After another half hour of navigating winding tunnels and crumbling passages, the group reached what appeared to be the end of the cave. Before them stood a massive stone door, at least three meters tall, with intricate carvings of arrows, and bowstrings etched deeply into its surface. A mysterious aura surrounded it, sending a slight chill down the spines of those present.
"I think the treasure is behind it"one of the Xiao Clan elders said, his voice filled with anticipation.
"Yes, let's open it"Hu Sun agreed, stepping forward and scanning the door's frame.
Without delay, they called forth several rogue Cultivators to attempt to open the door. Five of them—burly, hardened men—walked up and began pushing against the stone door.
Despite their combined strength and effort, the door didn't budge an inch.
Just then—
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
A sudden barrage of arrows shot out from both sides of the corridor. Ten arrows, nearly invisible to the eye, streaked through the air with deadly precision.
Before anyone could react, the arrows pierced through the bodies of the five rogue Cultivators. They fell to the ground instantly, blood pooling beneath them.
"It's a trap! Run!"one of the Mo Clan elders shouted, eyes wide in horror.
But it was too late for several others who had unknowingly stepped closer to the stone door. More arrows suddenly appeared from the wall and fired, striking down those in their path.
In the chaos, Shi Feng remained unmoved. Calmly, he stepped forward, eyes scanning the walls and the stone door.
"This is a Tier 2 Array Formation. It's called the 'Hundred Arrow Array'. It's been rigged to activate when someone tries to open the door directly. The array is connected to the stone door's frame."Shi Feng explained coolly, his voice cutting through the panic
Everyone fell silent.
Even the most powerful Martial Grandmasters present felt a chill run down their spines. They looked toward Shi Feng, realization dawning in their eyes—this youth wasn't just strong, he was knowledgeable in Array Formations as well.
Xiao Wei narrowed his eyes. So that was it—no wonder Shi Feng was so calm. He had a deeper understanding of the cave's mechanisms.
The group pulled back from the door, waiting for the Martial Grandmasters to decide the next course of action. Behind the veil of panic and awe, Xiao Wei quietly studied the door and surrounding walls. Somewhere beyond that door lay the remains—or the legacy—of a powerful cultivator.
The cave, now deathly quiet after the triggering of the deadly trap, echoed with the heavy breaths of Cultivators who had narrowly escaped death. The tension remained thick among the group. Blood still stained the rocky floor where the arrows had claimed their victims, and a subtle metallic tang lingered in the air.
One of the Xiao Clan elders, his expression pale and lined with worry, turned toward Shi Feng, his voice edged with desperation.
"Then what should we do now? If that formation is tied to the door, how can we proceed without risking our lives?"he asked.
Before Shi Feng could reply, Hu Sun took a step forward, folding his arms and speaking with forced calm.
"Don't panic. We can still resolve this. Let's send a few more people to examine the surroundings and look for clues or weaknesses in the array. Maybe we can find a safer path."Hu Sun said.
There were murmurs of discontent. Several rogue Cultivators started shaking their heads.
"We're not going near that door. You want us to die too?"one of them muttered.
Yet before their protests could build, a group of twenty was selected, largely from those at the back—less influential, less powerful, and easier to pressure. Xiao Wei, who had been standing silently behind everyone, was one of them.
While others voiced their reluctance or refused to move, Xiao Wei said nothing. Without complaint or expression, he stepped forward and began approaching the stone door.
His calmness set him apart. A few sneered at what they saw as blind obedience, while others cast him pitying glances.
But Xiao Wei had no intention of dying. He wasn't about to push the door. Instead, he moved slowly, eyes sharp, every step deliberate. He reached the stone door and crouched near it, brushing away the thick dust and dirt that had settled over centuries. His fingers moved with a careful rhythm, revealing ancient engravings hidden beneath the grime.
As the dust lifted, a murmur rose among the group. Etched deeply into the stone were elegant characters glowing faintly with residual Spiritual Energy.
