Liu Dashao let out a scornful laugh, his lips curling into a sneer as he struck a dismissive pose. The two special forces soldiers exchanged glances before roaring simultaneously and charging at Liu Dashao. With a long, piercing whistle, Liu Dashao was instantly enveloped in white qi, his body radiating power. He flicked the yellow talisman in his hand forward. The two soldiers cried out in pain and were sent flying backward with a whoosh, crashing onto the ground with two loud thuds and immediately losing consciousness.
At that moment, Fan Debiao burst into laughter, pointing at Dr. James and saying, “Yankee, is this the best your so-called superhumans can do? They’re pathetic!”
Before Jia Zhuangyuan’s words had even faded, the black-clad figure with a mask over his face suddenly spoke to Dr. James, who was visibly shaken by Liu Dashao’s overwhelming power. “Doctor, I told you not to bring them to China. You underestimated the extraordinary people of the East.” His voice was hoarse and hollow, as if it had risen from the depths of hell.
As he spoke, his body and feet remained still, yet he seemed to drift slowly into the center of the hall. A chilling aura erupted from him like a tidal wave, sweeping through the crowd. Suddenly, everyone felt an intense cold, as if they had been thrust from summer straight into winter.
Liu Dashao’s expression turned grave. He stepped forward, positioning himself in front of the black-clad figure. In a cold voice, he demanded, “Remove your mask. Let me see who you are.”
The black-clad figure remained silent for a moment before replying, “You don’t need to know who I am. The Taoist arts of Zhengyi Sect are vast and profound. Today, let me test your skills.”
Liu Dashao nodded sharply and said, “You know me. And if I’m not mistaken, I know you too. We haven’t met in over a decade, yet now you’ve become a dog for the Americans. You’ve turned against your homeland and your own family.”
The black-clad figure’s chest heaved slightly. Suddenly, he bellowed hoarsely, “Enough! Let’s settle this with actions!” With that, he spread his hands apart, revealing a bluish-tinged flexible sword. He snapped it straight and, combining its cold aura, lunged at Liu Dashao.
The crowd seemed to hear a faint sigh from Liu Dashao before he waved his talisman, blocking the black-clad figure’s strike.
The two clashed—black against yellow, sword against talisman. Liu Dashao’s Taoist qi and the black-clad figure’s chilling aura filled the hall. The pressure from their battle overwhelmed both the Chinese and American groups, forcing them to retreat involuntarily.
As everyone stood watching the intense duel between Liu Dashao and the masked figure, Jia Zhuangyuan suddenly noticed Zhao Wendeng was missing. Alarmed, he quickly warned the others, “Zhao Wendeng and the Purple-Gold Corpse King are gone! Be careful! That sinister man might appear suddenly to attack us!”
By then, the energy from Liu Dashao and the masked figure’s battle had already forced everyone to retreat to the foot of the platform where the seven Nuwa statues stood. As Jia Zhuangyuan finished speaking, they heard Zhao Wendeng’s sinister voice echoing from above: “Old man, you’re too late. Here I come!” Everyone looked up to see Zhao Wendeng and the Purple-Gold Corpse King descending like lightning bolts, landing before them.
Zhao Wendeng no longer wasted words. With his one arm raised, he patted the Corpse King’s head and muttered an incantation. The Corpse King let out a fierce howl, its claws extending, eyes blood-red, fangs bared, ready to pounce on the group. Jia Zhuangyuan raised his Yin Official Soul-Shattering Spike and said, “Don’t be afraid! He won’t dare come forward!”
Zhao Wendeng hesitated briefly upon seeing the spike, then sneered coldly. He extended his arm like a claw, his eyes reddening. Jia Zhuangyuan realized he was about to activate his zombie powers. Quickly drawing his whip, he warned, “Watch out for the vampire! I’ll handle Zhao Wendeng!”
Zhao Wendeng’s eyes glowed with wolf-like malice. His body began to change—his skin reddened and swelled, his mouth opened wide, emitting a bestial howl. His two fangs elongated and reddened, protruding from his lips, his face becoming increasingly grotesque.
