Golden Core stage demon cultivator.
Despite having some mental preparation before entering the mountain range, it was still somewhat unexpected when confirmed by others.
Even for disciples at the peak of the Foundation Building stage, a Golden Core stage demon cultivator was still a formidable enemy.
“Where are Shangguan Sister and the others?”
Zhou Yu frowned.
“When you ask like that, I’m not very clear either, meow,” Ah Miao said helplessly, “I only know that they seem to be moving deeper into the cave dwelling, as if they have some purpose.”
The cat demon shared everything it knew about this type of cave dwelling with Tang Xin and the others.
This cave dwelling, reportedly left by a predecessor of the demonic path, is divided into an outer area and an inner area.
To enter the outer area, one simply needs to find the entrance; at most, one might occasionally trigger some “wooden dummy” alarms, which can be dealt with a few punches and kicks.
However, entering the inner area seems to require some kind of permission, otherwise various traps will attack.
Such setups are not uncommon in cave dwelling ruins.
The place where Tang Xin and others are currently staying is usually used to receive guests and is not considered a real “cultivation living space,” so it’s not that troublesome.
Ah Miao and the others, lacking the ability to crack the permissions or forcefully break into the inner parts of the cave dwelling, were wandering around here, hoping to catch some big fish.
“To be honest,” Ah Miao said, “I don’t really recommend that you follow them, meow. That group of cultivators… those demon cultivators, they all carry a murderous aura, they are true demon cultivators, definitely not easy to provoke.”
Among demon cultivators, there are novices and those with old experience. The ones that can make a half-demon feel intimidated are undoubtedly the latter.
Did Shangguan Qing’er know there were fierce pursuers behind and still run into the dangerous inner parts of the cave dwelling, hoping to use the traps for a desperate counterattack?
Or is there something in the depths of the cave dwelling that attracted them?
“Good things are not left out in the open,” Tang Xin said to the person beside her, “Let’s go in and take a look.”
The members of the Meow Meow Gang hesitated for a moment, but eventually followed.
With this expert leading the way, it must be much safer than them going in to explore on their own, right?
Following the direction Shangguan Qing’er and her team had previously taken, Tang Xin led the group through a winding passage to a riverbank.
The river was about ten zhang wide, with only a wooden bridge connecting the two sides. The water appeared calm.
Tang Xin stopped and threw a stone into the river.
The stone followed a bizarre “7” shaped trajectory, dropping vertically into the water without making a sound.
“There’s something strange!” Ah Miao exclaimed, “As expected of an expert, you noticed it right away.”
Tang Xin glanced at her.
It had nothing to do with being an expert; it was purely because she had seen too many tricks and could guess what was happening…
“The bridge is enchanted,” Zhou Yu observed after a look, “It seems to be a mechanism for identifying friends and foes. Forcing our way through might trigger some kind of attack.”
Ah Miao also found a stone tablet by the bridge, which read:
“Welcome, friends of the demonic path to my humble abode. If you are cultivators of the righteous path, then prepare to die!”
“Shangguan Qing’er also passed through here,” Tang Xin pondered, “What method did they use?”
【Generating options…】
【Option 1: Charge through the instance? Just rush over with everyone.】
【Success rate 1%, reward: Indestructible Golden Body Technique, failure: complete annihilation.】
【Option 2: Attack the wooden bridge to destroy the identification mechanism.】
【Success rate 50%, reward: one Aurora Herb, failure: enter escape scenario.】
【Option 3: Take out the Soul Devouring Banner, chant ‘hula hula’ to the bridge’s mechanism to trick the friend-foe identification.】
【Success rate 100%, reward: Cute +1.】
Understood, it uses “demonic aura” to identify friends and foes. Shangguan Qing’er and her team probably stole something from a demonic cultivator, or maybe they even knocked someone out and brought them along…
Wait, the fact that I was able to stop the wooden dummy earlier, could it be because the mansion’s formation recognized me as “one of their own”?
Tang Xin glared with dead fish eyes, pulling out her “Loving Cane” and waving it by the bridge while chanting.
“Hula hula, hula hula—”
Soon, the suppression from the formation completely vanished without a trace.
“That’s amazing,” Zhou Yu exclaimed in amazement. “Such a complex formation, it would take me half a month to even think of a way to break it…”
Let’s not even talk about breaking it…
Under Tang Xin’s cover, they neither had to charge through forcefully nor attack; they simply crossed the potentially deadly wooden bridge with ease.
The river seemed to be the boundary between the inside and outside. Once here, the surroundings changed drastically.
Outside, there were only a few stone statues and wooden stakes, but inside, there were various palaces, secret chambers, green fires, and… skeletons.
After all, it was a demonic cultivator’s cave, unlikely to present a scene filled with celestial grace…
“Ho ho ho!”
Suddenly, a huge phantom appeared in the sky, an old man with black patterns on his face and an eerie aura.
“This cave has been silent for many years, finally, some fellow Daoists have come in!”
The old man’s voice startled everyone.
“It’s just a projection,” Tang Xin signaled everyone not to panic. “It will tell you what needs to be done next…”
These people really have no experience in exploring instances…
“Since you’ve found this place in the Hundred Poison Mountains, you must be here for the ‘Demonic Desire Scripture,’ right? Yes, there is indeed a page of the scripture in this cave!”
“Hehe, but I certainly can’t let you take it so easily. Good things should be in the hands of the worthy. Go forth, it lies in the deepest part.”
“As for whether you younger demonic cultivators have a chance to obtain it… it all depends on your strength and luck!”
The projection disappeared.
“‘Demonic Desire Scripture’?”
The newcomers all wore puzzled expressions.
They had never heard of this thing before, but judging by the elder’s reaction, it seemed important?
[System Store is searching for you… No related products found.]
A mysterious demonic cultivation technique not even explained by the system store?
The group continued onward and before long, they arrived at an area filled with many palaces.
“This place is filled with a multitude of formations,” Zhou Yu warned, “Too many, too complex, I can barely distinguish anything…”
“Can you find where Shangguan Qing’er is?”
“I’ll try.”
Zhou Yu sniffed hard.
Then quickly pointed in a direction.
“Over there!”
And to think she claimed she hadn’t done anything strange with her senior sister’s sheets and underwear… Could such a skill really be developed so casually?
Following a scent that was difficult for ordinary people to detect, Tang Xin and the others walked for a while.
Ahead, two somewhat weary female cultivators indeed appeared before them.
“Is it Friend Tang Xin?”
Liu Mei exclaimed with joy.
“You’ve caught up?” Shangguan Qing’er smiled, “Friend Tang is truly formidable!”
“I’m just average, mainly it’s someone who can track people by scent,” Tang Xin shrugged, “By the way, were you chased by demonic cultivators?”
“Yes,” Shangguan Qing’er nodded, “But we also unexpectedly came across a clue…”
