Chapter 153: Battle in the Bat Cave (1)

The two of them frowned simultaneously upon entering the bat cave, discovering that the ashes at the entrance had been swept clean. These ashes were left behind months ago when the Miao tribesmen had tried to smoke them out by burning material outside the cave. Bats would never sweep away ashes, and during their last visit, the three of them had deliberately avoided disturbing the dust here.

This clearly indicated that someone had been here. They could not venture further inside because they were unsure if anyone was currently present. Turning back, they exited the cave to report the situation to the others, causing everyone to frown in concern.

"Let's all go inside and investigate. You mentioned there is a blood pool here, so we might as well take this opportunity to check it out!" Yuan Tingyu said with a nod. Without further ado, he bent down and stepped into the cave.

No sooner had Yuan Tingyu entered the bat cave than his brow furrowed deeply once again. "There is a formation set up inside!"

"A formation? How come I wasn't aware of it, nor was Brother Yi? What kind of formation is it?" Mu Chen asked with a frown.

"A Yin-gathering formation. No wonder there are no birds in these mountains; in such an ominous place, the birds would have long since fled," Yuan Tingyu replied grimly.

"A Yin-gathering formation? Oh no, those Miao tribesmen must have already started their ritual inside this bat cave!" Zhou Yi's heart skipped a beat upon hearing Yuan Tingyu's words, as he was well familiar with the Yin-gathering formation.

This Yin-gathering formation was a technique passed down by the Master of Tongtian to his disciples among the demon cultivators. While the cultivation methods of the Jie Sect emphasized rapid advancement, demon cultivators were incapable of gathering Qi through incantations alone. Therefore, the Master of Tongtian had devised this set of Yin-gathering formations specifically for demon cultivators to use.

Disciples of the Jie Sect had vanished from the mortal realm long after the Yin-Shang dynasty; how could a Yin-gathering formation reappear here? Could there be a Jie Sect practitioner inside the cave? Since this formation was meant to gather Yin Qi, Zhou Yi immediately realized that the Miao tribesmen must be casting spells to transform a corpse into a fierce Drought Demon!

As the group moved forward, Zhou Yi kept turning things over in his mind. The Miao tribesmen had deployed two sets of formations so far: the first was the Five Elements Mountain-Hiding Formation set up in the forest—though it was called the Five Elements Mountain-Hiding Formation in Mount Mao, its true name among the Miao remained unknown. And now, they encountered the Yin-gathering formation. While the Miao were most renowned for their sorcery and venomous Gu poisons, when had they also become so proficient in formations? Could it be that the Miao tribesmen had outside help?

Unable to come up with a logical explanation, he could only warn everyone to remain vigilant. Reaching the spot covered in bat guano, Zhou Yi uncovered yet another troubling anomaly: the surface crust of the droppings on the ground was completely dry and hardened, indicating that no bats had dropped fresh waste here for quite some time. Where were the bats? Where had they gone?

They had originally come here hoping to find the bats to enlist their help in tracking down the Miao tribesmen, but now, the Miao tribesmen were right here inside the bat cave, and the bats were nowhere to be found!

"The Miao people are right inside. Everyone, be careful!" Zhou Yi warned the group once again.

Just at that moment, a ferocious roar echoed from the depths of the bat cave, so intense that everyone's heads buzzed and their eardrums ached painfully.

"Not good, that corpse is about to evolve!" Having said that, Yuan Tingyu could no longer hesitate and strode swiftly toward the depths of the cave. He was followed closely by Mingyu and Jiechen of the Shaolin Temple, leaving Zhou Yi and Mu Chen bringing up the rear.

Reaching the depths of the cave, the scene before them stunned everyone all over again. Soaked in the blood pool was none was than the corpse from the lands of Zhuolu. At this moment, the black hair on the corpse's body had fallen out to the point where only a few strands remained. Once all the black hair shed completely, the corpse would sprout wings and transform into a dreaded Drought Demon.

By the edge of the blood pool stood ninety-nine Miao tribesmen, each holding an infant in their arms. They were all staring intently at the corpse in the blood pool, awaiting the miraculous spectacle of a flying corpse turning into a Drought Demon.

Suspended in mid-air directly above the blood pool sat a man of about forty years old, dressed as a Taoist priest. He wore a long robe with his hair tied into a topknot, possessed a chin beard a full foot long, held hand seals with his right hand, and carried a horsetail whisk in his left. Swirled in purple spiritual energy from head to toe, it was obvious without asking that he possessed cultivation at the realm of dividing Yin and Yang.

