Strangely enough, when Senju Yukika stood atop the Giant Peak, he couldn't project his spiritual pressure into the cave no matter how hard he tried.
But now, standing inside the cave itself, even though his spiritual pressure was still diffusing outward, it could spread quite far, allowing him to clearly perceive that something was embedded in the stone walls surrounding the cavern.
What puzzled him even more was that no matter how far his spiritual pressure penetrated, he still couldn't see the end of the cave!
It was as if this cave extended into an infinite distance, with no way of knowing where it ultimately led...
Through his spiritual perception, he noticed that strange images were carved on the stone walls lining both sides of the cave.
These carvings depicted Buddhist monks in various postures and poses.
Each image gave off a profound feeling that seemed to touch one's soul at a glance—mysterious and inexplicable, evoking a deep, ineffable sensation.
Further ahead, Senju Yukika also sensed numerous broken statues.
Worn down by the passage of time, most of these statues were badly damaged, making it nearly impossible to discern their original forms without the help of expert restoration techniques.
At this moment, following Senju Yukika's instructions, Tanaka Yuu sat cross-legged on the ground and began to meditate quietly.
Having just endured the chaos caused by the locust-like beasts, he quickly calmed himself. Senju Yukika nodded quietly to himself.
This simple act showed that Tanaka possessed natural talent when it came to practical training and composure.
Seeing the boy so calmly cultivating, Senju Yukika drew a circle beside him and immediately cast a field of spiritual pressure that enveloped the child's head.
Should anything foreign enter this protected area, he would sense it instantly.
With that done, he stepped deeper into the cave…
Meanwhile, the entire Giant Peak Mountain had erupted into chaos. Those who had come in search of treasure were fleeing in all directions.
The people of the Carefree Heavenly Palace were the fastest; they had already escaped down to the mountain's base.
But behind them, at least tens of thousands of locust-like monsters were surging after them, packed densely together!
Some disciples of the Carefree Heavenly Palace were unwilling to simply run. With a flick of their folding fans, they unleashed a series of tornados behind them!
The gales were ferocious, blasting a large group of the locust beasts into the air where their bodies shattered mid-flight.
"Brother, these locust beasts aren't that strong after all!" one disciple joked.
But Lin Xiaoyao's face darkened. He immediately scolded, "What do you know? True, these locust beasts aren't powerful individually, but could you destroy so many lantern beasts alone?"
The disciple fell silent. Lin Xiaoyao was right—while none of the monsters were particularly strong, their sheer numbers could overwhelm even the most elite warriors.
If they were ever surrounded, escape would become impossible. Their only chance was to keep running and somehow shake them off entirely.
Suddenly, a mysterious cave appeared in their path. Lin Xiaoyao's eyes narrowed—he instantly recognized what it was.
After a moment's hesitation, he rushed inside, followed closely by the disciples of the Carefree Heavenly Palace.
The swarm of locust beasts quickly caught up and began circling outside the mysterious cave, but none dared to enter.
Something within the cave seemed to exude a mystical force that struck fear into the heart of every locust monster nearby.
Buzz… Buzz… Buzz…
Despite their numbers and the deafening hum of their wings, not a single one of the creatures dared cross the cave's threshold.
However, the massive swarm didn't retreat either. Unwilling to give up, they lingered outside, unwilling to disperse.
The Carefree Heavenly Palace had been lucky to stumble upon this cave, which now served as a temporary refuge.
But the same could not be said for the other sects and factions.
The people of the Beast King Hall, each mounted on their own spirit beasts, were too conspicuous and sluggish.
Before they could even make it halfway down the mountain, the locust beasts caught up to them!
The lead beast—a silver-gray horse-shaped creature—was instantly swarmed. It was dragged to the ground, its flesh rapidly dissolving!
The locust beasts swung their sharp horns wildly, tearing into the beast's flesh. Within seconds, it was reduced to a pile of gleaming white bones.
Everyone from the Beast King Hall was horrified!
They had spent years training these spirit beasts, only to watch them be annihilated so easily.
The sinister-looking young man in the lead barked, "Accelerate! Run faster!"
His heart trembled. He had brought over a dozen rare beasts to the Giant Peak Mountain. If they were all lost here, he would face severe punishment from his lord upon returning!
Meanwhile, the members of Stone City moved swiftly and nimbly. They quickly outpaced the locust horde, leaving them far behind.
Shangguan had followed the disciples of the Sword Palace to the base of the mountain. By sheer luck, they too discovered a mysterious cave and slipped inside.
Once within, the locust beasts didn't dare pursue them and only hovered outside, refusing to disperse.
From the mouth of the cave, the disciples looked out anxiously. The dark mass outside blotted out the sky, a dense curtain of black locust monsters.
They exchanged nervous glances. No one knew when this terrifying horde would finally leave.
If the monsters didn't retreat, would they end up trapped in this cave forever?
None of the treasure hunters who had come to Giant Peak Mountain could have foreseen this nightmare. They had only just glimpsed the shadow of treasure before being driven to the brink of collapse by the monstrous swarm.
Just then, in the distant sky, a massive flying vessel drifted slowly overhead.
Golden light shimmered from its surface. The vessel looked regal and magnificent. Seated atop it was a young man clad in brocade robes and a jade belt. His appearance was noble, his bearing extraordinary.
Two middle-aged men dressed as guards stood at his sides, each radiating a powerful aura.
"Third Prince, we've arrived at the Giant Peak Mountain range," the man on the left said with a respectful bow.
This young man was the third prince of the Rakshasa Kingdom, favored deeply by the current monarch.
There were even whispers that he might be the next Rakshasa King.