Chapter 96: Descent into the Spiral Abyss

Su Liyue’s expression grew solemn as she watched the strange light flowing on the sword. A pink radiance flashed, and a beautiful woman, clad in a flowing immortal dress, gracefully materialized.

“Qizai, have you sensed something?”

“Master…” Qizai’s crimson lips parted slightly, her voice like a clear spring striking jade. Suddenly, her body swayed, and her full chest rose and fell dramatically.

“The spiritual energy fluctuations below are very strange, but… what exactly it is… I can’t quite explain.”

“Then we must descend and investigate further,” Ye Xingchen stated with a deep voice from ahead.

The mere fact that Qizai could sense its presence only solidified their belief that whatever lay beneath was connected to the cultivation world.

Moreover, if spiritual energy originated from the cosmos, it might even be linked to a higher plane of this very world, making this a clue they absolutely could not forsake.

“Um… Yueyue, what exactly is this ‘spiritual energy’ you’re talking about?” Mu Wanqing timidly tugged Su Liyue’s hand.

Listening to the trio’s conversation, Mu Wanqing found herself utterly bewildered. Didn’t everyone in this world wield magic?

How had this term ‘spiritual energy’ suddenly surfaced? She wondered if it was some new magical attribute, especially since Ye Xingchen himself possessed no elemental affinity.

“I’ll explain once we’re safe,” Su Liyue replied succinctly, her gaze remaining vigilantly fixed on their surroundings.

With their current abilities, both she and Mu Wanqing were pushing their limits by adventuring in such a perilous place.

Had Ye Xingchen not been leading the charge, she would never have dared to bring her best friend into such unknown depths.

As the trio ventured further into the cave, a strange light mysteriously appeared ahead. Logically, they were descending deeper underground, so the sudden appearance of light was perplexing.

“Something’s wrong… We’re clearly heading towards the earth’s core, and this light…” Ye Xingchen reached out, stopping his companions.

The moment they emerged from the cave, their vision suddenly expanded.

What lay before them was a colossal spiral sinkhole, its steep, circular stone steps winding down along the rock face, each level emitting a faint, chilling luminescence.

Beyond the railing-less stone steps lay a bottomless abyss; when they peered down, they could only discern an ever-narrowing spiral band of light that eventually vanished into the profound darkness below.

Mu Wanqing had barely peered over the edge before she stumbled backward, only to be swiftly steadied by Su Liyue’s hand.

“Th-this is a staircase leading straight to the depths of the earth, isn’t it?”

Her voice trembled with terror as she clutched tightly onto a protruding section of the rock wall.

The surfaces of those luminous steps were riddled with fine cracks, appearing as though they could disintegrate at any moment.

Qizai suddenly spoke, “Master, be careful. These stone slabs… are imbued with spiritual energy. Someone might be deliberately luring us down.”

‘Deliberately?’ Could this world also harbor other cultivators? If the divination proved true—with Zhifu nearing Tianchong Star, Dumen faintly appearing, and Yiding converging—then a reclusive master’s immortal cave might very well be hidden beneath.

“Let’s go, we’ll head down and take a look,” Ye Xingchen suddenly declared.

“J-just… walk down like this?” Mu Wanqing looked at the abyss, her voice slightly distorted.

“No, we’ll fly down!” Ye Xingchen stated decisively.

“Qingqing, fancy experiencing the thrill of sword-flying?” Su Liyue picked up the conversation implicitly, her eyes holding a mischievous, impish smile.

“Fly down? Sword-flying?” Mu Wanqing’s watery eyes widened dramatically, her cherry lips parting slightly. Her utterly shocked expression struck Su Liyue as incredibly endearing.

“Qizai,” Ye Xingchen called softly. His natal sword immediately understood, its blade instantly extending several times over, transforming into a colossal sword large enough to comfortably accommodate three people.

Ye Xingchen and Su Liyue stepped onto the sword’s blade with practiced ease, their movements as fluid as flowing water. Mu Wanqing, however, stared dumbfounded.

“Wait… we’re not using magic brooms, we’re going down on this sword?” ‘Although I know Qizai can fly, carrying three people is a bit too much…’

“Qingqing~” Su Liyue suddenly flashed a mischievous smile, then agilely climbed onto Ye Xingchen’s back.

“I specifically saved a VIP seat for you!”

She winked at her best friend, subtly hinting that the spot in Ye Xingchen’s arms was specifically reserved for her.

Mu Wanqing’s face immediately flushed red, “Th-this isn’t really appropriate…”

After all, he was her best friend’s fiancé! But before she could even finish her internal debate, Ye Xingchen executed a swift, decisive turn, scooping her up in a princess carry amidst her startled gasp.

“Hold tight.” Before the words had even fully left his lips, the trio, along with Qizai, had transformed into a single streak of light, plummeting directly into the abyss.

Mu Wanqing only managed to clutch at Ye Xingchen’s collar, and amidst the dizzying sensation of weightlessness, she heard Su Liyue’s excited cheer.

“Now this is what you call true sword-flying!”

This experience was far more exhilarating than any roller coaster—no, even more so! It was like a freefall ride!