Chapter 501: 501: Hidden Dungeon
As the Di Family was trying their best to get the forgiveness from Xue Shuyi, the things in the Herb Valley started becoming interesting. With the disciples of the Starfield Sect making contact with the Moon Goddess, things had taken a turn.
At the Herb Valley’s Marketplace...
A group was found eating ice cream with two toddlers, a liger cub, a young girl and a woman in a veil. There is also a man holding a huge meat gnawing in it. Seeing the meat, Yue Xuexia bought one for the adult Liger and four small ones for the cubs. As for her, she saw a stall selling herbal tea which she turned into a milk tea even adding some fruits in it.
Upon seeing what she did, the only girl aside from her, Qi Louya, followed her example and was surprised by the effect and taste of the drink.
Lan Guye also tried one and noticed the effect of the herbal tea intensified and murmured, "Spirit food?"
"Spirit food can easily be made like this?" Qi Louya asked in shock.
Yue Xuexia said, "With proper handling of ingredients, correct food combinations and precise control of ratio any food can turn into a spirit food as long as you use ingredients with energy. Did you not know that?"
The disciples of the Starfield Sect and the other people eavesdropping in their group collectively shook their heads.
Lan Guye asked, "Miss Yue, did you come to this valley to buy some immortal herbs?"
"There is that. But there are only common ones here, I only come out to accompany the children to play," said Yue Xuexia.
Qi Louya pulled on her senior brother’s sleeve and said, "Shixiong, can we bring this sister with us in the hidden dungeon? She is powerful and... she saved me after all."
"A’Lan, I agreed to Shimei’s request," said Xin Shiwu as he just finished the huge meat he bought before and even shared some more to the Little Liger cub whom he wanted to touch but ran away.
The sentient Snow Lotus Flower Spirit said, "Please don’t touch Xiao Baibai. He is afraid of male humans. His mother was killed by a male human like you!"
Only Xin Shiwu noticed that the Liger cub was indeed afraid of him, sneaking a peek on him while in the embrace of the little girl trembling unconsciously. The three disciples felt pity towards the little liger cub. It’s so small but already lost its mother.
Xin Shiwu looked at the adult liger behind Yue Xuexia while staring at them observing. It was no wonder he felt a bit of danger coming from this adult liger. It was because they were harmed by humans before and Miss Yue had saved them.
"Then... Is this adult one his dad?"
He asked.The adult liger flicked his tail towards Xin Shiwu which made the latter fly a distance. It wasn’t a powerful attack and just a simple flick from this adult one. It’s just that this adult liger might be more powerful than they thought.
Yue Xuexia said, "This little one is a female. She is the aunt of the liger cub. She is angry because you called her a man."
"S-Sorry. I was wrong," said Xin Shiwu.
The adult Liger nods her head upon receiving a sincere apology though the young man looks arrogant but silly.
The sentient blue lotus flower, Yue Huashui spoke, "Is that hidden dungeon fun? Can we go too?"
"But it’s dangerous for you, you are still too little," Qi Louya said.
Yue Huashui pouted and said, "Don’t look down on me! I am stronger than you. Only this brother can fight equal to me." He pointed at Lan Guye who is the strongest among the three disciples.
Xin Shiwu and Qi Louya looked at Lan Guye as if asking for an answer. When they saw him nod his head and heard him say, "He is right. He is at Yuanying Realm like me."
"Wow~ how about this little girl?" Qi Louya asked as she grabbed Yue Huaxue who was holding the liger cub.
Lan Guye said, "Same as the little one. Yuanying Realm, but they... don’t feel..."
"Xuexue and A’Shui aren’t humans. They are flower spirits," said the Moon Goddess, Yue Xuexia.
Qi Louya recalled the vines that pulled her out of danger that time and exclaimed, "Ah! So that’s where the vines come from!"
"My brother is the one who saved you," said Yue Huaxue.
Qi Louya looked at Yue Huashui and said, "Thank you for saving me!"
"Hm. I am only following Mom’s command," said Yue Huashui but the slight reddening of his ear betrays his arrogance.
Yue Huaxue said, "Gege, your ears are red!"
"Xuexue, don’t talk anymore," said Yue Huashui as he covered her mouth.
Lan Guye asked, "Then Miss Yue, are you interested in coming to the dungeon?"
