Just as the group held their breaths, a shocking scene unfolded. From the thick layer of fallen leaves ahead, a massive, yellowish-brown creature sprang up like a coiled serpent. Its colossal jaws revealed rows of jagged fangs as it snapped up the black-feathered bird. In a frenzy, its scythe-like claws shredded the prey into fragments before swallowing it whole.
The monstrous beast, camouflaged perfectly against the forest floor, quivered briefly before settling back down. Its body blended seamlessly with the leaf-strewn ground, becoming nearly invisible.
Xiao Chen and the others exchanged terrified glances, each swallowing hard. The same thought passed through all their minds—had they blundered into the creature's path, none of them would have survived.
Though the creature's speed had been overwhelming, Xiao Chen had managed to observe its form. The beast stretched over ten zhang in length, its scales a dull brown that mimicked dead leaves. Beneath its massive belly were countless razor-sharp legs, each about three chi long and shimmering with a toxic blue sheen.
The sheer speed at which it struck the bird made Xiao Chen's heart race. Even with his skills, he doubted he'd stand a chance against such a monster.
Seeing the group's wary gazes, Chu Kuang composed himself and said, "This multi-limbed beast is incredibly fast and armed with lethal venom, but its senses are weak. It relies on sound to detect prey. If we stay silent and avoid making noise, it won't notice us. Furthermore, these creatures lack intelligence and tend to retreat to their lairs for rest after feeding. We can cross once it leaves to digest."
The others nodded in agreement, though Xiao Chen's eyes flickered thoughtfully.
Two hours later, the group watched as the creature devoured two unfortunate beasts that wandered too close. Once its colossal body slithered away into the dense forest, the group moved cautiously across the clearing.
Though they encountered several other formidable monsters on their journey, Chu Kuang's leadership ensured they navigated the dangers with minimal risk. Only once did they have a close call when Di Qiu strayed from the group to pick up a fallen spiritual artifact, provoking the ire of a three-striped Crackflower Leopard. He escaped with minor injuries, but it served as a grim reminder of the perils surrounding them.
"Finally, we're here," Chu Kuang announced, relief evident in his tone. Before them lay an unassuming stone cave, its entrance partially hidden by overgrowth.
Xiao Chen narrowed his eyes, studying the cave intently, while the Di brothers expressed their relief openly. Wu Wanli remained silent, his unreadable gaze fixed on the entrance.
"Junior Brother Chu Kuang," Di Qiu began, his tone sharp, "you failed to warn us about the dangers we'd face on the way here. I almost lost my life back there!"
Chu Kuang's expression darkened. "The route is perilous, yes, but had you followed my instructions and not been distracted by greed, you wouldn't have provoked that leopard. If you continue acting recklessly, you'll only get yourself killed as we go deeper."
"You—" Di Qiu's face flushed with anger, and his wounded arm trembled.
"You're welcome to leave," Chu Kuang interrupted coldly. "But without my guidance, you'll likely become some beast's next meal before you even make it halfway back."
Di Qiu paled, the warning striking home. Xiao Chen's eyes grew colder as he observed Chu Kuang's callousness.
"Enough," Wu Wanli interjected with a faint smile. "We've come this far; let's not waste our efforts with internal strife. There's treasure ahead, and we should focus on working together to obtain it."
Reluctantly, Di Qiu fell silent, his brother whispering something that seemed to calm him.
Chu Kuang turned to Xiao Chen with a conciliatory gesture. "Senior Brother Liuyun, I mean no harm. We're here for the treasure, and once we've secured it, we'll leave together."
Xiao Chen's frosty gaze lingered for a moment before he replied, "I hope so."
The group entered the cave cautiously, illuminating the darkness with Moonstones. After traversing a hundred zhang, they emerged into a spacious cavern. Seven pitch-black tunnels stretched out before them.
"These seven paths are traps," Chu Kuang explained. "Only one leads forward. I explored this area extensively, nearly losing my life several times, before identifying the correct route. Beyond this point, however, we'll need to proceed with caution."
He led the way into one of the tunnels, and the group followed without incident. They soon arrived at a hall about ten zhang wide. Three blood-red doors stood before them, each exuding an ominous aura. The floor was littered with shattered bones, as though the unfortunate victims had been violently dismembered.
"This is as far as I've gone," Chu Kuang admitted. "I believe one of these doors is the correct path forward. The others likely lead to death, as evidenced by the remains here."
Xiao Chen activated a spiritual technique to enhance his vision. The faint inscriptions on the doors became clearer—three ominous characters: Death, Destruction, and Oblivion, written in a strange, flowing script.
The characters seemed alive, radiating a sinister energy that seeped into his mind. A surge of violent impulses rose within him, threatening to cloud his reason.
Closing his eyes abruptly, Xiao Chen centered himself, activating the calming techniques of the Primordial Spirit Scripture. Gradually, the malevolent influence receded.
"Brother Liuyun, what's wrong?" Chu Kuang asked, sensing Xiao Chen's earlier spike of aggression.
"Don't look at the characters," Xiao Chen warned. "They affect the mind. I suspect the bones here belong to those who succumbed to their influence."
The group exchanged uneasy glances, heeding Xiao Chen's advice.
"These doors read: Death, Destruction, and Oblivion. How should we proceed?"
Chu Kuang pondered aloud, "Destruction implies an impassable route—let's eliminate it as an option. Between Death and Oblivion, I'd suggest Death. As the saying goes, 'To seek life, one must first embrace death.'"
The Di brothers hesitated, their uncertainty evident. Wu Wanli remained expressionless.
"Since Chu Kuang is confident, we'll follow his lead," Xiao Chen said evenly, though his concealed gaze sharpened as he scrutinized Chu Kuang's reaction.
Chu Kuang's eyes glinted briefly with satisfaction before he masked it with a stoic demeanor. Xiao Chen took note, his vigilance increasing.
Crunching softly over bone fragments, the group approached the door marked Death. Chu Kuang performed a hand seal, and the door creaked open silently.
The tunnel beyond was eerily pristine, illuminated by glowing pearls embedded in the walls. The contrast to the dim hall was stark, but the absence of immediate danger eased some tension.
As they ventured deeper, a chilling sight greeted them—a half-corpse, severed at the waist, its skeletal fingers dragging deep grooves into the ground as if desperately fleeing. The marks stretched hundreds of meters, a testament to the victim's extraordinary willpower.
Chu Kuang examined a broken sword near the remains. "A spiritual weapon of significant grade. This cultivator was likely mid-Foundation Establishment."
The grim discovery cast a pall over the group. The eerie quiet only deepened their unease.
Further along, they encountered another half-corpse—its lower half, this time—surrounded by signs of fierce battle. Shattered stone and scorched walls hinted at a desperate struggle, though no clues about the attacker remained.
The path ahead grew increasingly ominous. Sculptures of armored warriors lined the corridor, progressing from crude stone to finely crafted silver. Though weathered by time, their menacing forms hinted at latent danger.
But the most unsettling fact was the complete absence of any visible enemy. The deeper they ventured, the clearer it became—something deadly still lurked in these shadowed depths.