Mysterious Underground Space (Please Vote)

"By the way, Li Si sent word not long ago. The Soul Masters they hired to torment and target Tang San and Yu Xiaogang were killed. Tang Hao must have shown up!"

"That's normal. After all, that's his son. Li Si and the others are all right, aren't they?"

Li Si and the others had been among the first batch of underlings he summoned, and Lin Hao had grown somewhat attached to them.

"They're fine. They've all been staying behind the scenes, and those Soul Masters used other excuses when humiliating Tang San and Yu Xiaogang. With Tang Hao's brains, he probably wouldn't imagine that anyone would go to such lengths just to humiliate Tang San and his teacher."

Yan Lingji cast a pointed glance at her Young Master.

"Not bad. You actually dare criticize your Young Master? Are you trying to rebel? When I have time, I'll have to teach you a proper lesson!"

Lin Hao lightly patted Yan Lingji's thigh with his large hand and spoke in feigned anger.

"I'm so scared. Young Master, please punish me as you wish—no, Young Master, spare this servant girl's life!"

Yan Lingji breathed hot air into Lin Hao's ear and spoke in an intentionally teasing tone.

"Just wait. I'll soon reach the realm where you have me in you, and I have you in me. When that happens, don't come begging me!"

Seeing Yan Lingji's seductive face, Lin Hao hurriedly began reciting the Heart Cleansing Mantra in his heart. It was not time yet!

"This servant girl is looking forward to that day!"

Yan Lingji lightly licked her lips, and the sight nearly made Lin Hao lose control.

Thus, the two chatted as they hurried toward the Star Dou Great Forest.

The Soul Guidance Automobile was extremely fast, and they reached their destination in less than three days.

Tuoba Hongshan had already sent people to wait there. The moment their vehicle appeared, someone came forward to greet them.

"Yuanxin, why are you here? Where's Hongshan?"

Lin Hao asked curiously when he saw who it was.

"Young Master, the underground space is far from simple. Hongshan discovered extensive traces of human habitation there. He's currently investigating the interior of the space and can't get away, so I had to come instead!"

Yao Yuanxin was one of the underlings Lin Hao had summoned recently. He came from the Yao Clan of Battle Through the Heavens and possessed the strength of a Soul Douluo.

He was skilled in alchemy. After hearing from Xiao Wu that there were many medicinal herbs in the space, he had joined Tuoba Hongshan's expedition.

"Oh? Why haven't I heard him mention this before?"

Lin Hao was slightly stunned. That space lay at the border between the outer and inner regions of the Star Dou Great Forest. How could humans have lived there, and in such great numbers at that?

"We probably missed the Wind Eagles. After setting out from Heaven Dou City, we came straight here and didn't stop at the contact points in other cities."

Yan Lingji slowly voiced her guess.

"That's right. We only accidentally discovered those traces on the third day after finding the space. Young Master had probably already set off by then."

Yao Yuanxin nodded. The Wind Eagles they spoke of were a Soul Beast clan used by the Heaven and Earth Commerce Association to deliver messages.

Lin Hao had originally intended to make Soul Guidance Phones, but those things required something akin to signal towers. Otherwise, they could only transmit voices over short distances.

Making signal towers was extremely complicated, and neither Xian Lin'er nor Cai Meier had made them before.

Furthermore, he did not yet have many underlings.

Even relying on manpower and Soul Guidance communication devices for one-on-one short-range relays was not feasible.

So, like other factions, Lin Hao had chosen a relatively ancient method of communication—carrier pigeons!

However, in order to ensure messages arrived more quickly, Lin Hao had specifically had Beast Mountain, his Soul Douluo underling, control several clans of flying Soul Beasts and train them for message delivery. The Wind Eagles were among them.

"In that case, let's hurry over and see what secrets this space is hiding!"

After chatting for a while, the three soon arrived at the entrance to the underground space—a well-hidden crack.

Just after greeting the underlings guarding the entrance, Yan Lingji suddenly lowered her voice and said to Lin Hao, "Young Master, someone is watching us in secret. I'm afraid Hongshan and the others have drawn someone's attention these past few days."

"Go deal with them. Find out whether someone is behind them. If there is, and you're confident you can handle them, eliminate them as well. If not, come back. Uncle Long should be arriving soon. We'll let him deal with it then!"

Though Lin Hao was somewhat surprised, he did not find it strange. The Star Dou Great Forest was indeed vast.

However, there were also plenty of humans bold enough to enter the Star Dou Great Forest. It was only natural for others to notice them!

"Understood, Young Master!"

Yan Lingji nodded. With a flash, she vanished to handle the matter.

Lin Hao then took Yao Yuanxin directly into the underground space. The moment he entered, he froze.

"The Origin Qi here is actually this abundant. Cultivating here would yield twice the results with half the effort!"

Feeling the Heaven and Earth Origin Qi within the space, far denser than outside, Lin Hao revealed a delighted expression.

He had originally intended to turn this place into a base for the Heaven and Earth Commerce Association.

After all, he claimed to come from a hidden family, so he had to make that lie convincing.

Now, it seemed that plan would have to be moved forward. Fortunately, he had brought a batch of Soul Tools with him this time.

Cai Meier had previously made another batch and left them here. They could begin tidying the place up a little.

Moreover, this place was enormous. As far as Lin Hao could see, it spanned at least a hundred li.

There was also an area in the distance shrouded in mist. If the mist were cleared away, the space should be even larger!

Lin Hao was now exceedingly glad that he had reached an agreement with Xiao Wu back then. Otherwise, where would he find such a good place?

Perhaps because it had gone unmanaged for too long, weeds covered two-thirds of the space.

At Lin Hao's instruction, they did not immediately go looking for Tuoba Hongshan. Instead, they took a stroll through the space.

Lin Hao discovered that the place contained every sort of terrain. Aside from grasslands that occupied most of the area, there were also mountains, rivers, and marshes.

Near the center of the space, he also discovered a small lake brimming with life energy.

There were over a hundred varieties of medicinal herbs around it, each growing luxuriantly in a place suited to it!

Their distribution was extremely disorderly, with some even intertwined.

They had clearly survived through the long years and propagated on their own!

With just a casual glance, Lin Hao recognized three immortal-grade herbs: Crystal Dragon Ginseng, Great Sun Divine Sunflower, and Aromatic Silk Beauty. These were all potential special underlings!

There were also many other precious medicinal herbs—Sea Emperor Flower, Nine Yang Ginseng, Heavenly Light Pure Flame Fruit, Sky Azure Flower, Heart Cleansing Shamrock, and more. Everything was there!

So, without needing Yao Yuanxin's introduction, Lin Hao immediately determined that this was the place Xiao Wu had described as being very similar to the Lake of Life!

Lin Hao was becoming increasingly curious about the origins of this underground space.

This lake was clearly extraordinary, and most importantly, humans had once lived here!

After making roughly one circuit of the area, they found only some plant-type Soul Beasts.

They did not see a single other Soul Beast, which was enough to prove this space's defensive capabilities!

After all, Soul Beasts came in countless varieties, and quite a few could burrow underground.

Yet aside from entering through the entrance, there was no other way in. That alone said plenty—this place was absolutely remarkable!

Only then did the two head to where Tuoba Hongshan and the others were, the place with traces of human survival. They were resting and exploring there.

Thanks to readers Dreamlike Cloud Moon, Ling Ling, Yin Shilang, ρμ, and reader 20230706285 for their support!