559: Chapter 69 Beast God

Has someone forcibly broken the Seal on the Wanfu Ancient Cave?

Hearing Wei Qiong's exclamation, Tian Linger and Lu Xueqi were a bit stunned.

Earlier, when faced with the Azure Dragon's inquiry, Wei Qiong had firmly and publicly declared that the Wanfu Ancient Cave had vanished. Now, these words...

In an instant, the two of them realized.

Wei Qiong's earlier statement had been a lie to deceive the Azure Dragon and the others.

The Wanfu Ancient Cave had not disappeared and was actually right here in Yudu City. It had merely been Sealed for some reason, making it difficult to locate. Considering all the known circumstances, it seemed the demonic sects like the Ghost King Sect and the Wandu Sect had been painstakingly scheming with the Wanfu Ancient Cave as their goal.

If so, the person who broke the Seal was most likely from the demonic sects.

However, they couldn't determine exactly who it was for the moment.

Meng Li, standing nearby, understood clearly in his heart. If nothing unexpected had happened, it was the Ghost King Sect who had broken the Seal.

But what puzzled him was: why would the Ghost King Sect do this?

The Ghost King Sect was searching for the Wanfu Ancient Cave, most likely aiming for the Heaven-Defying Scripture left behind by the Black-Hearted Old Man. However, he had recently used the Black-Hearted Old Man's persona to encounter Bi Yao and You Ji. As long as those two weren't fools, they would surely know that setting their sights on the Wanfu Ancient Cave again was useless.

Because something as important as the Heaven-Defying Scripture, since the Black-Hearted Old Man wasn't dead, would definitely be kept on his person, not left in the Wanfu Ancient Cave.

Moreover, the power displayed by him, the Black-Hearted Old Man, was worthy of caution no matter what.

Since there was nothing to gain and they might even provoke a powerful enemy, the Ghost King Sect had still acted against the Wanfu Ancient Cave!

Have they lost their minds?

Or was the information not synchronized properly?

For example, the Azure Dragon, who had dug up the barrier, might not know about the Black-Hearted Old Man.

But that doesn't make sense either!

Even if the Azure Dragon didn't know about the Black-Hearted Old Man, he, Meng Li himself, had intervened in his true identity, and the other party had witnessed it. With such a formidable Righteous Path figure present, whom they couldn't hope to defeat, wouldn't the Azure Dragon and the others exposing the Wanfu Ancient Cave's existence by breaking the Seal be equivalent to handing it over for free?

Wait!

A Black-Hearted Old Man worthy of caution, a formidable Righteous Path figure they couldn't hope to defeat...

Could it be that the Ghost King Sect broke the Seal and exposed the Wanfu Ancient Cave to make these two confront each other, hoping they would fight because the righteous and demonic paths are incompatible?

A flash of insight struck Meng Li. The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.

Because aside from this answer, he couldn't think of any other possibility for the time being.

Just then, Zeng Shushu, Lin Jingyu, Li Xun, and Kuong A Xiang returned.

As soon as they arrived, Zeng Shushu said, "Grandfather, the poison affecting the city's residents has all been neutralized. What was that earthquake just now?"

Wei Qiong wore a worried expression and sighed, "That's a long story. Let's return to the City Lord's mansion to discuss it."

...

A moment later, everyone returned to the City Lord's mansion.

Wei Qiong recounted the whole story in detail.

"The tremor just now was not an earthquake, but the Seal on the Wanfu Ancient Cave being broken open by someone."

"As for the origin of the Wanfu Ancient Cave and the Seal..."

"According to historical records, over eight hundred years ago, the Black-Hearted Old Man of the Blood Refining Hall passed through the territory of Yudu City. Seeing that the Spiritual Qi here was rich and conducive to Cultivation, he built an underground palace here as his own Dao field and headquarters."

"This underground palace is the Wanfu Ancient Cave."

"Later, after the Black-Hearted Old Man was defeated in a great battle with the Righteous Path and returned to the underground palace severely wounded, he was buried there together with Jin Ling."

"Although the Black-Hearted Old Man died, many evil Magic Treasures and ominous, baleful objects were left behind in the underground palace."

"To prevent these ominous and evil things from harming the world, the people of Yudu City at that time managed to Seal the entrance to the underground palace, entrusting successive City Lords with keeping the secret."

"As time passed, the world came to believe that the Wanfu Ancient Cave had vanished."

