The cultivator’s face darkened. “A direct disciple at the Sixth Level of Gathering Qi, trained in the Spiritual Communication Technique and Spiritual Manipulation Technique—how could such a person face danger in this treasure land? None but your factions could achieve this!”

Hearing this, the four Condensing Essence cultivators exchanged uneasy glances.

This situation was indeed abnormal. A sixth-level cultivator with Spiritual Manipulation should’ve moved freely through the treasure land—few threats could eliminate such a practitioner.

“What’s done is done,” snorted the Feng family’s Condensing Essence cultivator. “Dead means dead. Blame his lack of skill.”

“You—!” The Solitary Moon Mountain protector cultivator began to rage, then noticed his opponent’s cultivation exceeded his own by one level. He forced down his anger.

The Feng family cultivator smirked and resumed meditating.

The Feng family’s circumstances differed from both the Su and He families.

The Su Family maintained external holdings—their main branch remained outside the Zhuhu Dynasty, having only established subsidiary branches within Tiger-Chasing territory.

The He Family held unusual status. Originally great families of the Eastern Region, they’d abandoned their ancestral lands during calamity to seek refuge in Canglan State. Later, they allied with the pre-dynastic Tiger-Chasing Kingdom, becoming instrumental in founding the Zhuhu Dynasty—earning them special imperial favor.

The Feng family represented Tiger-Chasing’s true native power. Their Elder had reached the Spirit Communication Realm with Zhuhu Dynasty’s Support, naturally aligning them with royal interests.

Condensing Essence cultivators understood dynastic schemes perfectly. The Solitary Moon Mountain’s silent defeat suggested some royal chess piece had been activated.

“Life and Death follow unpredictable paths,” intervened another Condensing Essence cultivator. “Let’s question our juniors privately after they emerge. Any clues found will be shared. Agreed?”

The Solitary Moon Mountain cultivator reluctantly bowed, sending a Thought Transmission with his true essence. Only the sect’s subsequent actions mattered now.

……

Black Snake Secret Treasure, Third Floor: Black Snake Habitat

*Riiip*

After two days of relentless combat, Yang Linghu finally split the molting black serpent into bloody halves. Their battle had dyed the entire cold pool crimson.

Wiping sweat, Yang Linghu retrieved the glowing red scale from the snake’s belly, storing it in his pouch. This expedition had proven brutal.

Reaching the depths required constant battles against these serpents. Only his exceptional physical endurance sustained him—ordinary cultivators would’ve perished long ago.

After obtaining the blood scale, Yang Linghu washed his bloodstained body in a clean cold pool.

The black snake that had occupied this territory fled immediately upon catching the bloody scent emanating from Yang Linghu.

“Today marks the tenth day.”

Sitting in the cold pool, Yang Linghu silently counted the passing days.

No cultivators had descended during these ten days – the cave at the poison valley’s entrance likely housed the Inheritance.

He supposed external cultivators were currently battling fiercely over this opportunity.

Yang Linghu felt no regret about missing the Inheritance.

He knew the truth: an ordinary man’s only crime is owning a treasure.

The secret realm’s entrance had closed three days after opening, remaining sealed until the eighteenth day.

Surviving until departure after claiming the Inheritance would be challenge enough.

Even escaping the hidden treasure didn’t guarantee safe return with the prize.

Without expert protection or secretly securing the Inheritance early, the perilous journey offered countless dangers.

After cleansing himself of blood and bodily heat, Yang Linghu returned along his original path.

Zhao Qi and Liang Yi had faithfully guarded the black snake habitat entrance throughout.

Their tense shoulders relaxed when they saw Yang Linghu’s returning figure.

“Senior Brother, take these Healing Elixirs.”

Noticing Yang Linghu’s barely-closed wounds, Zhao Qi urgently produced elixirs from his storage bag.

“My thanks.”

Yang Linghu swallowed the medicine without ceremony, sitting to meditate.

By afternoon, most wounds had scabbed over, no longer hindering movement.

“Young Master,” Liang Yi murmured, “Strangely, we’ve seen no one descend these days.”

Yang Linghu nodded. “The cave explains this. We’ll learn the details when ascending.”

The trio began climbing upward.

Upon entering the miasma-filled poison valley, Yang Linghu detected faint bloodscent.

“Stay behind me. Stay alert.”

He activated his Arm Guard, taking point.

The metallic odor intensified near the cave.

At the entrance, they found mutilated cultivator corpses beneath the Rock Wall.

The bodies appeared violently shredded, fracture points showing crushed bones.

Zhao Qi and Liang Yi paled at the gruesome sight.

“Senior Brother…”

“Wait here.”

Clutching diamond and mountain-opening talismans, Yang Linghu entered the cave.

Deeper inside, cultivator corpses multiplied.

At the deepest chamber lay a ruptured blood cocoon.

Beneath it sprawled layers of dismembered corpses.

Yang Linghu examined the remains.

Twelve cultivators perished in this cramped space alone.

Total casualties reached approximately twenty.

“What monster emerged after consuming so much flesh?”

Now Yang Linghu understood the valley’s emptiness.

This creature must have thrown the external world into chaos, extinguishing exploration fervor.

Returning, he briefed his companions.

“Stay here until I return or the final day arrives. The monster’s current strength is unknown – outside holds more danger.”

He distributed antidote pills, miasma-clearing talismans, and fire talismans between them.

As precaution, he gave Zhao Qi one diamond and one mountain-opening talisman.

The two retreated to the cold pool area while Yang Linghu ventured valley-ward.

“HELP! SAVE ME! I DON’T WANT TO DIE!”

Shortly after exiting, desperate shouts reached Yang Linghu.

He sprinted toward the sound, finding a snake-human hybrid pinning a cultivator.

The monster’s gaping maw descended toward its prey.

Yang Linghu lunged, his punch reducing the creature to pulp.

“AAAAH!”

The terrified cultivator scrambled to clutch Yang Linghu’s leg upon recognizing him as human.

“Savior! Thank you! I’m scared! Don’t abandon me!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep