C30 Devil Cave Monster

As they navigated the dimly lit hall, their gazes were drawn to the various paintings and calligraphy adorning the walls. Despite the long-standing neglect and the layers of dust, the artwork remained remarkably well-preserved. Madman exhaled onto one of the pieces, clearing away the dust to reveal the ancient script and stark black and white lines beneath.

"This isn't the painting we're looking for," Madman said, shaking his head.

Laoba was also diligently scouring the walls, but the elusive piece their boss desired remained out of reach.

Then, Zhang Ze noticed a calligraphy painting hung sideways. He approached and blew on it, uncovering a few characters. "Could this be the painting we're after?" he inquired.

Lu Kai hurried over, pulling up a photo on his phone to compare with the wall's offering. A smile of satisfaction spread across his face as he nodded, "Yes, this is the one we've been searching for!"

With care, Madman and Laoba removed the painting, rolling it up and securing it within a rectangular case they had brought for this purpose.

"Our job here is done. Once we get paid, I'm heading to the Cloud Cauldron Club for some fun!" Laoba declared, patting his shiny head with a grin.

Madman, however, looked unimpressed. "Don't get too caught up in your vices. It'd be wiser to invest in more Devil Soul Spheres to boost your strength. Who knows, we might run into a Devil Cave Monster next time, and we'll need to be able to defend ourselves."

Laoba dismissed Madman's cautionary words. "No one can predict the future. We should seize the moment and enjoy ourselves—after all, if we end up dead, there'll be no pleasures left to savor."

"Listen, Madman," Laoba continued, "our Mental Strength is too low. Even with an abundance of Devil Soul Spheres, we won't see much improvement, and becoming a Devil Domain Expert is out of the question. Better to live it up now than to have regrets on your deathbed."

The Madman shook his head and remarked, "You're someone with no ambition."

After securing the painting, Lu Kai grabbed the walkie-talkie to communicate with Tieh Gaang outside. Tieh Gaang's voice surged with excitement upon learning they had retrieved the calligraphy painting, and he urged them to exit quickly.

With a smile, Lu Kai ended the call and shared, "Word has it that Tieh Gaang's smitten with a woman. He's been saving up for a wedding. Once we wrap up this job, he'll have the funds to tie the knot."

They retraced their steps, swiftly emerging from the cave. To their astonishment, Tieh Gaang was nowhere to be found!

"Tieh Gaang, where are you?" Lu Kai barked into the walkie-talkie, his brow furrowed as he called out again and again. Only static crackled in response, with no reply.

The Madman's face turned grave as he inquired, "Boss, could something have happened to Tieh Gaang?"

Surveying the surroundings, Lu Kai's expression deepened with uncertainty. "There's no sign of a struggle, nor any blood. It doesn't seem like Tieh Gaang was attacked by any Devil Cave Monster."

"So why has he vanished?" Laoba grumbled, his concern evident. They were, after all, comrades who had faced death together.

"We can't just wait for him here; it's too perilous," Lu Kai declared. Reluctant as he was to abandon the search for Tieh Gaang, he had to prioritize the group's safety. Finally, he decided, "We'll leave a message for Tieh Gaang, then pull out."

Madman and Laoba exchanged glances, understanding the necessity of the decision. Without further ado, they sprayed a message on the wall for Tieh Gaang, indicating they had gone ahead, and hastily departed from the Jiangdong Museum.

They had barely stepped away when a bizarre wail echoed from the distance.

The eerie sound, a mix of a baby's wail and a woman's lament, sent shivers down their spines.

Aside from Zhang Ze, everyone's expressions shifted noticeably.

"The Devil Cave Monster has emerged," Laoba said, drawing a short knife from his belt. Zhang Ze saw his hands shaking.

Madman's voice was raspy as he asked, "Lu Kai, what's our move? The sounds suggest the monster is close by."

Sweat dripped from Lu Kai's brow as he inhaled deeply and declared, "We ignore it and move—fast!" He then turned to Zhang Ze, "Keep up! If you lag behind, we're not coming back for you."

Lu Kai wasn't just trying to intimidate Zhang Ze. The Devil Cave Monster was a lethal threat; a moment's lapse could mean death.

In such a crisis, everyone would struggle for their own survival, with no capacity to rescue others.

Zhang Ze nodded, grasping the gravity of the situation from the group's demeanor. His alertness heightened, he hastened to keep pace with Lu Kai as they sprinted along the barren path.

Yet, the ominous sounds drew ever nearer.

Abruptly, a dark shape streaked overhead, followed by a thunderous crash that shook the earth!

Zhang Ze looked up to see a towering monster over three meters tall before them!

The beast's head was as large as a bull's, crowned with three eyes. Lacking a nose and ears, it instead boasted a gaping maw lined with razor-sharp teeth.

The creature stood on two legs like a human but sported four muscular arms along its back—each seemingly thicker than Zhang Ze's waist!

"Devil Cave Monster!" Madman's voice cracked with a tinge of panic, "A Rank 2 Devil Cave Monster!"

Laoba let out a fierce cry, brandishing his short knife as he lunged at the Devil Cave Monster.

"Laoba, watch out!" Lu Kai shouted.

But before his warning could fully escape his lips, Laoba's blade had already struck the monster's neck, leaving only a superficial mark before snapping in two.

"The Devil Cave Monster's hide is so thick!" Laoba muttered angrily, just as a massive claw swung viciously towards his face.

Laoba, tipping the scales at over a hundred kilograms, was sent soaring through the air by a powerful slap from the Devil Cave Monster!

He crashed to the ground with a brutal force. It was only his quick reflex to shield himself with his arms that saved his life. Unfortunately, the bones in both arms were utterly pulverized, rendering them completely useless.

The Devil Cave Monster cocked its head, its three red eyes fixating on the group. Its mouth was so wide it nearly bisected its head, with a viscous trail of saliva dripping from the corner.

"Madman, grab Laoba and get out of here, fast!"

Lu Kai took aim at the Devil Cave Monster with his shotgun and squeezed the trigger. The burst of gunfire and the deafening blast caused the monster to clutch its head in agony.

Seizing the moment, the group skirted around the Devil Cave Monster, sprinting for safety.

However, it wasn't long before the Devil Cave Monster shook off the confusion and began to pursue them relentlessly.

"Zhang Ze, throw your chicken now!" Lu Kai bellowed. Without hesitation, Zhang Ze hurled the chicken in a different direction, hoping to distract the beast.