Chapter 143: Beneath the Azure Dragon Lake

Clad in blood-red battle armor, the War God of Blood Wind waved his hand casually, and the surging river of blood vanished instantly.

"Right here."

A faint smile graced the face of the War God of Blood Wind as he pointed to a black stone platform about three meters in diameter before him, speaking in a deep voice.

The black stone platform was roughly three meters across, entirely carved from a single piece of dark, somber rock. Intricate patterns were engraved upon its surface. Viewed from afar, it resembled a massive chunk of dark iron, exuding a sense of profound solidity.

Boom!

Gazing intently at the black stone platform, the War God of Blood Wind took a slight breath. Streams of crimson energy surged forth frantically, resembling roaring blood-colored dragons, howling as they merged into the black stone platform. The moment the blood-colored energy integrated into the platform, the esoteric patterns carved upon it instantly lit up. Dark golden light patterns emerged on the surface of the black stone platform, slowly slithering as if endowed with spiritual awareness. In an instant, two indented patterns, transformed from the dark golden lines and emitting a faint golden luster, appeared on the platform.

"Open!"

The War God of Blood Wind let out a low roar, his blood-red-tinged palm slamming ruthlessly onto the two indented golden patterns.

Rumble!

Accompanied by a thunderous roar, the black stone platform slowly parted to both sides, revealing an unfathomably deep, pitch-black cave before their eyes.

"Go on in."

The War God of Blood Wind slowly withdrew his hand from the black stone platform, smiling and nodding at Kobei.

"Could... could you wait a moment?"

Kobei glanced at the pitch-black cave, then looked down toward the foot of Misty Gold Mountain. He was waiting for Luo Ling to arrive.

"Very well."

The War God of Blood Wind glanced down in the direction of Kobei's gaze, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

"Waiting for that little lass, are you? I'll go bring her up."

Giving Kobei a brief look, the War God of Blood Wind shifted slightly, transforming into a streak of blood-red lightning as he instantly darted toward the foot of the mountain.

A moment later, accompanied by the descent of a blood-red river of light, Luo Ling appeared before Kobei, carrying two small parcels.

"Go on inside, little ones."

A gentle smile hung on the face of the War God of Blood Wind as he smiled warmly at Kobei and Luo Ling, speaking in a soft tone.

"Thank you, Uncle Blood Wind, but I won't go in. Kobei, here, take these things for Brother Han."

Luo Ling walked up to Kobei and handed the two parcels she was holding to him.

"Alright."

Kobei accepted the two parcels from Luo Ling, bowed slightly to the War God of Blood Wind, and then leaped directly down into the pitch-black cave.

Swish!

Kobei's body plummeted rapidly, the sound of the wind whistling past his ears.

Inside the cylindrical cave, it was pitch-black without a trace of light. Even with Kobei's enhanced vision, he could not see anything beyond three zhang ahead.

Swish! Swish!

Accompanied by the whistling rush of fierce winds, Kobei's body continued to descend. A moment later, a faint blue dot of light finally appeared within his field of vision.

"Are we almost there?"

Gazing at that touch of aqua-blue light, the Nine-Yang Divine Art within Kobei surged abruptly. His body instantly felt lighter, and the speed of his descent slowed down somewhat. Immediately afterward, Kobei's body transformed into a series of afterimages as his feet tapped continuously against the stone walls. As the aqua-blue light grew larger and larger in his eyes, his speed gradually slowed to a halt.

Boom!

The black cave finally reached its end. With a resounding thud, Kobei's body landed heavily at the bottom of the cavern.

"Is this the bottom of Azure Dragon Lake?"

Gazing at the lake water overhead that radiated a faint blue halo, Kobei froze slightly, letting out a soft sigh of amazement.

"Where is Brother Han?"

Reflecting the faint blue luster from above, Kobei's gaze swept rapidly across the entire cavern. The cave at the bottom of Azure Dragon Lake was not large, and Kobei scanned the entire perimeter in an instant, yet he failed to find any trace of Han Lingyue.

Whoosh!

Just as Kobei was frowning in puzzlement, a figure sitting cross-legged in the center of the cave slowly materialized. At first, the figure looked illusory, resembling a reflection in water, but as time passed, the phantom gradually solidified.

"Brother Han!"

The moment the phantom solidified, Kobei saw it clearly—the person sitting cross-legged was none of other than Han Lingyue!

"Kobei?"

Hearing a somewhat familiar voice reach his ears, the cross-legged Han Lingyue slowly opened his half-closed eyes. The moment he laid eyes on Kobei, his seated figure vanished abruptly. The very next instant, Han Lingyue had already appeared right before Kobei.

Spatial attribute talent!

Teleportation!

"Hahaha, damn it, are you kidding me? It really is you."

A free and easy smile hung on Han Lingyue's face as he looked at Kobei before him. His hearty laughter caused ripples to spread across the lake water suspended overhead.

"It's me, of course it's me."

Hearing Han Lingyue's familiar voice, Kobei smiled faintly and brought out the two parcels that Luo Ling had meticulously prepared.

"Brother Han, come, let's drink! This was specially prepared for you by my Ling'er."

Kobei opened the packages, took out the side dishes prepared by Luo Ling along with two flasks of clear wine, sat down directly on the ground, and waved at Han Lingyue to signal him to sit down.

