ad-fusion Chapter 1184 - 926: Lantian Domain Ruins · Hundred Ghosts Grotto (Part 2)
Chapter 1184 - 926: Lantian Domain Ruins · Hundred Ghosts Grotto (Part 2)
Jiang Yuan glanced down; the system didn’t provide any specific details, so it probably wasn’t important.
However, the ground was indeed unusual, reminding him of the slag discarded by the ironworks in town when he was a child.
Back then, people often took it to pave roads, and within the large, porous slag, there might be small iron beads left behind. For a time, he loved picking through the waste to find beads to play with.
The scene before him resembled a large, smooth-surface piece of slag with a honeycomb interior, glossy black with some areas extraordinarily smooth.
Yet the honeycombed pits varied in size and were connected, the largest of which could easily hide a person. The feeling of "wind beneath one’s feet" was unsettling, as if something might crawl out from below.
"This is the Lantian Domain Ruins, remnants of war. We must tread carefully. Follow me." Jiang Yuan summoned the Clear Wind Bright Moon Sword to guard both sides as he led the way.
Ling Di trembled with excitement, thinking, "What a great opportunity this is for me, Dog! Here lies my enormous chance!"
No matter how challenging, this opportunity bestowed by his master must not be wasted. Even if it means risking his life, he must obtain the Heaven-Swallowing Divine Dog inheritance and become a Divine Beast!
The Clear Wind Bright Moon Sword Spirit glanced around curiously, wondering what kind of place this was.
As they advanced, the entire Lantian Domain Ruins were unnaturally silent, not even a whisper of wind.
A pervasive desolation seemed to shroud the area in death, extending an unsettling stillness.
Ling Di was extremely vigilant, breathing lightly so as not to miss any abnormalities.
Jiang Yuan looked around, trying to glean something from the system analysis, but unfortunately, after nearly five minutes of following the pointer, nothing appeared in his vision.
It seemed that the jagged black rocks here weren’t worth mentioning.
Turning into a narrow "mountain" valley and walking several hundred meters, they made another turn, finding a giant cave entrance at the arrow’s pointed location—a gaping mouth beneath the earth like a lurking beast.
[Side Quest: Heaven-Swallowing Divine Dog]
[Task 3: Follow directions to reach the Hundred Ghosts Cave in the Lantian Domain Ruins—Completed. Reward: Cave Key +1 issued]
[Task 4: Use the key to open and enter the Hundred Ghosts Cave. Urge the contracted pet Ling Di to complete the first trial. Reward: Fragment of the Heaven-Swallowing Divine Dog’s Badge +1]
Finding no apparent danger, Jiang Yuan retracted his Spirit Sword with a thought.
"Master, there seems to be something inside this cave." Ling Di sniffed at the cave entrance warily. "It’s eerie; there mustn’t be anything good inside. But the entrance is sealed with a powerful force, and we might not be able to open it..."
Before he finished speaking, he saw his master pressing his right hand against the invisible seal. A powerful force rippled outward from his palm, opening a "door" just wide enough for one person and one dog to enter.
Doggone! Could it be that the master sealed this cave himself?
Otherwise, why would it be as easy to enter as returning home?
"Follow me inside." Jiang Yuan was curious about what kind of trial awaited within, sensing that the Lantian Domain Ruins were not as he had imagined.
[Welcome to the Hundred Ghosts Cave Trial]
[Game Rules: Participant Ling Di may only use the Purification Technique— ’Great Wilderness Heart Method’ throughout the trial. Using other Skills will be considered cheating: one warning, two yellow cards, three red cards lead to expulsion, and the side quest: Heaven-Swallowing Divine Dog fails, with no restart possible.]
[Note: As the master, you can accompany throughout, and assist in emergencies within the allowed rules. Unauthorized assistance equals cheating, leading to one warning, two yellow cards, three red cards, and task failure, with no restart possible.]
[Additionally: The Hundred Ghosts Cave trial comprises five sections, increasing in difficulty. The vengeful spirits of war casualties within are also polluted, hence trialists must both purify pollution and fend off spectral interference.]
To accommodate the trialist’s environment, a master using anti-spectral items is considered assistance in the first two sections but cannot directly help combat.]
[Initiate the Hundred Ghosts Cave trial?]
He carefully read through all prompts, thinking how fortuitous it was. He recently acquired a hidden outfit that suppresses ghostly entities; wearing it could be considered an anti-spectral tool, providing some assistance.
"Ling Di, if you wish to become the Heaven-Swallowing Divine Dog, you must pass some trials." Jiang Yuan communicated the game rules one by one, emphasizing the exclusive use of the ’Great Wilderness Heart Method’ and no other Magic, lest disqualification become unavoidable, to his detriment.
Upon hearing this, Old Dog couldn’t help but feel secretly delighted, glad he had wisely prepared in advance. Though it was last-minute studying, it was better than being unprepared.
Then he hesitated, saying, "But Master, inside there are fierce ghosts... to be honest, I’ve scarcely been to the Netherworld nor dealt with Ghost Cultivators or fierce ghosts, using only one Cultivation Technique feels unsettling.
Could Master, perhaps, help a little if I slip up?"
Concerned about achieving his future as a Divine Beast, Ling Di dared not make a single mistake, fearing it would ruin everything.
"I can’t directly intervene, but I can offer some slight support." Jiang Yuan asked if Ling Di was ready to formally start, equipping the hidden outfit from his Storage Bag before initiating the Hundred Ghosts Cave trial.
In an instant, his appearance transformed from ordinary attire to a semi-updo gathered with the Jade Crown, his long black hair flowing; wearing black dark patterns with gold and white accessories, his demeanor changed immediately.