Sprinting forward along the underground passageway, Xu Fan and Igarashi soon reached the end of the passage.

"That guy didn't follow us, did he?"

Stopping at the entrance, Xu Fan, panting, asked a question.

Igarashi, carrying Asao Mai on his back, shook his head.

The complex expression on his face showed how much Akiyama Tsuki's appearance had impacted him just now.

Xu Fan noticed this and patted his shoulder, saying, "Alright, don't think too much."

"It's not your fault."

The whole thing was just Igarashi's good intentions gone wrong, and he couldn't be blamed.

Xu Fan reminded him, hoping Igarashi wouldn't get himself stuck in a spiral of overthinking.

"By the way, where does this exit lead?"

In front was a large door, and the situation outside was unclear. Xu Fan, having rested enough, asked Igarashi.

"I don't know either, I only know there's such a hidden passage."

"Alright then..."

Thinking about it carefully, it made sense that Igarashi didn't know where the exit led.

If he had known, he would have directly entered through this hidden passage from the start.

Doing so silently would have been better, wouldn't it?

Xu Fan walked towards the large door and noticed a mechanism to open it beside the door.

Seeing the mechanism, Xu Fan instantly understood.

Even knowing the exit of this hidden passage, it was difficult to directly infiltrate the underground palace from here.

The material of this large door was the same as the entrance to the underground palace tomb, incredibly hard to break through with human strength.

Plus, the existence of this mechanism meant this door was only meant to exit, not to enter from the outside.

"Alright, whatever's outside, we have to open the door."

At this point, they had no way back. Even if what awaited them ahead was a hellish challenge, they had to brace themselves and go through it.

Xu Fan took a deep breath and pressed the door mechanism!

Immediately, only the sound of clicking gears could be heard!

"Oh no!"

The door in front of them didn't open; instead, the ground beneath them gave way!

With an exclamation, Xu Fan and Igarashi fell straight down!

Gurgle gurgle!

Beneath the trap was all water; Xu Fan fell from above, plunging right in!

In panic, he swallowed several mouthfuls of water and, before he could steady himself in the water, was swept away by the underwater current!

Damn it!

Swept away by the current, Xu Fan struggled continuously, but it was of no use!

It was pitch black in the water! Xu Fan had no idea where he was!

The only thing he could do was go with the flow and let the current take him.

After what felt like ages, just as Xu Fan was about to suffocate, a faint light finally appeared ahead!

Driven by the will to survive, Xu Fan swam incessantly towards the light!

With a splash!

After a struggle, Xu Fan finally leaped out of the water!

Lying on the ground, he began panting heavily.

"Damn it, it's all tricks..."

This ordeal almost cost him his life; having narrowly escaped death, he couldn't help but curse.

Once calm, he started to observe his surroundings.

"So that's it."

He seemed to be by a lakeside; Xu Fan, recalling the earlier situation, instantly understood that it wasn't really a trap.

It must have been the way out.

Even if he hadn't done anything just now, he figured the current would have carried him to the shore.

This was likely designed to prevent others from entering the underground palace tomb from here.

You see, even with the underwater current in this lake, getting close would be difficult even without a mechanism door at the entrance.

"Are you okay?"

While marveling at the sophisticated design of the underground palace tomb, Igarashi's voice suddenly came from behind.

Xu Fan turned back to see Igarashi and suddenly exclaimed.

"Where is she?"

Not seeing Asao Mai, Xu Fan felt his heart tighten!

Remember, in the underwater current just now, Igarashi couldn't necessarily take care of Asao Mai.

If Asao Mai's body were lost, everything would be over.

"Pff."

Seeing Xu Fan's tense expression, Igarashi couldn't help but laugh.

"Hehe, who would have thought you're quite loyal."

Though not familiar with Xu Fan, Igarashi knew that Xu Fan and Asao Mai had only a few days of acquaintance.

In just a few short days, he was able to value someone so much, which indeed showed loyalty and righteousness.

It seemed that his judgment was correct.

This young man was indeed someone worth befriending.

"Don't worry, she's over there."

Laughing, Igarashi pointed aside.

Asao Mai's body was lying there.

Xu Fan saw this and immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

"By the way, where are we?"

With nothing missing from his belongings and having narrowly escaped death, Xu Fan was in a rather good mood. After a brief rest, he inquired.

"This is Kunlong Lake, and Ohno Temple is nearby."

After surveying the surroundings, Igarashi answered Xu Fan.

"I see," Xu Fan nodded, "Why don't you wait for me here for a bit? I need to make a trip back to Ohno Temple."

"You still plan to go back?"

Upon hearing Xu Fan's decision, Igarashi was taken aback!

Given the current situation, going back wasn't safe.

Not to mention, his whole body was wounded now.

Returning now would be courting death, wouldn't it?

"Don't be so tense; it might not be as serious as you say."

Seeing Igarashi's worried expression, Xu Fan smiled and said.

By now, most of the Heavenly Witch Sect was likely already inside the underground palace tomb.

As for the ancient cultivators of Ohno Temple, they were likely all dead.

Going back now might not be as dangerous as it sounded.

"Alright, I'll go with you, then we can watch each other's backs."

Without asking Xu Fan why he needed to return, Igarashi picked up Asao Mai's body.

"Haha, that's the spirit."

Xu Fan chuckled; without wasting time, along with Igarashi, he headed towards Ohno Temple.

Soon, they arrived at the entrance of Ohno Temple.

They bypassed the corpses lying on the ground and entered Ohno Temple.

"Looks like these ancient cultivators are finished..."

His eyes scanned the flames rising around the temple, and Xu Fan couldn't help but sigh.

The current Ohno Temple was littered with bodies, akin to a scene from hell; the temple's elites were nearly wiped out.

Such losses were devastating; it might take hundreds of years to recover its past glory.

"Alright, let's go and check the main hall..."

After a moment of contemplation, Xu Fan led Igarashi to the main hall of Ohno Temple.

Upon reaching the main hall, Xu Fan found Chiba inside.

The reason for returning was just to tell him he had fulfilled his promised task.

In his current state, he might not hold on much longer; perhaps he was holding on just to wait for news from Xu Fan.

Returning now might provide him a chance to pass away peacefully...

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