"That's the place. The cave shows signs of man-made excavation. I went inside to investigate. It was a spot where an Asura Sect disciple secluded themselves to achieve a breakthrough to the Soul Formation stage. However, it seems that they ended up going berserk. There were many valuable items inside, but there was a high-grade one-star demonic beast guarding it, so I had to escape. Luckily, I've met you all now. With our numbers, a high-grade one-star demonic beast is nothing to worry about."
Lei Potian led Zhuge Xiang and the others for about an hour until they finally arrived at the entrance of a cave. Zhuge Xiang and the others surveyed the area. The entrance of the cave had a square shape that did not seem natural, indicating it was artificially excavated. This reinforced their belief in Lei Potian's account.
"A high-grade one-star demonic beast? Haha, I'm ready!" Zhuge Xiang swung the Blood Refined Saber in his hand eagerly and rushed out. Lu Yuling and the others were already accustomed to Zhuge Xiang's fervor for battle, especially against mid-grade and high-grade one-star demonic beasts. Seeing Zhuge Xiang's expression, they simply smiled and followed suit.
For Lu Yuling and the others, who had successfully slain a two-star demonic beast, a one-star high-grade demonic beast was no longer a threat. After all, a one-star high-grade demonic beast could not compare to a two-star demonic beast. Furthermore, they now had a formidable ally like Lei Potian. Naturally, they did not take a one-star high-grade demonic beast lightly.
The group entered the cave in a single file. However, just as they entered, a stone door suddenly descended from the cave entrance. With a loud bang, it sealed the entrance and blocked their escape.
"Don't worry. It seems to be a mechanical issue. The door will automatically open and close every two hours. After two hours, it will open again on its own." Lei Potian sensed everyone's unease and reassured them.
Since Lei Potian had previously entered and managed to get out, there should not be any problem. Moreover, Lei Potian was also trapped inside with them. If he was not worried, then there was no reason for them to be concerned. After considering this, everyone let go of their worries.
Zhuge Xiang gripped the Blood Refined Saber tightly and continued leading the way. Although the cave was now sealed, there were numerous luminous pearls embedded in the walls. These were fluorescent orbs commonly used for illumination in secluded chambers. It was said that they were crafted from depleted spirit stones and absorbed sunlight. While not particularly valuable, they were highly practical.
The cave was not very deep. It was obvious that it was only for the sake of seclusion to make a breakthrough. A tranquil environment was sufficient; there was no need for excessive depth. However, after walking for a short while, the cave expanded, revealing a secret chamber with a radius of approximately seventy to eighty feet.
At the base of the secret chamber, there stood a platform with a table. On the platform, a futon lay, occupied by a pale skeleton. It was evident that the individual who had been in seclusion had perished. In the center of the secret chamber, a pool of water glistened. However, the water possessed a peculiar purple-red hue, emitting an eerie sensation. A stone pathway traversed through the water, connecting to the platform below…
"This is a pool of poisonous water," Niu Geng said as he looked at the pool of water that occupied almost half of the secret room.
Gulp…
Suddenly, bubbles emerged within the purple-red poisonous pond water. Simultaneously, ripples spread across the surface, indicating the imminent emergence of something. Zhuge Xiang and the others swiftly prepared themselves for battle. At the same time, Lei Potian cautioned, "Stay vigilant, the demonic beasts within are about to emerge."
Two thick and elongated tentacles were the first to break through the water's surface. Following them was a fur-covered head, accompanied by a pair of compound eyes fixated on Zhuge Xiang and the others. As the demon beast fully emerged from the water, Zhuge Xiang and the others' expressions changed drastically.
It was an enormous moth, its size comparable to that of an elephant. When it unfurled its wings, a purple-red toxic mist wafted through the air. Clearly, due to its immersion in the poisonous pool water, the moth's body had transformed into a poisonous entity, exhibiting a purple-red hue.
However, this was not the most crucial revelation. The most significant aspect was that the Demonic Qi emanating from the poisonous moth surpassed the capacity of a one-star demonic beast. It was, in fact, a two-star demonic beast.
"Lei Potian!!!" Zhuge Xiang turned his head with a gloomy expression when he saw this two-star demonic beast, the Poison Moth.
At this moment, how could everyone not realize that everything had been orchestrated by Lei Potian? No matter how inaccurate the intelligence was, it was implausible for it to be so absurd as to mistake a two-star demon beast for a one-star high-grade creature, right?
"Why did you do that? You couldn't have escaped on your own, could you?" Zhuge Xiang stared at Lei Potian with a serious and gloomy expression.
