stumble upon a big fortune."

Elder Qingzhu stopped teasing and got straight to the point.

Jiang Feng’s expression shifted slightly.

He didn’t believe for a second that the Royal Family just happened to figure out a way to open the Underground Palace Restriction Array, inviting everyone inside to seek fortune.

Letting everyone go in at this moment was clearly to use them as cannon fodder.

He’d been pondering this whole time why the Royal Family had imprisoned him, restraining him in the Purple Bamboo Forest and not allowing him to leave. Now he finally understood—they’d been quietly probing the mysteries of the Underground Palace all along, and now, at this critical juncture, they needed outsiders like them to pave the way for the Royal Family.

This was downright malicious.

No matter if there was fortune inside or not, even if there was, for outsiders like them—along with Elder Qingzhu and the others—they’d have a hard time clutching it in their hands.

In the end, every single opportunity would fall into the hands of the Imperial City Sword Immortal, or those cultivators who truly served the Royal Family as slaves and lackeys.

Even Elder Qingzhu and his lot might not get a share of the spoils.

Perhaps even Elder Qingzhu and the rest were aware of this power game, yet they willingly played cannon fodder for the Royal Family, just for a chance to enter the Underground Palace.

They were gambling that, once inside, they could seize a fortune by relying on their own strength and luck.

But Jiang Feng was different from them.

As a Longevity Practitioner, he had all the time in the world, and could wait for opportunities by laying low—he didn’t need to risk his life by charging into the Underground Palace like Elder Qingzhu and the rest.

Besides, there was a powerful Three-tailed Wolf King lurking in the Underground Palace.

Perhaps the Imperial City Sword Immortal had already faced off against the Three-tailed Wolf King and failed, so now the Purple Bamboo Forest’s cultivators were being sent in to die.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, what are you thinking about?"

Elder Qingzhu noticed Jiang Feng had gone silent.

Jiang Feng rubbed his hands, drew his Red Dust Sword from his waist, and said excitedly, "Coming to Dragon Capital really wasn’t for nothing this time. If I can truly enter the Underground Palace, regardless of whether I get any fortune, I, Mr. Wang, will spare no effort to repay the Royal Family for giving me such a chance!"

"Fellow Daoist Wang, if destiny ever favors you, don’t forget the friends you have in Purple Bamboo Forest."

Elder Qingzhu cupped his fists in respect.

"If I ever rise to fortune, I’ll never forget. If Qingzhu Hermit gains any fortune, don’t forget me—Mr. Wang—either."

Jiang Feng cupped his fists in return.

"Hahaha, Fellow Daoist Wang, get yourself ready. We’ll head out tonight."

Elder Qingzhu nodded enthusiastically.

"So soon?"

"Isn’t it better to be quick? The sooner we enter the Underground Palace and get our chance, the better—everyone’s looking forward to it."

"True enough, I’ll get ready then."

Jiang Feng sent Elder Qingzhu out.

He sat alone in his room, unable to help but start scheming.

"Heading out tonight—are the Royal Family trying to blow me up or what?"

Jiang Feng felt the whole thing was happening out of nowhere, with no time for preparation at all.

"Buzz!"

Suddenly, Spiritual Power fluctuations rippled from the bamboo forest.

Jiang Feng walked out of the courtyard and looked outside.

"Entering the Underground Palace to seek fortune is no small matter. To prevent word from leaking out, the Royal Family has activated an array to seal us in. Without a Mage leading the way, no one can easily leave Purple Bamboo Forest. Fellow Daoist Wang, don’t get too eager and try to slip away alone."

The voice from next door—it was almost as if Elder Qingzhu had expected Jiang Feng to come out—reminded him with a smile.

"You worry too much. The Underground Palace is shrouded in mystery; with no one else for company, I wouldn’t dare venture in there alone,"

Jiang Feng replied casually and turned back into the courtyard.

"So they’ve really sealed off the Purple Bamboo Forest. Looks like tonight’s Underground Palace mission is for real." 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"What to do?"

"There’s a Three-tailed Wolf King inside the Underground Palace. Even my Spiritual Sense can’t approach it. If I meet it in there, I’m as good as dead."

"Damn it, had I known, I wouldn’t have come back just now. Even if the Imperial City Sword Immortal discovered me, I should’ve gambled on escaping first."

Jiang Feng was seething with resentment.

He took out the Qinglong Cauldron.

"Enter the Underground Palace and run into Three-tailed Wolf King—almost certain death."

"Leave now, and if I encounter the Imperial City Sword Immortal, maybe I’ll have a sliver of hope."

Jiang Feng gripped the Qinglong Cauldron tightly.

"If even the arrays and restriction techniques within the Royal Academy couldn’t stop the Qinglong Cauldron, then maybe this barrier in Purple Bamboo Forest isn’t a problem either. Perhaps the Qinglong Cauldron can help me escape."

"Even if I get caught, I’ll fight my way out. Better to escape in the chaos than be cannon fodder in the Underground Palace."

"That’s it, then."

"If I can make it out alive—Li Family, I’ll see the dynasty changed!"

Jiang Feng was beside himself with rage.

He never wanted to oppose the Li Family. His trip to the Cultivation Marketplace was only to better understand the Cultivation Realm. Who could have guessed he’d stumble straight into a trap set by the Li Family, lured into Purple Bamboo Forest and imprisoned—and now they even wanted him as cannon fodder.

If he could survive this ordeal, Jiang Feng was determined to demand justice for himself.

Enough talk—time to act.

Jiang Feng unclasped the Red Dust Sword and set it on the table, then slipped quietly out of the courtyard. He suppressed his aura, let his Spiritual Sense probe ahead, and reached the edge of Purple Bamboo Forest, where the ancient and mysterious array came into view.

"Let’s give it a try. If it doesn’t work, I’ll join Elder Qingzhu and the rest at the Underground Palace."

Jiang Feng drew out the Qinglong Cauldron, channelled Spiritual Power into it, and guided the cauldron to touch the array. Jiang Feng held his breath; if anything went wrong, he’d charge out at once—and if not, he’d return to the courtyard immediately.

To his surprise, when the Qinglong Cauldron collided with the array, a window opened up, and the array did not react abnormally, continuing its operation as if the Qinglong Cauldron was a key that could open any formation.