"In that case, we would be remiss to refuse," Fang Qianyuan said graciously.
"Young Master Fang, please follow me." Bai Ying led the way, taking Fang Qianyuan along a path from the palace atop the peak to the rear of the mountain. Then they boarded a Cloud Cage at the cliff's edge and descended.
This was a facility the Heavenly Craft Institute had installed for them. A cage-shaped device, drawn by pulleys and ropes, could rise and fall freely. Even ordinary mortals could travel up and down the cliff with ease, coming and going as they pleased.
Their destination was a deep cavern in the mountain stream below the peak. Like a dark, ancient well, it led far underground.
As the lift descended close to ground level, Fang Qianyuan noticed numerous openings several yards across in the cliffs on either side. An eerie yet formidable aura emanated from within. Deep inside one opening, he could even see a pair of eyes as large as bronze gongs. Some unknown fierce beast was staring coldly at them from within, its eyes gleaming with a sinister light.
With Wolf Saint Bai Luo and Bai Ying, the outer residence's chief steward, present, however, the fierce beast dared not attack. They reached the bottom without incident.
The view before Fang Qianyuan suddenly opened up. Only then did he discover a long passage ahead. Its walls were not ordinary mountain rock, but crystals as clear as ice, each refracting the light and sparkling like jewels.
An extraordinarily dense current of spirit essence flowed from the depths of the cavern, brushing their faces like a gentle breeze.
They continued onward. After a while, they reached the depths and finally saw a pool hundreds of yards across.
The pool had been built inside an enormous underground cavern. Its