"You bet!"

Han Lingyue smiled slightly, sat down cross-legged, grabbed a flask of wine, and poured it straight into his mouth.

Between men, many words need not be spoken; everyone understands. Kobei did not say a single word of thanks to Han Lingyue, nor did Han Lingyue ask how Kobei had managed to get in. The two of them ate the side dishes meticulously prepared by Luo Ling and drank wine, chatting casually about this and that. Unawares, the wine gradually ran low, and Kobei grew somewhat dizzy from the alcohol.

After eating and drinking to their hearts' content, Kobei swayed as he stood up.

"Brother Han, I will definitely find a way to get you out of here as soon as possible!"

Gazing at the equally intoxicated Han Lingyue, Kobei wore a solemn expression. Dropping those words, he slammed his foot hard against the ground and darted toward the pitch-black cave entrance.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Kobei's body transformed into afterimages, the tips of his toes tapping lightly against the stone walls time and again as his body continuously ascended.

A moment later, Kobei's figure reappeared at the summit of Misty Gold Mountain.

"Sorry to trouble you."

Kobei looked at the War God of Blood Wind, who had remained standing guard before the black stone platform all this time, and bowed slightly, speaking in a soft voice. As a powerhouse at the peak of the War God realm, the War God of Blood Wind could have chosen to help him or not, but he chose to help!

Kobei was a person who clearly distinguished between gratitude and grudges; he had etched this favor from the War God of Blood Wind into his heart!

"Let's go."

Kobei walked up to Luo Ling, glanced back at the black stone platform, let out a soft breath, and spoke gently.

"Okay."

Luo Ling nodded obediently. She could sense that Kobei's mood was extremely heavy, so she said nothing and asked nothing. Reaching out with her soft, delicate hand, she gently grasped Kobei's palm and walked down Misty Gold Mountain with him.

"A very fine child."

Clad in blood-red battle armor, the War God of Blood Wind watched Kobei's receding figure with a smile at the corner of his mouth. He walked slowly up to the black stone platform, and his palm, glowing with a rich blood-red light, pressed firmly down onto the indents formed by the dark golden light patterns.

Rumble!

With a soft hum, the segments of the black stone platform slid smoothly back together, leaving not a single trace of a gap.

At the bottom of Azure Dragon Lake, the intoxicated Han Lingyue suddenly stood up. The drunkenness vanished in an instant, and his pupils turned a brilliant silver.

"Teacher, how long are you going to keep testing him?"

A hint of impatience tinged Han Lingyue's tone as he spoke in a low voice toward the empty cavern.

"Heh heh, no need to rush... take your time."

Just as Han Lingyue's voice faded away, faint ripples stirred in the space before him. An extremely aged elder wearing gray robes hunched his back and slowly materialized out of thin air.

"I believe in him!"

Han Lingyue stared straight into the elder's turbid eyes, speaking every word with absolute conviction.

"I believe in him too, but I cannot see through him..."

A heavy look surfaced on the gray-robed elder's aged face as he looked at Han Lingyue and shook his head slowly.

"The human race has not had an easy journey to reach where we are today. I do not wish to see any mishaps occur."

The gray-robed elder raised his head slightly to gaze at the lake water overhead that emitted a faint blue halo. With his hands clasped behind his back, a sense of vicissitudes slowly emerged within his turbid eyes, and his slightly frail silhouette appeared wrapped in an indescribable loneliness.

........................

Descending Misty Gold Mountain and returning to their dormitories, Luo Ling immediately set about organizing the establishment of the base city, while Kobei collapsed onto his bed reeking of alcohol.

He was drunk—not just physically, but his heart was intoxicated!

Ever since the system had been activated, Kobei had been stretched as taut as a tendon, never stopping for even a moment.

To complete the system's endless missions, he had fought life-and-death battles time after time! When his bearded father went missing, he got drunk once; when Li Qianqian died, he got drunk a second time; and today, seeing Han Lingyue trapped within that cold prison on his account, he got drunk once more.

It was rare to truly get drunk!

Since he was drunk, Kobei couldn't be bothered to sober himself up; he might as well indulge in this intoxication!

Kobei had received a system quest to build a base city, but was founding a city really such an easy task?

Although Kobei had activated the system and his strength had grown immensely, when all was said and done, he was merely a seventeen-year-old youth. To complete the system quest, he had to build a base city, yet he hadn't considered how immensely complex building a base city truly was.

Among the hundred young geniuses on the Azure Dragon Rankings, only ten had chosen to go and build a base city! And without exception, every single genius who chose to build a base city possessed an extraordinary family background!

Without powerful backing and support, how could one possibly build a base city?

Kobei was drunk; he hadn't thought about these matters, but Luo Ling could not afford not to. Luo Ling wanted to build a base city—to build a home that belonged to her and Kobei! Thus, she had no choice but to go ask the old man at home for help.

Kobei slept soundly and heavily for an entire day, waking up only the next morning. By the time he woke up, Luo Ling had already arranged almost everything, leaving only the selection of the site for the base city.

"Kobei, where do you think we should establish our base city?"

Early in the morning, Luo Ling walked into Kobei's dormitory carrying a huge map.

(To be continued)