From a loser to an immortal sage

Chapter 165 A Glimmer of Hope Amidst Despair

The ghostly howls grew closer, almost piercing my eardrums.

I gripped the flying sword tightly, my palms sweating profusely.

Lei Hu grinned maliciously as he approached step by step, like a hungry wolf eyeing its prey.

"Hand over the elixir obediently, and you'll suffer less physical pain!"

Zi Ling struggled to stand up, but Elder Xuan Feng stepped on her chest, causing her to groan in pain.

"Xiao Yao, don't worry about me...run!" Her weak voice was filled with despair, which made my heart ache even more.

I glanced at the protrusion on the wall; it was the only hope, the only way out.

However, Lei Hu and Elder Xuan Feng blocked the cave entrance, so I had no chance to get close.

A sudden roar came from outside the cave, the runes on the stone wall flickered more intensely, and the howls of the ghosts became even more frantic.

I felt a powerful pressure coming from outside the cave, making it almost impossible for me to breathe.

"Elder Xuanfeng is using the 'Netherworld Ghost Claw,' this cave is about to collapse!" Ziling coughed painfully, her eyes filled with fear. "Xiao Yao, we're all going to die here..."

Lei Hu's men also began to panic. "Elder, this commotion is too great, let's retreat first!" a thin man said, trembling.

"Shut up!" Lei Hu glared at him fiercely. "The elixir is right in front of us, how can we give it up so easily! Once we get the elixir, we'll rise to great heights. What is a mere 'Netherworld Ghost Claw' compared to that!"

Elder Xuanfeng's voice came from outside the cave, carrying a hint of smugness and cruelty.

"Xiao Yao, you can't escape! Hand over the elixir obediently, and I might consider leaving you a whole corpse!"

I closed my eyes in despair. Was I really going to die here?

Suddenly, I felt the flying sword in my hand vibrate slightly, as if it were responding to something.

I suddenly opened my eyes and looked at the protrusion on the wall. A thought flashed through my mind... I slowly reached for the medicine pouch at my waist...

The flying sword in my hand vibrated more and more intensely, as if urging me on for something.

With a determined heart, I took out the celestial herb that emitted a shimmering green light—the Dew-Gathering Grass—from my medicine pouch.

Almost simultaneously, the howls of the ghosts abruptly ceased, replaced by low moans.

They cowered and retreated, their eerie green eyes filled with fear, as if the light of the dew-covered grass was their deadly nemesis.

Could it be... that this elixir can subdue ghosts?

A bold idea began to take shape in my mind. Rather than sit and wait for death, I might as well take a gamble!

I took a deep breath, held the Dewdrop Grass aloft, and walked towards the cave entrance. The ghosts quickly made way for me.

"Xiao Yao, you've gone mad!" Zi Ling cried out in horror. "Taking the elixir out will only drive Lei Hu and Elder Xuan Feng even crazier!"

I gritted my teeth and ignored her. Rather than be trapped here and die, I might as well take a gamble.

As they drew closer to the cave entrance, the voices of Lei Hu and Elder Xuanfeng grew clearer.

"Why is there still no movement? Could it be that Xiao Yao is already dead?" Lei Hu asked impatiently.

"Impossible!" Elder Xuanfeng's voice was filled with greed. "She has elixirs on her body; there's no way she could have died so easily!"

I gripped the dew-collecting grass tightly, my heart pounding. Should I charge out and confront them head-on, or continue searching for another way out?

Just as I was hesitating, a loud bang suddenly came from the cave entrance, followed by flying rocks and dust.

"Oh no! The cave is about to collapse!" Lei Hu shouted in terror.

As I watched the cave entrance slowly collapse, my heart sank. It seemed I had no other choice…

I raised the Dew-Gathering Grass and stepped out of the cave... "You want this elixir?" My voice was exceptionally clear and cold in the dust.

Amidst the swirling dust, I held the Dewdrop Grass aloft, its emerald light piercing through the gray air and illuminating my resolute face.

"You want this elixir?" My voice was icy, tinged with a hint of provocation.

