Chapter 107: Inside the Cave
A flicker of murderous intent crossed Leo's mind. With the Mists forcing their hands like this, there was no chance of reconciliation.
He wasn't made of clay. Even a stranger could sense Sylas's hostility. Now that he had Sylas cornered, goading him into the cave, Leo saw an opportunity. If he could eliminate Sylas here, it would be far better than constantly being at the mercy of the three scheming behind his back.
Together, the three posed a big and constant threat. He couldn't lay a hand on Sylas openly—the charge of killing a fellow disciple would see him executed the moment he left the battlefield, given his standing. The only way was to separate them, leaving Flint and Dime with no direct evidence.
"Fine by me. But whoever caves and runs first is the coward." Sylas's eyes blazed with murderous intent.
Leo, expressionless, entered the dark cave first, activating his Mystical Sight Technique to see more clearly.
Deeper in, they passed scattered scorpion corpses—clearly left by Flint and Dime. Suddenly, the sharp clack of shears closing came from behind him. The hair on the back of Leo's neck stood on end. He ducked; the Black Flood Dragon Shears grazed past his scalp, slicing a scorpion in two ahead of him.
"All that bravado, and now you're white as a ghost?" Sylas chuckled, emboldened, seeing Leo's shocked and angry face. His thoughts mirrored Leo's. Outside, he couldn't attack directly—he needed the team to help lure beasts and search for treasures. But here...
"What are you doing?" Leo demanded, feigning shock and anger.
"You were dead the moment you disrespected my father. You think you're walking out of this cave alive?" Sylas sneered coldly.
"And face the consequences of killing a fellow disciple? Even that old fiend Mist couldn't protect you from that." Leo's face paled slightly.
"This cave is deep. No one's coming. I'll just say the scorpions got you. Nice resting place, isn't it? Dying somewhere so spiritually rich—you must have good karma." Seeing Leo's pallor, Sylas smiled with satisfaction. "Not so cocky now, are you? Beg. Maybe if you beg, I'll let you live."
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"So, if you die here, the scorpions take the blame too." Leo's smile turned strange.
Sylas blinked, then burst out laughing. "Kill me? You? Another hundred years and you still couldn't form your foundation. Die!"
The shears, jaws wide, shot toward Leo's neck. Leo's eyes narrowed. Seven years ago, those shears had chased him mercilessly. But years had passed. As long as his opponent wasn't a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he could face these shears head-on.
Hiss.
Thick black smoke filled the cave.
Sylas's vision was completely obscured; he lost sight of Leo.
Faint sounds. Sylas startled, crushed a third-grade Earthen Armor Talisman. Layers of thick yellow armor encased him. He recalled the shears, ready to strike the moment he spotted Leo.
Hidden in the shadows, Leo frowned. Sylas, though young and impulsive, had inherited Mist's cunning caution. Sensing something amiss, he'd recalled the shears. Tricky. The Demon Binding Rope was powerful, but shear-type artifacts were the natural counter to rope-type artifacts. If he used the black sword's artifact power now, the outer sheath he'd painstakingly forged would be ruined. The Bloody Battlefield trial had just begun—better to save that trump card for now.
As he hesitated, a rustling came from the ground.
Leo focused. A tide of demon scorpions surged toward them, layer upon layer, thick as ants swarming from a nest. Several were peak third-grade, their individual strength rivaling peak Qi Refining cultivators.
An idea struck. Leo unleashed dozens of low-grade spells in quick succession, creating a commotion in the cave. A shadow clone, identical to him, appeared and cast spells at the scorpions, enraging the swarm.
The furious scorpions chased the clone.
The real Leo, calm and collected, used the swarm's charge to slip toward Sylas, still shrouded in the black smoke.
"Die!" Sensing movement, Sylas, trapped in the smoke, saw Leo charging at him from within the black haze. He sneered and sent the shears snapping at Leo's neck. But his smile froze. The Leo he'd cut shattered into nothing, dissipating into the air.
Sylas stared, stunned. That shadow had attacked the scorpions—how could it not be real?
"Damn. Trapped." Realization dawned as the surging scorpion swarm surrounded him. Fury and panic mingled—he'd been tricked.
Sylas unleashed dozens of talismans—fireballs, ice arrows, lightning—briefly illuminating the cave. Dozens of second-grade scorpions died instantly. The shears bisected two peak third-grade ones.
But the deaths only enraged the swarm further. Hundreds more, layer upon layer, carpeting the ground, surged at Sylas. Leo, hiding in a corner, was nearly exposed several times.
Close calls, but he held. Wait until the brat can't hold on, then hit him from behind. Can't beat the old fox, but I'll settle the score with the cub. Leo thought viciously. He prepared to trail the swarm and strike. But the rich, exotic fragrance in the cave drew his attention. With the swarm drawn by Sylas's artifact, the battle's ferocity evident from the sounds, why not seize the chance to grab the Soul Nourishing Grass while they were locked in combat?
Decision made. Leo crept cautiously toward the source of the scent. Dozens of meters deeper, he passed scorpion droppings and eggs—valuable, but no time to collect.
Another few meters. The cave walls here were smoother, cleaner, free of droppings. His eyes scanned the corner. Three foot-high, dark green herbs grew—Soul Nourishing Grass, three to four hundred years old. But beside them, a demon scorpion, visibly larger than the peak third-grade ones, was giving birth. Its aura was even stronger.