Chapter Fourteen: The Underground Palace

Atop the summit of Bottle Mountain, the group appeared imposing and formidable.

“Below this canyon lies the tomb of Bottle Mountain. Yet the poisonous haze beneath is thick, obscuring all vision and fraught with peril. Last time, we descended here and encountered a swarm of venomous centipedes, losing many brothers before we were forced to retreat,” Chen Yulou said, pointing at the bottomless fissure before them, his tone full of regret.

“This Bottle Mountain is notorious in Western Hunan for its treacherous terrain. The fact that you all made it out alive is already a stroke of luck,” Li Yang remarked, gazing meaningfully at the great canyon before them.

“So, Brother Li, what do you propose?” Old Luo Crooked asked, the impatience on his face subsiding somewhat as he looked to Li Yang with anticipation.

“Brother Li, do you know what manner of creature is causing trouble down there?” Partridge Whistle cast a probing glance at Li Yang, his tone subtly testing.

“Let’s do this: we’ll go down once more, and this time, I’ll take the lead,” Li Yang replied with a smile, ignoring the undercurrents among his companions.

“Brothers, fetch the Centipede Hanging Mountain Ladder!” At Chen Yulou’s command, the Unlinked band moved swiftly and decisively, displaying the discipline and prowess of a formidable force.

“The Unlinked warriors under the Grand Leader truly are extraordinary—obedient and skilled, all heroes of remarkable talent.” Truth be told, Chen Yulou, despite his vanity and impulsiveness, was a man of boundless loyalty and generosity; his charismatic nature was beyond doubt.

“You flatter me, Brother Li. Please, go ahead!” Chen Yulou responded modestly to Li Yang’s praise, though his expression revealed clear pride. The Unlinked Sect had grown to its current might under the stewardship of Chen Yulou and his father, and it remained the source of his greatest pride.

“Coo… coo…” Below the canyon, darkness reigned, damp and suffused with toxic miasma, never seeing daylight. As soon as they descended, the Anger-clear Chicken in Li Yang’s pocket seemed to sense something, becoming restless and agitated.

Li Yang frowned at the grim surroundings, reaching into his pocket to soothe the uneasy chicken.

“Brother Li, have you noticed anything?” Chen Yulou approached quietly, seeing Li Yang standing motionless and surveying their surroundings with a furrowed brow.

“I have observed a few things. In my humble opinion, this doesn’t resemble a tomb at all—it looks more like a place for alchemy and medicine-making.” As he spoke, he crouched and brushed away the surface dust, grabbing a handful of earth. “Grand Leader, look here—the soil beneath is reddish-brown, which is clearly the result of medicinal vapors settling over time. Coupled with the venomous centipedes you mentioned, it’s not hard to deduce that these creatures regularly absorb the underground medicinal essence, which makes their venom so potent.”

“This…” Chen Yulou glanced at Old Luo Crooked and Partridge Whistle, momentarily unsure what to believe.

“Who cares if it’s a tomb or not—as long as there’s treasure, that’s all that matters, right, Boss?” Old Luo Crooked, unconcerned with the details, grinned and shouted.

“Sss… sss… sss…” At that moment, a dense rustling rose from the ground around them, growing ever closer.

“Too much chatter,” Chen Yulou glared at Old Luo Crooked, scolding him quietly as he heard the sound.

“Brother Li, release the chicken quickly!” Old Luo Crooked shrank back, feeling his scalp tingle, and hurriedly urged Li Yang.

“No need to panic. These centipedes have absorbed the earth’s medicinal power for years, making them incredibly venomous. But for my Golden Toad, they are a rare supplement.” Watching the swarm of centipedes surge like a tide, Li Yang was unafraid, grinning instead.

“Ribbit…” At a thought, the Golden Toad slipped from Li Yang’s sleeve. Accompanied by a vigorous inhaling sound, a powerful suction swept across the ground, drawing up the centipedes like water into the toad’s mouth.

With each breath, the Golden Toad grew larger, until, after devouring the entire tide of centipedes, it swelled to the size of a small truck and finally stopped.

