C8 Life or Death

To the mountain, humans are incredibly insignificant. This is particularly true when standing at its base, where one cannot even discern the mountain's shape.

Laojiu lacked the ability to soar through the skies or any flying apparatus. His search was fueled solely by determination. He meticulously surveyed the landscape atop each peak he ascended, eager to find even the slightest resemblance to what Patriarch Lieshan had described, unwilling to overlook any detail.

Had this been before the apocalypse, he might have spent decades without a single discovery.

Thankfully, Laojiu was now remarkably strong, with exceptional stamina and speed. Throughout his journey, Patriarch Lieshan occasionally shared tips on harnessing his strength and imparted a set of practical foundational boxing techniques. Without these skills, the myriad of ferocious beasts in the wilderness would have surely claimed his life.

For Laojiu, traversing mountains and fording rivers had become routine. Within months, he had transformed into a veritable wild man.

After a grueling six months, Laojiu at last stumbled upon the long-sought valley. It was the epitome of a primeval forest, and had it not been for the distinctive shape of the mountain peak, he might never have found it.

"Have we entered the valley? Do you see the stone wall to the east?" Patriarch Lieshan asked, his voice tinged with excitement. The arduous search had finally borne fruit.

"What stone wall? All I see are thick vines," Laojiu replied.

"Clear those vines away. If we're in the right place, it will be revealed," Patriarch Lieshan assured him, brimming with confidence. He was certain no one could easily access his Master's meditation cave.

Undeterred by the pesky vines, Laojiu set to work. Following the Patriarch's directions, he measured forty-nine steps from the left of the stone wall and swept aside the overgrowth.

"It looks like just a bare stone wall. Could we be in the wrong place?" Laojiu questioned, his brow furrowed in doubt. The stone wall bore no signs of the concealed mechanism Patriarch Lieshan had described. Even after a few forceful taps, it felt solid, with no indication of a hollow space.

"Give it a good push with all your might. Perhaps the Master concealed the mechanism," Patriarch Lieshan suggested, although he wasn't entirely certain himself. He could only encourage Laojiu to take a chance. It wouldn't be surprising if they had located the wrong spot.

In recent days, they had missed the mark countless times.

Following his Perfect Body Refining, Laojiu's strength now exceeded five thousand kilograms—a truly fearsome figure. Yet, Laojiu had never actually measured it, so he wasn't completely sure of his own power. All he knew was that he could take on a mutated black bear, overpowering the beast with sheer force.

"Open!" Laojiu summoned all his strength and bellowed.

Crack! Crack!

The stone wall emitted two odd noises and, under Laojiu's immense force, it receded three inches, revealing a square door six feet wide and nine feet tall.

"I've actually found it!" Laojiu leapt with joy. There had been no visible seams on the stone wall, but indeed, there was a door.

"Push it in another seven feet. To the right, you'll find a slot. Locate it, and you'll be able to open this door," Patriarch Lieshan instructed, his brief moment of excitement giving way to calm resolve.

"Got it! Keep your eyes peeled—I won't let you down."

Laojiu, still brimming with excitement, felt no fatigue. Despite having to use all his might just to push the door three inches, his determination did not waver.

After roughly ten minutes, a drenched Laojiu managed to push the massive stone door another seven feet and spotted the slot to the right.

The slot was intricately crafted, housing three buttons. Despite its age, it retained a metallic sheen, resembling a finely wrought piece of modern art.

"Hold on, don't touch anything. Are you sure you know how to open it? This is a combination lock. A single wrong press, and we'll be sealed in. Then we'd have to resort to barbarian strength to break through," Patriarch Lieshan warned, halting Laojiu's impulsive reach for the buttons.

"Just one shot at this? Aren't you worried about getting it wrong?" Laojiu asked, puzzled. Even with a key, mistakes could happen, let alone with a complex mechanism.

Would a Holy Level Expert really make such a basic error? If a hair were placed fifty feet away, they could swing a broadsword at it and not cause the slightest damage. That's the level of control one has after achieving Saint Becoming!

"The sequence is the first three, the last seven, making twelve in total. You must be continuous; any pause in the middle could be costly. If you mess up, you'll be in tears, as you likely won't be able to open this cave dwelling for another thirty years."

After giving Laojiu a thorough briefing, Patriarch Lieshan immediately provided the solution. Although Laojiu understood perfectly, he didn't rush into action. Instead, he took a minute to compose himself before making his move.

Three in front, seven in the back, twelve in total!

With Laojiu's touch, the once impossibly heavy stone door glided silently backward as if shedding all its weight. It receded about thirty feet before vanishing into the wall.

A dark, seemingly endless passage lay before him.

"Move forward, and watch the nine-grid pattern beneath your feet. I've explained the way to you many times," Patriarch Lieshan reminded Laojiu. This passage was no easy walk. The mechanisms were mere cautions for the Xuanyuan Huang Monarch, but for Laojiu, a single misstep could be fatal.

As he entered the passage, the stone door slid silently back into place, and the lights within the tunnel illuminated naturally. It was a remarkably user-friendly design, more reminiscent of a modern technological marvel than an ancient cave dwelling.

