425: Pool water key

At this terrifying moment of utter silence, Su Han’s blurred vision caught a glimpse of the edge of the pool bottom—

Deep within the crevices of several broken, enormous ribs, stained with dark red minced meat, among the piles of bones that had been rigid like bedrock, near the edge.

A single, residual drop of dark red liquid, not yet completely evaporated, was very slowly seeping out from the edge of the bone shard.

The liquid was thick as glue, its color turbid and dark, completely unlike the clear pool water from before; it resembled highly concentrated filthy blood or decayed energy essence.

It laboriously coalesced, fell, and finally gathered into a minuscule puddle in the hollow of the bones.

Its surface reflected the crimson swirling light from the light beam, appearing eerie and dazzling.

“Pool water…?”

In Su Han's chaotic mind, Bi Yao’s faint voice emerged like a wisp of silk shielded beneath thick ice, carrying a glimmer of hope,

“Help… me…”

The fake “Bi Yao” hovered in mid-air not far from Su Han, her face still torn by the fanaticism and fear dominated by the ancient will.

When the corner of her eye caught the small but striking dark red water stain at the edge of the pool bottom, her dark red pupils suddenly contracted to pinprick size!

All expression instantly drained from her face, leaving only a nearly startled, inexpressible panic, as if she had seen her most terrifying natural enemy!

The scattered stones that had been rotating and floating around her suddenly paused, as if losing their tether, and fell one after another.

“No! That… that is…!”

Her voice was shrill and distorted, no longer possessing its previous majesty or fanaticism, but rather bone-chilling terror!

What did she want to do? Stop it?

But she seemed to be wary of the merciless gaze from the center of the light beam, her body stiff in mid-air, making an extremely flustered movement, as if wanting to lunge forward yet recoiling in fear of something.

Meanwhile, the mirrored body on the summit of the bone mountain, with its cold, crimson swirling eyes, still looked down indifferently at the ant-like struggles below.

But when the fake “Bi Yao” let out that sharp shriek of extreme panic, the core of the swirling vortex seemed to ripple ever so slightly, as if a negligible speck of dust had fallen onto a calm water surface.

That gaze was finally no longer one of complete disregard, but briefly lingered on the fake “Bi Yao” for an instant.

In this instant, the surrounding air solidified, leaving only the fake “Bi Yao’s” utterly suppressed breathing, unable to form due to fear.

Su Han keenly caught this brief change.

Excruciating pain and the chilling, suffocating sensation that permeated his bones almost overwhelmed him, but in this life-or-death situation, his mind was forced to operate at high speed due to this momentary variable.

That strange dark red “pool water” at the bottom of the pool… the fake “Bi Yao’s” deep-seated fear of it…

The slightly fluctuating gaze of the mirrored body in the light beam because of it…

And Bi Yao’s final hint…

These clues violently collided deep within Su Han’s frozen consciousness!

That “pool water” was the key!

Even if it was no longer clear, even if only dirty residue remained, it seemed to pose a destructive threat to the ancient will occupying Bi Yao’s body!

That’s why the fake “Bi Yao” showed a more primal fear than facing the Eye of the Abyss!

And it was this intense, undisguisable fear that actually slightly drew the indifferent gaze of the mirrored body!

He had to get it!

No matter the cost!

That was Bi Yao’s only chance for survival!

The desire for life and the thought of protecting Bi Yao instantly overwhelmed the Soul pressure from the crimson eyes.

Su Han fiercely bit his tongue, the sharp pain and the strong metallic taste of blood filling his mouth, like a red-hot iron searing his numb Soul, instantly igniting his last burst of power!

Ignoring the wounds on his back that felt like they were tearing apart, ignoring the severe pain in his internal organs as if they were dislocated, and even ignoring the terrifying gaze that froze his Soul.

Su Han let out a beast-like growl, slamming his hands onto the ground.

Using all his will and remaining strength, leveraging the recoil from pushing off the stone wall, his body shot out like an arrow from a bowstring…

His target was not the unfathomable Crimson Lord, but rather, he lunged frantically towards that small puddle of dark red water in the bone crevices at the edge of the dried-up pool bottom! (End of Chapter)