As Jia Zhuangyuan’s attention wavered for a moment, Zhao Wendeng suddenly struck like lightning, clawing at his right shoulder where he held the whip. A sharp pain shot through Jia’s arm, leaving it numb, and the whip clattered to the ground.
At that moment, his comrades behind him cried out in alarm. The Purple-Gold Corpse King howled and lunged forward, claws landing on Jia Zhuangyuan’s shoulders, its fangs aiming for his neck. In desperation, Jia, writhing in pain, used both hands to break free from the Corpse King’s grip. With his right hand, he clenched the Soul-Shattering Spike and drove it into the Corpse King’s abdomen. The Corpse King shrieked in agony, flung backward by the spike’s spiritual power, and crashed into the massive stone coffin with a thunderous boom. It slumped to the ground, motionless.
As Jia Zhuangyuan struck the Corpse King, Zhao Wendeng realized the danger. He kicked the whip away, sending it flying with a whistle to land several meters behind Jia, deep inside the platform. Remembering how Jia had once severed his arm with the whip, Zhao decided to act first.
As Jia struck the Corpse King, Zhao Wendeng roared and charged, his single arm swinging like a massive hammer aimed at Jia’s chest. At the last moment, Jia sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the deadly blow. Then, with a sharp whistle, he leapt and kicked Zhao Wendeng in the left ribs. The impact felt like striking steel, numbing his toes. Still, Zhao Wendeng staggered backward from the blow.
Jia thought to himself, “This guy’s body is as hard as iron. I can’t beat him bare-handed.” With that, he turned and sprinted toward the platform to retrieve his whip.
Behind him, Zhao Wendeng’s furious howl rang out. Guessing Jia’s intent, he charged after him, desperate to stop him from reclaiming his weapon.
Jia felt Zhao’s malevolent aura closing in fast. Zhao was faster, and Jia feared Zhao’s claw would strike his back before he could grab the whip. With no choice, Jia prepared to turn and fight hand-to-hand again. But then, he saw Cai Qingchong and Fan Debiao rushing toward him.
Cai Qingchong shouted, “Don’t look back, Master Jia! We’ll hold him off. You get the weapon!”
Grateful, Jia kept running. In an instant, he heard Zhao Wendeng’s enraged roar behind him—likely blocked by Cai and Fan.
Jia Zhuangyuan grabbed the whip. As he turned, he saw Fan Debiao and Cai Qingchong lying on the ground, struck down by Zhao’s immense power. With the whip in hand, Jia’s confidence surged. Roaring, he charged at Zhao Wendeng, who now resembled a prehistoric beast.
Zhao Wendeng, about to pursue Cai and Fan, saw Jia with the whip and let out a furious howl. Extending his arm, he revealed a golden-haloed golden ring.
Jia’s heart surged. As he neared Zhao, he roared and lashed the whip at him with lightning speed.
Zhao raised the golden ring to block. In the split second their eyes met, Jia saw a flicker of fear in Zhao’s gaze, boosting his confidence. The whip came down without hesitation.
At the moment of impact, a thunderous boom echoed. Sparks of black and yellow flew between the whip and the ring. Jia felt a jolt in his palm, nearly losing his grip. He quickly stepped back, inspecting the whip. Fortunately, it remained intact.
Zhao Wendeng staggered backward, the golden ring’s glow dimmed, and the ring itself seemed damaged. His arm hung limply, clearly injured by the impact.
Jia switched the whip to his left hand, shook his numb right hand, and marched toward Zhao Wendeng. Zhao, clearly shaken by the exchange, sneered and growled, “Old bastard, you win this round. We’ll settle it next time!” With that, he turned and fled, leaving Jia momentarily stunned—Zhao had actually admitted defeat.
Before Jia could react, Zhao Wendeng vanished again. Jia cursed inwardly, realizing he had let him escape again.
At that moment, Jia turned to see Liu Dashao and the black-clad figure’s duel had ended. Liu’s right hand was extended in a sword-finger pose, pointing steadily at the black-clad figure’s chest, just centimeters away. The black-clad figure stood motionless, arms hanging low.
