Xia Yun Huang led Su Yu through the deep, dense forest. Dry leaves rustled beneath their feet, and now and then a few shafts of sunlight spilled through the gaps in the trees, casting mottled shadows across the ground.
Her steps were light, and she was clearly quite familiar with the area.
When they reached a clear stream, Xia Yun Huang stopped and listened for a moment before pointing to the opposite bank. "Once we cross this stream, it won't be far."
The stream burbled beneath the light of the sky, its surface glittering with flecks of silver.
Su Yu's gaze narrowed slightly. He sensed a faint trace of Spiritual Qi in the water; this place was clearly no ordinary spot.
The two crossed the stream by stepping from stone to stone, splashing water as they went. Once they reached the bank, Xia Yun Huang led Su Yu up the slope, past a wall of rock tangled with vines, and finally stopped before a secluded hollow in the mountains.
She pushed aside the hanging vines, revealing a pitch-black entrance.
The opening was small, just wide enough for one person to squeeze through sideways, but faint fluctuations of spiritual power emanated from within, spreading like ripples. Even the air around them trembled slightly.
"This is it." Xia Yun Huang lowered her voice, excitement flashing in her eyes.
"The fluctuations in spiritual power are coming from inside the cave. The farther in we go, the stronger the aura gets."
Su Yu's gaze darkened. He quietly sent his spiritual sense into the cave, but it was like a bull sinking into the sea, blocked by an invisible force.
He furrowed his brow. "Is there a restriction inside?"
Xia Yun Huang nodded. "That's right. The restriction is strange. I tried to break it before,