93: Chapter 93 Today, you will not be able to leave this cave.

The stone steps extended downwards, deep and long.

Lu Jinghan walked in the lead, with Qin Muchuan and Su Fuguang following closely behind. Under the concealment of their Talisman, their auras almost merged into the surrounding darkness.

On the rock walls on both sides of the stone steps, one could occasionally see some blurred carvings. These were the remnants left behind after the erosion of time, faintly distinguishable as some ancient runes.

Lu Jinghan swept a glance over them and did not stop.

These runes had long lost their spiritual light, becoming dead objects that existed in form only.

After walking for about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the stone steps finally came to an end.

The view before them suddenly opened up.

This was a naturally formed underground grotto, about ten zhang high and nearly a hundred zhang in circumference.

Dozens of fist-sized night-luminescent pearls were embedded in the dome, emitting a soft white light that illuminated the entire grotto as bright as day.

In the center of the grotto, a stone platform stood silently.

The stone platform was carved from a single piece of cyan-white jade. Its surface was smooth as a mirror, and it was covered with intricate runes, with spiritual light faintly circulating within them.

On the stone platform, three stone tables were arranged in a triangular Formation.

On each stone table, there sat a box.

And behind the three stone tables, in the very center of the stone platform, a skeleton sat upright on a stone chair.

The skeleton was draped in a long-decayed gray Daoist robe, which was covered in dust and in shambles.

The skeleton's hands were folded and placed on its knees, in a peaceful posture, as if it were merely asleep.

The skeleton's head was slightly lowered, its hollow eye sockets facing the three boxes on the stone platform, as if it were gazing at something.

Lu Jinghan stopped at the entrance of the grotto, his gaze quickly sweeping across the entire space.

There were no fluctuations of any Formation, no aura of any Yao Beast, and no signs of any danger.

But he was in no rush to enter.

Experience from his past life told him that the safer a place looked, the more dangerous it often was.

Which of those Daoist sites of ancient mighty figures wasn't filled with traps and dense Restrictions?

A place left wide open and unguarded like this only made him feel a sense of vigilance.

Xiao Yuan and Bai Yue were currently standing in front of the stone platform.

The moment Lu Jinghan and his companions stepped into the grotto, Xiao Yuan noticed.

He turned around abruptly, his gaze like a knife, shooting straight towards the direction of the grotto entrance.

Bai Yue also turned around at the same time, holding a jade-green flute horizontally before her, spiritual light flickering, ready to strike at any moment.

"Who is it?"

Xiao Yuan's voice was low and cold, carrying an unconcealed killing intent.

When the figures of Lu Jinghan and his companions walked out from the darkness, Xiao Yuan's pupils contracted slightly.

He recognized Lu Jinghan.

Outside the Purple Bamboo Forest, that name which topped the Nine Heavens Tower leaderboard—Lu Jinghan.

Xiao Yuan had never met Lu Jinghan in person, but he had seen a portrait of him.

"Lu Jinghan." Xiao Yuan spoke, his voice calm, but his gaze became a bit sharper.

"The dark horse of the Zhouwu Dynasty Great Family Ranking Battle, the challenger of the seventh floor of the Nine Heavens Tower. I have long heard of your name; I didn't expect to run into you here."

He paused, a half-smile appearing on his face: "I wonder, Fellow Daoist Lu, what is your intention in following us?"

Lu Jinghan did not answer.

His gaze swept over Xiao Yuan and landed on Bai Yue.

In his past life, he had traversed countless Secret Realms with these two wretches, fighting side by side, sharing life and death.

He thought they were friends, sworn brothers and sisters.

But in that Immortal Secret Realm, at the moment when he trusted them the most—

"Xiao Yuan, Bai Yue."

Lu Jinghan spoke, his voice not loud, but carrying a chill.

"I have remembered these two names for a very long time."

Xiao Yuan frowned slightly; he keenly sensed that the way Lu Jinghan looked at him was wrong.

That look did not seem like he was looking at a stranger, but rather like he was looking at an irreconcilable enemy.

