By the faint glow of the lamp in his hand, Ying Ming Hao cautiously felt his way deeper into the cave, pausing with every step.
The slippery bluestone underfoot was covered in moss, demanding his full attention with each step. Deep inside, the cave was steeped in darkness and damp, mingled with the smell of rotting earth and the lingering stench of Demonic Beasts. The chill pierced to the bone, making his scalp prickle and dread rise in his heart.
Everywhere he looked, countless venomous creatures crawled through cracks in the rock walls and corners of the floor-small blue-black snakes coiled and flicked their tongues, many-legged centipedes scurried in winding paths, spotted spiders dangled from silk, and mosquitoes and ants swarmed in droves. It was as though this pitch-black space had long since become their exclusive domain, every inch suffused with an eerie, sinister air.
His expression steady, Ying Ming Hao took the Firestarter from his Storage Ring without hesitation. He gathered a wisp of Spiritual Power at his fingertips, lit a torch, and held its blazing shaft in his left hand.
The dancing orange-red flames instantly drove back a broad swath of darkness, while waves of scorching heat sent the surrounding venomous creatures retreating, afraid to approach.
This instantly excited Little Chicken Kun, who had been sticking close to Ying Ming Hao. The little creature's round body leaped down, and short legs carried the chick straight toward the fleeing crawlers. With a sharp beak like a blade, Little Chicken Kun launched a merciless frenzy of attacks, every peck precise and clean, wiping out every insect that dared come close as though this were a private hunting ground.
Ye Hua followed close behind Ying Ming Hao, never leaving his side. Her right hand tightly gripped the Glazed Sword, its