Chapter 72: Diving in to Save a Life

“Are you all right, Master Li?” Murong Xue looked at me, her face filled with worry as I held my head in a daze.

I shook my head to show I was fine, then asked Qin Tian for a cigarette, lighting it up. Thick smoke swirled before my eyes, and within it, I seemed to see a beautiful woman beckoning to me. Qinghuan, I will save you. Soon—wait for me. I flicked the cigarette away and struggled to stand, bracing myself against the ground. As soon as I rose, the world spun around me, and I quickly grabbed Qin Tian for support, preventing myself from falling.

“How could this happen?” I muttered, gripping Qin Tian’s collar.

“Li, sit down first. You’re very weak right now—let Divine Physician Murong check you.” Qin Tian tried to help me sit, but I forcefully shook off his hand.

“I can’t rest. Qinghuan’s been taken—I have to rescue her.”

Murong Xue produced an exquisite white bottle from her sash, poured out a pill, and said, “Qin Tian is right. Your body is extremely weak now. Forget saving anyone—you can hardly walk. Here, take this medicine first.” Qin Tian took the pill and pushed it into my mouth. The taste was as bitter as before, but I swallowed it with effort. Murong Xue always seemed to have endless miraculous medicines, and the effect was remarkable—a warm current spread within me as soon as the pill reached my stomach, and my dizziness lessened considerably. I tried walking a few steps—indeed, I felt much better, strength surging through my body. I strode forward, calling out, “You two find a place to wait in the mountains. If I haven’t returned by midnight, leave immediately—don’t worry about me.” With those words, I’d already run several hundred meters. Whether they heard me or not, I wasn’t sure—but my voice was loud enough that unless one were deaf, it would be hard to miss.

The wind roared in my ears, and my current speed couldn’t be less than one hundred eighty miles per hour. I chose to run rather than fly, since flying would consume my vital energy, while running only used up some physical strength. I needed to conserve my power to rescue Xu Qinghuan. Footsteps sounded faintly behind me; glancing back, I saw Qin Tian catching up, followed by Yu Jing, though his pace was slightly slower. Qin Tian and I slowed down to let him join us. None of us spoke—a silent understanding passed between us.

The land on this continent was soft, sometimes strewn with stones, placed either deliberately or naturally. With so many soldiers marching in order before, footprints were easy to spot. Following them for several hours, we were all exhausted, barely able to catch our breath. Darkness crept over the sky, and the footprints vanished in front of a vast ocean. This was truly an ocean—its surface calm, waters smooth, stretching beyond sight, its depth unknown. The setting sun cast its light across the waves, turning the sea blood-red. Had the soldiers crossed to the other side?

Qin Tian and Yu Jing looked at me in confusion. I smiled wryly, drew another cigarette, and gazed at the ocean. For a moment, silence hung between us, until Qin Tian broke it: “Li, aren’t you good at diving? Go down and take a look.” He exhaled smoke as he spoke.

That seemed wise. Not only can I dive, but I don’t even need to breathe—though Qin Tian and Yu Jing don’t know that. Taking a deep drag, I said, “Very well, I’ll go down. Wait for me on the shore. If I don’t return within an hour, leave at once—take everyone and never come back.” My voice was resolute. Qin Tian and Yu Jing started to protest, but I stopped them.

“Don’t doubt my words, and don’t try to guess how serious this is. I’ll tell you plainly—we’re facing a formidable enemy this time.” I tossed the cigarette aside and, with finality, prepared to enter the water. Qin Tian and Yu Jing, hearing my words, realized the gravity of the situation. Qin Tian, worried, said, “Li, if you can’t make it, come up quickly—understand?” I nodded, took a deep breath, and tried to summon my inner avatar. The sea was vast, and searching alone would be difficult—two pairs of eyes would help.

Ever since the battle with the Corpse King, I had kept my avatar suppressed within me. I wouldn’t let it out, because its presence weakened my power, and more importantly, there was something strange about its aura—I felt a deep aversion toward it, so I’d never released it.

I focused my mind, but the avatar remained unresponsive. No matter how I called, it wouldn’t emerge. No matter—it couldn’t be helped, and there was no time to waste. I expelled the foul air from my body and dove headlong into the unfathomable depths.

Plunging in, I descended head-first, shifting all my weight to my skull and sinking rapidly by inertia. The water was murky; I had no choice but to activate my Heavenly Eye again. After about half an hour, I reached the bottom, spotting a massive stone. Swiftly turning my body, I was about to touch the bottom when my foot encountered a barrier, as hard as glass, preventing further descent. I pressed down harder—my foot met resistance like stone, solid but intangible, as if an invisible wall had materialized in the water.

Could it be an enchantment? Elder Xiaoxiang had used one at Duanchang Cliff. If this really was an enchantment, things would get complicated. The stronger the caster, the more powerful the barrier. If the one who cast this is as strong as that burly man—or stronger—I doubt I can get through. I gathered vital energy in my right hand, clenched my fist, and struck downward. The water swirled into a vortex around my punch, but it was futile. If only Qin Tian could dive—his “Earth-Shattering Fist” might break through this barrier. I searched the surroundings, swimming several thousand meters, but it seemed the entire ocean was sealed, with no end in sight. What now?

As I swam, I noticed faint sparks below. Odd—how could there be fire under water? I probed for a while, but couldn’t break through, so I swam back up, deciding to consult the others. Going down had been quick, taking only half an hour, but returning was much slower. I’d told Qin Tian and Yu Jing to leave if I didn’t return within an hour—were they still on the shore? At last, I surfaced, feeling discomfort from the water pressure. Yu Jing and Qin Tian were still anxiously pacing the shore—they hadn’t left! I couldn’t tell if I should feel glad or distressed.