The next morning, sunlight filtered through the canopy at the valley entrance, dispelling the night's chill. After a night of rest, everyone's wounds had mostly healed, and their spiritual energy was nearly replenished.
Dustin informed everyone about the cave opening in the cliff face. Margaret gathered the core members to discuss.
"We don't know where this cave leads. But since the demon beasts won't approach this cliff, there's something here that frightens them. Either a great opportunity, or a great danger." Margaret said.
Adam analyzed: "By Buzhou Mountain's rules, the more dangerous a place, the greater the opportunity. We're trapped here now, and going up is our only way out. If this cave is a shortcut upward, it's worth exploring."
Scarlet looked at Dustin with concern: "But Brother Dustin's cultivation is sealed. If there's something inside..."
Dustin waved his hand: "Don't worry about me. Since we advance and retreat together, we naturally go together. I won't hold anyone back."
Margaret made the final decision: "Then we go in and explore. But we must be fully prepared."
After the team readied themselves, Dustin led them to the hidden cave entrance. Several Dragon Guards skilled in scouting entered first. Moments later came the signal: the cave was temporarily safe to enter.
Everyone filed in. The cave was narrow and cramped, allowing only one person to pass sideways. The surrounding rock walls were slippery, permeated with a damp, ancient atmosphere. After traveling for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, the passage gradually widened, and faint light appeared ahead.
Emerging from the passage, the view opened dramatically—it was an enormous cavern hidden within the mountain! The cavern ceiling soared dozens of meters high, hung with countless stalactites. Light filtering in from somewhere illuminated the stalagmites, refracting into a dazzling array of colors. At the cavern's center stood a ruined ancient palace!
The palace was built entirely of some grayish-blue jade stone. Though ruined, traces of its former grandeur remained visible. The palace doors were tightly shut, carved with intricate patterns vaguely depicting an immortal wielding a sword to slay demons. Above the doors, three characters in ancient seal script read: "Hall of Hidden Truth."
"Ancient cultivator ruins!" Adam exclaimed with delight.
Everyone approached the ancient palace cautiously. When they came within ten meters of the doors, a circle of light suddenly blazed on the ground, enveloping them. An aged voice sounded from within:
"Who comes? Do you bear the token?"
Token? Everyone exchanged confused glances.
Dustin's heart stirred. He produced an ancient jade piece he had found by chance in the valley—something he had stumbled upon in a rock crevice right after being teleported onto the mountain, and had kept with him since.
The moment he took out the jade, it emitted a faint glow, resonating with the light circle. The patterns on the palace doors also lit up, slowly opening to both sides.
"Token verified. You may enter. Each person has only one chance to enter. What you obtain within is your fortune. But the hall is full of traps—life and death are your own responsibility." The aged voice sounded again, then fell silent.
Everyone exchanged glances, excitement mixed with wariness. Margaret stepped forward first: "Let's go. Since we've come this far, there's no turning back."
Stepping through the doors, the scene instantly changed. Everyone found themselves not in a single great hall, but teleported to separate, independent spaces.
Dustin stood alone in a long, narrow corridor. On both walls, everburning lamps were set every few meters, their flames casting an eerie glow on countless mysterious patterns and texts inscribed on the walls.
He walked slowly forward, carefully observing the patterns.
They seemed to be some kind of cultivation technique, but incomplete and difficult to comprehend.
At the corridor's end was a stone chamber.
At the chamber's center sat a skeleton in meditation.
The skeleton wore ancient Daoist robes. Though dead for untold years, it still maintained its seated posture, a faint pressure emanating from around it. On its lap rested a jade slip.
Dustin approached and bowed respectfully: "Senior, this junior means no intrusion. I seek only a chance at survival here. If I gain anything, I shall forever remember your kindness."
The moment he finished speaking, the skeleton seemed to move slightly.
A hazy figure of light drifted from the skeleton, taking the form of an elderly man with white hair and beard.
"Three thousand years... finally someone has arrived." The elder's phantom looked at Dustin, a flicker of interest in his eyes.
Dustin's heart jumped—he hadn't expected the skeleton to hold such mysteries.
The elder's phantom stroked his beard and smiled: "No need for alarm. This old man passed away long ago. I left this wisp of remnant soul only to await someone with affinity. That you could enter this hall, and carry that ancient jade, is fate. Let me ask you: will you accept this old man's test?"
"Please speak, Senior."
"The test is simple—comprehend this 'Mortal Transformation Technique.' If you can grasp even a portion of it, you pass. If not..." The phantom didn't finish, but the meaning was clear.
Dustin accepted the jade slip and pressed it to his forehead.
In an instant, vast information flooded his mind—
The "Mortal Transformation Technique" was created by ancient cultivators, designed specifically for cultivators breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm.
Its core principle: when one's cultivation is sealed, one need not be idle. Instead, one can use the opportunity to temper the physical body, forge the divine soul, and accumulate foundation.
When the day comes to condense the Nascent Soul, all that accumulated potential explodes forth, soaring to the heavens!
Dustin immersed himself in it, eagerly comprehending. Time lost all meaning.
Perhaps it was an instant, perhaps several days—when he opened his eyes again, they held a new clarity of understanding.
The elder's phantom nodded with satisfaction: "Good comprehension. Barely passing. This 'Mortal Transformation Technique' is now yours. Additionally..." He raised a finger, and a streak of spiritual light entered Dustin's forehead. "This is a wisp of my soul imprint. It can protect you once at a moment of life and death. Go now—your companions are waiting."
As his words faded, the phantom dissipated. Only Dustin remained in the stone chamber.
He bowed once more to the skeleton, then turned and left.
Meanwhile, the others each had their own encounters.
Margaret, in a sword chamber, obtained a superior sword technique called "Startling Snow Thirteen Styles." Adam received a complete set of formation flags and formation diagrams. Scarlet, in a trial ground, fought fiercely against a phantom demon beast, ultimately slaying it and earning a "Dragon Blood Pill" that could enhance physical constitution.
When everyone reunited outside the palace doors, each face showed the joy of gains. Scarlet immediately ran to Dustin's side, looking him up and down: "Brother Dustin, are you alright?"
Dustin shook his head: "I'm fine. In fact, I gained something."
He looked at everyone. "We shouldn't stay here long. We need to continue upward."
Everyone nodded and left the ancient palace, proceeding through a passage on the cavern's other side.
At the passage's end were stone stairs leading up. The moment they stepped onto the stairs, everyone felt the surrounding spiritual energy grow even denser, and that invisible pressure increase another degree.
Buzhou Mountain was testing every climber's determination and perseverance.
– Marinien
Comments