But he was very sure that he had never seen Lu Jinghan before.

"What does Fellow Daoist Lu mean by those words?" Xiao Yuan asked calmly.

Lu Jinghan did not explain but instead drew the Jinghan Sword.

The moment the blade left its scabbard, a clear, resonant sword hum echoed through the grotto, and the ice-blue Sword Qi illuminated the entire space.

"No need for idle talk." Lu Jinghan's tone was calm, but it carried an unquestionable determination.

"Today, you will not walk out of this Immortal Cave."

Xiao Yuan's expression finally changed.

Not because of Lu Jinghan's words, but because in that instant, he felt an aura emanating from Lu Jinghan that made his heart tremble.

That was the aura of the Nascent Soul Perfection!

Xiao Yuan's pupils contracted violently; in the Purple Bamboo Forest, Lu Jinghan's cultivation base was only Early Nascent Soul Stage.

But the Lu Jinghan standing before him now was already at Nascent Soul Perfection!

In just over half a year, going from Early Nascent Soul Stage to Nascent Soul Perfection? How is this possible!

Xiao Yuan took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart, his gaze becoming even more serious.

"Bai Yue," he whispered, "Be careful, this person is not simple."

Bai Yue nodded slightly, her jade-green flute already held to her lips. A wisp of clear, secluded flute music drifted out from the flute holes, echoing in the grotto.

The sound of the flute, when heard, was like weeping and complaining, lingering and sorrowful, causing one's mind to sway.

Lu Jinghan's eyes turned cold. The Time-Space Derivation Sutra surged within his body, and a cool force poured into his Sea of Consciousness, isolating the mind-bewitching flute music.

"Mere tricks."

He snorted coldly and swung the Jinghan Sword. An ice-blue Sword Qi tore through the air, heading straight for Bai Yue's face.

Bai Yue's expression shifted slightly, and she retreated violently. The flute music suddenly became sharp and piercing, and an invisible sound wave shot out from the flute holes, colliding with the ice-blue Sword Qi.

"Boom—!"

Amidst the loud noise, the ice-blue Sword Qi and the invisible sound wave dissipated simultaneously.

Bai Yue was shaken back several steps, her blood and Qi surging, and her face flushed red.

Seeing this, Xiao Yuan no longer hesitated. He raised his hand and waved it, and a sword, entirely crimson red, flew out from his sleeve and landed in his palm.

On the blade, crimson flames burned fiercely, emitting a scorching and sharp aura.

An Earth Rank low-grade Magical Artifact—the red flame sword.

Xiao Yuan stood holding his sword, his spiritual power running at full capacity, releasing his aura of the Nascent Soul Mid Stage without reservation.

He knew that facing a formidable enemy like Lu Jinghan, any reservation was just asking for death.

"Bai Yue, attack together!"

Before the words had even faded, Xiao Yuan's figure was already like a streak of crimson lightning, shooting towards Lu Jinghan.

Bai Yue followed closely behind, the jade-green flute held to her lips. The flute music surged out like a tide, turning into waves of invisible sound, attacking Lu Jinghan from all directions.

Lu Jinghan's gaze was steady. He swung the Jinghan Sword repeatedly, and streaks of ice-blue Sword Qi slashed out like ribbons of silk, shattering those sound waves one by one.

At the same time, Xiao Yuan's red flame sword had already stabbed before him.

On the sword's edge, crimson flames surged like a tide, carrying a scorching, extreme aura, stabbing directly at Lu Jinghan's throat.

Lu Jinghan dodged to the side, swung the Jinghan Sword backhanded, and a streak of ice-blue Sword Qi headed straight for Xiao Yuan's back.

Xiao Yuan's figure darted like lightning, barely dodging it, and held the red flame sword horizontally before him, blocking Lu Jinghan's second sword strike that followed closely behind.

"Clang—!"

The two swords clashed, sparks flying everywhere.

Xiao Yuan was shaken back several steps, his hand numb, and the red flame sword almost slipped from his grip.