Taoist Yuan He’s Sword Control Skill might look cool and impressive, and Taoist Yan Qi’s Earth Escape Technique might seem wondrously versatile, but in a real fight, the strongest of the newcomers was actually Taoist Jing Chun. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

First of all, Daluo Palace had no shortage of Incense. As soon as he joined, he was able to form a Wind and Thunder Prison.

Second, Taoist Jing Feng had been down the mountain Exorcising Demons and Evil Spirits. His own Hell had long held a number of fierce gods and Evil Ghosts, which he conveniently handed over to Taoist Jing Chun. This directly supplied him with eight powerful Ghost Generals for his Wind and Thunder Prison.

With just a thought, Taoist Jing Chun could lay down his Wind and Thunder Hell and summon eight Divine Prison Ghost Generals. Against that, both Taoist Yuan He and Taoist Yan Qi could only face defeat.

Yunyang clicked his tongue. "This is the difference between having connections and having none."

Gu Zhao nodded and asked Yunyang, "Did you prepare anything for Martial Uncle Jing Fa?"

Yunyang looked perfectly self-righteous. "Didn’t I already introduce him to Daluo Palace?"

That pair, the Dragon Gate’s Double Assassins—Taoist Jing Fa and Taoist Jing Hong—were still down the mountain Exorcising Demons and Evil Spirits. Just like Taoist Yu Zhang, they had never even been up the mountain.

Gu Zhao glanced at Taoist Qingwei, then at Taoist Yuan He and his disciple, and finally at Taoist Jing Chun. ’Looks like these guys will also be staying down the mountain for the long haul,’ he thought.

"By the way, have we still not found those old Ghosts that came over from Shide Prefecture?" Yunyang asked.

"Martial Uncle Yu Zhang killed one Evil Ghost, and I dealt with the Mirage Maiden at Bishui Palace. There should be three others, but they haven’t been seen since," Gu Zhao nodded. "Apart from them, we’ve eliminated some of the small fry who fled here, but the ringleaders are still missing."

Gu Zhao looked at Yunyang. "Why the sudden interest?"

Yunyang said thoughtfully, "I was passing through Changye County the day before yesterday and went by Stone King Cave. Something felt... different about it. But when I took a quick look, it still seemed like a ruin, so I didn’t think much of it and just came back."

Gu Zhao raised an eyebrow. "You should have trusted your gut."

Yunyang nodded, his eyes glinting. "Whatever could hide from my senses is definitely no Little Demon or Monster."

Gu Zhao thought for a moment. "Stone King Cave itself isn’t special, but deep in the mountains behind it, there’s a place teeming with Yin Evil. It’s difficult for ordinary people to reach, but for someone who practices an Yin Evil Skill, it’s a rare sanctuary for cultivation and recovery."

Yunyang’s eyes lit up. "Let’s call a few of the martial uncles and surround them!"

Gu Zhao couldn’t help but laugh. "It’s just an injured stray. You could probably handle it on your own."

Yunyang shook his head. "Still, they’re a powerful master. We should show them the proper respect."

"Fair point." Gu Zhao looked at the various Daoists, young and old, gathered there. "In that case, let’s all go join in on the fun."

...

「Changping Prefecture, Changye County, Stone King Cave.」

The last time they came to Stone King Cave, Taoist Yan Song had only just broken through to five hundred years of Dao Practice. Back then, Daluo Palace only had four Elders: Taoist Yan Song, Taoist Yi Hong, Taoist Ming Yu, and Yunyang.

This time, as they returned to Stone King Cave, Gu Zhao took the lead with Yunyang behind him. Taoist Yan Song and Taoist Jing Feng guarded their flanks, accompanied by Taoist Qingyuan and Taoist Shen Hao. A group of six participated in the main operation: Taoist Qingwei, Taoist Yan Qi, Taoist Jing Chun, Taoist Yuan He and his disciple, and Changyi.

The massive crowd of people looked like a small tour group out for a day trip.

Retracing their steps now, they couldn’t help but feel a wave of emotion.

