“This…”
Ge Feng and Ge Ying exchanged glances. They hadn’t considered this before, but Li Feng’s reminder made them realize: the giant tiger was massive, yet its wings were small. How could it possibly fly?
If the tiger couldn’t fly, how did it enter this cave? With no food inside, it couldn’t have lived here since birth.
“Li Feng, you mean…” Ge Feng asked.
“There’s another passage in this cave. The tiger came in through it,” Li Feng said with certainty. The tiger couldn’t fly or swim, so the only explanation was another passage.
“That…” Ge Feng and Ge Ying were stunned, but upon reflection, it seemed plausible. But where was this other passage?
When they entered the cave chamber, they had been cautious and hadn’t noticed any other passage.
“Let’s check over there,” Li Feng pointed to another corner of the chamber. The chamber had four corners: one was their entrance, one where the tiger had lain, one with the skeleton and treasures, and the last, which appeared empty, had been overlooked.
“You think the other passage is in that corner?” Ge Ying asked.
“Very likely,” Li Feng nodded, gripping his saber and cautiously approaching the corner. As he walked, he said, “Everyone, stay alert. If the tiger came through another passage, it’s not simple. There could be danger.”
Ge Feng and Ge Ying nodded.
Sure enough, in the corner was a passage about two meters wide, its color blending with the chamber’s, making it hard to notice from a distance.
Without hesitation, Li Feng stepped into the passage. He was curious about where it led. The tiger must have entered the chamber through this passage, so the other end might be its usual haunt.
The passage was long and winding. After about fifteen minutes, they emerged into a massive cavern.
The cavern was larger than the previous chamber, with red rock walls.
Red rocks?
Li Feng frowned. Were they underground?
Thinking back, the passage seemed to descend steadily.
Ge Feng raised the same question.
“Look, what’s that?” Ge Ying suddenly pointed ahead, exclaiming.
Li Feng and Ge Feng looked and saw a dozen red dots, like strawberries, growing on an unknown plant.
“Could it be a natural treasure?” Li Feng and Ge Feng were excited.
“Let’s go check,” Ge Feng said. Having already found the Heavenly Heart Fruit, Mysterious-grade techniques, and Foundation Pills in the cave, finding a natural treasure would make this trip truly worthwhile.
“Wait,” Li Feng stopped Ge Feng, picking up a stone and flicking it.
*Crack!* The stone hit near the plant, making a sharp sound. Li Feng listened intently.
Ge Feng and Ge Ying watched, unsure of his intent but not questioning him.
“Let’s go,” Li Feng said after hearing no response, leading them forward.
As they approached, waves of heat hit them. Li Feng’s expression shifted. Was this cavern near a volcano?
He turned his attention to the red dots.
“Could these be exotic fruits?” Ge Ying excitedly moved to pick one.
“Stop!” Li Feng shouted.
Ge Ying flinched, retracting her hand and looking at him, confused. “Li Feng, what’s wrong? There’s no guardian beast. If we don’t pick them now, when will we?”
“These aren’t exotic fruits. They’re poison fruits,” Li Feng said, eyeing the strawberry-like dots. “They’re called Demon Blood Fruits, highly toxic. One touch, and you’re dead.”
“Demon Blood Fruits?”
“Yes,” Li Feng nodded, his expression complex. He was no stranger to Demon Blood Fruits. In his previous life, on Planet Two, he had encountered them. Several of his comrades had died because of them.
Planet Two, the first planet discovered in the cosmic era, was a medicinal planet older than Earth, untouched by humans and rich in rare herbs and exotic plants. Demon Blood Fruits were one of its toxic fruits.
Li Feng never imagined they’d exist on Earth. He had thought they were unique to Planet Two.
He took a piece of tiger meat from his spatial bag, tossed it on the ground, and slashed a Demon Blood Fruit with his saber.
The fruit fell onto the meat.
Instantly, the fresh red meat turned black, sizzling as it dissolved into a puddle of black liquid.
“This…” Ge Ying’s face paled, and she stepped back, stunned that the strawberry-like fruit was so deadly.
Not just Ge Ying, but Ge Feng was also shaken.
“Not all fruits are treasures. Some are deadly,” Li Feng said, taking out a jade box.
“Li Feng, what are you doing?” Ge Ying asked, puzzled.
“I’m collecting the Demon Blood Fruits,” Li Feng replied.
“You want these?” Ge Ying looked at him incredulously. “They’re poisonous. What do you need them for?”
“Poisonous fruits have their uses. Do you want any?” Li Feng smiled. Though toxic, he believed they could be useful.
“No way!” Ge Ying shook her head vigorously. The fruit had nearly scared her to death. If not for Li Feng, she might be dead. She wanted nothing to do with them.
“I don’t want them either,” Ge Feng said. He’d take treasures, but Demon Blood Fruits were something to avoid.
Li Feng smiled, carefully using his dagger to collect all the Demon Blood Fruits into the jade box, then stood and said, “Let’s keep going.”
Saber in hand, he led the siblings deeper into the cavern.
After a turn, the cavern sloped downward. The deeper they went, the brighter the red light and the stronger the heat.
Li Feng estimated they had walked for about fifteen minutes, plus the time from the chamber to the cavern, totaling half an hour. At their pace, they were at least a thousand meters underground.
Could the tiger have been active underground?
Li Feng wondered if he’d misjudged.
“Li Feng, look, water,” Ge Ying pointed to water traces at the passage’s edge.
Li Feng crouched to inspect it. “It’s groundwater.”
“Groundwater? Could there be an underground river?” Ge Feng speculated.
“It’s possible. I feel we’re nearing the end,” Li Feng nodded, continuing forward.
The cavern grew larger, expanding from two football fields to four or five.
A massive lava pool appeared before them, surrounded by a circular platform. On the other side was a large opening, sloping upward, likely the true exit.
“Quack, quack, quack! Who’d have thought we’d meet some kids here?” A sinister voice suddenly echoed in their ears.