"I only learned of these matters after succeeding to the City Lord position, from the previous City Lord. I originally thought the Wanfu Ancient Cave would remain buried forever. Never did I imagine that now, not only have the demonic sects learned of the Wanfu Ancient Cave's existence, but they have also broken the Seal."

"Presumably, the person who broke the Seal has already entered the underground palace. If we don't stop them in time and they obtain the things inside, I fear many more calamities will arise."

At this point, he paused briefly and turned to look at Meng Li. "Young Hero Meng, I have an impertinent request..."

Before he could finish, Meng Li spoke first, "You want me to go to the Wanfu Ancient Cave?"

Wei Qiong nodded.

Meng Li smiled. "That's certainly possible. However, I'd like to ask the City Lord a question first."

Wei Qiong stroked his beard. "Young Hero Meng, ask away. I will tell you all I know."

Meng Li asked directly, "City Lord, do you know about the Heaven-Defying Scripture?"

Hearing this, Wei Qiong's expression changed slightly. Instead of answering, he asked in return, "Why does Young Hero Meng ask about this?"

Meng Li said, "To be frank, some time ago, the Qingyun Sect received news that members of the demonic sects had learned the whereabouts of the Heaven-Defying Scripture. It is said to be the demonic sects' foundational Cultivation Technique. Once obtained by them, their power would surely increase greatly. It is said the Black-Hearted Old Man was able to unite the demonic sects back then precisely because he obtained a volume of the Heaven-Defying Scripture."

"And that volume of the Heaven-Defying Scripture obtained by the Black-Hearted Old Man is hidden within the Dripping Blood Cave of the Wanfu Ancient Cave."

"The truth of this news is hard to verify, but the fact is that various demonic sects have gathered in Yudu City."

"My Senior Sister and the others came to Yudu City under orders to investigate this matter."

"Since the City Lord knows the origins of the Wanfu Ancient Cave, you should also know about the Heaven-Defying Scripture, right?"

"Now that the Seal on the Wanfu Ancient Cave has been broken, City Lord, why not be completely honest? Is it true or false that the Heaven-Defying Scripture is in the Dripping Blood Cave?"

"Let me have a clear understanding to avoid unnecessary complications."

After listening, Wei Qiong fell silent for a few seconds before speaking. "Regarding the Heaven-Defying Scripture, I do know some things, but not much. According to historical records, the Black-Hearted Old Man did indeed obtain a volume of the Heaven-Defying Scripture back then. However, whether this scripture is in the Dripping Blood Cave, I am not clear."

"Furthermore, that Heaven-Defying Scripture is not a demonic Cultivation Technique..."

"At least, based on what I know, the volume the Black-Hearted Old Man obtained is not."

"It is a forbidden art. Once performed, it summons the remnant spirits of the ancient evil god, the Beast God, bringing calamity to the world."

"The ancient evil god, the Beast God?" Zeng Shushu looked surprised.

"That's right." Wei Qiong nodded slightly and then explained, "Legends say the Beast God was born from gathering all the world's malevolence, balefulness, wickedness, and ferocity, making it the most sinister and evil god in the world. Upon its emergence, it turned the surrounding thousand miles into scorched earth."

"Later, a witch named 'Linglong' sacrificed her life to obtain Heaven-Defying power and Sealed the Beast God. However, she did not complete the task fully, leaving behind hidden dangers."

"Part of the Beast God's remnant spirits scattered across the mortal world. If someone with ill intentions uses the forbidden art to gather and resurrect them, the Beast God may break free from its Seal."

"At that time, if the Beast God descends upon the world, it would be a catastrophe for all humanity."

"Therefore, Young Hero Meng, after you enter the Wanfu Ancient Cave, please pay extra attention to the matter of the Heaven-Defying Scripture. Do not let it fall into the hands of the demonic sects."

Meng Li nodded, then asked another question, "City Lord, do you know what dangers lie within the Wanfu Ancient Cave?"

Wei Qiong shook his head, a look of shame on his face. "The Wanfu Ancient Cave has been Sealed for over eight hundred years. Perhaps to better keep the secret, successive City Lords did not leave detailed records of its internal conditions. I only know that the outermost layer of the Wanfu Ancient Cave has blood-sucking bats, and the Dripping Blood Cave is at the lowest level of the underground palace."

"I am unaware of the rest."

"So, Young Hero, please be careful in every way."

As soon as he finished speaking, Tian Linger said to Meng Li, "Junior Brother, I'll go with you."

...