Chapter 182: Entering the Cave, Assault on Huahua Peak — Water Dragon Surge After Breaking the Gate
by SurroundedbyBooksThe five cultivators were stunned on the spot, eyes wide, expressions frozen in disbelief.
Even Yue Zhenfeng stared at Yu Xian with an incredulous look.
This… this… he…
A body cultivator?
Yu Xian was actually a body cultivator?
No, not just that—he was dual cultivating both body and spell!
They could sense his spell cultivation at the mid Foundation Establishment stage, but judging by the explosive strength of his body just now, he was easily comparable to a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator using their full strength in spell arts!
Crack! Crack! Crack!
The stone gate creaked open slightly, revealing a thin slit.
Though no spiritual energy could be sensed, the moment the gate was opened, the formation activated, sending a powerful backlash of force as it began closing again.
Yu Xian frowned, clenched his jaw, and roared under his breath as he exerted all his might!
Yet the overwhelming force of the stone gate was not something mere physical strength could resist.
Despite his explosive burst of strength, barely prying it open, the closing force was unstoppable—it began to shut again.
At that moment, a pair of hands joined his on the gate. Then another. And another!
The five others had rushed forward—three on one side, two on the other—grunting and shouting as they poured in their strength!
Though they weren’t trained body cultivators at the Foundation Establishment level, they had honed their bodies somewhat in preparation for future Core Formation.
Together, their combined physical strength matched at least that of one full body cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage.
Yu Xian glanced at them, stunned.
Yue Zhenfeng gave him a confident nod and a wide grin before his face turned fierce as he channeled all his strength!
Yu Xian’s heart warmed.
He shouted once again!
Crack! Crack!
With the combined force of six cultivators, the door was slowly pushed open wider against the rebounding force!
But the wider it opened, the stronger the backlash.
At just about two feet, even all six of them could push it no further!
“You guys—get inside now!”
Yu Xian saw what was coming—once their strength waned, the door would slam shut again. He gritted his teeth and roared, “I’ll hold it for three breaths!”
“Don’t hesitate!!” Yue Zhenfeng shouted, knowing Yu Xian’s temperament. “Go!!”
Without delay, Zhang Pin, Hu Chang, Wu Sanxing, and Zhong Fa dashed in one after another, slipping through the two-foot-wide opening!
The pressure on Yu Xian and Yue Zhenfeng instantly intensified!
Muscles bulging, Yue Zhenfeng clenched his teeth. As a weapon refiner, his body was no weaker than most, just a step away from Foundation-level body refinement—perhaps once he achieved that, he’d be ready for Core Formation.
Seeing the others safely inside, Yue Zhenfeng let out a shout and shoved forward with all his might, yelling, “Brother! Follow me!”
He released his hands and dove through the crack!
Yu Xian now bore the full brunt of the backlash.
Veins bulged across his forehead, muscles contorted, and with a roar, he exerted every ounce of strength and dove through the closing gap!
Boom!
The stone gate slammed shut behind him!
“Huff…”
Inside, the water only reached their knees. Yu Xian was drenched in sweat, breathing hard.
“You okay?” Yue Zhenfeng frowned at Yu Xian, concern in his eyes.
If his muscles or meridians were injured from the strain, it could leave lasting damage.
“I’m fine,” Yu Xian replied, steadying his breath. “A bit sore and exhausted, but I’ll recover quickly.”
He wasn’t lying. After such an intense three-breath push, his muscles were sore but not seriously injured.
Thankfully, they’d acted fast—had they delayed even a few breaths longer, the consequences might’ve been dire.
“Good,” Yue Zhenfeng nodded, scanning Yu Xian briefly. Seeing his breath and aura stabilize, he relaxed. “Let’s move on.”
The others echoed their concern and praise, all calling Yu Xian “Brother Yu” now—not just Yue Zhenfeng.
His terrifying display—pushing open the gate, holding it alone, and revealing his dual cultivation—had left them all in awe.
A cultivator who could simultaneously duel with spells and hammer you to death in close combat?
He was terrifying.
Yu Xian didn’t respond to the change in their attitudes. He wasn’t in it for respect or admiration. He had entered for a purpose, and that purpose hadn’t changed.
“Let’s go,” he said.
The group of six pressed on through the cave. Though dimly lit, their Foundation-level eyesight made it easy to see with just a little light.
The walls were natural, not manmade—this truly might be part of a secret realm.
Half an hour later, the tunnel opened into a massive cavern lit by glowing crystals—valuable first-grade materials, but barely worth collecting for cultivators at their level.
“Where did they go?” Yue Zhenfeng muttered, scanning the area. No other exits could be seen, and yet the Huahua Peak group was nowhere in sight.
“Let’s search—there’s probably another hidden passage.”
Before they could search—
Boom…
A deep, rumbling sound echoed from above.
All six looked up.
