Chapter 13: The Bottom of Lake Tianmiao

Lie Jin had never expected these Butterfly-Bone Dragons to resort to such a tactic. Although the people of the Demon Realm were not known for their mastery of spells, their physical bodies were immensely formidable, possessing both peerless offense and defense. Therefore, regardless of how profound the cultivation levels of those who had attained godhood or demonhood in the other three realms might be, none of them ever dared to lightly come here and stir up trouble.

The group of Butterfly-Bone Dragons before them were the very cream of the crop within the Demon Realm. Their individual capabilities were formidable, their numbers were vast, and to top it all off, their regenerative powers were astonishing. As long as their bodies did not suffer fatal injuries, they could generally recover swiftly in a short span of time. Consequently, the fierce battle did not reduce their numbers by much; instead, it inflamed their wild instincts, prompting them to launch even more violent assaults against everyone.

Even though Lie Jin's defensive barrier was exceptionally powerful, enduring the storm-like barrage while trapped within the airtight encirclement of the Butterfly-Bone Dragons caused it to gradually weaken. With a crisp "crack," a fracture finally appeared on Lie Jin's defensive barrier.

Seeing this, Shun Tian shouted loudly in the dragon tongue, "Do not let your guard down! We must completely annihilate these ignorant fools in this battle! Otherwise, we Butterfly-Bone Dragons will no longer have the face to remain in the Demon Realm."

When it came to single combat, there were countless beings in the Demon Realm possessing higher wisdom and deeper cultivation than the Butterfly-Bone Dragons. However, this species was fiercely aggressive, unforgiving of even the slightest grievance, and exceptionally united. Accustomed to reigning supreme in the Demon Realm, they were now being provoked one after another by intruders, naturally stirring public outrage and immense fury.

Yet, Lie Jin was, after all, a Great Demon who had traversed the Demon Realm for many years, boasting profound cultivation. Seeing that his defensive barrier was about to shatter, he decisively let out a low shout. A burst of intense flames suddenly surged around his body, and stowing the short metal rod away into his robes, he pulled out the small, square, transparent box that Shi Jun had previously seen. The six transparent light screens—top, bottom, front, back, left, and right—flashed, instantly forming a transparent glass enclosure. In this way, no matter how formidable the scales of the Butterfly-Bone Dragons were, any blows striking the glass enclosure were completely deflected, bouncing back directly to slam against the attacking beasts.

* * * * * * * *

A heaven-shaking, earth-shattering roar echoed through the air—it was the cries of pain from the Butterfly-Bone Dragons that had been counter-attacked by their own scales.

One Butterfly-Bone Dragon was struck in the shoulder by a scale that embedded itself deep into its flesh. It let out a mournful howl and plummeted downward, but before it even hit the ground, it surged upward once more, let out a bizarre scream, and plunged back toward Lie Jin with ferocious momentum.

Shi Jun knelt down and reached out to embrace Chi Yang.

He could feel his hands trembling uncontrollably.

Chi Yang's soft body leaned limply and slanted against his arms, her breathing faint and sporadic. Her body shuddered slightly from the excruciating pain, and a daze lingered in her eyes, much like a newly awakened child.

His heart felt as though it were being violently torn apart, the pain almost unbearable, yet he could not utter a single word. He managed to free one hand to fumble through his treasure pouch, searching for the pills and talismans he had brought from the Alchemy Ministry.

Seeing the state of Chi Yang and Shi Jun, Lan Po was instantly provoked into a fury. Without waiting for Shi Jun's command, the little creatures simultaneously tensed their bodies and sprang forward like arrows, while sending a signal far off to the Nether River in the Netherworld.

Lan Po's offensive and defensive techniques were somewhat similar to those of the Demon Realm, consisting entirely of pure physical attacks, and they could freely transform and combine according to different situations. These little things always swarmed the enemy when fighting, completely disregarding any " Jianghu rules." Their bodies were slender, thin, and remarkably agile, making them completely immune to the attacks of the Butterfly-Bone Dragons' scales. In the blink of an eye, the Lan Po completed their combination, grouping into dozens to form neat arrowheads that pierced fiercely into the center of the Butterfly-Bone Dragons. Moving back and forth like phantoms, they streaked through the bodies of more than a dozen Butterfly-Bone Dragons in mere moments.

"N-No!" Chi Yang, who had just been fed a few pain-relieving and hemostatic pills by Shi Jun, suddenly cried out involuntarily, "Lan Po are summoning the Nether Yin Stream! Stop them quickly!"