"Haha, don't concern yourself with that. A few months ago, I acquired an Aura Concealing Pearl. As long as I stay five meters away, no one can detect my aura. Once you're dead, I can return and peacefully claim your Dharma artifacts. Using this method, I've already successfully killed two teams of passing disciples and obtained three Dharma artifacts. I didn't anticipate running into you this time. What a splendid harvest," Lei Potian boasted, wearing a smug smile on his face as he laughed heartily.
"You all can enjoy yourselves here with the two-star demonic beasts. I'll be taking my leave now. I'll come back to visit you all later, although by then, I expect you will have become lifeless corpses. Haha…" As the anger on the faces of Zhuge Xiang and the others grew more intense, Lei Potian no longer wished to engage with them and sought to retreat.
"Ah…" However, at that moment, Lei Potian suddenly cried out in pain. He instinctively slapped his neck, causing a poisonous bee to fly away. After circling once, it landed inside Niu Geng's Yin Gu Pot. It was the poisonous bee that had been nurtured using the Gu cultivation technique.
"When did this happen?" Holding his neck, Lei Potian widened his eyes in disbelief. With his heightened senses, he should have noticed if a poisonous bee approached him.
"Of course, it was before we entered the cave. In the forest, with trees all around, it wasn't difficult to discreetly place a poisonous bee on your body. Zhuge Xiang had instructed me to do so earlier, but I didn't understand why. Now, I finally comprehend that he had long seen through your schemes," Niu Geng explained in response to Lei Potian's astonished words.
"You already knew that there was something wrong with me? That's impossible," Lei Potian said, widening his eyes and instinctively covering his neck. He refused to believe it.
In a matter of moments, Lei Potian felt his neck growing numb, barely able to sense anything. The venomous creatures, including the poisonous bees created through the art of nurturing venomous insects, were undeniably powerful.
"Zhuge Xiang, how did you notice that something was amiss with him?" Lu Yuling, standing beside Zhuge Xiang, asked in surprise, her eyes fixed on him. The others also looked at Zhuge Xiang with confusion. Clearly, they had not detected anything suspicious about Lei Potian.
"When I first saw him, I had my doubts," Zhuge Xiang replied, addressing the perplexed expressions of Lu Yuling and the others. "Earlier, we were headed towards the Aurora Asura Tower, but we unexpectedly ran into him. Don't you find that strange? As disciples of the Asura Sect, we should be heading in the same direction as the tower. If anything, we should have caught up to him rather than encountering him face-to-face."
Pausing briefly, Zhuge Xiang continued, "Furthermore, he had several additional Dharma artifacts on him. How could he possess such artifacts without reason? Now that we're all in a hurry, how could he find the time and take the risk to acquire them? That's why I suspected that Lei Potian had discovered our presence long ago and deliberately sought us out. It seems he's been staking out an advantageous position. Whenever he spots passing disciples, he kills them and takes their treasures. If they happen to be traveling in groups, he uses this method to lure them here and exterminate them."
"I see." Hearing Zhuge Xiang's explanation, Lu Yuling and the others nodded in comprehension. After his analysis, it became evident that something was indeed awry. While everyone was heading towards the Aurora Asura Tower, Lei Potian was going in the opposite direction. The circumstances of their encounter were highly suspicious.
"Impossible… Impossible… I don't want to die… Save me…" Lei Potian's voice grew hoarse as he held his neck. In just a moment, the area where the poisonous bee had stung him had already swollen. Black blood oozed out, and his neck became completely numb. He couldn't feel anything, and even breathing became difficult. In an instant, he succumbed to the poison and died.
As they looked at Lei Potian, now lifeless from the poison, Hua Nongying and the others sighed with a mix of emotions in their hearts. This was the Asura Sect, the demonic sect—willing to commit murder and theft for the sake of Dharma artifacts. Even disciples from the same sect felt no qualms. Simultaneously, they silently rejoiced that Zhuge Xiang had seen through their scheme.
"However, even if we've uncovered his plot, it's too late now," Lu Yuling said, his expression growing more solemn. He turned around and gazed at the poisonous moth hovering above the toxic pool.
Hua Nongying and the others wore grim expressions. Indeed, though they had exposed Lei Potian's plan, it was too late to do anything about it now. They were already trapped in this place. Two-star demonic beasts were not easily defeated. The previous encounter with the demonic bear had taught them firsthand the terror such creatures held.
Everyone turned their attention to the Poison Moth with grave expressions. However, instead of launching an immediate attack, the moth floated above the pool, seemingly indifferent. It observed the internal discord among Zhuge Xiang and the others with eyes that eerily resembled those of a human.
"This demon beast actually has some intelligence." Lu Yuling caught the human-like expression in the Poison Moth's eyes and his expression turned ugly.