Fa Xiang led the way and everyone followed him, riding their swords to a small hill thirty miles away from the Kongsang Mountain.
There was a clear spring on the shady side of the hill, which was exactly what Li Xiu and others needed. At that moment, everyone washed themselves at the water's edge, found a quiet place to change clothes, and then came out to meet Fa Xiang and others.
Lu Xueqi was a woman, so she was not very convenient. She found the place to wash and change clothes the farthest away, and was the last one to come out.
Upon seeing her after she had finished grooming herself, her radiance shone forth. Her beauty, which had originally been pure and elegant, now had a touch of charm. People like Zeng Shushu, Li Xun and others' eyes lit up. Even Yan Hong from the Fen Xiang Valley, who had been silent all this time as a woman, looked at her several times more.
Eight of the most outstanding young people in today's cultivation world sat down together, discussing and Fa Xiang slowly explains what he knows.
The bats in the "Cave of Ten Thousand Bats" in Kongsang Mountain were a mutated species raised by the Demon Sect in the past. They were brutal and vicious, with a fondness for blood. Originally, they were accomplices of the Demon Sect. After the stronghold of the Demon Sect in this place was destroyed eight hundred years ago, a few bats still survived.
After a long time, they gradually multiplied and thrived, and no one controlled them, until today they reached this terrifying scale. Whenever they go out to feed, they make the area within a five hundred-mile radius completely devoid of human beings and rare to see living creatures.
However, these bats fear sunlight and reside in the ancient cave during the day. Li Xiu and his companions went up the mountain last night, and nothing would have happened if it were during the day.
Upon hearing this, Zeng Shushu frowned and asked Fa Xiang: "Brother Fa Xiang, all those beasts live in the ancient cave, how can we go in to investigate?"
Fa Xiang hesitated for a moment and said: "According to the observations of this little monk these days, those beasts all hang upside down on the top of the ancient cave during the day and will not be active. Maybe we can go in this way."
After Zeng Shushu was stunned for a moment, he frowned and said: "This... this seems a little unreliable. What if we disturb those beasts when we go in and they attack us?"
Fa Xiang nodded, he too had considered this possibility, and slowly spoke: "Indeed, there is no guarantee, but we must still carry out the orders from our master. Let's give it a try, worst case we can fight and then come out."
"Today I, along with my fellow monk from the Tian Yin Pavilion and two benefactors from the Fen Xiang Valley, plan to go in and investigate. We didn't expect to meet all of you, which is even better as more people means more strength. We believe that if there are any problems, we will be able to handle a swarm of bats with ease."
Speaking of this, Qi Hao suddenly asked, "There is one thing I need to ask for advice from Brother Fa Xiang. Three months ago, my senior brother from the Qing Yun Sect, Senior Brother Xiao Yicai, had already come here first. I wonder if you have seen him."
Fa Xiang shook his head and said, "I have not seen him."
The several people from Qing Yun frowned and remained silent.
The next day, as the sun rose, Li Xiu and others arrived at the Kongsang Mountain, only to find the mountain deserted, with sand and stones everywhere, and not even a bird cry could be heard on the vast mountain, especially in the bright daylight, making it even more strange and frightening.
Fa Xiang and others had come several days earlier and had already located the location of the Bat Cave. Li Xiu and others followed them and finally arrived at the entrance of the Bat Cave after being careful all the way.
At the edge of the mountains in Kongsang Mountain where the sun and shade alternate, there is a large semi-mountain cave with only a little light at the entrance. Looking further inside, it seems to be pitch black, capable of swallowing everything.
Standing a few zhang (Chinese measurement) away from the cave entrance, everyone felt the chilly wind blowing and getting into their bones. At the same time, there was also a rustling sound that seemed like whispering and also like ghostly crying, making people's backs chill.
Everyone was silent, and Fa Xiang reminded them: "The inside of the cave is dangerous and unpredictable, it's better for everyone to prepare their magic weapons just in case."
Regarding their own lives, everyone dared not be slack in the slightest, they all clutched their magic weapons in their hands, only then did they feel a little bit safe, and then they all went into the terrifying pitch-black cave one by one.
Not far after entering, they saw a thick layer of bat feces accumulated on the ground, spreading a nauseating stinky smell that was extremely disgusting.
Everyone frowned and quickly used the spell of flying control, flying low, especially when they saw that the cave ceiling was densely covered with countless bats hanging upside down under the glow of the magic swords, they flew even closer to the ground for fear of disturbing them.
The judgment of Fa Xiang was indeed accurate, even though the light emitted by each magic treasure was very noticeable in this dark cave, but not a single bat showed any unusual movement.
As they flew deeper, the bat droppings became thicker, and the bats on the cave ceiling seemed endless and there were more and more of them as the cave became wider, which was really shocking to see.
After a long time, even those who could endure the monotony of cultivation felt a bit impatient, and only then did they see the stone ground.
Everyone landed themselves and took the magic weapon in their hands. Fa Xiang in front took out a round bead that glimmered with a solemn golden light. With his spiritual power, the golden light flourished in an instant, enveloping everyone like a tidal wave, making them feel warm and comfortable, and the irritability and impatience in their hearts completely disappeared.
Li Xun, who always looked down on others, was somewhat surprised at this moment: "The Reincarnation Pearl?"
Fa Xiang looked at him and said calmly: "Brother Li, good eyesight."
Li Xun suddenly became more polite to Fa Xiang in his words: "I dare not, Brother Fa Xiang, you are the one with profound Taoist knowledge."
"Oh?"
Zeng Shushu suddenly exclaimed in surprise, and everyone raised their heads to look up along with his gaze, discovering that on the top of the cave, there was a blood-red thin line drawn, which seemed to be like the vein pattern growing in the rocks.
With the blood-red thin line as the boundary, countless bats crowded outside, just a few inches away, but not a single bat crossed the boundary, which was very strange and eerie.
No one needed to remind them, and they all became a little more cautious in their hearts. They gathered closely together and walked into the cave.
In front, the darkness was like a vicious monster, with open arms and a wicked smile, staring at the group as they entered its embrace.
It has been an unknown period of time, and an unknown distance, but the increasing dampness around them lets them know that they haven't strayed off course and are indeed going deeper underground.
The Reincarnation Pearl that was invoked by Fa Xiang is still emitting golden Buddhist light, illuminating and protecting everyone. Lu Xueqi knew they were getting closer to the evil members of the Demon Sect, so in case of an emergency, she also invoked the Liuhe Mirror. The two magical treasures are shining and complementing each other.
After walking a while, they saw a cave ahead of them with two branches, both dark and unknown where they lead.
In the center of the two branches stands a giant stone tablet that is several zhangs tall, with five blood-red characters engraved on it.
"The Way of Heaven is within me!!"
A domineering and unrestrained momentum suddenly hit, and everyone couldn't help but look slightly stunned.
A moment later, Li Xun coldly snorted and disdainfully said: "It's ridiculous, the demons of the demon sect, they dare to arrogantly claim the Way of Heaven."
Fa Xiang frowned, concentrating, slowly saying: "Everyone, I have heard my teacher say that eight hundred years ago, there was indeed a stone tablet in this cave by the demon sect, but it was already broken by the righteous immortal with a single sword strike of a great divine sword, how come it is now intact?"
...