29: Go deep into the devil's cave and break the formation

Zhao Linger, bathed in moonlight, seemed not of this world.

Her eyes were colder than the moonlight, yet also more earnest.

Her question, "Are you really not afraid of death?" was less a query and more an incomprehensible probing, as if to pierce through all of Lin Gou's pretenses.

Lin Gou's heart skipped a beat.

"Oh no, did I overact?"

"No, my acting has reached the Transcendent stage; she must be captivated by my irresistible, overwhelming charm."

His thoughts raced, but on his face, a look of extreme, bitter resolve slowly emerged.

He did not answer directly.

Instead, he turned his body, allowing her to clearly see the terrifying, not yet fully healed wound on his chest, illuminated by the moonlight.

"Afraid."

He spoke only one word, his voice hoarse, tinged with heavy self-mockery.

"How could I not be afraid of death?"

"My Aptitude is mediocre. To be where I am today, I rely entirely on being a bit more cautious than others."

"But, Senior Sister."

Lin Gou's gaze suddenly lifted, meeting Zhao Linger's eyes directly. In those eyes, there was no longer the stubbornness from their sparring match, only a heavy and calm acceptance of life and death.

"Some things, someone always has to do."

"The missing Junior Brothers and Senior Brothers, they were also afraid of death, yet they still went, because it was a Sect mission, their responsibility."

"Now, it's just my turn."

"I just… don't want them to have died in vain."

His words were sincere and impactful.

Even Lin Gou himself almost believed them.

"Perfect."

"This explanation not only clarifies why I'm going but also paints a glorious image of someone who knows fear yet presses forward."

"Senior Sister, are you moved?"

Zhao Linger watched him silently for a long, long time.

The scrutiny and sharpness in her eyes gradually melted away like ice and snow, eventually transforming into an indescribably complex softness.

She gently placed the jade bottle in her hand into Lin Gou's, her cool fingertips touching and then withdrawing instantly.

"Take care."

After saying that, she turned and left.

Her moon-white skirt cut a solitary, elegant arc in the night wind as she departed, never looking back.

Lin Gou held the still-warm jade bottle, watching her silhouette disappear into the night. The heroic sorrow on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a cunning, triumphant smile.

He closed the Immortal Cave door and eagerly opened the jade bottle.

A refreshing medicinal fragrance wafted out, and just smelling it made him feel his chest injury alleviate somewhat.

"As expected of a favored daughter of heaven, her generosity is truly different."

He swallowed the "Jade Dew Pill" without hesitation, then immediately sat cross-legged, silently taking out the third-grade "Nine Revolutions Soul Restoration Pill" that the System had rewarded him with from his bosom.

"Hehe, I'll use your medicine openly, and my cheat secretly. This is called double insurance."

"Demonic Lair, I'm coming."

"I hope your death package is plentiful."

...The next morning.

At the Sect's mountain gate, the three-person team had assembled.

Besides Lin Gou and Zhao Linger, the third team member had also been confirmed.

Zhang Wei, a muscular, honest-looking Inner Sect Disciple at Qi Refining Stage 7, carried a heavy broadaxe. His body-tempering cultivation was said to be quite formidable.

He had clearly been carefully selected by the Sect's deacon to be a core member of the team.

"Senior Sister Zhao, Junior Brother Lin, please take care of me from now on!"

Zhang Wei's voice was loud, and his demeanor was very enthusiastic.

When he looked at Zhao Linger, his eyes held undisguised admiration.

And when he looked at Lin Gou, there was a genuine sense of respect.

He had been present at the thrilling competition in the Mission Hall yesterday, and Lin Gou's declaration of "never shrinking from death" had truly shocked him.

Zhao Linger merely nodded coolly in response.

Lin Gou, meanwhile, wore a harmless smile.

"Senior Brother Zhang, you're too kind. As an Alchemist, I'll have to rely on Senior Brother's protection a lot on the journey."

"Yes, just like that, butter him up first."

"Later, when we enter the Demonic Lair, the contrast will be even stronger when he's scared to pee his pants."

The three received their mission scroll and, without further ado, controlled their Magical Artifacts, transforming into three streaks of light, and sped northward towards the Sect.

The destination marked on the mission scroll was called Yin Corpse Gorge.

A place that made one feel a chill just hearing its name.

As they drew closer, the surrounding scenery began to change visibly.

Lush green vegetation gradually became withered and sparse.

