Upon hearing Zhao Qi’s words, Yang Linghu set aside his thoughts and began thinking cautiously.

The secret treasure site contained various Inheritances, but discovering them proved far harder than gathering spiritual materials. Gu Zhengyuan’s previous disclosures had truly never mentioned anything about hidden areas.

“Junior Brother Zhao speaks wisely,” Yang Linghu said. “With the imperial decree from the dynasty issued, our priority remains obtaining the black snake’s blood scales. Let’s postpone cave exploration until after securing our target. What say you?”

Liang Yi and Zhao Qi voiced agreement. After swallowing antidote pills, the trio descended into the toxic valley, ignoring the half-hidden cave as they pursued their serpentine quarry.

Strange noises soon emanated from the abandoned cavern.

“Hateful…”

“Why… didn’t enter…”

A raspy voice echoed from the depths where an eerie creature writhed beneath armor of black scales. Its bloated, pulsating form retained only traces of human features visible through scale gaps.

“Fading… fast…”

“Can’t… endure another Ten Years…”

“Require… fresh flesh…”

The creature’s muttering faded with each convulsion.

New voices suddenly pierced the gloom outside:

“Senior Brother! Look – a cave!”

“Perfect! This hidden area must contain the true Inheritance!”

“But it looks creepy. Isn’t this dangerous?”

“Fear not, junior sister. With our miasma-clearing talismans, spiritual treasures, and third level of Gathering Qi cultivation, we’re well-prepared for any threat!”

The creature chuckled hoarsely upon hearing this.

“Correct…”

“I am the Inheritance. Come claim me…”

Its body contorted, expelling a yellowish book from pulsating flesh. The swollen mass then shrank to ball-size, lying motionless nearby.

……

Guided by antidote pills, Yang Linghu’s group traversed the toxic valley into the miasma-filled area. Clutching miasma-clearing talismans, they advanced through fog teeming with aggressive insects. Moving in triangular formation – Yang Linghu spearheading, Liang Yi and Zhao Qi flanking – they breached the pestilent zone in half a day.

The temperature plummeted as they emerged.

They entered a new area beneath the hidden treasure.

The damp, cold air here clung to black rocks and cold pools – the black snake’s habitat.

The trio sought a temporary resting spot.

Suddenly, Yang Linghu’s instincts flared as danger approached rapidly from behind.

He spun and threw a punch without thinking.

Crack!

A flying water arrow shattered under his fist.

Following the sound, they spotted a pitch-black serpent coiled around an upside-down stone pillar behind them.

Its frosty eyes glared while a ghostly blue tongue flickered.

The snake’s black scales blended perfectly with the dark rocks, nearly invisible to the eye.

“Don’t panic. Just first level of Gathering Qi.”

Yang Linghu expanded his divine awareness, finding not only the snake coiled above them but two more lurking in shadowy corners.

He pointed out the hidden snakes to Liang Yi and Zhao Qi, then lunged forward. His palm strike sliced both serpent and stone pillar in half.

Zhao Qi and Liang Yi ambushed the remaining snakes as they emerged, eliminating them with swift techniques.

After killing three snakes, Yang Linghu scouted the area.

Only dormant snakes remained in nearby cold pools – no other corpses.

Black snakes fiercely protected their quiet territory, attacking intruders. The lack of other bodies meant they were the first cultivators here.

“Let’s find blood scales quickly before others come,” Yang Linghu urged.

They spread out thirty feet apart with Yang Linghu centrally positioned for quick support.

Cold surges erupted periodically as they checked each pool, all neutralized by prepared fire talismans.

After four hours, they’d searched every cold pool in this habitat.

Most snakes here were small juveniles not yet shedding skins. They found only two second-level snakes hibernating deep in pools.

Their efforts bore fruit at the zone’s center – a faintly glowing blue crystal.

Yang Linghu sealed the peculiar object with magic into his storage bag, planning to show the Immortal Master later.

Finding nothing else, they pressed deeper into the hidden treasure.

The cold intensified with each step downward.

When they reached the next area, Zhao Qi shook violently despite his fire talisman, frost crusting his eyebrows.

Yang Linghu ordered: “Liang Yi, take Zhao Qi back upstairs. I’ll continue alone.”

Second-level snakes here endangered the weaker disciple.

“Run if threatened. Survival comes first,” Yang Linghu instructed.

Zhao Qi worried: “Be careful alone, Brother Linghu!”

Yang Linghu grinned, summoning Tiger Head Arm Guards with outstretched arms.

“Worry not. Few in this treasure vault can challenge me.”

To Liang Yi: “Watch over him.”

“Understood, Young Master.”

Alone now, Yang Linghu moved faster.

Second-level snakes fell easily to his blows, but expanded terrain and deeper pools slowed progress.

Two days passed as he combed every pool, collecting three more blue crystals.

“Strange…”

He meditated, unease growing.

Three days since entering the poison valley, yet no other cultivators appeared? The entrance wasn’t that hidden.

His thoughts turned to the cave Zhao Qi had opened earlier.

“Could that cave hold the true Inheritance? Drawing everyone else?”

Speculation would wait until exit. For now, it meant uninterrupted searching for blood scales.

Unbeknownst to him, their early descent saved them.

Three subsequent cultivator teams found the valley and entered that cave.

None survived.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep