Chapter One Hundred Eighteen: The Strange Spirit

Chapter 118: Strange Spirits

Deep within the abyss, where cold waves ripple and shadows stretch, a peculiar cavern hides ancient treasures.

Ye Hua stood cautiously at the edge of the deep pit, wary of jumping in blindly. After observing for some time without finding any clues, he made up his mind. His Red Crow Dagger erupted in a brilliant silver glow, and with a flick of his wrist, he sent a surge of sword energy plunging into the depths. A resounding "clang" echoed through the cavern, sending stone chips flying. The thunderous reverberations lasted for a long while before silence finally returned.

Ye Hua stared intently, but beyond the echoes, there was nothing unusual. He frowned slightly, thinking to himself, "What mystery lies in this hole? Must I descend to investigate?" As he pondered, he caught sight of something protruding from the ground near the edge of the pit. It was about four or five feet long, covered in a layer of black frost, with only a small patch of white visible at one end.

"What is this?" Ye Hua flicked his Red Crow Dagger again. It hovered above the object, emitting beams of light that peeled away the black frost like layers of a cocoon. After a moment, a translucent white stone was revealed, shimmering with a milky, vibrant luster. It was clearly no ordinary object.

Ye Hua was overjoyed and just as he prepared to channel his energy to retrieve it, he heard a strange, shrill whistling rising from the bottom of the pit, echoing from far and near. "Oh no!" he thought. "The frost-laden storm is returning! I cannot withstand it!" Abandoning the white stone, he retreated in haste.

Hardly had he steadied himself when the cavern erupted with the roar of wind and thunder. Within the violet gloom, swirling black frost surged out once more—barely an hour after the last time. As the black haze thickened above the hole and the temperature plummeted, Ye Hua shivered uncontrollably. He forced himself to endure, seeking shelter in a wind-shielded nook to wait for the storm to pass.

Time slipped away, but the gale and haze continued to rise and fall, never truly ceasing. Growing restless, Ye Hua decided to leave and return later. He bypassed the black hole and moved forward.

Although the abyss was vast, it had its limits. After walking for several miles, a sheer, towering stone wall blocked his path. He sent his Red Crow Dagger spiraling out, illuminating the surroundings. He saw that the wall met the opposite cliff face, arching overhead like a dome.

Ye Hua nodded to himself, thinking, "This must be the end of the abyss. I must search carefully for a way out." He examined the wall for a long time, but found nothing unusual. Disappointed, he walked along the wall toward the other side of the stream, hoping for an exit there.

The stream was less than a hundred feet wide. Ordinarily, he would have crossed it in a flash by flying on his sword, but now, he dared not. He had to wade along the rocky bank, listening to the rhythmic dripping of spring water and the faint lapping of the stream, which only deepened the oppressive silence of the abyss.

After searching the other side for a long time with no success, he let out a frustrated sigh. Exhausted, he sat upon a boulder, watching the ripples on the water. For some reason, his thoughts drifted to his home by Mirror Lake—the scorching summers, the shaded willow trees, and his childhood friends. How were his parents? Were they healthy? He wished them peace and happiness. If life could always be like that, it would be far happier than the path of an immortal seeker. But why, he wondered, was he so obsessed with cultivating the Tao?

Lost in thought, he felt a wave of confusion. "And what of Senior Sister Ling Yun'er? In the cave on Mount Luofeng, she risked her life to deflect the beast Pixiu’s strike for me. I would willingly be shattered to pieces for her... I wonder how she fares in Cold City? Is she there, pointing out the scenery and whispering with Senior Brother Xiao?"

A pang of sorrow pierced his heart. "It is no wonder... Senior Brother Xiao is so dashing and talented, how could I ever compare?"

Gazing into the pool, a thousand thoughts crowded Ye Hua’s mind—his parents, the scenery of Bishan Temple, and the fierce battle against the old man in black at Yuxiang Gorge. As he faced death while blocking the Shura Bead, what had he been thinking? That Mandarava flower had not been seen for a long time; it must have withered. Who had placed it in his robes? Was it Senior Sister Li Ruolan? Or perhaps Li Ningyue?

"And I heard from Senior Brother Li Yulin that Li Ningyue helped me along the way, saving my life. If that is true, I owe her a debt I can never repay..."

He did not know how long he had been sitting there when he suddenly jolted awake. "Why am I thinking of so many things today? My thoughts are so chaotic! Is my end approaching? Am I to perish here?"

It was no wonder he felt this way. Since beginning his cultivation at Bishan Temple, he had never faced such a desperate situation. Even in his previous encounters—with the Fire God, saving the Golden Eagle, or fighting the old man in black—he had survived through narrow escapes. But today, he felt truly helpless, as if waiting for death.

He stood up, dazed for a moment, and retraced his steps. After half an hour, he saw the deep pit again. The wind and haze had vanished, and all was quiet. Overjoyed, he hurried to the edge and peered inside, but let out a soft exclamation of surprise. The translucent white stone had vanished.

Confused, he searched carefully, fearing the black frost had covered it again. Yet, despite his meticulous search, the stone was truly gone. "How strange," he muttered. "How could it just disappear?" Unable to find it, he gritted his teeth and decided to take the risk of descending into the cavern.

He leaped down, landing at the bottom. Though the cold storm had subsided, and despite the spiritual medicines he had taken and his cultivation of the Great Brightness Body, he still shivered violently, unable to endure the biting chill.

He scanned his surroundings. The pit was narrow, with black stone walls just a few yards away. As he searched, a flash of yellow light flickered on the wall. Startled, he turned toward it. Near the hole where the black haze gathered, he saw the yellow light recede. Two white shadows emerged, floating and drifting until they stood still. They looked like paper effigies, about a foot tall, humanoid yet not human, enveloped in white mist and chilling vapor. They began to drift toward him. Before Ye Hua could react, the two figures opened their mouths and exhaled a stream of white air.

Ye Hua felt the icy breath hit his face, causing his hair to stand on end. Terrified, he swung his long sword without thinking. A crimson glow swept over them, and the mist dissipated, revealing faces pale as ashes, with blurred features.

In the dark of the mountains, seeing such grotesque spirits made even the brave Ye Hua jump. The two white figures moved slowly, drifting without taking steps. As he wondered if they were mountain ghouls, the pair suddenly let out a metallic clatter and swung their arms. The air surged as they surrounded him.

Feeling the biting cold, Ye Hua struck out with his sword. One of the creatures slammed its arms against the blade with a resounding "clang," knocking it aside. "Their strength is truly astonishing!" Ye Hua thought. He flipped his sword, unleashing dozens of lightning sparks. With a crackle, the Red Crow Dagger transformed into a silver streak, carrying the immense power of thunder as it slashed toward the two white spirits.