Chapter 86: The Ancient Cave

Chapter 86: The Ancient Cave

The dragon's roar grew increasingly mournful within the canyon.

Ning Xiaochuan's expression shifted slightly. Both Yu Qianqian and Murong Wushuang had ventured deep into the canyon. If there truly was a ferocious dragon lurking inside, the situation would be dire.

No longer engaging in the standoff with the warriors of Dark Emperor City, Ning Xiaochuan turned and sprinted toward the depths of the canyon.

The warriors of Dark Emperor City hesitated, choosing not to pursue. First, they feared Ning Xiaochuan's formidable combat prowess. Second, they dreaded the possibility of a terrifying creature residing within the canyon.

"Third Leader, should we chase after him?" Everyone's gaze fell upon the slender figure cloaked in black robes.

Just as the Third Leader hesitated, the sounds of battle erupted from the entrance of Dragonfall Valley. Over a dozen injured black-robed warriors retreated in panic, shouting, "Third Leader, disaster has struck! Yu Tiadi has led the experts of Kirin Prince's Manor to attack us!"

Another wounded warrior stumbled in, gasping, "Third Leader, a mysterious faction has also invaded Dragonfall Valley! Our losses are severe!"

The Third Leader's eyes darkened. These people certainly knew how to pick their timing—it seemed they intended to join forces and devour Dark Emperor City whole.

"Retreat deeper into the canyon. I'll lead the way." The Third Leader stepped forward into the dimly lit gorge, gathering three strands of Profound Qi above his head, which coalesced into a blazing flame!

The bright flames illuminated the surrounding space.

"Roar!"

From the depths of the canyon, the dragon's roar still echoed, carrying an ancient and desolate aura, as if recounting a long-forgotten legend.

The Poison Mist here grew denser, and ghostly blue flames flickered in the air, dancing like will-o'-the-wisps.

Ning Xiaochuan trudged through the valley, overgrown with Poisonous Grass and thorns. It seemed as though no one had set foot here for centuries—there was no discernible path, and occasionally, one or two highly venomous creatures would dart out!

Due to severe blood loss, Ning Xiaochuan felt his eyelids growing heavier, every muscle in his body aching. He nearly collapsed into the thorny thickets!

Yu Qianqian quickly steadied him by the arm and fed him two drops of Blood Nourishing Liquid. The medicinal effects spread swiftly through his body, slightly alleviating his weakness.

"Xiaochuan, how are you holding up?"

Yu Qianqian pressed her lips tightly together, her large, round eyes glistening with unshed tears. She was deeply moved, knowing Ning Xiaochuan had risked his life to charge into Dragonfall Valley for her sake, sustaining such grievous injuries.

Yet, other thoughts lingered in her heart. She couldn't help but wonder—why had Ning Xiaochuan gone to such lengths for her?

"Does he love me?"

"Or does he merely feel indebted and wants to repay me? Is this just about settling a debt of gratitude?"

"Perhaps the latter holds more truth."

"The one he truly loves is Yu Ningsheng, not Yu Qianqian. Not me. Never me."

Yu Qianqian bit her lip hard, forcing herself to stop dwelling on these thoughts. But every time she looked at Ning Xiaochuan, her heart ached unbearably, and these comparisons inevitably resurfaced—pitting herself against Yu Ningsheng in looks, family background, talent, and intellect.

In the past, she would have considered herself a lofty princess, never deigning to compare herself to a brothel woman!

Ning Xiaochuan retrieved a Blood Toad Pill from the Heaven and Earth Bag and swallowed it, restoring the Blood Qi within his body.

This injury was far more severe than Ning Xiaochuan had anticipated. Without five or six days, full recovery would be impossible.

After stabilizing his wounds, Ning Xiaochuan stood up and locked eyes with Yu Qianqian.

In the dim night, she resembled a dark elf—elegant yet unpretentious, graceful yet not overly alluring. Her delicate, fair cheeks were smudged with dirt, making her appear somewhat disheveled, yet this only accentuated her feminine softness. For a moment, it made one forget her unattainable status as the princess of the Golden Roc Prince's Manor, instead making her seem all the more approachable.

She hadn’t expected Ning Xiaochuan to open his eyes at that moment. Startled like a frightened rabbit, her slender, jade-like neck recoiled slightly, and a faint blush spread across her cheeks.

She dreaded the thought of Ning Xiaochuan discerning what had just crossed her mind—how embarrassing would that be?

Had he really noticed?

Ning Xiaochuan stared at her, never having seen Yu Qianqian in such an awkward state before. However, he didn’t dwell on it too deeply and simply asked with a smile, "Where’s Gou Sheng?"

"He... he went to investigate the source of the dragon roar and hasn’t returned yet." Yu Qianqian quickly regained her composure, her demeanor becoming serene and untroubled. Her starry eyes turned clear as water, her delicate brows like ink strokes from a painting, her nose exquisitely sculpted, and her lips as red as if stained with vermilion.

