Chapter 75: The Eerie Cave Part 2

These patterns dotted the platform irregularly, following no discernible order.

Wang Ya said, “Step only on the tiles with symbols.” She took the first step onto a glowing tile.

Perhaps because the stele had absorbed massive yin qi from the surroundings, visibility on the platform improved, allowing Wang Ya to survey its full layout.

The platform’s floor tiles, each about eighty centimeters square, formed a nine-by-nine grid spanning roughly fifty square meters. Toward the outer edge connected a bridge, its head marked by another stele reading “Bridge of Life and Death.” On the cliffward side, a flight of stairs descended to an arched stone gate spewing mist—the source of the water sound.

Zhang Qingshui used her glow stick to illuminate the surroundings and asked in confusion, “Wang Ya, if we’re on the normal route, shouldn’t we exit through that stone gate? This bridge leads to the Illusory Sea Labyrinth, so where does the plank road we took come from?” Or was the Bridge of Life and Death before them merely the Feng Family’s illusion technique, with the plank road as the true safe path? She recalled the Myriad Coffins Azure Dragon Palace; they had exited via a plank road after the Azure Dragon Palace, and breaking the Myriad Coffins Array had revealed other doors within. If they had entered the Myriad Coffins Array first instead of the underground palace, they might have taken one to the underground palace’s main hall. A bridge connected to a plank road outside the Azure Dragon Palace’s main hall, and aside from the Leaf Demon’s appearance, no dangers had occurred on the plank road. But the current priority wasn’t choosing bridge or plank road—it was getting water. Zhang Qingshui eyed the simple gate billowing steam nearby, frowning deeply. She knew without doubt that the Feng Family had rigged whatever lay beyond. The path and water retrieval depended on Wang Ya.

From the previous underground palace, Zhang Qingshui had deduced that the Feng Family prepared dual mechanisms: Feng descendants could pass safely using prepared methods, Yellow Springs Other Shore Flower Marks, and bloodline brands. Outsiders triggered destruction, like the underground palace’s grand array—destroying the bronze pillars released hordes of yin spirit ferocious creatures and caused the entire structure to collapse.

Suddenly, a voice echoed from behind the arched gate: “Yaya—”

It was Wang Cheng’an’s voice.

Zhang Qingshui cried, “Wang Ya, it’s your dad’s voice.”

Wang Ya’s brows furrowed as she said, “Ignore it!”

Zhang Qingshui asked, “Why?” A flicker of oddity crossed her eyes. Wang Ya had lost Wang Cheng’an; how could she ignore his voice now?

Huang Qi’s voice followed: “Qing Jie—” It sounded like it came from just inside the arched gate.

Wang Ya formed seals, a Yellow Springs Other Shore Flower Seal materializing in her palm. She blasted it into the gate and swiftly decided: “Move! Get the water.” Without water, she and Zhang Qingshui would die of thirst! Whatever lay inside might not kill her! Just a bunch of ghostly nonsense—she, Wang Ya, feared nothing of the sort her whole life.

Wang Ya stepped toward the open arched stone gate, treading the stone slabs glowing with Yellow Springs Other Shore Flower Seals. Red demonic light cloaked her entirely, extending to cover Zhang Qingshui beside her.

Wang Ya descended the stairs and soon reached the gate’s threshold. Peering inside from the doorway, she saw thick yin qi reducing visibility to near zero.

Zhang Qingshui stood at the entrance and fired her signal gun into the air.

The burning flare ignited the sky, piercing the darkness beyond the gate and illuminating the space ahead.

It was a massive cave.

An open skylight gaped in the ceiling, with “crash” of water plunging like a waterfall. Staring at the four- or five-meter-wide cascade, Zhang Qingshui froze. She clearly sensed fresh air flowing in through the overhead opening—this cave connected to the outside. She had assumed the Feng Family’s constructions lay buried deep underground. She and Wang Ya had emerged from the tunnel and rappelled dozens of meters down to the plank road, which hadn’t ascended. Perhaps this cave opened at the bottom of some concealed valley? That would explain the inflowing water. As these thoughts flashed, Zhang Qingshui scanned the vast cave—no sign of Wang Cheng’an or Huang Qi. If they weren’t here, who had spoken? No wonder Wang Ya said to ignore it!

Zhang Qingshui didn’t dare relax and summoned her Azure Dragon Vine for protection. Battered from the earlier fight, it now emitted only faint light, like a thin membrane over her body.

Wang Ya swept her gaze around and told Zhang Qingshui, “Stay at the door. Don’t take a single step inside. They can’t cross this gate.”

Zhang Qingshui didn’t ask what “they” were. The Feng Family even had a Millennium Great Demon; conjuring some demons and ghosts was par for the course! Yet she felt deeply uneasy—intensely so—but could spot no anomalies. She could only remind Wang Ya to be careful.

Wang Ya gathered her demonic power and approached the waterfall cautiously, staying alert to every sound around her.

Nothing lunged even as she reached the waterfall’s edge. Instead, she felt countless gazes from all directions fixating on her, sending chills down her spine and cold sweat trickling. Irritated, she growled lowly, “What are you staring at? Never seen someone fetching water before?” She pulled out all her canteens and filled them under the cascade, heedless of the spray soaking her through like a drowned rat.

Suddenly, rapid footsteps echoed from the cave’s depths—fast and frantic.

Then came a long wail: “Yaya—”

It was her dad’s voice.

Wang Ya hastily capped the filled canteens, too rushed to stow them in her pack. She scooped up the five and dashed back to the entrance, shoving them to Zhang Qingshui as she vigilantly watched the depths.

Another anguished howl rose from the cave’s heart: “Yaya, save me—”