Deep into the Caverns

Half a day later.

At the northernmost edge of Prodigy Island, where White-Scale Lake met the wildlands.

Upon a mountain peak.

"The Earth-Vein Caverns have vast internal spaces. From shallow to deep, they can roughly be divided into three levels. Large and small caves stand everywhere, and the terrain is incomparably complex."

"The Blood-Marrow Flowers grow in the various caves of the third level. But take note: we have quite a few competitors. Aside from Prodigy Island's seeds, there are also some Rogue Cultivators from that marketplace."

Deng Huo strained to peer into the distance as he pointed toward a faintly visible cluster of ancient buildings, his expression solemn as he introduced the area.

At his side.

"A marketplace?"

Lu He narrowed his eyes slightly, shifting his gaze away from the enormous sinkhole that occupied nearly half his field of vision and glowed with lava firelight, toward the cluster of buildings nearby.

Within his sight.

A gigantic spirit vessel shaped like a tower ship suddenly smashed through the clouds and swiftly descended into the marketplace's central district.

Vaguely, figures could be seen stepping down from the spirit vessel and vanishing into the bustling crowds.

The place looked exceptionally lively.

"That's right. It is said that White-Scale Lake is a blessed-land-grade spirit vein that has yet to fully emerge into the world. As it formed, its power scattered outward, giving rise to countless spirit veins of every size. The heavenly treasures and earthly wonders it nurtured are even more inexhaustible.

"Although the core region has been occupied by the major powers,

"the opportunities in the outskirts are still extremely considerable. Naturally, Rogue Cultivators from the surrounding human cities gather here."

Beside Lu He.

Chen Zhengchu, clad in a pale-gold robe embroidered with a hundred beasts, spoke indifferently before curling his lip.

"Heh. Who knows whether they found any opportunities? But the Universal Treasure Merchant Association, which opened up the spirit vessel routes, must have made a fortune till their coffers overflowed."

As soon as he finished speaking.

As though recalling something, he raised his eyes and swept them over the other five before getting straight to the point.

"Brothers, according to custom, the five of us will only join forces when competing for caves. Once we enter a cave, we act separately. What we gain will depend on our own strength and luck. How about it?"

"I have no objections."

"Of course."

Deng Huo and Hu Changting behind him replied at the same time.

Clearly, they had long been prepared for this.

Zheng Jingren stood at the very back.

He knew that his strength was the weakest among them, leaving him with little say in the matter. Since he came from an ordinary background as well, he unconsciously looked to Lu He in front of him, intending to follow his lead.

Facing everyone's gazes.

"Fine."

Lu He smiled and nodded.

These rules brought him nothing but benefits, so naturally he had no reason to oppose them.

"I agree as well."

Zheng Jingren forced himself to agree, repeatedly rubbing the three low-grade talismans tucked within his sleeve with his right hand.

He had specifically gone to the Heavenly Craft Tower yesterday and emptied his savings to buy them.

They included two low-grade offensive talismans and one low-grade defensive talisman.

They would serve as his trump cards for this mission.

Heavens, bless me. I have to at least make my money back!

Zheng Jingren glanced from the corner of his eye at the last Dao Merit on his identity jade plaque and silently prayed.

The next moment.

"Allow me to add one more rule."

As if he had suddenly thought of something, Deng Huo turned and cupped his hands toward the others in salute.

At his cuff, a pitch-black flying sword darted back and forth like a nimble fish, breathing out a piercingly cold gleam.

"If several people encounter the same Blood-Marrow Flower, or any other treasure, ownership must be decided according to who came first. No one may forcibly strike and steal it."

"What if neither came first?" Hu Changting abruptly spoke from the side.

Before his words had even faded.

"Then each relies on their own ability!" A glint of gold flashed through Chen Zhengchu's eyes, while several cold, shrill cries faintly sounded from the strange bag hanging at his waist.

Upon entering the Earthfire Caverns.

The first thing before them was a stone path spiraling downward, several zhang wide.

On one side stood a stone wall; on the other lay a bottomless cavernous abyss.

The stone path was packed with cultivators coming and going like clouds, most of them Rogue Cultivators from the nearby marketplace.

Some could barely hide the excitement on their faces, clearly having reaped extraordinary gains. Others stared blankly ahead, like walking corpses.