Seated around this Taoist were four other individuals, all dressed in Miao attire. The patterns embroidered on the backs of their garments revealed their identities—they were none of the four great elders of the Miao border representing the Sun, Moon, Stars, and Constellations.

"This seat originally had no wish to make things difficult for you, but to think you are all courting death by seeking out this place!" the Taoist declared.

"Who are you, and why are you helping these Miao tribesmen commit acts that violate heavenly principles?" Yuan Tingyu asked with a deep frown.

"The Sava Miao Tribe once saved my life. I promised them three favors, and this final one is to resurrect the ancient demon king Chiyou!" the Taoist said, lowering his eyelids.

Hearing the Taoist refer to himself as "this seat," Yuan Tingyu mentally searched through the names of all renowned figures in the Central Plains, yet he simply could not recall who this Taoist might be.

"Infinite Life and Boundless Heavenly Venerate! Yuan Tingyu, Patriarch of Mount Mao, pays his respects! May I ask for the Taoist name and background of my fellow cultivator?" Yuan Tingyu performed a peer-to-peer Taoist salute and asked.

"This seat belongs to the lineage of Tongtian!" The Taoist merely gave a slight nod in acknowledgment and did not return the courtesy. Although the Jie Sect had long since declined, its pride remained unyielding.

"Which senior immortal under the Master of Tongtian are you?" Yuan Tingyu hurriedly pressed.

"My secular surname is Gongyang, and my Taoist name is Lingfengzi. Since you already know my identity, it is not too late for you to leave now. Do not stay here and get in the way!" Gongyang Lingfeng waved his hand, attempting to drive them away.

While they were speaking, the corpse shed yet another strand of black hair. By now, the corpse's entire body was completely bald, save for four or five thick, coarse black hairs clinging stubbornly to the top of its head.

"Namo Amitabha! How can this old monk allow such an ominous creature to remain in this world?" While Yuan Tingyu respected Gongyang Lingfeng as a senior, Mingyu had no such reservations. In the martial world, Buddhism and Taoism maintained a mutual respect where faces were given to one another, but since Gongyang Lingfeng had driven them away unceremoniously, Mingyu no longer felt any need to show him courtesy.

With that, Mingyu brought his palms together in front of his chest. Remaining firmly planted in place, his figure slowly grew translucent. By the time his phantom image completely vanished, Mingyu was already locked in fierce combat with the corpse right inside the blood pool!

The four great elders of the Sun, Moon, Stars, and Constellations could never allow Mingyu to ruin their grand scheme, and all of them stood up to aid the corpse. As the four elders moved into action, Jiechen and his two junior martial brothers also stepped forward to assist Mingyu. A full-scale battle erupted instantly.

Yuan Tingyu exchanged a nod with Muyang and Mufeng, whereupon the two of them also went to join the fray.

The group of Miao tribesmen saw that battle had broken out, yet none dared to step forward to help, because the infants cradled in their arms were just as crucial as the corpse itself. Zhou Yi carefully scrutinized the infants held by the Miao tribesmen. After searching for a long time without spotting Zhou Danjiang, he exchanged a glance with Mu Chen, and without a word, both charged simultaneously toward the Miao tribesmen.

"The Profound Ming Qi Technique?" Just as Zhou Yi's movement technique shifted, Gongyang Lingfeng let out a cry of surprise, evidently recognizing that the technique Zhou Yi employed had been passed down by Lu Ya.

"Haha, it actually is the Profound Ming Qi Technique! Lu Ya, it is finally time to settle the score for that sword strike!" With those words, Gongyang Lingfeng dismissed his hand seals, and the horsetail whisk in his grip lashed out with lightning speed.

Yuan Tingyu had originally wished to avoid conflict with Gongyang Lingfeng, but since the latter had initiated the attack, he had no choice but to fight back. "What kind of honor is there in bullying the younger generation? Allow this poor Taoist to experience the supreme marvelous techniques of our fellow Daoist from the Jie Sect!"

Yuan Tingyu rushed forward to meet him head-on, and the battle across the entire bat cave escalated into full chaos.

Zhou Yi was still searching for Zhou Danjiang's whereabouts. Failing to find him, he instead caught sight of the Bat King. At that moment, the Bat King was poking its little head out to peer at Zhou Yi. Discovering the Bat King filled Zhou Yi with a surge of ecstatic surprise...