The tribes in the snowy mountains, including the one that had guided us to the sacred cave, bore tattoos on their bodies as a testament to their unique cultivation method. It was a practice I had heard of but never personally explored. The idea of a legendary tattoo being the key to thwarting the impending calamity baffled me, yet it was a lead we couldn't afford to dismiss.
Leaving the sacred chamber, we found the barbarian cultivators lingering near the exit of the cave, their eyes bearing a curious intensity. A subtle instinct warned me against a hasty departure. It was as if the cavern itself whispered a cautionary tale, urging us to tread carefully.
"Li Wei," I murmured, my voice barely audible in the frigid air, "stay close to me. Let's find another way out of this cave."
