Chapter 99: A Search Inside a Cave

The queen bee rose into the air. As it stretched its body, its form grew to a length approximately the size of a human. Its wings quivered intensely, releasing a resonant buzz that echoed like distant thunder.

With her sudden ascent, a flurry of bees, both inside and outside the cave, responded in unison, swirling in a chaotic dance. Previously, they had retained some sense of intelligence and knew to avoid Chu Liang. However, as soon as the queen bee started the summoning call, they completely cast away the concept of life and death!

Without a word, the queen bee aimed to take his life upon their first meeting!

Chu Liang found himself surrounded by a swarm of bees in the cave. In the past, he might have been troubled by such a situation. However, with the addition of a few divine skills and an increase in his cultivation level, he faced this situation without any fear.

With a wave of his flying sword, it transformed into over a hundred sword lights, filling the cave with dazzling light and forming a protective barrier around him!

Chu Liang divided his divine consciousness, creating dozens of sword lights to protect himself and prevent the bees from getting close. Simultaneously, he directed dozens of sword lights with precise finger movements, forming an attacking formation against the queen bee.

The sound of clashing metal echoed continuously, as the queen bee's body proved to be harder than iron and stone. The flying sword relentlessly struck against it.

Sigh.

Chu Liang let out a sigh. His control of the flying swords was still not skilled enough. In the face of more formidable adversaries, each strike birthed sparks that scattered like fleeting stars.

Yet, he remained unfazed as he had other tricks up his sleeve.

However, the Queen Bee did not wait for his next move. With a piercing scream, she immediately launched a counterattack.

A black arrow hissed through the air!

Sensing the danger, Chu Liang swiftly evaded by leaping backward.

The black arrow dispersed in the air, revealing a black liquid that rained down like droplets, covering the sky and leaving no avenue of escape.

If Chu Liang had the green leaf enchanted tool, he would not have been afraid of such random attacks. However, with the green leaf gone, Chu Liang had to think quickly on his feet.

He combined the hundred sword lights into a single, circular sword light shield!

Sss—

As the black liquid fell on the shield made of sword light, a strong corrosive sound emitted, dissolving even a few holes in the sword light shield.

The queen bee completely disregarded the fact that the cave was filled with its own subjects. The black liquid fell on the swarm of bees, instantly killing a large number of its own venomous bees.

She was indeed ruthless.

Without any hesitation, she wounded and attacked her teammates.

As Chu Liang pondered, he formed a seal with his fingers. As soon as his fingers changed, the hundred swords converged and morphed into a flying sword. The flying sword slashed through the air.

As Chu Liang pointed to the front, the sword instantly drew two talismanic characters of silver light.

Dual Talismanic Sword of Ice and Fire

Whoosh!

The long sword, imbued with both frost and flame, fiercely collided with the queen bee's body.

Upon first contact, the sword struggled to break through the defense.

However, as the formidable penetrating power of the Dual Talismanic Sword of Ice and Fire manifested, the long sword swiftly pierced through the queen bee's body, impaling the creature in the cave.

"

Eek—

" The queen bee screeched twice.

It trembled for a while before it finally lost all signs of life.

A golden mark floated out.

Upon the death of the queen bee, the swarm immediately lost its sense of direction. With a thunderous sound, they dispersed, and the cave appeared to clear as if a dark cloud had lifted.

Chu Liang then sheathed his sword, exhaling a sigh of relief.

...

After resting for a bit, he calmed down and started expanding the scope of his divine consciousness again to observe this cave.

He then realized that it was just a normal cave. The only peculiar thing about this cave was the golden skeleton in a seated posture.

By gnawing on this skeleton, the queen bee and the countless poisonous bees in the valley gained extraordinary sentience.

It was no wonder that these venomous bees exhibited such aggressive behavior...

If they had been normal demonic creatures that followed a typical path of cultivation, they would have possessed basic intelligence and known to strive for gain while steering clear of harm. They wouldn't have acted like wild animals, attacking humans on sight.

These venomous bees had become demons by consuming human flesh!

At the same time, this also meant that the skeleton likely had possessed terrifying power during its lifetime, enabling it to elevate an entire species even after death.

To be able to cultivate a skeleton of gold, it had to be at least a cultivator at the sixth realm of cultivation, the Transcendence Realm.

Upon reaching the Transcendence Realm, one could reconstruct their body and achieve this type of abnormal transformation.

If this corpse possessed a spiritual nature of such magnitude, it was very likely that this was an Eminent One at the seventh realm or, at least, someone who had been very close to achieving the seventh realm.

However, why would the corpse of an Eminent One be abandoned in this unknown cave?

The cave was located very near to Mount Shu. Could this be an Eminent One who had been part of the Mount Shu Sect?

Chu Liang pondered as he started approaching.