After advancing a hundred yards, Laojiu breathed a sigh of relief, having cautiously navigated the Nine Palatial Rows. The path ahead was largely mechanism-free.

The tunnel continued, sloping downward without end in sight. The air remained refreshingly clear, a testament to the Xuanyuan Monarch's ingenuity.

Descending for roughly twenty miles, the space ahead suddenly opened up, and the sound of water echoed through the expanse.

"Wow, this place is enormous!" Laojiu marveled.

The cavern was at least three times larger than their old school's playing field, with a ceiling soaring over fifty feet high. A menacing dragon relief sprawled across the front wall, seeming ready to leap off the surface. To the right stood a weapon rack, laden with an array of arms—swords, spears, halberds, and more, a complete arsenal on display.

A sense of grandeur and dominance washed over them, incredibly imposing!

"From now on, this will be your Martial Training Field. Head to the third stone room on your right," Patriarch Lieshan said, unfazed. He had seen it all before, having encountered Martial Training Fields far more majestic than this one.

Laojiu wandered around, his eyes wide with wonder, as if he were a thief who had snuck into the palace!

He was captivated by everything here, knowing it would soon be his alone.

"This stone room is bare, with nothing but stone tables and stools."

Laojiu looked around the stone room but found nothing of use.

"Rotate the top stone stool three times to the left, then turn the stone table one and a half times to the right. Align the corner of the table with the stool."

Patriarch Lieshan directed Laojiu once more, revealing steps he had never mentioned before, showing his cautious nature.

"Isn't this my own cave? Why all the complications?" Laojiu grumbled to himself as he worked, puzzled by Xuanyuan Huang Monarch's methods.

"You have no idea how crucial this is. No amount of caution is too much. Do you realize how many Holy Level Experts perished trying to get this?"

Chastised by Patriarch Lieshan, Laojiu executed a series of maneuvers. The stone room began to descend slowly, revealing a passageway after sinking about ten feet.

"Don't enter; it's a trap. I faced danger when I entered, and you would be in even greater peril! Return the stone table and stool to their original positions and continue downward. Remember, table first, then stool. If you reverse the order, the chamber will reset to its original place."

Patriarch Lieshan's stern warning sent a chill down Laojiu's spine. The mechanism was devilishly clever; anyone would be tempted to explore the passageway.

After the sequence of movements, the stone chamber sank once more, this time descending a full fifty feet before halting. Yet, there was no tunnel as Laojiu had envisioned, only five small holes in the stone wall, resembling the indentations for a human's fingers.

"Insert your fingers into the hole to test your bloodline!"

"Seriously? We have to check the bloodline? Does it mean only the descendants of the Dragon Monarch can succeed?" Laojiu was incredibly frustrated. He truly didn't feel any blood connection to an ancestor from thousands of years ago.

"Enough with the chatter! Theoretically, all of you, as descendants of our Master, should be recognized; even the faintest trace of bloodline should be detectable," Patriarch Lieshan assured Laojiu with great confidence.

"But what if it doesn't work? Do I just have to leave?"

Laojiu felt disheartened. After enduring so much to get here, he now faced an unexpected and formidable challenge.

It made sense, though. Xuanyuan Huang Monarch had faced death to secure this legacy and certainly didn't intend for it to fall into the hands of outsiders. Only those he acknowledged could inherit it.

"Go back? You're overthinking it! If the bloodline isn't a match, you'll die here, and no one can save you, not even me."

Patriarch Lieshan's words were chilling. Laojiu, about to extend his finger, hastily withdrew it, not wanting to die for an unknown cause.

"That's a bit harsh, isn't it?"

Laojiu wavered. If it were just him, death might be acceptable. But he had parents to consider; he couldn't just throw his life away.

"Fear is pointless. You've reached a point of no return. If you don't test your blood, you'll be attacked anyway. Do it now!"

"Damn, this is too cruel! This is a trap!"

Laojiu swore under his breath. He hadn't anticipated this kind of situation. Whether he extended or retracted his head, it seemed he'd face the blade either way.

"If I have to die, so be it!"

With gritted teeth, Laojiu extended his right hand. His fingers were suddenly gripped tight, and a sharp pain shot through their tips.

"The blood test has to be successful! Come on, pass! Pass! Pass!"

Laojiu's inner monologue was frantic, his nerves more frayed than during any final exam he'd ever taken.

Yet the blood-testing device remained silent, offering no indication of success or initiating an attack. Laojiu waited in agony, his eyes nearly popping out as he stared at the stone wall.

"Take it easy. Perhaps your bloodline is indeed diluted, and it just takes a bit longer for you. If something were truly amiss, you'd likely be dead by now," Patriarch Lieshan offered comfortingly.

"Fingers crossed," Laojiu replied.

While they were talking, Laojiu noticed the grip on his fingers loosening. He swiftly pulled his hand back and began to look around anxiously.

Some time passed, and suddenly a 'beep' echoed from the stone wall. Following that, the wall cracked down the middle, finally revealing a hidden passageway.