Chapter 95 - 90: "High Level!
Chapter 95: Chapter 90: "High Level!
The crocodiles stopped in the tunnel, advancing no further. They had reached the deepest part of the passage.
In Hey Hey’s old lair, a huge cavern similarly lay at the end of the tunnel, filled with its toys and its bed.
It was the same here.
The overall structure looked almost identical to Hey Hey’s old lair.
The only dumbfounding differences were that this cavern was exceptionally large, and that there was a damn waterfall inside.
"A waterfall?"
A trace of disbelief flashed in Chen Fan’s eyes. He stood frozen on the spot, staring blankly at the scene before him.
He had never imagined that he would one day see a waterfall deep underground.
He didn’t know how many meters deep this place was, but he could be sure of one thing: it was definitely deep underground.
He frowned and observed the scene carefully. A large amount of groundwater was seeping from the walls, forming a waterfall over a protrusion in the rock face.
The waterfall was narrow, not particularly wide. Below it was a pool of water, and growing on the surface of the pool was a Blood Lotus. The scene inside the cavern was rather simple; apart from the waterfall and the lotus beneath it, there was nothing else.
There was also a crude bed. It didn’t look like one for a person; instead, it resembled Hey Hey’s, made of withered grass and furs. It had clearly been abandoned for a long time.
Just then, Hey Hey let out a whimper, crawling onto the nearby bed and sniffing it gently.
"That lotus under the waterfall... could it be a Heavenly and Earthly Treasure?" Zhou Mo, who was following behind Chen Fan, asked tentatively, his eyes darting around the cavern’s interior.
"..."
Chen Fan remained silent. He simply strode to the waterfall, looked toward the lotus below it, and a panel slowly materialized before him.
-
「Exotic Treasure Name」: Snow Lotus. (Mature)
「Exotic Treasure Level」: Green.
「Exotic Treasure Effect」: A special type of Heavenly and Earthly Treasure that must be nurtured in a specific environment for a hundred years before it can mature. A product of heaven and earth, it can be used for Alchemy, Artifact Refining, and Array Formation.
ps: If picked before maturity, it will release an extremely potent toxin, covering a radius of one li.
After being picked at maturity, it must be placed in a low-temperature environment for proper preservation within one hour, or its medicinal properties will be lost.
-
The information on the panel was extremely simple; there was nothing else.
This was indeed a Heavenly and Earthly Treasure. The only difference between it and the Mountain Remains Embryo was that, besides being used for Alchemy, Artifact Refining, and Array Formation, it had no other use. Unlike the Mountain Remains Embryo, which could also be used to maintain the stability of the underground cavern’s structure.
Chen Fan stood before the waterfall, quietly observing the scene, but he did not immediately go forward to pick it.
A ceaseless roar echoed from the depths of the cavern. The huge cascade of water, like the galaxy pouring down, crashed into the deep pool and kicked up a sky full of mist.
And this Snow Lotus grew in the pool, floating on the water’s surface.
Its entire body was an immaculate snow-white, without a speck of dust. A total of nine petals unfurled, their tips coalescing with a cold, clear radiance.
It looked exceptionally beautiful, giving one the odd feeling that it would taste great in a chicken stew.
"Chief."
Zhou Mo, holding his Big Saber, cautiously scanned the cavern and asked hesitantly, "Didn’t you say a great figure once lived here? Why don’t we see any trace of habitation? Shouldn’t there at least be a bed or a Cultivation mat or something?"
Chen Fan shook his head. "What I know is only the information passed on by the Ghost King. Since even the Ghost King didn’t dare speak his name, he must be a great figure. A person of that stature might usually cultivate cross-legged in mid-air, untainted by worldly affairs."
’It’s also possible it wasn’t a person... for example, it could have been Hey Hey’s parents.’
’But I feel that possibility is low.’
’After all, a crocodile shouldn’t be able to wield a hammer that big to smash a crater into this mountain.’
’The one the Ghost King spoke of was most likely a powerful Cultivator, and Hey Hey’s parents were just pets he raised.’
’Although I don’t know what this Snow Lotus can be used for right now, it’s a Heavenly and Earthly Treasure, so having it is better than not. Besides, my Warehouse is perfect for storing this Snow Lotus, so I don’t need to worry about its medicinal properties being lost.’
’But my main goal for this trip wasn’t some Snow Lotus, but the Mountain Remains Embryo. So far, I haven’t seen a trace of it. This cavern is empty, practically bare. If the Mountain Remains Embryo is anywhere, it has to be under this pool.’
"Hey Hey."
Chen Fan turned his head to look at Hey Hey, who was lying to the side, and called out softly. Ever since they entered this cavern, Hey Hey’s mood had been a little down, which he could somewhat understand.
After another whimper, Hey Hey dived straight into the pool and disappeared, sending waves splashing. It resurfaced a long moment later, a Mountain Remains Embryo already in its mouth.
"Hey Hey, did you grab the wrong thing?"
Chen Fan’s brow furrowed as he stared at the thing in Hey Hey’s mouth.
He had seen a Mountain Remains Embryo before. The one in the Ghost Fire had the appearance of a slowly pulsating, dark red, fleshy tumor, about the size of a human brain. It looked just like an excised tumor.
But the Mountain Remains Embryo in Hey Hey’s mouth was not dark red, but a brown color, like the soil of a mountain.
Its whole body wasn’t a ball of flesh either, but a bamboo shoot.
Hey Hey opened its mouth, placed the bamboo shoot onto the ground beside the pool, and whimpered, as if to say that the smell was the same, but it didn’t know why the shape was different.
Chen Fan took a step forward, looking at the panel that appeared over the bamboo shoot before him.