Liu stared at him and said slowly, “Master Zhang, my master’s last words were that if we ever met and you wished to repent, he would still recognize you as his disciple in the afterlife. If you refuse to change, I’ll spare you once, but next time, I’ll eliminate you to cleanse the sect. Master Zhang, what’s your choice?”
The black-clad figure stared at Liu Dashao silently.
Meanwhile, the so-called superhuman near Dr. James had regained consciousness, being supported by a special forces soldier. Seeing Zhao Wendeng gone and the black-clad figure defeated, Dr. James waved his hand and led his men out of the hall.
Fan Debiao hurriedly said, “Young Master, the American wants to escape!”
Yang Weidong smiled and said, “Let them go. This is China. Even if they escape, the PLA will catch them—including that so-called superhuman.” Hearing this, everyone laughed, recalling how easily Liu Dashao had dispatched the Americans.
Suddenly, the black-clad figure rasped, “Nephew, where is my senior brother buried?”
Liu Dashao hesitated, then replied somberly, “Master Zhang, do you still care where my master is buried? If you still have a conscience, go to his grave and repent. My master is buried beside the Liu Xian Lingguan Temple in Xiushui Village, marked by a willow tree.” He lowered his hand, turned away, and whispered, “Go.”
The black-clad figure sighed deeply and said, “Nephew, I’ve made many mistakes in my life. I’ve no face to see my senior brother again. When you visit him next, tell him I’ll be a good man in my next life.” With that, he turned and walked out.
Liu Dashao watched his retreating figure and murmured, “Master Zhang, I hope next time we meet, we won’t be enemies again. I hope you live the rest of your life as a decent man, never betraying your sect or your country.”
Everyone gathered around Liu Dashao, who looked deeply troubled, unsure what to say.
Liu Dashao turned to the group and forced a smile. “Well, the Americans have fled. I didn’t expect their so-called superhumans to be so weak. We’ve completed half our mission. Next, we enter the ‘Wuji Daozang’ and the ‘Ninety-Nine Heavens’ to find what we need. Let’s rest and study the map to plan our route.”
With that, he walked to the edge of the platform, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes. Everyone knew he was troubled and said nothing. Cai Qingchong whispered, “Let’s rest. Master Jia, you’re the expert. Please check the map and plan our next move.”
Jia Zhuangyuan agreed, and everyone sat down to rest.
After about twenty minutes, they resumed their journey. According to the map left by Zhang Jue, Jia Zhuangyuan found a hidden mechanism beneath the platform.
He activated it, revealing a dark passage. Jia said, “According to Zhang Jue’s map, this tunnel leads directly to an underground river. Following it will let us bypass the cities before Fengdu and reach Wuji Daozang directly.” He signaled everyone to turn on their flashlights and enter.
As Liu Dashao looked into the dark passage, a strange unease crept over him. He said, “Wait. Something feels off.”
Jia Zhuangyuan looked at the group, then turned to Liu Dashao. “Young Master Liu, should we still go through this tunnel?”
Liu Dashao thought for a moment before replying, “My suggestion is that since Yin Changsheng left the map and guarded it with star mechanisms and a vampire, he probably wouldn’t deceive us. Let’s go.”
No one objected. Jia Zhuangyuan nodded and said, “As long as it’s not some bizarre creature, we can handle it.”
Seeing everyone agreed, Liu Dashao grinned and said, “Even if ghosts appear, I can handle them. Let’s move. Cai, you’re agile. Lead with me.”
Cai Qingchong stepped forward, flashlight in hand, and entered the tunnel with Jia Zhuangyuan. The others followed in single file.
Liu Dashao let out a mocking laugh, the corner of his mouth curling up as he struck a disdainful pose. The two special forces soldiers exchanged a glance, then simultaneously roared and charged at Liu Dashao. With a long cry, Liu Dashao’s body was instantly enveloped in a white aura, and the yellow talisman in his hand straightened as he flicked it forward. The two soldiers let out screams and were sent flying backward, crashing to the ground with a thud, unconscious.
At this moment, Fan Debiao laughed heartily and pointed at Dr. James, saying, “American, is this your so-called elite? This is just pathetic!”
