Encountering Li Heng in the Depths of the Dark Cave

Chapter 33: Encountering Li Heng Deep Within the Dark Cave

Within the secret passage, it was as dark as ink, so dark that one couldn't see their hand in front of their face. Only the luminous pearl in Li Yifan's hand emitted a soft yet steady glow, barely illuminating a few feet in front of him. The air was damp and cold, carrying a heavy scent of earth and an indescribable faint odor, as if something had decayed. The surroundings were terrifyingly silent, with only the sound of his own breathing, so faint it was almost inaudible, and the magnified, subtle friction of his footsteps on the slippery stone steps.

Li Yifan executed the Spirit Fox Steps to its extreme, his body descending the narrow, downward-sloping stone steps as if weightless. He didn't rush forward but instead heightened his senses to the limit, activating his Detection skill to its fullest. His ears twitched, catching any unusual sound, and his eyes, like the sharpest falcons, scanned the rough cave walls ahead and to the sides.

This secret passage was clearly ancient. The stone steps were not carved uniformly, their edges covered in moss, making them extremely slippery. Faint, blurry carvings could be seen on the cave walls, their style ancient and peculiar, not from recent times, exuding an aura of great age.

This secret passage was likely not dug by that black-robed man, but rather a place he stumbled upon and utilized, an ancient ruin, Li Yifan mused inwardly, his vigilance increasing. Such ruins often came with unknown risks, and he could not afford to be careless.

After walking down for about a mile, the space ahead suddenly opened up into a natural cave, roughly several yards square. Stalactites hung from the cave ceiling, and water droplets continuously dripped from their tips, creating crisp "drip, drip" sounds in the pool below, which seemed particularly abrupt in the deathly silence. Scattered around the pool were several bone-white animal skeletons, resembling mountain wolves or wild boars by their shape. Obvious gnaw marks were present on the bones, but it seemed they had died a considerable time ago.

Li Yifan stopped at the cave entrance, not entering immediately. His sharp gaze swept across the entire cave, especially the dark corners and the crevices in the ceiling. The Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique was quietly circulated, his spiritual sense spreading like spilled mercury, carefully sensing any energy fluctuations.

Aside from the sound of dripping water and the faint deathly aura emanating from the animal bones, there were no other abnormal life signs or energy traps. Yet, his vigilance did not lessen. Often, the calmest places hid the most deadly dangers.

He took a deep breath, preparing to quickly cross the cave. The moment his foot was about to step forward, something unexpected happened!

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Several extremely subtle whistling sounds, almost blending in with the dripping water, shot down from above! Their targets were directly aimed at his head and the vital points on his neck!

Li Yifan reacted with lightning speed! Without thinking, he instantly activated "Shape-Shifting Shadow" from the Spirit Fox Steps, darting not backward, but sharply to the side and forward, simultaneously raising the luminous pearl in his hand rapidly!

Under the sudden burst of light, several completely black, finger-thick, and about a foot-long strange snakes were seen launching themselves from incredibly hidden crevices in the cave ceiling! Their open mouths revealed pale fangs, gleaming with a faint light, carrying a foul wind!

Yin Scale Snakes! Li Yifan's heart tightened as he instantly recognized these Monster Beasts. Yin Scale Snakes preferred damp, dark places, feared light and fire, and moved with lightning speed. Their venom contained potent neurotoxins that caused instant paralysis, leading to certain death if not treated promptly. They had clearly chosen this damp cave as their ideal nest.

Their initial strike missed. The snakes landed on the slippery ground, emitting a grating "hissing" sound. Their bodies twisted unnaturally, using the momentum to launch themselves again, their speed so great it left afterimages, attacking Li Yifan once more from different angles like black lightning!

Li Yifan's eyes turned cold. Facing these few, small but incredibly venomous Monster Beasts, using his long saber would be cumbersome and easily lead to mistakes. He formed a sword with his fingers, his supreme Yang true qi surging, and the Scorching Sun Finger was ferociously unleashed!

