Hengsheng stepped out of the red rift, his senses on high alert. Without hesitation, he released multiple spirit bodies in all directions, scanning for any immediate danger. The rest of the Lan Clan members emerged behind him, their faces a mix of awe and confusion. They had heard tales of the Land of Pillar Foundation being an underground world, and many had expected to find themselves in dimly lit caves or tunnels. But this was entirely different.

They stood on a low hilltop with an open expanse stretching before them. Above, the sky glowed with golden clouds, resembling the surface world more than the cavernous depths they had imagined. The ever-present golden pillar loomed in the distance, radiating brilliance and casting a soft, warm light across the entire landscape, as if it were the sun of this hidden world.

Hengsheng’s eyes narrowed as he observed the terrain. Below, in the direction of the golden pillar, was a dense forest, vibrant and teeming with life. Turning around, he noted the opposite direction was barren and rocky, a mountainous expanse devoid of greenery. “Looks like we’ve appeared near the outer rim,” he murmured, piecing together their location in this vast underground realm.

“What’s next?” Hengsheng muttered to himself, his mind racing with plans. A soft “meow?” interrupted his thoughts. He opened his robe to see Yunsu poking her head out, her sharp eyes scanning the area with curiosity. She sniffed the air, her ears twitching, and began walking ahead purposefully.

“Brother Hengsheng, what are we going to do next?” Baixing asked hesitantly, stepping closer.

Hengsheng’s gaze remained fixed on Yunsu as he replied, “Follow Yunsu.”

“Yunsu?” Baixing repeated, confused.

Hengsheng didn’t bother explaining. Instead, he trailed behind the small gray cat as she sniffed the ground and moved forward with determination. The other Lan Clan members exchanged glances, their confusion evident, but ultimately fell into line behind Hengsheng. Even Xiaorong, who seemed dissatisfied, followed reluctantly, grumbling under his breath.

The group moved cautiously across the rocky terrain, the hundred-strong contingent of Lan Clan members following the unlikely guide—a small, gray cat. Yunsu’s movements were deliberate, her ears flicking as she sniffed the air.

Eventually, she led them to the entrance of a large cave, its mouth wide and dark, emanating a faint chill that sent shivers down their spines. Yunsu turned to Hengsheng, her sharp eyes locking onto his as she let out a quiet, urgent “Meow….”

Hengsheng nodded, understanding her meaning. “There’s something dangerous inside,” he muttered. Gently picking her up, he placed her on his shoulder and addressed the group. “Follow me and stay alert. Keep your guard up—it’s not safe in there.”

The Lan Clan members stiffened, their earlier confusion giving way to tension. Weapons were drawn, and they moved cautiously, forming tight formations as they entered the cave behind Hengsheng. The oppressive darkness swallowed them whole, and the air grew colder with each step. All around, faint echoes hinted at the unseen dangers lurking deeper within.

Hengsheng’s eyes glinted sharply as he led the group deeper into the cave. The Qi in the surroundings grew increasingly dense, radiating a faint golden light that illuminated the dark path ahead. However, as they progressed further, a new element began to seep into the atmosphere—an ominous cold aura that mingled with the metal Qi. It gave off an unsettling sensation that sent a shiver through the group.

Xiaorong, who had been silently observing, suddenly spoke up. “Look at the Qi! Something feels off!”

Another clan member chimed in, their voice tinged with unease. “You’re right… it feels like Yin Qi.”

Hengsheng’s senses heightened. His spirit bodies fanned out further into the cave, and he motioned for the group to stop. “Shhh,” he hissed quietly, his eyes narrowing.

The faint sound of movement reached their ears. “Crack… crake…” The rhythmic sound of footsteps echoed from the darkness ahead, a disjointed and unnatural noise that made the hairs on the back of their necks stand up.

“Something’s coming,” Hengsheng said, his tone calm but firm.

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Moments later, a massive silhouette emerged from the shadows. It was a creature two meters tall, with six pairs of legs and a single pair of long, spear-like arms. Its exoskeleton gleamed faintly, reflecting the golden light in the cave. The creature’s appearance was unmistakably a demon beast, resembling a monstrous ant. It let out a guttural roar and charged at Hengsheng with terrifying speed.

Hengsheng sensed its aura it was a rank 1 demon beast and reacted instantly. He raised his hand, and multiple orbs of Qi formed rapidly in the air. With a flick of his wrist, the Qi orbs shot forward, slamming into the charging beast.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

The explosions echoed through the cave, and the ant demon beast collapsed to the ground, motionless. Hengsheng stepped closer to inspect it, his eyes narrowing at the grotesque form.

