Although it sensed that the life energy level was very low, even lower than its own as a newly born Little Taicang Dragon.
However, a form similar to the strange person in the cave startled Uka, and it quickly hid.
Soon after, several people came from a nearby corner. Each of them carried a thick backpack, and hunting knives or even compound bows were vaguely visible attached to the side of their backpacks.
If Zhou Qi saw them, he would definitely recognize them as the adventurers who came to White Snake Mountain a few days ago.
......
"Oh, Brother Fei, do we really have to trek all the way from here to Huangshi Mountain Range?" asked a short-haired girl dressed in outdoor gear and meticulously groomed.
"Don't be afraid, Lin Yue, how will we know if we don't try?" Wang Yufei, who was called Brother Fei, was full of vigor, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
At the front of the team was the captain, Chen Feng. He was experienced and was looking down at a map, his finger tracing the route: "Everyone, let's rest here for a bit. There's a Xiao Xi nearby, and this journey won't be easy."
They were a group of five, three men and two women, all from well-off families. In particular, Wang Yufei's family owned one of the largest enterprises in Yingtian City.
All of them were from an adventure club and had previously trekked and Transmigrated through several uninhabited areas.
This time, they heard from Chen Feng that there was a large and extremely vast mountain forest in Yingtian, with one end even connecting to Huangshi Mountain Range.
And since very few people ever set foot in it, making it very pristine, they decided to make him the captain for this exploration.
The group walked towards the Xiao Xi. The ground underfoot was soft, and occasionally, stepping on dry branches would produce a crisp "snap" sound.
Not long after, Li Xuan, another member of the five, looked a little pale, her forehead covered in sweat: "This path is so hard to walk, much more tiring than I imagined."
Zhao Yang quickly handed her a water bottle: "Drink some water, rest for a bit, we'll be resting soon."
The five of them dragged their exhausted bodies to the side of the Xiao Xi, feeling as if they had been hollowed out. They all unloaded their heavy backpacks and collapsed onto the moss-covered stones.
Li Xuan's chest rose and fell violently, and she gasped for air, her prominent chest heaving with each breath, making the three men beside her unsure where to look.
Wang Yufei quickly stood up and moved away, afraid of being misunderstood by Lin Yue. He stretched his sore shoulders, then picked up a water bottle nearby and walked towards the stream to get water.
As soon as he squatted down, the ripples on the water slowly spread out, and in the clear stream water, the faint outline of a cave entrance was reflected.
Wang Yufei thought he was seeing things, so he rubbed his eyes hard and leaned closer.
Indeed, on the hillside opposite the Xiao Xi, a cave was hidden behind dense bushes and layers of vines, revealing only a small corner.
"Come look, everyone!" Wang Yufei exclaimed excitedly, his shout echoing back and forth in the empty valley, startling countless birds into the sky.
Upon hearing the shout, everyone thought Wang Yufei had encountered some danger. They quickly pulled out their hunting knives and compound bows from their backpacks and instantly gathered around him, stretching their necks, their faces full of vigilance.
"Oh, no danger, I just found a cave!" Wang Yufei's eyes were wide, and he pointed to the cave on the opposite hillside.
His eyes gleamed, filled with an eagerness to try, "Maybe there's something unknown hidden inside. Let's go in and explore!" As he spoke, he was already rolling up his sleeves, preparing to pack his gear.
The others exchanged glances, momentarily unsure what to say.
Chen Feng was the first to step forward, his brows tightly furrowed, his expression showing a mix of hesitation and worry: "This cave looks strange, and we don't know what's hidden inside. If we go in so rashly, what if there's danger?"
He always had a bad premonition in his heart. This unknown cave was like a giant beast opening its bloody maw, ready to devour them at any moment.
"What's there to be afraid of? There are so many of us, how can we be afraid of any danger in this small cave? Even if it's a black bear, we can shoot it into a hornet's nest with a compound bow each."
Wang Yufei waved his hand carelessly, his movement like Zhuge Liang borrowing the east wind, as if all dangers would vanish into thin air with his words.
"Brother Feng, you just think too much. Don't be so hesitant."
At Wang Yufei's urging, the others also nodded, their curiosity completely overcoming their fear.
So, the five of them put on all their gear and carefully stepped into the Xiao Xi. The water was icy cold, reaching above their ankles, making them shiver.
After crossing the Xiao Xi, they walked towards the cave.
The entrance was completely covered by layers of vines, like a green barrier, with only a small corner exposed at the bottom.
Zhao Yang pulled out his hunting knife from the side of his backpack, its blade glinting coldly in the sunlight.
He took a deep breath, gripped the handle of the knife with both hands, and forcefully chopped at the vines. With a few "swishes," the vines snapped, and debris flew, clearing a path for them to the unknown.
As soon as they stepped into the cave, a damp, putrid smell assailed them, making everyone cover their mouths and noses, their brows furrowed.
Chen Feng quickly pulled out a powerful flashlight from his bag, and with a "click," he turned it on. The dim, yellowish light flickered in the darkness, like a candle in the wind, barely illuminating the path ahead.
The entire cave was empty, with only a huge stone tablet standing in the center, as if it were a tombstone erected for someone.
Each of them used their flashlights to examine everything inside the cave.
"It's empty in here, I don't see anything," Lin Yue said, pouting.
Chen Feng suddenly spoke, "Everyone come here, there's a deep pit behind this stone tablet."
The group quickly gathered, and several flashlights shone into the bottomless pit.
"Holy cow, look ahead, there's a passage!" Wang Yufei suddenly saw a gloomy passage in the cave wall, leading to who knows where.
The few of them exchanged glances, each secretly swallowing, as if confirming whether or not to go in.
Without hearing anyone speak, Wang Yufei had already stepped forward alone, and the others could only reluctantly follow behind him.
They cautiously moved forward along the winding passage, taking each step with extreme care, the loose stones underfoot crunching with a "creak."
Suddenly, Wang Yufei, who was walking in front, abruptly stopped, as if frozen. He slowly raised his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet.
Everyone instantly held their breath, not daring to make a sound, only hearing a faint "rumble" coming from ahead.
The sound was like something roaring and wailing, sending chills down their spines.