"Ch! Ch! Ch!"

Red light flickered at his fingertips, and an intensely hot finger wind broke through the air, accurately striking the critical points of the Yin Scale Snakes' necks! Where the finger wind passed, the air itself seemed to distort slightly, emitting a scorching heat.

"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!"

With light sounds, the Yin Scale Snakes hit by the supreme Yang finger wind stiffened instantly, as if struck by a red-hot iron brand. Wisps of smoke rose, emitting a burnt, foul odor. They fell to the ground, twitched a few times, and then lay still.

Having dealt with the sudden attack, Li Yifan did not relax. His gaze swept over the cave ceiling again, confirming there were no other ambushes before his figure flashed, and he quickly and cautiously passed through the cave, entering a deeper, darker opening on the other side of the pool.

The new passage was narrower and more rugged than before, sometimes requiring him to bend over and squeeze sideways to pass. The cold, damp air seemed to be slightly more concentrated than outside, and it began to faintly mix with an extremely weak sound, like countless tiny whispers, present yet absent, directly affecting the mind and attempting to disrupt clarity.

The precursor to an illusion? Or a natural soul-stirring effect of this place? Li Yifan's heart tightened, and he dared not delay, immediately circulating the Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique. The supreme Yang true qi surged through his body, a warmth rising from his dantian to his crown, instantly clearing his mind like sunlight dispelling mist. The subtle, disturbing whispers weakened by more than half, no longer able to affect his state of mind.

Nine Yang True Qi, as expected, is supremely Yang and unyielding, the nemesis of these kinds of sinister soul-stirring methods. Li Yifan felt slightly relieved, but his vigilance remained undiminished as he continued forward. The deeper he went, the clearer the whispers seemed to become, as if countless wronged souls were weeping and roaring in his ears, but they could never break through the protection of the Nine Yang True Qi.

On the cave walls on both sides of the passage, blurry murals began to appear. The murals were ancient and bizarre in style, depicting not ordinary life or myths, but twisted human figures engaged in some bloody and frenzied sacrificial ritual. The scenes were filled with an oppressive and desperate atmosphere. Lingering too long on them made one feel dizzy and disoriented.

Li Yifan dared not look further, composing himself and focusing on the path ahead. He executed the Spirit Fox Steps with even greater finesse, slightly increasing his speed. After another half-mile, the sound of rushing water could be faintly heard ahead, and at the same time, a more concentrated and purer Yin Sha energy surged towards him like a tide. Even with the Nine Yang True Qi protecting him, he felt a chill.

At the end of the passage, the space suddenly opened up, revealing a breathtaking sight!

Before him lay a massive underground karst cave, so vast it seemed to have hollowed out the entire mountain belly. From the cave ceiling, countless strangely shaped stalactites hung down like sharp swords, dripping water. At the bottom of the cave, a wide underground river flowed slowly. The water was not clear but a bizarre, inky black, emitting a bone-chilling Yin coldness that seemed capable of freezing the soul. On the other side of the cave, several cave entrances of varying sizes could be vaguely seen, dark and leading to unknown destinations.

However, the most striking feature was not this natural wonder. It was in the center of the cave, on a relatively flat and open area near the bank of the underground river, where several simple yet sturdy stone houses and tents were erected! Scattered around were clearly man-made living utensils, cultivation tools, and even traces of recently extinguished bonfires! It was evident that people had lived here for a long time, and not just one person!

Found them! Li Yifan's heart trembled. He immediately suppressed his aura to the extreme, silently creeping like a gecko to the back of a huge stalagmite that could conceal his body, perfectly hiding in the shadows. He cautiously poked out half his head, exerting his eyesight to its fullest, and carefully observed the camp in the distance.

The stone houses and tents were silent, with no human activity visible. However, Li Yifan's keen senses clearly detected a powerful and cold aura emanating faintly from the largest stone house! Although this aura was suppressed as much as possible, he could still feel its immense power, undoubtedly at the peak of the late Muscle Tendon stage! Moreover, the aura contained the peculiar, elusive, and unfathomable fluctuations unique to the Phantom Demon Technique!

