Chapter 1165: The Imperial Palace, the Tunnels

In the lobby of Longmen Inn, hundreds of martial artists gathered around fire pits, discussing various aspects related to the plot of Longmen Inn.
The Shadow Sect naturally had the greatest influence…
Next was Niu Dali’s Zhan Yi Sect from the Western Regions, allied with some scattered forces and members of the Jinyiwei, forming a subtle counterbalance to the Xifeng Tower.
Although the Four Silver Foxes were a minor faction, they occupied a spot openly thanks to the gang insignia on their chests, without facing any interference.
Jinxiu Heshan was also a well-known name in the Western Regions!
Because one emperor had won two battles in Thailand and Vietnam, people no longer underestimated the Central Plains’ ability to fight abroad, and no one dared to offend or provoke the disciples of Jinxiu Heshan lightly.
Moreover…
Though the Silver Foxes weren’t very famous in the martial world, they had been mentioned twice by Kai Xin during the Song Family battle, and now they were also well-known figures.
Additionally!
Even the Shadow Sect speculated that Kai Xin might have arrived in the Western Regions. Ordinary people wouldn’t deliberately seek trouble for themselves.
…
“After all, she’s the second most powerful figure in the Central Plains…”
Sitting in a corner, the Silver Fox observed the crowd in the inn coldly, murmuring, “Most people have given up the mission to enter the Forbidden Palace in the desert and focused on the plot-related tasks at Longmen Inn. It seems she intends to complete both tasks at once…”
“It’s no wonder. Although the Xifeng Tower isn’t as renowned as Jinxiu Heshan now, it was once one of the most powerful factions in the Central Plains.” Daozi raised his cup and took a sip lightly.
Although they had joined Jinxiu Heshan not long ago, after finding a branch, the four of them learned more about the faction and its systems, realizing that Jinxiu Heshan was on the right track, becoming a vibrant and powerful new force.
“It’s a shame she lost her vigilance after reaching its peak. Otherwise, how could she allow the Blood Cloak Sect to break away and form its own faction, giving Meng Yun the chance to secretly control the twelve major gangs in the capital and dominate the Central Plains?”
The Silver Fox sneered.
Now, due to the competition among Jinxiu Heshan’s top disciples, the masters under Jinxiu Heshan hadn’t slackened off just because they were number one in the Central Plains. On the contrary, driven by the legacy of Song Que and various rewards, they trained tirelessly day and night to build up their strength.

Today, Jinxiu Heshan is growing at a faster pace than any gang in the Central Plains! It’s by no means the kind of gang that becomes sluggish and weak due to its sheer size. Even Yin Hu and the others feel an unprecedented pressure and are not entirely confident about the “Number One Disciple of Jinxiu Heshan.”

A gang that even puts Yin Hu under pressure—Yin Hu believes that in the near future, Jinxiu Heshan could even stand alone against the Wild Wolf Organization, let alone a once-powerful gang that has been shattered by Yipin Tang and is now trying to rebuild itself.

“Gaining the treasures from the Desert Palace will undoubtedly bring great benefits to the Xifeng Tower. It’s understandable why Shadow came here to take risks; if it were me, I wouldn’t miss it either.”

“But sadly, this mission was probably initiated by the sect leader. Shadow still hasn’t figured out the ins and outs, so the chances of obtaining the treasures from the Desert Palace are slim.”

At this point, Yin Hu suddenly frowned, turned his head toward the door with an attentive expression…

Daozi and the others, along with all the martial artists in the inn, gradually turned their gaze toward the door at that moment!

Bang!!!

With a series of chaotic and rapid footsteps and the sound of clothes rustling through the air, the wooden bar blocking the door shattered, and figures rushed in from outside, carrying swirling sand with them.

A large group of people rushed into the inn like the wind and stopped there!

Cold air rushed in, causing all the martial artists in the inn to gasp in shock, feeling a chilling coldness invade their bodies.

Bang! Bang!

The group sitting at the door was the first to get angry. They stood up abruptly, ready to curse loudly, with a few even drawing their swords…

But when they noticed the cultivation levels of the people who had stopped there, the curses on their lips were forced back down into their stomachs.

Almost all those who came from the ruins were experts at the Mythical Realm level, with the few who led the way being peak experts at that realm.

Although there were also experts at the Mythical Realm level in the inn, in a world where the strong reign supreme, they still didn’t have the qualifications to challenge master-level figures at the peak of the Mythical Realm.

The group stood up, dumbfounded, as more experts at the Mythical Realm level rushed in, one after another leaving their tables.

“What’s going on?”

“Thieves! You broke my door—how am I supposed to open it to do business?” Jinxiangyu stepped out of her room on the second floor while getting dressed. Seeing the broken wooden bars lying on the ground, she glared angrily and started cursing. But this slick bossess also understood the situation and didn’t name names.

“Madam, the Black Storm is coming. I’m borrowing your place to take shelter. Here’s some compensation.” The leading expert at the peak of the Mythical Realm, knowing he was at fault and not wanting trouble, tossed over two gold leaves right away.

