Chapter 93: Exploring Mount Tai Valley: Calming the Beast with the Flute, the Conspiracy Unfolds
Gong Simeng wielded a soft whip, the tip of the whip lashed towards the black panther like a blade, with a crisp "snap," seemingly slicing through the air.
Her movements were graceful and agile, her posture charming, like a blooming lotus flower dancing in the wind, each action exuding elegance and sharpness.
Xiang Kun was chanting spells on the side, muttering words, his voice deep and obscure, as if conversing with ancient and mysterious powers. With his chanting, a gust of fierce wind howled up, making a "whoosh" sound, like a ferocious beast baring its teeth and claws at the black panther, causing its fur to be in disarray, and its originally agile movements were somewhat hindered. Its body swayed in the wind, emitting a low growl of displeasure.
Jin Liufu seized the opportunity, his gaze sharp as an eagle's, swiftly taking out a small flying saber. With a flick of his wrist, the small flying saber whistled sharply through the air, like a black bolt of lightning, striking the black panther's back.
However, this strike only provoked an angry roar from the black panther, echoing through the valley, but did not cause any substantial harm. The black panther just shook its body, becoming even more ferocious.
At this moment, a faint layer of black mist seemed to emanate around the black panther's body, as thick as ink, exuding an evil aura that was nauseating. Its attack became even more fierce, with endless viciousness in its eyes.
Shi Feiyang realized that conventional attacks were ineffective, so he took a deep breath and harnessed all of his inner strength. This inner strength surged like rushing rivers within him. He infused this inner strength onto the Myanmar saber, which immediately radiated brilliance, lighting up the entire valley like a blazing sun, hurting people's eyes.
Simultaneously, Shi Feiyang shouted loudly, his voice like thunder, making the valley reverberate with a buzzing sound.
He executed a saber technique from the "Hundred Victories Saber Technique," which was extremely powerful, called "The Eternity of Heaven and Earth." A fierce saber momentum appeared like a dazzling long rainbow, carrying a force like mountains and seas, directly cleaving at the black panther.
This saber force carried a strong sense of oppression, seemingly ripping through the air, making a "sizzle" sound.
The Myanmar saber struck the black panther, "Bang!" A loud noise like thunder exploding on flat ground.
The black panther let out a painful wail, the sound shrill and tragic, its body was flung several yards away, tracing an arc in the air, and heavily falling to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust with a muffled "poof" sound.
However, the black panther did not die; it struggled to stand, its limbs trembling slightly, but its eyes were even fiercer, thoroughly enraged.
Just as it was about to launch another attack, a melodious flute sound suddenly echoed through the valley.
The flute sound flowed like a spring of clear water in the air, crisp and pleasing, "ding ding dong dong," able to cleanse the dust of the world and soothe all restlessness. The originally violent black panther gradually calmed down upon hearing the flute, the fierceness in its eyes gradually dissipated, the trembling of its body slowly ceased, and it turned and slowly stepped into the mist, its figure gradually disappearing into the hazy fog.
Shi Feiyang and the others looked at each other, filled with confusion, puzzled by the source of the flute sound and why it could calm the black panther.
They turned to look at Xiang Kun, as Xiang Kun also knew how to produce such enchanting flute sounds.
Xiang Kun said, "This flute sound is indeed peculiar. I once obtained a similar flute in an ancient cave, and that flute contained an ancient magic power, capable of calming beasts and even influencing a person's mind. However, this flute sound is clearly different from my flute, it is more pure and without any impurities, seemingly containing some sacred power."
Shi Feiyang nodded, then led the group of heroes to follow the direction of the flute sound, their steps hasty yet cautious.
They discovered a cave ahead, with a white-haired elder standing at the entrance.
The elder was dressed in a plain robe, his clothes fluttering, holding a jade flute, a gentle smile on his face, a smile as warm as the spring breeze, as if he had anticipated their arrival, slightly dispelling the vigilance in their hearts. Shi Feiyang and his company slowly approached the cave. The elder set down the jade flute in his hand, examining them with gentle eyes that seemed to peer into their very souls.
Shi Feiyang respectfully bowed, demonstrating humility, and inquired, "Elder, may I ask if the flute music we heard just now was played by you? Moreover, what is the origin of this black panther?"
