Reaching the top of the ladder, she dipped her index finger into the bottle with one hand, using the blood of Da Xiong to draw figures on the stone slab with the other.

We watched as she swiftly painted more than a dozen intricate symbols, then dipped her finger again in Da Xiong’s blood to dab her own forehead, closed her eyes, and began to chant under her breath.

After muttering a few words we couldn't decipher, she suddenly snapped her eyes open, supporting the heavy stone slab above her head with one hand, and gave it a gentle upward push.

With a distinct click, the slab was effortlessly lifted by a woman who appeared so frail.

We were all utterly astonished, exchanging wide-eyed glances at the woman in black.

However, our gaze was quickly drawn away from her, as a faint, ethereal white light began to spill down from the opening she had created.

Strange, I distinctly recalled there being no electric lights up there before, I murmured to myself.

“Let’s go, let’s see what’s up there…” The woman in black beckoned us forward.

I could tell that even though she had managed to solve the riddle of the ‘Guiyuan’ technique, her expression was troubled; yet, the ancient sorcery left behind by the Immortals was too compelling for her to suppress her curiosity. She was more eager than any of us to peer into the secrets within.

We followed the woman in black, climbing the ladder one by one, with Da Xiong taking up the rear.

Because of his considerable weight, the metal ladder shrieked and groaned alarmingly as he climbed, sounding as if it were about to snap.

Da Xiong was sweating buckets too; he would pause with every step, swaying precariously on the ladder for what seemed like an eternity.

In reality, the ladder spanned a mere five or six meters from the ground, and with Da Xiong’s skill, a fall wouldn't have killed him.

But if the ladder broke, we would lose our sole access point into this cavern.

When Da Xiong finally hauled himself up, all of us let out a collective sigh of relief.

Brushing the dirt and dust from my clothes, I began to survey our surroundings.

We were still barred by a metal railing, identical railings surrounding us on all sides, forming a cell block.

The cell we occupied was utterly bare, save for dark stains left behind by rotting wood.

The ceiling was made of a different, white stone, entirely unlike the black rock we had seen previously. Describing it as stone felt inaccurate; it was more like a composite of stone blocks and grout.

This material, resembling nougat, was characteristic of ancient Western architecture.

After so many years, one would expect it to crumble at the slightest touch, yet it remained solidly intact.

In the corner, a spider had spun a web several layers thick, hanging there like a giant, tattered cloth.

I spotted a crab leg caught in the webbing, a testament to the ferocity of the spiders residing here.

In short, everything before us exuded an aura of decay and deep antiquity; even some of the cage bars were warped and bent.

We approached the metal grate nearest the passage and discovered the door was sealed shut.

It wasn't locked, strictly speaking; rather, the door had rusted into place and simply refused to budge.

Da Xiong gripped one of the cage bars with his thick, short hands and gave it a shake; surprisingly, it held firm.

He then spread his arms, blocking our way, and announced, “Stand back a little, this is a one-kick job.”

Knowing kicking down doors was Da Xiong’s specialty—I’d witnessed it several times—I retreated five or six paces, putting significant distance between us.

Da Xiong also took two steps back, charged forward, and delivered a powerful kick.

However, he seemed to forget this was a cage, not a conventional door, and his right foot jammed squarely between two bars.

The door gave way, but he went tumbling out onto the floor.

Seeing this, we all burst into loud laughter.

Only the woman in black didn't laugh; instead, she shot me and Liang Qian a peculiar look.

I knew she was inwardly terrified, and her nature was inherently solemn.

Seeing us roaring with laughter in such a desperate situation must have struck her as profoundly strange.

So, I composed myself, let out a sigh, and said, “My dear Ms. Black Attire, having reached a place like this, death is inevitable whether you fret or not. Relax a little.”

Liang Qian chimed in, “Right. You’ve been so quiet for so long, we still don’t even know your name.”

Hearing us, the woman in black’s expression softened slightly. In reasonably fluent Chinese, she stated, “My name is Leah. My Chinese name is Long Jia.”

“You’re surnamed Long? Like the Auntie in Return of the Condor Heroes? No wonder I always felt like you crawled out of the Ancient Tomb Sect,” Da Xiong quipped, having finally managed to wrench his foot free. He walked over to us, still chuckling.

Long Jia always seemed rather cool toward Da Xiong, much like their relationship later in Durban Village. I couldn't tell if she disliked fat men or simply people who talked too much.

As Da Xiong approached boisterously, Long Jia ignored him, turning her gaze instead toward Liang Qian.

Perhaps there’s less friction between two young women?

Liang Qian offered an awkward smile and, to ease the tension, changed the subject. “Why do you have two names? And Mr. Wu mentioned you’re from Siberia; how is it you have a Chinese name?”

Long Jia remained expressionless, answering lightly, “I don't just have a Chinese name; I have French names, Italian names, and so on. I know thirty-two national languages and have visited over eighty countries. I like to give myself a name in every country I visit.”

Hearing that left me momentarily speechless, thinking to myself that we Yakuy people certainly possessed exceptional linguistic talents.

Liang Qian also managed an awkward smile. “Well, looking at you, I just assumed you had Chinese heritage.”

Long Jia nodded. “That’s right. I forgot to tell you all; my maternal grandmother was from China.”

Liang Qian nodded, looped an arm around Long Jia’s slender shoulder, and declared, “Then we’re practically neighbors from the same region. Let’s be friends from now on.”

Long Jia neither agreed nor refused, simply allowing Liang Qian to drape an arm over her shoulder in silence.

I shrugged, starting to feel a grudging admiration for Liang Qian’s social acumen.

Da Xiong, having been ignored, grumbled from the side, “Alright, alright. Since the door’s open, let’s hurry up and move forward.”

With that, he strode out alone, and we followed closely behind him.

We traversed a passage littered with broken tables and beast-taming implements, soon arriving near the central arena square.

From a great distance, I saw a blinding white light shooting from the plaza ahead, and within the thin haze, what appeared to be a glowing sphere was suspended.

This was something entirely outside our expectations…

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