The Queen's Might and the Mysterious Cave

Deep within the hidden, secluded reaches of the Snake-People Tribe's sanctuary lies the mysterious place where the Heavenly Flame is sealed.

Stepping inside, one finds a subterranean cavern of unimaginable scale. The temperature here is absurdly high, as if the very air is being twisted and warped; waves of heat crash against one's face, making it feel as though one is standing inside a roaring furnace. The cavern walls are not made of ordinary rock, but of a strange, dark-red crystal. Its texture resembles solidified magma, with a scorching luster flowing across its surface, constantly radiating intense heat as if every inch of the crystal were burning with endless fervor.

In the center of the cavern stands an ancient altar meticulously constructed from black basalt. Suspended above the altar is a green lotus of extreme, bewitching beauty! The lotus base is composed of pure cyan flames, layered like blooming petals, tracing graceful trajectories as it slowly rotates. At the heart of the lotus, a cluster of deep cyan flame burns silently; it is like liquid jade, crystal clear yet containing infinite mysteries. The energy it radiates possesses both a heart-stopping destructive power, as if it could reduce all things in the world to ash in an instant, and a majestic life force, as if it were the very source of life, nurturing endless vitality—this is the renowned Green Lotus Core Flame!

Yet at this moment, this unique wonder of heaven and earth is firmly bound above the altar by eight chains shimmering with purple runes. These chains are composed of pure energy, each glowing with a mysterious and powerful light, their ends embedded deep into the surrounding crimson crystal walls as if fused with them. Clearly, the Snake-People Tribe has employed some unimaginable secret technique to temporarily seal this violent Heavenly Flame here.

Below the altar, a figure of peerless grace stands silently, like a beautiful yet dangerous statue.

She is draped in a luxurious, regal purple robe, the material of which seems like the softest clouds of heaven, gently hugging her breathtaking, proud curves. The hem of the robe is not stitched, hanging slightly open to reveal a stretch of blood-pumping, rounded snow-white skin and a slender, powerful waist—a waist that appears like a meticulously carved work of art, both soft and full of strength. Further down is a massive snake tail covered in fine purple scales, coiled lazily on the ground. Each scale glimmers with a cold, sharp luster, like inlaid gemstones, radiating a mysterious and dangerous aura.

Her appearance is even more heart-stoppingly beautiful, impossible to forget after a single glance. Her skin is as white and delicate as snow, like the purest flakes of winter; her brows are like painted ink, revealing endless elegance and charm as they arch; her nose is high and delicate, like the straightest pine on a mountain peak; her red lips are sexy, like the most exquisite petals, as if a gentle press would cause sweet nectar to overflow. Most captivating of all are her eyes—long, alluring purple orbs like a deep, starry sky. The depths of her pupils seem to contain an infinite vortex of stars, swirling with a majesty that looks down upon the world, as if all things were nothing in her sight. They also hold a heart-stirring seduction that pulls one in, making it impossible to break free. Beneath that charm and majesty, however, lies a trace of barely perceptible, suppressed pain brought on by the burning of the Heavenly Flame, like a flower struggling to bloom in a gale, stirring a sense of pity in the beholder.

Queen Medusa!

She tilts her head slightly, her gaze like a torch, fixed upon the Green Lotus Core Flame tightly bound by the eight energy chains. Within her purple eyes, light swirls, complex and profound: it is an endless craving for great power, like parched earth longing for rain; it is the unyielding resolve of one facing a nine-in-ten-death path of evolution, fearless as a moth to a flame; and it is a trace of trepidation toward the unknown challenge, like one groping forward in the dark, courageous yet inevitably anxious. Using the Heavenly Flame to evolve her bloodline is a gamble with nine deaths for every life, but for the bright future of the Snake-People Tribe, and for her people to have a place on the Dou Qi Continent, she has no other choice. At this moment, she is focusing all her attention on adjusting her state, like a champion about to charge into battle, quietly waiting for the perfect moment of resonance with the Heavenly Flame to launch her final strike and shatter the shackles of her bloodline.

"Hmm?" At this moment, Queen Medusa's arched brows knit slightly, like ripples on a calm lake. Her purple eyes snap toward the entrance of the cavern. In an instant, cold killing intent radiates from her like a physical force, as if a blizzard were descending, freezing the surrounding air solid. "Ignorant rats, to think you could sneak in here..." she murmurs, her voice laced with endless chill and disdain.

