Chapter 91: The Tycoon—Solid Steps, Steady Advance

The method of flooding a forbidden ground was something Zhang Kai had never seen before. He watched with great curiosity. Time passed slowly.

The location of the forbidden ground was a secluded valley, a low-lying area. With several water pumps working at full force, a puddle quickly formed and began seeping inward. This was not something that could be accomplished in a short time. However, these wealthy men cared little for time—they cared only about success.

Zhang Kai quietly observed and noticed there were many watching them. All around, people were openly observing—no doubt spies from other teams or even other nations.

Three days later, the secluded valley had become a mountain stream, the water nearly filling it to the brim. At this point, wires that had been strung in advance were pulled over and electricity was discharged directly into the water. This was no small current; almost every part of the valley had a connection, and it was all high-voltage.

In that moment, even from dozens of meters away, Zhang Kai could see the grass and trees trembling, as if electrified themselves. This kind of technological approach left Zhang Kai sighing—only the rich could afford to play like this.

The discharge lasted an entire day before stopping. Then, they began to pump the water out. Though the process seemed tedious, the wealthy were unfazed; money made everything possible.

After a few more days, most of the water had been drained from the valley. The adventuring team hired by the rich men began their sweep—fully armed, some even wearing gas masks. Each carried buckets of rooster blood and black dog blood, which they sprayed throughout the valley.

Others set up speakers in various places, broadcasting recorded chants of the Great Compassion Mantra by a renowned monk. For a moment, the dark valley resonated with the peaceful sounds of Buddhist prayers.

Zhang Kai watched, filled with admiration. This was simply giving no quarter to any lingering spirits.

After all these preparations, the wealthy teams were finally ready to enter. Having waited so many days, Zhang Kai was just as curious. This valley, part of the Yin Mountain range and a forbidden ground, must have been teeming with evil spirits and lingering ghosts. If any remained, they would surely have been dispelled by these relentless measures.

Just as they were about to set foot in the valley, Zhang Kai was astonished to realize he had still underestimated these wealthy men—they had even more tricks up their sleeves.

Mirrors had been erected all around the valley, reflecting sunlight so thoroughly that not a single corner remained in darkness. When had this been set up? Zhang Kai hadn't even noticed. The number of mirrors was in the thousands; such a massive project could never have been accomplished without throwing money at it.

With this, even if there were ghosts, they would have been wiped out. Zhang Kai couldn't help but laugh. He had thought that issuing this quest would inspire a spirit of adventure, perhaps even risk of death, but also an opportunity for some to grow through the ordeal. He had not foreseen this.

For every policy, there is a countermeasure. In the face of wealth, anything could be bulldozed through with money. He was left speechless, and could only concede.

With everything ready, Zhang Kai followed the group of wealthy men, playing the role of a bodyguard, and ventured deeper into the valley. Before long, they encountered a strange scene: pools of leftover water, black-barked, leafless, twisted, stunted trees. No flowers or grass grew—just bare ground, with the occasional animal bone scattered about, enough to send chills down one's spine.

But the valley itself was crisscrossed with ravines, making it hard to know where to go. The middle-aged man took out a very old map, displaying the area with a marked point—the location of the forbidden ground. He compared it with a satellite map on his tablet, immediately avoiding many wrong turns and rendering much old feng shui knowledge obsolete in the face of satellite positioning.

Pressing on, they bypassed the ravines until they came to a dead end. Yet, according to the satellite map, the forbidden ground was right here. The middle-aged man did not hesitate and ordered a demolition.

The explosives were not placed at a single spot but all around the ravine. Amid thunderous explosions, the earth shook, and rocks shattered. When all was calm, the ravine had widened, rocks lay scattered everywhere, and a massive fissure had appeared in the mountainside, exuding a chill that quickly lowered the air temperature in the valley.

Even those in protective gear couldn't help but shiver.

"The entrance to the forbidden ground has appeared," the wealthy exclaimed in delight.

Zhang Kai glanced at the place. The yin energy was not as dense as what he had encountered in the Nether Spring Cave, let alone the Netherworld itself. Still, with such concentrated yin energy, it was impossible to believe there were no ghosts inside.

He couldn't help asking, "Brother Wang, what now?"

Brother Wang, the middle-aged man, smiled. "Of course, we proceed cautiously. The one thing we have in abundance is time. Only with thorough preparation can we reap great rewards."

Age brings experience; in everything he moved neither in haste nor in panic. This was the kind of man women loved most—able to stoke the flames, build to a crescendo, and heighten the pleasure, unlike the young who finish in a mere instant, more beast than man.

Zhang Kai asked, "There's more preparation?"

"Of course. That old priest said Yin Mountain's forbidden ground is crawling with ghosts. Without complete preparation, entering is suicide. For our safety, we must first leave these spirits nowhere to hide." With that, Brother Wang took out his phone: "Initiate the second phase."

Zhang Kai was dumbfounded. This was nothing like the forbidden ground expeditions he had envisioned. It was more akin to flattening everything in their path. The might of technology was beginning to dawn on him.

Before long, a massive team arrived—bulldozers, excavators, transport trucks—turning the valley into a construction site, clearing the way. In less than half a day, they had opened a road through the valley and hauled away the rubble from the ravines, then began laying cables.

Zhang Kai stopped asking questions. Once it was done, everything would be clear. The wealthy had their own plans. His job was simple: stay close, protect them, and keep any ghosts away. It felt like being hired as a bodyguard.

Two more days passed in the blink of an eye.

By then, the interior of the ravines had been utterly transformed. Day and night were as one—brilliantly lit. Throughout the ravine, talismans painted with dog and rooster blood adorned the stone walls, and live roosters and black dogs were stationed everywhere. Most importantly, the Great Compassion Mantra had played ceaselessly since the first day.

When Zhang Kai arrived, he found the entrance to the forbidden ground was also brightly lit. Inside, the cave was electrified, and the Buddhist chant echoed through the tunnels.

But that was nothing.

Passing through the cave, they entered a vast underground space, and Zhang Kai was utterly stunned.

Was this really the work of men?