Chapter 64: Giant Catfish, Dragon Pearl Descends!
Bai Yu was startled by the sudden black shadow: “There’s a monster!”
Upon hearing the news, the members on the water immediately deployed underwater detection equipment and activated searchlights. A deep-sea submersible equipped with explosives rapidly approached the area.
Under the searchlights, they discovered it was a giant catfish, seven meters long! Its peaceful and wise eyes and slow swimming posture indicated it had no hostile intent.
Due to the Spiritual Qi Awakening, biological forms do indeed undergo mutations, but as long as they haven’t developed Sentience, they are considered normal creatures.
The situation became somewhat awkward for a moment.
Liu Feifei’s laughter echoed: “Hahaha~ It’s just a big catfish, you’re too timid!”
Bai Yu was also embarrassed, his face flushed red. He genuinely suffered from Thalassophobia, it wasn’t a joke!
Furthermore, his heightened tension would accelerate oxygen consumption, a common issue during deep dives.
In addition, excessive water pressure at depth can cause nitrogen narcosis, leading to excitement or disorientation, both of which are extremely dangerous.
Fortunately, the group finally reached a depth of 75 meters, arriving at the lakebed, and began their search.
They searched for about twenty minutes.
Zhao Bin reported: “Depth 80 meters. I have 63% oxygen remaining, which can sustain me for approximately 58 minutes.”
Bai Yu had the lowest oxygen, only enough to last 49 minutes. For safety, they had to ascend before reaching 25%.
Thus, the group continued their search.
After another ten minutes, Liu Feifei, who was searching separately, excitedly exclaimed over the comms: “I think I found it!”
Upon receiving the news, the personnel above immediately deployed the submarine navigation instruments and headed towards Liu Feifei’s location.
Bai Yu also rushed over and saw the scene in the intelligence photo.
The water flow was turbulent, forming a small vortex, the sound of water surging, emitting a low rumbling, and raised gullies – it all matched.
“This is it!”
Just as everyone was getting excited, Liu Feifei’s scream suddenly rang out: “Ah~!”
Bai Yu and the other two were startled. Liu Feifei didn’t have Thalassophobia, could it be a monster?
They immediately looked towards Liu Feifei’s location but found nothing unusual.
Bai Yu asked: “What’s wrong?”
“A ghost! A White Shadow! I just saw a drifting humanoid white shadow!”
Hearing this, Bai Yu frowned and scanned the surroundings, finding no anomalies.
“Are you sure? Don’t scare me!”
“Really! I really saw it! I’m not kidding!”
Given that various instruments and the personnel above hadn’t seen anything, Bai Yu could only explain: “If I’m not mistaken, it might be the soul of that thing?”
Liu Feifei, who had been a bit scared, heard this, thought about the White Dragon, and felt it was quite reasonable.
“Hoo~”
She let out a big sigh of relief.
However, he genuinely felt that figure was very eerie, like a ghost.
After observing and seeing that nothing else was happening, Zhao Bin asked: “Shall we head back?”
“Yes! Our oxygen isn’t enough to last until twelve o’clock anyway. Now that we’ve found the location, we just need to wait for the Captain to arrive.”
As they swam away, Bai Yu glanced back and saw the White Shadow flash by.
Frowning slightly, he said on the communication channel: “Deep-sea submersible, scan our surrounding area and escort us back to shore.”
“Understood!”
“What’s wrong?”
“I just saw a white shadow too. I have a feeling there’s an eerie presence. Whether it’s that soul is still uncertain.”
“Be careful!”
“Okay.”
Finally, everyone safely returned to the South Bank of Cloud Lake and unloaded their equipment.
Han Qing, who appeared to be rather reserved, walked over and asked directly: “Are you trying to retrieve something from the lake?”
“Yes, a bead that’s somewhat useful.”
“Is it related to the Jumping-into-the-river case?”
As she spoke, Han Qing’s emotions visibly fluctuated.
Seeing this, even though Bai Yu suspected the Jumping-into-the-river case might be related to the White Dragon sacrifice, and they had just encountered a potential ghost, possibly the sacrifice at work, he couldn’t say anything.
He replied: “It should have no relation. This bead is considered an auspicious item.”
Hearing this, Han Qing’s expression remained unchanged, but she could feel her emotions calming down significantly: “Alright.”
With that, she walked back to the riverbank and sat quietly, awaiting further arrangements.
Ten thirty.
A Black Car stopped by the roadside, and Li Yunbin and Qin Wanqing got out.
Seeing their Group Leader arrive, the surrounding Investigators became more energetic.
“Greetings, Group Leader!”
“Good morning, Group Leader!”
It was evident that Li Yunbin was the backbone of the Seventh Group; his presence alone significantly boosted everyone’s morale.
Bai Yu: Meow Meow Meow~ When will I be able to become the Group Leader of this group.
Before he could finish his thought, Li Yunbin’s gaze met his. He walked over and patted Bai Yu’s head, saying, “You kid, you really never stop worrying me.”
It felt very much like an elder lecturing a junior.