As soon as he finished speaking, a greedy glint flashed in Elder Xuanfeng's and Lei Hu's eyes.

They rushed into the collapsed cave, ignoring the collapse.

"You're asking for death!" Lei Hu roared, swinging his giant axe at me.

The axe whistled through the air, carrying a sharp, murderous aura.

I dodged to the side, and the green light of the Dewdrop Grass instantly surged, shooting straight into Lei Hu's eyes. "Ah!" Lei Hu screamed, covering his eyes and staggering backward.

"Useless!" Elder Xuanfeng roared, his flying sword transforming into a streak of cold light, piercing straight into my chest.

I dared not take the blow head-on, so I quickly rolled backward, barely dodging the fatal strike.

The flying sword grazed the hem of my clothes, leaving a deep scratch on the ground.

I quickly stood up and raised the Dew-Gathering Grass again. The green light flashed once more, shining on Elder Xuanfeng's face. He groaned and covered his eyes as well.

"Damn it!" Seeing this, Zi Ling also joined the battle.

She moved with agility, her dagger flashing like a venomous snake as she relentlessly attacked me.

While dodging Zi Ling's attacks, I used the light of the Dew Grass to counterattack.

Just then, Ling'er suddenly exclaimed, "Sister Xiao Yao, look!" I followed her gaze and saw that in the corner of the cave, a huge rock was slowly moved aside, revealing a hidden door.

A faint light emanated from the hidden door, as if something was beckoning me.

"What kind of place is that?" I wondered, yet I felt an inexplicable attraction.

Ling'er's eyes flickered, and she said mysteriously, "I don't know either. I accidentally triggered a mechanism just now..."

Just as I hesitated, Lei Hu and Elder Xuan Feng regained their sight and launched another attack on me.

I was cornered. Behind me was a gradually collapsing cave, and in front of me were menacing enemies. The only way out was that mysterious hidden door.

I took a deep breath, and without the slightest hesitation, I turned and rushed into the hidden door.

Behind me came Lei Hu's roar and the deafening sound of rocks collapsing, but I couldn't care less about that now.

The hidden door slowly closed behind me, completely isolating me from the outside world.

I held the Dewdrop Grass tightly in my hand, feeling the mysterious power pulling me from the hidden door, and walked step by step into the unknown depths... A strange fragrance filled the air, like the scent of some rare and exotic herb.

I stopped, held my breath, and listened carefully to the sounds around me.

Suddenly, a deep roar came from the darkness...

The deep roar sounded again, with a slight tremor, and my heart pounded.

Is this mysterious force a blessing or a curse?

I gripped the dew-covered grass tightly in my hand, and its emerald green light seemed to give me a sliver of courage.

I told myself that rather than waiting to die, I should take a gamble.

Perhaps my way out lies behind this hidden door.

I took a deep breath and took the first step.

The passage behind the hidden door was pitch black, so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.

The light from the dew-covered grass is faint, illuminating only a small area around it.

I walked forward cautiously, taking each step with utmost care.

The strange fragrance in the air grew stronger and stronger, making me feel dizzy.

"Who is it?" A clear voice suddenly rang out, startling me.

I quickly raised the Dewdrop Grass, and its light illuminated the source of the sound.

A tiny sprite, about the size of a palm, was hovering in the air, curiously observing me.

"Are you... Ling'er?" I asked tentatively.

"Sister Xiao Yao? What are you doing here?" Ling'er exclaimed in surprise, flying to my side.

I briefly explained the situation outside, and Ling'er's face turned serious after hearing it.

"Sister Xiao Yao, you are very brave, but it is dangerous here, you must be careful."

"Where is this place?" I asked.

"This is the Mountain of Ten Thousand Beasts," Ling'er's voice lowered. "There are many powerful celestial beasts here, you must be careful."

Mythical beast?

My heart sank.

Could it be that behind this hidden door lies not a path to survival, but another dead end?

Just as I was about to ask a question, suddenly, a rustling sound came from ahead, getting closer and closer... I gripped the Dew Grass tightly, held my breath, and felt something approaching me.

Ling'er nervously grabbed my sleeve and whispered, "They're here..."