Beneath the crushing weight of stone—
Li Xuan lay buried.
Blood seeped into the cracks of the broken rock.
His eyes remained open—
But non focused.
Dim.
His breathing was shallow.
Unsteady.
Darkness crept into his vision.
Slowly—
His eyelids began to fall.
(…Not yet…)
The thought flickered weakly—
Then faded.
Above the rubble—
The black-robed cultivator stood still.
Watching.
Silent.
As if confirming the end.
Then—
Footsteps echoed through the passage.
More figures arrived.
One by one—
The other cultivators gathered.
Drawn by the sound of battle.
And collapse.
Their gazes swept the area.
Suspicious.
Alert.
A man frowned.
"What happened here?"
"The cave just shook."
Another looked toward the rubble.
"Was it an attack?"
All eyes turned—
Toward the black-robed cultivator.
For a brief moment—
He said nothing.
Then—
A faint smile appeared.
"Nothing of importance."
His voice was calm.
Controlled.
"But…"
His gaze shifted deeper into the cave.
"I believe I've found the path to the medicinal pill."
The crowd stirred instantly.
Greed flickered in their eyes.
"You're certain?"
"How do you know?"
The black-robed cultivator didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
He closed his eyes.
And took a slow breath.
The air carried a faint scent.
Subtle—
Yet unmistakable.
His smile deepened.
"Can't you smell it?"
"The fragrance…"
"It's getting stronger."
A faint fragrance drifted through the passage.
Subtle at first—
Then growing stronger.
Richer.
Pure.
One by one—
The cultivators noticed it.
Their hesitation vanished.
Greed took its place.
Without another word—
They began moving forward.
Deeper into the passage.
Step by step—
The air grew colder.
Heavier.
The scent thickened—
Almost intoxicating.
After some time—
The narrow path opened.
A vast hollow space revealed itself.
Dim.
Silent.
The walls were covered in dense layers of spider webs—
Stretching in every direction.
Old.
Undisturbed.
A faint chill crept through the air.
At the center—
A stone platform rose.
And upon it—
A pill.
Encased beneath a thin layer of ice.
A faint glow shimmered around it.
The fragrance—
Now overwhelming.
Everyone's gaze locked onto it.
Desire.
Greed.
Unhidden.
"That's it…"
"The pill…"
A faint sticky thread brushed across one cultivator's arm.
He frowned—
But said nothing.
Above—
Something shifted.
Unnoticed.
The black-robed cultivator stepped forward.
His eyes burned with greed.
He moved toward the platform.
Slow.
Careful.
Step by step—
He crossed half the distance.
The cave remained silent.
Too silent.
Then—
From above—
A streak of green liquid shot down.
Fast.
Like a falling arrow.
Before he could react—
Splash!
It covered his entire body.
"AAAAH—!"
A horrifying scream tore through the cave.
Everyone froze.
The liquid hissed—
Corroding everything it touched.
His skin—
His flesh—
Melted.
Rapidly.
"Help—! HELP—!"
A cultivator took a step forward—
Then stopped.
No one dared move.
The screams grew weaker.
Then faded.
Within seconds—
Nothing remained but a pool of dissolving flesh.
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Deadly.
The smell of acid filled the air.
The pill still rested quietly at the center.
Untouched.
Then—
A faint rustle echoed from above.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Several heads lifted.
Their gazes strained into the darkness.
At first—
There was nothing.
Only shadow.
Deep.
Endless.
Then—
Within that darkness—
Six red eyes appeared.
Glowing.
Cold.
Watching them in silence.