Chapter Twenty-Three: The Underworld Palace Ascends

Lin An woke up early. With some time left before the auction, he naturally took the opportunity to carefully examine the upgraded Palace of Yama.

He silently recited an incantation in his heart, and his entire body vanished from the room.

As soon as he entered the Palace of Yama, an intensely pure aura of nether energy rushed toward him. Taking a deep breath, Lin An could feel his strength increase.

He then began to survey his surroundings. The space within the Palace of Yama had expanded significantly, and more than ten ferocious beasts with savage faces had been added. Bloodthirsty energy swirled around them, possessing the power to seize one’s soul.

Beneath the imperial throne of Yama, three jet-black chairs had appeared. As Lin An approached, information about the chairs was presented before him.

The King’s Throne of Yama—a symbol of status just below the imperial seat—was reserved only for the chosen children of fate from various realms.

Lin An felt speechless as he read the details.

“I thought my task was to hunt down the protagonists of each realm, but now it seems I must show respect and recruit them instead?”

“Well, let’s not worry about that for now. Better to see if there are any other functions!”

He shook his head and looked elsewhere.

To upgrade the Palace of Yama to level three, a million soul points were required.

Lin An had no plans for that at the moment.

[Level Two Palace of Yama: Any soul who submits to the Palace of Yama may absorb nether energy within to advance their cultivation and reshape themselves as a level one soul.]

[Level One Soul: Equivalent to an ordinary talent in the outside world; suitable for common souls and waste souls.]

This was quite good—it ensured that none who served the Palace of Yama would remain mediocre.

[Activate Underworld Official Authority: The host may appoint submitted souls as underworld officers to capture souls, granting them permission to use certain abilities of the Palace of Yama. Note: This is limited to times of difficulty, allowing temporary access to return to the Palace of Yama.]

[Activate Lifespan Exchange Authority: The host may use soul points to extend the lifespan of those near death, signing a Yama contract. Upon the end of their lifespan, the contracted person will be drawn into the Palace of Yama without the need for soul collectors. The host may then decide whether to convert them into soul points or retain them as part of the Palace's power.]

[Activate Bloodline Shop: The host may use soul points to exchange for powerful bloodlines in the shop, granting them to members of the Palace.]

[Gift of Two Soul Collectors: White Impermanence and Black Impermanence.]

[Host acquires ability: Yama’s Descent!]

[Yama’s Descent: Using this ability instantly multiplies the host’s power fifty-fold. Enemies slain in this state are immediately converted into soul points. However, after use, the host will suffer a week of weakness. Use with caution.]

The upgraded Palace of Yama indeed possessed many useful abilities, especially the lifespan exchange authority and the opening of the bloodline shop.

It wasn’t the omnipotent store seen in the systems of his past life’s novels, but these features were more than sufficient.

Bloodline inheritance was of utmost importance in any realm.

Yet when Lin An saw the exorbitant soul points required to exchange for bloodlines in the shop, his face darkened and he promptly exited the Yama space.

It was outright robbery—every powerful bloodline required at least a million soul points. Gathering that many would take who knows how long!

With so many soul points, wouldn’t it be better to upgrade the Yama system?

The only real benefit of the level two Palace to Lin An was the new ability—Yama’s Descent.

Though it had side effects, it was still worth using in times of crisis.

All in all, Lin An was quite satisfied with this upgrade.

Just then, Ya Chen suddenly entered Lin An’s room.

“Master, did something happen to the Palace of Yama? I suddenly feel I can connect with it, and even my cultivation speed has doubled!”

Ya Chen asked incredulously.

Such miraculous events were things he had never experienced before.

Even without being inside the Palace, he was still affected—truly extraordinary.

“That’s right. Now I grant you the authority of an underworld official; you can enter the Yama space at any time to cultivate.”

“Of course, after becoming an official, you must fulfill your duties—each month, you must capture one hundred souls of the recently deceased.”

Lin An explained.

Ya Chen was already familiar with some of the matters concerning the Palace of Yama.

He also knew that the souls to be captured were not those powerful spirits lingering in the world, but rather the souls of people who had completely died yet had not fully dissipated.

He didn’t understand how the Palace of Yama managed to keep the souls of ordinary people from fading away, but at least he wouldn’t have to do the same as Soul Hall and forcibly seize strong souls.

“Master’s abilities are truly unfathomable!” Ya Chen exclaimed.

Even as a member of one of the ancient eight clans—the Medicine Clan—and after years in Central Plains, he was still astonished by the wonders of the Palace of Yama.

No wonder Lin An dared to say he could lead him to the peak, even help him fulfill his old wishes and ambitions—these were not empty promises.

“The auction will soon begin. Since you know my past identity, you must also know I am an alchemist. If there are rare medicinal herbs that catch my eye, I hope you’ll help me buy them, Master.”

Ya Chen said somewhat awkwardly.

This was perhaps the most embarrassing moment of his life. He had once been a Medicine Sovereign; a single word from him would have seen countless master alchemists scrambling to present their rarest herbs.

But now, he couldn’t afford anything above a third-grade herb—indeed, not even a first-grade one.

Of course, Ya Chen knew this was only temporary. Once he began refining pills, gold and herbs would be easy for him to obtain.

Alas, even a hero is stymied by a lack of funds!

“Don’t worry, I can handle such a small matter,” Lin An replied.

“Junior Brother, are you awake?”

Just then, Na Lan Yanran’s voice came from outside the door.

“Yes, Senior Sister, you can come in now,” Lin An replied.

When Na Lan Yanran entered and saw Ya Chen there, she knew Lin An must have been up for some time.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they ate together in the inn and then set out toward the auction house.