Before Jia Zhuangyuan could finish speaking, the black-clad, masked figure suddenly addressed Dr. James, who was already stunned by Liu Dashao’s overwhelming power, “Doctor, I told you not to bring them to China. You underestimated the extraordinary talents of the East.” His voice was hoarse and hollow, like that of a zombie crawling out of hell.
As he spoke, his body and feet remained motionless, yet he seemed to float slowly to the center of the hall. A chilling aura erupted from him, sweeping over everyone like a tidal wave. In an instant, everyone felt a deep cold, as if they had suddenly transitioned from summer to winter.
Liu Dashao’s expression turned grave. He took a step forward, standing in front of the black-clad man, and said coldly, “Take off your mask. Let me see who you are.”
The black-clad man remained silent for a moment, then said, “You don’t need to know who I am. The Taoist arts are profound. Today, let me experience them.”
Liu Dashao nodded coldly and said, “You know me, and if I’m not mistaken, I know you too. It’s been over ten years since we last met. I never thought you’d become a lackey for the Americans, turning against your own country and family.”
The black-clad man’s chest heaved suddenly, and he let out a hoarse roar, “Enough! Let’s settle this with our skills!” With that, he spread his hands, and a blue, shimmering soft sword appeared. He flicked it straight and, with the chilling aura around him, thrust it toward Liu Dashao.
Everyone seemed to hear Liu Dashao let out a low sigh, then saw him raise a talisman to block the black-clad man’s sword.
The two men, one in black and one in yellow, one with a sword and the other with a talisman, immediately clashed. Liu Dashao’s Taoist aura and the black-clad man’s chilling energy filled the entire hall. Both the Chinese and American sides were overwhelmed by the energy, staggering backward involuntarily.
As everyone stood watching the intense battle between Liu Dashao and the black-clad man, Jia Zhuangyuan suddenly noticed that Zhao Wending was missing. Sensing trouble, he quickly warned everyone, “Zhao Wending and the Purple-Gold Corpse King are gone. Be careful! He’s cunning and might suddenly appear to attack us.”
By this time, everyone had retreated to the base of the seven Nuwa statues due to the energy clash between Liu Dashao and the black-clad man. Just as Jia Zhuangyuan finished speaking, Zhao Wending’s sinister voice echoed through the air, “Old man, you’re too late. I’m here.” Everyone looked up to see Zhao Wending and the Purple-Gold Corpse King land in front of them like two bolts of lightning.
Zhao Wending seemed to have no interest in talking today. He raised his single arm, patted the Purple-Gold Corpse King’s head, and muttered some incantation. The Purple-Gold Corpse King let out a roar, its claws extended, eyes red, and fangs bared, as if ready to pounce on everyone. Jia Zhuangyuan, holding the Soul-Shattering Nail, said, “Don’t be afraid. He won’t dare come closer.”
Seeing the Soul-Shattering Nail in Jia Zhuangyuan’s hand, Zhao Wending was momentarily stunned, then let out a sinister chuckle. His single arm extended like a claw, and his eyes began to turn red. Jia Zhuangyuan knew he was about to activate his zombie powers. He quickly drew a long whip from his waist and said, “Everyone, be careful of the drought demon. I’ll deal with Zhao Wending.”
Zhao Wending’s eyes flashed with a wolf-like coldness, and his body began to change horrifically. His skin turned red and swollen, his mouth opened, and he let out a low, wild howl. His fangs grew longer and redder, protruding from his mouth, and his face became increasingly grotesque.
In the split second Jia Zhuangyuan was distracted, Zhao Wending suddenly struck like lightning, grabbing Jia Zhuangyuan’s right shoulder, which was holding the whip. A sharp pain immediately numbed Jia Zhuangyuan’s entire right arm, and the whip clattered to the ground.
At that moment, his companions behind him let out a cry of alarm. The Purple-Gold Corpse King beside Zhao Wending let out a howl, lunged forward, and together with Zhao Wending, its claws latched onto Jia Zhuangyuan’s shoulders, its long fangs aimed at his neck. In desperation, Jia Zhuangyuan, despite the intense pain in his shoulders, forcefully broke free from the Purple-Gold Corpse King’s claws and swiftly punched it in the abdomen with the Soul-Shattering Nail. The Purple-Gold Corpse King let out a piercing scream and was sent flying backward by the nail’s spiritual power, crashing into a massive stone coffin with a loud bang, where it slumped to the ground.