Li Heng! He's in that stone house! Li Yifan was almost certain. He suppressed the urge to attack immediately, patiently observing the camp's layout and surroundings, looking for possible alarm mechanisms, hidden sentries, and the best routes for attack or retreat.

The camp was set up quite strategically, backed by the cold underground river, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. Several dark cave entrances were scattered around the karst cave, seemingly serving as exits, allowing for free movement in and out. At several key positions around the camp's perimeter, Li Yifan, using his Detection skill, discovered transparent threads, finer than a hair and almost blending in with the surrounding rocks, as well as several simple runes carved on the ground, half-covered by dust. These were clearly warning and defensive measures; once triggered, they would inevitably alert the person inside.

Strictly guarded, as expected of the cunning 'Shadow Demon'. Li Yifan's brow furrowed. A frontal assault was clearly unwise. Not only was Li Heng's strength formidable, but these warning measures alone were enough to expose his whereabouts and put him at a disadvantage.

Just as he was pondering countermeasures, with a slight creak, the simple wooden door of the largest stone house was pushed open from the inside, and a figure stepped out.

This person was tall and thin, wearing a slightly worn gray robe. His face was pale and bloodless, his cheekbones prominent, and his pair of slender eyes were sunken deep into their sockets, flashing with a sinister, vigilant, yet slightly anxious light. His appearance bore about an eighty percent resemblance to the portrait in the Xuntian Guard's dossier, precisely the "Shadow Demon" Li Heng! However, his complexion at this moment seemed even worse than in the portrait, with an almost unconcealed weariness in his brows. His aura was also slightly unstable, and when he moved his left arm, it was clearly stiff and unnatural. There seemed to be some dried, dark red bloodstains on his sleeve.

"Hmph! That damned 'Corpse Ghoul Old Monster', ambushing and attacking, truly shameless! If not for my 'Phantom Shadow Body' having reached the realm of virtual and real integration, I would have almost had my foundation ruined by his 'Bone-Corroding Yin Finger'!" Li Heng walked to the bank of the underground river, scooped up a handful of the bone-chilling water, and splashed it on his face, trying to calm himself down. He cursed in a low voice, his voice hoarse and unpleasant.

Corpse Ghoul Old Monster? Bone-Corroding Yin Finger? Li Yifan understood. So it was that black-robed man. Li Heng did indeed fight him and got injured, seemingly in his left arm. This Bone-Corroding Yin Finger sounds incredibly sinister. This was undoubtedly good news for Li Yifan. A wounded Li Heng, not at his peak condition, would naturally be less difficult to deal with.

After washing his face, Li Heng did not immediately return to his room. Instead, he paced agitatedly around the camp, his gaze occasionally sweeping, with unconcealed anxiety and greed, towards a small, inconspicuous cave entrance at the other end of the karst cave, half-hidden by scattered rocks.

"Yin Sha Soul Pearl"... I must get it quickly! he muttered to himself. Though his voice was low, it carried an almost obsessive desire. Time is running out... Although that old monster is heavily injured, he will recover quickly. If he regains his strength, or if other jackals catch wind of this, it will be very bad!

He stopped, a ruthless and resolute glint flashing in his eyes. It seems I can't wait any longer... Perhaps I have no choice but to use that method... Even if the cost is a bit high, for the sake of the Soul Pearl, I can't afford to hesitate!

Although he didn't say it explicitly, Li Yifan, combining it with the black-robed man's earlier words, instantly guessed what his "method" was – a living soul blood sacrifice! Using the souls of living people as a guide to forcibly break through restrictions or refine evil treasures! This method was cruel and wicked, violating heavenly principles!

Truly inhuman! Li Yifan's eyes flashed with cold light, killing intent surging. He absolutely could not let this person complete the blood sacrifice!

