Chapter 68: Entering the Cave Mansion

Everyone left.

Xia Daoming gazed toward the cliff waterfall directly opposite the spirit field.

The waterfall plunged down, carving a green pool below.

Two green water crocodiles floated lazily in the pool, eyes closed, rising and sinking with the current.

Their emerald scales blended seamlessly with the water; without close inspection, they would easily be overlooked.

Water spilled from the pool, forming a small stream that slowly meandered through the center of the spirit field.

Behind the waterfall, a stone cave could be seen.

The stone door of the cave was tightly shut.

Xia Daoming gripped a long spear and walked toward the green pool.

“Master, be careful!” Liu Qiaolian warned anxiously.

“Don’t worry!” Xia Daoming turned and smiled at Liu Qiaolian.

Though his face was veiled, their eyes met, and both felt the deep affection in each other’s hearts.

The green water crocodiles suddenly opened eyes like lanterns, revealing jaws lined with sharp teeth, and each spat out a blade of ice shimmering with emerald cold light in the sunlight.

“Clang! Clang!”

Xia Daoming flicked his spear, conjuring two spear blossoms that struck the green ice blades with perfect precision.

The ice blades shattered, exploding into a shower of flying shards.

Amid the swirling ice fragments, a figure leapt skyward, robes flapping, spear in hand, glinting with cold light as he charged toward the two crocodiles.

The green water crocodiles clearly sensed their foe’s strength and let out a low growl.

The pool water, stirred by some unseen force, surged into massive waves.

Standing atop the waves, one crocodile opened its mouth and continuously spat ice blades, while the other raised its massive claw and lunged at him.

Liu Qiaolian’s heart rose to her throat.

The bearded giant felt a chill crawl up his spine.

Such a powerful beast could probably knock him flying with a single swipe of its claw.

But Xia Daoming showed no fear; mid-air, his spear transformed into a thousand shadowy spears.

“Ding-ding-dang-dang!”

The ice blades were continuously deflected, dissolving into nothing.

The countless spear shadows merged into one, sweeping horizontally in a single devastating arc.

“Boom!”

The lunging crocodile was flung backward, crashing heavily against a rock beside the pool.

The rock shattered into pieces, yet the crocodile staggered back to its feet, its armor unbroken.

“Kill!”

Xia Daoming swept his spear at one crocodile; before the other could fire another ice blade, he merged with his spear, striking like lightning into its gaping maw.

“Sssch!”

The spear pierced through the crocodile’s open mouth, driving clean through its body from within.

“Snap!”

The spear lifted the crocodile’s massive body and slammed it violently onto the ground.

Blood gushed continuously from its mouth; after a few spasms, it lay still.

Having speared one crocodile, Xia Daoming immediately turned and charged at the other, which had just shaken its head and risen, lunging toward him.

The green water crocodile’s armor was thick, nearly impervious to blades and spears.

This time, Xia Daoming no longer sought an opening for a throat-stab; he wielded his spear like a club, swinging it wildly in a furious barrage.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

Soon, the crocodile lay motionless on the ground.

This pitiful green water crocodile was a high-grade level-one beast—its armor thick, its strength immense, its power rivaling that of an eighth-rank Great Martial Master; even Xu Zhiji would rather sacrifice a fifth-rank Great Martial Master than risk provoking it—yet it met Xia Daoming, this monstrous eighth-rank Great Martial Master.

It was simply beaten to death by brute force.

Watching this violent scene, the bearded giant wiped sweat from his brow repeatedly.

Damn it, I absolutely won’t mention the big reward later!

“The green water crocodiles are dealt with. Now, brave warrior, please help us scout the path.” Xia Daoming clapped his hands and said.

“Yes, yes!” The bearded giant nodded hurriedly, then walked toward the pool.

Seeing the horrific sight of the two crocodiles after crossing the pool, the bearded giant felt his legs trembling.

The stone door behind the waterfall posed no challenge to the bearded giant.

He raised his massive Thunder-Shaking Hammer, channeled hidden force, and smashed it over ten times—until the stone door exploded into fragments with a thunderous crash.

Then, the bearded giant stepped cautiously into the cave.

Seeing the bearded giant vanish into the cave entrance, Xia Daoming’s heart tightened.

The cave was clearly small; soon, the bearded giant reappeared at the entrance, passed through the waterfall, leapt across the pool, and stood before Xia Daoming and Liu Qiaolian, face alight with excitement.

“Great hero, there are no seals or traps inside, but there’s a medicinal tree I don’t recognize and some herbs. Also, there’s an altar and a snake pit—I don’t know what they’re for, so I didn’t dare get close.”

As he spoke, clear fear flickered in the bearded giant’s eyes.

“Good! Good! I’ll remember your merit! Lian’er, let’s go in.” Xia Daoming exclaimed with delight.

“Master, since there are no seals or traps, let me go in alone,” Liu Qiaolian said.

Xia Daoming paused slightly, then understood her concern; he took her hand gently and said, “No matter what, we stay together.”

“Mm!” Liu Qiaolian’s body trembled slightly, then she nodded firmly.

Soon, the two leapt together across the green pool, passed through the waterfall, and entered the cave.

The cave was not damp or dark as imagined.

Instead, four strings of pearls hung from the corners of the stone walls, radiating light that illuminated the cave as brightly as daylight.

The air was unusually fresh, carrying a faint fruity fragrance that made one feel refreshed with just a single breath.

Inside the cave were three carved stone chambers.

The fruity scent drifted from the left chamber—the one closest to them.

Xia Daoming and Liu Qiaolian naturally followed the scent, lifted the curtain, and entered the left chamber.

As they stepped inside, the scent of fruit and herbs flooded their senses, instantly invigorating them.

Above, the ceiling bore a massive stalactite.

Mist drifted from it, occasionally dropping one or two droplets of water.

Beneath the stalactite grew a vine-like tree.

Around it grew a patch of medicinal herbs.

The mist and droplets from the stalactite fell like heavenly dew, nourishing the vine and its surrounding herbs.

The vine’s leaves were unremarkable, but its flowers and fruit were extraordinary.

Both flowers and fruit were red, surrounded by mist that glowed with a blood-red hue.

The herbs’ leaves grew in pairs, their crimson color streaked with faint auroras, like the wings of a legendary phoenix.

“Zhuwu Fruit! Fengyao Grass!”

Xia Daoming stared at the hanging fruit on the vine, then scanned the patch of herbs below; his heart trembled, and he blurted out the names.

He had learned of Zhuwu Fruit from Ji Wenyue.

The ancient medicinal texts passed down by the Ji family recorded that Zhuwu Fruit was one of the herbs requested by a cultivator who once had dealings with the Ji family.

As for its use, Xia Daoming did not yet know.

But one thing he was certain of: if even a cultivator had specifically sought it, it must be extremely precious.

As for Fengyao Grass, Ji Wenyue had once been deceived by false rumors of a five-hundred-year-old specimen, leading her to the north—and thus meeting Xia Daoming.

And Fengyao Grass was the main ingredient in Fengming Pills!

Xia Daoming did not pause to revel in his joy; he quickly uprooted all the Fengyao Grass, plucked the cluster of Zhuwu Fruit, stored them away, and prepared to lead Liu Qiaolian out.

“Master, aren’t you going to dig up the whole tree?” Liu Qiaolian asked, puzzled.

“Such a spirit tree dies the moment it’s dug up. Now that we know this place, when I grow strong enough, this place—and this spirit tree—will be ours.” Xia Daoming said.

Hearing this, Liu Qiaolian shuddered inwardly.

This was a cultivator’s cave mansion—and yet her master dared to think of returning someday to claim it as his own.