"Take your medicine first, alright?" Shi Jun was in no mood to care about such matters; Chi Yang's injuries looked far too severe. A normal mortal would have long since perished and reported to the Soul-Nurturing Ministry. Having no idea whether Chi Yang could hold on, he was already burning with anxiety and could process nothing else.

"We can't let this happen! The Nether Yin Stream possesses no independent consciousness, and its power is far too great. If they forcibly break through the barrier and force their way over, it will violate the great taboo of the four realms' pact. A large-scale war will inevitably erupt between the Demon Realm and the Nether Realm!" Chi Yang said urgently, tugging hard at Shi Jun's sleeve and looking at him with imploring eyes. "Hurry and stop them! Tell them to cease summoning the Nether Yin Stream, please?"

In his heart, Shi Jun loathed these Butterfly-Bone Dragons to the core and would have loved for Lan Po to summon the Nether Yin Stream to wipe out this group of vicious beasts. However, seeing that Chi Yang had already spoken thus, he had no choice but to stand up helplessly, nod, and say softly, "Don't worry, I know what to do." With that, he silently summoned the Lan Po in his mind. To his surprise, after a long while, there was no response at all. Pondering for a moment, he understood the underlying reason. Sighing inwardly, he reached into his treasure pouch, pulled out the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda, and called out, "Xiao Tian, come with me." Following this, his figure flickered as he stepped outside the barrier.

Although the Lan Po had temporarily lost their mental connection with him, they still recognized this master. Seeing him suddenly appear from within the barrier, hundreds of them immediately detached themselves and rushed back, surrounding him tightly to protect him in the center.

Shi Jun reached out to cup one of the little Lan Po in front of his eyes and said softly, "Tell them to all come back immediately, and stop summoning the Nether Yin Stream!"

The little Lan Po blinked, shook its head with a look of partial comprehension.

Communication among the Lan Po relied entirely on spiritual power. The little Lan Po transmitted Shi Jun's words outward, and though the rest of the Lan Po did not understand the reason, they dared not linger in the fight. With a sharp whistle, they retreated, returning to Shi Jun's side in a short while and burrowing back into the treasure pouch.

The Butterfly-Bone Dragons had not expected the sudden intervention of such a fierce and fresh reinforcement as the Lan Po, and while they were being caught off guard, the Lan Po suddenly departed. Relieved as if granted amnesty, the dragons instantly pivoted and charged once more toward the defensive barrier housing Lie Jin.

Shi Jun immediately felt his mind descend into a chaotic, overwhelmingly tangled state, deducing that the Lan Po were bombarding him with questions all at once while he could no longer perceive them as he used to. He could only force a bitter smile and say, "All of you get inside the barrier now and protect Chi Yang and the others. Leave the matters here to me."

Xiao Tian had long since poked its head out of the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda, looking around before suddenly piping up, "Master, I've taken a look, and this place is no fun at all. Why did you call me out?"

Shi Jun felt his nose practically twist in fury as he roared, "To fight, of course!"

"Hmph, do these little mongrels even require me to make a move?" Xiao Tian feigned disdain while its eyes glowed with excitement, wriggling out of the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda and shouting with thrilled giggles, "However, it's been a long time since I've stretched my muscles. For your sake, I suppose I'll reluctantly oblige!"

"Wait!" Shi Jun turned his head and shouted to Zi Sheng, "Brother Zi Sheng, make sure you take defensive measures! This Heaven-Reaching Pagoda is extremely destructive when deployed, and I'm afraid it might hurt you!"

Chi Yang was a celestial being from the Immortal Realm; how could she not recognize the Calamity-Forged Gold? Realizing this, she grew somewhat anxious and said, "Shi Jun, the poison in your body hasn't been cleansed yet; you mustn't use the Calamity-Forged Gold casually!" However, under her heavy injuries, her voice was too weak and powerless, and even Fu Yao beside her failed to catch her words, let alone Shi Jun.

Zi Sheng pondered for a moment, then quickly transmitted his voice to Shi Jun: "Since that's the case, Fu Yao and I will first protect Chi Yang and Ah Li and retreat downward into Tianmiao Lake. Wait for you and Big Brother to converge at the entrance of the silt-river corridor at the lake bottom, and then join us immediately!" With that, he urged the barrier downward in silence, vanishing into the lake water in the blink of an eye.

