C25 Inside the Cave

Chen Wu finally devised a plan. He would wait for the two Sharp Spout Cloud-sparrows to leave in search of food, then have Blood Rain take the risk of drawing the remaining Sharp Spout Cloud-sparrow away from the cave entrance. This would give Chen Wu the opportunity to slip into the cave.

Conveniently, Chen Wu's Spatial Ring contained a sturdy Iron Claw steel rope, perfect for climbing. It seemed he had anticipated such a need in his plans.

This fortunate coincidence spared Chen Wu considerable hassle.

He waited with great patience, lying still to conceal his presence. The mountain trail only went as far as the mid-slope, so to reach the summit, climbing was the only option.

As dusk fell, the two Sharp Spout Cloud-sparrows issued a loud call, signaling to their companion that it was time to forage.

The lone Sharp Spout Cloud-sparrow watched the others speed away, then settled back at the entrance of the cave, eyes half-closed.

After about three more minutes, once Chen Wu was sure the two Sharp Spout Cloud-sparrows were far enough away, he summoned Blood Rain.

"Blood Rain, can you draw that Sharp Spout Cloud-sparrow away for me? Do you think you can manage it?"

Blood Rain's eyes sparkled with vitality, communicating its self-assurance and bravery to Chen Wu through its Spiritual Energy.

The Grade 5 Sharp Spout Cloud-sparrow was formidably strong. A single misstep from Blood Rain could result in death or serious injury. Yet, Blood Rain was confident in its ability to outpace the predator with its speed.

Chen Wu had no choice but to trust in Blood Rain's capabilities. After all, fortune favors the bold.

Blood Rain took to the skies with powerful wingbeats and began to circle the Cloud-sparrows' nest. Its wings stirred up a strong current, and its Eagle Eyes fixed intently on the Sharp Spout Cloud-sparrow perched at the cave.

Inside the cave, many Cloud-sparrows watched the scene unfold with terror in their eyes. They retreated further into the cave, cowering in fear. Although most were only Grade 1 or Grade 2 and could outnumber Blood Rain, they were too timid to act. The Cloud-sparrow species was known for its meekness, so much so that their first instinct in the face of danger was to flee.

Even the most ordinary hunters could easily capture and kill cloud sparrows.

Upon witnessing the enemy brazenly threatening the safety of their kind, the Sharp Spout Cloud-sparrow, one of the three leaders, let out an enraged squawk. With a powerful flap of its wings, it soared into the sky, hurtling towards Blood Rain with incredible speed. Its long, narrow beak, reminiscent of a crane's, sliced through the air like a blade!

Blood Rain was no fool. With one at Bronze Grade 3 and the other at Bronze Grade 5, even with the speed boost from a high-level Treasure Weapon, there was a significant gap. Blood Rain might have been able to hold its own in a fight, but it hadn't forgotten the true mission Chen Wu had assigned to it.

A barrage of Feather Arrows was fired at the Giant Cloud-sparrow, only to be deflected by the mighty beat of its vast wings!

Realizing the tide had turned against it, Blood Rain made a swift escape.

The Giant Cloud-sparrow pursued furiously, steadily narrowing the gap but never quite catching up. As Blood Rain executed The Hawk Strike Force, a Wind-type Airflow materialized on its wings, propelling it high into the sky and shaking off the Giant Cloud-sparrow!

And so, the two great birds vanished from Yun Su's view...

Blood Rain had triumphed!

"Now's my chance, time for me to make a move!"

A group of young cloud sparrows perched at the cave entrance, cocking their heads in puzzlement as they watched Chen Wu appear from beneath the cliff, beginning his ascent. Their tiny heads were filled with curiosity.

Suddenly, a massive Iron Claw surged towards them, sending the cloud sparrows fleeing back into the safety of the cave in terror.

The Iron Claw swept through the caves with precision, gripping a robust tree thirty meters high near the cliff's summit.

Chen Wu tugged on the rope, then ascended with grace and agility. Planting one foot against the rock face, he propelled himself several meters upward.

The cloud sparrows watched the unexpected visitor in bewilderment, chirping and fluttering around Chen Wu in an intimidating display.

"Back off!"

Chen Wu bellowed, his eyes wide, startling the cloud sparrows into scattering. Though left speechless, he couldn't suppress a chuckle at their timidity—it was just too much!

"Phew! I've made it!"

With a swift maneuver, Chen Wu finally found himself standing at the mouth of the cave. Yet, he didn't let his guard down, for who could say whether this cave was the dwelling of a formidable Demonic Beast? Hu Wang hadn't provided any clues, and Chen Wu was clueless about what might lie within.

Luckily, there was no trace of a Demonic Beast's presence. It was an abandoned cave.

The cave itself was quite roomy, measuring a meter wide and extending over ten meters in length. It certainly didn't resemble a home for Cloud-sparrows; rather, it seemed more fitting for some large creature that nested on the cliffside.

Upon entering, the first thing Chen Wu noticed, aided by the light, was a corpse on the ground!

It was a skeleton, three meters tall, with distinct wing-like bones, and there were even some feathers scattered about that hadn't decomposed. It must have been a large eagle-type Demonic Beast, and its power in life surely must have been far greater than Blood Rain's, at least beyond Bronze Grade 5.

"Perhaps it was once the ruler of this place, only to be slain by the three Giant Cloud-sparrows. That's how this area became a nesting ground for their kind."

That was the only explanation Chen Wu could come up with after some thought.

Beyond the skeleton, Chen Wu searched the area but came up empty-handed.

"Is Hu Wang pulling a fast one on us, or could it be that Hu Wang has already taken all the valuable items?"

"That seems unlikely. I barely managed to get in here with my strength, so it would be impossible for Hu Wang."

Feeling somewhat disheartened, Chen Wu lamented the day's effort spent examining a mere bird skeleton.

When he heard noises outside, Chen Wu realized the Giant Cloud-sparrows had returned. He also sensed Blood Rain's summons and, without a second thought, he summoned Blood Rain back into the Demonic Pet Space.

"Wait a minute, this cave looks like it's been carved by hand. Could it be that the treasure here isn't Heaven-earth Materials And Treasures? Maybe I've been mistaken from the start. Is this a legacy left by a human Demonic Pet Master?"

Considering the possibility, Chen Wu's heart raced with excitement, and what followed only confirmed his suspicions. He discovered that the innermost wall of the cave was not solid!

The soil here was unlike the soil outside; it was damp, and it seemed deliberately blocked by someone!

Chen Wu called upon Blood Rain once more and commanded, "Blood Rain, Iron Claw, shred this wall!"

Blood Rain's sharp claws dug into the earth, and in a flash, a large chunk of the rock face was ripped away. This layer of rock was clearly softer than in other areas.

"Keep going, Blood Rain!"

Chen Wu's excitement grew.

At his master's command, Blood Rain relentlessly clawed at the wall until, with a dull thud, the rock gave way!

"Just as I thought!"

Through the billowing dust, Chen Wu glimpsed a deeper, more secluded tunnel, his heart nearly leaping with elation.

"The one who designed this cave was incredibly shrewd, using such a trick to mislead. Had I not been so meticulous in my observation, I might have completely missed it!"

But then Chen Wu was puzzled. Hu Wang certainly didn't have the means to reach this place, so how did he come to know the secrets within this cave?