Entering the Cave

A moment later, guided by Xiao Yi Xian, Gu He carried her to the edge of a cliff.

"Teacher, the treasure cave is halfway down this cliff," Xiao Yi Xian said, pointing her jade-like hand below.

Hearing this, Gu He looked down. Dense mist shrouded the bottom of the cliff, and he could only vaguely make out a blurred platform.

"Alright, let's go down." Nodding, Gu He carried Xiao Yi Xian and slowly descended toward the bottom of the cliff.

The crimson wings on his back fluttered slightly as the two gradually entered the mist.

At the same time, Gu He spread out his soul power, probing the mist around them.

A moment later, as the two descended, Gu He's expression suddenly shifted, and he became alert.

"Whoosh..."

The next moment, a faint sound of something cutting through the air rang out in the night as an attack came hurtling toward them.

Sensing the danger, Gu He quickly dodged while holding Xiao Yi Xian.

"Teacher, what was that thing?" Xiao Yi Xian stared at a streak of red light in the mist, fear rising in her heart.

That thing had just ambushed them.

Through his soul power, Gu He instantly saw the attacker clearly.

"Rock Snake."

Gu He was stunned as he looked at the creature before him.

He remembered that in the original story, Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian had encountered this thing when they came down here as well.

As its name implied, the Rock Snake was a serpentine magical beast that lived among rock walls, roughly a first-tier magical beast.

With its long, flat body resembling wings, it could soar through the air like a hawk. Moreover, due to its mutated earth attribute, its body was as hard as stone. Ordinary blades could hardly inflict any significant damage upon it.

"Whoosh..."

With another hiss, the Rock Snake flapped its narrow wings and dove toward Gu He and Xiao Yi Xian, its eyes glowing red. Sharp fangs gleamed with a chilling light within its huge maw.

"You're courting death!" Gu He's eyes flashed with cold light as he looked at the vicious Rock Snake.

A mere first-tier magical beast dared act so wildly before him.

The next moment, Dou Qi gathered in his palm, and he blasted a Blazing Flame Palm at the Rock Snake.

Thud!

After struggling slightly for a moment, the yellow figure stiffened all over and fell from the air, crashing heavily into the bottomless ravine.

With a faint smile, Gu He dealt with the Rock Snake before slowly descending outside the cave with Xiao Yi Xian in his arms.

Standing before the cave, Gu He frowned at the piles of rubble and twisted trees blocking the entrance. He slowly extended his palm, took a deep breath, and shouted inwardly, "Open!"

As his shout fell, an immense force burst from his palm. Like a gale sweeping away fallen leaves, it blew the tangled piles of rubble and twisted trees into the pitch-black mountain ravine.

Gu He then turned his gaze toward the cave, now cleared of its cover.

Without the trees and rubble concealing it, Gu He and Xiao Yi Xian finally got a close look at this cave left behind by some predecessor under the faint moonlight.

The entrance was not wide, only enough for two or three people to pass through. The interior was pitch-black, yet it faintly emitted a dim glow, giving it a mysterious, secluded air.

There were numerous marks around the entrance that looked as though they had been carved by blades. Perhaps due to the passage of time, they had become extremely blurred. If not for Gu He's sharp eyesight, he might not have noticed them at all.

He turned his gaze toward the cave, now cleared of its cover.

"Let's go in." Looking at the dark cave, Gu He set Xiao Yi Xian down and stepped inside first.

Xiao Yi Xian immediately followed behind him and entered the cave.

As they walked through the quiet, dark cave, a faint chill lingered around them. In the silent passageway, only their soft footsteps could be heard.

The gloomy surroundings made Xiao Yi Xian unconsciously wrap her arms around herself.

She raised her head to look at Gu He walking slowly ahead, then quickened her pace and followed closely behind him. In this environment, only her teacher before her could give her a little more sense of security.

After walking for some time, Gu He, who was leading the way, suddenly stopped.

"Teacher, what's wrong?" Xiao Yi Xian asked in confusion when she saw him stop so suddenly.

"There's no path ahead," Gu He said calmly as he looked at the stone door before them.

A solid stone door stood in their way.

Hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian's delicate brows furrowed. She stepped forward, looked at the stone door, and mused, "Our destination should be behind this stone door. Since that predecessor built a cave here, I don't think he would have created a dead end with no way in."

Gu He walked over and touched the stone door, testing its thickness. Then he said to Xiao Yi Xian, "Disciple, step back a little. I'll open the stone door."

"Teacher, why do you always rely on brute force?"

Instead of stepping back at Gu He's words, Xiao Yi Xian rolled her eyes at him.

"Look at the yellow glow on the stone door. An earth-element mechanism has clearly been set up here. As long as one is careful, it won't be difficult to open."

As she spoke, Xiao Yi Xian stepped forward and touched the stone door, then slowly moved her hand across it.

"Heh, I didn't expect you to know about mechanisms, little girl."

"I remember that mechanisms were something wood-element or earth-element Dou Zhe specialized in, weren't they?" Gu He asked in surprise as he looked at Xiao Yi Xian's serious, lovely face.

"I've only read a few books about mechanisms. I wouldn't call myself proficient, but it's enough for a little investigation." Xiao Yi Xian gave a playful smile and continued feeling around the stone door.

Gu He nodded slightly and stopped disturbing her search. He shifted his gaze away from the stone door and, using the weak firelight, carefully examined the surrounding stone walls.

There were faint carvings on the walls. Though the marks had become blurred with time, Gu He could still make out a few human figures. These were likely the cave owner's carvings.

"Found it!" While Gu He was observing the stone walls, Xiao Yi Xian's delighted cry made him quickly turn toward her.

Beside the stone door, Xiao Yi Xian had already crouched down. One slender hand touched a small protrusion beneath the door, and as her finger pressed down slightly, a creaking sound slowly echoed through the cave.

"Teacher, aren't I amazing?" Watching the stone door slowly open, excitement flashed across Xiao Yi Xian's face as she eagerly sought Gu He's praise.

Her expression seemed to say, Teacher, hurry up and praise me.

Looking at the stone door gradually rising, Gu He gave Xiao Yi Xian a thumbs-up. "Good disciple, you're truly amazing!"