Hmm? I rubbed my eyes, sweeping the beam of the flashlight along the contours of the stalagmite forest again, and the more I looked, the more alarmed I became. Didn't these outlines bear a striking resemblance to the Cloud Demon we saw at Yanjin'ao? Could that Cloud Demon have been generated by the formless flame burning the stalagmite forest? If so... how exactly did it form? And where did the hail that melted instantly upon touching the hand come from?

Could it be... that Cloud Demon was actually one of the mind-confusing 'Soul Fiends'?

"Ji Ye... Ji Ye..." I called out twice but received no reply. I turned my head and saw that Ji Ye, Tan Ping'er, and Man Niaoniao were standing motionless, their backs to me, like three clay bodhisattvas. Sensing that something was amiss, I quickly turned and bounded over to them. In the flickering light of the torch, I was horrified to see a face, completely blackened with features blurred, looking half-smiling, half-weeping, suddenly emerging from the shadows. As the firelight danced, the expression on the face shifted constantly—sometimes aloof and inscrutable, sometimes snarling with menacing ferocity...

Every nerve in my body twitched. Seeing the three of them frozen, a surge of anger hit me. I sidled past them, and before I could even check their expressions, a blinding circle of light from the flashlight revealed a naked, dark-skinned man sitting rigidly astride a horse, blocking my path. He had thick arms and thighs, a puffed-out chest and sunken abdomen, and an expression both bizarre and mysterious. Even stranger, the male appendage symbolizing his masculinity stood erect, swaggering proudly, looking utterly self-assured and invincible...

I stared dumbfounded at the figure for a long time. Seeing no movement whatsoever, doubt crept in. Mustering my courage, I nudged him, only to find his body ice-cold, entirely unmoved by my push. My confusion deepened. I tightly circled him with the flashlight beam, gripped my machete, and struck his belly hard. Clang! Sparks flew, and a jarring numbness shot up my arm from the hilt, yet the figure didn't react at all. A pearly white chip had been struck from his belly, contrasting sharply with the surrounding dim, dusky skin.

Granite? I could hardly believe my eyes. Was this man made of stone? Leaning closer, I saw the stone figure's skin was rough, covered in bulging rock knots, vastly different from a real human form... Damn it all, I thought he was one of those legendary 'Zongzi'!

Simultaneously, the clang sound startled the three "clay bodhisattvas." Tan Ping'er whimpered softly at first, quickly covering her eyes with both hands. After a long moment, she shyly lifted her head, her face flushed crimson, occasionally glancing over with words caught in her throat.

"Blast it, I thought it was a dried corpse!" Man Niaoniao wiped sweat from his forehead, forcing an arrogant expression onto his face. He drew his machete, swung it decisively, and smashed the stone man's self-important appendage clean off; it tumbled into a corner and vanished.

I couldn't stop him, muttering inwardly that perhaps Man Niaoniao was so furious because he felt inferior.

I held the flashlight and carefully illuminated the stone figure from head to toe, finding no trace of deliberate carving. I thought to myself, Strange, could this stone man be naturally formed? I ducked under the stone man's arm and looked behind it, confirming that a chaotic, formless mass of granite rock stood there. As I swept the light behind me, I was horrified to discover many other rock formations resembling human bodies crammed together haphazardly—old and young, tall and short, fat and thin. Some stood tall and imposing, while others were compact, either sitting or lying down... their forms were endlessly varied. Only a few stone figures were truly lifelike, resembling the unfinished human clay models of a master sculptor. Naturally, all the stone figures were naked, most exposing genitalia and private areas resembling real human anatomy, seemingly emphasizing their masculinity without any hint of shyness or evasion...

The stone figures leaned on each other, shoulder to shoulder, packed tightly. The entire space looked like a bustling marketplace frozen instantly in time.

I was utterly stunned by the scene, completely unaware that Ji Ye and the other two had followed me in.

Man Niaoniao and I were young. Although we knew we shouldn't look at inappropriate places, our eyes kept drifting toward certain areas on the female stone figures. Several times, I had an impulse to touch those mysterious parts, but constrained by Tan Ping'er’s presence, fearing I might lose composure and embarrass myself, I forced myself to appear righteous, suppressing the wicked fire churning inside me, breathing heavily as I slowly navigated the narrow gaps between the stones.

