Little Sorcerer, Divine Doctor-Chapter 816 - 309: Entering the Castle

On the dining table inside the bungalow, several dishes were already dried out due to the long passage of time.

From the arrangement and the tidy state of the house, it seemed that the residents of this house were dining when the catastrophic disaster struck Taiyuan City.

"It doesn’t seem like any disaster occurred," Yun Sheng pondered.

Regarding what actually happened to Taiyuan City, there are several theories circulating on the continent. Some say it was a sudden heavenly tribulation that wiped out the villagers, reducing them to ashes.

But why are these homes in perfect condition, with everything inside intact?

Another theory suggests that Taiyuan City, due to its coastal location, experienced a sudden maritime disaster.

However, Taiyuan City is situated on such a high mountain that a maritime disaster seems impossible.

The final and relatively most credible theory is that Taiyuan City was ravaged by a beast disaster.

As everyone knows, Taiyuan, the builder of Taiyuan City, was a former prince of Penglai who was expelled for defying the Summoning Court’s authority.

Some say the Summoning Court secretly dispatched a powerful demon beast troupe that slaughtered the citizens of Taiyuan City in a single night.

Judging by the situation inside the bungalow, this possibility seems quite low.

Otherwise, if a demon beast truly attacked, the interior would surely be in chaos.

This made Yun Sheng even more puzzled about what caused Taiyuan City’s overnight destruction. Could it be that the residents here vanished like dewdrops?

Yun Sheng and Lan found some fresh water in the house, but the food had already decayed and spoiled. Apart from this, there was nothing else.

The residents’ clothes and beddings were weathered, crumbling into powder at a touch.

Seeing that there were no clues, Yun Sheng and Lan exited the house, and the other Great Forces gradually followed.

Everyone’s findings were similar to those of Yun Sheng and the others.

"There’s nothing unusual," Ye Beiming and Dugu Xiu also emerged from two other houses.

The other Great Forces were already waiting at the intersection.

The whole relic was silent, but within this tranquility, there seemed to be an eerie sensation.

From the earlier expedition into the mountain, only Tang Yuan, Xianju, Wuji, Sky Wings, Elite Camp and Hou Qin, Great Zhou and Hunter Soldier Union, Magic Temple, and Medicine Emperor Pavilion were left among the Seven Great Forces.

When entering the mountain, each team comprised twenty people, but now, the largest numbers were held by the Elite Camp and Hou Qin, with sixteen people. Other teams maintained around ten members, with Tang Yuan and Li Shao having the fewest.

The total count was reduced to over sixty people.

"Up ahead is Taiyuan City Lord’s Mansion," said someone, as they moved past a section of collapsed defensive wall, revealing Taiyuan Castle to everyone.

Despite parts already collapsing, the grandeur and opulence of Taiyuan Castle still amazed everyone.

But nobody was truly immersed in this scenery; the Eight Desolate Divine Artifacts might be hidden within the castle.

Since the entrance was blocked by a large amount of Ivory Stone, it took the Great Forces nearly half a day to clear the way.

At the moment the stones at the entrance were cleared, Yun Sheng felt a soft voice beside her ear, like a sigh, or a call.

"You have come----"

Yun Sheng shivered.

"What happened?" Ye Beiming saw Yun Sheng looking unwell and asked with concern.

"Nothing, maybe I misheard," Yun Sheng listened again, but the earlier voice was gone.

"You must be overly worried. Stick close to me when we go inside," Ye Beiming’s large hand held Yun Sheng’s small hand gently, with an affectionate gaze that could drown an ocean.

Yun Sheng didn’t respond; her mind was still occupied by the unfamiliar voice she heard earlier.

The interaction between Ye Beiming and Yun Sheng fell into the eyes of a stranger "Mage" from Great Zhou watching from behind.

A serpentine malice flashed beneath "his" eyes.

The entrance of Taiyuan Castle was a round arched stone gate, leading to a corridor paved with Han Baiyu Stone inside.

"My God, these statues are sculpted from Purple Gold."

"These are carpets made from the pelt of a Ninth-level Demon Beast."

This corridor, approximately a hundred meters long, perfectly preserved everything from the time of Taiyuan City Lord.

Taiyuan City Lord came from Penglai, known as the realm of Summoners and Demon Beasts, so all decorations in this corridor were heavily influenced by the Summoners’ aesthetics.

Every five meters along the corridor, a magic beast statue was placed, ranging from First-tier Demon Beast to Ninth-tier and even Commander-level beasts, with all statues crafted from Purple Gold, lifelike and diverse.

Even just one such statue would fetch a fortune throughout the continent.

Even though the martial artists and mages present were elite chosen from the Great Forces, they couldn’t help but shine with excitement facing these Purple Gold beast statues.

Amid the praises and even the temptation to touch these magic beast statues, Yun Sheng felt an unnerving chill on her spine.

She had the impression that the demon beasts were watching them.

But these were merely statues, how could such a feeling arise?

Yun Sheng shook her head; perhaps it was the overwhelming experiences in Taiyuan Mountain that made her paranoid.

"Look, there’s a Jade Tablet ahead," said Cheng Baikai, immune to the allure of the glowing Purple Gold statues, unlike everyone else. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

The two, hailing from wealthy families, were used to seeing Purple Gold.

Sky Wings noticed the Jade Tablet.

Even accustomed to top-grade treasures, Sky Wings was deeply impressed by this Jade Tablet, towering over five meters tall.

It was a top-grade Han Baiyu Jade, rare to find on the continent due to its exquisite cut and flawless jade hue.

The Jade Tablet was engraved with the layout of the entire castle, showing sections like the Demon Beast Corridor, Taiyuan Flower Garden, living quarters, City Lord’s Hall, and Underground Palace.

The tablet succinctly described the primary functions and purposes of these castle parts.

The seemingly simple castle layout was actually as labyrinthine as a maze.

The living quarters for guests alone numbered over a hundred, all suites with complex configurations.

Not to mention, in the deepest part of the castle, the City Lord’s Hall consisted of a magic array leading to the Underground Palace.

The corridor where everyone was presently was the Demon Beast Corridor depicted on the Jade Tablet, measuring 166 meters and featuring twenty-two demon beasts, from First-tier to Ninth-tier, and extending to Holy-grade and King-level beasts, with each tier having two statues.

"Did anyone notice that there are two King-level Demon Beast statues missing here?" Yun Sheng suddenly spoke up.

"Yes, there are only twenty statues; it seems like two King-level statues are missing. Could they have grown legs and walked away?" Cheng Baikai joked, but Yun Sheng didn’t even crack a smile.