In the shadows near the cavern entrance.

Xiao Zhan clings to the scorching crimson crystal wall like a nimble gecko, his body perfectly fused with the surface as if he were part of it. He has suppressed his aura to the absolute limit, like an extinguished candle flame, not a sliver of light leaking out. Yet, his heart hammers wildly in his chest, like a trapped beast, emitting dull, rapid thuds. He has just gone to great lengths to infiltrate this core area where the Heavenly Flame is sealed, and before he could even catch his breath, he keenly sensed a terrifying pressure like that of a primordial beast, weighing down on him like an invisible mountain, locking him firmly in place! Queen Medusa's perception is so sharp it seems capable of peering into everything in the world.

<strong>[Warning! You have been locked onto by a peak Dou Emperor (Queen Medusa)! Extreme danger!]</strong>

The system's alarm sounds like a shrill whistle, piercing his mind and stretching his nerves to the breaking point.

Run? Running under the nose of this enraged peak Dou Emperor, especially in such a relatively enclosed space surrounded by hard crystal walls with nowhere to go, has a success rate of nearly zero—like looking for a non-existent exit in a desperate situation. Fight? That is a death sentence; with his current strength, confronting Queen Medusa is like throwing an egg against a rock, courting his own destruction.

In a flash of lightning, countless thoughts race through Xiao Zhan's mind, and finally, he makes an extremely bold, almost insane decision—don't move! He exerts all his effort into the breath-concealment technique granted by the system; it is his only lifeline now. He compresses his vitality, Dou Qi fluctuations, and even his soul aura into a state of near-stagnation, like an ancient well about to run dry, without a single ripple. He truly transforms himself into a lifeless piece of crystal rock, blending into the environment, attempting to find a sliver of survival in this desperate situation. He is betting that Queen Medusa's focus on the Heavenly Flame far outweighs her interest in a negligible "little bug" like him, and that she is in the critical preparation phase before her evolution, unwilling to easily leave the center of the altar to hunt down an irrelevant person.

"Whoosh!"

A subtle sound, like a breeze brushing past one's ear, suddenly erupts! This sound does not originate from Queen Medusa, but shoots out rapidly from a crack in the crystal wall diagonally above Xiao Zhan! Looking closely, it is a poison needle as thin as a cow's hair, pitch-black as ink, radiating a hair-raising, cold soul fluctuation, like a venomous snake from the underworld carrying lethal malice. Its target is the back of Queen Medusa's heart on the altar, as if to pierce this noble queen through!

This is the Soul Hall's infamous "Soul-Eater Needle"! This needle is designed to break through Dou Qi defenses; once it touches, it clings like a maggot to a bone, corroding the soul and plunging the victim into endless pain and despair—a lethal assassin of the soul!

"Hidden rats! Get out here!" Queen Medusa snorts, her voice cold as frost, as if it could freeze the air. She does not even turn her head, her gaze still locked tightly on the Green Lotus Core Flame on the altar, as if she doesn't care about this sudden attack at all. However, her purple snake tail, coiled on the ground, lashes out like lightning, its speed so fast that its trajectory is impossible to track!

"Snap!"

A crisp, loud sound! The vicious Soul-Eater Needle is struck accurately by the snake tail and instantly bursts, turning into a cluster of thick black mist. This black mist seems to contain endless evil, but under the assault of the scorching high temperature around the altar, it is evaporated into nothingness like snow meeting a blazing sun, disappearing without a trace.

At the same time, Queen Medusa lifts her jade hand slightly and grabs at the crack in the crystal wall above Xiao Zhan. This grab looks gentle, yet it contains world-destroying power, as if the hand of a god has descended to the mortal realm!

"Boom!"

The hard crimson crystal wall is as fragile as tofu under the impact of this invisible giant force, instantly shattered into pieces that fly in all directions. A figure shrouded in a wide black robe, with a blurred face, is forcibly dragged out in a pathetic state. Black mist rolls around the robed man, like a cluster of burning black flames, emitting a strange and dangerous aura. He lets out a hoarse, shrill voice filled with shock and rage, as if it came from the depths of hell:

"Heh heh heh... as expected of Queen Medusa! Your perception is indeed sharp! However, this Heavenly Flame, the Soul Hall will have it!"

