In this world, only the dead can keep secrets.

Whether it's Igarashi, Xu Fan, or even Chiba, who claims to help.

Only when they're dead can they truly shut their mouths!

With his resolve growing firmer, Kato Bear sneered as he muttered to himself, "Only after your deaths can I genuinely secure my position as the head of Ohno Temple."

Kato Bear did not think much about how to kill these people.

He was well aware that once Igarashi came to kill, chaos would erupt in Ohno Temple, and he would certainly have his chance.

The immediate priority was to swiftly complete the task that those from the Heavenly Witch Sect had assigned him.

After all, only with their support can he secure the position as the head of Ohno Temple!

He was practicing alone in the room and did not emerge until dusk.

As a high-ranking member of Ohno Temple, he was keenly aware that this was the time when the temple kitchen delivered meals to the four elders guarding the Underground Palace.

Hurrying along, he soon arrived at the kitchen.

He could see an ancient cultivator coming out from the kitchen, carrying a meal box.

He happened to bump into Kato Bear.

"Elder... Elder Kato..."

Bumping into Kato Bear made him quite fearful, causing him to retreat in panic while greeting Kato Bear with the meal box in hand.

"Alright, what are you afraid of?"

"This meal box, is it being delivered to the four elders?"

"Ye... yes, Elder Kato..."

The other party nodded timidly, and Kato Bear said, "Alright, it happens that I need to discuss something with the four elders, so I'll deliver this meal box for you."

"This... this doesn't seem right..."

Kato Bear held a high position in the temple, and for him to do such menial work as delivering meals, this ancient cultivator was really hesitant.

"What? Did I not make myself clear enough just now?"

However, before he could push back further, Kato Bear let out a cold snort.

Immediately, this ancient cultivator shivered in fright and hurriedly handed the meal box to Kato Bear.

"Th... thank you, Elder Kato."

"Alright, since there's nothing else, you head off."

Not caring much, Kato Bear waved his hand after dismissing him, then carried the meal box and headed toward the back mountain.

The back mountain, Qingyun Mountain, was the entrance to the Underground Palace Tomb. Exiting through the back gate of Ohno Temple and trekking the mountain path, he could see ancient cultivators guarding the checkpoints along the way.

Fortunately, Kato Bear's face was familiar in Ohno Temple, allowing him to ascend the mountain freely.

After passing through the checkpoints, he soon reached the top of Qingyun Mountain.

In the center of the mountain top plaza stood a well.

This well was the entrance to the Underground Palace Tomb.

Kato Bear approached the well with the meal box, activated a mechanism, and the sound of gears began to echo.

A cloud ladder inside the well started to rise slowly.

This well directly connected to the Underground Palace Tomb below Ohno Temple and was the only entrance to the tomb. Soon, the cloud ladder rose to the top of the well.

Checking around to ensure nobody was watching, Kato Bear stepped onto the cloud ladder.

At once, the cloud ladder descended slowly, and in the darkness, Kato Bear curled his lips into a sinister smile, opened the meal box, and took out four medicine bottles from inside his jacket...

...

The sound of gears constantly echoed, and on the Qingyun Mountain top plaza, a figure emerged from the darkness.

After looking around and confirming that no one was nearby, the figure approached the well.

Staring at the slowly moving cloud ladder, Xu Fan furrowed his brows and muttered to himself, "It seems this is the entrance to the Underground Palace."

Peering into the well, it's deep beyond imagination, considering the lofty height of Qingyun Mountain, this passage must be several hundred meters tall at least.

After a brief moment of deliberation, Xu Fan leapt into the well.

Grabbing onto the iron chain connecting the cloud ladder, he continuously climbed downward.

By the time he reached the very bottom of the well, the cloud ladder had ceased operation, and Kato Bear was nowhere in sight.

Most likely, he had already delivered the meal box to the four elders.

Not knowing what kind of defenses were inside the Underground Palace, Xu Fan dangled from the iron chain, wary of making any rash moves.

Activating the golden glow of his right pupil, he assessed the surroundings before dropping from the iron chain.

This well only had one passage; torches on both sides of the bluestone passage flickered. Xu Fan surveyed momentarily and quickly proceeded forward.

Staying at the bottom of the well would inevitably result in running into Kato Bear if he returned.

A suitable hiding place must be found now.

As for what comes next, it depends on when Kato Bear leaves.

Sprinting along the passage, Xu Fan's astonishment grew.

Even the passage leading to the Underground Palace Tomb was so expansive; it's difficult to imagine how magnificent the palace buried beneath Ohno Temple would be.

After a swift journey, Xu Fan reached the end of the passage.

At the end of the passage was an underground plaza.

Numerous bronze vessels were arranged around the circular plaza, and under the flickering torchlight, they appeared solemn and mysterious.

Xu Fan stood in the plaza, gazing at the tightly shut stone-cast door not far away, experiencing a sense of awe.

This stone-cast door was approximately ten people tall and five people wide, weighing at least several tens of thousands of pounds.

Its heavy atmosphere gave the impression that brute force alone would be unquestionably insufficient to open this door.

Xu Fan even felt that he couldn't break open the door even if he exhausted his entire spiritual power.

That's not good…

Hearing the sound of footsteps from a nearby passage, Xu Fan cursed silently before leaping gracefully like a black cat into a large bronze vessel nearby.

Hiding inside the bronze vessel, Xu Fan activated the golden glow in his eyes and peered outside.

He could see Kato Bear emerging from the passage, carrying an empty meal box.

His lips curled in a smug smile, indicating clearly that his plan had succeeded.

Emerging from the passage of the elders' residence, Kato Bear laughed as he headed toward the cloud ladder.

Once his figure completely vanished and the sound of the cloud ladder began to stir, Xu Fan climbed out of the bronze vessel.

Honestly, he found it a little ironic.

These four elders were dedicated to protecting the Underground Palace Tomb, never leaving the underground.

Yet now they were to die at the hands of one of their own, truly unlucky.

However, such matters were none of his business.

Should he rush over now to tell those old guards that Kato Bear had poisoned them?

Clearly, that's unrealistic.

If he approached, they would only think he was responsible.

The priority is to research the Underground Palace's door thoroughly.

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