The warm Spiritual Qi in the air was replaced by a cold, murky aura. Inhaling it made one feel a chill in their bones.

After flying for about half a day, even the sun in the sky seemed to be obscured by an invisible haze, and the light became dim and oppressive.

Zhang Wei spoke noticeably less, and the honest smile on his face had long vanished, replaced by a solemn expression.

He tightened his grip on his broadaxe, warily scanning his surroundings.

"This damn place feels off."

He couldn't help but mutter in a low voice.

Zhao Linger's expression was also very serious. She took out a pale yellow Talisman, holding it between her fingers, ready to respond to any sudden situation.

Only Lin Gou remained as composed as ever.

In fact, he even took a deep breath.

The cold aura entering his lungs invigorated him.

"Comfortable."

"This air, natural and unpolluted, is the smell of death."

After flying a bit further, a thick, nauseating stench, a mix of blood and decay, suddenly assailed their nostrils with the wind.

Zhang Wei's face instantly paled, his throat convulsed, and he almost vomited on the spot.

Zhao Linger also furrowed her delicate brows and immediately held her breath.

On the horizon before them, a massive scar, as if cleaved open by a Divine Being with a sharp axe, stretched across the land.

That was Yin Corpse Gorge.

Above the gorge, visible black mist swirled and lingered, like a Vicious Beast ready to devour humans, emitting an ominous aura.

The three descended, landing at the edge of the gorge.

The closer they got, the stronger the stench, as if the entire gorge was a giant pit of decaying corpses.

Deep within the gorge, a mountain cave shrouded in black mist was vaguely visible, appearing and disappearing.

"It should be there, Black Wind Cave."

Zhao Linger's voice was very low, with a hint of coldness.

Zhang Wei swallowed, his palms already covered in cold sweat.

Just standing there, he already felt his legs getting a bit weak.

"This... how many people must this Demonic Path cultivator have killed to create such a huge disturbance?"

"Are we... are we really going in?"

His voice held an uncontrollable tremor.

Zhao Linger didn't answer, merely showing her determination through her actions.

She took the first step, walking towards the cave entrance deep in the gorge.

Lin Gou followed closely behind.

Zhang Wei gritted his teeth and could only steel himself to follow.

The further down they went, the darker the light became, and the more pungent the putrid smell.

The ground beneath their feet was dark red, as if soaked in blood countless times, and felt sticky when stepped on.

Soon, they arrived before the cave entrance shrouded in black mist.

Around the entrance, circles of bizarre blood-colored runes were carved, and an invisible energy fluctuation flowed between the runes, forming a barrier.

"It's a warning Formation."

Zhao Linger stopped, her expression grave.

"If this kind of Demonic Path Formation is forcibly touched, it will not only alert the Demonic Path cultivators inside the cave but also potentially trigger a backlash from the Formation."

Zhang Wei also leaned forward, examining it carefully for a long time, but in the end, he could only shake his head helplessly.

He knew nothing about Formations.

Zhao Linger took out a small Formation Plate and began to deduce.

But her brow furrowed tighter and tighter.

This Formation seemed simple, but its internal structure was extremely tricky, full of traps everywhere, and she couldn't find a way to break it for a while.

Just as the two were at a loss.

Lin Gou, as if taking a stroll, ambled up to the Formation.

He walked around the Formation, occasionally kicking a certain stone with his toe or poking a certain patch of ground with his finger.

His casual demeanor made it seem like he wasn't observing some dangerous Demonic Path Formation, but rather wandering in his own backyard.

Zhang Wei watched, dumbfounded.

"Junior Brother Lin, be careful!"

Zhao Linger also stopped her deduction, looking at him in confusion.

In Lin Gou's mind, scene after scene flashed by rapidly.

"Got it."

"That explosive trap I stepped on in the Hundred Beast Cave, right before I was slapped to death by that three-headed Hellhound, has a 70% similarity in its energy circuit to this Formation."

"The reward for that trap was a copy of 'Elementary Formation Decryption Essentials,' which comes in handy now."

He stopped, pointing to an inconspicuous, moss-covered stone in the lower-left corner of the Formation.

"The problem is here."

His tone was as flat as if he were saying, "The weather is nice today."

Zhao Linger and Zhang Wei simultaneously looked in the direction he pointed, their faces full of confusion.

That stone looked utterly ordinary no matter how they viewed it.

"Junior Brother Lin, are you sure?" Zhang Wei couldn't help but ask.