He carefully examined the surroundings first. Upon finding nothing unusual in the vicinity, he then approached the skeleton.

Despite having existed for an unknown number of years, this corpse's bones still radiated a golden glow, revealing the presence of extraordinary spirituality.

Even though countless venomous bees had clung to it and spent days and night gnawing on its flesh, there was no noticeable damage on the skeleton.

The clothing and flesh might have been devoured by the venomous bees. If not, the remains of the corpse wouldn't have been so clean. However, there seemed to be nothing left of other belongings, which was a bit strange.

Would a cultivator of such a high level possess no personal treasures or weapons?

Upon closer inspection, Chu Liang noticed something unusual.

A dark golden scroll made of leather was stuck in the center of the skeleton.

The cave was dimly lit and the scroll shared a color resemblance with the skeleton.

If Chu Liang hadn't paid close attention, he wouldn't have noticed it.

𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"Senior, please forgive my disrespect."

Chu Liang gave a respectful bow before he extended his fingers and gently picked up the leather scroll. He carefully unfurled the scroll and found what appeared to be a drawing of a map or route.

The material of this scroll appeared to be a dark golden leather, though the exact type of leather remained uncertain.

Nonetheless, there was a clear tear at the top of the scroll. Additionally, based on its shape, it appeared to be a quarter of its original size.

Chu Liang contemplated the location where this scroll was stuck...

The deceased individual had likely swallowed the leather scroll before their death. When they died, their body remained here as a decaying corpse.

An item for which a powerful cultivator had employed such protective measures...

Chu Liang stared at the torn leather scroll in his hand and fell into deep thought.

Could this possibly be a map to some legendary treasure?

There was no written explanation, and he had no knowledge of the drawings on this scroll, let alone locating the other pieces.

He glanced left and right. After confirming that there was nothing else in the vicinity, Chu Liang stood up.

It just so happened that there was a hole created by one of his flying swords on the side. In a respectful manner, Chu Liang placed the golden skeleton in the hole and filled it up.

"Respected Senior, these venomous bees have disturbed your remains for many years, causing, I'm sure, much discomfort. As your junior cultivator, I hereby bury your body in the hope that your soul may rest in peace. Though I do not comprehend the drawing on the scroll, I will take it with me and give it a chance to be rediscovered by the world. I hope my actions do not offend you."

Chu Liang bowed respectfully before he walked out of this cave.

...

At this very moment...

On the Azure Falling Peak in Mount Shu...

On this very peak stood a tall silver tree, its branches reaching upward, winding and curving as if aspiring to reach the sky. It was named the Azure Falling Tree and the peak was named after this majestic tree.

A figure dressed in a flowing white gown ascended step by step. With each step, a white flower blossomed beneath her feet, as if she were a celestial being ascending to the heavens.

As she climbed all the way to the top of the tree, a woman, with her feathered robes flying in the wind, awaited her there. She stood against the wind as she gazed upon the sea of clouds.

The woman dressed in the feathered robes turned around, revealing the crown on her head and the serene expression on her face. Her age could not be determined by her appearance. In fact, there was a sense of divinity about her.

This woman was Daoist Yan, the peak master of the Azure Falling Peak. Many people in the realm of immortal cultivation might have heard of this name, but very few knew that Daoist Yan was a woman.

The figure ascending with each step on the floating flowers was a beautiful young lady. If Chu Liang had been here, he would have instantly recognized her as none other than Jiang Yuebai.

"Esteemed Teacher."

When Jiang Yuebai saw Daoist Yan, she gave a gentle bow.

"Back already?" The voice of the woman in the feathered robe drifted unpredictably with the wind.

She continued, "How was it?"

"I guess it went smoothly. There was no actual successor of the Divine Ruins Monastery," Jiang Yuebai answered. "They were merely junior disciples of the person who abandoned the Divine Ruins Monastery. They have no knowledge of the peculiarities and secrets of the Divine Ruins."

"Are you injured?" Daoist Yan asked again.

"I was a little impatient when I was chasing after them and fell into some ambushes," Jiang Yuebai said. "It's nothing serious."

"

Sigh...

" Daoist Yan sighed softly.

"Your mother came back from the Divine Ruins, only to leave again. Since then, your father has been searching for the location of the Divine Ruins, and no one has heard from him... You don't have to do this. Now that you're part of the Mount Shu Sect, why not focus solely on cultivation? The Divine Ruins Monastery is like a curse. Being too close to it will only bring misfortune..."

"But... I am already cursed." Jiang Yuebai said with a cold and determined expression, "This might be my destiny."

"Your father was a remarkable talent. He was a star. But now..." Daoist Yan stared at Jiang Yuebai with eyes filled with concern as she said, "I'm just worried you'll end up like him."

Jiang Yuebai stared back at her teacher with gentle yet determined eyes as she responded, "I...I can't escape it."