This time.
Among the various forces that entered the passage, Hua Xia Wu Long had the fewest people.
Only Huo Zhu, He Ao, and Jiang Pan.
Led by Huo Zhu, the three sprinted rapidly in a certain direction.
For some unknown reason.
All the forces that entered here were very tacit, not choosing to attack each other, as if entering a period of peaceful development.
"Great Elder, where are we going? Why are we scattering and not heading to the same place?" He Ao asked.
"Yes, should we go and meet up with Zhang Yang?" Jiang Pan also asked suspiciously.
"Heh heh, we won't go to Zhang Yang's side. Don't worry about his safety. That kid should have gone to where he's supposed to go."
"As for you... follow me first. Perhaps you can find some heavenly treasures here to heal you." Huo Zhu chuckled.
As soon as these words were spoken, Jiang Pan and He Ao were overjoyed.
Huo Zhu said that heavenly treasures that could heal their internal injuries could be found here!
If they really found them.
Then they wouldn't have to look at others' faces!
Ever since Hua Xia Wu Long encountered an attack by an unknown powerful enemy and a large number of members were seriously injured.
He Ao and Jiang Pan had been enduring humiliation, gradually fading their presence.
Including just now at the Zhang family.
The two had not expressed any opinion, and could only exert the combat power of the early True Yuan realm, which made them feel powerless.
Otherwise, with forces like Qi Sha, what right would they have to show off in front of them?
When these people saw them before, who wouldn't respectfully greet them and call them Deputy Minister.
"Great Elder, is Zhang Yang really alright?" He Ao was still worried.
Although Huo Zhu was leading them to find heavenly treasures to heal their internal hidden ailments, He Ao still couldn't let go of Zhang Yang.
"Don't worry, that child will be fine. He is more extraordinary than you think. If nothing unexpected happens, you will be greatly surprised." Huo Zhu chuckled.
Ever since Zhang Yang entered the Zhang family passage ahead of them, Huo Zhu had guessed some things and felt a little expectant.
...
On the other side.
When Luo Yiren discovered the arrow.
Zhang Yang and his group, following the arrows that might have been left by Zhang Lihe, shuttled through the underground palace maze.
Finally.
They walked out of this maze.
The end of the maze was a stone bridge, and the arrow markings also disappeared here.
In front of them, there was only a stone bridge leading to the other side.
However, at this point, the giant python and the giant crocodile had to stop.
The temperature around this stone bridge was very high, a stark contrast to the coolness of the maze.
What was most astonishing was that what flowed beneath the stone bridge was not river water, but scorching lava.
"Zhang Yang, should we cross? Could that arrow be deliberately left by the Zhang family to harm us?" Luo Yiren asked vigilantly.
"Don't move yet, I'll try." After thinking, Zhang Yang said.
He was the strongest person here. If this stone bridge really had a problem, he had the greatest chance of escaping.
"You're going to try? Won't that be too dangerous?" Luo Yiren was worried.
"Why not let the giant crocodile try? It's thick-skinned anyway."
Hearing Luo Yiren's suggestion.
The giant crocodile suddenly shivered, its huge head shaking constantly.
This wouldn't do.
Even though its scales were hard, there was scorching lava below the stone bridge.
What if the stone bridge broke while walking and they fell in, leaving nothing but dregs?
The giant crocodile kept shaking its head at Zhang Yang, hoping he wouldn't listen to Luo Yiren's suggestion.
"It's fine, I'll try it myself. You wait for me here." Zhang Yang chuckled.
Although the lava beneath the stone bridge gave a sense of oppression.
Zhang Yang did not feel any danger, nor did he have much worry.
After speaking.
Zhang Yang didn't wait for Luo Yiren to object and directly leaped onto the stone bridge, walking step by step.
The stone bridge was not long, about twenty meters.
When Zhang Yang stepped onto the stone bridge.
The lava beneath the bridge surged inexplicably, and a large amount of sparks splashed onto the bridge surface.
However, apart from this, no other threat descended.
Soon.
Zhang Yang reached the other end of the bridge and shouted to Luo Yiren.
"Sister Yiren, it should be fine. You can come over one by one."
"Okay."
Luo Yiren agreed, then stepped onto the stone bridge and crossed it smoothly.
Then the giant python and the giant crocodile followed suit.
After passing the stone bridge, they continued to move deeper inside.
Finally, not far ahead, they heard voices.
"Finally caught up?" Zhang Yang smiled knowingly.
Although they were delayed in the maze, they finally managed to catch up.
Zhang Yang quickly rushed towards the direction of the sound.
"Zhang Lihe, what are you doing?! The Creation Pool water here is just right. The young master said one person occupies one, why do you want to occupy three positions by yourself!"
