After hearing Shen Ming's message, I stopped in my tracks. I had previously suspected it, but his confirmation made it certain.

I raised my sword up and struck the trembling ground, creating a 7 foot deep gap. Without wasting any time, I jumped in.

I wasn't willing to waste my teleportation talisman on something like this. A teleportation talisman alone was worth as much as all my other possessions combined. How could I waste such life saving equipment?

Thus, I dug the hole and jumped in.

The reason was simple. The light from the rusty lantern only reached the surface. By jumping in, not only could the light reach everywhere, but I also saved a teleportation talisman.

…

Outside the structure, space flickered as three figures materialised out of thin air: a handsome youth, a horned wolf, and another person atop it..

Simultaneously, they cast their gaze deep into the structure. The mountains stopped shuddering as the glimmering light seemed to reach all corners.

Xiao Yating couldn't help but frown. Where exactly did Zhao Fan go?

Though the insides were shrouded in black mist, it was still possible to see someone's figure. But Zhao Fan was nowhere to be seen. If he had used a teleportation talisman, shouldn't he have appeared near them? Where exactly did he teleport to?

When he turned his head, he met Shen Ming who had his eyes wide open. His expression wasn't that of worry, but that of a child driven by curiosity. He darted his scarlet eyes, seemingly staring at a giant chunk of ice in the distance.

Shen Ming knew where Zhao Fan was.

Previously, he had considered doing the same thing. But he refrained from that plan because of a few issues. He had two others with him, one of whom was three metres tall. Of course, it was Meng'er. Digging a hole that deep would be time-consuming, and they'd be crushed before they finished. He could have recalled Meng'er to its spirit space, but the spirit space portal is much larger than the spirit beast. Such a portal would definitely block the light from reaching behind entirely.

Thus, he chose the teleportation talisman over the underground.

Now, he wasn't worried about any of that. He was more curious about this person named Zhao Fan. Both him and Zhao Fan came up with the same plan, not just once, but many times. Wasn't their way of thinking a bit too… similar?

Zhao Fan was clever. Yet, why did he choose not to decline their offer? Why would he work along with two complete strangers? If not for ill intentions, why would he accept it? One could say that Zhao Fan was scheming to kill them both after obtaining the rewards, but Shen Ming's instincts told him he wasn't.

If he was just showing kindness, that simply meant he was dumb.

Now that Shen Ming saw Zhao Fan's actions, he knew the other party wasn't dumb.

Then why?

Previously, Shen Ming had tested him a few times in their conversation to figure out his temper.

First, he didn't greet Zhao Fan properly. When meeting someone, it's basic etiquette to greet them with words, unless you're mute. But Zhao Fan surprisingly didn't have any change in emotion, he stayed just as calm and indifferent as ever.

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Then, he forcefully cut Zhao Fan off during their conversation. This was considered offensive for many, especially those so called young masters.

If he noticed any change in Zhao Fan's demeanour, he'd have quickly apologized right away.

However...

Shen Ming was still met with the unrestrained face of Zhao Fan.

Afterwards, he asked Zhao Fan whether they could work together. The tone which he asked wasn't that of a 'request', but that of a 'suggestion'. Imagine going to a stranger's kitchen and asking them- "I want to eat, would you like to eat with me?". That was it.

But this time, Zhao Fan's response somewhat shocked him. He actually agreed?

The more Shen Ming interacted with him, the more curious he became.

On one side was his mind creating all kinds of possibilities, on the other side was his immortal instincts strongly rejecting them.

Even his name 'Zhao Fan' was a lie, and he detected that immediately.

In the end, apart from one single, ridiculous answer, he couldn't think of anything else.

Pity.

Zhao Fan pitied them.

If not, why else would he agree to go along them? If it were mere 'kindness' he was dumb, unless the word 'pity' comes in.

But why exactly though? What was the reason for Zhao Fan to pity them?

"Kuhh" Shen Ming let out a chuckle.

'What am I even thinking?'

He wasn't dumb enough to believe such a ridiculous possibility. Moreover, his instincts were strongly rejecting this.

