I Can Strengthen Infinitely

Chapter 452 - 284: The Nine-thousand-year-old Lord

Chang’an, deep within the Imperial City.

This was a remote palace, where crows rested within, casting a black shadow over everything in sight.

All around the palace, the walls were blood-red, the tiles were overgrown with vines, and moss spread everywhere.

At the main gate, above the lintel, hung a purple-gold plaque with the three blood-red characters for ’Thousand Years Palace.’ They appeared wild and domineering, and if stared at for too long, one could almost feel a murderous aura rushing toward them, making one’s brow chill.

Ten ’men’ dressed in splendid attire, with elegant bearings and charming as spirits, stood outside the Thousand Years Palace, each with a look of worry and melancholy.

These ten were the leading eunuchs of the current world, whose power was overwhelming, even the new emperor had to heed them; they were known as the Ten Eunuchs.

"The Ninth Princess has not yet been captured, and the Grandfather is very concerned about this matter. We’ve delayed for so long and have yet to succeed; I’m afraid today we won’t escape calamity," An Dianlian said in a low voice.

Beside him, a ’man’ with sword-like brows and starry eyes immediately responded, "Let’s go. There’s no avoiding this. We can only beg the Grandfather to grant us more time."

The ten fell silent and stepped into the Thousand Years Palace.

The palace was as cold as the extreme north. The moment they stepped through the gates, an icy chill greeted them. All ten were highly skilled in martial arts and immediately channeled their Inner Strength to shield themselves, keeping the cold at bay.

Caw, caw, caw!

Noticing the presence of outsiders, the crows in the palace flapped their wings and took to the sky, cawing incessantly. For a time, the sky was veiled with black wings, swirling above the Thousand Years Palace, as if the very heavens had changed color.

In the Chang’an Imperial City, such a sinister and eerie place existed, unknown even to the new emperor himself.

The Ten Eunuchs hadn’t walked far when a hunchbacked, elderly figure with white hair and wrinkles approached from the front, leaning on a cane.

With only one eye, he stared strangely at An Dianlian and the group, his lips, pierced with a small iron ring, curling into a smile of sorts as he looked at them.

At this moment, the sky was darkened by the fluttering crows, and the elder, dressed in a black robe, carried an octagonal lantern, the dim candlelight inside being the brightest glow in that place.

Upon seeing him, the Ten Eunuchs immediately knelt and respectfully addressed him, "Greetings, Duke Xuanming."

"By the looks of you, you still haven’t captured the Ninth Princess, have you?" Duke Xuanming said with a strange laugh, his voice low and hoarse, like an iron brush scraping vigorously against bones, making one’s whole body tingle.

An Dianlian quickly kowtowed. "Please, Duke Xuanming, plead on our behalf before the Nine Thousand Years for leniency. We will certainly bring back the Ninth Princess promptly."

"The Nine Thousand Years is in a good mood today, follow me," said Duke Xuanming as he turned and walked toward the grand pagoda-like palace in the distance.

This hall was enormously tall, reaching three stories, umbrella-shaped, entirely black, made of black wood and black tiles. On either side of the grand entrance stood four fierce, imposing, three-meter-high demon-faced yakshas, crafted so life-like that any ordinary person would be scared soulless at the sight.

The steps leading to the hall were also etched with countless evil demon faces, a hellish scene akin to a ghostly realm.

"Disciples bow to the Nine Thousand Years." The Ten Eunuchs dared not enter without first kneeling and saluting the hall, followed by nine kowtows, prostrating themselves, heads touching the ground, not daring to move.

Whoosh!!!

A cold wind immediately swept out from the depths of the hall, brushing past everyone. Duke Xuanming stood aside, watching as countless wraiths appeared in the wind, only to dissipate instantly upon exiting the hall, most peculiar.

"Come in."

Hearing the distant yet near voice of permission, the Ten Eunuchs dared to rise and cautiously entered the hall.

At the four corners of the main hall were iron pillars in the shape of ghostly banshee-throne, and sitting on each was an exquisitely beautiful woman dressed in sheer black gauze.

Out of the corner of his eye, An Dianlian caught a glimpse and couldn’t help thinking to himself, "Even Brahma Devil has returned. It seems the matters in the north have made significant progress."

Against the southern wall of the hall stood a massive Buddha statue, measuring two and a half meters tall, with a colossal body clad half in a gray robe and half in black armor, the left hand pinching fingers on its knee, the right hand holding a blade laid across the left forearm.

Most astonishing was that this Buddha had two heads.

One with benevolent eyes and a gentle smile.

One with angry glaring eyes, the face covered in demonic markings.

Truly bizarre, truly bizarre.

Beneath the Buddha’s pedestal was an iron snake seat, shaped as a coiling iron python, with a red-haired, pale-faced man sitting upon its head.

Broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, with long eyes and thin lips, he exuded innate dominance — the Sect Leader of Rootless Sect, the Nine Thousand Years.

"Grandfather," said An Dianlian and the others respectfully.

"Where is the little girl I wanted?" The Nine Thousand Years opened his eyes, revealing a piercing light.

An Dianlian shuddered, being one of the Ten Eunuchs, he always maintained a serene and unflappable demeanor before others, yet such loss of composure only showed when in the presence of the Nine Thousand Years.

"Grandfather, please, grant us a bit more time, five days. Within five days, I will capture the Ninth Princess for you."

Whoosh!

A surge of Palm Force struck forth, and An Dianlian didn’t even have time to react as he was sent flying five meters away, tumbling several times on the ground.

A large bump swelled up on his face, ruining his gentlemanly handsome face.