System: Infinite Evolution into Qilin Bloodline

After experiencing the sorcery trap in the Cloud Palace, Zhang Hao and his group quickly recovered from their shock and confusion.

They quickly guessed that since the palace entrance wasn't inside the palace in the clouds, it might be hidden beneath the seemingly calm cliff, in the deep, dark pool below.

Otherwise, there would be absolutely no need to build such a palace as a trap.

Zhang Hao, Wu Tianzhen, Fatty, and Zhang Qilin followed the plank road they had come up along back down to the bottom of the cliff and the edge of the deep pool.

Although the water in the deep pool is clear, it is so deep that it is impossible to see what is inside. The only way to find out is to dive into the pool.

"I'll go down and scout ahead first. You guys wait here for my signal."

Of the four, only Zhang Hao has the ability to breathe underwater, while the others can only stay underwater for short periods of time without equipment.

The best option for Zhang Hao is to go into the deep pool to investigate.

With a soft "plop," Zhang Hao, like a nimble fish, instantly disappeared into the pool, leaving only ripples spreading slowly across the surface.

Wu Tianzhen, Fatty, and Zhang Qilin stood on the shore, watching him leave, their hearts filled with both worry and anticipation.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment, and every second felt so long.

Zhang Hao navigated the underwater world, surrounded by complete darkness, but none of this affected him. Even the darkest places were as bright as day to him.

The pool water was icy cold, as if it could penetrate to the bone marrow, but he didn't feel much of it; his body temperature could automatically adjust to it.

As the depth increases, the water pressure also increases.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up. He saw a group of unfinished statues scattered on the bottom of the pool. They were all different in shape. Some were already taking on human form, while others were just simple outlines. It seemed that they had been interrupted by some sudden force and were frozen in that moment forever.

Each of these statues exudes an ancient and mysterious aura; they stand or sit, laugh or rage.

A strange sense of shock welled up in Zhang Hao's heart. He realized that the entrance to the underground palace was nearby.

Just then, a subtle clue caught his attention.

Beneath a seemingly ordinary statue, there is a stone slab that stands out from the surrounding mud and sand. Its surface is as smooth as a mirror, subtly revealing an unusual aura.

Zhang Hao's heart stirred, and he quickly swam forward to examine it carefully.

A series of complex patterns and symbols were carved on the stone slab, which were still clearly visible despite their age.

Zhang Hao immediately realized that these patterns and symbols were likely the key to unlocking the entrance to the underground palace.

He took a deep breath and, following the pattern, slowly placed his hands on the stone slab.

Suddenly, a faint but clear vibration came from under the stone slab, and then the surrounding pool water began to surge violently, as if something was being awakened.

Just then, Zhang Hao felt a powerful force surge from beneath the stone slab, propelling him forward.

He instinctively closed his eyes, letting himself be propelled forward by that force.

When he opened his eyes again, the sight before him stunned him: a huge stone door slowly opened, revealing a passage leading deep into the underground palace.

Zhang Hao was filled with excitement and joy, knowing that he had found the entrance to the underground palace.

Instead of immediately entering the underground palace, he quickly turned on his diving light and used a switch to control the flashing of the light to signal the people on the shore.

As beams of light shimmered on the water's surface, Wu Tianzhen, Fatty, and Zhang Qilin broke into excited smiles.

"Brother Zhang Hao has found the entrance to the underground palace!"

"That's right, my uncle gave us a signal. Let's get ready to dive down."

Wu Tianzhen, Fatty, and Zhang Qilin quickly got ready, then jumped into the deep pool with a few "plop" sounds and dived to the bottom to meet up with Zhang Hao.

The four quickly regrouped, and Zhang Hao briefly described the situation at the entrance to the underground palace, reminding everyone to be careful.

Then they entered the underground palace.

As they ventured deeper, a more mysterious and magnificent world gradually unfolded before their eyes.

The entrance to the underground palace is like a gateway to another world, quietly hidden at the bottom of a deep pool. The traces of time erosion around it intertwine with the water surface to create an ancient and mysterious picture.

Sunlight could not penetrate the thick darkness; only the faint beams of flashlights swayed ahead, guiding the explorers into this unknown world.

Upon entering the underground palace, a damp and musty smell hits you, mixed with the scent of soil and ancient wood, causing you to involuntarily frown.

The surrounding scenery was even more astonishing.

This place stands in stark contrast to the magnificent palaces on the ground, as if they were two completely different worlds.

On the wall, the mottled murals are no longer recognizable as they were. The colors have faded, leaving only blurry outlines, telling the story of past glory and vicissitudes.

The stone slabs on the ground were uneven, and in some places they were even broken, exposing the wet soil underneath, making it look extremely dilapidated.

What's even more puzzling is that the carvings and decorations on both sides of the tomb passage, while still showing signs of their exquisite craftsmanship, are mostly unfinished products, with traces of incompleteness visible everywhere.

The patterns on the stone carvings only have a rough outline; the details have not yet been finished.

The colors on the mural were only lightly applied as a base layer, and the process was abruptly stopped before any further embellishment could be achieved.

All of this makes one wonder what caused the construction of this underground palace to be abandoned halfway.

Was it a sudden change?

Or is it the depletion of resources?

Or is it some kind of unspeakable secret?

Faced with this sudden contrast, everyone's faces were filled with confusion.

They exchanged glances, but both tacitly chose to remain silent, continuing their exploration in hopes of finding answers amidst the ruins.

The beams of flashlights traced silver trails in the darkness, guiding them through the long tomb.

A dozen minutes later, Zhang Hao and his group walked out of the narrow tomb passage, and the view suddenly opened up before them.

They entered a square palace, which, though not as grand as the palaces on the ground, still exuded a sense of solemnity and reverence.

The palace is supported by stone pillars, which have stood firm despite a thousand years of wind and rain, as if telling the story of its past glory.

Although the top of the palace is no longer fully visible, its former magnificence and splendor can still be imagined from the remaining rubble.

Just as everyone was preparing to explore the palace further, a strong heat wave suddenly surged up inside. Then, the entire tomb chamber seemed to be set ablaze, and the raging fire instantly illuminated the entire tomb chamber.

This was a trapezoidal tomb chamber, smaller at the top and larger at the bottom, divided into nine layers from top to bottom. Each layer had a groove filled with grease, and it was the grease that was burning at this moment.

In addition, each floor has more than a dozen human-shaped recesses, and each recess contains a strange ancient corpse.

Suddenly, all the ancient corpses opened their eyes at the same time.