As she caught the gold leaves, Jin Jianyu’s expression changed drastically: “Black Storm?” For the first time, she didn’t look at the gold leaves in her hand. Seeing more and more people flooding into the inn, she hurriedly rushed down the stairs. A few workers from the inn also came rushing out.

“Black Storm?!” Everyone looked panicked.

“What’s going on?” Those from the Central Plains didn’t know what was happening, but seeing the pale, terrified faces of the people from the Western Regions, they guessed something bad had occurred. Only the players reacted differently.

“Close the door!”
“Hurry up and close it!!” As soon as Jin Jianyu reached the door, she felt an incomparably powerful gale carrying razor-sharp sand particles. By the time she reached the door, she could barely stand.

“I haven’t even entered yet—why close the door?!”

Outside the inn, many people were still rushing toward it. Seeing the door close, they started cursing angrily.

However, at that moment of closing the door, everyone inside the inn could see the towering black tornado and the stormy vortex blocking out the sky.

“Sss…” The power of nature filled everyone in the inn with fear, as if facing death itself.

Bang!! The two not-so-sturdy doors shattered completely!

“Xiao Wu, go into the tunnel!” Jin Jianyu, no longer showing her usual carefree demeanor, shouted loudly and led a few workers toward the kitchen.

At that exact moment, everyone received a system notification:

Ding!
“You’ve encountered a Black Storm that appears only once every fifty years in the desert!”
“It is said that after the Black Storm, the Desert Palace will reappear. If you survive it, you’ll be able to see the Desert Palace.”
“Follow Jin Jianyu!”

Just as the system notification appeared, Silver Fox happened to see Jin Jianyu and the others rushing toward the kitchen. She quickly gave a signal to the Three with Knives.

Whoosh! The four of them immediately chased after Jin Jianyu and the rest.

“The inn will be destroyed!”
“Jin Jianyu ran away!”
“Hurry! Those who want to live must go into the tunnel!” As soon as they entered the kitchen, they heard chaotic shouts from behind.

…

Although Mei Ying and the others also saw Jin Jianyu and Silver Fox heading into the tunnel, the people from Xifeng Tower were more worried about Wu Kuo and the others who had followed the Young Man in White, the Evil King, and others to the ruins of the New Dragon Gate Inn.

Now, all the experts from that ruins site had fled back for refuge, but Wu Kuo and his group were nowhere to be seen, which worried them greatly.
“Wu Kuo!”
“Send a messenger pigeon quickly!”
Shadow remained calm, unlike ordinary people. Since the experts like the young man in white hadn’t appeared, there was likely some trick at play. Shadow stayed composed in the inn, watching more and more people head toward the gold-inlaid jade tunnel, while the people from Xifeng Tower firmly stayed behind, waiting for Wu Kuo.
Boom!!!
Wu Kuo rushed in with two others in disarray:
“Mist… is here…”
“Let’s go!”
Wu Kuo, his two companions, had sand in their mouths and noses and were covered in wounds. As soon as they rushed in, they tried to pull Shadow and the others away.
Shadow’s expression changed: “Where are those people?”
“Pah! Let’s go!! Those madmen stayed at the ruins and didn’t come over. They’re probably already swallowed by the black storm… We must leave now! If we don’t, it’ll be too late!!”
Wu Kuo spat out the sand in his mouth and urged them urgently.
“…”
Although Shadow still worried about what had happened to the experts, seeing the massive tornado-like storm outside the inn approaching the stables nearby, with countless horses screaming as they were swept into the sky, she realized it was a death sentence even if they tried to go there. Gritting her teeth, she ordered, “Go! Into the tunnel!”
“Clear the way!”
…
Boom!!!
Before Longmen Inn was destroyed, the ruins site of the new Longmen Inn had already been erased by the black storm.
Where the seven great experts had originally been stood a huge passage emerging from the ground, deep and bottomless. Along with the iron chains holding open the passage’s door, it was slowly submerged by the yellow sand filling the air!
Ding!
In the dark and gloomy environment, a clear system notification suddenly sounded in Happy’s ears: “Ruins passage detected.”
Puff!!
The Thousand-Faced Fox took something out of his bosom and waved it in the air. A bright red flame quickly intensified, turning into a blazing fire that illuminated the fairly wide passage.
“Master!”
“Are you okay, master?”
“I’m fine. Where’s Osaaya?”
“I’m here.”
Happy brushed off the dust on his body while quickly using his spiritual senses to locate Osaaya, who was barely holding on high up.
It was quite surprising.
The moment the chains appeared in the ruins area, one of Lord Wu Zun Bi Xuan’s attendants was ordered to pull the mechanism, only for the entire ruins site to collapse and sink underground. All seven great experts, along with hundreds of other experts in the vicinity, were caught in it without exception. Everything within a hundred meters that lacked support was destroyed.

After all, Aosaya was a master of the Heavenly Way, so she was in slightly better condition and not completely covered in dust.
“The young master of Gusu is truly skillful; he managed to stay unharmed…”
Aosaya descended gracefully and couldn’t help but smile upon seeing Happy covered in dust.
But Happy ignored Aosaya’s teasing, looked around, and said to the Thousand-Faced Fox, “Wan Nian, this might be the passage leading to the Desert Palace. Be careful and check for any traps…”