Chapter 183: The Kitten Tracks Down a Trail, Yet It’s Far from Satisfying

Those four cultivators had ended up in peril because they came to help. Some may already be dead!

Naturally, Yu Xian and Yue Pingfeng couldn’t just leave.

Regardless of whether they were alive or dead, the least they could do was try to find them. Only then could they face their own conscience.

If they turned their backs and walked away—what difference would there be between them and heartless dogs?

Too many cultivators in this world used the so-called “Path of Ruthlessness” as a shield to justify being cold and unfeeling.

But think of those legendary leaders who achieved the Dao. Even they would rage when their disciples died or their sects were destroyed, shaking the heavens with their fury.

And you claim cultivation demands no feelings, no loyalty?

What are you cultivating then—a rock?

Fortunately, neither of them were heartless men.

After a brief rest, Yu Xian and Yue Pingfeng marched forward again, venturing deeper inside.

The tunnel had been cleared by the raging water, now cleaner and smoother.

Their speed was swift. In merely twenty breaths, they returned to the massive cavern.

The place was in utter chaos, with broken crystal shards scattered everywhere and seven new tunnels carved into the walls.

These tunnels hadn’t existed before—the violent torrent had blasted through the cave walls, opening them up.

Both of them stared at the seven passages, eyes filled with conflicting emotions.

The underground cave system was vast and unending. Under such violent floods, who could say where someone might be swept?

And with countless branching paths ahead—like a winding labyrinth—even with great powers, it would take ages to search. Let alone for them, mere Foundation Establishment cultivators without heaven-defying abilities.

“What now…” Yue Pingfeng said gloomily, full of guilt. “It’s all my fault… I got them involved!”

“Big Brother, do you have anything that carries those fellow Daoists’ scent?” Yu Xian suddenly asked.

“Huh? Their scent?” Yue Pingfeng blinked, then quickly pulled out some items. “They gave me these to forge magical tools—maybe their scent lingers?”

“Let’s try it!”

Yu Xian had no better plan. He took one of the items and raised his hand.

“Meow!”

A fierce, clearly displeased yowl echoed through the cavern.

A four-colored tabby cat with barely visible golden phoenix-like markings shimmered into view in Yu Xian’s hand.

It tried to flee instantly—but it was only a third-rank spirit beast. How could it escape Yu Xian’s grasp?

He pinched it by the scruff and lifted it.

“A little Feng Cat?” Yue Pingfeng, well-versed in beasts, exclaimed. “How do you have such a spirit beast—third rank… no, almost fourth! You even have a spirit beast pouch?!”

Yu Xian nodded. “I got a beast pouch by chance. This Feng Cat has been living inside. It has extremely keen senses. Let’s see if it can track the owners of these items.”

“Excellent! Truly excellent!” Yue Pingfeng’s eyes lit up.

Feng Cats were rare. One about to reach fourth rank? Even rarer.

If it one day awakened a sliver of phoenix bloodline, it might even ascend to the noble fifth rank!

Yu Xian conjured a restriction seal, quieting the cat, then held the item close to its nose. “Find the owner of this scent. If you succeed, even if you fail to evolve later, I’ll spare you and raise you until the end of your days.”

The cat’s eyes were full of defiance.

It was a cat! Not a dog!

Though cats had better senses than dogs—it was still a cat!

Swoosh!

Suddenly, the high-grade fourth-rank Jade Spirit Sword surged forth!

Yu Xian charged it with maximum force for three whole breaths.

“Go!”

He gave a low shout, and the sword shot like a meteor—straight at the unconscious black serpent’s weakest spot: the seven-inch mark under its belly.

Even though it was a fifth-rank low-tier demon beast, it was helpless in this state.

Puff!

The sword pierced straight through, barely encountering resistance.

ROAR!!

A monstrous scream erupted as the serpent awoke in agony.

“Die!!”

Yu Xian followed immediately, leaping forth and slamming a lightning-imbued punch down onto the sword hilt like a hammer driving a nail.

Crack!

The blade pierced all the way through. Blood geysered from both ends.

The seven-inch mark was vital to snakes—like stabbing through a human heart.

Yu Xian leapt back while the serpent howled and thrashed, staining the water red.

