LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 8:
Chapter 8: Why Panic? Attack!:
Lu Chen sighed.
The past generations planted trees so that the future ones could enjoy the shade.
He never expected that today, he would be reaping the benefits of what he had sown with his own hands.
The worn marks on the stone walls bore witness to his countless battles against demonic creatures.
The various formations within the cave were not just for self-defense but also to repel enemies.
When Lu Chen glanced at the assortment of spirit stones, a bitter smile crept onto his lips.
Back when he placed them here, he had thought that if one day disciples of the Mystic Spirit Holy Sect were fortunate enough to find this cave, these would serve as gifts to his fellow sect members.
Looking at his current predicament, he found his past actions laughable.
His fellow disciples never arrived, yet he had ended up hiding here first.
Since he wouldn’t be leaving the cave for some time, Lu Chen tidied up the space.
Despite its proximity to the demonic cave, this place was still quite safe.
Beside him, Xuan Mo curled up slightly, slowly raising its head to look in his direction.
“Don’t worry. They won’t make any large-scale moves for now,” Lu Chen muttered, as if speaking to Xuan Mo, yet also talking to himself.
After the Mystic Spirit Holy Sect learned that spiritual energy was seeping from the demonic cave, it caused quite a stir.
As a result, the rumors about his ties to the demonic path grew more rampant.
Many disciples were eager to explore the demonic cave, but ultimately, their lack of strength kept them at bay.
If even ordinary disciples harbored such thoughts, let alone the sect’s hall masters.
Qi Ze had yet to make a move, likely assessing the situation.
Given his temperament, he would never let such an opportunity slip away.
With Yu Yanxue’s cautious nature, she certainly wouldn’t allow large groups of disciples to come.
So, now was the best time to recuperate.
Calming his mind, Lu Chen sat cross-legged, regulated his breathing, and attempted to circulate his spiritual energy.
Though his cultivation had been lost over the past three hundred years, the cultivation technique was etched deep into his soul.
With such a foundation, resuming cultivation was naturally not a difficult task.
Before long, he entered a state of selflessness, and a white glow began to swirl around him again.
Xuan Mo bowed slightly and walked lightly out of the cave.
Meanwhile…
The disciples of the Mystic Spirit Holy Sect had arrived at Jade Spirit Mountain.
The moment they stepped onto its territory, Chu Tian’s expression turned serious.
“Be cautious. If anything seems off, stop immediately,” he said in a low voice, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding rocks.
Strange rock formations stretched ahead, creating bizarre patterns.
They seemed naturally formed, yet oddly arranged, almost as if placed deliberately.
From the direction of the demonic cave, eerie cries and howls echoed through the air.
The disciples instinctively slowed their pace, huddling closer together.
Despite their fear, Chu Tian remained unwilling to back down.
Previously, he had requested the Sect Master’s permission to explore Jade Spirit Mountain but was denied, citing poor timing.
Now that he had been officially assigned to this task, he could openly investigate.
This was not just a responsibility—it was an honor.
If he made any discoveries, his standing in the sect would surely rise.
Thinking of this, the smile on his face grew more confident.
Half an hour later…
“Master, wasn’t the demonic cave sealed by Lu Chen?”
“It’s said that even those with cultivation cannot enter easily. Why have we encountered no obstacles?”
“Could the rumors be true?”
Leading the group was Chu Tian’s top disciple, Xiao Yunhe.
As the path ahead grew smoother and their initial fear faded, his courage increased.
Chu Tian also found the situation strange. A doubt crept into his heart.
Was he scaring himself unnecessarily?
Was Jade Spirit Mountain not as terrifying as the rumors suggested?
Otherwise, why had they walked for so long without encountering anything unusual?
Not only had they found no trace of Lu Chen, but even the demonic creatures were absent.
Could it be that the three-hundred-year-long seal had merely been a ruse?
If that were the case, Lu Chen must be unimaginably wealthy by now…
Chu Tian shook his head firmly, dismissing the thought.
“Enough nonsense. Stay vigilant. We must uncover the truth behind this disturbance.”
Hearing their master’s scolding, Xiao Yunhe quickly changed the subject.
“Master, Lu Chen is completely powerless now. He shouldn’t have been able to travel so quickly. Could he not have arrived at Jade Spirit Mountain yet?”
At this, several disciples chimed in.
“That’s right, Elder. We’ve been staring so hard our eyes are about to pop out, but we’ve seen no trace of him!”
“Wild beasts often roam these mountains. Could Lu Chen have met an unfortunate end?”
“It’s possible. He’s defenseless now. If he encountered a beast, he wouldn’t stand a chance.”
Chu Tian listened absentmindedly, neither responding nor stopping their speculation.
These disciples were his trusted followers, so he remained relaxed in their presence.
To him, Lu Chen’s survival was unimportant. What mattered was the terrain.
Becoming familiar with it would save them effort on future visits.
Of course, if they stumbled upon any treasures, that would be an unexpected bonus.
Seeing that their master was unconcerned, the disciples grew bolder.
The Lu Chen they spoke of had long ceased to resemble the great contributor of the Mystic Spirit Holy Sect.
Suddenly, Xiao Yunhe let out a sharp cry.
“Wait!”
“Everyone, be careful! There’s movement!”
By now, dusk had settled, and the towering peaks had completely blocked out the setting sun.
It was still too early to light torches, but the surroundings were growing hazy.
At Xiao Yunhe’s shout, everyone shivered involuntarily.
Even Chu Tian furrowed his brows tightly.
“What’s the matter? Why are you shouting?”
“Master, just now… something flashed past!”
Xiao Yunhe stammered as he spoke, gulping hard.
Chu Tian’s heart skipped a beat.
Something flashed past?
Why hadn’t he noticed anything?
Could it be… that the demonic creatures were emerging now that the sun was setting?
He didn’t turn around, but a faint rustling reached his ears.
Many disciples had already drawn their swords, though their feet instinctively retreated.
“Stop being paranoid. Move forward.”
“Master! I swear I saw something! It flashed again!”
Xiao Yunhe’s legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground, trembling violently.
“What did you see?”
Chu Tian clenched his jaw, resisting the urge to slap him.
No one else had seen anything—only Xiao Yunhe was acting like this!
“I… I didn’t see it clearly, but it was a large black shadow! It had glowing green eyes, and then… it vanished!”
A chill ran down the disciples’ spines as they imagined some monstrous creature lurking nearby.
Gritting his teeth, Chu Tian stepped forward with his sword.
He was about to dismiss their fears when suddenly—something really did flash past his vision!
“S-Save me! There’s a ghost!”
“Elder, let’s retreat! Those green eyes are terrifying!”
Chu Tian steadied himself and roared, “Why are you panicking? Attack!”
But just as his words fell—
A bloodcurdling scream pierced the air!
A disciple plummeted from mid-air, his body… torn into four pieces!