New chapter 38

# Chapter 38 — Beneath the Eastern Mountains

# Sun City — Expedition Preparation Hall

The atmosphere inside the preparation hall remained tense.

Maps covered nearly every wall while formation masters and scouts moved continuously between tables carrying reports from the eastern mountains.

The underground expedition would begin tomorrow.

And nobody looked confident about it.

---

Xu Yuan quietly studied one of the large terrain maps spread across the center table.

Most of the eastern underground area remained completely unknown.

Only a few tunnels had been explored before scouts either:

* retreated,

* disappeared,

* or became corrupted.

Not encouraging information.

---

Beside him—

Lin Hao stared at the map with visible despair.

“Why are we voluntarily entering the horror tunnels?”

Xu Yuan calmly answered:

“Because dying above ground is less interesting.”

“That was not emotionally comforting.”

---

Nearby cultivators quietly ignored their conversation while preparing supplies.

At this point most people already accepted Lin Hao’s constant complaining as background noise.

---

Meanwhile—

Xia Yu inspected spirit tools and healing talismans carefully at another table nearby.

Several younger cultivators secretly glanced toward her repeatedly before immediately looking away whenever she noticed.

Not because she acted cold.

Because her sword was currently embedded halfway into solid spiritual stone beside her.

Accidentally.

---

No one wanted problems.

---

Then suddenly—

Third Elder Xu Jian approached Xu Yuan slowly.

“You’re joining the front scouting team.”

Xu Yuan nodded once.

Expected.

---

Xu Jian hesitated briefly afterward before lowering his voice.

“The city lord trusts you.”

“But some elders remain cautious.”

Xu Yuan answered calmly:

“Because of the battle?”

“Because ancient monsters don’t kneel normally.”

Fair enough.

---

Xu Jian continued quietly:

“Don’t reveal unnecessary abilities underground.”

Xu Yuan internally agreed completely.

At this point even he wanted fewer surprises from himself.

---

Then suddenly—

the system screen flickered softly.

> New Mission Available

>

> Explore the underground ruins

>

> Objective:

>

> Reach the sealed chamber

>

> Reward:

>

> System progression

>

> Warning:

>

> High corruption density detected

---

Xu Yuan stared silently for several moments.

The system somehow always found the most dangerous places possible.

---

Lin Hao noticed his expression immediately.

“That face means terrible news.”

Xu Yuan answered honestly:

“That feels increasingly normal lately.”

---

The preparation continued for several more hours.

Groups were assigned.

Formation tools distributed.

Emergency retreat signals explained repeatedly.

The expedition force itself would include:

* Zhao Tianhe,

* several major elders,

* elite cultivators,

* formation masters,

* and younger talents from major families.

Enough strength to face almost anything beneath the mountains.

Hopefully.

---

As evening approached—

Xu Yuan finally left the hall together with Xia Yu and Lin Hao.

The streets outside remained busy despite the late hour.

Sun City still repaired damage everywhere.

People rebuilt quickly because nobody knew when the next disaster would arrive.

---

Several civilians quietly bowed respectfully when Xu Yuan passed.

Others looked nervous.

Some whispered softly behind him.

Not mockery.

Caution.

---

One older merchant quietly muttered:

“That young master was standing when the heavens split…”

Another answered:

“Just don’t provoke him.”

---

Xu Yuan pretended not to hear.

---

The three eventually stopped near a small food stall beside the inner district market.

Lin Hao immediately sat down.

“If tomorrow might kill us, I refuse dying hungry.”

Xu Yuan looked toward the overloaded table.

“You’ve said that twelve times this week.”

“And every time I was correct.”

---

Even Xia Yu quietly sat beside them afterward.

The old stall owner looked nervous initially—

until Lin Hao began ordering nearly half the menu enthusiastically.

Then business became more important than fear.

---

For a short while—

things almost felt normal again.

Just three young cultivators eating dinner beneath lantern light while rainwater still reflected across damaged streets.

No giant eyes.

No ancient entities.

No collapsing heavens.

Only ordinary conversation.

---

Lin Hao suddenly pointed toward Xu Yuan’s untouched food.

“You’ve been thinking too much lately.”

Xu Yuan glanced upward slightly.

“That sounds unavoidable.”

“You’re doing the cold mysterious young master thing again.”

“I always do that.”

“Exactly my concern.”

---

Even Xia Yu quietly nodded once beside him.

Traitorous behavior.

---

Then suddenly—

Xu Yuan felt it again.

A pulse beneath the eastern mountains.

BOOM.

This time stronger than before.

---

His Soul Sense activated instinctively.

And for one brief moment—

he sensed something enormous moving far underground.

Not the chained entity.

Something else.

Sleeping.

Ancient.

---

Then the feeling vanished instantly.

---

Xu Yuan slowly lowered his cup afterward.

His expression remained calm outwardly.

But inwardly—

unease spread quietly.

Because tomorrow’s expedition might uncover something even worse than the gate itself.