This was the true bearing of the princess of the Golden Roc Prince's Manor—elegant and noble, looking down upon all men in the world with disdain.

Had he not witnessed it himself, Ning Xiaochuan would have struggled to believe this was the same person as before.

"The people from Dark Emperor City will likely catch up soon. Let’s find Murong Wushuang first. There might be another exit deeper in the canyon."

Ning Xiaochuan stood up, summoning a Profound Qi Sword in his hand. Cutting through the undergrowth, he cautiously followed the traces of Murong Wushuang’s aura, heading deeper into the canyon.

Suddenly, a dark figure leaped out from a pitch-black hole in the ground, letting out an eerie cry!

Both Ning Xiaochuan and Yu Qianqian were startled, ready to strike down the strange creature.

The shadowy figure hastily cried, "Wait! Wait! It’s me! Gou Sheng!"

Murong Wushuang tore off the thick spiderwebs clinging to him, frantically gesturing at himself, terrified that Ning Xiaochuan and Yu Qianqian might attack him.

Yu Qianqian let out a relieved sigh and withdrew her Profound Qi Sword. "What happened? Why were you underground? And what’s all over you?"

Murong Wushuang animatedly explained, "You wouldn’t believe it! I was tracking the dragon roar and found this ancient cave. It was pitch-black inside, impossible to tell how deep it went, and covered in spiderwebs. I walked about 5 kilometers in, but the further I went, the more uneasy I felt. In the end, I had to turn back and find you guys."

Ning Xiaochuan frowned solemnly. "You’re saying there’s an ancient cave underground? You walked 5 kilometers and still didn’t reach the end? How can a cave be that deep?"

Murong Wushuang nodded vigorously.

Yu Qianqian said, "You said you were creeped out. Could there be something unclean in that ancient cave?"

For a martial artist to feel fear, there must be something unknown lurking in this underground cavern.

Murong Wushuang nodded vigorously. "It's hard to explain in just a few words. You’ll understand once you go down there. But first, I’m not going in front."

In the distance, flames flickered in the gorge as a group of black-robed martial artists marched menacingly into its depths, searching for traces of the three of them.

They had caught up!

There was no other choice now.

Ning Xiaochuan took the lead and stepped into the underground cave.

The cave was extremely narrow—whether it had been carved by human hands or formed naturally was unclear.

A bone-chilling Cold Qi permeated the cavern, its walls covered in cobwebs. Black spiders, each as large as a fist, crawled across the webs, their eyes glowing with a ghastly green light.

Deep within the cave, an inky darkness stretched endlessly, accompanied by faint rustling sounds—definitely not the noise of spiders moving across their webs. It sounded more like some creature shuffling along the ground.

Tap, tap.

Like human footsteps!

Thud!

Yu Qianqian took out a night pearl the size of a pigeon egg, holding it in her palm to illuminate the underground cave.

They walked without encountering anything strange until they had traveled about 5 kilometers, where the cave suddenly widened.

On the ground stood a grave, with a tombstone erected in front of it!

Ning Xiaochuan, walking at the front, felt his heart skip a beat at the sight of the sudden tombstone. A chill surged from the soles of his feet, racing up his spine and straight to his head.

Why would there be a grave in such a hidden underground cave? Whose grave was it? And why was it built here?

No wonder Murong Wushuang had been so unnerved. Even Ning Xiaochuan wouldn’t have remained calm if he had come here alone.

"So it’s just a grave, and that’s what scared you? You’re way too timid!" Yu Qianqian pinched the hem of her robe lightly. Though she mocked Murong Wushuang for his cowardice, her own heart skipped a beat. If she had come here alone, she would have been terrified too.

Ning Xiaochuan had never believed in ghosts. Though surprised, he wasn’t afraid. He intended to walk past the grave and continue forward.

But as soon as he stepped around the tombstone, he saw a bloody figure standing motionless behind it!

Was it dead or alive?

Yu Qianqian, walking behind Ning Xiaochuan, saw the figure behind the tombstone and turned pale with fright, her lips parting to scream.

Ning Xiaochuan, no longer as composed, immediately covered her mouth, afraid her scream would wake the bloody figure.

Yu Qianqian’s beautiful eyes widened as she locked gazes with the figure behind the tombstone, nearly scared out of her wits.

Murong Wushuang gave a bitter smile and pointed toward the towering mound of the grave.

Ning Xiaochuan and Yu Qianqian saw a pitch-black hole in the grave mound, with scraps of cloth and strands of hair scattered around its edges—as if something had crawled out from inside, leaving traces behind!

Yu Qianqian glanced at the bloody figure once more—and fainted on the spot!

Murong Wushuang also tightly closed his mouth, not even daring to breathe loudly, his expression utterly bitter, as if silently telling Ning Xiaochuan, "Now you know why I was so terrified." They all believed the motionless figure behind the gravestone was the deceased who had crawled out of it, fearing that even the slightest loud noise might awaken him.