C28 Black Dragon Cave

Shi Chengtian had a keen sense for these demonic beasts, constantly alerting the pair to the presence of Shadow Mice nearby.

Han Qianxue remarked, "It's no surprise that there are rumors of people vanishing without a trace after entering the Misty Forest. They're probably being snatched away by these creatures while in a haze."

Thanks to Jiang Fann's medicinal pills, the trio remained alert at all times, ready to respond to any unforeseen events with clarity.

Squeak, squeak—

A grating noise pierced through the fog.

The sound multiplied, echoing from every direction, the distinctive cries of the Shadow Mice.

It was as if they were signaling to each other, orchestrating an organized hunt.

Before they knew it, the trio had unwittingly walked into an ambush set by the Shadow Mice, who were evidently quite cunning.

Han Qianxue gripped a finely crafted dagger, her eyes fixed on the threat ahead.

"We have no choice but to fight. I never imagined we'd be cornered by a bunch of rats."

Jiang Fann couldn't help but chuckle as he turned to Shi Chengtian.

"How does the Beast King feel about being surrounded by rats?"

Shi Chengtian was clearly annoyed.

"They're just a bunch of ignorant creatures. Tonight, we dine on rats."

Jiang Fann quipped, "You can eat them if you like, but I'll pass."

The three halted, standing back to back, bracing for the Shadow Mice to emerge.

Jiang Fann's smile faded as he extended his Spiritual Sense, only to find the Shadow Mice had vanished from sight.

"They're still below us! Lion, flush them out!" he urged.

Shi Chengtian nodded, focusing his power into his right foot once more.

"Let the earth quake!"

Boom!

The force was even more potent than before.

With the sound of the explosion, several Shadow Mice burst from the ground in disarray.

Without missing a beat, the trio sprang into action.

Jiang Fann conjured flames in his palms and struck at the nearest Shadow Mouse. Caught mid-air, the creature had no chance to evade and was instantly consumed by the fiery blaze.

Jiang Fann's other hand unsheathed a long saber, ending its life with a swift slash.

Han Qianxue moved with astonishing speed, her dagger streaking through the air and transforming into a streak of silver light. It sliced through the dense fog with such precision that its sharpness was undeniable. The head of the Shadow Mouse fell to the ground.

Her movements were deliberate and merciless, giving Jiang Fann his first glimpse of her true power—she had achieved the pinnacle of the Innate Stage's middle phase!

Shi Chengtian's approach was straightforward and brutal. Despite the Shadow Mice being nearly half a meter in length, he could grab one in each hand and smash them together with such force that they were left reeling, before he crushed their skulls with a powerful squeeze.

The Shadow Mice weren't particularly strong individually; they relied on their Earth Escape Technique for sudden ambushes and overwhelming numbers.

But Jiang Fann and his companions weren't about to let them have the upper hand. In a mere thirty seconds, they had dispatched over a dozen Shadow Mice, leaving their bodies strewn across the ground.

Shi Chengtian then unleashed his Earthquake and Mountain Shaking technique again, flushing out the nearby subterranean Shadow Mice. The trio showcased their formidable skills, handling the situation with ease.

However, the Shadow Mice soon began to retreat in a unified direction, leaving no trace of their presence. Shi Chengtian confirmed that there were no more signs of them underground.

The abrupt shift left the trio puzzled.

Jiang Fann remarked, "They retreated too quickly, didn't they? That's not typical Shadow Mouse behavior."

Han Qianxue gazed thoughtfully in the direction of the retreat. "The Shadow Mice should have scattered in every direction. But they all retreated the same way just now—strange."

Shi Chengtian, vigilant, kept his eyes fixed in the opposite direction. "It's not strange at all—something is approaching."

Jiang Fann and Han Qianxue instantly sharpened their focus, extending their Spiritual Sense in that direction. They could immediately sense something large moving rapidly through the fog towards them.

Shi Chengtian sensed something and hastily warned the others.

"Freeze! There's a massive black snake!"

The pair halted, and within moments, a snake head as large as a washbasin emerged, swiftly slithering past them.

The snake's girth exceeded a meter. They stood frozen, not wanting to draw its attention.

The black snake devoured all the nearby Shadow Mouse corpses. Clearly, it had been pursuing the creatures and now continued in that direction.

After a short pause, Jiang Fann remarked, "That explains the hasty retreat of the Shadow Mice. They encountered their predator. In a way, this black snake has inadvertently aided us."

Han Qianxue, struck by a sudden thought, urged, "We can't let it get away. That black snake surely knows where the Black Dragon Cave is."

She set off in pursuit, with the others quickly on her heels. Getting separated in this forest would make regrouping a daunting task.

As they chased, Han Qianxue shared, "Legend has it that the Black Dragon King was once a great black snake in the Black Dragon Cave before its transformation. This black snake's presence must be connected to the cave."

Shi Chengtian interjected, "That creature is beyond my level. In my current condition, I'm no match for it."

Han Qianxue's brow furrowed; she too recognized the dilemma. Missing this chance could mean an indefinite wait for the next.

She turned to Jiang Fann. "Any ideas?"

Jiang Fann didn't respond immediately, knowing they needed a low-risk strategy. Provoking the black snake into a fight to the death would be a costly mistake.

They moved quickly, soon sensing the formidable presence of the beast.