After Man Niaoniao had performed an unofficial castration on the first stone figure, he was now completely mesmerized, a ruffian's grin plastered on his face, mouth slightly agape, drooling faintly. He would occasionally pretend to brush past the female stones, his hand already reaching where it shouldn't. His gasps grew louder, his swallowing more frequent. He had long since stopped competing with the swaggering 'fixtures' of the male stone figures, adopting an air of indifference, his gaze barely lingering on the male figures, just a fleeting glance...

I didn't dare look at Tan Ping'er, so I couldn't tell what her expression was. I only felt her following silently behind, the heat of her breath tickling my neck—a strangely pleasant sensation. Ji Ye, holding the torch, waved it left and right, repeatedly clicking his tongue, unsure if he was marveling at the sheer number of stone figures or something else entirely. Hua'er had long since vanished somewhere!

The four of us moved slowly, using flashlights and torches, navigating between the arms, crotches, and gaps of the various stone figures, simultaneously amazed by such a grand and bizarre scene, yet completely puzzled—these stone figures showed no signs of carving; they seemed entirely natural, so how could they possess such dynamic form and spirit? If nature was the artisan here, then the skill of this craftsman could no longer be described merely as 'supernatural finesse.'

Watching the myriad stone figures under the alternating beams of the flashlight and torch, their expressions rich and their postures graceful, we completely forgot where and when we were, utterly captivated and soul-lost by this strange and mysterious spectacle.

By the time we realized something was wrong, we had no idea where we had entered from. Stone figures were packed tightly around us in every direction. The light from our torches and flashlights struck and refracted off the stone bodies, illuminating only a tiny area. The rest of the space was an inky, empty blackness, so we couldn't possibly know how many stone figures filled this cavern.

At the same time, the color of those naked stone bodies was growing whiter and cleaner, no longer the dusky gray we first saw. Their lines became finer, their expressions increasingly lifelike, and their postures more expressive. Furthermore—I had to admit—the deeper we went, the more the stones resembling females appeared, and the more brazen and dazzling their exposed intimate areas became. Their body types were all distinct: some charming and light, like willow branches swaying in the wind; others languid and weary, as if just waking from sleep; some coquettish and alluring, as if waiting for a lover; others commanding respect without anger, like a sudden, sharp reprimand... Some had ample hips, some were delicate and petite; some had benevolent expressions, others eyes full of yearning desire... Oh, my dear elder brother! I truly couldn't muster enough fitting words to describe it.

In contrast, the male stones interspersed among the female figures seemed rather timid—their heads bowed, their bodies withered and thin, their exposed 'fixtures' small and concise, looking listless and defeated.

I don't know if my hands strayed during this visual exploration, but I only felt my heart racing faster, my breathing growing more ragged, my control over my senses diminishing, my nerves growing increasingly agitated, and my imagination running wild... The sensation was tens of thousands of times more intense than when I first saw Tan Ping'er's bare back. Freed from the restraint of underwear, those erect appendages became more willful and rebellious, showing great fighting spirit. A wicked fire leaped and darted in my lower abdomen, burning me until sweat poured out, my mouth dry, my heart burning with impatience...

I stole a glance at Ji Ye and Man Niaoniao. Ji Ye, despite his utmost effort to appear stern and keep his eyes straight, betrayed his inner turmoil through his slightly trembling lips and cheerfully dancing beard. Man Niaoniao, however, was 'open-minded and optimistic,' deliberately lagging behind Tan Ping'er to grope around wantonly, his expression one of 'devouring people without spitting out the bones.' His eyes were narrowed, and saliva dripped, looking like the classic description of a waterfall hanging before a mountain.

Because my own appendage was misbehaving, I dared not turn to face Tan Ping'er directly behind me. From her soft gasps and the hot wave of her breath, I gathered she too was likely enduring a 'deep water and hot fire' situation.

