Chapter 888

After those two groups, Lei Xiulin also sent a team over.

Lei Xiulin repeatedly warned: only approach, do not go deep; if anything seems off, withdraw immediately.

Yet even so, that team still lost half its members.

What's even stranger is that the remaining half had watched their comrades collapse with their own eyes, but when the signal flare was fired and Lei Xiulin led reinforcements, those who had fallen had completely vanished.

Lei Xiulin asked about the situation; the remaining eight team members all shook their heads, saying they couldn't recall anything.

It was as if someone had erased that memory.

"It's probably related to the magnetic field," Lei Xiulin analyzed. "Some powerful thing came out and dealt with those who collapsed, simultaneously causing magnetic disturbance, affecting the remaining personnel and making them lose that period of memory."

This is the only explanation that sounds relatively reasonable.

At the same time, this explanation makes one feel a chill down the spine.

The first batch of explorers and the second batch of local investigators lost contact only after entering the underground.

As for the third batch, they hadn't even gotten close to the so-called sinkhole entrance before a group collapsed, and they were quickly "dealt with."

This indicates that something terrifying may be lurking in the depths of the sinkhole.

At first, that thing couldn't emerge from the sinkhole, or its ability wasn't enough to extend a hand, but by the time Lei Xiulin arrived, it could!

Moreover, as time passes, the range that thing's hand can reach will only keep expanding, eventually becoming uncontrollable.

After hearing Lei Xiulin's words, Liu Junyan immediately said, "I'll go scout first."

Lei Xiulin immediately said, "Seventh Lord, although you're very capable, for this unknown territory we should still be cautious……"

"Tell me, how can we solve the problem while being careful not to make mistakes or raise suspicion?"

Liu Junyan directly cut off Lei Xiulin's speech, leaving him momentarily speechless.

Yes.

The more perilous the place, the more impenetrable the unknown territory, the more we need a brave and resourceful person to break through.

Lei Xiulin no longer obstructed, merely warning: "Seventh Lord, you must be careful; if anything……"

He hadn't finished speaking when his eyes locked onto Liu Junyan's cuff, widening.

Lei Xiulin saw an orange-yellow small snake sneaking out of Liu Junyan's cuff, looking for a chance to escape.

But before the Chishe could get away, Liu Junyan grabbed its tail and lifted it upside down.

The Chishe cried out, "Put me down! You're going to your death, I won't follow! I'm still young, I have a bright future ahead……"

"Want a future?" Liu Junyan shoved the Chishe back into the cuff, "Isn't your future right here?"

The Chishe coiled its slender body into circles, shrinking into Liu Junyan's cuff, wanting to cry but unable to.

What sin!

He truly, truly regrets it!

If only I had known earlier!

Had I known it would turn out like this, when Feng Rong went to tour the temple, I'd rather be beaten to death than show my face.

Thinking of his current inhuman plight, which came from his earlier rush to pester Feng Rong, the Chishe wishes it could grow hands to slap itself hard.

But he still can't assume human form…… making him even more frustrated.

"Āyàn, I'll go with you," Xiao Jiu said.

Liu Junyan shook his head: "I'll go; you stay behind to coordinate with Director Lei, keep the overall situation under control, and I'll signal you if anything happens."

Having said that, Liu Junyan turned and left.

Xiao Jiu, however, strode after him: "Āyàn, I also want to see what that sinkhole really looks like; bring me along."

Liu Junyan thought it over and did not refuse Xiao Jiu.

Xiao Jiu is now the Earth Deity Maiden; regarding matters of the earth veins, she has the right to participate and assist him in resolving the issue.

This is also her duty.

No matter how perilous the situation, with Liu Junyan present he will certainly be able to protect Xiao Jiu well.

Lei Xiulin sent someone to guide them.

That person was one of the eight survivors from the third batch that had approached the sinkhole.

He is bold, capable, and unwilling to accept defeat.

As they neared the site of their previous incident, he pleaded with Liu Junyan and Xiao Jiu: "Sirs, if I encounter my elder brother down there, please be sure to bring him up alive; if dead…… I also want to help bury him properly."

Xiao Jiu opened her mouth to offer a few words of comfort, but Liu Junyan spoke: "Just how dangerous is it down there? You know best; in this situation, do you think we should go in lightly equipped and resolve things quickly, or would helping you look for a corpse cause us to miss the best chance to attack or escape?"

That person was left speechless.

He felt a bit embarrassed, rubbing his hands, trying to think of something to say.

But before he could formulate his words, a sudden gust of yin wind swept over, and his body collapsed straight to the ground.

Liu Junyan instinctively stepped in front of Xiao Jiu to shield her.

Xiao Jiu, however, stretched her neck and quickly scanned the surroundings, hoping to catch some clue.

The yin wind came quickly and left just as fast.

Everything happened in an instant.

Even for a second or two, Xiao Jiu felt the discomfort of the magnetic field fluctuation that Lei Xiulin had speculated about.

But it's likely because Liu Junyan and Xiao Jiu's cultivation is quite good, so the effect on them was not significant.

When both had calmed down, they saw the Chishe that had just been coiled in Liu Junyan's cuff now wrapped around his wrist, constantly flicking its tongue, as if stimulated, breathing heavily.

It seems the magnetic field fluctuation affected him quite a bit.

The site of this incident lies a few centimeters farther out than the previous one.

This shows that the opposing ability is continually growing.

They have been through too much; given this situation, they basically have a plan in mind.

Xiao Jiu said: "It seems there is indeed something at the bottom of the sinkhole; the cultivation method of that thing is probably not clean."

Liu Junyan narrowed his eyes and looked ahead; soon he pointed to a certain direction to the front right and said: "The entrance should be there."

Lei Xiulin's people came and lifted the fallen person back.

Xiao Jiu followed Liu Junyan and rushed straight toward the direction he had just pointed.

The closer they got to that entrance, the more obvious the discomfort from the magnetic field fluctuation became.

Chishe hissed, spitting out its tongue; Xiao Jiu also clenched one fist and pressed it against his chest to keep himself awake.

Only Liu Junyan remained consistently calm.

When they found the entrance, Liu Junyan flicked his hand and drove Chishe off his body, saying: "Chishe, go down first to scout the path for us."

Chishe stood on the ground, the scales on its back all burst up, silently accusing Liu Junyan of his 'evil deeds'!

He knows the danger! He also knows to protect his own wife!

He is aloof, yet they let him go to his death...