The black snake made no effort to hide, seemingly unconcerned. It likely had no predators in this fog-enshrouded forest.

Jiang Fann finally spoke up, "I've got a plan. Let's get ahead of it and take out a few Shadow Mice first."

Although they were unsure of Jiang Fann's intentions, both companions had absolute trust in his words.

The trio took a detour and approached the Shadow Mouse group from a different angle. Working in unison, they swiftly dispatched two of the creatures.

Jiang Fann produced a piece of Spirit Attached Jade, infused it with a wisp of his aura, and placed it into the mouth of one Shadow Mouse before tossing it to the ground.

Han Qianxue's eyes sparkled with realization; such a straightforward solution had never occurred to her.

The Spirit Attached Jade, now carrying Jiang Fann's aura, would allow him to sense its direction as long as it wasn't too distant.

By having the black snake ingest the Spirit Attached Jade, they could track it all the way to the Black Dragon Cave.

They stood aside, waiting for the black snake to make its appearance.

True to form, the creature showed no hesitation, swallowing the Shadow Mouse carcass whole before resuming its pursuit.

A smile spread across Jiang Fann's face as he closed his eyes, tuning into the aura emanating from the Spirit Attached Jade.

Despite the forest's dampening effect on Spiritual Sense, the aura was still detectable within a hundred meters, ensuring a safe distance to shadow the black snake.

Even if the snake were to suddenly mask its presence, they wouldn't lose track of it.

After two days of following the creature, Shi Chengtian couldn't hide his irritation. "Boss, isn't this beast just leading us in circles?"

"Relax. Once it's had its fill, it will surely head back to its lair."

As predicted, the black snake ceased its hunt that very night, no longer pursuing the Shadow Mice. It veered off in a new direction, noticeably slowing its pace.

Jiang Fann's lips curved into a satisfied grin. "It seems to be sated."

His eagerness to reach the Black Dragon Cave surpassed even Han Qianxue's. Should a dragon crystal truly exist there, he was determined to claim it.

As dawn approached, the black snake unexpectedly concealed its aura, catching Han Qianxue off guard. She turned to Jiang Fann with concern.

"We haven't lost it, have we?"

With a reassuring smile, Jiang Fann replied, "Just follow me."

They trailed behind Jiang Fann, weaving through the fog, and before long, the environment around them began to shift.

The trees thinned out, signaling their imminent departure from the forest. The fog lightened, sharpening their view, and in the distance, a mountain loomed, seemingly blocking their path.

Minutes later, the mountain materialized before them. Shrouded in mist, its peak was obscured, but its surface was riddled with countless caves.

"The black snake went into this mountain," Han Qianxue said, her voice tinged with excitement. "This must be the Black Dragon Cave."

She gazed at the stone mountain, continuing, "This is where the Black Dragon King's residence once stood. Legend has it he left his greatest legacy here, hoping that we might ascend to greatness in this very place."

Jiang Fann chuckled. "Ascend to greatness in one step? Impossible. Even the Juvenile Sovereign would be no match for the old monsters—they'd snuff him out with a mere flick of their wrist."

Han Qianxue shot back, irritated, "Can't you ever lighten up?"

Shi Chengtian had already made his way toward the Black Dragon Cave and called back to them, "There's an entrance here!"

He then dashed off toward the mountain peak.

Following him, they found a depression at the base of the mountain with a cave entrance over ten meters wide and nearly five meters tall. The spacious opening bore signs of frequent activity—likely from the black snake they had encountered earlier.

Jiang Fann wasn't sure how many black snakes resided within, but he knew caution was key. The secret realm was, after all, designed for the young; the Black Dragon King wouldn't have set a lethal trap for his progeny.

Without haste, Jiang Fann turned to Han Qianxue. "Does your Myriad Treasures Tavern have any records on the Black Dragon Cave?"

She nodded. "According to our archives, the Black Dragon Cave spans three vast levels, each as bewildering as a labyrinth. It could take months to explore fully, and the exact location of the legacy remains unknown. If anyone has deeper knowledge than the Myriad Treasures Tavern, it would likely be the Lingloong Pavilion."

Shi Chengtian posed the question, "What's our next move?"

Almost in unison, Han Qianxue and Jiang Fann voiced their ideas.

"We should split up!"

Jiang Fann hadn't expected them to be on the same wavelength.

Shi Chengtian cautioned, "As Han Qianxue pointed out, this place is a labyrinth. Considering the black snake's power level, it's not safe here. Together, we can watch each other's backs. Splitting up could be far too risky."

"With our current strength, we're more than capable of handling most situations. A little caution is all we need. If we divide our efforts, we won't have come here for nothing. This secret realm is meant for taking risks—what's there to fear?"

Shi Chengtian bristled at the notion.

"Fear? Since when has Shi Chengtian ever been afraid? I'm merely concerned for my leader."

Jiang Fann let out a light laugh, "You think I need your concern? Enough talk. We each take a level and go our separate ways."

Han Qianxue opted for the lowest level, while Shi Chengtian chose the middle one.

Before they parted ways, Jiang Fann distributed several types of life-saving elixirs to each of them, ensuring they had one of each kind.

Having previously witnessed the extraordinary properties of these elixirs in the valley, Shi Chengtian carefully stowed them away.