“Sir,” Li Xi began slowly, his voice deep and magnetic, “do you know what happened to the old monk Huiming afterward? Although the demonic beast was eliminated, did the old monk himself also pay a heavy price?”

The storyteller was taken aback, clearly not expecting such a question. "This is a good question, young master. The aftermath of the old monk Huiming is indeed little known. Legend has it that after the fierce battle with the demon beast, although the old monk was victorious, he was also seriously injured and his cultivation was greatly reduced. Knowing that his lifespan was not long, he returned to Youlan Temple, secluded himself, and devoted himself to writing and teaching, compiling all his learning and cultivation insights into a book to leave to future generations who are destined to receive it."

“And those books,” the storyteller paused deliberately.

Looking around and seeing that everyone was listening intently, he continued, "It is said that it contains methods to solve many mysteries and evil spirits in the world, and even secrets to help people achieve enlightenment and become immortals. However, over the course of a thousand years, Youlan Temple has experienced several periods of rise and fall, and those precious scriptures have long been lost to the world, becoming yet another unsolved mystery."

After hearing this, Li Xi gave a cold laugh and said nothing more.

Seeing this, Qin Xiaolin coughed lightly and whispered, "Xiaoxi, this is just a story, don't take it too seriously."

Li Xi's gaze remained fixed ahead, a faint smile curving her lips. "Let's go back."

For the next two days, the three of them, like carefree wanderers, traveled around Yunyin City, enjoying the scenery.

The climate here is like spring all year round, warm and pleasant, with lush green trees and blooming flowers in the mountains.

Sometimes they strolled along mountain paths, enjoying the soft earth and the fragrance of grass beneath their feet. Sometimes they stopped by streams to watch the fish frolicking in the water. Sometimes they climbed to the top of mountains to overlook the magnificent scenery of Cloud Hidden City and its surroundings.

The two scouts who had been following them discovered after several days of observation that the three men seemed to be just ordinary merchants, without any unusual behavior.

As a result, the two scouts gradually lowered their guard and eventually decided to stop following them.

The three of them looked down from the top of Lingyun Peak and saw the sea of ​​clouds churning, like thousands of horses galloping endlessly across the vast sky.

"The ruins should be in that valley ahead," Xu Shanzhang said, pointing to the valley ahead.

The valley was shrouded in a light mist, and they slowly walked into the misty valley along the winding path.

As you venture deeper, the surrounding scenery becomes increasingly strange, with ancient trees reaching for the sky and vines entwining everything, as if you have stepped into a secluded secret realm.

Suddenly, a deep rumble came from the depths of the valley, accompanied by a slight tremor in the ground, causing the three of them to stop in their tracks.

"This is..." Qin Xiaolin hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

Xu Shanzhang looked into the depths of the jungle, frowned, and said in a deep voice, "It is said that the black bears of Yunyin City are enormous and incredibly strong. Their roars can shatter rocks and strike fear into the hearts of all." He had done a lot of research before coming here.

At this moment, the roaring sound coming from the depths of the valley, along with the tremors that followed, inevitably brought to mind that terrifying beast.

"What's there to be afraid of? Kill one if one comes, kill two if two come." Li Xi reached behind his back, drew his longsword, and prepared to fight.

As they went deeper, the roaring became increasingly deafening, as if the entire valley was echoing the roars of the giant beasts.

The leaves swayed wildly in the wind, stirring up clouds of dust, and the sky seemed to darken as dark clouds began to gather.

Qin Xiaolin's gaze turned serious. He looked around, trying to find a possible refuge in the dense forest. "We need to find a place to hide. We can't face them directly. Black bear attacks are no joke."

As he spoke, he quickly scanned the terrain, finally pointing to a seemingly naturally formed cave. "There, quick!"

The three moved quickly toward the cave, each step filled with tension and unease.

Li Xi gripped his longsword tightly. Although he spoke toughly, his palms were even sweating.

Although she remained tough on the outside and made defiant statements, she was actually feeling uneasy deep down.

It should be noted that at this moment, this body is just an ordinary mortal, and due to the many injuries and torments he suffered in his early years, his physical condition is far from what it used to be.

Every breath and every movement aggravates those old wounds, causing them to ache faintly.

Xu Shanzhang kept a close watch on the rear to prevent a sudden attack by the black bear.

As soon as you step into the cave, a chilling aura hits you, but compared to the dangers outside, this is undoubtedly a safe haven.

They pressed themselves against the cave wall, holding their breath, the only sounds being their rapid breathing and the increasingly approaching roar from outside.

Just then, a violent tremor was heard, accompanied by the sound of boulders rolling down, clearly indicating that a group of black bears was searching for them nearby.

Suddenly, a small black bear wandered into the cave, seemingly having lost its way and strayed in by mistake.

Upon seeing the three people, the little bear let out a low growl.

Seeing this, Xu Shanzhang picked up a stone and smashed it against the rock wall behind the bear. The loud noise attracted the bear's attention, and it turned around and pounced towards the sound.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Qin Xiaolin pulled Li Xi and Xu Shanzhang deeper into the cave.

However, the further in you go, the darker it gets, and the path under your feet becomes rugged and uneven.

Just when they were feeling hopeless, they discovered a faint glimmer of light ahead.

They ran toward the light and emerged from the cave, arriving at the edge of a tranquil lake.

The lake shimmered with an eerie light, as if a mysterious power enveloped the area. The black bears seemed wary of this region and did not pursue them.

The three of them breathed a sigh of relief and slumped down by the lake.

Even though the three of them were highly skilled in combat, they were still powerless against a pack of black bears as large as small mountains.

"Let's keep going, let's get out of here first." Qin Xiaolin pulled the two of them up and continued walking along the lake.

Along the way, they discovered some strange flowers and plants they had never seen before growing on the lakeshore. Their petals were crystal clear and emitted a faint fluorescent glow, which reflected the shimmering light on the lake surface, adding a touch of mystery and beauty to the tranquil night. A strange fragrance filled the air, refreshing and soothing, as if the fatigue and tension of the past few days had been gently swept away by the fragrance.

“This place is truly incredible,” Xu Shanzhang exclaimed softly.

His gaze swept around, trying to capture all this incredible sight, “It was like entering another world.”

Could there be a spiritual vein here? His eyes lit up at the thought.

Qin Xiaolin nodded in agreement and walked at the front. His longsword occasionally touched the ground, producing a crisp sound that was particularly clear in the tranquil depths of the mountain.