Chapter 642: Killing Spree, Golden Profound Cave (2)
Chapter 642 -101: Killing Spree, Golden Profound Cave (2)
If the allure of the Geng Metal Qi hadn’t been so overwhelming, they would have given up long ago.
Song Changsheng and Niu Dazhuang ventured deeper into the passage when suddenly, the faint scent of blood reached their nostrils.
They instantly grew vigilant. At the first fork, they soon discovered a long-dead corpse in the left-hand passage.
Song Changsheng stepped forward and expertly examined the body. He turned to Niu Dazhuang and said, “His Cultivation was at least Late-stage Foundation Establishment. The body is slightly decomposed, so he’s been dead for at least three months. There’s blood in the ear canals, but no other external wounds, and the internal organs are pristine. He was likely killed by a sonic or Divine Soul-type attack.”
Hearing this, Niu Dazhuang grew agitated and blurted out, “Was it Little Junior Sister?”
“It’s highly likely. This passage has the most tracks. Yuechan must have gone this way. Let’s hurry and catch up.”
The two picked up their pace, following the trail. As they ventured deeper, short stalagmites gradually began to appear in the corners of the passage.
Song Changsheng reached out and tried to snap one off, but the stalagmite wouldn’t budge. This was the same hand that could wield the three-thousand-jin Mountain-Shaking Halberd, yet it couldn’t break the stone.
Niu Dazhuang was more direct. He took out his Mountain-Opening Axe and, with a WHACK! WHACK!, chopped two of them down.
“It’s actually condensed from Profound Gold. No wonder we’ve seen so many signs of man-made damage along the way.” A flicker of surprise showed in Song Changsheng’s eyes.
Profound Gold was an exceedingly precious Artifact Refining Material. The amount in the two stalagmites he held was enough to refine a Tier Two Spiritual Artifact.
If they found larger pieces of better quality, they could even serve as the primary material for refining a Tier Three Spiritual Artifact.
“How can this godforsaken place have so much Profound Gold?” Niu Dazhuang asked, bewildered. As an Array Master, he was well aware of how valuable Profound Gold was.
“Everything about this place has been bizarre since we entered. We must stay on high alert.”
For some reason, a faint sense of unease lingered in Song Changsheng’s heart. ‘If Zhuang Yuechan weren’t in here, my cautious nature would have had me leave already.’
The two pressed on, encountering more and more forks in the path. Each one was littered with tracks, making it extremely difficult to determine the correct way forward.
This was where Song Changsheng’s Ten Thousand Miles Tracking Technique finally proved its worth. He found the correct path at every turn, saving them a great deal of time that would have been wasted on trial and error. The signs of combat along the path grew more frequent, as did the number of corpses. Among them was even a wizened-faced Purple Mansion Cultivator.
This clearly wasn’t Zhuang Yuechan’s handiwork. It looked more like these people had turned on each other, most likely to fight over the Profound Gold that “grew” within the cave.
As they delved deeper, the Sharp Gold Qi became more concentrated. The stalagmites and Stalactites formed from Profound Gold improved greatly in both size and quality compared to the ones outside. Each one represented a substantial fortune, so it was no surprise they would spark conflict.
After all, while the Geng Metal Qi was wonderful, it was a single, intangible prize. This Profound Gold, however, was real and solid.
“It seems things in here are more chaotic than we imagined,” Song Changsheng mused.
For them, this was good news. It meant they could fish in troubled waters.
“Listen. I think I hear something,” Niu Dazhuang said suddenly, pressing his ear to the stone wall.
Song Changsheng did the same and, indeed, felt a distinct vibration. This meant that a Magical Combat was taking place not far ahead.
They exchanged a look and immediately rushed over. About two ancient hours later, they arrived in a spacious cavern where three Foundation Establishment Cultivators were fighting over a Stalactite the thickness of a forearm. Several corpses already littered the ground; the battle was brutal.
“Remember to leave one alive.”
Song Changsheng barely had time to shout the reminder before Niu Dazhuang, who had been holding back for a long time, charged straight out.
The three cultivators never expected a Purple Mansion Cultivator to suddenly appear. They had no chance to resist, and in moments, two were dead and one was wounded.
Song Changsheng interrogated the lone survivor. He learned the man was from a Purple Mansion Influence called the Purple Cloud Pavilion and had been sent by his Sect to seize the Profound Gold and seal the exit.
