14: Chapter 14: I Have an Idea

Half an hour later, at the entrance of the Ghost Crying Cave.

Xiao Ran hid in the shadows, watching the entrance.

The cave was deep and pitch black inside, but standing at the entrance, one could vaguely hear... crying sounds coming from within.

It wasn't human crying, but sounded more like the wind blowing through the cavern.

But paired with this environment, it was indeed quite eerie.

Just as Xiao Ran was about to enter, Li Changsheng's voice came through the Soul link: "Xiao Ran, where are you?"

"Outside the Ghost Crying Cave."

"And you?"

Xiao Ran replied.

"I'm on the west side of the mining area. I've found something interesting."

"Guess what I found?"

Li Changsheng's voice was filled with excitement.

"What?"

"A secret passage."

Li Changsheng said, "It leads straight from the ground to the underground. Looking at the traces... it was dug recently, and I smelled Demonic Qi in the secret passage."

Xiao Ran's eyes lit up: "Where does the secret passage lead?"

"I don't know, I didn't dare go in too deep."

Li Changsheng paused: "But there are bloodstains and scattered Ore in the passage... I suspect those missing Loose Cultivators were taken through the secret passage by the Yao Race."

"And then? Taken where?"

"I don't know that yet."

Li Changsheng continued, "However, I found some footprints on the ground pointing towards... the Ghost Crying Cave."

Xiao Ran narrowed his eyes.

So, the Yao Race captured the Loose Cultivators and brought them to the Ghost Crying Cave through the secret passage?

What do they want to do?

"Changsheng, stay away from the secret passage."

Xiao Ran thought for a moment and said, "I suspect there's a big fish in the Ghost Crying Cave. That wolf yao from earlier was just a gatekeeper; the real leader... might be inside the cave."

"What about you?"

"I'm going in to take a look."

"It's too dangerous!"

"It's fine, I'm just taking a look."

Xiao Ran smiled: "If I can't win, can't I at least run? Don't forget, I just finished cultivating the Blood Shadow Escape."

"Below the Nascent Soul stage, it's impossible for anyone to catch up to me."

Li Changsheng was silent for a while: "Then be careful. I'll provide backup from here."

"Alright."

Ending the link, Xiao Ran took a deep breath and stepped into the Ghost Crying Cave.

The interior of the cave was more spacious than imagined.

After walking for about a hundred zhang, a fork appeared ahead.

Xiao Ran chose the left one because the Demonic Qi on the left was stronger.

He sent the others to the other forks to draw some attention.

Then Xiao Ran quietly hid his figure and walked another dozens of zhang in the chosen direction when light suddenly appeared ahead.

And... the sound of voices.

Xiao Ran held his breath and crept over quietly.

The light was coming from a massive cavern.

Hiding behind a huge boulder at the entrance, he looked inside.

This look made him gasp.

The cavern was piled high with countless Ores... they were all Medium Grade magic crystal ores, with a small pile of high-grade magic crystal ores among them.

Beside the pile of Ore, over a dozen people were tied up.

There were miners, Loose Cultivators, and even a few guards from the Blood Fiend Sect.

They were tied to stone pillars, covered in wounds and on the verge of death.

In the center of the cavern stood three humanoid Yao Race members.

One was a wolf yao, exactly the one that had escaped earlier.

One was a fox yao, transformed into human form, looking like a seductive woman.

And there was... a bear yao, over three meters tall, with a powerful aura, surprisingly at the Golden Core Middle Stage!

"Boss Xiong, we have enough people this time."

"Including the ones we caught before, there are twenty-seven in total. It should be enough for the blood sacrifice."

The fox yao said coquettishly.

"blood sacrifice?"

Xiao Ran's pupils contracted upon hearing this.

"Mhm."

The bear yao replied in a muffled voice.

"That earth vein is about to be broken through. As long as the blood sacrifice is successful, the earthly fiend spirit marrow inside the earth vein will be ours. Then, we brothers can all reach a higher level, and even... the Nascent Soul stage will be within reach!"

The wolf yao excitedly licked its lips.

"earthly fiend spirit marrow... that's a natural treasure that can change one's Physique. With it, we can also awaken ancient yao bloodlines!"

"Therefore, not a single one of these people can be allowed to leave."

The fox yao said with a beaming smile.

"Tomorrow night, when the moon is full, will be the time for the blood sacrifice. By then, our great cause will be within reach!"

Xiao Ran understood.

These Yao Race members had discovered an earth vein beneath the mining area, and inside the earth vein was earthly fiend spirit marrow.

They wanted to use living humans for a blood sacrifice to forcibly break through the earth vein and seize the spirit marrow.

And those missing people were the sacrifices.

"What a massive undertaking..."

Xiao Ran was secretly shocked.

earthly fiend spirit marrow was something even more precious than a fourth-tier demonic plant.

A single drop of spirit marrow could allow a Qi Refining Cultivator to directly break through a minor Realm.

If he could get it... Xiao Ran's heart raced.

With his Myriad Dao Guixu Body, plus this kind of natural spiritual liquid, wouldn't he just take off!

But soon, he calmed down again.

