"Now that Fellow Daoist has located the Yin Zhi Ma's lair, yet still insists on inviting the rest of us to assist, could it be that you've run into some serious trouble?" After a brief silence, it was the broad-shouldered man surnamed Yuan who spoke first.
"The Yin Zhi Ma may be elusive and vanished without a trace, a master of concealment, but given sufficient time, capturing it would be no great difficulty for me. The real problem is that this spirit creature's lair happens to be inside the Yin-Yang Cavern of the Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons. There is simply no way for me to follow it down. And the creature is far too clever — at most it lingers near the cave entrance, never once daring to venture out." The white-haired elder surnamed Fu finally revealed the matter that had left him at his wit's end for decades.
"The Yin-Yang Cavern?" This time, the broad-shouldered man drew in a sharp breath. Bai Yaoyi's face went pale in an instant.
Only Han Li had never heard of it, and asked in puzzlement:
"What Yin-Yang Cavern? Is it that dangerous?"
"Fellow Daoist Han doesn't know about the Yin-Yang Cavern? I nearly forgot — Brother Han is an overseas cultivator, so it's only natural he wouldn't know of this forbidden land. The Yin-Yang Cavern is universally recognized as one of the Seven Great Forbidden Lands of the Great Jin. An ordinary cultivator who enters will never return." After a soft exclamation, Bai Yaoyi offered Han Li a brief explanation.
"That dangerous? What makes this place so special?" Han Li's curiosity was piqued, and he pressed further.
"The name 'Yin-Yang Cavern' itself means that once you step inside, you are instantly separated between yin and yang — between life and death. Not to mention anything else, the Soul-Startling Yin Wind that howls through the cavern without cease is enough to scatter a Nascent Soul cultivator's soul on the spot, sending them off to reincarnation. And that's not even counting the fact that the cavern sits upon a location of profound yin, where yin energy has accumulated for ages, giving rise to all manner of formidable ghost creatures within. A living person who enters, even if they can withstand the Yin Wind, will be torn to shreds by the countless spirits." Elder Fu took the initiative to explain.
"Hmph — that's not even the half of it. The Yin-Yang Cavern lies thousands of zhang underground, its tunnels interlocking in an endless maze of passages and chambers too numerous to count. In the past, some cultivators have been lucky enough to make it to the bottom, yet none could ever map its full extent. In a place like that, the moment you project your spiritual sense beyond your body, it's blocked by the Yin Wind, leaving you no better than an ordinary mortal. There have even been persistent rumors that a fearsome Ghost King lurks in the deepest reaches, though no one has ever confirmed it. In short, it's a place even great cultivators are unwilling to venture into."
"For years, apart from some mediocre mineral veins, nothing of value had ever been found inside the cavern. Everyone treated it as nothing more than a super-mine abandoned since ancient times, and no one ever truly ventured deep into it. But now that Brother Fu has discovered a Yin Zhi Ma inside, it seems the Yin-Yang Cavern isn't as simple as it appears on the surface. There may well be something inside worth exploring." Bai Yaoyi loosened her brows slightly and added.
"After so many years, and with even Brother Fu's abilities unable to capture the Yin Zhi Ma, it's clear this cavern is no safe haven. Even if there truly is treasure inside, you need to be alive to claim it." Having previously ventured into places like the Void Tempering Palace and the Fallen Devil Valley, Han Li knew full well the dangers involved, and didn't hesitate to throw cold water on the idea.
"I'm well aware of that. That's precisely why I've spent decades preparing — I've specifically refined several treasures designed to counter ghost creatures. And to protect against the Soul-Startling Yin Wind, I've brought along my sect's Purple Nether Pearl. With this pearl on hand, I can't guarantee complete protection against the wind, but it can certainly weaken its power by nearly half. With that, the three of you should be able to pass through safely." Elder Fu spoke with exceptional confidence.
"The Purple Nether Pearl?"
Both the broad-shouldered man and Bai Yaoyi were visibly shaken upon hearing the name of this treasure.
This was one of the Three Great Guardian Treasures of the Nine Abyss Sect!
"Well? With preparations this thorough, and with three Fellow Daoists lending their full support, even if we encounter the most formidable Ghost King down below, the five of us together should be more than capable of dealing with it. The moment I capture the Yin Zhi Ma, I will use this spirit creature to refine Nascent Soul Cultivation Pills, and I guarantee each of you will receive one. This pill is a one-time marrow-cleansing and constitution-remodeling elixir — no matter how many are produced, each person need only take one. There's no need to worry about any tricks on my part. As for whatever else we might find down there, that will depend on each person's own fortune." Elder Fu spoke slowly and deliberately.
All three of Han Li's group fell silent. Even the broad-shouldered man, who had been the most excited moments ago, now wore a contemplative expression.
"Since Brother Fu has made such thorough preparations, why did you choose the three of us? As for Mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, your sect, as one of the Ten Great Demon Sects, should be able to find several without difficulty." Bai Yaoyi brushed a strand of hair from her forehead and asked calmly.
At this question, Han Li's expression shifted slightly, and the broad-shouldered man fixed his gaze on Elder Fu's face — both seemed particularly interested in how the old man would respond.
"Recruiting help from within the sect? That might work for others, but for me it's absolutely out of the question. Due to a certain internal grudge from years past, I've fallen out with most of my peers in the sect. Aside from Junior Sister Chang, the others would probably be delighted to see me fall early. Even if they agreed to help, I'd be worried about them stabbing me in the back." A harsh light flashed across the old man's face, revealing a trace of anger.
Han Li was taken aback.
This explanation was no explanation at all — who could verify whether any of it was true? But since the man had put it that way, they naturally couldn't press further, and the group fell silent once more.
"Storming the Yin-Yang Cavern is a matter of grave importance. I need to give it careful thought. How about this — I'll give Fellow Daoist a definite answer three days from now?" After lowering her head in contemplation for a moment, Bai Yaoyi raised her head and said.
"Three days? Of course. The Yin-Yang Cavern's Yin Wind reaches its weakest point only once every twenty years, during a particular half-year window. That's the most suitable time to descend. Besides, to deal with the ghost creatures, you'll all need to prepare some special spiritual tools and treasures as well. So even if you agreed right now, we would still have to wait half a year before entering the cavern. However, before any of you leave here today, I must ask you all to use this Page of the River Styx to write a blood oath of secrecy with your vital blood. I prefer to be cautious before being generous — I certainly don't want word about the Nascent Soul Cultivation Pills and the Yin Zhi Ma getting out during this period." Elder Fu smiled faintly, gave a flick of his sleeve, and a singed yellowed page wreathed in black flames appeared before the group.
"The Page of the River Styx? The cursed artifact that ensures a terrible fate for anyone who breaks their sworn oath? Wasn't that thing lost centuries ago?" The broad-shouldered man cried out involuntarily upon hearing the name.