"Ah, the difficult path we trod, the hardships of blazing a new trail!" Gu Zhao exclaimed with feeling.

Taoist Yan Song and Yunyang were both speechless. ’It’s been less than a year,’ they thought. ’Those few battles weren’t even that dangerous, and we had modern logistics supporting us. How could you possibly call that ’blazing a new trail’?’

As they reached the outskirts of Stone King Cave, the group came to a halt.

Taoist Jing Feng’s eyebrow twitched. "There’s Yin Qi!"

He cultivated the Beiyin Fengdu Technique, making him exceptionally sensitive to Yin Qi and Ghosts. Even with just a faint, almost unnoticeable trace in the air—one that even Taoist Yan Song would struggle to identify as natural or from a Ghost—Taoist Jing Feng could tell the difference with certainty.

Taoist Yan Song couldn’t help but smile. "A sharp sense. This Stone King Cave is indeed a treasure for cultivation."

The group continued up the mountain. The scenery was unchanged: a mess of rocks and overgrown grass. Because of the evil beings that had once haunted the place, local legends kept ordinary people away. As a result, the mountain path was choked with weeds, and the area looked completely deserted.

But none of them were ordinary mortals. They could discern subtle clues that indicated recent activity—not from wild animals, but from people.

When they reached Stone King Cave, it still looked completely abandoned.

Yunyang said, "I went inside and looked around before. I didn’t find anything."

The group walked into the cave. Sure enough, the inside was just as it had been left: tilted tables and chairs, scattered and broken objects. It looked as though no one had set foot in here since their battle all that time ago.

Taoist Qingwei examined a table that had been sliced cleanly in two. He traced the cut with his finger, then nodded.

Taoist Yan Qi glanced at the scorched marks and scattered ash, recognizing it as the handiwork of one of his martial brothers.

Taoist Yuan He looked around and frowned. "There were some tracks outside, but I see nothing in here. Could they be hiding somewhere else nearby?"

Taoist Jing Chun asked, "Didn’t someone say there was a place of Yin Evil nearby, a remnant of an old battlefield?"

Yunyang shook his head. "I checked there too. Nothing."

Taoist Jing Feng’s eyes narrowed. He strode forward, quickly turning into another stone passageway that led to a remote chamber.

"Here..." The expressions of the group shifted.

Taoist Jing Feng pointed a finger, channeling a wisp of Yin Qi into a long-extinguished lamp sconce on the stone wall.

The next moment, a portal opened silently on the opposite wall. A blast of Yin Evil Qi rushed out, laced with a chilling malevolence. Changyi and Yangshuo, having the lowest Cultivation levels, couldn’t help but shiver.

"Let’s go." Taoist Jing Feng radiated Beiyin True Qi, pushing back the wave of chilling energy. He then took the lead, stepping into the passage first.

The others followed Taoist Jing Feng, entering one by one.

It was a pitch-black tunnel that gradually sloped downward. But since everyone present could see in the dark, the conditions inside were clear to them.

"This is pretty exciting," Changyi whispered. "It feels a bit like an escape room."

Yangshuo paused, then shook his head. "I’ve never done one."

"There are a ton in Yangcheng. We should go together next time," Changyi replied.

Yangshuo was silent for a moment. "Are you serious?"

Changyi smiled. "A good balance of work and rest. We can just treat it as a way to relax."

Yangshuo thought about it, then finally nodded. "Okay."

Yunyang drifted back to join them. "Count me in."

Gu Zhao sidled up to them as well. "I’ll bring a couple of girls."

The three were rendered speechless.

Just then, from deep within the tunnel, someone seemed to sense Taoist Jing Feng’s Beiyin True Qi. A low voice called out, "Who goes there?"

At the same time, another person sensed the rest of the group in the tunnel and let out a sinister cackle. "He carries Yin Qi, and he’s brought a bunch of mortals with him. Looks like we have a Mage who cultivates Yin Qi and practices Soul-Devouring and Soul-Refining. He must have stumbled upon our secret."

A third person also laughed, his voice shrill. "Perfect. Just in time for us to have a feast."