Since Ye Qing decided to go into the water personally, Nine-Fingers Wu Yong wasn't worried anymore, and even ran ahead to lead the way, taking Ye Qing and the others to the vicinity of the mountain spring.
They called it a mountain spring, but it looked more like a gigantic pond. Occupying an area the size of a football field, there was a small waterfall above it, with water continuously pouring down from who knows where. And the pond had no outlet to drain the water; the source of the waterfall kept flowing down tirelessly. Perhaps it's all seeping into an underground spring.
"Damn, this is a mountain spring?" Handso Fatty Wang looked at this massive pond, stunned: "You could almost call this a lake!"
"Fat Wang, you're exaggerating. It's such a small thing, how could you call it a lake!" Nine-Fingers Wu Yong said.
"Co on, there aren't mountain springs this big!" Fat Wang said.
Nine-Fingers Wu Yong didn't pay him any more attention, turned to Ye Qing, and said: "Mr. Ye, we've brought diving suits and oxygen tanks, as well as underwater flashlights. Do you need anything else?"
Ye Qing looked around, then suddenly walked to the side of the pond and picked up a stone weighing about ten pounds.
"What are you doing?" Handso Fatty Wang asked in shock.
"Diving!" Ye Qing said with a laugh, holding the stone: "You guys don't get it. With this thing, it's more convenient underwater. It allows you to dive straight to the bottom."
Fat Wang: "Damn, I give up!"
Ye Qing put on the diving suit and oxygen tank, affixed the diving flashlight, then held the stone with one hand, and held the scabbard of the Ancestor of Miao Dao with the other. Staring at the dark, calm water ahead, Ye Qing took a deep breath and slowly walked forward, step by step into the water.
The water in winter was extrely cold, but fortunately, Ye Qing's inner strength was impressive, circulating True Qi within to completely dispel the chill. Even while subrged, he felt warm and comfortable all over.
With the stone in hand, Ye Qing had no tendency to float up in the water, walking until he reached the bottom. After walking about a dozen ters, Ye Qing was completely subrged.
Standing on the shore, Handso Fatty Wang watched as Ye Qing's head disappeared below the surface, clenching his fists tightly, a look of anxiety all over his face. The situation made one tense, even if there wasn't a water monster lurking below.
Ye Qing walked slowly underwater, cautiously guarding against any attacks from a water monster and observing the conditions at the bottom.
The pond bottom seed to have nothing special, similar to the bottom of other ponds, covered with water plants that often entangled one's feet. There was plenty of fish in the water; the various fish swam away startled wherever Ye Qing passed, looking almost dreamlike.
Of course, Ye Qing didn't have ti to admire these scenes. After circling the pond bottom several tis, he still hadn't found any sign of a water monster, which puzzled him. According to Nine-Fingers Wu Yong's description, the water monster should be quite large. Although the pond bottom was sizable, after several circuits Ye Qing hadn't seen a trace of it, which was strange; it didn't make sense not to see the monster.
On the shore, Handso Fatty Wang noted that Ye Qing had been underwater for nearly half an hour without any news, making him increasingly worried.
"Ninth Master, since this kid's been in there so long without coming out, could he have been done in?" a sidekick asked softly.
"It's been over half an hour. This pond's not that big, he could walk back and forth seven or eight tis by now. Why hasn't he surfaced? Was he eaten by the water monster?" another person murmured.
"Shut up if you can't talk properly, damn it!" Handso Fatty Wang raged: "You can die, but Young Ye won't!"
After being scolded by Handso Fatty Wang, the two n glared at him in anger, clearly ready to strike.
"Quiet down, all of you!" Nine-Fingers Wu Yong ordered sternly: "There's been no commotion underwater, which ans there's no struggle happening down there. Ye Qing is probably safe. Just watch patiently; what's the rush?"
Seeing Nine-Fingers Wu Yong's temper flare, the two n didn't dare say more. Handso Fatty Wang felt slightly more at ease and trusted Ye Qing was alright since Nine-Fingers Wu Yong had reassured him.
At this mont, Ye Qing was still searching back and forth underwater. He planned to make another round, and if he still couldn't find the Water Monster, he would surface and bring others down.
After covering most of the area, Ye Qing had reached the lakeside, near the waterfall. This was the deepest part of the pond, about ten ters deep.
As Ye Qing walked, he carefully observed his surroundings, not overlooking any possible clues. Suddenly, a strand of black silk caught the corner of Ye Qing's eye, making his heart skip a beat. He quickly turned his head to look, and the black silk was still floating in the water, its other end tangled in the aquatic grass, making it unclear what exactly was happening inside. However, the black silk looked remarkably like human hair.
