Volume Two: The Secret Burial in the Valley Chapter 142: Gentian Sand

Everyone stared in stunned silence.

“What exactly is the secret in that book of yours? What could have changed you so profoundly, causing you to abandon so many things worth cherishing...” Ma Su shook his head with a sigh as he looked at Zhou Zheng.

A sorrowful expression once again crossed Zhou Zheng’s face, and he spoke softly, “Teacher, if I reveal the secret, then it ceases to be a secret. Unless... everyone who shouldn't know the secret is dead. There are five of you here—five lives for one secret. Is it worth it?”

Zhou Zheng’s tone was calm but intimidating, as if the lives of the five of us were entirely in his hands, and with a mere flick of his finger, he could take them away.

Glancing down at the poisonous insects scattered on the ground, I understood that Zhou Zheng’s confidence was well-founded.

Ma Su hesitated, then turned to look at me, clearly seeking my opinion. I nodded at him, and he looked over to Liang Yue and Xing Mo, who both nodded in agreement without hesitation. Ma Su then glanced at Third Uncle, who remained seated cross-legged, seemingly asleep and indifferent to everything unfolding around him.

According to the principle of majority rule, we no longer needed Third Uncle’s opinion.

I guessed everyone shared this thought: the secret was right on Zhou Zheng’s lips, and it might hold the key to the origins and trajectory of the entire South Willow Village incident. Even if we chose not to ask, given today’s circumstances, escaping this underground chamber seemed unlikely.

Seeing we had reached consensus, Zhou Zheng took a deep breath and said, “Very well. Since you’re not afraid to die, I will tell you the secret. After obtaining the ancestral manual, I discovered a map of Mount Chuoyang. I thought my ancestor had left me a fortune, perhaps a treasure waiting to be unearthed. But after studying the book thoroughly, I realized many natural treasures are far more precious and valuable than mere gold or silver. Gold and silver have a price, but these natural treasures are priceless. For example... the Sparrow Spirit Pill, and... Dragon Gall Sand.”

“Dragon Gall Sand?” Hearing this new term from Zhou Zheng piqued our curiosity even more.

Zhou Zheng continued, “Like the Sparrow Spirit Pill, Dragon Gall Sand’s formation process is extremely complex. Though the name sounds grand, ‘Dragon Gall’ actually comes from the insides of insects. We know that, like birds, no one truly knows the natural lifespan of insects. They have many predators, and most die unexpectedly. Soft-bodied creatures don’t have gallbladders, but these insects produce a special substance inside their bodies upon sudden death. It’s similar to bile but solid, called insect sand. This insect sand can cure all poisons, but it must be extracted promptly; otherwise, it decomposes within a minute.”

At this, I glanced at Ma Su. When we were poisoned by the sand wolf insect, he had taken something extracted from the insect’s body to cure the poison. Could that substance have been this so-called insect sand?

It’s highly likely, but Ma Su remained composed, listening attentively to Zhou Zheng’s account, so we didn’t rush to question him.

“In fact, during the time studying with the teacher, he has been researching how to preserve this insect sand for a long time. If he succeeds, it would be a discovery of global significance. But I guess he hasn’t made much progress yet...” Zhou Zheng said.

Ma Su frowned. “So, you figured it out?”

Zhou Zheng smiled and nodded. “I remember the teacher often told us never to underestimate the wisdom of our ancestors. What they passed down are treasures in many fields. I took this to heart. The book left by Zou Bai Zu detailed how to obtain this insect sand.”

“Oh? There really is a way to get insect sand.” Ma Su’s eyes lit up.

Zhou Zheng laughed. “I see the teacher is eager, but don’t rush. Listen patiently. The book records that centipedes, when dead but not decomposed, if a mass of poisonous insects die and are buried in the soil, their bodies will produce a large amount of toxins. If these toxins disperse, they create the ‘insect corpse vapor,’ which causes physical changes in anyone who inhales it. If these toxins spread in the soil, they ensure the insect sand produced remains preserved permanently. However, once removed from the soil, the insect sand still decomposes.”

Ma Su said, “That still can’t preserve it, can it? You can’t carry soil around to get insect sand.”

Zhou Zheng waved his hand. “Teacher, you’re impatient. I haven’t finished. Do you remember our last project?”

“Earth Jiao?”

Zhou Zheng shook his head. “Yes and no. Earth Jiao was just a name the teacher gave it temporarily. Actually, this creature...” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a strange insect. It twisted its body in his hand, with a round, snake-like head and a slender tail, segmented body, and many tiny legs. Isn’t this the Earth Jiao from the picture Ma Su showed me?

The insect was not large, about twenty centimeters long. Its triangular head turned wildly, and it even flicked out a snake-like tongue. It gave me goosebumps.

Zhou Zheng continued, “Actually, this creature is called the Soil Shen. It’s not an ancient species passed down but a product of natural evolution under specific conditions. The formation of the Soil Shen requires many factors: suitable climate, good soil, even proper feng shui, and a place heavy with yin energy. Our cliff valley is just such a place. Back then, countless insect corpses were buried underground, which served as the perfect food for the golden silk earthworm snake. When the snake eats a centipede that died but did not decompose, the centipede revives inside the snake’s belly. After gestation, in two years, the two creatures merge into a new species called Soil Shen. The Soil Shen feeds underground on insect sand, accumulating it until it condenses inside its body. After several years, it spits out a substance—that is the Dragon Gall Sand.”

After hearing Zhou Zheng’s story, I finally understood that the creature Ma Su and others sought was not Earth Jiao but the Soil Shen. Moreover, the Soil Shen is a crucial link in the formation of Dragon Gall Sand.

Ma Su asked, “So, your previous visit was to find the Soil Shen and Dragon Gall Sand? Why did you come with us instead of alone?”

Zhou Zheng shook his head. “No. That project caught me off guard as well. Because no one else in the world knows this secret. The moment I saw those pictures and photos, I knew it was Soil Shen. But I couldn’t stop you from coming to Mount Chuoyang, and I couldn’t prevent it.”

Ma Su nodded. “So, you want the secret to remain unknown. The only way is to take measures to halt this project’s research.”

(The End of This Chapter)

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