Clark Luo looked toward Rena Luo.
Rena's gaze was still fixed on the center of Heavenly Lake.
The frenzied Frost Ape stretched out its massive arm, as if trying to grab onto something and escape, but it was surrounded by endless Tianchi waters, with nothing to brace against. All it could do was keep sinking deeper.
The crimson figure standing atop the Frost Ape's head was also sinking along with it, until finally, both vanished completely from sight.
"I don't know him."
Rena stared blankly for a moment, coughed, and spat out a mouthful of blood. "But I keep feeling like I've seen him somewhere before."
She furrowed her brow, trying hard to remember.
But with just that fleeting glimpse, it was impossible to tell.
"Could that guy be one of our clan members?" Gavin Luo asked.
Gavin fell silent for a moment, then spoke: "If he's not from our family, how do you explain that fire?"
"That kind of fire could boil the entire Heavenly Lake!"
Thinking of that blazing light earlier, even from the distant shore, Gavin could still feel the waves of heat rolling in.
And don't forget, it was still snowing hard!
Just how powerful must that fire be to spread warmth that far?
"I don't know."
Rena took a deep breath. "All I know is, he's incredibly strong. Even compared to the true fire wielders in our family, he wouldn't lose out!"
As soon as Rena said this, Gavin and Clark both fell silent.
"Besides that, I found the entrance."
Rena calmed herself and spoke slowly: "The entrance is right behind the Frost Ape's right foot. I was there, planning to break the ice and dive in, but I couldn't do it."
"If my guess is right, that Frost Ape is the guardian of whatever's down there. Years ago, Mo Yang probably waited until the ape was distracted by the wolves, broke through the ice, and snuck inside."
But from the ice down to that entrance, there's still quite a distance. After all, Heavenly Lake is deep enough to hold a beast that size.
Rena's expression grew cold. "Now that someone got there first, I'm worried he might just take that thing away!"
If he really does, then our family's treasure will be lost to us forever.
At this, Gavin and Clark exchanged glances.
"Let's not be too pessimistic. Mo Yang spent decades down there and never managed to bring it out. Maybe that guy isn't stronger than Mo Yang?" Gavin said.
But as soon as he said it, Gavin's face changed. "Wait, who was it that killed Mo Yang?"
"Master Lin from Seacrest," Clark answered.
"Master Lin... Do you think that guy just now could be...?"
At this, Gavin's face instantly paled.
Clark and Rena were also completely shaken.
"You two go inform the family! I'll stay here and keep watch. If he comes out, I'll do my best to follow him!" Clark said resolutely, his expression serious.
Heavenly Lake.
The water below was deep, dark, and eternally cold.
The Frost Ape's massive body was dragged by the iron chains toward the abyss below. It roared in fury at the bottom, but no matter what it did, not a sound could escape, and there was no way to break free from the rusted chains.
"Is this the place?"
Evan Lin dove underwater, his gaze fixed on a stone cave several meters high ahead of him.
Beside this cave was where the iron chain extended out.
Evan swam over and entered the cave. The flame patterns of the Fire-Spirit Mortal Body on the Left-Hand Dragon glowed warmly, sending streams of heat through his body.
Evan looked around.
The cave entrance looked ancient.
Strange and ancient drawings were carved all over the cave walls.
There were barbarians wielding stone axes and clubs, facing a shadowy figure.
Majestic snow wolves stood atop high cliffs, looking down into the abyss below.
All kinds of murals, submerged for years, were hard to make out clearly.
Evan pressed forward.
The tunnel inside the cave seemed endless.
The deeper he went, the darker it became.
Except for the flickering blue and red glow ahead, there was nothing else to see.
"The water pressure keeps rising, and the temperature keeps dropping. At this level, even ordinary Vajra experts wouldn't be able to withstand it."
Evan thought to himself, growing more curious about this place.
Now Evan tried to use his water spirit power, planning to tear open the water around him.
But to his surprise, the water spirit had no effect at all.
"That water-spirit stone from before was just a low-level water-control item. If it doesn't work here, something must be suppressing it completely."
"What could it be?"
Evan frowned slightly.
And as he kept going deeper, Evan noticed the Fire-Spirit Mortal Body was burning through his qi faster and faster.
Before, with the Grand Dao Foundation Art, the spiritual qi in his body was enough to keep the Fire-Spirit Mortal Body going.
And since the Fire-Spirit Mortal Body was attached to the Left-Hand Dragon, it didn't drain him much.
But now, Evan was starting to feel the pressure.
Deathly silence.
All around was silent water—not even a single fish in sight.
Endless darkness closed in.
"This feeling..."
Evan furrowed his brow. It felt familiar.
He thought back.
Darkness.
The giant ape.
That raging power and fire!
"That pitch-black spirit herb!"
Evan's heart jolted—he finally understood where that uneasy feeling was coming from.
Back when he helped Damon Wang snatch the Blood Jade and other items from Medicine King Valley and Sean Shao, there was a pitch-black spirit herb among the spoils.
Later, when Evan infused qi into the black herb, he saw a giant ape wrapped in flames!
It roared up at the sky in defiance, as if trying to tear the heavens apart!
That wild power and rage was something Evan could never forget!
"Gazing Up at Endless Darkness!"
Evan stopped swimming forward and raised his head in the water, looking up.
All he saw was darkness—endless darkness!
"Cheap tricks!"
Red light blazed in Evan's eyes.
"No matter how dark the sky, if I want it bright, it has to be bright!"
"If it won't obey, I'll trample this sky!"
"If it refuses, I'll crush all its darkness under my feet!"
Flames erupted from Evan, qi surging wildly.
His overwhelming force blasted aside thousands of kilograms of water pressure!