He also revealed that a Purple Mansion Elder had gone ahead with a dozen or so Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Apparently, they had already found the trail of the woman who obtained the Geng Metal Qi.
Song Changsheng’s heart sank. ‘Zhuang Yuechan’s been found?’
“Senior Brother,” Niu Dazhuang said.
“Understood.”
With a slight squeeze of his large hand, Niu Dazhuang gave the captive a quick end.
‘Purple Cloud Pavilion…’ Song Changsheng silently memorized the name and their Sect’s attire. They had to find Zhuang Yuechan before these people did.
With this thought, Song Changsheng and Niu Dazhuang pushed their speed to the absolute limit. Along the way, they encountered many Cultivators fighting over Profound Gold.
Song Changsheng knew these people were blocking their path forward and cutting off their retreat, so he and Niu Dazhuang launched into a massacre, leaving no one alive.
The successive battles consumed a great deal of their Mana. Just as they sat in meditation to recover, they overheard a familiar name…
“Damn it, what kind of monster blasted their way in here? There isn’t a single person left breathing along this path.”
Inside the grotto, a group of black-robed Foundation Establishment Cultivators surrounded a skinny, purple-robed old man as they advanced down a pitch-black passage. The corpses that appeared from time to time and the thick stench of blood in the air kept their nerves stretched taut.
The complaint had come from one of the black-robed men.
The purple-robed old man glanced at the burly man and said coldly, “What, are you scared?”
Detecting the displeasure in the old man’s tone, a bald man in the group quickly offered a placating smile. “Of course not, Elder Purple Demon. You’ve paid us well. Since our Demon Wind Demon Hunting Team accepted the job, we certainly won’t act like spineless cowards.”
“But as you’ve seen, the bodies along this path are all fresh. Whoever it is, they’re killing Foundation Establishment Cultivators like chickens. It’s clearly the work of a Purple Mansion Great Cultivator. It’s only natural for the brothers to be a little spooked, right?”
“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re scheming. After this is over, I’ll add another thirty percent to each of your commissions. This is the last time. Dare to push your luck again… Hmph!”
Purple Demon snorted coldly, frightening the bald man so much that sweat beaded on his forehead. He immediately began bowing and scraping again.
His subordinates, however, were secretly delighted. ‘Another thirty percent added to the commission! This trip is far more promising than hunting Demon Beasts.’
Indeed, how could men who lived their lives on a knife’s edge be frightened by a scene like this? They were just using it as an excuse to squeeze out a little more money.
The bald man shot a glare at his subordinates before asking in a fawning tone, “Elder Purple Demon, shouldn’t we pick up the pace? Aren’t you afraid someone else will beat you to it?”
“Heh. If those fools really had the skill, they would have found her long ago. Why would they still be searching now?”
“Rest assured, that little brat won’t escape my grasp. I don’t know how she got into that place, but it just means I can catch her like a turtle in a jar,” Purple Demon sneered.
The bald man, a master of reading expressions, immediately offered his congratulations. “Then allow this humble one to congratulate you in advance on obtaining the Celestial and Earthly Spiritual Object, Elder.”
“The Celestial and Earthly Spiritual Object? Hmph. Fool. You think I came all this way just for the Geng Metal Qi?”
“I-is that not it?” the bald man stammered.
“The Celestial and Earthly Spiritual Object is merely a bonus. You fools have no idea what kind of opportunity this grotto truly holds.” Purple Demon’s eyes were filled with disdain. In his opinion, everyone—both inside and outside the cave—was a fool who had their priorities backward.
Despite being called a fool repeatedly, the bald man wasn’t the least bit annoyed. Instead, he laid on the flattery thick, one compliment after another, until even Purple Demon was feeling a little smug.
Just as he was about to open these fools’ eyes to the truth, he suddenly stopped. His sharp gaze fixed on a spot not far ahead as he said coldly, “Which fellow cultivator is there? Eavesdropping is hardly the behavior of a gentleman.”
“You’re mistaken, fellow cultivator. My martial brother and I have been here recovering our energy for quite some time. How is that eavesdropping?”
From around a bend in the passage, Song Changsheng and Niu Dazhuang walked out calmly, meeting Purple Demon’s gaze without flinching.