Along the stone wall beside them, cave after cave several zhang across had been carved out.

Figures sat cross-legged within those caves, all manner of goods laid out before them—pills, spirit plants, and materials from the Demon Race—as they shouted endlessly to hawk their wares.

"A damaged low-grade Qi-Consuming cultivation method! Those interested, come in and discuss the price!"

"Come take a look! Half a stalk of Azurefire Vine, freshly picked! Take it back to your cave abode now, and it might still survive! Only half a low-grade spirit stone!"

"Fire Essence Pills! Low-grade spirit pills, Fire Essence Pills! Don't miss them as you pass by!"

"Selling low-grade talismans..."

"..."

For a time, sighs, hawking cries, and the sounds of haggling intertwined and echoed ceaselessly through the caverns, creating an incomparably noisy din.

"This..."

Mingling among the crowd, Lu He curiously surveyed the cultivators of every sort around him, a trace of surprise inevitably appearing in his eyes.

The bustling scene within the Earthfire Caverns was entirely different from what he had imagined.

But just then.

Moo—

An uproar suddenly erupted ahead, followed by a frightened shout. "Move! Move aside! Don't block the way!"

Lu He looked in the direction of the noise.

Straight ahead, a brown-scaled demon bull was charging wildly through the crowd. Everyone in its path scattered as though fleeing for their lives.

Close behind it ran a young woman in a turquoise gauze dress, her face full of anxiety.

In the blink of an eye, the brown-scaled demon bull charged before Lu He's group of five.

It was about to crash into them.

"Young brothers, move aside quickly! That beast is vicious, and neither blade nor spear can pierce its body. Don't get yourselves hurt!"

Someone beside them shouted anxiously.

Clang—

Deng Huo, walking at the front, turned cold-eyed. Not only did he not evade, he instead formed a sword seal with his fingers. A streak of pitch-black sword light abruptly flew from his sleeve.

In an instant, the sword light circled the demon bull's neck once and cleanly severed its massive head!

Bang! The demon bull's corpse crashed to the ground, scarlet blood gushing out and dyeing the ground red in moments.

In an instant, the surroundings fell deathly silent.

Countless gazes—wary, burning, and frightened—gathered upon Lu He's group of five.

Several breaths later.

"How can you be so rude? You killed my bull?"

The woman in the gauze dress came to her senses and glared furiously at Deng Huo, who had just struck.

But the next moment.

A beautiful middle-aged woman hurried over from behind.

Upon seeing the scene, she instinctively wanted to rebuke them. But when she noticed the unusual jade plaques on their persons, her expression changed abruptly.

The beautiful woman quickly stepped forward, yanked the young woman behind her, then smiled at Lu He's group of five.

"My daughter is young and ignorant. I hope you magnanimous gentlemen will forgive her this once."

Not long afterward.

The many cultivators watching the scene hurriedly dispersed.

Where they stood.

Watching the five figures gradually vanish into the depths of the Earth-Vein Caverns, the woman in the gauze dress forcefully shook free of the middle-aged woman's restraint, her face full of indignation.

"Mother, they're probably not even older than I am. How can they call me young and ignorant instead... Isn't that fellow merely relying on having a magic artifact? You have one too! And your cultivation is at the third level of Qi-Consuming. Why were you afraid of them?"

"They came from the island beside us."

The middle-aged woman offered only a calm explanation.

The woman in the gauze dress immediately fell silent.

As they continued deeper downward.

The number of cultivators grew increasingly sparse.

A pungent sulfurous odor gradually filled the air.

At the same time.

Irregular natural fissures began appearing one after another in the stone wall beside the path. Through them, broad spaces crisscrossing like a maze could faintly be seen within.

Tap, tap—

Footsteps echoed without end.

Not only did Lu He's group not pause for even a moment, their pace instead grew faster and faster.

Who knew how much time passed.

Their surroundings had become pitch-black and profound, with not the slightest trace of light from the entrance visible overhead.

All they could hear were faint rustling sounds of things crawling.

A vague yet palpable sense of danger suddenly wound around everyone's hearts.

"Something's coming!"

Including Lu He, everyone halted, spiritual light from their magical power rising over their bodies.