"Alright. Don’t worry. I won’t take much of the resources inside," said Yue Xuexia. "But what the cubs kill will be theirs."
"Deal," said Xin Shiwu.
Qi Louya said, "I also don’t mind."
"Then please look after us," Lan Guye knew that the strongest in the group is definitely this lady in veil.
Now that it was decided that the group of Yue Xuexia will be going with them, the three disciples made the final preparation for the incoming fight. A dungeon is like a hidden cave full of resources and monsters. There will be immortal herbs, materials for armament making, etc. It is a treasure grove with risk included.
Their group after eating their ice cream had roamed around the marketplace buying a few things that will be useful in the dungeon. They took an hour or so gathering all they needed. Then they headed to the mountain behind the peak where the Holy Witch lives. This is a desolation area that looks completely different from the Herb Valley with fertile land. This area is barren with dead trees and black grasses looking tainted by something bad.
The three disciples were in lead reading the map that leads to the hidden dungeon. There are some people chasing after them when they overheard about the hidden dungeon but were caught by Yue Xuexia who looked in their direction despite being hidden in a stealth spell.
Getting Yue Xuexia staring at them made those who were hiding tremble in shock and disbelief.
At some distance on the top of the tree, the scouting men trembled as they met Yue Xuexia’s eyes and almost fell off the tree.
’She can see me? She can definitely see me! But how is that possible!?’
’Should we run?’
’Let’s retreat for now.’
Only when the men observing them from the distance had retreated did Yue Xuexia move her gaze. Lan Guye noticed her actions and believe that there is a reason for it and so he asked.
Lan Guye asked, "Miss Yue, is there something wrong?"
"Nothing much. Just some rats who smell the opportunity. They’ve run away already," said Yue Xuexia.
Lan Guye instantly realized that they were being followed and these men only retreated as they didn’t know how Miss Yue could find them.
"Maybe if not for Miss Yue, they would definitely attack us for the dungeon map and key," said Lan Guye.
Qi Louya said, "Sorry Shixiong. It’s because I said it aloud that those guys heard it."
"Don’t worry. Even if they come I can fight them!" Xin Shiwu said.
They finally reached the entrance of the dungeon and saw a hidden stone door on the mountain. Seeing this Lan Guye brought out a bronze key and used it to open the dungeon. The key had disappeared seemingly one time. The stone door slowly opened, Yue Xuexia instantly noticed the presence that was about to come out of the dungeon and a few wind blades surged towards them.
Yue Xuexia said, "Xuexue, Ice Wall."
Suddenly called by her master, the sentient snow lotus noticed the incoming danger and placed a thick ice wall in front of their group. Yue Huashui helped amplify Yue Huaxue’s ice making it thicker and solid. However, countless slashes were left on it. The sound of something clashing resounds in the area.
Lan Guye, Qi Louya and Xin Shiwu didn’t expect that they would be attacked the moment they opened the door of the hidden dungeon. Their faces turned serious if they were caught off guard just now, they would most likely be badly injured if Miss Yue and her group didn’t come with them.
"Thank you, Miss Yue for protecting us!" Lan Guye said as the three of them clasped their hands before the Moon Goddess.
Yue Xuexia nodded her head and told Yue Huaxue to remove the ice wall. Then she spreads her divine consciousness and sees through the dungeon. She turned a bit serious feeling a divinity emitted by this place. There is also a feeling of distortion in space and time. As well as countless monsters that haven’t eaten for a long time. It seems to be more like a breeding area than a dungeon.
She asked, "To whom had you learned about this hidden dungeon?"
"I heard it from a senior in my temple," Lan Guye answered and felt a bit confused.
Yue Xuexia asked, "Are you enemies with that senior of yours?"
"No, I... Is there something wrong with this dungeon, Miss Yue?" Lan Guye asked as he realized what the Moon Goddess was trying to say.
It seems that a senior brother of his gave this hidden dungeon to him with another intention like killing him, the heir of their Star Temple.
Yue Xuexia asked, "The strongest creature inside is at Huashen Realm with evil nature. If you three had entered this place alone you... might not be able to come out."
The three disciples of the Starfield Sect were stunned by the truth thrown to their face. That sudden deadly attack upon opening the door and a Huashen Realm Evil Creature, clearly, whoever knew about this hidden dungeon had hidden this information and wanted them to die in this place. Thankfully, they had met Miss Yue or else, they wouldn’t even know how they died.