As if his 'instincts' started beating up his 'reasoning'.

Nevertheless, he just decided to leave it at that.

'Whatever Zhao Fan's motives are, I'm sure he's not against us.'

Shaking his head, he opened the large spirit portal and instructed Meng'er to return.

Still, for the first time in his life, he failed to see through someone.

…

Under the ground.

I decided to dig forward like an underground tunnel and reach the centre. Of course, it was that rusty old lantern where all the mysteries of this place lay. If I had to escape, other than using the teleportation talisman, the only way was to unravel those mysteries.

I could figure out this much, as someone who read countless cultivation stories.

Digging straight using sword attacks wasn't efficient, but tiring as well.

I'd rather use a hand than a sword.

I closed my eyes, trying to discern the direction where the rusty lamp was. After confirming the direction, I used 'arm of pressure' to break the ice.

Loud banging noises echoed throughout the ruins, as I continued punching and moving forward.

…

In the distance, Shen Ming and Xiao Yating kept their silence as they heard the constant banging sounds.

"Brother Shen, what should we do now?"

"Nothing, he'll do everything." Shen Ming's face still bore a smile.

Only god knew what this devilishly-handsome person was contemplating.- Xiao Yating thought, sighing secretly. He has already chosen to trust him, so he'd trust him till the end.

Shen Ming was the type of person who'd be willing to sacrifice himself for the people he cared for. In the martial world where everyone was selfish, he was an exception. If Xiao Yating couldn't trust this person, who else should he?

Suddenly, his vision went blank as he no longer felt his senses nor tissues...

Just...

Nothingness.

…

Quite the time passed as I finally reached right below the rusty lantern. Looking above, I could see its bottom part protruding out. It was somehow buried deep in, leaving only the rusty metal cage and the flame above.

One question still remained in my mind- what to do now?

I gently touched the bottom part, trying to get some clues. Surely, there wouldn't be a whole damn mountain range built up, only for this lantern… right?

But all of a sudden, the underground rumbled, pushing me upwards. I smacked my head above. The ice above me broke as I appeared above the ground. In my hand was an old, rusty lantern with a black flame.

I frowned. The mountains of ice didn't move this time and somehow, the gap I formed on the ground earlier had disappeared.

The glass on the lantern, which covered the light, had small cracks formed on it. The black flame was becoming weaker and weaker. There was a strange black liquid surrounding the flame, seemingly oil that kept this flame alive till now.

The flame diminished again and I was petrified. If it goes out, the entire ruin would collapse… or perhaps it wouldn't?

I couldn't be sure.

A tiny drop of oil slowly oozed out through the crack and fell down.

"Drip"

After that single drop, the entire black flame went out, filling the ruin with absolute darkness. So dark that I could neither see, nor feel my organs.

'What the...'

For some time, I seemed to have forgotten how to speak as I could only speak in my mind.

And then It happened, the ground glowed in green as I saw the contents inside the ice.

Countless frost figures, some that of humans and some beasts. They looked as if they were trapped inside for centuries. Slowly, a walking pathway was formed in front as I felt two other presence right beside me.

"..?"

At some point, I had regained my senses as well as the ability to speak.

Their faces contained shock, similar to mine, as they tried to comprehend what was going on.

They were Shen Ming and Xiao Yating, who somehow ended up coming here like me.

"illusions…"

Shen Ming mumbled.

Was this? I never knew.

We're actually staying in three different places, but the illusion had the power to make us seem like we were standing next to each other? That was actually terrifying.

This...

Someone at the Inner Tribulation stage?!!

As I've read in the novel, this kind of strength was only possessed by someone like that.

Before transcendence, one would go through both inner and outer tribulations.

They had extreme mental state and their illusions could easily alter someone's consciousness.

An Inner Tribulation stage expert could obliterate the entire Golden Moon sect and the Blood Moon sect, let alone three lowly disciples.

These illusions seemed to be leading us to somewhere. As we looked far ahead, we could see an old, rusty lantern emitting a black flame at the end.