* * * * * * * *

Seeing this, Xiao Tian said irritably, "Hey, I was just about to display my majestic prowess, why did you send them all away? Who's going to cheer for me then?" While protesting, it shook its body, instantly expanding in size to transform into a golden dragon over ten meters long. It even thrust its snout close to Shi Jun's face to sniff him, humming, "Hop on quickly! Let me show you, Master, just how powerful Xiao Tian is!"

Without any hesitation, Shi Jun swung his leg over Xiao Tian's spine and pointed toward Lie Jin's location. "Once Big Brother and I join up, you won't need to hold back at all—you can do whatever you want. Then we'll go for a swim in the lake!"

"Who's afraid of whom?" Xiao Tian answered crisply, flicking its tail and roaring at the top of its lungs, "Black Vajra, come on out!"

Shi Jun was momentarily stunned. Black Vajra? Before he could even ask for clarification, a deafening explosion echoed from overhead. Countless bolts of black lightning struck down with lightning speed, heading straight toward the Butterfly-Bone Dragons fluttering all over the sky—

This sudden turn of events was so abrupt that no one expected the destructive power of this lightning to be so immense, nor that it would strike friend and foe alike. Aside from the Butterfly-Bone Dragons, the defensive barrier where Lie Jin was located was also struck simultaneously. Amidst Xiao Tian's wildly excited cackling laughter, Shi Jun was stunned to discover that, apart from himself and Xiao Tian, every single "person" on the entire battlefield had been scorched pitch-black by the sudden lightning, resembling charred firewood. Not only had the Butterfly-Bone Dragons, which had looked so imposing and menacing moments ago, turned into black-boned dragons, but even Lie Jin's transparent glass enclosure had transformed into a deep, dark black block, trailing a wisp of faint black smoke.

"Hehe, exhilarating! Who would have thought such a simple spell would subdue them? Well then, let's try something a bit more fun and see!" Gleefully proud, Xiao Tian actively exercised its initiative and autonomy. Without waiting for Shi Jun to speak, it shook its head, wagged its tail, and shouted again, "Timely Rain!"

Tossed back and forth by the extremely restless Xiao Tian, Shi Jun nearly tumbled off its back. While he was busy adjusting his seating posture, "Swish, swish, swish, swish..." countless dazzling needles as fine as ox hair shot downward furiously from the sky, carrying immense impact as they pierced toward the already disarrayed Butterfly-Bone Dragons.

Having just had their scalps numbed by the black lightning, the Butterfly-Bone Dragons were scared nearly out of their wits upon seeing these densely packed ox-hair needles. Their heads were the most delicate part of their bodies and extremely vulnerable to damage. Sensing that the situation was critical, Shun Tian and the others collectively turned their heads downward and charged desperately into the chaotic stone mountain range. Unfortunately, the ox-hair needles descended far too swiftly; before they could escape the battlefield, the needles had already fallen silently—

An entirely unexpected event occurred. The moment these menacing ox-hair needles touched the bodies of the Butterfly-Bone Dragons, they instantly burst open with a "噗" sound, transforming into plump little yellow flowers—naturally, Lie Jin also suffered collateral damage. The black smoke on his transparent barrier hadn't even dissipated before its color was forcefully changed. In an instant, the black-boned dragons all across the sky transformed once more into yellow-boned dragons—or more accurately, ancient dragons covered entirely in yellow flowers.

Shi Jun knew in his heart that because his spiritual senses were sealed, he could no longer freely wield overly powerful spiritual power, and thus could not command Xiao Tian smoothly, having to rely to a large extent on Xiao Tian's independent actions. Yet this little golden dragon, formed from the Calamity-Forged Gold, was acting like a playful child, actually playing games at such a life-or-death juncture. He sternly shouted, "Xiao Tian, stop fooling around! Let's get over to that box right now!" With that, he pointed toward the location where Lie Jin was.

The Immortal and Demon Realms had never been on good terms, and since Xiao Tian had seen Lie Jin before, it naturally recognized his identity. Hearing this, it grunted displeasedly, "His demonic energy is too strong, I don't like him."

"Like him or not, we're going," Shi Jun said decisively. "If you aren't willing, you don't have to follow me anymore. You can go your own way!" Saying this, he formed a hand seal, leaped into the air, and flew toward Lie Jin on his own accord.

According to Shi Jun's usual temperament, he would not have been so unaccommodating. However, Xiao Tian was different; this little creature had previously abandoned Si Kong Shangren casually and without attachment simply to follow him because Si Kong's spiritual power was not strong enough. In other words, the reason Xiao Tian acknowledged him as master was merely because Shi Jun was relatively more useful to it. If he displayed too much trust and dependence on it now, it was hard to guarantee that unpleasant events wouldn't arise in the future. Therefore, Shi Jun also wanted to take this opportunity to teach a lesson to this little creature that understood no rules of the game at all, lest it become difficult to rein in later.