A powerful aura erupts from the black-robed man, spreading in all directions like a surging tide; it has reached the level of a five-star Dou Zong! However, he is clearly injured by Queen Medusa's casual grab, his aura somewhat chaotic and unstable, like a candle flame in a gale, teetering on the edge of collapse.

Protector Wu!

"Soul Hall?" Upon hearing this name, cold light flares in Queen Medusa's purple eyes, sharp and lethal as lightning in a cold night. Killing intent condenses into a physical form, radiating from her and freezing the surrounding air. "You dare covet my Heavenly Flame? You are courting death!" she says coldly, her voice filled with endless majesty and fury, as if it were a judgment from the nine heavens.

She forms seals with her jade hands, light yet swift, and in an instant, the purple Dou Qi around her surges out like a violent storm. The Dou Qi rapidly condenses and transforms in mid-air into a massive energy purple snake, dozens of feet long. The snake is agile, its scales shimmering with mysterious and dangerous light; it bares its fangs, carrying a terrifying aura capable of destroying everything, and lets out a deafening roar, lunging at Protector Wu like an arrow released from a bow! The entire cavern space trembles violently under the impact of this powerful force, as if it could collapse at any moment.

The battle between the two top experts erupts instantly like a volcano! Terrifying energy shockwaves, like a surging tide, ravage the entire cavern. Wherever the power strikes, crystal walls shatter, stones fly, and the air is filled with a pungent, scorched smell.

At this moment, Xiao Zhan, clinging to the crystal wall below, is like a small boat in a raging sea, fragile and helpless. The terrifying energy ripples strike his body like heavy hammers, causing his blood to churn and his internal organs to feel as if they have been displaced. His protective Dou Qi flickers violently, like a candle in the wind, on the verge of collapse. Even worse, the direction in which Protector Wu is blasted happens to be exactly where he is hiding, pushing him into an even more dangerous abyss.

Protector Wu clearly senses the weak but abrupt "rock" aura on the crystal wall below. That aura stands out in this violent energy field like a glimmer of light in the darkness, instantly attracting his attention.

"Hmm? Another rat?" Amidst his shock and rage, a cruel light flashes in Protector Wu's eyes, as if he has spotted his next prey. Using the momentum of being blasted back, he twists his body in mid-air and strikes a palm down toward Xiao Zhan's hiding spot. Pitch-black Dou Qi transforms into a giant ghost claw like a thick, dark cloud. The claw is hideous and terrifying, emitting a cold, soul-corroding aura, freezing the air into a thin layer of frost wherever it passes.

Before him, Queen Medusa's terrifying pressure and the battle's aftermath weigh him down like an invisible mountain, making it hard to breathe; behind him, the enraged strike of a five-star Dou Zong acts like a sharp blade, aiming straight for his vitals. With nowhere to hide and life hanging by a thread, Xiao Zhan feels as if he is standing on the edge of a cliff, where the slightest mistake would lead to his destruction.

A flash of madness appears in Xiao Zhan's eyes, filled with resolve and fearlessness. Just as the giant ghost claw is about to strike—

"Roar!"

A low, majestic dragon roar, seemingly from the ancient past, suddenly erupts from within Xiao Zhan's body. This sound is not a physical noise, but a terrifying pressure originating from the depths of his bloodline, spreading instantly like a surging undercurrent. The Dragon Phoenix Tyrant Body Art activates automatically in response, as if sensing a threat to his life, unleashing its most powerful force.

Although Xiao Zhan is only a beginner in this Heaven-tier cultivation technique, still in the stage of fumbling and exploration, the trace of Dragon Phoenix pressure inherent in this technique acts like the sharp gaze of an ancient divine beast, possessing a natural and powerful suppression over soul entities. Especially for an existence like the Soul Hall, which relies on manipulating souls, this pressure makes them feel like ants facing a giant, utterly unable to resist.

The giant ghost claw, meticulously condensed from soul Dou Qi and carrying a sinister, terrifying aura, presses down on Xiao Zhan like a black mountain. However, the moment it touches this Dragon Phoenix pressure, it begins to dissolve rapidly like snow meeting a blazing sun. Ripples appear on the surface of the ghost claw, and the "hissing" sound of dissolution is incessant; its power drops by thirty percent in that instant, its sharp momentum instantly blunted.

