As the bright beam shone in, the phantom bats at the cave entrance scattered frantically. Ning Tao could see a long crevice in the rock. At the other end of the crevice was a dark cave, but he could only see part of it. He did not know how large this cave was.

Ning Tao tried crawling in, but failed after several attempts. The farther in he crawled, the narrower the crevice. Unless he could flatten himself, he could not squeeze in.

A bizarre cry suddenly resounded from above. It sounded like the wailing of a baby, ear-piercingly shrill. There was also a strong accompanying—demon aura!

Ning Tao seemed suddenly to have realized something. “Is it the Bat King?”

Suddenly, a large drizzle of greenish fluid sprayed out from inside the crevice like a spray gun. Even before it trickled down to Ning Tao, he could smell the putrid stench of decaying corpses. He felt like retching! Although his body was protected by the Heavenly Gem Magic Garment which was immune to all poisons, he did not dare to be careless. He propped himself up on both hands and his body slipped through the crevice, like a diver plunging down a 100-meter-high platform into the pool.

The greenish fluid dripped down on him like raindrops, but they could not overtake Ning Tao’s speed in launching himself with his strength.

Splash!

Ning Tao plunged headlong in an ice-cold river.

The greenish fluid also fell into the river.

Ning Tao, sinking rapidly, shone his tactical flashlight up. His hair immediately stood on end. Under the corrosion of that greenish fluid, the large expanse of river above him had started to seethe. Water vapor was everywhere, almost as if he were in a boiling cauldron!

Shock overwhelmed his heart. Could the Heavenly Gem Magic Garment resist this toxic fluid? He did not know, but even if it could, he believe he would either die or shed skin were the fluid to touch him.

Whoosh—whoosh—

Oppressive gusts of wind resounded from above. Even though there was a river overhead, he could still hear the noise. There suddenly appeared a massive, looming shadow in Ning Tao’s sight!

That looming shadow…

… was at least 20 meters wide with wings outstretched!

Ning Tao was dumbfounded. It was no bat but a flying dragon!

Soon, Ning Tao plunged to the bottom of the river. The beam from the tactical flashlight could not penetrate the flowing river and illuminate the surface. He wanted to climb up the cliff along the channel, but thought better of it. Once he surfaced, he would not only be helpless against phantom bats, but must also confront their king. In other words, he must face their king and its entire army!

His plan to plunder the treasure had failed.

But once he thought about it, he found it a natural outcome. The men from the Black Fire Company had visited this place before. If these phantom bats were so easy to deal with, Nicholas Conway would not have left the treasure untouched for Ning Tao. And why would that rascal Chen Pingdao persuade him to come treasure hunting?

“Let’s wait until the circumstances become favorable.” Ning Tao gave up. He followed the river and found that crevice from which he had entered. Then he went back to Chen Pingdao’s cave through that crevice.

This time, he would go straight to Chen Pingdao’s house.

His courtyard was not big. Chen Pingdao was sitting by a stone table, on which a teapot and two teacups lay.

Chen Pingdao did not look at Ning Tao. He was pouring tea from his teapot. His voice drawled softly. “You didn’t even greet me when you came. Do you think you’re Great Yu, who wouldn’t visit his own house on his three trips back?”

Ning Tao was not in the mood to banter with him. He walked over and sat down opposite Chen Pingdao. He was still thinking about that massive looming shadow, as well as that horrific, toxic fluid.

Chen Pingdao pushed a cup to tea to Ning Tao. “You visited that cave?”

Ning Tao lifted the teacup and took a sip, before saying, “Yes. And I nearly died there. Aren’t you glad?”

Chen Pingdao glared at Ning Tao, seemingly displeased. “What do you mean? I did once wish for you to die there, but now I feel differently. I now hope that you will live and run the clinic well… ”

Ning Tao said blandly, “And refine a dog for you.”

Chen Pingdao was gagged by Ning Tao’s response. He was indeed quite indifferent about Ning Tao’s death or survival. What interested him was that dog Ning Tao had promised to refine. But Ning Tao should not have said this and put him down.

“Tell me honestly. have you ever seen that Bat King in the cave?” Ning Tao had rebutted him so angrily because of this. Had he spoken to Chen Pingdao calmly and amiably, this rogue might deceive him again.

Chen Pingdao shook his head. “No, I don’t care for that treasure in the cave. Since I haven’t visited the cave before, why would I encounter that Bat King? Have you? What does it look like?”

Ning Tao dipped his finger into the tea and sketched a vague profile on the stone table. It looked like a gigantic bat but also a flying dragon. Actually, he did not know how it really looked, since he could not see clearly from underwater.

Chen Pingdao looked and then remarked casually, “Isn’t this just a bat? So the Bat King is just like a phantom bat, only a bit stronger and bigger.”

“Just a bit bigger?” Ning Tao gave a wry smile. “Let me tell you, that creature sprayed me with toxic fluid. I dodged underwater and then stared up from under the river. Its wingspan was at least 20 meters wide. And you’re telling me it’s just a bit bigger?”

Chen Pingdao opened his mouth wide for some time.

Ning Tao was observing Chen Pingdao’s response. It looked like this rogue had not seen the Bat King before. He did not wish to continue and changed the subject. “By the way, where are the Howling Celestial Dog and Hu Xiaoji?”

Chen Pingdao answered, “Hu Xiaoji’s asleep and the Howling Celestial Dog is cultivating. You’d better leave it alone.”

A flicker of a smile appeared on Ning Tao’s lips. “Actually, you are better than me at rearing dogs. The Howling Celestial Dog is truly blessed to be under your guidance.”

