The Tao is far away

Deep in the jungle, a bonfire lit up the surrounding darkness like twinkling stars in the night sky.

The firelight cast a warm glow, dispelling the silence and coldness in the forest.

Two figures sat by the fire, their figures looked particularly peaceful in the flickering flames.

They each held a wooden stick in their hands, with a grilled skewer stuck on one end of the stick. The oil droplets dripping from the skewers fell into the flames, making crackling sounds and emitting an enticing aroma.

"Come on, Brother Wang Chi, try the thigh meat of this monster. It should taste good."

Upon hearing this, Wang Chi picked up a dagger, cut off a piece of golden roasted thigh meat, and took a light bite.

The meat was tender and juicy, melting in the mouth. The aroma of charcoal fire and the unique flavor of monster meat blended perfectly, making his eyes light up and he savored this rare delicacy carefully.

"Well, you are right. The meat of the monster is indeed extraordinary. It is more delicious than ordinary meat and contains a faint spiritual power. It is not only delicious but also good for the body." Wang Chi said while chewing, his voice a little unclear because of the mouth full of food.

"Yes, after all, it is the meat of a second-level monster. After we cultivators eat it, we can feel the nourishment of spiritual power, which is of great help to us in breaking through our current realm."

Lin Yi also nodded in agreement.

"However, it would be nice if we could have some spiritual wine to go with it. Unfortunately, there is only ordinary wine here. Although it is not bad, it always feels a little lacking in flavor."

Wang Chi said this with a hint of regret, looking up at the sky, as if imagining what the spirit wine he had never tasted would taste like.

The two of them continued to eat with relish, and soon they were sweating profusely and their stomachs were bloated.

They found a large tree stump that was broken by a monster and sat down, leaning against the trunk to rest, while also refining the spiritual power that was gradually surging in their bodies from eating the monster meat.

……

"Brother Lin, is this the cultivator's cave?" Wang Chi stood in front of a huge and ordinary cave entrance on the flat ground and couldn't help but ask Lin Yi beside him.

"Relax, this is the place."

The two stood in front of the tiankeng, looking down at the scene before them.

The entrance of the cave is wide enough for several people to enter side by side. The surrounding rocks are covered with traces of time, and it is obvious that no one has set foot here for a long time.

Looking down, you can see dense weeds growing in the cave. The weeds are a vibrant emerald green, which forms a sharp contrast with the surrounding gray rocks. Deep in the cave, huge rocks are scattered in an orderly manner.

If you listen carefully, you can faintly hear the sound of water flowing underground.

"Let's go down!" Lin Yi said excitedly.

Wang Chi nodded, and an excited look appeared on his face.

The two men were as agile and light as swallows. They jumped lightly and swooped down from the edge of the cave like an arrow from a bow, flying swiftly towards the depths of the cave.

Soon, their feet touched the solid ground at the bottom of the cave, and they bent their knees slightly to absorb the impact of the fall.

Looking around, they found themselves in a spacious natural stone chamber. The ground was littered with the carcasses of animals that had accidentally fallen there. In a sunken area not far away, there was another cave entrance.

The entrance of the cave seemed to have been carefully repaired by humans and built with pieces of bluestone, making it look particularly neat and simple.

The bluestone is covered with mottled marks left by the years, revealing an atmosphere of vicissitudes.

Lin Yi nodded and motioned Wang Chi to follow.

The two men walked through the cave entrance made of bluestone, and a staircase paved with stones appeared in front of them, extending into the interior of the cave.

As they continued to move forward, the light around them gradually thinned and the cave became dim.

Soon, darkness descended like a thick curtain, surrounding the two.

In the underground world without any light source, the eyesight of two low-level monks could hardly penetrate such darkness.

Fortunately, Lin Yi was well prepared. He took out a stone emitting soft white light from the storage bag hanging around his waist.

It was a fluorescent stone, often used by low-level monks to illuminate in dark environments.

Lin Yi gently placed the fluorescent stone on his palm, and the light of the stone immediately danced in his palm, gradually illuminating their surroundings and dispelling the suffocating darkness.

Although the white light was not particularly bright, under the guidance of this faint but warm light, it was enough for the two to see the road ahead clearly.

Seeing that Lin Yi had taken action, Wang Chi nodded.

Wang Chi followed closely behind, and the two of them carefully shuttled between the stone stairs, one in front and one behind, and went deep into the cave.

As they continued to move forward, a moist scent filled the air and the sound of water gradually came to their ears.

Soon, they discovered that at the end of the stone stairs was an underground water area. The water surface was calm and dark, and the light from the fluorescent stone reflected a faint luster on the water surface.

"Be careful, there's a waterway next." Lin Yi turned and said to Wang Chi, the white light shining on his face, quite creepy.

"Dive in."

Wang Chi nodded, and the water level gradually rose from his ankles to his knees, then to his waist, until it covered his entire body.

Wang Chi took a deep breath and held it, then jumped into the water following Lin Yi.

As they continued to move forward, Wang Chi noticed that they were in a narrow corridor. The stone slabs on both sides were engraved with exquisite bird and animal patterns, which seemed to be a way used by ancient monks to decorate or commemorate something important.

Not only are these patterns exquisitely crafted, but every stroke also reveals an ancient and mysterious atmosphere.

What’s even more amazing is that these bird and animal patterns are not just static decorations, they shimmer in the underwater sheen as if they were alive.

Perhaps it is because of the refraction of light, or perhaps the patterns on the stone slabs are cast with some ancient magic, making them emit a faint but charming glow in the dim underwater world.

As the last sound of water quietly faded away, Wang Chi felt the soil under his feet gradually becoming solid.

After a long and wet time, Wang Chi finally felt the solidity and warmth of the ground again.

Wang Chi took a deep breath, and the spiritual power in his body responded immediately, transforming into waves of steaming white mist, drying his clothes.

Wang Chi tidied up his messy hair and turned to ask Lin Yi: "Is this the place?"

Lin Yi simply responded: "Take two more steps."

The two of them took a step forward, passing through the space shrouded in darkness, vaguely making out the outlines ahead in the haze.

Suddenly, a huge stone gate appeared in their sight. It seemed to appear out of thin air, or it had always been there, waiting for their discovery.

This stone gate is majestic and magnificent, and is engraved with ancient and complex patterns.

Standing in front of this stone door, Wang Chi couldn't help but feel his own insignificance, like an insignificant ant.

……