Chapter 382: Chapter 381- Strange things The deeper they ventured underground, the colder the surrounding air became. The faint light filtering in from the trapdoor above gradually disappeared until darkness swallowed everything behind them. Only the echo of their footsteps reverberated through the massive underground passage as they advanced cautiously into the unknown, uncertain of what awaited them in the darkness ahead.
Although the tunnel was dark, damp, and filled with the earthy scent of moisture, it was surprisingly spacious. It was wide enough for two or even three people to walk side by side comfortably, with enough room left to move freely. After informing the other Captains of their discovery, Grey and Violet wasted no time. The two of them moved through the underground passage like silent phantoms, their footsteps producing almost no sound as they rapidly traversed the long tunnel.
Although the passage stretched for what seemed like a considerable distance, the journey took them less than three minutes. Their speed was naturally beyond that of ordinary cultivators. However, the moment they reached the other end of the tunnel, both of them instinctively slowed to a stop.
The scene before them was completely different from what they had expected.
Instead of emerging into a vast underground chamber or another hidden cellar, they found themselves outside the city walls, standing near the harbor and the bustling port district.
To be more precise, they had arrived at Port 33.
Grey and Violet exchanged surprised glances.
Neither of them had expected the tunnel to extend this far beneath Sky Mist City. Even more astonishing was the fact that it connected one of the busiest districts in the city directly to the harbor.
However, the surprises did not end there.
The ground outside the tunnel entrance was soaked with moisture from the nearby sea, leaving patches of wet mud scattered across the area. Imprinted clearly upon the muddy ground were several fresh footprints.
The owner of those footprints had evidently been in a hurry. Perhaps they had been too focused on escaping to bother concealing the trail they left behind.
Grey crouched slightly and examined the footprints for a brief moment before exchanging another glance with Violet.
Both of them immediately arrived at the same conclusion.
"A secret tunnel leading from the market district all the way to Port 33’s harbor..." Violet muttered with a faint smile. "Now that’s interesting."
Grey looked at her with slight confusion. He did not immediately understand what she was implying, but he could tell from the look in her eyes that this discovery was far more significant than it initially appeared.
The clues they had gathered had first led them to the abandoned tavern. Hidden beneath that seemingly ordinary building was a concealed cellar, and beneath the cellar was this underground tunnel. Now the tunnel had brought them outside the market district and directly into Port 33.
None of it could possibly be a coincidence.
Someone had deliberately constructed this hidden passage.
Whether it had existed for decades or had been built recently, Grey could not tell. However, one thing was certain.
It was the perfect route for smugglers, murderers, and fugitives.
Anyone using this tunnel could quietly leave the market district, avoid the city guards entirely, and disappear through the harbor before anyone realized they were gone.
Perhaps even the upper echelon of Sky Mist City had no knowledge of its existence.
If that was truly the case, then whoever controlled this passage possessed both remarkable influence and meticulous planning.
"Want to know what else is strange?" Violet suddenly asked, a mysterious smile appearing on her face as she turned toward Grey.
Having already learned that Violet rarely asked pointless questions, Grey allowed his curiosity to show.
"What is it?" he asked.
Seeing his reaction, Violet’s smile widened even further.
"Port 33 and its harbor fall under the influence of one of the Seventeen Sects within the Sect Alliance."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"The Underworld Nether Sect."
Grey’s eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly.
He naturally knew of the Underworld Nether Sect.
Among the Seventeen Sects, they possessed one of the darkest reputations.
Rumors claimed that their cultivation techniques required fresh human corpses to accelerate one’s cultivation speed. Others claimed they used living sacrifices, fresh blood, and countless souls to nourish their sinister cultivation arts.
No one knew how much of those stories was true.
However, one fact remained undeniable.
The Underworld Nether Sect cultivated methods that countless righteous cultivators considered cruel, bizarre, and inhumane.
Grey himself knew very little about them. The sect rarely interacted with outsiders and preferred to isolate themselves from the rest of the cultivation world. Their members seldom appeared in public, and whenever they did, they concealed both their identities and intentions.
An air of mystery constantly surrounded the entire sect.
Grey slowly looked back toward the tunnel entrance.
The missing civilians...
The hidden underground passage...
The route leading directly into Port 33...
And now, the Underworld Nether Sect.
One clue by itself proved nothing.
But when every clue pointed in the same direction...
The pieces fit together almost too perfectly.
It was enough to make even Grey suspect that the recent disappearances were somehow connected to the Underworld Nether Sect.
Grey’s eyes narrowed into thin slits, a cold glint flashing across them as his expression turned solemn. His voice carried a chilling calm as he spoke.
"Let’s investigate the port before dawn arrives. There could still be some clues left behind. The other captains will be here soon."