"What?!" Protector Wu gasps in shock, his voice filled with unbelievable fear. He feels his soul tremble for a moment under this sudden dragon roar, as if gripped tightly by an invisible hand, unable to move.

Taking advantage of the moment the ghost claw's power is weakened, Xiao Zhan does not hesitate to push his Flowing Cloud Steps to the limit. His body becomes like a nimble fish or drifting clouds, transforming into a distorted afterimage, slipping out from the edge of the ghost claw by the narrowest of margins. His speed is so fast that it is almost impossible to track his figure, as if he were a wisp of breeze in this space, coming and going without a trace.

At the same time, he does not hesitate to throw the several poisonous magic cores he had scavenged from the corpses of the Snake-People, which he had been clutching in his hand, at Protector Wu like hidden weapons. These magic cores, carrying Xiao Zhan's anger and resolve, trace strange arcs through the air.

"Boom! Boom!"

The magic cores explode one after another near Protector Wu's protective black mist, and immediately, poisonous mist spreads, shrouding Protector Wu like a giant black net. Although the power of this poison mist is not enough to cause substantial damage to a Dou Zong expert, it is enough to create a chaotic battlefield, leaving Protector Wu flustered and scrambling.

"Bastard!" Protector Wu is so distracted by the sudden poison mist and the strange dragon roar that his originally fluid movements stall, like a jammed gear, losing their usual sharpness.

Just then, Queen Medusa's attack descends again like a violent storm! The massive energy purple snake opens its giant mouth, revealing sharp fangs like a beast from hell, and lunges to bite. The momentum is so fierce it seems as if it intends to swallow Protector Wu whole.

Protector Wu can no longer spare a thought for the "little rat" Xiao Zhan; he roars, his Dou Qi surging wildly as he meets Queen Medusa's attack with all his might. At this moment, he has eyes only for Queen Medusa's powerful figure, focusing all his attention on this life-and-death battle.

Xiao Zhan seizes this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, enduring the excruciating pain from the graze of the Dou Zong's strike. His left shoulder is a bloody mess, the bone exposed, blood flowing continuously and staining his clothes. At the same time, the vibration of his internal organs causes him unbearable agony, as if a hammer is constantly pounding inside him. Yet, he does not hesitate for a second; his figure darts like an arrow released from a bow toward a narrow tunnel deep in the cavern, far away from the battlefield! Every step is taken with resolve, every second a race against death.

"Where are you going!" Queen Medusa's icy voice, like a sudden thunderclap in a cold night, carried a trace of undisguised astonishment (after all, she had keenly sensed that extraordinary dragon roar). Before the words even faded, a streak of purple Dou Qi, like a fierce whip, lashed out toward Xiao Zhan's back with the momentum to shatter the heavens and earth!

Hearing the whistling wind behind him, Xiao Zhan did not even turn his head, as if everything behind him had nothing to do with him. With a backhand motion, he quickly whipped out a one-time "Minor Teleportation Talisman" obtained from a system gift pack, its surface etched with dense and complex runes! The talisman shimmered with a mysterious light, as if containing endless secrets.

"Hum!"

In an instant, the space fluctuated slightly, like ripples spreading across a calm lake. Just before the purple Dou Qi streak could strike his body, Xiao Zhan's figure vanished into thin air as if he had never existed, leaving behind only a faint afterimage.

"Spatial teleportation?" A trace of genuine surprise flashed through Queen Medusa's purple eyes, fleeting like a meteor across the night sky. Immediately, her gaze was covered by icy killing intent, like frost in midwinter, chilling one to the bone. "No matter who you are, daring to trespass in the Holy Temple means certain death!" She roared, pouring all her fury onto Protector Wu. For a time, the battle intensified, the sound of energy collisions echoing through the cavern like thunder.

At this moment, Xiao Zhan felt the world spinning, as if he were trapped in an endless vortex. Every bone in his body felt as though it were falling apart, the pain unbearable. He crashed heavily into a cold, damp, and musty dark passage, his vision blacking out as he completely lost consciousness. The Minor Teleportation Talisman, like a capricious sprite, had randomly teleported him to an unknown corner deep within the Holy Temple, leaving him to face an unknown fate alone in this strange place.

Magical Beast Mountain Range, nameless cliff.

