Seeing Zhao Yan's disheveled appearance, a mixture of near-death experience and inexplicable excitement, Lin Yu raised an eyebrow, not in a hurry to ask, "Don't freeze to death in this pool before the people from the Upper Realm kill you."
Zhao Yan didn't stand on ceremony. He took the scalding hot rabbit meat, tore it apart, and stuffed it into his mouth. He gasped for breath from the heat, but ate it very quickly.
Only after he had eaten half a rabbit did the chill dissipate considerably and his face regain some color. He then exhaled a long breath of cold air, carrying the aroma of meat, and looked at Lin Yu with shining eyes.
"There's something down there," Zhao Yan said in a low voice, his voice trembling with excitement.
"It's very deep, with an underground river leading to a cave!"
"A cave?"
What's inside?
Zhao Yan must have discovered something, otherwise he wouldn't have been so agitated.
"I didn't have time to look at it closely."
Zhao Yan wiped the water off his face, a mixture of lingering fear and excitement flashing in his eyes.
"The current was too strong; it almost swept me away. But I managed to touch a rock."
"Guess what?"
He reached into his soaked undergarments and pulled out a palm-sized, irregularly shaped black stone.
The stone looked ordinary, but Lin Yu immediately sensed something different when he took it.
It's heavier than ordinary stones, has a smooth texture, and carries a hint of the coolness of pool water.
More importantly, when he circulated the Primordial Unity Ki Technique within his body, he could faintly sense a faint energy contained within the stone.
"This is?"
"Doesn't it resemble Spirit Jade?" Zhao Yan licked his lips, his eyes flashing slightly.
"Damn it, there's no mistake! I risked my life to grab one piece outside, and there's a whole bunch down there!"
Lin Yu tossed the stone in his hand, somewhat surprised by Zhao Yan's luck. Was this what the protagonist was like? A near-death experience is sure to bring good fortune.
Could the cave beneath this deep pool be connected to an undiscovered Spirit Vein hidden deep underground?
"Didn't you take a closer look?" Lin Yu asked.
"Nonsense, that undercurrent is treacherous; I almost didn't make it back," Zhao Yan said irritably.
"And it was so dark down there, I had to rely entirely on holding my breath and feeling my way around, but..."
He paused, his eyes calculating.
"I've discovered that although the undercurrent is rapid, it follows a pattern."
"Every so often, about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, there will be a brief, relatively calm interval, which can last for about ten breaths."
"I seized that opening, touched that rock, and then swam back as fast as I could."
"Do you want to go any further?" Lin Yu understood what he meant.
"Nonsense!" A mad glint flashed in Zhao Yan's eyes.
"Those two bastards from the Upper Realm might come looking for us at any time, and this godforsaken place is no place to stay for long."
"If there really is Spirit Vein below, and I happen to be Great Grandmaster, once I break through, I'll go and take those two bastards' heads!"
He looked at Lin Yu: "You've got a strong recovery, kid. You're in better shape than me right now. Come down with me next time! Two people can help each other out and explore deeper."
Lin Yu remained silent.
Opportunities exist, but the risks are enormous.
Undercurrents, unknown caves, potential dangers, and their still-healing injuries.
But the opportunities are equally tempting.
Moreover, Zhao Yan is right; they need resources to quickly restore their strength and cannot continue to passively endure this situation.
"I need to prepare; breathing underwater is a problem." Lin Yu didn't agree immediately, but instead looked at the campfire and the remaining rabbit meat.
You need to be well-fed to have the energy to work.
They are not fish, they have no ability to avoid water, and it is impossible for them to dive for a long time.
Zhao Yan chuckled, "Breathing is easy. I still have a few Turtle Breathing Pill left, which allow a person to move underwater without needing to breathe for half an hour."
What about lighting?
If all else fails, use this.
Zhao Yan pulled out a small jade bottle from somewhere, containing several beads that emitted a soft white light; they were only the size of grains.
"The luminous pearl, ground into powder and sealed in a jade bottle, can illuminate an area of several feet around when crushed, lasting for about fifteen minutes. Its effectiveness underwater is unknown."
Something is better than nothing.
"Then it's settled." Lin Yu made the decision.
"We'll take action at noon tomorrow. Let's rest and get ourselves into top shape today."
The two said no more and each took the time to rest.
Inside the cave, only the crackling of the campfire and the even breathing of the two men remained.
The next day at noon, although the depths of the mass grave were still shrouded in mist and the chill remained, it was the time of day with the best light.
Zhao Yan and Lin Yu stood by the cold pool, already prepared. Both of them were wearing only close-fitting single-layer clothing, which would make it easier to move around even if they got wet.
Zhao Yan gave two of the luminous pearls to Lin Yu, and kept two for himself.
"Remember, the gap in the undercurrent is only about ten breaths. Once you're down there, follow me and make the most of the time to dive."
"Where you touched the stone, about three zhang (approximately 10 meters) below the left rock face, there's a depression; it might be the entrance to the passage."
"Once you get there, act according to the situation. If something feels wrong, swim back immediately, don't hesitate!" Zhao Yan gave his final instructions, his expression serious.
Lin Yu nodded, took a deep breath to suppress the lingering pain from his injuries, and placed a Turtle Breathing Pill under his tongue.
The Turtle Breathing Pill also has a limited duration of effect; it should be taken only when you can no longer hold it in, thus maximizing its effectiveness.
The two exchanged a glance, then simultaneously leaped into the icy pool.
A bone-chilling cold instantly enveloped my entire body.
It stimulated the circulation of Qi and blood within Lin Yu's body, helping him resist the cold.
The pool water was clear, and the light shone through the surface, forming shimmering beams of light underwater, making it barely possible to see what was in front of me.
Zhao Yan led the way, like a nimble fish, diving towards the left-hand rock wall he remembered.
Lin Yu followed closely behind.
As they descended, the light grew dimmer and dimmer. Further down, the two took out luminous pearls they had prepared beforehand to provide illumination.
Soon, Zhao Yan stopped and pointed to the shadow of a rock wall below.
Sure enough, there was an irregular depression, barely big enough for one person to pass through, and it was pitch black inside.
Just then, a powerful suction force suddenly appeared. The undercurrent accelerated.
Zhao Yan's expression changed, and he made a gesture to Lin Yu. The two of them immediately grabbed the protruding rocks at the edge of the depression to steady themselves.
The raging water washed over my body, bringing immense pressure, and a sharp pain shot through my wounds.
The two silently counted the time, calculating the gaps in the undercurrents in their minds.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the suction of the water flow indeed weakened significantly and became relatively gentle.
Right now.
Without hesitation, Zhao Yan released his grip, swung his body, and was the first to slip into the dark entrance of the passage.
Lin Yu followed closely behind.
The passage was pitch black. Although the water flow had slowed down considerably, its direction was still difficult to discern, and the surrounding walls were slippery.
Zhao Yan groped his way forward, while Lin Yu barely managed to keep up with him using the luminous pearl.
The soft white light illuminated a few feet around the pitch-black water.
The passage was winding and twisting, its destination unknown, giving it an eerie and secluded feel.
The two dared not delay, and took advantage of this precious ten-breath respite to swim forward with all their might.
Zhao Yan seemed to have a vague sense of direction, leading Lin Yu through the maze-like passages.
Ten breaths passed in the blink of an eye.
The water flow began to accelerate again, and the suction force gradually increased.
"There's light ahead!" Zhao Yan suddenly transmitted his voice using his Internal Force.
The two rallied and swam forward with all their might.
Just as I swam around the corner, the view suddenly opened up before me.
They burst out of the narrow passage and entered a vast underground space.