According to Qian Shun's words, this deceased demon was once a traitor to his race. After joining a human territory, he eventually became a demigod.
However, that human expert couldn't upgrade his territory to the maximum level. In the end, he even harbored the ambition of using his final power to ascend to the divine realm, which led to the entire territory's downfall.
After the lord's death, this demon demigod, along with the remaining powerhouses, built this palace. This is also why the place possesses both immortal palace structures and potent demonic energy.
As for why there was a map here, Qian Shun guessed it was left behind by those who helped build this place.
After this place was completed, most of those people departed, leaving only a portion of powerhouses to cultivate there, hoping to break through to the divine realm. As for the outcome, it was naturally a failure.
Breaking through to the divine realm is not an easy feat. Many people spent hundreds, even thousands, of years without success.
With the map, they followed its guidance into this low mountain and encountered the first formation, a powerful barrier. Those who didn't understand it would take a long time to break through.
"Kid, don't you know formations? Don't destroy it. Someone will definitely come here later. Preserve it to block others, and we can get more treasures."
Qian Shun quickly reminded him, revealing his nature as someone who habitually tricks others.
"Then don't cling to the map so tightly. I'm not like you. Since I promised to cooperate with you, I won't cut you out."
Zhou Yan was speechless. This Qian Shun was too wary, only taking out a small piece of the map and dividing the rest into countless fragments, fearing Zhou Yan would abandon him.
"Here." Qian Shun handed the map to Zhou Yan.
But it was still only a small part, precisely related to the structure of this barrier.
"You old fossil..." This Qian Shun was truly too cautious, still not trusting anyone at this moment.
Perhaps only people like him could survive in the complex world of lords.
This Qian Shun wasn't a lord. Zhou Yan felt he must be from the Canglan Continent. As for how Qian Shun got here and cultivated to such a high level, Zhou Yan wasn't interested in knowing.
With the map of the barrier's construction, Zhou Yan could indeed lead everyone inside without damaging it.
Zhou Yan released his Tai Chi Array Diagram, which contained the colors of Yin and Yang and emitted a mysterious aura.
The Tai Chi Array Diagram enveloped the entire barrier and then began to transform. From the Dao, one arose; from one, two; from two, all things evolved, just like a structure of heaven and earth, rapidly changing.
Under the operation of the Tai Chi Array Diagram, the entire barrier paused and then disappeared.
This was only temporary; Zhou Yan had not destroyed the barrier.
"Let's go." Zhou Yan quickly pulled Xiao Zhao and Zhao Min inside.
Li Chungang and Qian Shun quickly followed. The next moment, the barrier reappeared, blocking the entrance.
Not long after, a group of people arrived. They looked around and said, "We clearly saw someone enter just now, but there's nothing here."
"There's nothing here, let's go somewhere else. Otherwise, all the good stuff will be taken."
"Don't you find it strange? Why are there so many immortal mountains, yet only such a small peak nearby?"
"You're overthinking it. This is just an ordinary mountain peak."
"Look, there's a barrier. It seems quite strong."
"My guess was right. There's probably a great secret here."
"Boom!"
"Damn it, such a powerful barrier. No, I can't break it. Let's leave."
...
"This is a tomb passage." After passing through the teleportation array, they entered a tomb passage.
The passage was wide, and the walls were carved with countless murals. Light emanated throughout. After walking about five hundred meters, three tunnels appeared, labeled "Heaven," "Earth," and "Human" respectively.
"What does this mean?" Xiao Zhao asked curiously.
"Let me see." Qian Shun began to search the map for related information but found nothing.
"There's a stone tablet here with writing on it," Zhao Min said.
Hearing this, Qian Shun put away the map fragment again. This map was not omnipotent; it only recorded the terrain and not much about what was inside.
"Those who come to this place must pass a test before they can enter the true dwelling. Different tests will yield different rewards. 'Heaven' is the most difficult, 'Earth' is second, and 'Human' is the simplest..."
According to the stone tablet, the creators had long anticipated that this place would eventually be discovered, so they set up tests of three different difficulties. The rewards would vary based on the test, and those who passed could enter the true dwelling.
Furthermore, there was only one chance. Those who failed would be directly teleported outside and would not be allowed to enter again.
After reading the information, Li Chungang said, "I'll go through the 'Heaven' test first to see what it's like."
With that, Li Chungang entered the strongest trial.
Zhou Yan looked at Qian Shun, who asked, "What are you looking at me for?"
"Aren't you going in?" Zhou Yan asked.
"Of course, I'm going in." With that, Qian Shun walked directly into the 'Human' trial and passed.
"Holy crap! You bastard, you're so afraid of death."
Zhou Yan was speechless. Qian Shun's strength was only one step away from being a demigod, yet he was so afraid of death that Zhou Yan didn't know what to say.
"What do you know? What I'm doing is called being safe," Qian Shun smiled and walked into the trial.
Not long after, Li Chungang's voice transmitted to Zhou Yan: "Take the 'Heaven' trial."
"So quickly." Zhou Yan was surprised. The test was too fast! But then he thought it was likely due to Li Chungang's superior cultivation.
"Let's go this way," Zhou Yan said.
Xiao Zhao and Zhao Min followed Zhou Yan into the 'Heaven' level trial.
Upon entering, Zhou Yan was teleported to a location. In front of him appeared a monster at the seventy-fifth level of martial arts.
He also received a prompt: kill the monster in front of him to pass the test.
Zhou Yan thought this monster would be very strong, so he immediately released his "Tai Chi Lightning Palm," forming a giant palm of Tai Chi lightning and striking down at the monster.
After the monster was instantly killed, Zhou Yan was stunned. That's it?
Wasn't this test supposed to be the most difficult?
Why was it so weak?
Zhou Yan looked ahead and saw three options: equipment reward, pill reward, and cultivation technique/martial skill reward.
Zhou Yan chose equipment and randomly obtained a pair of boots.
"Whoa, a spiritual artifact!" Zhou Yan was very surprised. He hadn't expected this test to be so simple, yet the reward was so substantial.