There were three Yao Race members opposite him: one Golden Core Middle Stage, one who had just made a Breakthrough on the spot, and one Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

Facing three Yao Race members alone, it seemed he couldn't quite win.

He had to think of a way.

He quietly retreated, left the cavern, and found a safe place to connect the Soul link.

"Changsheng, I've made a big discovery."

He recounted everything he had heard.

"earthly fiend spirit marrow?"

Li Changsheng's voice was also excited: "That thing is of great use to Dao Cultivators as well! Xiao Ran, we must snatch it!"

"I know."

Xiao Ran said, "But there are three Yao Race members on the other side. We can't take it by force; we must use our wits."

"How do we use our wits?"

Xiao Ran's mind raced.

A moment later, he had an idea.

"Changsheng, do this..."

...

The next day, evening.

Two groups of people arrived outside the Ghost Crying Cave.

One group was Xiao Ran, bringing Zhao Ying, the somewhat recovered Tie Shan, and Domestic Manager Liu Qingqing.

The other group was Li Changsheng, bringing two Dao Palace Disciples.

The two groups met again at the cave entrance.

"Devil Head, it's you again."

"What, didn't get enough of a beating yesterday? How many people did you bring today?"

Li Changsheng sneered with a cold face.

It seemed he was a bit disgruntled about having to retreat twice before because of the Demonic Sect's reinforcements.

"Dao Palace brat, this is my Demonic Sect's territory."

"The one who should get lost is you."

Xiao Ran sneered, adding harsh words.

"And if I don't get lost?"

"Then I'll beat you until you do!"

Before the words had even faded, the two started fighting again.

One with Sword Qi sweeping across, the other with Devilish Qi surging.

The two fought quite boisterously.

Quite a few surrounding buildings were collapsed by their fighting.

Even the Yao Race inside the cave was disturbed.

The bear yao came out with the wolf yao and fox yao. Seeing the scene at the cave entrance, they were momentarily stunned.

"Boss, why are they fighting again?"

The wolf yao was dumbfounded.

Yesterday, the two were united against it; how come they were back to fighting each other today?

"Ignore them."

"Humans love internal strife. Let's prepare for the blood sacrifice and ignore the outside."

The bear yao frowned; it didn't want to cause more trouble at this critical juncture.

It could tell that Xiao Ran and Li Changsheng were definitely chosen geniuses of the Human Race. Even though they were only at the Foundation Establishment Mid Stage, the aura they erupted with was not inferior even to ordinary Foundation Establishment Peak Cultivators.

"But Boss..."

"They're fighting so fiercely. If they collapse the cave entrance..."

The fox yao pointed at the cave entrance. Just as she spoke, another cave tunnel collapsed.

The bear yao gritted its teeth and thought about it; she had a point.

Tonight was the night of the full moon, the best time for the blood sacrifice.

If the cave entrance collapsed and delayed the timing, they wouldn't be able to get the earthly fiend spirit marrow.

"Go, drive them away."

The bear yao ordered.

"Yes!"

The wolf yao and fox yao responded and rushed towards the cave entrance.

At the cave entrance, Xiao Ran and Li Changsheng were locked in a fierce battle.

Seeing the two Yao Race members rush out, they both stopped at the same time.

"Yao Race again?"

Xiao Ran's expression changed.

Li Changsheng also had a dark face and didn't speak.

It seemed this battle couldn't continue; since there were Yao Race members, they had to deal with them first.

Thus, the two temporarily set aside their grievances and joined forces to attack the wolf yao and fox yao.

Three Foundation Establishment Stages and one Golden Core Stage were fighting in a mess at the cave entrance.

Behind them, the bear yao stood at the cave entrance, watching warily.

It always felt like something was wrong, but it couldn't put its finger on it.

Just then!!!

Rumble!

From the direction of the mining area, a huge explosion suddenly sounded!

Immediately after, flames soared into the sky!

"Not good!"

The bear yao's expression changed drastically: "Someone is raiding the mining area!"

It wanted to go back and check, but looking at the cave entrance, the wolf yao and fox yao were being suppressed and beaten by the two humans.

If it left, these two subordinates would likely be in grave danger.

While it was hesitating, Xiao Ran suddenly showed a flaw and was sent flying by a claw from the wolf yao hitting his chest.

"Junior Martial Uncle!"

Zhao Ying cried out in alarm. He and Tie Shan instantly attacked to force back the fox yao and rushed to Xiao Ran's side.

"I'm fine..."

Xiao Ran gritted his teeth and stood up: "You two hold it off for now, I'm going to get reinforcements!"

After saying that, he turned into a streak of black light and flew towards the mining area.

Seeing this, the bear yao got anxious.

If this Demonic Scion called for reinforcements, what would happen then?

"Chase him!"

It roared and turned into a demonic wind to pursue him.

The wolf yao and fox yao also wanted to chase, but they were firmly entangled by Li Changsheng, his two Dao Palace Disciples, and Zhao Ying's group of three.

"Where are you Yao Race members running?"

"Your opponent is me!"

Li Changsheng brandished his longsword, his Sword Qi like a rainbow.

The wolf yao and fox yao had no choice but to fight back.