"Huff... huff... should be... safe for now..." Carrying Xiao Yi Xian on his back, Xiao Yan climbed onto a steep cliff, panting heavily. His footsteps were heavy and stumbling, as if every step exhausted his entire strength. Finally, he found a hidden alcove obscured by vines, like finding a safe harbor. He carefully set down the girl, who felt as light as if she had no bones, his movements so gentle he seemed afraid of waking a sleeping dream.

It had been over half a day since they escaped the valley. They had not dared to stop, like birds startled by the mere twang of a bow, and only managed to shake off potential pursuers under Yao Lao's guidance. Xiao Yi Xian had been very quiet, merely clutching his neck tightly, her body trembling slightly like a frightened fawn. Her breathing was soft and rapid, carrying a trace of unease and fear.

At this moment, she was curled up in a corner of the cold rock like a small beast that had been injured, huddled all alone. She hugged her knees tightly, as if they were her only support, burying her face deep within them. Her thin shoulders heaved silently but violently, as if she were silently enduring endless pain.

"You..." Xiao Yan looked at the girl's helpless appearance, and the terrifying, nightmare-like scenes of the day surged back into his mind like a tide, leaving his heart filled with a complex mix of emotions. Fear, like a cold snake, quietly crawled up his spine; but more than that, there was an inexplicable bitterness and pity, like spring rain gently nourishing his heart. He hesitated for a moment, then slowly took off his own relatively clean outer robe, his movements as gentle as if handling a fragile treasure, and draped it over Xiao Yi Xian's trembling frame.

"Th-thank you..." Xiao Yi Xian's muffled voice came through, heavy with a nasal tone, as if shrouded in a thick fog. She still dared not look up, as if afraid to face this cruel reality.

"About today... thank you for saving me." Xiao Yan sat down slowly beside her, keeping a distance that was just right, as if it were a buffer zone between their hearts. "That mercenary... he deserved to die." His voice carried a trace of anger, like a burning flame.

Xiao Yi Xian's body shuddered violently as if struck by lightning, and she jerked her head up! Her pale face was covered in crisscrossing tear tracks, like a scroll soaked by rain. Her clear eyes were filled with pain and despair, like two bottomless, icy pools. "No! You don't understand! I am a monster! A harbinger of disaster! Everyone who gets close to me will... will..." She choked, her voice coming to an abrupt halt as tears gushed out again like a bursting flood.

"You are not a monster!" Xiao Yan interrupted her firmly, his eyes looking at her with the seriousness and resolve of bright stars. "My teacher said you might have some kind of extremely rare special constitution! Although it might be... uncontrollable right now, that absolutely does not mean you are a monster!" His voice was steady and powerful, like a warm force injecting itself into Xiao Yi Xian's cold heart.

"Special constitution?" Xiao Yi Xian was stunned, looking at Xiao Yan through tear-filled eyes, her gaze full of doubt and expectation, as if seeing a glimmer of light in the darkness.

"Yes!" Xiao Yan nodded vigorously, although Yao Lao's original words were "an extremely troublesome, extremely dangerous Woe Poison Body," he chose to believe the teacher's follow-up: "there may not be no solution." "My teacher is very powerful! He will definitely have a way to help you! Believe me!" His voice was full of confidence and firmness, like a lighthouse in the night sky, guiding Xiao Yi Xian toward hope.

Looking at the unreserved trust and firmness in Xiao Yan's eyes, like the spring sun piercing through layers of haze, a small stone seemed to have been cast into the heart lake of Xiao Yi Xian, which had long been frozen and mired in despair. In an instant, a faint ripple spread quietly; though not strong, it was enough to break the long-standing silence. This was the first time someone had not looked at her with fear and disgust, but instead sincerely said they would help her. This warmth was like a beam of light in the darkness, illuminating her world shrouded in gloom.

"Ding! Xiao Yi Xian's favorability toward Xiao Yan +15, current favorability: 35/100 (gratitude and budding trust)." (Far away in the desert, the unconscious Xiao Zhan inexplicably received a system notification, as if the threads of fate were being quietly tugged in an unguarded moment?)

"Alright, rest for a bit and let's treat your wounds." As Xiao Yan spoke, he took the healing medicine Xiao Zhan had given him from his storage ring and gently handed a bottle to Xiao Yi Xian. "Your hand... it was scratched by a rock today, right? Apply some medicine so the wound doesn't get infected."