“How… how in the world is this toad raised? It can inhale and grow bigger!” Old Luo Crooked stared in shock at the enormous toad beside him, stammering and tongue-tied.

“Brother Li, what skill! This is no ordinary toad, I presume?” Chen Yulou’s eyes shone as he gazed at the mountain-sized Golden Toad, clicking his tongue in wonder.

“Indeed, it’s not an ordinary toad. This is a descendant of the ancient beast, the Three-legged Golden Toad. Sadly, the world has changed so much that the environment is no longer suitable for such creatures. Even my Golden Toad still has four legs—its bloodline is far from fully awakened.” Li Yang sighed as he stroked the toad’s leathery skin.

“Yes, the world has changed, and ancient beasts like this are ever rarer. Brother Li, you are truly fortunate,” Partridge Whistle remarked, standing nearby with a look of envy.

“My goodness, as the saying goes, three-legged toads are hard to find, and I never expected to see one for real…” Hearing the conversation, Old Luo Crooked circled the Golden Toad repeatedly. “Tell me, if it grows three legs, would it have one in the front or one in the back?”

At his words, everyone burst out laughing.

“All right, Old Luo, let’s get back to business…” Chen Yulou’s face darkened at the digression.

“Legend has it that the Three-legged Golden Toad is an ancient creature, born of heaven and earth. The three-legged cauldrons used in ancient rites were modeled after its legs, harmonizing as one without distinction between front and back, symbolizing Heaven, Earth, and Man. Ancient coins also bore the markings of its back, round outside and square inside, representing the roundness of heaven and the squareness of earth. Its belly could contain a world, swallowing space itself,” Partridge Whistle quietly explained to his curious junior.

“You are well-informed, Daoist Partridge. It is as he says, which is why, though the toad’s body is brown, it bears the name of Golden Toad,” Li Yang confirmed with a nod, acknowledging Partridge Whistle’s explanation.

Thus, the group entered the underground palace, chatting and laughing, their earlier tension forgotten. It felt less like an expedition and more like a countryside outing.

The entrance to the palace was small, but inside was another world entirely. Dimly lit, Li Yang couldn’t discern its full height, but the architecture was grand and the space vast. In the distance, a massive alchemy furnace stood tall at the center of the great hall.

“Judging by the structure and the style of the carvings, it seems to be from the Song Dynasty,” Partridge Whistle remarked, tracing the exquisite engravings on a few pillars, his face filled with doubt.

“That’s right. This should be where the Song emperors practiced alchemy. Though many emperors pursued immortality, it was a craze during the Song. The Song Dynasty revered Daoism, and several emperors were obsessed with alchemy and medicine-making. Look at that furnace in the center,” Li Yang said, pointing toward the hall’s focal point.

“My goodness, ancient emperors really were extravagant—building such a grand hall in the mountains just for alchemy. The amount of gold and silver spent must be immense. I, Old Luo, have truly broadened my horizons today,” Old Luo Crooked exclaimed, scratching his head in amazement.

“Gold and silver… Ha! Erecting such a magnificent place for alchemy in these mountains cannot be achieved with wealth alone. It would require the strength of the whole nation and years of labor. In those days of low productivity, only the emperor could accomplish such a feat,” Chen Yulou laughed softly, reflecting with mixed emotions.

“Brothers, take everything you can carry!” With a sweep of his hand, Chen Yulou sent the Unlinked men scattering about the palace.

“Excellent! I was waiting for your word, Boss. Listen up, brothers—after this job, we’ll eat and drink our fill. Enjoy yourselves, but if anyone gets greedy, I, Old Luo Crooked, will know—and my gun may not be so forgiving. Remember that!” Old Luo Crooked strode among the group, snarling fiercely.

“Yes, Commander Luo!”

“Lieutenant Yang, keep an eye on them. Make sure these brats keep their hands clean,” Old Luo Crooked ordered his adjutant after the men dispersed.

“Everyone, stay alert. This palace has been shrouded in darkness for years; who knows what monsters might lurk within.” After surveying the palace and finding nothing amiss, Li Yang hurried to remind Chen Yulou and Old Luo Crooked, who had already begun their looting.