“Then what about the first cave tunnel?”
If the second cave tunnel was this dangerous, what would happen if they entered the first, the most dangerous of them all?
“No one knows what lies within the first tunnel of the Star Cave, this includes Lord Hong Ru. Perhaps it doesn’t exist at all even.” Wen Xu of the North Qing team explains with a hint of pity in his voice.
There are no lies within the old alchemist’s words. Regarding the information about the Star Cave and the dangers lurking within, it was all divulged to him by Chen Hong Ru prior to entering. However, when he inquired for specifics though, the latter didn’t give any details, only a slightly moved face of someone unwilling to speak.
Wen Xu may be young in the eyes of his superior, a five-hundred-year-old monster, but he’s still someone who’s considered quite old by normal standards. If the man doesn’t wish to speak then he’s not going to poke at the hornet’s nest. After all, an event that managed to create the strongest alchemist in the history of North Qing couldn’t possibly have been something insignificant.
For a moment there, only one emotion lies in everyone’s eye after that explanation: greed.
However, Ling Yue on the other hand had other ideas in mind. She’s not blind to what the old fella was implying. In the entire history of the Star Cave Ventures, only three ever made it out of the second tunnel. That means in the year Chen Hong Ru participated, only he survived and came out alone, leaving everyone else dead inside!
Now the biggest question remains, why didn’t that old relic bring the Spatial Piercing Bow out of the Star Cave back then? There should be no competition if everyone else was dead. So why?
The more she thought about the issue, the more confused the girl became. Ling Yue knows something of the puzzle was missing here. However, whenever her mind came close to grasping onto the crucial piece of the jigsaw, it just kept slipping away like an invisible hand was swirling the answer around in a circle, dangling the bait while keeping it away at all times.
Finally, it was then a powerful hand came slipping over to pull her mind back to attention. It was Feng Shen’s. Cool to the touch, the mere presence of the boy’s existence brought clarity to the girl.
“No matter what happens next, don’t let go of my hand from this point forward.” He whispers into Ling Yue’s ear, allowing his breath to puff against that blushing cheek.
That’s right, the Phoenix Lord has no intention of letting go again, especially not after coming so close to losing her already.
“Everyone, I’m only saying this so all of you can be more vigilant in the time we have remaining. The second cave tunnel is not the same as before. Once we enter, the jade tablet that allows us to leave would disappear. That means the only way out would be to wait until the end of the month, do you all understand?” The old alchemist’s final words were like a warning shot, raising their awareness to the maximum.
With everything set and the last warning given, Wen Xu and Chen Minzhi promptly placed their respective half of the jade tablet together and off they went.
There’s no flashy light, nor were there any powerful fluctuations of energy in the air following the destruction of the seal. However, the following scene that came into everyone’s view after being transported did bring on a wave of astonishment in the group’s eye.
For one, there’s no southern or northern pathway to take, only a much bigger stone chamber with a dried-up husk of a corpse sitting in one side of the room. Based on the expression of the body’s face before the person passed away, it’s quite obvious the corpse died of extreme fear. It also didn’t help the mood when the man’s dying gesture was to write the words of “Do Not” right in front of itself!
Unease was definitely the first emotion to hit the party of thirty-one, however, Ling Yue had another feeling as well and that was a sense of familiarity.
“Ye Ling Yue, how disgusting can you be? It’s nothing but a corpse, why would you go picking through someone’s dead body.” Upon seeing her half-sister’s act of rummaging through that horrific sight of the dead, Hong Yu Ying (older) simply couldn’t resist her nasty habit of ridiculing others.
“Shut up, no one would take you as a mute if you don’t talk.” Not bothering to turn around, she continues to examine the corpse.
According to her assessment, the dead should be an elderly old man around sixty to seventy years old. The reason of death remains unknown with no obvious signs of poisonous toxin on the teeth or fatal wounds.
“Squeak~” Moving up and down, it was then that Little Squeak managed to dig up a small little token from the dusty clothes of the skeletal corpse.
Picking up it, Ling Yue immediately widened her eyes in shock. There’s a name engraved onto the surface: Jia Hou Shu.
“My god it is him! I recognize President Jia Hou Shu’s robe, there’s no mistake.” The one speaking out was Manager Chou, former head of the Royal Hospital.