"Time to settle the score with them."

Yoko pulled out two uniquely shaped hand axes from behind.

The firelight reflected off them, shimmering brilliantly.

Ying Caihong instinctively touched her waist, where it felt bulging.

Everyone's armed!

Cao Yi shook his head and said, "Not necessary."

Yoko glanced at Ying Caihong, receiving an approving look, and put the axes away.

"Let's go."

Cao Yi led the way.

The group entered the stone cave.

Three minutes later, in a wide, smooth area that appeared to be an ancient underground riverbed, they encountered Big Gold Tooth and Shirley Yang.

"Where are Hu Bayi and Wang Kaixuan?"

Cao Yi asked, puzzled.

Big Gold Tooth and Shirley Yang exchanged worried glances.

What's with their reaction?

Cao Yi looked at them in confusion.

At that moment, faint sounds of an argument drifted over.

"What are you doing?"

"Sorry, brother, but if you won't listen, I have to tie you up and take you back."

"You tricked me again! Are you even human? Let me go, hey! You shouldn't have pulled me up from underground; I should've died down there with Xiao Ding. It's not worth living like this."

"What nonsense!"

"How can you still live, forgetting the past? That's betrayal."

"Ding Sitian is dead; I can't lose you and Shirley too. No matter what, I will bring both of you back alive."

"Stop talking nonsense, you traitor! Go to hell!"

"Ah!"

"I promised Xiao Ding I would find the Ghost Flower. I keep my word, unlike you."

…

It was Hu Bayi and Wang Kaixuan.

Turns out Hu Bayi was just pretending earlier.

Since that was the case, Cao Yi didn't push them.

He scanned the area, looking for the cave leading to the ancient coffin.

He remembered there was a cave nearby.

Where is it?

"Daoist Priest? What are you looking for?"

Yoko approached.

"A cave."

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Cao Yi replied casually.

Yoko raised an eyebrow, then suddenly jumped onto a large rock nearly a story high and began climbing.

The rock was very slippery from being washed by the underground river, and Yoko didn't climb high before sliding back down.

"You need to be high to see far," Cao Yi's voice rang out.

As Yoko was about to climb again, she looked up, her eyes nearly popping out.

When did Daoist Priest get up there!

Without a sound.

"I found it," Cao Yi jumped down silently.

"Daoist Priest, is this your lightness skill?"

Yoko's eyes sparkled.

In the late 80s, Hong Kong martial arts films were all the rage.

As a young person then, Yoko had seen plenty of these films.

Cao Yi ignored her, walked around the big rock, and moved forward.

After bypassing two smaller rocks, he arrived at a dark stone cave.

This was the only cave around.

No doubt it led to the ancient coffin.

"Where does this cave lead?"

Yoko followed up.

"It should lead to the ancient coffin," Cao Yi answered.

Yoko's eyes lit up.

The place of the ancient coffin was also where the Ghost Flower was located.

"Go get Ying Jushi," Cao Yi added.

Yoko acknowledged and left.

After a while, she returned with Ying Caihong and two foreign subordinates.

"Go in,"

Cao Yi lowered himself and crawled inside.

Compared to the previous cave, this one was much smaller, barely allowing one person through while needing to hunch over.

Anyone with claustrophobia would struggle here.

After about two minutes, they emerged into a passageway adorned with paintings, illuminated by glowing ores on the ceiling.

"There are words on the stone wall," Yoko whispered.

"The heavens opened and the earth cracked. The first shaman received divine revelation and obtained a treasure from the heavens. It could traverse the two realms of life and death. Over a thousand years ago, the treasure fell into the hands of Princess Aogu, who named it the Ghost Flower. Every time day meets night, the Ghost Flower blooms, opening the door to life and death."

Cao Yi recited this part verbatim, having read it before.

"Ghost Flower!"

Yoko's eyes shone with excitement.

Ying Caihong, who just emerged, trembled with anticipation.

"Don't get too excited,"

Cao Yi warned, dousing their enthusiasm.

According to the plot, once the Ghost Flower appeared, ordinary Yoko and Ying Caihong would fall into an illusion and end up killing each other.

"I don't have many days left; I'll take the risk no matter how dangerous!"

Ying Caihong's expression was resolute.

Yoko and the two foreigners also showed determination.

Seeing this, Cao Yi didn't say more.

They walked for dozens of meters until a foggy, dark hanging bridge came into view.

Although he remembered this section was safe,

Cao Yi still tested it with stones on the ground to confirm safety.

He was the first to step onto the hanging bridge.

Yoko supported Ying Caihong as they walked in the middle.

The two foreigners followed behind.

Compared to the previous hanging bridge, this one was very long.

After three to four minutes, they still hadn't reached the end.

"Over a thousand years, and it's still standing strong. The wisdom of the ancients is unimaginable,"

Cao Yi remarked, looking at the iron chains on both sides of the bridge.

Ying Caihong and Yoko were too focused on their excitement about the Ghost Flower to respond.

After another three to four minutes, a blurry light appeared ahead.

Cao Yi, with his keen eyesight, pierced through the mist and spotted a large platform connected to a massive circular coffin by several chains.

"There's light ahead,"

Ying Caihong suddenly said.

Cao Yi glanced at her and continued forward.

It wasn't long before they reached the platform illuminated by the glowing ores above.

"Ghost Flower,"

Cao Yi instinctively tightened his grip on the peach wood sword.

"Ding! Host has completed the hidden task: found the coffin."

Cao Yi, tense, was startled.

"Reward (1): a talisman-level money sword, similar to the peach wood sword, but less powerful yet more durable."

"Reward (2): a talisman-level Sanqing Bell, used to dispel illusions, works with corpse-catching talismans."

"Reward (3): a talisman-level Bagua Mirror, a convex mirror used against zombies and spirits, for home protection."

"Choose one."

The Ghost Flower creates illusions.

The Sanqing Bell dispels illusions.

No doubt, the second option is the best choice.

Cao Yi didn't want to collect rewards in front of Ying Caihong and the others.

He walked to the back of the circular coffin.

"I choose the second."

"Okay."

In front of him appeared a very small black hole, swirling with a vortex, something tiny seemed to be rushing towards him.

"A world with spiritual energy!"

Cao Yi widened his eyes, trying to see the world on the other side.

Unfortunately, his power was too weak, and he couldn't see anything.

Whoosh! The black hole vanished.

Something flew out.

Cao Yi caught it and looked.

About twenty centimeters tall with a diameter of nine centimeters, made of brass, with a handle and a tongue inside the bell, the top shaped like a mountain, it was the Sanqing Bell used in Daoism!