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Chapter 138 - 137: Cave in the Mountain

Generally speaking, most caves and crevices are shallow enough to see the end at a glance, only a few need to be explored deeply. If there are animal carcasses at the cave entrance or a smell of urine, it might be a beast’s lair.

If the cave feels ominous or the Purifying Heart Technique senses agitation, then there might be a Demon Fiend present.

Whether it’s a beast or a Demon Fiend, they have ways to deal with them.

Only the Great Demon is different; once encountered, they must retreat immediately without alerting it, or they’ll be in mortal danger.

Currently, in Hot Pepper Village, only Immortal Master Liu can handle a Great Demon.

"There’s nothing in this cave," Captain Huang said after sweeping a glance over the shallow cave.

"Its shape is really strange," Xiaomai muttered, "It doesn’t look naturally formed."

"What do you think it looks like?"

"Hmm... Like a claw mark gouged out of the stone wall."

"That’s right." Huang Ting chuckled, "If you spend enough time in the mountains, you’ll find such caves everywhere. In my view, they’re all left from the Great Demon’s territorial fights."

"Huh? They fight over territory?" Stone Monkey chimed in, "Isn’t that like the dogs my family used to have?"

"Pah, how could that be the same? Great Demons are born to rule; to them, territory is their kingdom, of course, it’s ruled by strength." Huang Ting spat, "Consider the former Cyan Dragon, it fought its way out from a horde of monsters. Compare it to your family dog, and see if it dares to compete with it."

"Is that dragon really that strong?"

"You’re part of the second group to arrive here, too bad you missed seeing the Immortal Master Lord slay the Great Demon. At that time, her sword radiated a seven-colored glow, extraordinary for a True Immortal. Just standing there, the wind would curve around her—"

"And then the Immortal Master Lord slew the Cyan Dragon with a single stroke, while also splitting the sky. Alright, alright, you’ve told us that story over a hundred times," Xiaomai interrupted. "Let’s hurry to the next cave. I want to sleep in Hot Pepper Village tonight, not camp outside again."

"Hey, some haven’t heard it before." Huang Ting waved Stone Monkey over, "Alright, you fix the rope at the upper cave entrance."

Suddenly, a series of shrill cries echoed from behind them.

They all turned around and saw a few shadows flying out from deep within the tunnel, heading straight for them!

"Watch out!"

Huang Ting pushed Xiaomai aside at once, only to be struck several times by a shadow, losing his balance and stepping into the void, falling immediately!

"Uncle Huang!" Xiaomai cried out, scrambling to the cave entrance.

"It’s alright, he’s got a safety rope on!" the other team members shouted, "Lend a hand and pull the captain up!"

Four or five people quickly and laboriously pulled Huang Ting, who was hanging upside-down on the cliff face, back into the cave.

"Damn it! What the hell was that just now?" Captain Huang, feeling embarrassed, cursed loudly, "It came out of nowhere and scared the hell out of me!"

"Seems like bats?" Stone Monkey scratched his head.

"Bats aren’t that big! Each one was nearly half the size of my arm!" Angrily, he removed the gun from his back, unlocked the safety, and headed to the cave’s end about five meters away. "I want to see where they flew out from!"

Once there, he was astonished.

It turned out there was another hole above the cave’s end.

And it wasn’t an ordinary hole, but a completely round entrance, looking deliberately left there.

It was about three feet wide, just enough for one person to squeeze through.

"Hey, come over and take a look!" Huang Ting quickly beckoned his subordinates and took out a flashlight from his pocket.

This thing, along with the nylon rope, was a treasure brought by the shopkeeper, with the press of a finger it could light up, much more convenient than a torch.

The moment the flashlight shone, the top became instantly clear.

The cave wall appeared quite smooth and could reflect some light, not as if it were made of piled stones.

"Is this some kind of bird’s nest?" someone murmured.

"Doesn’t quite look like it." Stone Monkey shook his head, "Seems more like something man-made."

"There are no people living in Wanshan Wilderness."

"It looks quite deep, who knows how far it goes..."

"You want to climb up and see?"

"Forget it, as long as there are no Demon Fiends, what’s it got to do with us?"

They chattered away.

"I want to climb in and see," Huang Ting suddenly said.

"Captain, is it necessary?"

"Let’s just eliminate any threats. What if there’s a big cavity hiding monsters?" he handed the gun in his hand to Xiaomai, "Help me up with a human ladder."

It’s no trouble to inspect.

If the cave truly turned out to be a big bat’s nest, he’d surely set it alight to show them the price of startling him.

The human ladder was quickly set up, Huang Ting stepped onto a teammate’s shoulder and successfully crawled into the round hole.

The vertical part was short, and the tunnel quickly turned forward. His limbs struck the circular walls with thuds. He realized it was made of metal, Stone Monkey was right, only humans could create something so uniformly sturdy.

Iron? Huang Ting wiped the thick muck off the wall with his sleeve and found no familiar rust.

Moving forward, the flashlight’s glow suddenly turned pitch black, as if it vanished.

He tapped the flashlight, realizing it wasn’t off, but the space ahead was vast, beyond its reach.

A big cavity indeed!

Huang Ting felt a sudden fear; who knew what monster lurked inside?

But there was no turning back, and as the captain, he couldn’t show fear before his team. Forcing himself onward, ten steps later the tunnel ended.

Huang Ting first poked his head out, followed by his arm with the flashlight. Looking around, he was so stunned he couldn’t speak!

This was no Demon Fiend’s lair!

It was clearly a tomb!

Below, above, left, right... all smooth walls, and aside from the dust, even more orderly than his old home! This tomb was gigantically scaled, at least a hundred meters long. Coffins arranged neatly on the ground testified it was likely a communal tomb.

Why would anyone be buried in Wanshan Wilderness?

Carving such a grand space within these mountains couldn’t be done without an Immortal Technique, right?

Could it be... the resting place of a True Immortal?

The more Huang Ting thought, the more alarmed he became. He quickly retreated the way he came, not daring to linger a moment longer.

After nearly thirty minutes, he emerged from the duct, his heart still pounding.

"Did you find something?" Xiaomai noticed his uneasy expression.

"God bless, you guys have no idea what I saw! It was a tomb, a huge one!" Huang Ting frantically explained his discovery, "The top hole is probably for access, to prevent grave robbers from taking the burial treasures. It’s no ordinary structure, perfectly round with inner walls built from Profound Iron without a trace of rust!"

Everyone was speechless.

"Really?"

"If it’s a communal tomb, who was it built for?"

"Surely there aren’t many people in Wanshan Wilderness!"

"Everyone, calm down. Boss, what next?" Stone Monkey asked, "Contact nearby teams for exploration help?"

"Hell no, this is the exploration team’s first major find since formation. Why let others in to share the credit?" Huang Ting immediately refused.

"So, the captain suggests we explore first before deciding?"

"That’s not feasible; we’re just over ten people. If danger comes, no one will help," Huang Ting was excited but knew priorities. "This is serious, we should return to Hot Pepper Village and report to the Immortal Master, letting her decide the next steps."