The elder nodded lightly, his movements steady, his tone low yet firm, "Indeed, it was I. This black panther is originally the spirit beast of the valley, unfortunately manipulated by an evil person using dark magic, leading to its drastic change in temperament."
Gong Simeng's brows furrowed slightly, her eyes full of doubt, her voice crisp yet cautious as she asked, "Elder, why have you appeared here? Is it related to the secret of this valley?" Upon hearing this, the elder heaved a long sigh, filled with the vicissitudes and helplessness of a thousand years, the sigh softly echoing within the cave.
He then slowly turned around, walking with steady yet slightly faltering steps towards the depths of the cave, gently raising a hand, signaling for everyone to follow, his figure appearing somewhat forlorn in the dim light.
Inside the cave, candlelight flickered, the dim light casting uncertain shadows on the cave walls, leaving behind mysterious marks of time. Several yellowing scrolls hung on the walls, seeming as though eroded by the winds of time, the paper so fragile it appeared as though it might crumble at a gentle touch. The paintings depicted strange ceremonies and mysterious symbols, symbols twisted and serpentine, resembling ancient mysterious text, or perhaps some sort of enigmatic totem, narrating long-sealed and unknown secrets, evoking awe and curiosity, as if an invisible hand was tugging at their thoughts.
The elder walked steadily to one of the paintings, his fingers calloused, trembling slightly as he slowly pointed at the painting, his voice deep and hoarse as he spoke, "Many years ago, I traveled to this place and accidentally discovered that this valley harbors a world-shattering secret related to the survival of the Martial Arts world. A mysterious organization, aiming to dominate the Martial Arts, once plotted a terrible conspiracy here. They discovered an ancient and mysterious power; once released, the entire Martial Arts world would plunge into an inescapable abyss of chaos."
Shi Feiyang's heart thudded violently at these words, his breathing suddenly growing rapid, his chest heaving intensely.
His gaze sharpened like an eagle's, fixing intently on the elder, hurriedly asking, "Then, are the missing sect leaders connected to this mysterious organization? During our investigations, we found that many clues pointed here."
The elder's gaze was deep and serious, like a bottomless ancient well, unfathomable, as he said, "Indeed, those sect leaders may have sensed danger and were secretly captured by the mysterious organization. This parchment scroll," he slightly turned his body, pointing with aged fingers towards the parchment scroll in Shi Feiyang's hand, "is the key to unlocking the secret place deep within the valley."
With an anxious and uneasy heart, they handed the parchment scroll to the elder.
The elder received it with both hands, those hands full of the wrinkles of time, each line seemingly etched with stories, his hands trembling slightly as if bearing the heavy history of the parchment scroll. A hint of solemnity shone in his eyes as he carefully examined the parchment scroll, then steadily walked towards the end of the cave. Stopping before a stone wall, he began to search it, his fingers moving slowly across the stone as though caressing ancient memories, seemingly looking for some hidden mechanism.
With a muffled rumble, like the roar of a beast that had slept for a thousand years, the stone wall slowly opened with a "boom".
A wave of old, decaying air rushed forth, the scent forcing them to frown, as if from another time and space, revealing a deep dark passage. The passage was filled with a decaying smell, the darkness thick as ink, seeming to swallow everything, its destination unknown, filling their hearts with a fear of the unknown, as if eyes in the darkness were watching them.
Taking deep breaths, they mustered their spirits, continuing forward along the passage, their footsteps echoing heavily in the silent tunnel, "thud-thud-thud," sounding like the echo of their own heartbeats, each step seemingly treading upon their own heartbeat.
Not far ahead, the sounds of bustling voices emerged.
Shi Feiyang's expression turned grave, his eyes revealing vigilance, and he raised his hand slightly to signal everyone to pause.
He then cautiously approached to investigate, each step taken with utmost care, his toes lightly touching the ground to avoid making a sound, resembling a lurking leopard, body tense, ready to strike at any moment.
A group of black-clad figures was seen moving some large crates, the crates marked with symbols identical to those of the mysterious organization's emblem, those symbols flickering with eerie phantasmagorical light in the dimness, sending chills down their spines.