As Jia Zhuangyuan punched the Purple-Gold Corpse King, Zhao Wending realized something was wrong. He kicked the whip on the ground, sending it flying several meters behind Jia Zhuangyuan. Jia Zhuangyuan guessed that Zhao Wending’s deep fear of the whip stemmed from the last time it had severed his arm, so he decided to strike first.
While Jia Zhuangyuan sent the Purple-Gold Corpse King flying, Zhao Wending roared and charged at him, his single arm swinging like a heavy hammer toward Jia Zhuangyuan’s chest. At the critical moment, Jia Zhuangyuan swiftly sidestepped, dodging Zhao Wending’s powerful punch. He then let out a clear cry, leaped into the air, and kicked Zhao Wending in the left rib. The impact felt like hitting a solid steel plate, sending a numbing sensation through his toes. Fortunately, Zhao Wending was also sent staggering back a few steps by the kick.
Jia Zhuangyuan thought to himself, “This guy’s body is as hard as steel. I probably can’t beat him bare-handed.” With that in mind, he turned and ran toward the platform to retrieve the whip.
At that moment, he heard Zhao Wending’s furious roar behind him. Zhao Wending must have guessed Jia Zhuangyuan’s plan and was desperately trying to catch up to stop him from getting the whip.
Jia Zhuangyuan felt Zhao Wending’s murderous aura closing in quickly. Zhao Wending’s speed seemed faster than his own, and Jia Zhuangyuan realized he might not reach the weapon before Zhao Wending’s massive claws struck his back. Reluctantly, Jia Zhuangyuan prepared to turn and fight Zhao Wending bare-handed again. Just then, he saw Cai Qingchong and Fan Debiao rushing toward him from the base of the platform.
Cai Qingchong shouted, “Senior Jia, don’t look back! We’ll hold him off. You go get the weapon!”
Jia Zhuangyuan gave them a grateful glance and continued running forward. In an instant, he heard Zhao Wending’s furious roar behind him, likely because Cai Qingchong and the others had intercepted him, enraging him further.
Jia Zhuangyuan successfully grabbed the whip. As he turned, he saw Fan Debiao and Cai Qingchong had been knocked to the ground by Zhao Wending’s immense power. With the whip in hand, Jia Zhuangyuan’s confidence surged. He let out a long cry and charged at Zhao Wending, who now resembled a prehistoric monster.
Zhao Wending, who had been about to pursue Cai Qingchong and Fan Debiao, saw Jia Zhuangyuan with the weapon charging at him. He let out a furious roar, extended his single arm, and a golden ring glowing with a golden halo appeared in his hand.
Jia Zhuangyuan, closing in on Zhao Wending, roared and swung the whip with lightning speed toward Zhao Wending.
Zhao Wending quickly raised the golden ring to block. As their eyes met, Jia Zhuangyuan saw a flicker of fear in Zhao Wending’s eyes. His confidence surged, and he brought the whip down with full force.
The moment the whip and ring collided, a thunderous explosion erupted, and a burst of black and yellow sparks flew between them. Jia Zhuangyuan felt a numbing sensation in his hand, almost losing grip of the whip. He quickly stepped back a few paces and inspected the whip. Fortunately, it was undamaged.
Looking back at Zhao Wending, he too had been forced back several steps, and the golden ring’s glow had dimmed significantly, with the ring itself showing signs of damage. Zhao Wending’s single arm hung low, likely numbed by the force of the collision.
Jia Zhuangyuan switched the whip to his left hand, shook his numb right hand, and strode toward Zhao Wending. Zhao Wending, seemingly shaken by the exchange, gave Jia Zhuangyuan a sinister smile and said, “Old man, you’re tough. We’ll settle this next time.” With that, he turned and walked away with the ring. Jia Zhuangyuan was momentarily stunned—this Taoist had admitted defeat.