Just then, from a larger cave entrance at the other end of the karst cave, the sound of hurried and stumbling footsteps could be heard. The shadow that Li Yifan had tracked in Black Mountain Town (Li Heng's subordinate) ran in, looking even more disheveled than before. His clothes were tattered, he had several obvious wounds, his aura was weak, and his face was as pale as paper. However, he tightly clutched a bundle in his hand, precisely the one stolen from the town.

"Mas... Master! The thing... I got the thing!" The shadow scrambled to Li Heng's side, fell to his knees with a thud, and held the bundle high above his head, his voice trembling violently from fear and his injuries.

Li Heng's eyes instantly burst with a terrifying gleam. He snatched the bundle and eagerly untied it. Inside was not gold or silver, but an ancient-styled, entirely black box with a cool, jade-like touch. The surface of the Jade Box was covered with complex and bizarre runes, with a faint Yin cold aura flowing incessantly.

"Soul-attracting Jade Box! Good! Very good!" Li Heng caressed the Jade Box, a ferocious and satisfied smile appearing on his face, as if caressing a peerless treasure. "With this item, combined with the secret technique, the chance of breaking through the restriction at the entrance of this dark cave will increase by over seventy percent!"

His ecstatic gaze swept over his subordinate kneeling on the ground, trembling with fear at his smile. His eyes were cold and cruel, like a butcher looking at a lamb ready for slaughter.

"You... you did well this time." Li Heng's voice suddenly became unusually calm, yet carried a chilling meaning. "However, to ensure everything goes smoothly, your master needs to borrow a little... a small thing from you."

Hearing this, the subordinate's body trembled violently, his face instantly losing all color. He looked up in extreme terror, "Master! No... Don't! Your disciple is loyal to you..."

Before the words had even fallen, Li Heng moved like a phantom! His gaunt, bird-claw-like right hand, lightning-fast, clamped directly onto the crown of a subordinate disciple's head!

"Ugh--!"

A short, piercing scream was abruptly cut short! A bizarre and powerful suction erupted from Li Heng's palm. The disciple's eyes bulged instantly, bloodshot, his body convulsing violently. From his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, wisps of black energy were forcibly drawn out, coalescing above his head into a vague, painfully twisted phantom—his very soul!

His physical body, meanwhile, shriveled at a visible rate. His skin lost its luster, flesh and blood dissolved, and in the blink of an eye, he transformed into a terrifying, skeletal husk!

Li Heng's expression was blank, as if he had merely done something trivial. He sucked the struggling, wailing soul into his palm, cast the desiccated corpse aside like trash without a second glance, and tossed it into the dark, cold underground river beside them with a soft "plop."

"Just making use of waste. It's your honor to contribute to your master regaining his treasure," Li Heng muttered coldly to himself, his eyes filled only with greed and satisfaction as he gazed at the imprisoned, constantly twisting soul in his palm.

He wasted no more time. With the Soul-attracting Jade Box clutched in one hand and the soul phantom in the other, he turned and strode quickly towards the small opening at the far end of the cave, an opening he had long coveted.

"Now!"

From behind the stalagmite, Li Yifan's eyes blazed! Li Heng's attention was completely captivated by the soul pearl. He must have experienced a brief fluctuation and depletion of energy after using his wicked technique to extract the soul. This was the perfect moment to strike! Moreover, he absolutely could not let this demon complete the blood sacrifice and obtain the Yinsha Soul Pearl!

He hesitated no longer. The Nine Yang Burning Heaven Technique within his body roared to life at an unprecedented speed, its immensely potent pure Yang true qi surging through his body like a bursting river! A scorching aura emanated from him, pushing back the surrounding frigid energy. He crouched low, like a coiled leopard ready to pounce, and in the next instant—

"Whoosh!"

His figure tore through the air! Li Yifan shot out from behind the stalagmite like an arrow loosed from a bow, hurtling directly towards Li Heng's back!