Ding!

[+5 System Points]

Hengsheng glanced at the notification briefly before crouching beside the fallen beast. He examined it carefully, his mind racing as he tried to recall its origin. Suddenly, a memory surfaced from a demon beast compendium he had studied back in the Lan Clan library. He murmured under his breath, “Piercing Shadow Ant…”

His quiet words were overheard by one of the clan members, who immediately paled. “Piercing Shadow Ant?! That’s a colony beast! Does that mean we’re in their territory?”

The realization spread like wildfire through the group, and the previously calm atmosphere shifted to one of panic. Whispers broke out among the Lan Clan members, their faces pale. “Colony beasts… that means there could be hundreds—no, thousands of them here!”

Hengsheng stood and turned to face the group, his expression calm but serious. “Quiet,” he ordered firmly. His voice cut through the rising panic, and the whispers ceased immediately. “Yes, this is likely their territory. But panicking will only get us killed. Stay close, stay alert.

The weight of Hengsheng's words brought some composure back to the group, though the tension in the air was still palpable. He adjusted Yunsu, perched on his shoulder, her tiny ears flicking nervously as she stared into the ominous depths of the cave.

“Meow…” she muttered softly, her small claws gripping Hengsheng’s robes tightly.

Hengsheng’s gaze hardened as he peered deeper into the cave. “If this is a Piercing Shadow Ant colony,” he thought, “then there might be Yin Essence Veins at its heart…”

Hearing this, the atmosphere among the Lan clan members shifted drastically. Eyes sparkled with greed as if glowing with currency signs. They began whispering excitedly among themselves.

“Haha… we shouldn’t panic or back off. We should fight and prove ourselves!” “I agree! Why should we fear mere insects?” “My Dao Heart is strong and cannot be shaken by a little danger!”

The fear and uncertainty that had gripped them moments earlier dissolved into raw excitement. Thoughts of treasure had replaced their worries about the dangers ahead. After all, Yin resources were incredibly rare on this continent and fetched sky-high prices. The potential of high-grade Yin spirit stones, rare treasures, and perhaps even a Heaven-grade nature treasure was more than enough to push these young cultivators into action.

As Hengsheng watched their reactions, Yunsu jumped down from his shoulder and approached the fallen Piercing Shadow Ant. With a gentle tap of her small paw on the corpse, a stream of red, blood-like Qi began flowing from the demon beast into her tiny body. The process was swift, and once it was over, she turned and climbed back onto Hengsheng’s shoulder, purring contentedly.

Hengsheng raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “She must’ve used her Infinite Evolution trait to absorb the ant’s bloodline,” he murmured. Curious, he accessed her status screen.

[Status]

Name: Yunsu

Race: Domestic Cat

Age: 0

Bloodline: ??? {5%}

Affinity: Neutral

Cultivation Realm: Rank 1 Spirit Beast {95%}

Special Traits: Infinite Evolution

A faint smile played on Hengsheng’s lips. “She’s starting to forge her own bloodline,” he thought, feeling a swell of pride. He also wanted to upgrade his spirit core to Earth-grade, he needed 1,000 system points—an amount he could only accumulate by harvesting life essence and destiny from defeated beings.

Hengsheng’s gaze fell on the ant demon corpse, and an idea struck him. “You there, the one who knew about the ants. What’s your name?”

The young man hesitated, a mix of surprise and dissatisfaction flashing across his face that Hengsheng did not know him. “I am Lan Muyang. My sister and I study alchemy, so we know a little about demon beast value part, and anatomy…”

Hengsheng nodded. “Good. You’re in charge of dissecting the valuable parts. Don’t waste anything.”

Lan Muyang looked hesitant. “For free?”

Hengsheng raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Do I look like someone who bullies his own people? Consider this an opportunity to prove your worth—and yes, it’s reward enough!.”

“Yes, Brother Hengsheng!” Lan Muyang stammered, quickly getting to work.

Turning to the rest of the group, Hengsheng addressed them with authority. “It seems we’ve stumbled upon a treasure trove right after arriving. Yin resources like these are incredibly valuable. If we work together, this could benefit everyone. I’ll lead this operation, and I promise to distribute the harvest fairly. Do you agree?”

“Yes, Brother Hengsheng!” the group replied in unison, their voices filled with enthusiasm.

Satisfied, Hengsheng watched as the Lan clan members eagerly began harvesting the area. The first day in the Land of Pillar Foundation had proven fruitful, and the group’s spirits were high. Though Hengsheng knew the dangers lurking deeper in the colony, for now, the promise of wealth had lit a fire in their hearts.