Chen Pingdao seemed proud of himself. “You’re right. If I, the Taoist Heavenly Hound, could not rear dogs, I’d be a joke. You left the Howling Celestial Dog with me. Don’t worry, I will make him a very powerful cultivating dog.”

“Good. I will leave after seeing Xiaoji,” Ning Tao said.

“Wait.” Chen Pingdao called out to Ning Tao.

Ning Tao stared at him. “What do you want?”

Chen Pingdao glanced at the bedroom where Hu Xiaoji was asleep. The expression on his face was odd. He lowered his voice. “She seems to be a little bit bigger.”

Ning Tao was stunned to the spot. It was not the first time Hu Xiaoji had grown bigger, but the news still astounded him. She had grown from a baby to about six or seven years old. If she was a bit bigger now, won’t that make her in her teens?

“How… old is she?” Ning Tao asked after calming down very quickly. What is to come will eventually. You can never avoid it.

Chen Pingdao said, “You’ll know when you see her yourself.”

Ning Tao went to Hu Xiaoji’s bedroom and pushed the door open gently.

There was no light in the room. It was completely dark.

Ning Tao summoned the state of looking in his eyes. Hu Xiaoji’s innate aura had turned into a lantern, illuminating the room like daylight. In his eyes, there was a girl of about 12 or 13 lying on that rickety wooden bed. She still resembled Hu Xiaoji, but she was no longer that same immature kid.

Hu Xiaoji opened her eyes and glanced at Ning Tao. Then she closed them again. She seemed to be too tired, or perhaps this was the reason why she had grown so fast. When she realized it was only Ning Tao and she was not in any danger, she resumed her sleep.

Ning Tao stepped out and conveniently shut the door. Then he returned to the stone table where Chen Pingdao had been drinking tea.

“Who is that fox spirit, really?” Chen Pingdao was staring straight at Ning Tao, observing the latter’s reaction.

Ning Tao was silent for a while before replying, “Her identity is very unique. You will get into trouble if you know it. You’d better be sure you want to know it first.”

The moment he heard that, Chen Pingdao started waving his hand. “Then don’t bother. Treat it like I didn’t ask.”

“Then I won’t reveal it. Wait for me to settle my business outside, then I will take her away,” Ning Tao said.

Chen Pingdao said, “Don’t tell me anything you have done outside. I’m not interested.”

Ning Tao could not help but smile wryly. “Okay, let me ask you. From your experience, how long will it take for Qing Zhui and the others to come out of their retreat?”

Chen Pingdao touched his chin and thought for a while. Then he said, “I can’t be sure. It will depend on their talent. When I broke into the Core Formation Realm years ago, I was in retreat for three months. You ought to know me, I’m a genius never before encountered in a millennium. My inner core is as big as a chicken egg.”

Ning Tao remembered his own inner core as large as a basketball. He wondered what this rogue would feel had he disclosed this fact to him.

Chen Pingdao continued. “So… from my experience, your women and that fighting demon would take at least half a year to come out of their retreat.”

Ning Tao was astonished. “At least half a year?”

Chen Pingdao started chuckling. “That is the most optimistic estimate. The higher their realm, the longer they will remain in retreat. Once they reach the Nirvana Realm or higher, it will be normal for them to remain in retreat for a few decades, or even a century.”

Ning Tao was speechless.

He could not help but wonder what would happen if Qing Zhui and Jiang Hao were to go into retreat at the Nirvana Realm after they bore him children. Their retreat would take several decades or even a century. By the time they emerged, he and their children would have grown old. How then should he face such a situation?

But now, he believed this must be the case with Wu Yue. During the Ming Dynasty, she founded the “Superior-to-Ming Sect”. She wanted to be superior to the Ming Emperors. Then she went into a retreat and the Ming Dynasty was overthrown. Following that, she founded the “Superior-to-Qing Sect” during the Qing Dynasty. The same thing happened—she went into another retreat and that dynasty too was overthrown. From how he saw it, the higher the cultivation realm, the longer one’s retreat would take.

“You are a product of my nurture,” Chen Pingdao continued. “You must be in the Core Formation Realm now, right? Is your inner core the size of your thumb?” As he said this, he raised his right thumb. Then he pinched half his thumb with his index finger, only showing the upper half.

Only then did Ning Tao gather his thoughts. He stretched out his arms, thought better of it, and put down one arm. He raised his ring finger and then pinched half of it, showing only the fingertip.

Chen Pingdao started chuckling. “I’m right to think you aren’t as gifted as me. You’re only smart, that’s why you’re running the clinic well.”

Ning Tao said quietly, “I am at least a university graduate.”

Chen Pingdao said, “Right, that’s what I mean. You’re more cultured than me.”

“If I were to go into a retreat, how long would I take?” Ning Tao asked. He kept a low profile in order not to upset Chen Pingdao. Had Chen Pingdao known Ning Tao had an inner core the size of a basketball, he might not help him find spiritual materials. Nor would he take care of Hu Xiaoji, Qing Zhui and the others for him.

Chen Pingdao said, “Like what I told you, you’re a unique case. I don’t know, it might be long or short for you. I believe you’re still some distance away from reaching the Core Formation Realm. Don’t worry, just do what you must.”

“Okay then, goodbye.” Ning Tao decided to go at once.

He deliberately walked past the forest where Jiang Hao was in retreat. It was still the same–the woods and the ground were covered with sheets of ice. It was spine-tingling cold. He did not dare disturb Jiang Hao and left quietly. His heart was also mulling, “What Chen Pingdao said is what happens under normal circumstances. But Jiang Hao and the others have taken the Ancestor-seeking Elixir. Maybe they won’t take so long. If they really took so long, I must consider using those fishermen in the demon village…”