In that brief moment of distraction, Zhao Wending disappeared again. Jia Zhuangyuan was frustrated; he had let him escape once more.
At that moment, Jia Zhuangyuan turned to see that the battle between Liu Dashao and the black-clad man had also ended. Liu Dashao stood with his right hand forming a sword gesture, pointing motionlessly at the black-clad man’s chest, the tip of his finger less than a centimeter away. The black-clad man stood with his arms hanging low, equally motionless.
Liu Dashao looked steadily at the black-clad man and said slowly, “Uncle Zhang, before our master passed away, he said that if we ever met again, and if you showed remorse, he would still acknowledge you as his junior brother in the afterlife. But if you remained unrepentant, he asked me to spare you once. The second time, I would have to cleanse the sect of you. Uncle Zhang, what is your choice?”
The black-clad man silently gazed at Liu Dashao, saying nothing.
At this moment, the so-called “master of supernatural abilities” beside Dr. James had regained consciousness and was being supported by the special forces soldiers behind him. Seeing Zhao Wending missing and the black-clad Taoist defeated, Dr. James waved his hand and led his team out of the hall.
Fan Debiao quickly said, “Dashao, the Americans are trying to escape!”
Yang Weidong smiled and said, “Let them go. This is Chinese soil. Even if they run, the People’s Liberation Army will catch them—including that so-called master of supernatural abilities.” Hearing this, everyone laughed, recalling how easily Liu Dashao had dealt with the Americans.
Suddenly, the black-clad man asked hoarsely, “Nephew, where is my senior brother buried?”
Liu Dashao was momentarily stunned, then said with a hint of sadness, “Uncle, do you still care where Master is buried? If you have any conscience left, let go of your stubbornness and greed, and go to his grave to repent. He is buried beside the Five Manifestations Temple in Xiushui Village, marked by a willow tree.”
With that, he gently lowered his hand, turned his face away from the black-clad man, and said softly, “Go.”
The black-clad man let out a long sigh and said, “Nephew, I’ve made many mistakes in this life. I have no face to see my senior brother again. When you visit him next, tell him that Zhang will strive to be a good person in the next life.” With that, he turned and walked out of the hall.
Liu Dashao watched the black-clad man’s retreating figure and murmured, “Uncle Zhang, I hope the next time we meet, we won’t be enemies. I also hope you can live the rest of your life as a good person, no longer aiding evil or betraying our sect and country for personal gain.”
Everyone gathered around Liu Dashao, unsure of what to say.
Liu Dashao turned to the group and forced a smile, saying, “Well, the Americans have fled. It seems they didn’t send any real masters this time. We’ve completed half of our mission. Next, we’ll enter the ‘Infinite Taoist Treasury’ and the ‘Ninety-Nine Heavens’ to find what we’re looking for. Let’s rest for a bit and study the map to plan our route.”
With that, he walked to the edge of the platform, sat down cross-legged, and closed his eyes. Everyone knew he was in a somber mood and didn’t say anything more. Cai Qingchong whispered, “Let’s all rest for a while. Senior Jia, you’re the expert. Please take a look at the map and plan our next steps.”
Jia Zhuangyuan agreed, and everyone sat down to rest.
After resting for about twenty minutes, they continued on their way. Based on the map left by Zhang Jiao, Jia Zhuangyuan found a mechanism for an underground passage beneath the platform.
He activated the mechanism, revealing a dark tunnel. Jia Zhuangyuan said, “According to Zhang Jiao’s map, this tunnel leads directly to an underground river. Following it, we can bypass several other cities in front of Fengdu and reach the Infinite Taoist Treasury.” He then signaled everyone to turn on their flashlights and enter the tunnel. At that moment, Liu Dashao, looking at the dark tunnel, suddenly felt uneasy and said, “Wait, everyone. Something feels off.”
Jia Zhuangyuan looked at the group, then turned to Liu Dashao and asked, “Young Liu, do you think we should proceed?”
Liu Dashao pondered for a moment, then said, “My opinion is that since Yin Changsheng left this map and used astrological mechanisms and drought demons to guard it, he likely didn’t intend to deceive us. Let’s take the risk.”