“Brother!!” Yue Pingfeng’s voice echoed behind. “Did you encounter the black serpent?! Hold on—I’m coming!”

He had heard the serpent’s roar and rushed in without hesitation.

“I’m fine!” Yu Xian shouted as they met. “It was the serpent—I ambushed it while it was unconscious. It’s dying now.”

“Good.” Yue Pingfeng nodded.

“But… Daoist Zhong Fa is dead.”

Yu Xian sighed. “He was bitten to death by that serpent.”

“Sigh…”

Yue Pingfeng only let out a long, heavy breath.

Four allies had followed them in. Two were now dead.

Though they’d successfully ambushed Yu Huafeng, the price felt too steep.

If they’d known, they wouldn’t have come.

Eventually, the serpent’s howls faded. The pool fell silent.

Yue Pingfeng guessed it had died and told Yu Xian to collect the corpse while he returned to tend to the wounded.

Yu Xian found the massive serpent floating belly-up, lifeless.

He stored the corpse and retrieved Zhong Fa’s remains and his storage pouch, then flew back.

The Feng Cat led him once more through the third tunnel.

After a twisting journey, Yu Xian saw a body clinging tightly to a stone pillar.

But the cat ran past.

It wasn’t the target.

Yu Xian followed and saw it was one of Yu Huafeng’s allies, barely clinging to life.

But Yu Xian didn’t save him.

This man had seen Yu Huafeng die by Yu Xian’s hand. If he lived and returned to Mo City, the Yu Clan would learn everything.

Without hesitation, Yu Xian continued.

Eventually, he found Wu Sanyi, unconscious and gravely injured.

Yu Xian rushed forward and channeled wood-attribute healing Qi into him, while forcing a fourth-rank healing pill down his throat.

Wu Sanyi’s body still held a faint warmth—he could live!

And it worked. Slowly, his heart resumed beating. Though he coughed up blood and water, he had survived.

Yu Xian quickly secured him, grabbed the Feng Cat, and rushed back to the cavern.

Meanwhile, Yue Pingfeng had returned with Zhang Pin’s body and the barely-alive Hu Chang.

When he saw Yu Xian return with Wu Sanyi, he shouted, “He’s alive?!”

“Yes.”

Yu Xian nodded, placing him down carefully. “I’ll go find the last one.”

He took out the final item and offered it to the Feng Cat.

It meowed, exhausted, and pointed to the ceiling.

Yu Xian leapt up and followed it through a man-made tunnel.

Eventually, they arrived at a water-filled lair.

The cat refused to go further—it sensed danger.

Yu Xian saw why.

Another massive black serpent floated in the water, and two bodies drifted nearby.

The snake, unconscious, had not been injured too badly and would likely wake soon.

The two figures were mangled and bloodied—fates uncertain.

Yu Xian dove in and pulled out Zhong Fa.

He was already dead—his waist bore two massive puncture wounds.

Clearly, in the chaos, the serpent had latched onto him.

Yu Xian’s eyes turned cold.

His expression made the Feng Cat realize—it had no choice. If it failed now, it would die.

So it obediently sniffed the last item.

Then—it yowled, dashed off again!

Yu Xian and Yue Pingfeng followed excitedly.

This was their final hope!

After a winding run, the cat stopped.

A body floated ahead—bloodied, clothes torn, clearly Zhang Pin.

Yue Pingfeng ran forward, poured in spiritual energy, and fed him pills—but it was too late.

Zhang Pin had died from massive trauma and blood loss.

“Zhang!!” Yue Pingfeng howled with grief.

But Yu Xian urged, “Big Brother—we must go! There may still be others alive!”

Yue Pingfeng nodded and picked up Zhang Pin’s corpse.

Yu Xian offered the next item to the cat. Exhausted but unwilling to die, it sniffed again and darted away.

They followed once more.

Soon, they found Hu Chang trapped in a corner, barely breathing.

Yue Pingfeng poured in spiritual energy, thrilled to find him still alive.

Yu Xian added wood healing techniques, and a third-rank healing pill did the rest.

Hu Chang began to recover.

Yu Xian stood up. “Big Brother, take him back. I’ll search for the last one!”

Yue Pingfeng nodded.

Yu Xian grabbed the cat once more—it let out a tired mewl—and began sniffing the third item…