Sure enough, seeing Shi Jun suddenly turn hostile, Xiao Tian was momentarily baffled and didn't know what to do, remaining frozen in a daze.

* * * * * * * *

At this moment, Shi Jun's attention had already shifted. He maintained absolute vigilance, guarding against any sudden attacks from the Butterfly-Bone Dragons.

A sudden gust of wind surged beside him as a massively built Butterfly-Bone Dragon rapidly closed in from directly ahead. Its four crimson eyes glowed brightly as it opened its mouth full of sharp teeth, while three other Butterfly-Bone Dragons followed closely behind like shadows, clearly having targeted him as an easy lone target to dispatch.

Scanning his surroundings, Shi Jun realized that Butterfly-Bone Dragons were also charging toward him at extreme speeds from overhead and from both his left and right flanks.

Without a second thought, Shi Jun formed hand seals with both hands and simultaneously unleashed an enhanced version of the water-type spell "Three Feet of Frost," named "Cold Frost Freezing Earth."

The tiny particles transformed from white water vapor rapidly dispersed in all directions. The bone-chilling water vapor penetrated the bodies of the Butterfly-Bone Dragons within a radius of dozens of meters. Amidst miserable shrieks, Shi Jun watched as wounds of varying sizes simultaneously appeared and rapidly expanded on the heads and scale-less bodies of the surrounding Butterfly-Bone Dragons. The eyes of several Butterfly-Bone Dragons were also eroded by the freezing cold, causing these arrogant beasts, who had never known fear, to twist and tumble in mid-air in agony, thrashing blindly out of loss of reason and plunging headfirst into the nearby observing dragon pack.

"Big Brother!" Shi Jun called out loudly, quickly closing the distance to Lie Jin amidst the chaotic melee.

The next moment, a dark figure flickered as Lie Jin manifested, his palms sweeping out to send a pair of flames curving around in front of Shi Jun to blast directly at the dozen or so Butterfly-Bone Dragons tailing him. Grabbing Shi Jun, Lie Jin looked at him with full-faced concern and asked, "How are you? Are you injured?"

A wave of gratitude welled up in Shi Jun's heart—had it not been for him, why would his Big Brother have ventured alone into the Demon Realm, risking danger by himself? Now that they had finally reunited, there wasn't a single word of reproach; instead, Big Brother only cared about his safety. He hurriedly shook his head and said, "I'm fine, Big Brother. Let's get out of here quickly!"

With that, he took the lead and flew back toward Tianmiao Lake at the foot of the mountain, casting "Cold Frost Freezing Earth" as he flew to drive away the frenzied flock of Butterfly-Bone Dragons, with Lie Jin following closely behind.

Upon flying to the lake shore, Shi Jun steadied his stance and said to Lie Jin, "Big Brother, we're going to enter the water shortly. Some friends of mine are down there waiting to meet us, and we'll leave together then."

Lie Jin smiled. "Are those the ones from just now? It seems your movements were quite swift."

Shi Jun was just about to speak, but seeing Shun Tian leading the swarm of Butterfly-Bone Dragons that looked as dense as a swarm of yellow wasps charging toward them, he suddenly remembered something and said hastily, "Not good, I left something behind. Big Brother, wait for me for a moment."

Lie Jin looked astonished. "You child..." Before the words could leave his mouth, Shi Jun had already turned around and charged back toward the flock of Butterfly-Bone Dragons.

Facing the countless Butterfly-Bone Dragons with anger spraying from their eyes, Shi Jun simply acted as though he didn't see them. Leaning his upper body forward, he waved his hands to trace out a bizarre barrier that wrapped him tightly within it. The front of the barrier formed a cone-like shape shimmering with silver radiance, slicing into the flock of Butterfly-Bone Dragons like a blade in total silence. It plunged downward abruptly, dropping almost to ground level and shuttling back and forth at extreme speed.

Shun Tian had not expected the enemy to return after leaving, and was both startled and infuriated. Seeing Shi Jun suddenly dive down to ground level—not engaging his side in direct combat, but instead swaggering around like he was showing off with a "low-altitude flight performance"—his lungs were practically blown apart with rage. With a furious roar, the Butterfly-Bone Dragons all across the sky instantly froze their bodies in unison, letting out a long howl toward the heavens before twisting their bodies in mid-air and converging from all directions into a single spot, charging toward the circling Shi Jun with the force of a thunderbolt.

