The next morning, they broke camp under a sky streaked with gold. Yang Kai took the lead, his swarm of insects fanning out ahead—tiny scouts buzzing through the undergrowth, larger ones hovering at the ready. The map guided them through a tangled forest where vines hung like curtains, across a river that roared over slick stones, and up hills that tested their stamina.
The island was alive with danger. A pack of demon wolves emerged from the shadows, their snarls echoing through the trees. Yang Kai unleashed the insects, and the air filled with the hum of wings as the swarm descended. The wolves yelped and scattered, their retreat hastened by the relentless assault.
Later, they stumbled into a glade where serpents coiled among the roots, their scales glinting like polished jade. A single hiss warned of venom, but Yang Kai's command was swift—the insects surged forward, driving the snakes back into their burrows. The group pressed on, unscathed.
The journey wasn't without struggle. Thorns snagged at their clothes, and the air grew heavy with humidity as they climbed higher. Yet the insects smoothed their path, scouting hidden pitfalls and warding off threats.
Yang Kai's bond with the swarm deepened, his will threading through them like a current, and the women watched in awe as he wielded this strange power with growing ease.
As the day waned, the terrain shifted. The forest thinned, giving way to rocky outcrops and a towering cliff that loomed against the horizon. The map's endpoint was near, and a palpable tension settled over them. The air felt charged, ancient, as if the island itself held its breath.
They reached a clearing at the cliff's base, where a cave mouth gaped, shrouded in vines and moss. Before it stood a massive stone door, its surface etched with cracks that glowed faintly, as if imbued with fading energy.
Frowning at the barrier, Yang Kai examined the fissures, circulating his True Yang Yuan Qi and throwing a punch. The stone trembled, the cracks deepening, but the glow dimmed only slightly, like a lamp flickering out. His spirits lifted at the sign of weakness, and he struck again, harder, his fists a blur of motion.
Mo Yanyu stepped closer, her brow furrowed. "It's resisting," she said, her voice low. "Those runes—Red Cloud Sect elders spoke of ancient seals like this. It's not just stone; it's a formation ."
"Can we break it?" Mu Yu Die asked, her fingers tracing the air as if feeling the energy.
Di Yalan nodded, her pragmatic gaze assessing the door. "If Yang Kai's punches are weakening it, we just need more force. Keep at it."
After hundreds of blows, the door still stood, unyielding.
"How strange!" Yang Kai muttered, his brow wrinkling. His arms ached, and his Yuan Qi reserves dipped lower than he'd like. Stepping back, he considered his options, then a spark of inspiration hit. He focused his mind, summoning the swarm.
A buzzing filled the air, and the women gasped as a tide of insects surged forward—tiny scouts, hulking third-order beasts, and the massive fifth-order titans.
"He's using them!" Mu Yu Die whispered, her eyes wide with awe.
Di Yalan's lips twitched into a rare smile.
Yang Kai ordered the giant insects to attack the door, their mandibles and claws tearing at the stone. Sparks flew as the ward's glow flickered, weakening under the relentless assault. Satisfied, he sat cross-legged to restore his Yuan Qi, gesturing for the women to rest nearby. "They'll handle it," he said, his voice calm but confident.
"Come sit!".
Mo Yanyu sat beside him, her torn skirt shifting as she adjusted her position.
She huffed, looking away, but a smile tugged at her lips. Mu Yu Die, watching the exchange, pouted slightly, her fingers tightening on her zither.
"Don't let it go to your head," she said, her voice teasing but edged with jealousy. Di Yalan chuckled, shaking her head as she sharpened her sword, content to let the banter unfold.
Less than an hour later, a crashing roar echoed through the clearing. Yang Kai's eyes snapped open—the stone door had shattered, revealing a dark, spiraling tunnel. Dust swirled in the faint light, and the insects retreated, awaiting his command.
He didn't rush in. Instead, he sent a group of smaller insects to scout, their buzzing fading into the depths. The women waited, tense but trusting his caution. Mo Yanyu's fingers twitched, as if itching to act, while Mu Yu Die hummed softly, her zither's strings vibrating with her nervous energy. Di Yalan stood guard, her sword at the ready.
