Chapter 200 - 151: Strange Blood Egg

Chapter 200: Chapter 151: Strange Blood Egg

The trees were sparse under a lone, bright moon. A gentle breeze woke Zhao Zuo, who had been dozing against a tree trunk. He looked over at Shen Yunjiao, who was cultivating not far away. Her black robes, combined with the sanguine energy in the air, gave her a mysterious and sinister aura.

’She’s looking more and more like a Demon Path Cultivator.’

Zhao Zuo gazed at the distant cave, a faint worry stirring within him. The pitch-black, lightless entrance resembled an abyssal maw that devoured all, and he had no idea what dangers lay hidden inside.

It was midnight by the time Shen Yunjiao finally ended her cultivation.

"Don’t you want to go in and take a look?" Shen Yunjiao asked.

"I feel like it’s a little dangerous, but not enough to make me back down."

"Actually, the strange thing about this whole situation is that the Demon Beast probably miscalculated my strength. But that’s easy enough to explain... After all, neither of our abilities can be judged by our Realm alone." Shen Yunjiao noticed the trace of hesitation in Zhao Zuo’s eyes and offered some reassurance.

"That cave feels very dangerous to me," Zhao Zuo said seriously.

Perhaps it was because the Creation Points had repeatedly enhanced his soul, or maybe it was because the Soul-Forging Technique had induced some change in it, but he could feel an inexplicable pressure.

"Don’t worry... I’ll go first." Shen Yunjiao took the lead and walked toward the cave entrance. The corpse of the Burrow Spider Mother now looked like a mummy that had been weathered inside a pyramid for thousands of years, completely devoid of moisture... leaving only a shriveled husk.

Zhao Zuo first took out his waterskin, drank a few mouthfuls of clear water, and then strode to follow her.

As they neared the entrance, they both drew their weapons. To dispel the darkness, Shen Yunjiao took out a Spirit Stone lamp, illuminating their surroundings before stepping inside.

The cave walls were perfectly smooth, as if they had been deliberately polished. There was no smell of blood, and they could hardly even see any cobwebs. It didn’t feel like a Burrow Spider’s lair at all; it was more like a seclusion chamber created by some Cultivator.

The cave was silent, with no sound other than their footsteps. After about two or three minutes, they reached the end of the tunnel, but there was nothing there except a smooth stone wall.

"You were being overly cautious. There’s no danger here at all."

Shen Yunjiao raised the Spirit Stone lamp, carefully examining the end of the cave, then chuckled. Zhao Zuo could hear the distinct note of teasing in her voice.

"It never hurts to be cautious," Zhao Zuo replied, his expression unchanged.

He took a few steps forward and, by the light of the Spirit Stone lamp, gazed at the smooth stone wall before him. Unfortunately, there were no words written on it, nor did it contain any kind of inheritance.

’I guess plots where you find a fated opportunity or an inheritance just by walking into a cave only happen in novels.’

Zhao Zuo withdrew his gaze and gently shook his head.

"What, you think you have a Celestial Spirit Root? That you can just walk into any random cave and find an inheritance?" Shen Yunjiao sensed Zhao Zuo’s disappointment and couldn’t help but retort.

"I really wish I did have a Celestial Spirit Root," Zhao Zuo sighed with a hint of envy.

Still not entirely convinced, he checked the stone wall in front of him again, even reaching out and pouring his Mana into it. Unfortunately, it didn’t trigger any kind of reaction.

’There... truly was no fated opportunity here.’

"Let’s go back," Zhao Zuo said, standing up and dusting off his hands. A subconscious feeling was still nagging at him, urging him to leave the cave immediately.

"Why don’t we rest here for a bit? We can set out tomorrow morning. It’s safe here, anyway." Shen Yunjiao, however, objected. Without waiting for Zhao Zuo’s agreement, she found a spot, leaned against the stone wall, and began to rest.

"Well... why don’t we go outside? We can get some fresh air out there." Zhao Zuo hadn’t expected Shen Yunjiao to refuse his suggestion, but he found another reason to try and persuade her.

"No, I’m resting here," Shen Yunjiao refused flatly.

Zhao Zuo froze. He glanced at Shen Yunjiao, who had already closed her eyes to rest, and sensed something was off. Given that they had entrusted their lives to each other, it stood to reason that she wouldn’t argue with him so forcefully over such a small matter.

’This is... very wrong.’ If Shen Yunjiao was trying to stop him from leaving, then that’s exactly what he was going to do.

"I’m heading out first," Zhao Zuo said coolly, then started walking toward the exit. Shen Yunjiao, who remained where she was, said nothing more, but the corner of her mouth curled into a strange smile.

Zhao Zuo walked for about five minutes before stopping. Logically, since he was walking faster on the way back, he should have already exited the cave. Yet his surroundings were still pitch-black.

’Just as I thought. Something’s wrong.’

Zhao Zuo drew his Black Flame Saber and suddenly slashed at the nearby stone wall. The blade swept past in a flash, but the seemingly ordinary wall was left without a single mark.

’Just as I suspected. This must be an Illusion Realm.’

In truth, Zhao Zuo had already grown suspicious when Shen Yunjiao had refused him without hesitation. After his Black Flame Saber failed to leave a mark on the stone wall, that suspicion was confirmed.

Even if the surrounding walls were made of some special, durable material capable of withstanding a strike from an Upper Grade Magical Artifact, the physical feedback from the blow was completely wrong. It felt like he had slashed through empty air.

Furthermore, he couldn’t feel any airflow or hear the sound of wind. It was too quiet.

Zhao Zuo sat down right where he was, clearing his mind and seeking true inner peace.

The state of Constant Calm gave him extremely powerful emotional control, so he wouldn’t lose his composure just because he was trapped in a dangerous situation.

’First, this is an Illusion Realm. I’m sure of it.’