Buzz——

Finally, with sparks flying and bronze shavings scattering, another hole was drilled in the bronze wall.

"Howl, howl, howl!"

This bronze house, seems to be different?

The foxes got excited, drilling and hammering away. After some effort, they quickly opened up the little house.

Inside the house, it was filled with sand and soil.

Black Star and White Tail jumped in and pawed around. Soon, they unearthed something.

"Whimper, whimper, whimper!"

There was only one item.

"Howl, howl, howl!"

Black Star jumped out, holding up the unearthed item with his front paws... it was a delicate little bronze flower pot.

"Howl?"

"Whimper?"

The foxes recalled their earlier conversation, looking at Pang Youyou, then at the Electric Drill Cactus in Pang Youyou's hand, and finally at the flower pot held up by Black Star...

Could it really be just a coincidence?

...

West Ridge Mountain Range.

In the darkness, amidst the raging wind, a helicopter landed halfway up the mountain, on the outpost square.

Before the rotors stopped, Chairman Chen Shu leapt down first.

Then followed Wu Qingyun, Professor Zhang, and Professor Zhang's female assistant, carrying a massive box.

Su Yaoyao, riding the Peacock Red Treasure, landed closely behind on the helipad. She jumped off the peacock's back, joining Chairman Chen Shu and the others.

The group stood in the night, bracing against the cold night wind, listening to Chairman Chen Shu speak.

"Alright, everyone who should be here is here, and we've brought everything we need.

"No matter what strange occurrences this volcano holds, let's try to keep the investigation and resolution confined to this mountain, without escalating the issue.

"Professor Zhang, please conduct health checks on everyone at the outpost to see if there are any problems."

...

The little volcano, regardless of day or night, continued to emit light smoke from the mountaintop lava lake.

The smoke rose straight up, blown askew by the night wind, spreading in the dark sky, tainting the drifting clouds.

A faint wisp flew above the drifting clouds, into a high cloud, reaching the Fire Toad Balloon hidden within, soaking a sponge under its rubber belly.

At this moment, the Fire Toad Balloon abruptly opened its eyes, peering through the ten-thousand-meter altitude, through the vast night, through the clouds and cold wind, looking down at the little volcano, and at the outpost halfway up the mountain... it was Bai Mo, far in the dreamscape Fox Mountain, observing as scheduled.

...

Halfway up the mountain, at the outpost square, dozens of bulbs illuminated the place brightly.

A dozen members of the Immortal Technique Committee lined up, waiting for Professor Zhang to check their pulses one by one.

Wu Qingyun, Chairman Chen Shu, Su Yaoyao, and others stood afar, in the night wind, watching from a distance.

Suddenly, Wu Qingyun shivered... she lacked emotions, but her Spiritual Sense was keen, her intuition strong.

At this moment, she spoke.

"I feel creeped out.

"There's something wrong on this mountain."

Huh?

Really?

Everyone present felt uneasy.

Here in the West Ridge, far from bustling cities, far from human traces.

Halfway up the mountain, if they looked up, they could see the pitch-black mountain silhouette above.

If they looked down, they could see the vast, pitch-black sea of trees below, stretching endlessly into the distant endless darkness.

The wind rustled through, the dark forest waves, the rustling sound like tides.

The wind swept in, seeping into everyone's clothes, sending chills through their bodies, giving them goosebumps.

Su Yaoyao instinctively clutched her chest... around her neck hung a Protective Talisman gifted by Bai Mo. Though knowing it was merely a keepsake of no material value, inexplicably, having it with her brought her much peace.

Beside Wu Qingyun, Chairman Chen Shu frowned.

"Qingyun, what's going on?

"What did you perceive?"

Wu Qingyun looked towards the mountaintop.

"It seems like...

"Something strange is roaming on the mountain."

She then looked up at the night sky.

"It feels like...

"There are strange eyes watching us from the sky."

The people exchanged glances.

Looking up, they saw the mountaintop, jet black and towering.

Seeing the sky, in deep blue, the wind blew through the drifting clouds, obscuring stars and moon.

