Divine Emperor of Death

Nestled in a secluded island lied an extraordinary ancient mansion. Unlike any other abode, this mansion didn't seem to be a palace of residence. It was shrouded in the fog of mystery, making the people who stepped before it hesitate.

"Should we enter first?"

Shirley asked, her expression more solemn than the playfulness she displayed before.

Isabella and the others looked at her. Her meaning was clear: letting opponents enter first to get caught in traps. However, this also carried the risk of treasures being taken away if their opponents were able to resolve the pitfalls faced inside.

"No, I think Zenova Artoria is an expert in formations. She should be aware of most Immortal Emperor formations, so even if she couldn't make the traps inside collapse, she should be able to navigate out rather easily. It's better if we take the lead."

Isabella responded.

"…"

The others looked at the two of them, wondering why these two had become this alert over Zenova Artoria.

Was she that of a threat to them?

And why was the big sister among them gone silent?

They couldn't help but take a closer look at Evelynn.

It was as though she was preparing for a huge battle ahead, making them all look intrigued.

Isabella took the lead.

They entered the mansion first while Zenova Artoria and the three others were one step slower than them, or perhaps they had waited to let them enter first.

Either way, Isabella's group had made their decision.

They walked through the front entrance, each step taken with careful consideration. Their senses moved forward, but it was still suppressed here, not letting them cover for more than a meter.

Once they stepped inside, a glaring light plunged them.

It made them blink and adjust their eyes to the bright light inside, and when their sight became clearer, it was like they were invited into a new world.

"The area inside this mansion is spatially enhanced…" Hayley commented.

They all walked forward as they looked around, almost forgetting themselves as they air was filled with a rich medicinal scent.

After all, they were greeted by a lush meadow teeming with all kinds of plant life. From vibrant green patches on the ground in fixed tiles to dangerous purple-red poisonous patches, everything seemed to thrive in this space under the light of a crystal sphere that mimicked the sun.

"Wait… is that a Crystal Sphere…?" Dewzai looked up at that artificial sun.

As the person who made the closest contact with the Crystal Sphere that was hanging over the mammoth crystal tree, she vaguely recognized it. However, it was encased in some kind of unique contraption that made it perform some kind of function.

She could sense a huge amount of yang energy radiating from it, almost like it was an endless source of nourishment for the plant life here.

"Amazing… there's so many alchemical resources here…"

Rea Tyriel's jaws dropped as she walked forward and looked around, forgetting about traps altogether.

She arrived before a small puddle, and thriving with that tile was a lily petal. It was an exquisite flower, its petals having a crystalline structure. At the heart of a lily, a core of iridescent silver pulsated, emitting a soft, icy, ethereal glow reminiscent of a phoenix flame.

It appeared cute, moving ever so lightly as it breathed the heaven and earth energy being supplied to it through the Crystal Sphere above.

There was also a floating scroll that described its usage.

[Ice Phoenix Blood Lily - This rare lily, grown in snow-covered secluded cliffs, thrives in the harshest, coldest environment and is said to bloom only in the presence of a pure, untouched King-Tier Ice Phoenix as it absorbs the female's yin energy for a thousand years. Its petals have immense healing properties and-]

Just before Rea Tyriel could finish reading it all, a person arrived by her side.

"Impossible. It's the Ice Phoenix Blood Lily that is said to allow an Ice Phoenix to enter Emperor-Tier…"

Frostrose stepped forward, her eyes wide in shock.

Although there was only a ten percent chance for this ingredient to work, the quality of this herb appeared to be much higher. Perhaps it would accommodate a twenty percent chance, making her heart pound.

How a pure King-Tier Immortal Emperor Stage Ice Phoenix stayed here for a thousand years and sacrificed her virgin life was beyond her, but that was just the requirement for its natural habitat. For all she knew, the World Master would have many methods to replace that yin energy requirement with something else she couldn't possibly understand.

She turned to look around, knowing it was the same for every ingredient around here.

The first and second floors were even filled with incredible treasures of the Immortal Emperor Grade or even higher, making their hearts pound. These were not just any random Immortal Emperor Grade resources but ones that would shake even Empyrean Stage cultivators if they could find the right ingredients.

"Look…!"

Hirona jumped, her eyes wide. Her actions attracted the attention of the others, who turned to look back and saw a banner posted on the wall.

[Each Candidate has the common right to acquire nine ingredients from the Mystical Herb Mansion.]

[Battling over an ingredient is allowed through contention. However, such actions are limited to three times. Any more battles over an ingredient will result in a huge penalty, causing one to be teleported out to the Ninth Hidden Pagoda.]

[The Sixth Hidden Pagoda is underground. However, one loses the right to enter the Sixth Pagoda if they acquire more than six ingredients through common right.]

[Clearing the Hidden Pagoda would teleport all the people out from here, including the winner, and the Mystical Herb Mansion would be burned to the ground.]

"…"

Everyone was shocked as their jaws dropped.

This rich treasury filled with resources that would make an Upper Realm shout in joy was going to be burned to the ground if the Sixth Hidden Pagoda was completed…?

As resource-crazy cultivators, their hearts bled just hearing about it.

"No way… why…?" Shirley bit her bottom lips as though she was going to cry.

"Must be some connected to karmic burden again… this garden… the Mystical Herb Mansion has too many ridiculous resources…" Evelynn was also in shock.

Just taking a mere look around and gazing at the description was more than enough for them to understand these were high-quality treasures, their rarity making them comparable to Empyrean Grade herbs.

Nonetheless, their urgency to head underground was also at large.

After all, underneath this mansion was where the Sixth Hidden Pagoda was located.

Evelynn, Isabella, and Shirley quickly calculated how many people would be required to enter, and they felt that it was eight people. There were more than eight people in their group, so if they headed below right now, then they could have a chance at obtaining the rewards from the Sixth Hidden Pagoda.

However, if they completed it, chances are that they could not obtain these treasures.

Just as they thought about Zenova Artoria's group, they walked inside.

The atmosphere instantly turned scorching hot as not only the tensions increased but the Fiery Starburst Inferno Spirit's aura surged out.