Ye Qing felt horrified and grabbed the black silk, suddenly pulling it with force. Unexpectedly, the black silk ca free imdiately, and from within the aquatic grass, a skull fell out. The top of the skull had so black silk tangled on it, which was actually the skull's hair!
Faced with such a situation, even though Ye Qing had a big heart, he still felt a shiver in his heart. However, he was ultimately composed, and soon regained his calm. He quickly moved to the side of the aquatic grass and forcefully pulled it aside, discovering beneath the aquatic grass a skeleton.
To be precise, it was half a skeleton. Because the lower half of the skeleton was missing, leaving only the upper half. The skull just now was pulled from this skeleton by Ye Qing.
There was no doubt, this was a woman's skeleton, and she had long hair. Her hair hadn't decomposed yet, possibly indicating she had died not long ago. However, there was no flesh left on the skeleton, most likely having been gnawed clean by scavenging fish and shrimp underwater. But why was the skeleton only half here? Was it only half when she fell in, or was it dismbered underwater by sothing?
After pondering for a mont, Ye Qing suddenly bent down to carefully examine the fractured area of the skeleton's lower half. Ye Qing was startled to discover that the fracture was very jagged, and there were large tooth marks. In other words, the skeleton wasn't chopped but bitten off by sothing!
Ye Qing felt a jolt in his heart. Clearly, this was what Nine-Fingers Wu Yong referred to as the Water Monster. What else could have such big teeth?
Considering this, Nine-Fingers Wu Yong wasn't lying; there were indeed Water Monsters in these waters!
Upon realizing this, Ye Qing quickly clutched The Ancestor of Miao Dao's scabbard and hurriedly glanced around. At this mont, the pitch-black underwater scene beca tense. In the darkness, it seed as though so massive creature was watching Ye Qing, the tense atmosphere causing Ye Qing's heart to tighten.
But after waiting for a while, there was still not a single movent in the darkness. Ye Qing's heart gradually cald, looking at the scabbard of The Ancestor of Miao Dao in hand, Ye Qing felt much braver. With this scabbard here, he could give any Water Monster a fight. Ye Qing wasn't afraid of an ancient monster like the Corpse Ghost Dragon, why fear any Water Monster?
What Water Monster, according to Nine-Fingers Wu Yong, isn't it just so unusual, near-extinct animals, nothing to be afraid of?
Taking a deep breath, Ye Qing slowly parted the aquatic grass and began searching the vicinity carefully. Since this skeleton was left here, the Water Monster should not be far from here, and Ye Qing wanted to see exactly what this Water Monster was.
After searching for approximately three minutes, Ye Qing suddenly stumbled on sothing below his feet, almost causing him to fall. Ye Qing didn't pay it much mind, thinking it was just aquatic grass, and he tugged at it a few tis with his foot. Unexpectedly, he tugged hard, but still couldn't break it, sparking Ye Qing's curiosity.
He turned to look closely and saw a long, slender object caught on his foot. This object was covered in underwater sedint, making it unclear what it was. Ye Qing bent down, grabbing the long object with his hand, and upon touching it, Ye Qing's expression changed. He already knew what it was.
Hurriedly wiping away the sedint, revealing the object's true form, it was actually a piece of tal chain. The chain was thick, about as wide as a child's arm. Such a thing, it's unclear what it was intended to lock up. However, finding it underwater was astonishing.
Holding the chain, Ye Qing pondered slightly, then suddenly grabbed the chain and walked forward along its direction.
The chain was very long, extending far underwater. Ye Qing holding it walked about thirty ters, finally reaching the pond edge near the mountain side, where the chain extended into the mountain rocks.
Upon this discovery, Ye Qing was even more astonished. Such a strange pond bottom, with such a chain. And the chain extending into the mountain rocks, it's too peculiar. What's behind the chain? What is supposed to be locked by such a thick chain?
Ye Qing was also skilled and courageous, without any hesitation, he imdiately approached the mountain rocks. Looking closely, he gently knocked on the rocks, unexpectedly discovering that it was hollow behind.
This discovery delighted Ye Qing, behind the mountain rocks must be secret passages. It seems this is the place he seeks.
Of course, Ye Qing wouldn't rashly enter either. After all, Shijia said this tomb has many traps, recklessly entering could be dangerous. He morized the location of the mountain rocks, then surfaced imdiately to inform the people outside about the underwater situation.
Ye Qing threw aside the stone in hand, just about to erge. Suddenly, Ye Qing felt uneasy, he turned around and saw, not five ters to his left, a pair of glowing yellow eyes staring fixedly at him!
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