There it was! A light dawned in Shi Jun's eyes, and he was filled with joy. He reached a hand out from within the barrier and scooped something up from the ground, clutching it to his chest.

It was precisely the golden bow that Chi Yang had dropped in her carelessness.

At that exact moment, two Butterfly-Bone Dragons flew in simultaneously. Not expecting Shi Jun to actually stop, they were unable to avoid him in time. With a loud "bang," their bodies collided violently with Shi Jun's barrier. The dragon scales on their bodies immediately embedded themselves outward, turning Shi Jun's protective barrier into a sieve, while the two robust, massive bodies of the Butterfly-Bone Dragons fell onto the nearby sandy ground with dull thuds.

Shi Jun felt his chest tighten, agonizing pain wracking his body as dazzling stars burst before his eyes. He opened his mouth and spewed a stream of blood.

The battered and shattered protective barrier carried the temporarily unconscious Shi Jun, sending him flying high into the air. Describing a long parabola in mid-air, he plunged straight into Tianmiao Lake, sinking silently down to the lake bottom.

All of this happened far too quickly. Lie Jin didn't even have time to rush over before watching Shi Jun get attacked, lose consciousness, and fall into the water. His heart nearly stopped from the shock, and overwhelmed by panic and remorse, he let out a loud cry, leaped forward, and plunged into the lake as well.

Xiao Tian remained somewhat bewildered, unable to comprehend why Shi Jun had suddenly grown displeased, especially since those Butterfly-Bone Dragons had tasted its bitterness earlier and were staying far away from it. Witnessing all of this from mid-air and simultaneously realizing that the spiritual connection it had always shared with Shi Jun had suddenly vanished, the little creature grew furious and blamed everything on the Butterfly-Bone Dragons. Steam and heat were practically puffing out from its two little nostrils as it shook its head, wagged its tail, and plunged headfirst into Tianmiao Lake as well. Before entering the water, it didn't forget to unleash a "Reversal of Yin and Yang" upon the Butterfly-Bone Dragons it found so loathsome—

Two whirlwinds, one black and one white, materialized out of thin air, tearing through everything in their path and initiating a bloody massacre in the stony mountain range as the Butterfly-Bone Dragon flock descended into utter chaos.

Just as Xiao Tian's golden-scaled body vanished into the water, a massive volume of bubbles suddenly surged from the center of Tianmiao Lake, churning and bubbling like a pot of boiling water. Before long, as if detonated by something, the lake water whipped up towering waves several zhang high.

Streaks of golden light soared skyward from the crests of the giant waves. Looking at the lake surface, the once-clear water had imperceptibly turned pitch-black, forming a massive whirlpool that spun rapidly, as if being frantically stirred by an invisible, gigantic spatula. At the very center of the whirlpool—precisely where the golden light had appeared—a deep depression sank downward...

* * * * * * * *

Dozens of razor-toothed fish, drawn by the scent of blood, had just approached Zi Sheng and his companions guarding the entrance to the silt-river corridor when the Lan Po, who had been standing guard on either side, swarmed forward. Morphing into sharp steel cables, they viciously pierced through dozens of the fish at the very front. At the same time, Zi Sheng flicked his jade flute from afar, sending strands of scattered, fierce Qi radiating outward to part the lake water and strike all the remaining razor-toothed fish.

"Not good! Blood-sucking water snakes!" Fu Yao and Ah Li, supporting the severely injured Chi Yang, looked around anxiously and cried out in alarm upon seeing countless blood-red, slender, and agile demonic beasts swimming toward them in unison.

"Why hasn't younger brother arrived yet? Could something unexpected have happened?" Anxiety churned in Zi Sheng's heart, though his tone remained as calm as ever. "Ah Yao, protect Miss Chi Yang well and don't worry about anything else." Holding a water-avoidance spell in his left hand, his combat movements were naturally not as fluid as usual, but these minor demonic beasts were still not worthy of his full attention. With a slight smile, he gently swayed the long flute in his hand, completely ignoring the massive school of swimming blood-sucking water snakes as he gazed upward, hoping to see Shi Jun break free and arrive soon.

Just then, the tranquil lake bottom began to tremble violently. Zi Sheng and the others watched as the lake water rapidly changed color, golden light abruptly surged, and an invisible, immense force swirled upward from the depths of the lake bottom, forcefully driving all the aquatic life in the lake toward the surface.