A hollow stone pillar descended from the cavern ceiling, and from within it came—
A scream.
Then—crack! The pillar shattered, revealing a tunnel overhead!
“Move! We’ve got it—leave Yu Quan behind!”
“I have to save him! He’s a Yu clan cultivator!”
“He was the one who panicked and woke it up! You want to die with him?!”
“If you want to save him, go alone!”
Shouts erupted from above as figures emerged—panic on their faces.
“Roar!”
A monstrous howl shook the chamber.
“Move!”
The four escaping cultivators screamed—only to freeze midair, seeing the six waiting below.
“You little bastard—you wanted someone to regret? Old man will make you regret! KILL!”
Yue Zhenfeng launched his spell without hesitation!
But a white streak was even faster—Yu Xian struck first.
Spirit Commanding Finger!
“Kill!”
The others didn’t hesitate. They came here to fight, and now their enemies were in front of them—how could they not act?
Spells and artifacts exploded forth, aiming for the four fleeing cultivators!
“Who are you?!”
“What!?”
“How did you get in—AHH!”
Panic-stricken, they tried to defend, but Yu Xian’s calm face was already closing in.
“You?!”
Yu Hua Peak was horrified. He blocked Yu Xian’s Spirit Commanding Finger and screamed, “How are you here?!”
Yu Xian didn’t respond.
Behind him, seven vines shot out like green serpents, and his flying sword—the mid-fourth-grade Biling Sword—whistled forth, its power finally fully unleashed.
The first strike only cracked Yu Hua Peak’s shield, but his smug smile faded when he saw—
The massive vine whip descending!
CRACK!
Yu Hua Peak’s protective artifact shattered!
The vines wove into a massive braid, smashing down with terrifying power!
His head burst like a watermelon, his storage pouch was snatched away, and his body was flung back into the cave.
All of it happened in under two seconds.
Yu Hua Peak—dead.
The three survivors were horrified.
Even Yue Zhenfeng froze before bursting into laughter: “Perfect strike! Three left—kill them too!”
They attacked once again.
But—
“ROAR!!”
A massive serpent tongue lashed out of the hole, snatching one man and dragging him back.
Yu Xian’s pupils contracted. Yue Zhenfeng’s brows twitched.
The remaining two fled in terror: “It’s awake! The demon serpent is awake! Try to stop us now and we all die!!”
“Run!”
Yue Zhenfeng didn’t argue. “Forget them—run!!”
Yu Xian was already ahead of him, dashing down the tunnel at full speed. The others followed close behind.
The black serpent chased them, faster than any of their movement techniques!
The group of seven raced through the tunnel and saw—the sealed stone door!
Yu Xian shouted, “Big Bro! I’ll push, you get through first!”
Yue Zhenfeng growled, “What nonsense!? You underestimate your big brother! Watch!”
He hurled a plain-looking brown orb ahead—
BOOM!!!
A thunderous explosion shattered the gate and the restriction on it!
Yu Xian’s eyes widened.
This wasn’t a talisman—it was a one-time use treasure! Something far more powerful than a Gold Core-level talisman!
“HAHAHA!” Yue Zhenfeng laughed. “See? Let’s go, brother!”
But the moment they turned to flee—
RUSH!!
Water flooded the tunnel!
The pressure from hundreds of meters deep slammed into them like a dragon’s fury!
Yu Xian cursed, stomped down into the stone floor to root himself, and grabbed Yue Zhenfeng’s hand!
WHAM!!
The torrent struck.
Yue Zhenfeng’s barrier shattered. He vomited blood.
Yu Xian felt like he was struck by ten thousand hammers—but he held on!
The others screamed, swept away by the flood. Even the serpent’s eyes filled with fear as it was twisted and crushed by the current.
After untold time, the water finally slowed and stopped.
Yu Xian, barely conscious, pulled the limp Yue Zhenfeng to safety.
Yue Zhenfeng’s breath was weak, chest filled with water—but he lived.
Yu Xian quickly fed him a fourth-grade healing pill.
Five breaths later—
“BLARGH!”
Yue Zhenfeng vomited a fountain of blood-tinged water.
Cough! Cough!
“Damn… without you, little brother, I’d be a goner…”
Yu Xian didn’t respond. His eyes were filled with guilt.
Every time he acted in a group… things went wrong.
Death, injury, chaos.
But alone—everything always went smoothly.
He clenched his fist.
“It’s all my fault…”
Yue Zhenfeng barked a laugh, “Your fault? Bullshit! I should’ve used the Thunder God Pearl on the snake instead! My call.”
Yu Xian stayed quiet.
But then Yue Zhenfeng stood up, popped some pills, and said:
“Let’s go find the others. Alive—we find them. Dead—we bury them.”
Yu Xian’s eyes gleamed.
“Yes. Let’s go find them. Alive or dead, we bring them back!”