Bai Yu blinked his big innocent eyes and said, “If I hadn’t intervened, wouldn’t this item have been obtained by the Fishmen? Then, all sorts of floods would bear their mark.”
“Mm. Have you found the location yet?”
“Yes, using the propeller, we can get there in about ten minutes. And the oxygen tanks can last for more than an hour and a half.”
At this point, Bai Yu paused, then voiced his concern: “It’s just… whether there will be any major disturbances in that area when it fully forms is still unknown.”
“Alright, I understand.”
With that, Li Yunbin took out four Jade Pendants.
Bai Yu recognized these!
Purple Spirit Jade Pendants.
When he went to the Thunder Laboratory, Sister Wanqing had taken one out to save his life, but it wasn’t used, so Bai Yu naturally returned it.
These things could actually be mass-produced?
But he estimated they were extremely valuable… they had previously been Qin Wanqing’s life-saving items.
“Take one each. In addition, I’ve prepared some Talismans for underwater use, some for attack, some for defense, and some to increase movement speed using water currents.”
“Before we begin the operation, I need to confirm one thing with you all: underwater, if a crisis occurs, you absolutely must not split up!”
“Do you understand?”
“Understood!”
These items Li Yunbin had were naturally obtained from his family. To be honest, he wasn’t the only descendant in the Li Family.
In fact, the Li Family had dozens of grandchildren in this generation!
Resources were also limited and couldn’t be supplied indefinitely.
Li Yunbin had brought so many resources, so he naturally had to perform better and live up to the family’s cultivation.
Of course, with Bai Yu as a team member, Li Yunbin felt he could afford to be a bit more aggressive!
In the Spiritual Qi Awakening, only the strong could grasp Fate! This truth was timeless.
And Li Yunbin chose to bear the burden and fight against the Vampire Clan Baron! In the future, he would also face even stronger enemies to hone his own strength.
After communicating with Bai Yu and the others, Li Yunbin began to brief the other Investigators.
Speaking of which, the Seventh Group members who came here didn’t know it was a Dragon Pearl, only that it was a treasure.
With such a significant commotion, anyone could tell the treasure was important.
But it was hard to imagine it was equivalent to a Level 7 treasure!
They probably thought it was an item from a Level 4 or Level 5 Treasure Vault.
Around eleven forty.
The sky above Cloud Lake was overcast, with no sunlight visible, thick Dark Clouds obscuring the sun.
It seemed as if an invisible force was pushing the clouds, which subtly formed a giant vortex.
In the center of the vortex, a long, elongated object could be vaguely seen, but it wasn’t very clear.
“Rumble~”
A muffled Thunderclap sounded, and a Rainstorm poured down.
Large raindrops pounded the lake’s surface.
Everyone put on their equipment, and Li Yunbin said solemnly: “Depart!”
“Gurgle~ Gurgle~”
Bai Yu and the others immediately activated their propellers and quickly submerged into the deep waters of Cloud Lake.
The roar of the propellers echoed underwater as they moved swiftly, finally stopping steadily fifty meters from the center of the vortex.
This area of water had already formed a larger vortex, as if mirroring the anomaly in the sky.
He glanced at the time – 11:48.
The suction at this moment was not particularly strong.
Everyone maintained a safe distance as much as possible.
Time ticked by, the vortex spun faster and faster, the suction grew stronger, and everyone quickly retreated. They retreated about fifty meters, making it difficult to see clearly into the vortex.
At this moment, a message came from the detection team via the communicator: “Report, Captain! The Spiritual Energy index has increased by at least twenty times compared to before!!!”
The person reporting was clearly extremely excited; this was data from the edge of the vortex.
What would be at the center of the vortex!?
The subsequent data became increasingly exaggerated.
Moreover, everyone could visually see a light blue energy and a white energy churning in the water.
Bai Yu’s heart tightened; he didn’t know if there would be a bigger disturbance.
The sound of “splash” from the water flow became more pronounced, and in the center of the vortex, a faint white pillar of light seemed to be about to shoot into the sky.
After about twenty minutes, the commotion gradually subsided!
Although there were unique phenomena during this period, no accidents occurred.
Li Yunbin: “Go.”
He said this to convey that he wouldn’t compete for it.
Bai Yu was exceptionally excited at this moment: “Alright!”
Using his propeller, he quickly moved to the pool of water and swam down.
Despite his Thalassophobia, his heart was pounding with excitement! The fear was completely overshadowed.
After only twenty meters, Bai Yu arrived before the Dragon Pearl.
Looking at the Dragon Pearl on the stone platform, surrounded by swirling energy, Bai Yu took a deep breath and reached out to touch it.
The moment his finger lightly touched the Dragon Pearl, the water flow within the entire cave seemed to pause.
The bead emitted a faint glow, like a bright moon underwater, illuminating the surrounding dark waters.
And there was a warm sensation! This warmth was felt directly through the diving suit.
“Captain! We’ve got it!”
Li Yunbin and the others outside the cave breathed a sigh of relief.
However, a voice immediately came through the communicator: “Report, Captain! Three Fishmen are rapidly approaching from the west!”
“There are five Fishmen to the North! Including an Advanced Fishman with green Scale Armor!”
