harleyscars 37. Image at the bottom of the pool
37. Image at the bottom of the pool
At this moment, almost everyone was observing the pool, but most hadn't entered the water yet. Even Shi Han and Chu Qun had only sent their subordinates into the water; they themselves hadn't gone in. Seeing the attitude of these two families, most others dared not easily enter the water. After all, while the inheritance was valuable, one only had one life. If even these two major powers dared not easily enter a situation, wouldn't casually going in be courting death?
Xiao Yan and Yang Lingyan also arrived at the pool. When Xiao Yan touched the water, he felt something was different; the pool water was different from the water outside.
With a thought, Xiao Yan conjured a crimson flame in his hand, causing the pool water to boil and evaporate. Seeing this, Xiao Yan's brows furrowed slightly.
Although the water in the pool was indeed evaporated by the strange fire, the process was quite slow, and the power of his strange fire would likely be greatly reduced below.
Seeing Xiao Yan's flames, Chu Qun, who was standing nearby, also fell into deep thought for a moment.
Then, the men sent out by Shi Han and Chu Qun emerged from the pool and began to communicate with the two men, but Shi Han and Chu Qun's expressions were somewhat strange.
Then Lion shouted for his men to gather together and start discussing, but the others couldn't hear what they were saying.
Chu Qun smiled and clasped his hands in greeting, saying, "Friends, according to our investigation, this pool of water has the effect of isolating some of the battle qi. In other words, when you go into the water later, you won't be able to expel the water around you, and you won't be able to communicate with each other. No other effects have been found yet."
Chu Qun's generous announcement won the favor of most people around him. After all, information is very valuable in such places, and even if someone like Shi Han doesn't say anything, no one can blame them.
Xiao Yan exchanged a glance with Yang Lingyan, who said, "We can't communicate underwater, so it might be troublesome if something happens later."
Xiao Yan nodded and said, "The situation down below is unclear. Brother Yang, are you still prepared to go down?"
Yang Lingyan smiled and said, "Don't forget our Heavenly Serpent Palace's techniques! Water can sometimes be helpful to snakes!"
"In that case, let's go down and take a look. I have a feeling there might be something good down there!"
During the exchange, not everyone could wait as long as Xiao Yan. People kept jumping into the pool. After giving instructions to his men, Shi Han also led his men into the water.
Before getting into the water, Chu Qun asked Xiao Yan, "Brother Xiao Yan, shall we come together?"
"I am of limited ability, so I won't hold you back."
Xiao Yan politely declined, but Chu Qun remained unperturbed and led his men into the water one after another.
Xiao Yan, seeing that there were only a few people left on the shore, nodded to Yang Lingyan and entered the pool.
Upon entering the pool, Xiao Yan felt a strange stickiness. Releasing his Dou Qi directly created some resistance, which he anticipated would affect him should a battle occur later. Looking around, the pool wasn't very dark, but the depths were completely invisible. Seeing the others eagerly exploring downwards, creating bubbles, Xiao Yan waved to Yang Lingyan, signaling him to swim down as well.
Generally, large pools and swamps are inhabited by magical beasts, but Xiao Yan had been swimming for a whole incense stick's time without finding anything. He could sense the excitement of the others from their reactions. After all, all the signs in this place were increasingly resembling a relic of a bygone era.
However, the main force's speed was still relatively limited, because no one knew what the ruins looked like when they collapsed, making exploration particularly important. It could be said that the considerable area at the bottom of the pool had been explored inch by inch by these powerful individuals.
After exploring downwards for some time, a glimmer of light finally appeared at the bottom of the pool. The lower they went, the more noticeable the light became; almost everyone could see it, though they hadn't yet discerned what it was.
After swimming to the bottom of the pool, the group, who were a hundred feet away from the light, finally saw the source of the light – herbs!
It wasn't just one herb, but a full ten herbs.
Moreover, judging from the aroma emanating from these herbs, even a fool would know they are extraordinary. Xiao Yan, being a pharmacist, would be intimately familiar with these herbs.
"Nine Nether Orchid, Immaculate Pure Heart Lotus, Cold Marrow Joint Bamboo..." These are all essential ingredients for top-grade seventh-rank elixirs! Each one is priceless.
Xiao Yan's gaze was drawn to one of the herbs, and he couldn't look away from it for even a moment.
Growing at the very edge of the herb grove, its entire body is mottled. If it weren't for the occasional glimpse of bluish light, it would almost be overlooked. It's a vine that doesn't look particularly special.
Even the forces behind Xun'er couldn't find the treasure that was crucial to Yao Lao's resurrection—the Evergreen Spirit Vine!
However, the more tempting the herbs were, the less Xiao Yan dared to be careless. Those herbs that were so clearly displayed in front of him could not be said to be without danger.
However, someone scouted ahead for Xiao Yan, and more than ten powerful fighting techniques were launched in succession towards the area around the herbs. The booming sound continued, and the pool water was disturbed and became chaotic.
Lion Fierce's men made their move. Since they couldn't be sure if the herbs were guarded, stirring up trouble was the best course of action.
Xiao Yan gestured to Yang Lingyan beside him, reminding him to be ready to run at any time. Shi Han's seemingly reckless approach was actually the best way to break the deadlock.
Because they are already prepared to leave at any time, there are plenty of people with low cultivation levels here, and many of them will stay behind to take the fall.
However, even after half an incense stick had burned through the Lion's attack, there was no change around the herbs; it was as quiet as if the attack had never happened.
Xiao Yan was also extremely excited as he looked at the Ten Thousand Year Green Spirit Vine that was so close at hand. As an alchemist, his soul perception was stronger than that of everyone else here, and he couldn't find anything wrong even after repeatedly sensing it.
Seeing that the bottom of the pool remained unchanged, someone finally became eager to try and rushed towards the herbs with the help of their fighting spirit.
But he hadn't swum a short distance when a blood-red lion's head appeared out of thin air and swallowed him whole. A powerful aura of bloodlust filled the air, and Lion Fierce, along with his men, glared menacingly at them.
One of the men led by Shi Han seemed to possess some secret technique, darting through the water at incredible speed, covering a distance of three hundred feet in an instant, and slipping to the side of the medicinal herbs.
Seeing this, even those facing Shi Han began to stir. After all, with so many herbs before them, no one would be willing to let Shi Han take them all for himself.
Xiao Yan also began to circulate his Dou Qi. After all, other medicinal herbs were easy to deal with, but he would never give up the Ten Thousand Year Green Spirit Vine.
Just as the men sent by Lion Fierce were about to pick the first herb, the bottom of the pool suddenly became as bright as day.
The entire bottom of the pool glowed with a bright turquoise light, making the unique landscape of the pool appear exceptionally beautiful under the illumination.
The source of the turquoise light is two large, turquoise stones. These stones appear abruptly, and the round, turquoise stones are more than two inches in diameter, with a white ring around them.
Then the large stone blinked, revealing two eyeballs! An aura emanated from the two enormous eyeballs; the last time Xiao Yan sensed this aura was from He Kui, the Fiendish Hand.
Then the bottom of the pool moved, and the ground started to move too!
Upon closer inspection, Xiao Yan realized it was a giant toad crouching down, its skin almost identical to the bottom of the pool. Xiao Yan happened to recognize this type of giant toad.
Eighth-tier magical beast—Azure-eyed Nightmare Toad!