Chapter 379: An Unexpected Turn

Turning back for another look, Qin Sang found that the blood rain had completely vanished, as if everything they had just experienced had been a dream. In its place, countless profound runes floated silently in midair.

Clicking his tongue in wonder, he turned to face the dark cavern ahead.

The cave was eerily silent, its entrance just wide enough for a single person to pass through. Inside, it seemed to expand further, yet there was no overwhelming demonic qi, nor any lurking specters. Everything appeared normal.

𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Qin Sang shifted his gaze to the surrounding rock walls. The smooth stone surfaces shimmered with a faint luster, their dense texture akin to refined metal—unbelievably sturdy.

The entire mountain was covered by barriers, rendering earth-based evading methods ineffective and making brute force an impossible method of entry. The only way forward was to obediently pass through the cave.

However, something about this cave felt peculiar to Qin Sang.

It doesn't seem naturally formed. Was it carved open by an ancient powerhouse using immense power?

A chilling thought gripped him.

"Senior, once we pass through this cave, will we reach the inner valley?"

Wandering Man nodded, his gaze fixed on the depths of the cave as if searching for something. Then, with a wave of his hand, a streak of white light shot out from the cave and landed in his palm.

"No one else has been here."

Satisfied, he nodded and was about to step inside when he suddenly remembered something. Taking out a jade bottle, he tossed it to Qin Sang. "Keep this, Brother Qin."

Qin Sang caught the bottle and opened it. Inside were two dark green pills, each about the size of a longan fruit. Their surfaces were rough and uneven, as if coated in a layer of mud. Even stranger, a faint greenish mist wafted from them, filling the jade bottle.

Most healing or medicinal pills Qin Sang had encountered in the past varied in color but were always crystalline and translucent, exuding an air of preciousness. He had never seen pills that looked so eerie before.

Are these poisonous?

Suspicion flickered in his mind.

Opening the jade bottle slightly, he was immediately assaulted by an unbearable stench—so pungent it made his stomach churn. His expression twisted, and he quickly sealed the bottle.

Wandering Man laughed heartily. "Don’t judge this pill by its strange appearance, Brother Qin. Soon enough, we’ll need it to save our lives. Keep it with you, and take it when I give the signal."

Since Wandering Man wasn’t offering any further explanation, Qin Sang didn’t press him. From the scent alone, he could tell there was no actual poison in the pill; it must serve some other purpose.

Suppressing his curiosity, he gripped the jade bottle and followed Wandering Man into the cave.

Inside, absolute darkness reigned. Even with spiritual power enhancing his vision, Qin Sang could barely make out his surroundings. Yet Wandering Man made no move to light a fire, silently forging ahead.

It was clear that the passage sloped downward, becoming steeper as they progressed. Without Wandering Man’s command, Qin Sang dared not recklessly use his spiritual power and was forced to proceed on foot.

He had no idea how long they had been walking when Wandering Man suddenly came to an abrupt stop.

A moment later, Qin Sang heard Wandering Man's voice transmitting directly into his mind. "Brother Qin, the path ahead is treacherous. You must not use any spiritual power. Be extremely careful—do not slip. And when you see my hand signal, take the pill immediately."

Qin Sang stepped forward and looked ahead. To his right, the mountain wall remained intact. But on the left, the space had widened dramatically—so much so that he couldn’t see the other side.

The path hadn’t been severed, but it had narrowed significantly, leaving just enough room for a single footstep at a time.

The air ahead felt damp, suggesting the presence of a water pool below.

At the same time, Qin Sang noticed a faint green mist drifting in the air, carrying a subtle stench. It was identical to the scent of the pills in the jade bottle.

Seeing this, Qin Sang immediately formed a rough guess about their purpose.

With their backs pressed against the stone wall, the two of them carefully inched forward. The path remained steep, sloping downward as they moved. Though Qin Sang still didn’t hear any water flowing, the moisture in the air grew heavier with each step.

Moreover, the green mist thickened, its pungent stench becoming nearly unbearable.

Just then, Wandering Man abruptly halted.

Qin Sang found this strange. Turning slightly to the side, he saw Wandering Man staring ahead, his expression filled with uncertainty and wariness.

"Senior, is something wrong?"

Qin Sang’s heart sank. He immediately readied his artifacts and transmitted his voice over, seeking clarification.

Wandering Man hesitated for a moment before replying, "There’s no sound."

No sound?

Qin Sang wondered.

Isn’t that supposed to be a good thing?

Seeing his confusion, Wandering Man elaborated.

"This place was originally a nest of Star Venom Frogs. The green mist around us is the result of their breath."

"These venomous frogs possess an extremely potent toxin. Even a Core Formation Realm cultivator would be forced to retreat when facing a mature Star Venom Frog, as a single touch of their poison could be fatal."

"However, what’s quite peculiar is that there exists a type of ordinary venomous frog in the mortal world whose scent is almost identical to that of the Star Venom Frog."

"I collected some toxins from these common venomous frogs, mixed them with several pungent herbs, and refined them into pills. Once consumed, they will cause the user to emit the same scent. The effect lasts for about half an hour, making it nearly impossible to distinguish from the real thing."

"This way, we can deceive the Star Venom Frogs’ senses and pass through their territory undisturbed."

"But now, we’ve reached this point, yet we haven’t heard a single call from them. Could something have happened to the frog colony?"

Qin Sang peered ahead, but the thick green mist obscured everything. "Senior, the last time you were here, were the Star Venom Frogs constantly croaking?"

"That’s right!"

Wandering Man nodded. "Their calls are not too different from ordinary frogs, and you can hear them from a great distance."

"Do the Star Venom Frogs have a hibernation period?"

Qin Sang racked his brain for possibilities. "Other than the silence, has anything else changed? The mist, the scent—anything?"

"No, that’s why I find it so strange... But no matter! Brother Qin, take the pill now. We’ll find out soon enough once we go down."

Resolving himself, Wandering Man swallowed the pill and pressed forward.

Before long, Qin Sang noticed that the green mist had dissipated beneath their feet. Instead of a water pool, the ground ahead was actually a muddy swamp.

At this point, the stone path no longer sloped downward but extended straight ahead.

Moving cautiously along the edge of the swamp, both Qin Sang and Wandering Man remained on high alert.

They had barely taken a few steps when Qin Sang suddenly noticed something unusual within the depths of the green mist. Alarmed, he immediately stopped Wandering Man. "Senior, look over there! What is that?"

Wandering Man paused, then turned to where Qin Sang was pointing. Focusing his gaze, his expression abruptly darkened. Reaching into his Mustard Seed Pouch, he retrieved a thin, transparent thread and flicked his fingers.

The thread shot soundlessly into the mist and swiftly retracted, dragging something white back with it.

It was the corpse of a venomous frog!

The carcass was about the size of a palm.

The white part was its underbelly, while its back was a deep green, blending perfectly with the color of the mist. Its skin was covered in raised pustules, and with mud clinging to it, the sight was even more grotesque.

"It’s dead!"

Qin Sang pointed at the top of the frog’s head. A small, bloody hole had pierced cleanly through its skull, killing it in one precise strike.

"This is a juvenile Star Venom Frog."

Wandering Man’s face darkened. "It was slain with ease... and the most valuable poison sac has been taken."