Chen Qing steadied himself and continued rowing the Wooden Oar as the Black-canopied Boat slowly headed toward the central region of Thousand Lotus Lake.
The deeper they went, the taller and stranger the surrounding lotus plants became. Some lotus stalks were as thick as a child's arm, their leaves as broad as canopies, blocking out the light and making the waterways seem secluded and tranquil.
Just then, within Chen Qing's Sea of Consciousness, the Thirteen-Petal Pure World Lotus Platform, which had remained utterly still all this time, suddenly gave a faint tremor!
Though it was an exceedingly subtle vibration, it stirred distinct ripples through Chen Qing's mind.
Ever since he had obtained this Heaven-Piercing Spirit Treasure at the Vajra Platform and it had entered his Sea of Consciousness, the lotus platform had shown no response no matter how he probed or attempted to communicate with it using his divine sense.
Yet here, deep within Thousand Lotus Lake, it had reacted on its own?
Chen Qing's rowing paused slightly. His gaze swept over the jade-colored lotus leaves and resplendent lotus flowers around him as thoughts raced through his mind. Could Thousand Lotus Lake be hiding the key to controlling this treasure? Or perhaps... this lake itself had some unknown connection to the Thirteen-Petal Pure World Lotus Platform?
As the boat drew ever closer to the lake's center, the disturbance in his Sea of Consciousness grew increasingly obvious.
The thirteenth-grade lotus platform no longer merely trembled. A hazy glow began to circulate over its translucent Golden Lotus Petals, as though it were resonating with something.
Chen Qing suppressed his alarm and doubt, focusing first on the matter before him.
He stopped rowing and allowed the small boat to drift quietly upon an especially open stretch of water.
This place was already close