"What is this, another Nisu Treasure Vault?" Zi Sheng thought to himself in shock, shouting in a low voice, "Ah Yao, Ah Li, get into the corridor quickly!" He put away his long flute, waved his slender palm forcefully, and shattered the protective barrier at the entrance of the silt-river corridor by sheer force.

Fu Yao had already perceived the anomaly at the lake bottom. It was her first time witnessing a treasure vault activate from such close proximity, and she was at a loss as to what to do when Ah Li gave her a forceful tug, causing her to fall helplessly into the pitch-black silt-river corridor. Ah Li extended a large tentacle to grope along the wall of the corridor, igniting an oil lamp made from the fat of a deceased demonic beast. A faint circle of white light diffused through the water, casting an extremely pale pallor across the dying Chi Yang's cheeks.

Behind them, Zi Sheng flicked his figure inward, his brow slightly furrowed. "Fortunately, the water in here isn't as turbid as outside. Wait here and stay safe. I still need to go back out and guard the entrance so younger brother won't fail to find us."

The silt-river corridor was situated right at the bottom of Tianmiao Lake. The passage was rugged and narrow, riddled with numerous tunnels and silt caves on both sides, and inhabited by countless juvenile aquatic demonic beasts. The vast majority of these were carnivorous aquatic species, but because they were still young, their demonic power remained shallow and their destructive potential was not yet severe.

Fu Yao was young after all, having lived among the Blood-Blue Clan since birth and rarely venturing out. This was her first time entering the water. As a tree demon, although she employed the water-avoidance spell, the inability to touch sunlight and air still left her feeling quite uncomfortable. At the moment, holding Chi Yang with one hand and maintaining the water-avoidance spell with the other, she looked around anxiously in the dim lamplight, her heart pounding frantically as she wondered if a terrifying carnivorous water monster would suddenly pop out of this pitch-black ghost of a place.

"Shi Jun..." Chi Yang murmured, struggling slightly in Fu Yao's arms before suddenly regaining consciousness.

With a "swish," the Lan Po, which had been swimming haphazardly through the water, heard Shi Jun's name and instantly grew excited. Looking around and finding no sign of their master, they grew deeply disappointed and swam back to Chi Yang's side, biting gently at the hem of her clothes to pull her toward the entrance, hoping Chi Yang would take them to search for Shi Jun.

"Sister Chi Yang, you're awake!" Fu Yao cried out happily.

"He... where is he?" Opening her eyes and failing to find Shi Jun, Chi Yang suddenly grew flustered and asked urgently.

Fu Yao hesitated for a moment before speaking gently, "Big Brother Shi is still outside. He'll be coming in shortly, so don't worry."

With a flash of white, Zi Sheng materialized inside, his brow furrowed slightly.

"Brother Zi Sheng, where is Big Brother Shi?" Fu Yao asked hastily, only to be pulled back quietly by Ah Li beside her. Only then did she realize: if Shi Jun had broken free, how could he possibly not have come in alongside Zi Sheng?

Chi Yang stared fixedly at Zi Sheng. A trace of worry flashed across his handsome face as he hesitated and said slowly, "Another Nisu Treasure Vault has activated, and the lake is in complete chaos right now; nothing can be seen. I waited for a long time but didn't spot younger brother Shi... However, I believe he must be with his Big Brother and shouldn't run into any danger."

"Yes, yes, there definitely won't be any danger, Sister Chi Yang, rest assured." Fu Yao chimed in to comfort her.

Chi Yang remained dazed for a long while, seemingly failing to hear their words as she stared straight at the entrance behind Zi Sheng without uttering a sound.

Amidst a dull rumble, the lake bottom shook violently. The protective barrier at the entrance of the silt-river corridor activated automatically, and a transparent light screen sealed the entrance shut by sheer force.

"No!" Chi Yang cried out, pointing her right finger forward with lightning speed. However, her injuries were far too severe, and she could no longer mobilize her spiritual energy at will. Normally, dissolving such a barrier would not have been difficult for her, but now it was as arduous as ascending to the heavens.

"Miss Chi Yang, you needn't worry, we will definitely find Brother Shi." Zi Sheng gave Fu Yao a meaningful look, and Fu Yao chimed in, "Brother Zi Sheng is right. Big Brother Shi has such great abilities, he won't be in any danger. It must be that the lake water is too turbid right now, and he hasn't spotted this entrance for the moment."

Chi Yang regained a bit of spirit and nodded slowly.