Chapter 21: Running at Lightning Speed

Yuan Yao and Cang Li exchanged a glance, each seeing worry in the other's eyes.

"Let's go in!" Yuan Yao said, her tone urgent.

Cang Li, however, reached out and blocked her, "Wait."

He summoned a dark-colored long spear and, without hesitation, thrust it toward the White Bone Passage!

Boom!

In the next instant, countless silver needles sprang from the passage walls, "shhh shhh shhh," shooting out.

Yuan Yao saw this and her complexion shifted slightly.

"These are Poison Hidden Needles, they cause excruciating pain! Once they enter a person, they melt in the blood. Within less than three breaths, the poison will manifest," Cang Li explained in a low voice.

At the same time, Yan Haonan and his group had caught up, and happened to hear these words.

They all fixed their gaze on the silver needles embedded in the wall, faintly glinting with a cold light, and felt a chill down their spines.

They're actually Poison Hidden Needles?!

And there are so many of them!

Cang Li retrieved two Antidote Pills from his storage, ate one himself, and handed the other to Yuan Yao.

"Do you want to go in with me?" he asked earnestly.

Yuan Yao met his gaze, said nothing, took the Antidote Pill from his hand, and swallowed it in one bite.

Seeing this, Cang Li understood her intention and simply reminded, "Put on all the defensive artifacts the Master gave you."

"Alright." Yuan Yao nodded.

Immediately, the two of them headed inside.

A Cultivator asked anxiously, "Cang Daoist, do you still have any Antidote Pills?"

"None." Cang Li replied curtly without turning his head.

Cang Li shielded Yuan Yao as they moved toward the White Bone Passage, and just as their feet stepped on the ground bones, a "shhh shhh shhh" sound rang out, and countless Poison Hidden Needles rained down like a storm from the wall mechanisms!

Ding ding ding!

The sound of silver needles clashing with the long spear echoed.

"Go!"

Yuan Yao also grasped the Phantom Spirit Sword, swinging her long sword as she and Cang Li rushed forward.

Several Poison Hidden Needles struck her, but were all blocked by the Ten Thousand Shield Robe she wore.

Weng Mingshu watched their departing backs, frowned slightly, then looked up at her own Eldest Senior Brother, "Eldest Senior Brother…"

"Let's first assess the situation," Yan Haonan soothed, knowing well that charging forward blindly would be extremely dangerous. After all, this White Bone Passage looked gloomy and eerie, and no one knew how many unknown traps and perils lay within.

Moreover, even if he and Mingshu could pass through the passage smoothly, what about the other junior disciples? Their strength was relatively weaker, and they might struggle to cope with such danger.

At that moment, five Cultivators unexpectedly burst into the White Bone Passage one after another.

These five Cultivators charged while casting various spells and tricks, trying to fend off possible attacks inside the passage. Yet they clearly underestimated the passage's deadly nature, and one of them suddenly let out a wail.

"Ah!"

The onlookers stared and saw that the cultivator's body was pierced by several Poison Hidden Needles; in the blink of an eye his body convulsed, and he collapsed to the ground, dying on the spot.

The other Cultivators' faces turned pale with terror, and they instantly thought of retreat.

Simultaneously, from deep within the passage came dragon roars and the sounds of battle, faintly mixed with chaotic voices.

Yuan Yao and Cang Li were about to emerge from the passage.

At that critical moment, Yuan Yao smelled a corrosive odor and heavy blood scent; instinctively she looked toward the passage exit's floor and saw the ground damp, faintly recognizable as blood.

"Third Senior Brother! Stop!" Yuan Yao's heart leapt to her throat as she shouted.

Cang Li halted urgently.

In the next instant, a "click" sounded from the upper wall mechanism, and an unknown liquid instantly cascaded down like a waterfall.

Cang Li's pupils narrowed slightly, and he immediately gathered spiritual energy into a defensive shield to block the splashing flow.

A "zzzzla zzzla" sound rang out, making one's scalp tingle.

This is Corpse-Transforming Water!

Had the junior sister not warned him earlier, he might have become a pool of blood.

Soon, the Corpse-Transforming Water ceased flowing!

"Third Senior Brother, now!" Yuan Yao reached out, grabbed Cang Li's hand, then, in a flamboyant manner, leapt up and vaulted over the corpse-water floor.

Cang Li, before he could react, was pulled into a stumble, his body hanging in mid‑air for a split second; his eyes widened like copper bells, nearly stopping his heart from the shock.

When his feet finally touched the ground, he still trembled slightly.

He glared at Yuan Yao with resentment.

"Third Senior Brother, hurry!" Yuan Yao had no time to heed Cang Li's feelings; she grabbed his hand and rushed forward!

As they ran, their view gradually widened.

Looking around, the surrounding architecture seemed odd, as if an ancient tomb. Twelve towering dragon‑phoenix carved pillars rose, each solemn and imposing, giving a strong sense of pressure. Around these pillars hung numerous stone coffins linked by chains, floating like ghosts in mid‑air, their eaves flickering with eerie green light, sending chills down the spine.

At a glance, it was rather eerie.

At the front, a black giant dragon was battling a dozen Cultivators.

Yuan Yao instantly spotted her own Eldest Senior Brother, Song Yan.

His white robes were soaked in blood, turning red; his face was pale and gaunt, a deep, long bloodstain ran from his forehead to his cheek, brutally marring his handsome features.

He brandished his sword against the black giant dragon, but was no match; a single strike sent him flying, slamming hard onto the ground.

With the impact, Song Yan spewed a mouthful of fresh blood, splattering onto the ground, forming a shocking pool of gore.

In contrast, Lu Xiangxiang stood in the corner unharmed.

A faint smile lingered on her face, as if she relished the sight of her enemy's impending death.

"Eldest Senior Brother——" Cang Li's face changed drastically, he immediately flashed away.

Upon entering the battle zone, the giant dragon's immense pressure fell upon him like a tangible weight, as if thousands of jin, pressing so hard he could barely breathe.

He didn't have time to worry about the dangerous black giant dragon, quickly stepped to Song Yan's side, squatted down, and helped the severely injured Song Yan up.

Then he shoved the Healing Wound Pill into Song Yan's mouth in one go.

Song Yan choked a bit.

Before Song Yan could react, Cang Li turned around, grabbed his hands, hoisted him onto his back, and ran!

This time, he ran extremely fast.

"And… and Junior Sister Lu……" Song Yan's vision was a bit blurry, but he still hadn't forgotten the existence of Lu Xiangxiang.

As he spoke, he coughed violently, which tugged at the wound on his face, causing him to frown involuntarily from the pain.

"Who is Junior Sister Lu?!" Cang Li spoke somewhat urgently; it was still the first time he had seen the Eldest Senior Brother so gravely injured!

He's about to be disfigured!