I bit my tongue hard and rubbed my strained, weary eyes, trying my best not to gaze at the unfamiliar parts of the female stone figures, focusing instead on their expressions and postures. At the same time, I used my remaining rationality to ponder a question: Although I had never been on a real 'battlefield,' I had watched plenty of 'war movies' and considered myself to have some theoretical research done. Seeing a similar scene shouldn't cause such inner turmoil; these cold stone bodies, while elegant, were static, lacking the dynamism and rhythm of 'warriors' charging into battle. How could they so easily shatter my strong resolve?

Did these mysterious stone bodies hide some hidden agenda?

The pain from my tongue barely managed to halt the spread of fanciful thoughts in my mind. I vaguely sensed that the situation was wrong; this was likely a trap, one designed to ensnare people without them realizing it. I wanted to call out to Ji Ye and Man Niaoniao to retreat, but that thought felt like self-deception. Never mind that Man Niaoniao was oblivious and carrying on as usual; even Ji Ye, that withered old man who had weathered 'storms' and seen 'rainbows,' seemed swept up in a wave of passion, occasionally masking the stale air he expelled, his footsteps unconsciously creeping forward even as he verbally agreed.

I felt helpless, yet I had to admit that I myself couldn't resist this temptation either. I felt deeply reluctant to leave this atmosphere perfectly suited for rich imagination. I gave up the weak resistance within my heart and eagerly pushed past Ji Ye and Man Niaoniao, plunging into the thicket of 'flowers.' A strange feeling, one better understood than described, made me forget the cruel reality of how to escape. I was like a persistent moth crazily throwing itself toward a roaring fire.

I had long since lost track of how long or how far we had wandered in this cavern. The deeper we went, the whiter and finer the stone bodies became, their curves more exquisite and translucent, their expressions more vivid, their postures more graceful, and their intimate areas more unrestrained. Although the stone figures lacked vital dynamism, they felt more real, more savory, and more irresistible than the flat scenes in 'war movies' that lacked tactile engagement despite having action.

The stimulating scene completely broke down any restraint I held. Imitating the rogueish way Man Niaoniao acted, I shamelessly touched the stone figures facing me in every conceivable manner. Those stone figures responded to my 'care and affection' with knowing smiles and feigned resistance... Although their stone bodies were bone-chillingly cold, this only stoked the wicked fire in my lower abdomen hotter and higher.

My rationality was almost completely submerged. My mind even began to conjure wicked fantasies: If the Tan Ping'er behind me could also 'be frank' with me without inhibition like those stone figures, what bliss that would be! I wouldn't regret being crushed to dust immediately after experiencing one round in this colorful world.

How could I possibly spare any thought for the other three? This setting was the crucial moment to test my own fortitude; there was no room for traditional virtues like yielding to others. Like a beggar squatting by a fire pit—everyone for themselves was the order of the day. My hands were entangled with a stone figure, and my mind was full of images of Tan Ping'er completely naked. Several times I wanted to suddenly turn around, fiercely pull the Tan Ping'er behind me into my embrace, and do whatever I pleased, even telling any oncoming catastrophe to wait until I was finished.

Thankfully, even though desire had taken the upper hand, rationality refused to concede defeat, so my contradictory thoughts never materialized into actual action!

With my mind full of beautiful scenery, I completely ignored the surrounding environment. The increasingly clear light of day failed to raise even a shred of alarm in me. The stone figures, in their varied forms, seemed to be coquettishly teasing me, making my wildly beating heart even more uncontrollable.

At that moment, the forms of the stone figures before me changed again. Instead of facing me directly, they all turned their backs, stood on tiptoe, and stretched their necks, as if watching something ahead. A long line of 'white apples' abruptly flashed into my view, driving my thoughts wild and sending my soul soaring away.

My state of mind at that point could no longer be described as mere 'curiosity.' I ducked low, crawling like a burrowing rat between hundreds of stone legs, forgetting all the numerous taboos of the Tujia people, unconcerned whether Tan Ping'er was following behind, driven only by the desire to squeeze past the stone figures and see what they were all so eagerly anticipating.

When I finally managed to crawl to the very front of the stone figures, the scene before me struck like a blinding bolt of lightning, instantly and completely tearing down my psychological defenses, diverting all the overwhelming desire flooding my mind downward, straight to my lower abdomen. The wicked fire in my belly seemed to be drenched with gasoline, burning fiercely, threatening to scorch me to a crisp. The only uncomfortable sensation in my entire body was that troublemaking appendage... it ached intensely!