Only then did Xiao Yi Xian slowly notice a small scratch on her palm, caused by her panic earlier that day. She silently took the medicine bottle, her fingertips lightly touching the surface, feeling the faint warmth. The weak warmth in the depths of her heart seemed to expand a little more at this moment, like a spark of fire finding hope to start a prairie blaze.

Just then, Yao Lao's grave voice rang out powerfully in Xiao Yan's mind: "Kid, don't be in such a hurry to immerse yourself in being moved. There's a situation! Behind that patch of vines to your left, there is a faint energy restriction fluctuation! The fluctuation is extremely well-hidden; if not for this old man's extremely powerful soul perception, I would have almost missed it!"

Xiao Yan's heart jolted as if struck by a cold arrow, and he immediately looked vigilantly at the dense vines to his left. The vines acted like a green curtain, blocking the view behind them. He carefully reached out and gently pushed the vines aside to reveal a solid rock wall, its surface smooth and seemingly unremarkable.

"Use your soul power to carefully perceive the center point of that rock wall!" Yao Lao instructed from the side, his voice steady and powerful.

Xiao Yan followed suit, concentrating his spirit to the utmost and probing with a wisp of faint soul power, as if drawing silk from a cocoon. This soul power drifted through the air like a nimble thread. Indeed! In the seemingly seamless rock wall, he keenly "felt" an extremely subtle energy barrier. The barrier seemed to have merged with the rock, and if not probed carefully, it would be impossible to detect, like a ghost hiding in the dark.

"Is this... some kind of seal or illusion?" Xiao Yan was full of surprise and couldn't help but blurt out, his voice carrying a trace of undisguised shock.

"Correct! And the technique is quite sophisticated, performed by at least a Dou Ling level expert." Yao Lao's tone carried a thick sense of interest, as if he had discovered some precious treasure. "There is a high probability that something good is hidden behind it. Why not try to see if you can open it? Use your soul power to strike that energy node, just as precisely as you control your flames!"

Xiao Yan took a deep breath, the air seeming to carry endless resolve, causing his chest to heave slightly. He focused his spirit again, controlling that wisp of soul power, thin and sharp as a needle, and struck hard at the invisible "node" in the center of the rock wall. Wherever the soul power passed, the air seemed to be sliced open, leaving a faint, ethereal trail.

"Hum..."

In an instant, the rock wall emitted a slight hum, the sound echoing through the silent cave like an ancient bell. Immediately after, the rock wall rippled like the surface of water into which a stone had been cast, the ripples spreading in circles as if telling an ancient story. Then, a dark hole, just large enough for one person to pass through, appeared out of thin air before them. A cool breeze carrying the scent of dust and decay blew from within, the breeze like an invisible hand gently stroking their faces.

Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian looked at each other, and for that moment, time seemed to freeze. They both saw surprise and curiosity in each other's eyes; the surprise was like fireworks blooming in the night sky, brilliant and fleeting, while the curiosity was like a burning flame, growing ever brighter.

"Should we... go in and take a look?" Xiao Yi Xian asked in a low voice, her tone carrying a trace of timidity like a startled fawn. But deep in her eyes was a glimmer of light from having her attention diverted, a light like a dawn in the darkness, revealing the longing deep within her heart.

Xiao Yan looked at Yao Lao, whose voice carried a trace of excitement, like an explorer about to unlock a treasure: "Go in! This old man senses decent energy reactions inside! It might be a cave dwelling left by some predecessor! However, you must be careful and stay close to me!"

Xiao Yan nodded and took a Moonlight Stone from his storage ring. The stone emitted a soft glow, like the bright moon in the night sky, illuminating the darkness at the cave entrance. He reached out to Xiao Yi Xian, his voice gentle and firm: "Stay close to me, be careful."

Looking at the hand extended by the youth, Xiao Yi Xian hesitated, the hesitation like a butterfly hovering among flowers. Finally, she gently placed her cold little hand upon his, her hand trembling slightly like a light snowflake.

Xiao Yan gripped that soft, boneless hand, feeling the coolness and slight tremor coming from her palm, and a strong sense of protectiveness surged in his heart. The protectiveness rolled within him like a surging tide. He pulled Xiao Yi Xian along and cautiously stepped into the mysterious, unknown cave, every step taken with caution and resolve.

After they entered, the cave entrance slowly closed again as if it had a life of its own. The vines hung down like a mysterious guardian, hiding all traces as if nothing had ever happened.