Chapter 176: The Underworld King

The old man held a black scepter in his hand, with a gemstone embedded at the top that shimmered with a ghostly blue light, emitting an aura that made one's heart tremble.

"Who are you?" Tang Jun asked in a deep voice.

"I am the Underworld King," the old man said slowly, his voice carrying a majesty that brooked no doubt.

"The Underworld King?" Tang Jun's heart shook. Could this be the true form of the ancient Underworld King?

"Correct," the Underworld King nodded. "You are quite impressive to have found my weakness and destroyed it."

"Unfortunately, you are ultimately too weak."

The Underworld King shook his head. "Even if you destroyed my avatar, you cannot stop my resurrection."

"Resurrection?" Tang Jun frowned. "What do you mean?"

"The You Ming Tower is the place of my resurrection," the Underworld King said slowly.

"As long as I gather enough souls, I can be resurrected and rule the world."

"Souls?" Tang Jun's heart turned cold. Only then did he understand why there were so many skeletons in the You Ming Tower.

"Correct. These skeletons are all the souls I have collected," the Underworld King laughed coldly.

"And you, too, shall become my next collectible."

Before the words fell, the scepter in the Underworld King's hand pointed sharply at Tang Jun, and a ghostly blue beam shot out, heading straight for him.

Tang Jun's expression changed. His Chaos Medical Qi surged wildly, forming a protective shield that blocked the beam's attack.

"It's useless. Your power is too weak," the Underworld King shook his head.

"Behave and become my food."

Saying this, the Underworld King waved his scepter again, and beam after beam of ghostly blue light shot out.

Like a torrential rain, they assaulted Tang Jun.

Tang Jun dodged left and right, narrowly avoiding the attacks, his heart filled with extreme anxiety.

"This won't do. I must find a way to escape," Tang Jun thought to himself.

While dodging the beams, he observed his surroundings, searching for a chance to break free.

Suddenly, he noticed a stone door not far away, with strange runes carved upon it that emitted a faint glow.

"Could that be… the exit?" Tang Jun's heart stirred, and he decided to take the risk.

He took a deep breath, his figure turning into a bolt of lightning as he rushed toward the stone door.

"Trying to run?" The Underworld King sneered, waving his scepter, and a much more powerful beam shot out, blocking Tang Jun's path.

Tang Jun's expression changed, his figure coming to a sudden halt, nearly being struck by the beam.

"Damn it!" Tang Jun cursed, his heart filled with anxiety.

Just then, he noticed the runes on the stone door suddenly light up, emitting a powerful suction force.

"This is…" Tang Jun's heart leaped with joy. Could the stone door be opening?

He didn't hesitate, rushing toward the stone door once more.

This time, the Underworld King's beam could not stop him, and he charged directly into the stone door.

Behind the stone door was a long passage, with strange patterns carved into the walls on both sides, emitting an eerie glow.

Tang Jun walked along the passage for who knows how long, finally reaching the end.

At the end of the passage was a massive bronze door, with a lifelike giant dragon carved into it, emitting an ancient and mysterious aura.

Tang Jun took a deep breath and slowly pushed open the bronze door.

Blinding white light instantly swallowed Tang Jun. He instinctively closed his eyes, hearing a whistling wind in his ears.

When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a desolate canyon, surrounded by jagged rocks and chilling winds.

"Where is this place?"

Tang Jun looked around, his brows locked in a frown.

Shouldn't the inside of the You Ming Tower be filled with eerie halls and secret chambers?

What was this canyon about?

He took a few tentative steps, the gravel beneath his feet making a "creaking" sound that seemed piercingly loud in the silent canyon.

Suddenly, he felt the ground beneath him give way, and he plummeted downward.

"Damn it!" Tang Jun exclaimed, his body falling uncontrollably, wind whistling in his ears as the scenery flew past.

After who knows how long, he crashed heavily onto the ground, a wave of sharp pain causing him to groan.

"Hiss… that was a nasty fall." Tang Jun rubbed his bruised backside and struggled to stand up.

Only then did he realize he was in a massive deep pit, with smooth rock walls all around, making it impossible to climb out.

"What the hell kind of place is this?"

Tang Jun couldn't help but swear, his heart filled with doubt and unease.

Just then, he noticed a stone in the center of the pit that shimmered with a faint light, emitting a strange aura.

"What is this?" Tang Jun walked over curiously and touched the stone.

The next moment, his vision blurred, and the scenery around him suddenly changed.

He found himself back inside the You Ming Tower, right where he had been fighting the Underworld King.

"What's going on? I… how did I get back here?"

Tang Jun looked blank, completely unable to grasp the situation.

Before he could react, the Underworld King appeared before him again.

He was still holding the black scepter.

"You… how are you here?" Tang Jun looked at the Underworld King in shock, his heart filled with doubt.

"Heh, did you think you could escape my grasp?"

The Underworld King sneered.

"This is my domain. I can make you appear wherever I choose."

Tang Jun's expression changed; he realized his previous experience was likely just some form of illusion cast by the Underworld King.

"Damn it!" he cursed, his Chaos Medical Qi surging again as he prepared for a life-or-death battle.

Just then, he felt his hair turn white instantly, and wrinkles appeared on his face, as if he had aged decades in a single moment.

"What's happening?" Tang Jun was shocked, reaching up to touch his face.

His hand met a withered, aged face.

The skin was loose and covered in wrinkles, nothing like his youthful face from before.

"Hahaha, do you see? This is the passage of time," the Underworld King laughed.

"In this place, the flow of time is chaotic. Every step you take could send you a hundred years into the past or future."

Tang Jun's heart sank; he realized how dangerous his environment truly was.

If he couldn't find a way out quickly, he might just age to death right here.

Just then, a cold voice suddenly sounded in his ear.

"The stones here… record the future!"

Tang Jun turned to look, seeing Lin Xiyue touching the rock wall in shock, her eyes filled with disbelief.

"The future?"

Tang Jun paused, his heart stirring. Could these stones predict the future?