Chapter 1859 — Chapter 1859 Mysterious Cavern

Once Elder Jing left, Elder Sun sighed, "Why did he kill Bai Zhan? He didn't seem like a vicious person. Maybe he has a good reason."

Elder Sun would spend the next several days contemplating Yuan's situation.

Time passed, and the Bamboo Disciples continued to progress their cultivation. Xi Meili and the others began training harder than usual to improve their prowess as fast as possible to surpass Yuan so they could protect him when he inevitably emerged from his confinement.

When they were not grinding points at the Hunting Grounds, Xi Meili focused on her cultivation while Lan Yingying practiced her sword techniques with Tan Songyun.

Ji Ran focused on improving his cultivation and farming points alone as usual.

The true disciples eventually stopped talking about Yuan and Bai Zhan's death after many months, but that didn't mean they'd forgotten about it or stopped caring. They were simply biding their time until Yuan returned.

That said, only the Outer Court and some Inner Court disciples who knew and were close to Bai Zhan cared about the situation. The Core Disciples couldn't care less about some drama in the Outer Court and focused on improving themselves.

Meanwhile, Yuan would do nothing but feed the Heaven Refining Crystal his blood until he grew tired and had to sleep.

However, as Yuan slept, his mind was consumed by incredibly vivid dreams—memories so detailed and lifelike that they felt more like relived experiences than mere illusions. These were not ordinary dreams but fragments of Tian Yang's past resurfacing.

These memories were mostly of Tian Yang's days as a disciple inside the Immortal Monastery, but after a few months, memories of his time at Han Zexian's Tomb resurfaced, mainly memories of his time inside the mountain containing Han Zexian's legacy.

After dashing into the mountain to escape from the Immortal Clans and the Seven Divine Sword Peaks' Sect Leader, Tian Yang found himself on an impossibly long, narrow path. The corridor stretched far beyond what the mountain's exterior should have allowed, defying logic and space itself.

Each step echoed unnaturally, the walls pressing in with an eerie stillness, as if the very mountain was watching him.

However, as freaked out as he was, Tian Yang could only move forward, as the only entrance and exit had closed behind him.

After walking for days without rest, Tian Yang finally reached the end of the path. There, beyond the oppressive darkness, lay a small cavern bathed in an unearthly light. Unlike the narrow passage behind him, this space was open and strangely serene, its illumination seemingly without a clear source.

The air here felt different—ancient and mythical, as if infused with the lingering presence of something beyond mortal comprehension. Despite its modest size, the cavern exuded a quiet majesty, as though it held secrets untouched by time.

At the center of the cavern, a small waterfall cascaded down smooth stone, its gentle flow creating a serene ambiance. At first glance, it appeared unremarkable, but Tian Yang quickly noticed the water was saturated with dense spiritual energy, far richer than anything he had encountered before.

Even more astonishing was what lay at the base of the waterfall—a small yet vibrant garden flourishing in its mist. Several exotic plants thrived there, their leaves shimmering with an otherworldly radiance. Though Tian Yang didn't recognize them, their overwhelming aura and the sheer intensity of their spiritual energy left no doubt in his mind—these were priceless treasures, each one likely more valuable than the Immortal Monastery's entire collections of rare herbs.

A place like this… it wasn't natural. It was a sanctuary, hidden away from the world for whatever reason.

"Why did Han Zexian create a place like this? And why did he want me to come here?" Tian Yang mumbled to himself as he continued surveying the place.

At one end of the cavern, Tian Yang's gaze fell upon a peculiar sight—a square-shaped platform, resembling a bed, but made entirely of an unknown stone-like material. Unlike ordinary stone, however, this one seemed to be alive with energy, drawing in the densest spiritual essence from the surrounding cavern.

The sheer amount of accumulated energy was so immense that a thick mist hovered above the platform, swirling like a living entity. It was clear this wasn't a mere resting place, but a cultivation platform of unparalleled quality.

The stone itself was likely a rare, priceless material that refined and amplified the spiritual energy of anyone who meditated upon it. A treasure like this was beyond value and would start wars with experts battling for its ownership. Then, Tian Yang's eyes were drawn to the cavern walls, where meticulously engraved texts covered nearly every surface. Each word was carved with precision, the deep, sharp strokes indicating they had been etched by a sword or dagger rather than a mere chisel or hand.

The inscriptions carried an air of intent—each stroke imbued with meaning, as if the one who had written them had poured their very soul into the engravings. Though Tian Yang couldn't immediately decipher them, he could sense their significance. They weren't just ordinary writings; they held knowledge, perhaps even secrets left behind by the creator of this place.

As he stepped closer, he felt a faint resonance from the words, as though they contained lingering traces of the writer's will. Were they cultivation insights? Sword techniques? Or perhaps the final words of someone who had sought refuge in this mysterious place?

With a deep breath, Tian Yang reached out, his fingers brushing against the ancient engravings. The moment his skin made contact, a sudden, bone-chilling sensation surged through his entire being. It wasn't just cold—it was an unnatural, penetrating force that seemed to freeze his very soul.

His instincts flared in alarm, and without hesitation, he yanked his hand back.

"Just what in heaven's name is this place? And what the fuck am I doing here?" Tian Yang swallowed nervously as he stared at his trembling hands.

Once he calmed down, Tian Yang continued exploring the cavern, his heart pounding with anticipation and nervousness.