"I don't care, I want three positions in this Creation Pool!" Zhang Lihe said domineeringly.
"You're really something. A traitor actually thinks so highly of yourself. If you don't move aside, don't blame us for being ruthless!"
"Heh! Ruthless? Then come on! I'll take one with me even if I die!" Zhang Lihe shouted.
At this moment.
Zhang Lihe was facing the siege of two Zhang family experts alone.
He had some injuries, but he gritted his teeth and endured.
This was thanks to Zhang Lihe not making a move immediately.
He had been waiting for the Zhang family's mid-stage True Yuan realm experts.
And after most of the early-stage True Yuan realm experts entered the Creation Pool, he then made a move against the last two.
However, fighting one against two with the same realm, Zhang Lihe was at a disadvantage everywhere.
"Since you want to die, then don't blame us!"
The two early-stage True Yuan realm experts of the Zhang family directly attacked, their vital energy surging out and locking onto Zhang Lihe.
Obviously.
They didn't want to waste any more time with Zhang Lihe.
Others were already absorbing the energy of the Creation Pool, and they couldn't fall too far behind.
Both of them were serious.
A look of determination appeared in Zhang Lihe's eyes.
Including the Zhang family, there were three people who had not entered the Creation Pool.
If he managed to kill one of them, then even if the last Zhang family expert entered the Creation Pool.
Two intact Creation Pools could be left behind.
As long as Zhang Yang arrived sooner, everything would still be in time.
"I hope the Young Minister can discover the mark I left for him sooner." Zhang Lihe prayed silently.
At the same time.
A powerful vital energy fluctuation erupted from within him.
However, he did not choose to attack, but intended to self-destruct!
That's right.
Zhang Lihe intended to take one of them down with him.
Instantly.
A large amount of vital energy circulated within Zhang Lihe's body, constantly accumulating, but not releasing.
The purpose was to compress the vital energy to the extreme and choose to self-destruct.
However, just as Zhang Lihe was about to self-destruct, an anomaly occurred.
Two black shadows suddenly appeared, dividing their tasks clearly, opening their bloody mouths and swallowing the two Zhang family experts.
Uh~
What is this?
Zhang Lihe was stunned.
But when he saw Zhang Yang, his face immediately showed surprise and joy.
"Young Minister, you're here." Zhang Lihe said excitedly.
"Are you alright?" Zhang Yang asked with concern.
Zhang Yang had seen the situation just now.
Zhang Lihe's protection of the three Creation Pool waters must have had a purpose, and Zhang Yang had also guessed some of the reasons.
"It's fine, Young Minister, do you remember what I told you? This Creation Pool has a similar effect to the Dragon Transformation Water of the Hua Xia Wu Long headquarters, and it's even better."
As expected.
What Zhang Lihe said was the same as what Zhang Yang had guessed.
At this moment.
Before their eyes, the small pits resembling geothermal hot springs were the Creation Pools.
The Creation Pools were not large, and each pit could only accommodate one person.
Except for the Zhang family experts devoured by the two fierce beasts brought by Zhang Yang.
All the others were immersed in the Creation Pools, madly absorbing the energy within.
"If I want to save Xi Yao, how much Creation Pool water do I need?" Zhang Yang asked.
"Conservatively, it will take the essence of one pit of Creation Water, but we have three now, so it should be enough." Zhang Lihe said with a smile.
Three should not be that much.
However, to be safe, at least two servings of Creation Water would be needed.
But a new problem arose.
Zhang Yang did not have any containers with him now. How could he take the Creation Water away?
Seeing Zhang Yang frowning, Zhang Lihe immediately smiled.
"Young Minister, although absorbing the Creation Water directly has the best effect, it can also be refined into essence using vital energy."
After speaking.
Zhang Lihe took out a prepared jade bottle.
"It can be refined into essence using vital energy? That's a good idea." With the problem solved, Zhang Yang's face also showed a smile.
Then.
His gaze fell on the Zhang family experts immersed in the Creation Water, his eyes flashing with killing intent.
At this moment.
These people seemed to be in a state of self-forgetfulness.
They were completely unaware of what was happening outside. If they were all killed at this moment, it would save a lot of trouble.
"Young Master, wait a moment." Zhang Lihe suddenly called out.
"Once the Creation Pool is absorbed, it's best not to attack the people inside, otherwise the lava beneath the Creation Pool will surge, and then all the Creation Water will be trapped by the formation."
Is that so?
Zhang Yang immediately understood.
Luo Yiren, who had been observing silently, also suddenly realized.
She had been wondering if Zhang Lihe was staging a self-inflicted injury.
Because if Zhang Lihe truly wanted to help Zhang Yang seize the Creation Water.
