The elder's words made everyone's expression turn serious.
Zhang Tian looked at the elder.
"Please tell us, sir."
The elder looked at Zhang Tian, his voice not loud.
"This information might be crucial for your journey to Motuo, so listen carefully."
"When you enter the cave of the Demon Pagoda, remember, no matter who calls you or what sounds you hear, do not look back."
"If anyone is lured away or goes missing, do not try to find them."
After the elder finished, Zhang Tian roughly understood.
This was like the illusion they had encountered before; turning back would mean falling into a trap, and danger would likely follow.
"Isn't this just being possessed?" Wang Banyue whispered from behind.
"This should be different from that; this is likely a high-level hallucination," Wu Tianzhen said into Wang Banyue's ear, his own seriousness piqued.
"What these two youngsters said is mostly accurate. The Demon Pagoda can induce hallucinations, so be cautious."
"As for the location of Motuo, after you cross the Demon Pagoda, you will see a continuous mountain range. Follow the mountains until you reach a canyon."
"Motuo lies within that canyon."
The elder spoke, and Zhang Tian nodded intently.
"Thank you for your guidance, sir. We understand."
Zhang Tian said, quickly rising and bowing respectfully.
Respect for elders was important, and Zhang Tian understood such principles.
The elder said nothing, merely gesturing towards the door.
"I presume they have already prepared your sleeping quarters. You may go and rest."
As the elder spoke, Zhang Tian understood he was being politely dismissed.
Zhang Tian, not one to overstay his welcome, turned around after the elder finished.
"Then, sir, we shall meet again."
With that, Zhang Tian and the others walked towards the door.
"I hope you can return alive."
The elder said no more, and the light in the room gradually dimmed.
Exiting the small hut, Zhang Tian and the group found themselves in darkness.
Above, stars were clearly visible in their arrangements.
The altitude here was very high, and being on a mountain, the stars and sky felt very close.
It was as if one could reach out and touch them.
"Boss, this old man told us a lot. He must be a good person," Fatty said, standing before Zhang Tian and praising the elder in the house.
Zhang Tian remained silent, contemplating how to navigate the Nine-Story Demon Pagoda.
According to the elder, the Demon Pagoda was extremely dangerous.
Even with their strength, crossing it would be an arduous task.
This meant that for Zhang Tian and his companions to pass, they would need to find another way.
"Can we create an alternative passage from the surroundings?" Zhang Tian mused, falling into deep thought.
Unconsciously, Zhang Tian stood in place for a full five minutes.
"Boss has gone into a daze. Could it be that he's scared by that trash pagoda!"
"Boss, don't worry. With Fatty here, nothing can go wrong."
Fatty chattered on in front of Zhang Tian.
At this moment, Zhang Tian was awakened by Fatty's chatter.
He looked around.
"Let's head down first."
"We'll depart tomorrow."
Zhang Tian said, and everyone began to descend from the hut.
"Boss, what was wrong with you just now? You looked dazed," Fatty said, standing before Zhang Tian with a puzzled expression.
"I was thinking about how to safely cross the Nine-Story Demon Pagoda," Zhang Tian replied.
"Ah, boss, don't worry. Fatty will handle it when the time comes." Fatty gave Zhang Tian a reassuring look.
Zhang Tian gave Fatty a speechless glance.
When the time came, it wouldn't be about whether Fatty would act, but whether he would run away.
Zhang Tian knew him too well.
"Let's head back first. I'll think of a strategy tonight."
Zhang Tian said, and the others spoke no more, each pondering the issue of the Demon Pagoda in their minds.
"I feel that the Demon Pagoda might not be as dangerous as imagined. If its contents have already been sealed, then as long as we follow the elder's advice, we should be fine," Wu Tianzhen interjected.
After some thought, he believed the Demon Pagoda wouldn't be a major issue.
Zhang Tian remained silent. Wu Tianzhen, having experienced too few tombs, didn't fully grasp the danger.
Places described as dangerous by powerful individuals were usually genuinely perilous.
Most of Wu Tianzhen's tomb expeditions were abroad, and he had less experience with domestic tombs.
Soon, everyone descended the small mountain.
Upon reaching the base, Zhang Tian saw Mo Erhan and his group waiting for them.
Seeing Zhang Tian's arrival, Mo Erhan's face showed a smile.
"How was it? Did you get the information you needed?" Mo Erhan asked, looking at Zhang Tian.
"Yes, thank you for the introduction." Zhang Tian nodded, a hint of gratitude in his eyes.
Finding the information himself would have been much more difficult.
More importantly, Zhang Tian didn't know the location.
A hasty approach would likely lead to him getting lost and wandering into the Kunlun region.
"As long as you found something useful, that's good. Come on, I'll take you to your accommodations."
"We've already prepared rooms for you."
Mo Erhan said, leading Zhang Tian and the others to some huts on the mountainside.
A total of four huts were prepared, each capable of housing two people.
Zhang Tian was assigned a hut to himself.
Returning to his room, Zhang Tian sat on the bed.
"According to him, the Nine-Story Demon Pagoda releases a power that can cause people to fall into a coma."
"Or induce hallucinations. He visited decades ago, and I don't know if the pagoda has changed since then."
"Furthermore, Old Hu's comrade died there. What if his comrade's spirit appears when we reach the pagoda?"
Zhang Tian mused, his primary concern being Old Hu.
Old Hu's situation was complicated.
All his comrades had died in the Kunlun Mountains.
If hallucinations occurred, Old Hu would be the most vulnerable.
"If I enter the Nine-Story Demon Pagoda, could I send Hu Bayi and the others into the illusory space?"
Zhang Tian thought of the illusory space.
His gaze drifted towards it.
If he could send them into the space upon entering, they might not be affected by the emanating aura.
With this thought, Zhang Tian seemed to have found a solution. He could send them all into the space, leaving only himself, which might simplify things.
"Alright, I'll see then."
With that, Zhang Tian sat cross-legged on the bed.
He began to cultivate.
Midnight, the third watch.
In Fatty's room.
Two fatties were squeezed onto one bed.
Their snoring echoed throughout the room.
It was as if the house would collapse at any moment.
These two had indeed fallen into bad company; their snoring was truly deafening.
"Creak."
Just as they were sleeping soundly,
The door suddenly opened.
A figure stood outside the door.
"Is this the place?" a very small voice inquired.
"Yes, it is," a villager's voice replied.
Following the voices, a tall figure slowly entered Fatty's room.