Half a day later, the scouts returned, unharmed. Yang Kai nodded, satisfied. "No traps so far," he said, rising to his feet. "Let's go."
He ordered the larger insects to guard the entrance, their hulking forms a formidable barrier. The women followed him into the cave, their footsteps echoing in the winding passage. The tunnel spiraled downward, and a soothing aura enveloped them, rich with World Energy. "It's strong here," Di Yalan noted, her voice hushed. "Like a cultivation haven."
"The deeper we go, the stronger it gets," Mo Yanyu added, her eyes scanning the walls.
Mu Yu Die shivered, clutching her zither closer. "It feels strange," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
After descending thousands of feet, they reached the bottom—a vast, cavernous chamber. The walls glowed faintly, dotted with luminescent crystals that cast a magnificent light. Stone shelves lined the path, each laden with treasures—boxes, scrolls, and artifacts, meticulously arranged.
Yang Kai approached the first shelf, squinting at the inscription. "'Supreme Solitary Sect,'" he read aloud, the name unfamiliar. "What's that?"
Mo Yanyu's eyes widened, her voice tinged with awe. "You've never heard of it? The Supreme Solitary Sect is one of the Endless Sea Islands' mightiest forces, rivaling the Han Dynasty's Eight Great Families. They have countless disciples, masters at every level. Even the Red Cloud Sect speaks of them with respect."
Di Yalan nodded, her tone matter-of-fact. "They're untouchable. I heard their Sect Master's seal went missing centuries ago—a scandal that shook the islands."
Yang Kai opened a stone box on the shelf, revealing a gleaming artifact, heavy and crafted from precious material. At its base, the words "Supreme Solitary" were etched. "This is theirs," he said, his voice laced with curiosity. "Why's it here?"
He moved to the next shelf, reading another inscription. "'Ancient Cloud Island.' Another sect?"
Mu Yu Die stepped forward, her delicate fingers brushing the shelf. "Not as powerful as Supreme Solitary, but still a first-class force. They're known for their Heaven-Grade Secret Arts. My family traded with their merchants once."
Inside was a scroll, its text detailing a Heaven-Grade Secret Art. Yang Kai skimmed it, then set it back. "Not for me," he said, his True Yang Secret Art and Yin-Yang Joyous Unification Art more than sufficient.
As they progressed, each shelf bore the name of another great sect—Falling Blossom Palace, Sea God's Temple, and more, all first- or second-class forces from the Endless Sea Islands. The treasures varied: martial skills, artifacts, ancient relics, even a jade token said to grant passage to a sect's inner sanctum. None were from lesser factions like the Red Cloud Sect.
Mo Yanyu's voice grew hushed. "This isn't random. These are hallowed treasures—symbols of each sect's legacy."
Di Yalan's eyes narrowed. "I've heard a story," she said, her tone heavy. "Three hundred years ago, a man with no talent tried to join every great sect in the Endless Sea Islands. They all rejected him, some even beat him. He swore revenge, vowing to surpass them all."
Mo Yanyu picked up the tale, her voice steady but laced with unease. "Decades later, treasures started vanishing. The Supreme Solitary Sect's seal, Ancient Cloud Island's sacred scroll—each sect lost something vital. They called him the Godly Thief, a shadow no ward could stop. No one knows who he was or how he did it."
Mu Yu Die's eyes widened, her voice trembling. "You think… this is his hoard?"
"It must be," Mo Yanyu said, gesturing to the shelves. "These are the stolen treasures, hidden here for centuries."
Yang Kai frowned, piecing it together. "So this cave… it's his vault. The tortoise shell led us to his legacy."
Di Yalan's lips curved into a rare smile. "You stumbled into a legend, Yang Kai. These treasures could shake the Endless Sea Islands if they surfaced."
He nodded, his mind racing. The artifacts were tempting, but he sensed danger. "We'll take what's useful"