Is there something?

They couldn't feel it, nor see it!

...

Professor Zhang checked the committee members at the outpost, examining their health.

He knew Wu Qingyun's intuition was very accurate, whatever Wu Qingyun said, must be true!

But as he placed his fingers on Xue Yong's pulse point, diagnosing as he spoke to reassure the committee members.

"Hahaha, the most frightening thing is to scare yourself.

"We're all young and strong lads here, we should believe in science and not scare ourselves."

Seeing Xue Yong and others smiling stiffly, awkwardly, and uneasily... he stopped talking and just continued feeling the pulse.

After a while, having checked all the pulse points... he found nothing.

The pulse patterns of these people were all different, some strong and healthy, some overworked, some somewhat weak from overexertion... but nothing abnormal.

What's the matter?

Could there be a mistake?

In his mind, the voice of Qing Lu Ancient Immortal abruptly sounded.

"Disciple, can't you see it? Hahaha.

"Do you want your master to guide you?"

Professor Zhang shook his head.

He had already recognized the true nature of the Ancient Immortals... they were just a bunch of deceitful spirits!

The words of the Ancient Immortals cannot be trusted!

The character traits they exhibit cannot be trusted!

Even their appearance in dreams could be false!

In any major matter, the Ancient Immortals should never be relied upon!

In his mind, Qing Lu Ancient Immortal clicked his tongue and sighed.

"Disciple, wouldn't it be nice to trust your master once in a while?

"Just ask, go ahead and ask, as long as you ask, I'll give you the answer."

Professor Zhang smirked.

"Alright, Master, then I'll ask.

"I've noticed you really like sitting by the bonfire, every day you keep by the bonfire.

"But why did I notice... three days ago, seven days ago, and sixteen days ago, when you were by the bonfire, you had no shadow?"

Qing Lu Ancient Immortal was startled for a moment, then his shoulders shook as he laughed silently, without a word of explanation, he vanished from Professor Zhang's mind.

...

The vast jungle, in this night, plunged into boundless darkness.

The dense leaves blocked the starlight, rendering the forest pitch-dark.

A sturdy macaque with six ears was swiftly leaping and shuttling through the branches in the darkness.

Whoosh!

Soon, it jumped onto a tall giant tree, gazing at a distant outpost halfway up Little Volcano.

Its six ears seemingly formed a phased array radar panel, shaking and adjusting angles, listening to the voices carried by the wind.

...

Fox Mountain.

Above the Bronze Hall.

Bai Mo looked at a cloud of white mist on the table, through which he saw what was happening at the outpost.

"Seems lively?

"What are they talking about?"

Bai Mo's heart thought shifted!

...

In the sky above the West Ridge Mountain Range, above Little Volcano, concealed in the clouds, the Fire Toad Balloon, the toad's tympanum which is also its ears, was slightly bulging…

These ears heard the winds from every direction in the high skies, heard the calls of birds and the cries of insects below in the forest, heard the covert moves of nocturnal animals in the forest and the screams of sleeping prey.

Naturally, it also heard… the voices of those in the committee at the outpost halfway up Little Volcano.

...

Halfway up the mountain at the outpost.

Wu Qingyun frowned and pointed at a giant tree below the mountain.

"There, ears are listening to us."

Then shivered, raising her head, her vacant eyes looking toward the deep night sky.

"It seems like...

"There are ears in the sky as well, listening to us."

Everyone looked at each other, another wave of shivers ran through them.

Chairman Chen Shu took out his phone, directly created a small group, and showed everyone.

"[Cover your phones to read messages, communicate solely through the phone.]"

Everyone nodded.

Though unsure if it'd work, at the very least, electronic products, technological communication, the glowing screens… these offered them a sense of the modern world, a semblance of security.

But things often don't go as planned...

In the queue, Xue Yong suddenly raised his head, spoke, his voice hoarse and unlike his own.

"No need to struggle anymore.

"I will tell you the answer.

"My disciple just completed a transaction.

"Exchanging ten years of his lifespan for one thing."

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com