"Who's there?" Uncle Ji barked, his voice brimming with caution.
"No need for alarm, fellow daoists. We come to discuss a matter," a steady voice replied.
Seven men emerged from the shadows, approaching slowly.
"Discuss what? We don't know you," Uncle Ji said, his brow furrowed, vigilance unwavering. The newcomers' strength outmatched his crew. Though their leader, like him, was at Peak Foundation Establishment, the other six ranged from Peak Qi Refining upward. A clash would leave his side at a grave disadvantage.
"We're the Sha Hai Crew, here to propose something of great import. I believe you'll find it intriguing," a hawk-nosed man with Early-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivation said eagerly.
"What exactly?" Chen Lin asked, his voice tinged with apprehension, lacking the arrogance he'd shown toward Lan An.
"I'm Lin Hai, leader of the Sha Hai Crew," the Peak Foundation Establishment man introduced himself. Noticing Uncle Ji's skepticism, he cut to the chase. "We discovered a hidden cave in Shan Mu Forest, likely left by a master. We seek partners to explore it."
"A hidden cave?" Chen Lin and Yang Li's eyes gleamed, their breaths quickening with excitement.
"A hidden cave?" Uncle Ji echoed, his tone less fervent but laced with curiosity.
In the Tu Zhen Realm, countless great sects coexisted with powerful rogue cultivators—lone wolves unbound by factions. These masters often left behind caves or secret troves, passing their legacies to destined successors.
On the Bing Tian Frost Continent, tales of such inheritances abounded: an unknown cultivator soaring to fame after receiving a Void Refining master's legacy, or a dying man stumbling upon a Medicine Immortal's cave, gaining miraculous elixirs that cured him and elevated his power, amassing wealth and admirers.
"Giggle, why share such a treasure as a master's cave with us?" Hong Lian asked, her smile radiant but her question piercing to the core.
Lan An noted her sharpness, nodding inwardly. Meanwhile, Ting'er, oblivious to the stakes, munched on roasted meat as if the matter didn't concern her.
"Exactly," Uncle Ji and the others said, regaining composure and eyeing the Sha Hai Crew warily.
The newcomers' gazes now lingered on Hong Lian and Ting'er, their eyes alight with awe, some swallowing hard, captivated by the women's beauty.
Lin Hai recovered first, explaining, "The cave's entrance is sealed by an array we can't break alone. We need allies."
"I see," the Qing Mao Crew nodded, understanding dawning.
"How's the split?" Chen Lin asked impatiently, prompting Lan An to shake his head inwardly. The youth was already dividing spoils without verifying the cave's authenticity—his naivety was painfully obvious.
"We found it. Seven-three, our favor," a Sha Hai member proposed.
"No way, too low. Fifty-fifty," Yang Li countered, his face flushed.
"Are you joking? We outnumber and outpower you," Lin Hai said, his voice stern.
"Fine, six-four, and we'll give our all," Uncle Ji decided, his cultivation matching Lin Hai's, unafraid of betrayal. At worst, they'd fight to mutual destruction.
"Agreed. We leave at dawn," Lin Hai nodded, his crew joining the fire circle.
"Kid, as you heard, we're busy tomorrow and can't escort you out," Uncle Ji said to Lan An, a hint of guilt in his voice. The cave's allure trumped his prior commitment.
"No matter. I'll tag along and observe, broaden my horizons," Lan An said with an easy smile.
"What's a Mid-Stage Qi Refining kid doing here? You'll just be a burden," a Sha Hai member frowned.
"No need for concern. I'm only here to learn, and my fate's my own," Lan An replied calmly, wiping a smear of meat from Ting'er's cheek, making her blush.
"Hmph, reckless fool. A master's cave is filled with trials. With your cultivation, you're a fish in a net," Yang Li sneered, seizing the chance to jab.
"Let him be. His life, his choice," Lin Hai mediated, secretly thinking Lan An could serve as cannon fodder.
Hong Lian ate quietly, her eyes occasionally flicking to Lan An, her thoughts unreadable.
The night passed swiftly. As cultivators, they meditated instead of sleeping, rendering rest secondary. Guided by the Sha Hai Crew, the Qing Mao Crew reached the so-called hidden cave.
Lan An surveyed the site. Nestled at a mountain's base, the cave was veiled by towering trees, its winding entrance nearly invisible. The portal, clearly man-made, bore signs of deliberate carving.
"Our third brother stumbled on it chasing a beast," Lin Hai explained, gesturing to a round-faced Early-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Approaching the entrance, they saw a shimmering four-colored barrier, faint yet formidable. Lan An knew such arrays were far from simple.
"We tried brute force, but it didn't budge," a Sha Hai member said wryly.
"Let's try again, together," Uncle Ji said, studying the array but gleaning little, urging a joint assault.
"Agreed," the group nodded, their auras flaring as they channeled spiritual energy.
Uncle Ji wielded an Earth spiritual root.
Yang Li and Chen Lin both possessed Ice roots.
Lin Hai and two Sha Hai members had Water roots, while the other four shared Earth roots like Uncle Ji.
Spiritual energies surged, various skills unleashing in a barrage against the array.
BOOM!
The barrier quivered but swiftly stabilized.
Hong Lian, Lan An, and Ting'er stood aside, observing.
Seeing Hong Lian abstain, Uncle Ji frowned. "Not joining? Ting'er and Lan An are weak, but you're Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment. Pull your weight."
"I'm analyzing the array and found a clue," Hong Lian said, pouting her crimson lips.
"Tell us, Sister Lian!" Yang Li and Chen Lin urged, their impatience palpable, the cave's promise driving them to frenzy.
"It's a Four Spirits Array, requiring four elemental spiritual energies to break," Hong Lian explained.
Lan An feigned surprise, though Jin'er had already briefed him on the array.
Ting'er, standing beside him, giggled at his expression. "I know how to break it too, but watching them scramble is fun," she whispered mischievously.
Lan An chuckled, amused by her playfulness.
Hong Lian's words clicked for the group. Their earlier attack, limited to Earth, Ice, and Water, lacked the fourth element.
"Hong Lian, join us," Uncle Ji urged.
"Giggle, no problem," Hong Lian said, her smile unwavering.
Lan An felt the air heat up sharply. "She has a Fire root?" he murmured.
"Indeed, and her flames are evolved, akin to your Mysterious Water," Jin'er's voice echoed in his mind, startling him.
Before he could process, Jin'er added, "Ting'er's no slouch either. She has Wood and Wind roots."
"Damn, are dual-root prodigies sprouting like weeds?" Lan An cursed inwardly. Since when did such talents appear so frequently?
Hong Lian acted, her Fire energy enveloping her. Her delicate hands wove patterns, conjuring a blazing crimson lotus. Alongside the others, she struck the array.
Sizzle… sizzle…
No explosive clash sounded. The array trembled, absorbing the four elements, and after a few breaths, it faded.
"It worked?" The Sha Hai Crew cheered.
Unable to wait, Chen Lin and Yang Li bolted into the cave.
"AAH!" Two terrified screams echoed from within.
The group froze, chills racing down their spines.