Hearing Liu Dashao’s words, no one objected. Jia Zhuangyuan nodded and said, “As long as we’re not dealing with some monstrous creature, I believe we can handle it.”
Seeing that everyone had agreed, Liu Dashao grinned and said, “Even if we encounter ghosts again, I can handle them. Let’s get moving. Cai Qingchong, you’re skilled. You and I will take the lead this time.”
Cai Qingchong agreed and squeezed to the front, holding a flashlight as he and Jia Zhuangyuan entered the tunnel. The others followed in single file.
As they entered the tunnel, Jia Zhuangyuan lit a firestarter and said, “Everyone, take it slow. This tunnel has been here for who knows how long, and it feels particularly damp and stuffy. I lit this firestarter as a precaution. If it suddenly goes out, it means the air in the tunnel is bad, and we should retreat immediately.” Everyone nodded and continued forward.
After walking about a dozen meters, the damp, stuffy air in the tunnel turned chilly. The tunnel sloped downward, and since Fengdu Ghost City was already underground, Liu Dashao estimated they were now over a thousand meters below ground.
At that moment, Jia Zhuangyuan suddenly whispered, “Everyone, be careful. I sense something ahead.” His words immediately put everyone on edge. Jia Zhuangyuan continued, “I can feel it. These things seem intangible.” He signaled everyone to stop, then pulled a handful of glutinous rice from his backpack and held it in his hand. He turned and said, “Stay here. I’ll go ahead and see if these things attack me.”
With that, Jia Zhuangyuan slowly moved forward alone. Everyone’s hearts were in their throats. Cai Qingchong hesitated, then turned to Liu Dashao and said, “Dashao, I think these things are unusual. Should I go with him?”
Liu Dashao nodded and said, “I’ll go with you. I don’t have a good feeling about this either.” With that, he and Cai Qingchong followed Jia Zhuangyuan into the darkness.
Yang Weidong and Fan Debiao, left behind, exchanged uneasy glances. The unease expressed by Jia Zhuangyuan and Liu Dashao suggested that these intangible things were far from simple—there was likely more to them. Jia Zhuangyuan, not versed in Taoist arts, believed that intangible entities were ghosts. The three of them, one in front and two behind, gradually disappeared into the darkness ahead. Everyone was worried—what exactly were these intangible things Jia Zhuangyuan had mentioned? Would they pose a danger to Jia Zhuangyuan and the others?
At that moment, a clear cry from Liu Dashao echoed through the narrow tunnel, sending a chill through everyone’s hearts. This was followed by Cai Qingchong’s shouts and the sharp hiss of Liu Dashao’s aura. It seemed they had already engaged these strange entities.
After advancing about dozens of meters, the dampness turned icy. The tunnel sloped downward. Though gentle, the descent was continuous. Liu Dashao estimated they were now over a kilometer deep.
Suddenly, Jia Zhuangyuan whispered, “Everyone, I sense something ahead.” His words sent tension rippling through the group. He continued, “It feels intangible.” He signaled everyone to stop and took out a handful of sticky rice from his backpack, holding it ready. He turned and said, “Stay here. I’ll go ahead and see if it attacks me.”
With that, Jia Zhuangyuan slowly advanced. Everyone’s hearts raced. Cai Qingchong hesitated, glancing at Liu Dashao and asking, “Master Liu, this feels unusual. Should I go with you?”
Liu Dashao nodded and said, “I’ll go with you. My instincts aren’t good either.” Together, they followed Jia Zhuangyuan into the darkness.
Back at the rear, Yang Weidong and Fan Debiao exchanged uneasy glances. Jia and Liu’s instincts told them these intangible entities were no ordinary ghosts. Jia, unfamiliar with Taoist arts, assumed the formless presence was ghosts. The trio moved forward, gradually disappearing into the darkness. The others grew anxious—what were these formless entities? Would Jia Zhuangyuan and the others face danger?
Suddenly, a sharp whistle rang out from ahead, distorted in the narrow tunnel, making everyone’s hearts race. Then came Cai Qingchong’s shout and the hiss of Liu Dashao’s sharp qi. They had engaged the mysterious entities.
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