Chapter 226: Found It, Three Lights Divine Water!

Liu Mingyuan looked at the gloomy terrain all around, then compared it with the somewhat damaged map in his hand: "Almost there, just a bit further and..."

Before the words had even faded, a group of people suddenly appeared on the mountain path ahead. At the lead was none other than Chai Yan, who seemed to be searching for something with a few subordinates. Upon seeing the expedition team, both sides were taken aback.

"How come there's another group?" Ilya frowned, a flash of vigilance in his eyes, "Has this place become a tourist attraction now?"

Chai Yan swept a cold glance at them, his eyes carrying a hint of disdain. He neither greeted them nor showed hostility, simply leading his subordinates away at a fast pace; this arrogant attitude made Ilya secretly annoyed.

"Fuck! Really giving him face!"

Muttering a soft curse, Ilya said to the guide Liu Mingyuan at his side:

"Mr. Liu, it seems now that things have exceeded our expectations. The level of weirdness in this place far surpasses that of a typical expedition site."

Liu Mingyuan turned around, looking at this group of fully armed mercenaries. He could detect a hint of unease and hesitation in their eyes, which made him secretly anxious.

"What do you mean?" He suppressed the urgency in his heart.

"More money," Ilya said straightforwardly, "For every increase in the danger coefficient, the fee doubles. That's the rule in our line of work; no bargaining."

"Money is not a problem," Liu Mingyuan said almost without thinking, a flash of fanaticism in his eyes, "Once I find what I'm looking for, let alone doubling it, ten times is fine. As long as you can escort me safely to the destination."

This bold promise made a flash of greed appear in everyone's eyes. The team found a relatively flat spot to rest, replenish water, and check their equipment. But everyone was secretly calculating what astonishing secret lay hidden behind this mission.

"Everyone, continue forward after checking," Ilya ordered while loading his custom-made pistol, "Stay alert, this place is not right at all."

At the same time, in another part of the valley, the team led by Chai Yan was moving forward rapidly. They were clearly more familiar with this area, their steps steady and their route clear.

However, just as they turned a mountain corner, a sudden change occurred. Two massive figures leaped down from the rock wall above, landing heavily in front of the team.

They were two Golden Silk Monkeys of astonishing size, each as tall as an adult elephant, their muscles knotted all over, their golden fur shimmering with a metallic luster in the sunlight, their eyes filled with heart-stopping ferocity.

"Watch out!" Chai Yan had just shouted when the two Golden Silk Monkeys launched a lethal attack.

Their speed was incredibly fast, instantly tearing through the team's defensive line.

Chai Yan immediately circulated the Qi throughout his body, concentrating his power in his limbs; his muscles expanded rapidly, and his entire aura changed. He unleashed a sophisticated combat technique, attempting to fend off these two terrifying creatures.

"Bang!"

Chai Yan landed a whip kick on one of the Golden Silk Monkeys, yet the sensation that came back made his heart sink—it felt like kicking a wall cast from refined steel. The Golden Silk Monkey didn't budge at all, instead swatting with a palm, a sharp whistling sound of air being torn apart ringing out.

"Ah!"

"Help!"

"Run!"

Screams rose one after another. The strength of the Golden Silk Monkeys was too terrifying; Chai Yan's subordinates fell one by one, some swatted away, others torn to pieces. Fresh blood soon stained the ground red, and a heavy, bloody stench permeated the air.

Chai Yan's own situation was also precarious. Although his combat technique was incredibly sophisticated, in the face of such absolute power, the effect of technique was greatly diminished. After a few exchanges, his body was already covered in shocking wounds, and blood had stained his clothes red.

"Retreat! Retreat immediately!" Seeing that more than half the team was lost, Chai Yan made a decisive decision to order a withdrawal. If this continued, he feared not a single living soul would remain.

At the same time, in the deepest part of the valley, Lin Xuan brought Xiao Qing and Xiao Bai before an ancient stone wall. This stone wall was pitch black, carved with complex patterns, each line emitting a faint glow, forming an exquisite mechanism.

"These patterns..." Xiao Bai observed carefully, a flash of surprise in his eyes, "They seem to be some kind of Ancient Text, and every character contains a special power."

Lin Xuan nodded slightly and reached out to touch the stone wall. His fingers tapped lightly on different patterns, as if playing a silent musical score. Soon, the sound of "click-clack" gears came from deep within the stone wall, and the thick stone wall slowly moved aside, revealing a deep, dark passage.

Passing through the passage filled with Spirit Qi, the three arrived in a spacious stone chamber. However, the scene before them greatly disappointed Xiao Qing.

"Just these things?" She looked around, her tone full of dissatisfaction, "I thought there would be more treasures! The medicinal herbs from before were much more valuable than these."

Indeed, there were only some seemingly ordinary daily necessities in the stone chamber: an old-fashioned camera covered in dust, a rusty desk lamp, a few yellowed journals, and some sealed boxes. These items looked like traces left behind by someone who had once lived here.

Yet Lin Xuan's expression was exceptionally serious. He circulated his inner core consciousness, keenly sensing a trace of unusual Qi. This wisp of Qi was faint and elusive, yet it gave one an inexplicable sense of guidance, as if it were summoning something.

Following this mysterious wisp of Qi, Lin Xuan discovered an almost imperceptible indentation on one side of the stone chamber. He pressed it lightly, and another sound of a mechanism activating echoed in the chamber.

The stone wall opened again, revealing another astonishing stone chamber. This chamber was empty, with only a clear spring in the center; the spring water was clear to the bottom, emitting a faint, mysterious glow, giving one an unreal feeling.

"This is..." Xiao Qing leaned in curiously, attracted by the strange energy emitted by the spring water.

"Three Lights Divine Water," Lin Xuan's voice carried a hint of solemnity, "The most mysterious of the Five Elements Power. A heaven-and-earth wonder legendary for being able to refine the primordial spirit and improve cultivation."

Xiao Bai's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly: "Does Benefactor intend to go down and investigate personally? Although this spring water appears calm, I fear there are hidden mysteries within."

"It's fine," Lin Xuan smiled indifferently, "You two keep watch outside, I'll be back shortly."

Having said that, he took off his outer garment, revealing his sturdy physique, and walked slowly into the spring water. The clear surface rippled, and soon his figure was submerged in the mysterious halo.

Xiao Qing and Xiao Bai exchanged a look and immediately found a favorable position to stand guard.

In the spring water, Lin Xuan felt a strange energy invading his body. This power was both gentle and profound, as if it were about to awaken some power sleeping within him. As the energy continued to seep in, he felt his consciousness begin to blur, as if he were about to enter a special state.

Meanwhile, at the valley entrance, Ilya's team was moving forward cautiously.

"Wait," Liu Mingyuan suddenly stopped in his tracks, alert, "Listen, is that the sound of fighting?"

Faint screams and sounds of fighting drifted from afar, sounding as if someone had encountered something terrifying. The sounds were filled with fear and despair.

"Damn it," Ilya gripped the weapon in his hand, his expression becoming increasingly grave, "It seems this place is even more dangerous than we imagined."

Liu Mingyuan's expression, however, became even more excited: "The more dangerous it is, the closer we are to our goal. Everyone, increase vigilance! We're almost there!"