[Only For My Descendant.]
The words shimmered in the dim light, commanding reverence and disappointment alike.
"Only for his descendant?"one of the Mo clan elders muttered, eyes wide with disbelief.
Hu Sun scowled, veins twitching in his forehead.
"Then none of us can enter. What a waste of time!"Hu Sun muttered to himself in an angry voice.
The group erupted into anger and frustration. Whispers and curses flowed freely. Several had already lost companions to the trap, and now, with treasure so close, the cave seemed sealed against them.
Amidst this clamor, Shi Feng began walking forward.
All eyes turned to him.
He moved with quiet confidence, a thin trickle of fresh blood from Armoured Snake still on his hand from earlier. The emerald-colored bow on his back gleamed faintly in the cavern's dim glow. Even the usually arrogant elders fell silent.
Shi Feng reached the door. Standing beside it now was Xiao Wei, who, sensing the shifting attention, began backing away with slow, inconspicuous steps. Blending with the other rogue Cultivators, he slipped behind them, avoiding notice. His goal had never been the treasure—only the corpse of the powerful Cultivator rumored to lie beyond.
Shi Feng stood still for a moment, inspecting the ancient door. Then, in a silent motion, he lifted his hand and cut a small injury on it. It allowed few drop of his blood to fall upon the carved inscription.
As if awakened by some ancient pact, the stone trembled faintly. The engraving glowed brighter, pulsing with vibrant energy. A deep click echoed through the cave, followed by a grinding sound as the stone door slowly began to shift.
Gasps and astonished murmurs filled the air. Dust spilled from the crevices of the opening door, ancient mechanisms stirring to life after centuries of stillness. Then, with a low groan, the massive stone slab slid open, revealing the hidden chamber within.
A pale green glow spilled out of the chamber.
Shi Feng stepped inside without a word.
No one stopped him.
The elders exchanged glances—worried, knowing that this young man was not just some rogue Cultivator. If he could open the door with his blood, then he was indeed a descendant of the Cultivator who once slew the Tier 4 Level 9 Fire Tiger.
He had the bloodline. And now, he had the right to claim the treasure which is inside the cave.
The rest began to follow—first the clan Elders, cautious and wary, and then the more confident Martial Masters. The rogue Cultivators hesitated, looking among themselves for signs of danger, but greed pulled them forward.
Xiao Wei remained at the back.
He waited until nearly everyone else had stepped through the door before cautiously moving in, his eyes darting from the walls to the ceiling for signs of more traps. But none came.
Inside, the chamber stretched out wider than anyone expected. The interior was lit by softly glowing crystal formations along the walls. The air smelled fresh despite the centuries, rich with the scent of life and herbs.
At the heart of the chamber stood a raised pedestal.
Upon it rested a single, emerald-colored bow which look little alike Shi Feng bow but the Spiritual Energy of Shi Feng bow can't be compared to the bow above the pedestal.
It gleamed like polished jade, carved with intricate runes and threads of gold. Though no one had touched it, the bow seemed alive with energy, its presence commanding the space.
Beyond the pedestal, the entire cavern was a living sanctuary. Every inch of the cave's walls and floor was blanketed with an astonishing variety of plants—more than five hundred plants were growing there, each has their own unique properties. These were not mere decorations but potent ingredients, vital for alchemy, healing, and countless other mystical arts. The herbs with leaves shimmering faintly in the dim light grew alongside rare flowers that emitted a soft, otherworldly glow, their fragrances mingling in the air like a delicate symphony.
The cave felt alive, pulsing with a vibrant Spiritual Energy that seemed to hum through the roots and stems of every plant. This energy wove through the air, thick yet pure, nourishing the flora and amplifying their potency.
The Cultivators stared, awestruck. There hands trembling with desire and greed.
But no one dared to move. Because it was clear to all of them that all of this treasure belonged to one man only—Shi Feng.