He could have waited for all the Zhang family experts to enter the Creation Pool and then sneak attack them and kill them all.
"Alright, then let them live a little longer." Zhang Yang also heeded Zhang Lihe's advice and dispersed his vital energy.
"The arrows outside, you left them, right?" Zhang Yang asked.
"Yes, there were many people accompanying the Zhang family, so I didn't dare to leave too obvious marks." Zhang Lihe said helplessly.
"If you had discovered it any later, I might have died here."
"Thank you, I really have no conscience, to have suspected you of being a traitor." Zhang Yang said with shame.
"Young Minister, you don't need to apologize to me. I have my reasons for doing this."
Zhang Lihe gave a wry smile, and then slowly explained his surrender to the Zhang family.
"..."
So it turned out.
Zhang Lihe's betrayal was all a lie.
He did this under the arrangement of Zhang Yang's father, Zhang Yingxiong.
Zhang Yingxiong's intention was to give Zhang Lihe the qualification to enter the ancestral house with the Zhang family.
Then, Zhang Lihe could find an opportunity to help Zhang Yingxiong obtain an item.
This was also what Zhang Lihe told the Zhang family about the underground headquarters of Hua Xia Wu Long in order to gain their trust.
Including later providing some intelligence resources originally belonging to Hua Xia Wu Long.
However.
This did not include framing Huo Zhu.
Zhang Lihe had no prior knowledge of Huo Zhu being drugged beforehand.
When he later learned that Huo Zhu had an accident, Zhang Lihe found the real reason.
That is, someone within Hua Xia Wu Long had truly defected.
He had been bribed by Zhang Xiao and had been secretly helping him.
This was why Zhang Yang sensed someone eavesdropping when he found something wrong with Zhang Lihe that day and was discussing a secret investigation with He Ao and Jiang Pan.
Because.
That person was the one who betrayed Hua Xia Wu Long.
However, that traitor was now as dead as could be, killed by Zhang Lihe himself.
"It must have been difficult for you all these years." Zhang Yang sighed with emotion.
"It's nothing difficult. I just did what the Minister assigned." Zhang Lihe shook his head.
Knowing the inside story, the misunderstanding between Zhang Yang and Zhang Lihe was completely resolved.
"Let's go, let's refine this Creation Water first."
Zhang Yang beckoned Luo Yiren and Zhang Lihe, intending to go forward together.
However, Zhang Lihe stopped Zhang Yang.
"Young Minister, refining the Creation Water can be left to Luo Yiren and me. You have more important things to do now."
"What is it?" Zhang Yang asked curiously.
"Of course it's what your father assigned you. That item is inside, and Zhang Xiao has already entered ahead of time."
Zhang Lihe pointed to a dragon-shaped statue behind the Creation Pool.
This statue was very large, with its dragon mouth open.
"Young Minister, there is something better than Dragon Transformation Water inside. You need to go in quickly."
"And your father wants something inside. Besides that, you must kill Zhang Xiao and not let him succeed."
Originally.
If Zhang Yang hadn't appeared.
Zhang Lihe would have waited for everyone to enter the Creation Pool to absorb energy, and then he would have secretly followed them in to deal with Zhang Xiao.
However, ever since Zhang Yang arrived in the capital, Zhang Lihe's plan had changed.
Instead of going in himself, it was better to let Zhang Yang go in.
The benefits he gained would be even greater.
"What's inside?"
"I'm not sure. It's said to be a divine artifact left by the old ancestor of the Zhang family, a divine artifact that can make one soar to the heavens."
Zhang Lihe only had a partial understanding and did not know the specifics.
"However, what your father asked me to get is a box, a green box."
A green box?
Zhang Yang nodded silently, keeping this in mind.
He glanced at the Creation Pool water, feeling a bit conflicted.
Once he went in, he didn't know how long it would take to come out.
There were so many Zhang family experts outside the Creation Pool now.
Could Zhang Lihe and the others handle it?
"Zhang Yang, don't worry, leave it to us."
At this moment, Luo Yiren stepped forward.
She was the strongest person here besides Zhang Yang.
"Don't underestimate me, sister. Sister has broken through and her strength is very strong."
After Luo Yiren finished speaking, the giant python and the giant crocodile also roared, as if indicating that they could also help.
"Young Minister, hurry and go in." Zhang Lihe urged again.
Zhang Yang pondered for a moment, glanced at the Zhang family experts outside, there were still two mid-stage True Yuan realm experts and eight early-stage True Yuan realm experts.
Luo Yiren's lineup should be able to hold on.
"Okay, then I'll go in. I'll leave this place to you." Zhang Yang did not delay, and leaped up, rushing into the dragon's mouth.
...