In a daze, I vaguely saw a circular arena before me, paved entirely with white jade stone, empty of any other rocks or objects. In the very center of the arena was a stone bed as white as jade, upon which a naked middle-aged couple was engaged in that ancient act that everyone desires but no one can live without, locked in a difficult woman-on-top position. However, the heads of the couple seemed deliberately turned away, so I couldn't see their facial expressions. Around the perimeter of the arena, the layered stone figures leaned upward in succession, making it feel as if I were sitting in the stands of a stadium. The figures waved their jade hands and shook their jade peaks, silently cheering on the couple on the stone bed engaged in their 'life-and-death struggle'; an inexplicable beam of light, like a spotlight, shone directly down upon the stone bed, allowing me to see clearly the immediate vicinity of the central area. The stone figures slightly farther away and higher up were hidden in shadow, hazy and indistinct. A few nearby, hunched-over naked male figures stood with their backs to the central stage, bowing deferentially before the many female figures, like waiters serving tea and water.

My consciousness clouded, and I was astonished to see the couple in the center of the arena actually moving, their actions indecent yet intensely alluring. I thought I could hear the woman’s charming moan erupting from the depths of her heart and the man’s heavy panting as he toiled away. The figures in the stands also began to move, waving their jade hands and trembling their jade peaks, almost descending into madness...

At this point, I could no longer resist the enchantment. Frantically, I tightly hugged a nearby stone figure, performing all manner of ugly and shameless movements. Through tear-filled eyes, I happened to glimpse Man Niaoniao embracing figures on both sides among the stone statues, his hips thrusting rhythmically as he fully indulged his animal instincts.

In my haze, a searingly hot jade hand reached out and grasped the back of my neck, pulling backward, and I completely tumbled into a mass of soft warmth and fragrance. Immediately, a pair of equally scorching lips fastened onto mine with lightning speed. Unprepared, my lips were forcibly drawn into a soft, tender mouth, followed instantly by the rapid, frantic throbbing of a fragrant, supple serpent.

My mind exploded. Desire burst its banks completely. I couldn't see who was before me; lost in a daze, by instinct, I fiercely grabbed the person in my embrace, howling, and freed one hand to pull up the hem of this person's garment. My sweaty hand quickly and accurately found the 'jade rabbit' that had haunted my dreams for hundreds of days and nights. As a torrent of feeling overwhelmed me, my entire body felt as heavy as if I were struggling to lift a thousand-pound boulder...

The person in my arms was not yet satisfied, gripping me tightly, seeming determined to fuse my flesh and bone into her body. My lips were already numb from being sucked and bitten, yet she wouldn't let go. Her soft, lingering sighs sounded deafening and overwhelming to my ears.

The person in my arms used her tongue to pry open my lips and bit down hard. The sharp pain instantly banished desire, and boundless terror flooded my mind like a tide... Just as I prepared to struggle free, my collar was suddenly seized by an overwhelmingly dominant, huge hand and yanked backward forcefully, tearing me and the person in my arms apart. My lips finally escaped that soft mouth, and I immediately felt a mouthful of (fishy sweetness/bloody warmth) flow down my throat.

The large hand that pulled me away then shoved me, tossing me toward the stone bed in the center of the arena like a discarded rag. As I tumbled, dizzy and disoriented, I glimpsed a tall, dark shadow about to fiercely embrace a small, charming body...

My heart seized with a sharp pain, but I couldn't control my rolling body. In a flash, my head happened to strike the stone bed, causing a stinging pain in my nose, and bright stars began to dance wildly before my eyes.

I struggled to look up, still shaken. The woman on the stone bed suddenly turned her head and gave me a charming smile. Her delicate face was completely unfamiliar. The man also slowly turned his body to face me, his sharply defined face incredibly resolute and supremely confident.

The moment my gaze landed on the man’s face, doubt struck, but after a brief pause in my thoughts, when I finally saw the man's true features, I felt as if I had been struck by a massive bolt of lightning...

—No, struck by five hundred bolts of lightning!!