Within the orange glow, visibility was clear.
Outside, absolute darkness pressed in.
Lin Feng sensed the dense, potent earth-attribute spiritual energy radiating from the barrier. This power actively pushed the surrounding earth and stone away. Like a bubble gliding effortlessly through water.
The artifact in the Swordsman's right hand was unmistakably a rare Earth Escape Treasure.
Far superior to Lin Feng's disposable Tier-3 Earth Escape Talisman.
Such artifacts were never mere Magical or Precious implements.
At minimum, a Low-Grade Spiritual Artifact.
Seeing the Swordsman's intense concentration, Lin Feng swallowed his questions. Distraction now was unthinkable.
His own body screamed protest with every breath.
He retrieved a Blood-Clotting Pill, swallowed it, and focused on circulating his true essence, desperately mending broken flesh and bruised meridians.
Sometime later, the agonizing edge dulled.
Lin Feng opened his eyes as ambient light replaced the orange glow.
They occupied a roughly ten-meter-wide circular chamber.
The now-familiar radiant white light permeated the space, emanating from below.
"Huh? We're back here?"
Recognition dawned.
The Vine-Tailed Ape's nest. The very spot where he'd begun his desperate dig.
Hundreds of meters above the serpent's lair.
"Brother Lin, how fare you? The injuries?"
The Swordsman's voice, laced with concern, broke the silence.
Lin Feng turned. He clasped his fists formally, his expression grave and voice thick with sincerity.
"Manageable, thanks to you. Brother Swordsman… this life-saving grace… Lin Feng will never forget it."
No artifice. Pure, profound gratitude. Without that timely intervention, he'd be paste on the cavern wall.
"Heh, say no more…" The Swordsman grinned, waving a dismissive hand. "We crossed paths, didn't we? Couldn't just watch you get squashed. Think nothing of it."
His nonchalance didn't lessen the debt. Lin Feng pressed, his voice firm.
"Regardless, this debt is etched in my heart. Should the chance arise, I will repay it. From this moment, Brother Swordsman, you are my friend. If ever you need aid, speak the word. If it lies within my power, I will not refuse."
His prior wariness toward the enigmatic wanderer evaporated. Replaced by genuine respect.
In the ruthless world of cultivation, saving a near-stranger was vanishingly rare. Such a person was worth befriending.
The Swordsman feigned hurt, eyebrows raised dramatically.
"Ho? So before this, Brother Lin didn't count me as a friend?"
"Uh…" Lin Feng froze, momentarily flustered.
"Hahaha!! Just teasing!" The Swordsman's laugh boomed in the chamber. "Good!! Since Brother Lin says it, then friends we are! Let's look out for each other!"
"Let's look out for each other."
Lin Feng nodded, the formalities settled. Now, the pressing questions surfaced.
"But tell me… why are you here? Were you following us all along? How did you evade the Divine Sense of a Golden Core mid-stage cultivator and a Tier-4 beast?"
"Credit goes to my little helper, not me." The Swordsman chuckled, a hint of pride in his tone. He extended his right hand, revealing the artifact he'd been clutching.
"This is my most prized treasure. One of its powers is Earth Escape. And while underground, as long as I suppress my own aura… it masks my presence remarkably well. Makes detection… tricky."
Lin Feng finally saw it clearly: a palm-sized, exquisitely crafted pagoda. Seven distinct tiers, each meticulously detailed. It pulsed with a soft, steady orange light.
The Swordsman offered no further details, but the implications were staggering. Earth Escape and profound stealth? This artifact was far more potent than he'd initially guessed.
'One of its powers'… implying others?
His earlier estimation of a Low-Grade Spiritual Artifact felt woefully inadequate.
As Lin Feng marveled, the Swordsman continued.
"As for why I'm here… as I said, I followed the Loong family."
"Loong family?" Lin Feng blinked, then connected the dots. "The seven? Ah! This is that 'useful secret' you mentioned?"
"Exactly." The Swordsman nodded. "The Loong clan ranks among Star City's top four families. Several Golden Core elders in residence. I learned recently… about two months back… a few of their spoiled young masters and mistresses got their hands on a 'treasure map.' Bragged about it. Then, they came to Python Mountain 'treasure hunting.'"
He snorted derisively.
"Found no treasure. Just death. Worse? Not by beast. They were ambushed and slaughtered by a bandit crew calling themselves the 'Thirteen Tyrants of Star City.' The Loong clan issued a hefty bounty afterward… but the killers slipped the net."
His expression turned thoughtful.
"Ordinary gossip. But when this Phenomenon over Python Mountain started… it clicked. A possible link. So, I kept tabs on the Loong family movements these past few days. They weren't searching blindly. They focused on one specific area. Ignored everywhere else. That screamed 'inside knowledge' to me. So… I shadowed them these last two nights. Hoping to… well, benefit from their lead."
A wry smile touched his lips.
"Seems I guessed right. Tonight, the Phenomenon flared, pinpointing the location. The Loong group was closest. Got there first, found the cave entrance… and you know the rest."
He fixed Lin Feng with a curious stare.
"What baffles me, Brother Lin… is why you were down there?"
"..."
Lin Feng stared, processing the bizarre coincidence. After a moment, his expression turned utterly peculiar.
"To… to be entirely honest… I'm here because of a treasure map. A map I obtained… from a group calling themselves the 'Thirteen Tyrants of Star City'..."
"WHAT??" The Swordsman's jaw dropped. "That… that's impossible coincidence! You took the map from the Tyrants?!"
"This one." Lin Feng retrieved the ancient leather scroll and handed it over. "The 'treasure' marked… it must be that Spirit Spring Pool below."
"No doubt!" The Swordsman scrutinized the map, his eyes sharp. After a moment, he sighed heavily. "So… someone did know of the Spirit Spring's existence long ago. Left this map… though perhaps the creator only witnessed the Phenomenon ages past, not knowing it was a Spirit Spring. Strange they never retrieved it..."
"Haaah..."
Lin Feng exhaled, flexing his limbs experimentally. The pain had receded significantly. The incredibly dense ambient spiritual energy had accelerated his healing remarkably.
He took the map back from the Swordsman and stored it securely. His gaze drifted to the dark pit leading back down. A frown creased his brow.
"The Spirit Spring's value is beyond measure… but guarded by a Tier-4 Ice-Eye Serpent? Our chances seem… nonexistent. And this place will soon be swarming. Brother Swordsman, what's your counsel? Should we withdraw?"
"A Tier-4 beast… truly troublesome…"
The Swordsman mirrored Lin Feng's frown, deep in thought. Then, a spark ignited in his eyes. He met Lin Feng's gaze directly, a challenging intensity there.
"But… it's a Spirit Spring, Brother Lin. A treasure like this… abandoned without even trying? Can you truly bear to walk away?"