Chapter 37: The Dragonblood Transformation Art

His heart raced uncontrollably as countless possibilities flashed through his mind: Was it a treasure? Or a trap?

Just as he was about to act and investigate further, Yun Yi suddenly realized something. "No, if something is hidden here, the one who concealed it would certainly have set up defenses."

Yun Yi warned himself inwardly. Although he was a mosquito beast with agility comparable to a rabbit, caution was always the better part of valor when facing the unknown.

He halted his movements and began to carefully observe every inch of the ground around the stone stool, attempting to find any clues that might indicate something hidden beneath. His eyes, like two shimmering gemstones, appeared exceptionally bright in the dim cave.

Suddenly, Yun Yi noticed that a patch of soil beneath the stone stool differed in color from the rest; it seemed firmer, and its surface bore faint scratches. While these marks were insignificant, they could not escape his keen perception. "It seems there truly is something suspicious here," Yun Yi thought to himself.

He did not act hastily. Instead, he began to tap the hard soil gently with his claw, trying to determine if there was a hollow space beneath. Each tap only served to confirm that something was indeed hidden below. However, the more certain he became, the more cautious he grew, fearing that a single careless move might trigger some unknown mechanism.

"It seems the creature that set this trap was quite clever," Yun Yi mused. Although he knew nothing of the mastermind behind it, he was certain that the secret hidden beneath the stone stool had been meticulously designed to protect something of vital importance. Consequently, Yun Yi wisely decided to postpone digging directly, choosing instead to search for a safer entrance or further clues.

He circled the stone stool nimbly, his rabbit-like eyes scanning every inch of the surrounding earth and every minute corner of the cave, desperate to find a way to explore safely without triggering any mechanisms.

"How, exactly, can I extract the treasure inside without setting off the trap?" Yun Yi pondered, his brows knitting slightly. Yet, after much hard thinking, he still could not find a perfect solution.

Just then, a thought flashed into his mind like a bolt of inspiration: "Wait, how could I have forgotten the storage bags and rings of those cultivators?"

He suddenly recalled that he had previously slain four cultivators—three men and one woman—all of whom were skilled practitioners. Their storage bags must surely contain many rare treasures. Although he had not checked them carefully at the time, those bags might now be his lifeline.

Yun Yi slowly closed his eyes and released his subtle yet powerful divine sense, which crept like an invisible thread into the mysterious, unfathomable space within the storage rings. He searched with total concentration, hoping to find an item that could protect him while he disturbed the mechanism under the stone stool.

Before long, he discovered a small, seemingly ordinary magic treasure within the ring that radiated an aura of mystery. It was a small shield, emitting a faint glow, which appeared capable of resisting certain attacks and mechanical triggers.

Yun Yi felt a surge of joy; this was exactly what he needed. He immediately retrieved the shield and held it in his hand, feeling the flow of spiritual energy pulsing within it. "With this treasure, I should be able to protect myself from harm should I trigger the mechanism," he thought, a resolute light flashing in his eyes.

Returning to the stone stool, his movements were light and fluid. He took a deep breath, his gaze steady as he prepared to act. To ensure nothing went wrong, he pushed the shield to its limit, and a pale blue light instantly enveloped his entire body, as if he were clad in an invisible suit of armor.

He carefully extended his forelimb, his fingertips gently touching the edge of the stone stool, and began to move it slowly. As the stool scraped against the ground with a low, heavy sound, Yun Yi’s heart hammered against his ribs, a mixture of tension and anticipation swirling within him.

Yet, as the stool was pushed aside bit by bit, revealing the weather-worn surface of the earth beneath, a look of bewilderment flashed across his eyes. "Strange, I've moved the stool this much, so why is there no sign of a trap?" he muttered to himself. But years of experience told him never to let his guard down. He frowned, warning himself, "Better to be safe than sorry."

Finally, as Yun Yi moved the stool completely away, an area of disturbed soil appeared before him. To his surprise, he had not been attacked by any traps. "What? No mechanism?" Yun Yi was baffled, but he soon felt relieved. "Then again, does everything have to be trapped to be considered mysterious?"

He shook his head, casting aside these distractions, and used his forelimb to gently rake away the layer of soil.

As the dirt gradually cleared, a black wooden box carved with intricate, intertwined floral patterns emerged. The carvings were so lifelike that it seemed as if every stroke contained endless stories and secrets.

"A box!" A hint of surprise flashed in Yun Yi’s eyes, only to be replaced by caution. Just as his forelimb was about to touch the box, mere inches from its surface, he suddenly stopped, a sense of unease rising within him. "Wait, what if opening the box is the key to triggering the trap?"

With that thought, he withdrew his limb and fell into deep contemplation.

Once more, Yun Yi braced himself. Clutching the shield in one hand to ensure his safety, he extended his other trembling forelimb toward the mysterious black box. Every movement was filled with caution and anticipation, as if he were performing a silent ritual.

"Creak—" With a faint sound, Yun Yi’s forelimb finally pushed open a corner of the lid. He glanced around nervously, fearing he might have triggered some unknown device. Unexpectedly, all remained silent around him; nothing unusual occurred.

"What? No trap either?" Yun Yi felt a sense of relief, though he was surprised by this sudden stroke of good fortune.

No longer hesitating, he decisively lifted the lid completely, and his eyes lit up. Inside the wooden box lay a yellowed, ancient book, with five large, archaic characters inscribed on its cover: "Dragon Blood Shapeshifting Technique."

Yun Yi’s pupils contracted sharply, and a surge of indescribable excitement welled up within him: "Shapeshifting? Could this be a technique for demonic beasts to transform into humans?"

His forelimb reached out toward the ancient book involuntarily, as if drawn by an invisible force. However, at this critical moment, a rapid and chaotic sound of footsteps suddenly echoed from outside the cave, followed by a sharp, piercing, high-pitched screeching, like countless tiny silver needles piercing through the air.