131: Underwater tunnel

Time passed, and three months had elapsed since the last patrol of the Northern Shore Waters.

Gao De did not rashly venture deep into that dangerous area suspected of being related to the Great Desolation Remnant Species; instead, he devoted most of his energy to further organizing the information left by the Yunhe Sect and consolidating his own forces.

At the same time, he had not forgotten that ancient map obtained from the Hundred Beasts Sect Elder, nor the clues marked by the Yunhe Sect that might be related to their final evacuation route.

On this day, he brought Green Edge and quietly came to an extremely inconspicuous small water valley amidst the mountains.

This water valley was sandwiched between several even more majestic peaks, appearing quite cramped.

The water's surface was narrow, and the surrounding mountain walls were not particularly steep; in this region filled with marshes and scattered islands, it was truly hard to notice.

In terms of size and Aura, it ranked at the bottom among the many surrounding water valleys.

"Master, is it here?"

Green Edge swam beside Gao De, his crimson snake pupils sizing up this ordinary-looking stretch of water with some doubt.

He had now fully committed his loyalty to Qianjiao Cliff and grew increasingly in awe of Gao De's methods, but this place before him really didn't look like it hid any important passage.

"The map indicates it is right here."

Gao De's voice was calm as his half-human body slowly sank into the water. "When the Yunhe Sect evacuated in haste back then, the path they chose must have prioritized secrecy over prominence. The more ordinary it is, the more likely it becomes."

The water in the valley was about two hundred zhang deep, and the light quickly dimmed as they descended.

Underwater, the aquatic plants were lush, swaying with the waves, and jagged rocks were piled up in various craggy shapes, no different from other water valleys.

Gao De landed on a relatively flat patch of sandy ground near the valley floor, and his powerful Divine Sense immediately spread downward like invisible tentacles.

His Divine Sense strength had long exceeded five hundred zhang; after easily reaching the valley floor, he still had plenty of strength left to penetrate the rock crevices and continue probing nearly two hundred zhang deeper.

The information fed back by the Divine Sense was complex and blurry, mostly consisting of dense rock layers and underground water veins.

Just then—

"Roar!"

A low, wild roar came from behind and to the side.

A bloated, pitch-black Monstrous Fish, shaped like a catfish but with a mouth full of hideous fangs, had discovered these two uninvited guests and instinctively opened its maw—wide enough to swallow a boulder—charging forward while churning the water.

Gao De didn't even turn around; he reached out a claw with lightning speed.

The claw, covered in purple scales, accurately gripped the monster fish's gills, and a terrifying power erupted instantly.

"Crack!"

A cringe-inducing sound of bone breaking echoed dully in the water. The monster fish didn't even have time to struggle; its massive body suddenly stiffened, and Gao De tossed it aside like a stone, slamming it heavily against the nearby cliff wall where it turned into a blur of flesh and blood, embedded tightly in a rock crevice.

This act was not out of cruelty, but to minimize the spread of the smell of blood in the water and avoid attracting more unnecessary trouble.

Green Edge's snake pupils constricted slightly at the sight; his Master's strikes were becoming increasingly swift and decisive.

Gao De acted as if he had merely swatted a fly, his mind still immersed in the Divine Sense probe.

He carefully distinguished the structure of the rocks, the subtle flow of the water, and any possible traces of artificial excavation or energy residue.

"The Yunhe Sect records state that some of their disciples evacuated toward the southwest... If this secret passage truly exists, it must lead southwest and be extremely well-hidden, perhaps even utilizing a natural Underground River System..."

His Divine Sense combed through the depths of the rock, not missing any anomaly.

Finally, at the southeastern edge of the valley floor, behind a giant boulder covered in thick silt and dense aquatic plants, his Divine Sense detected an extremely faint, non-natural energy fluctuation and a cleverly disguised, downward-sloping narrow rock crevice! Deep within the crevice, there were faint signs of water movement, heading exactly southwest!

"Found it." Gao De retracted his Divine Sense, a sharp light flashing in his Purple Lightning vertical pupils.

Gao De's Divine Sense was like the finest probe, carefully investigating the depths of that narrow rock crevice.

Initially, he could still feel traces of artificial excavation and a weak current, but before he could penetrate even a hundred zhang, the feedback caused his heart to sink.

Ahead, the passage was completely blocked by massive, jagged rocks, collapsed so tightly that not a single gap remained.

His Divine Sense forcibly penetrated these boulders and spread deeper, but what he saw was still the same—shattered rock layers pressing and interlocking with each other, forming an almost insurmountable barrier that extended to the limit of his Divine Sense's reach.

"It wasn't a natural collapse..." Gao De retracted his Divine Sense, a look of realization flashing in his eyes.

"It was man-made, and the method was quite thorough. It seems that when the Yunhe Sect people evacuated, they weren't entirely in a rush; at least they had enough strength to cover their retreat. They were determined to cut off this passage to prevent anything from chasing them out of the depths of Yunmeng Marsh, or... they didn't want outsiders to easily discover their whereabouts."

The entire waterway was likely systematically destroyed shortly after the evacuation. The hope of tracking the remnants of the Yunhe Sect from here was slim.

Just as he was pondering—

"Roar, roar, roar!"

A dull yet powerful beast roar, like the beating of war drums, came from deep within the mountain forests beside the water valley, breaking the underwater silence.

The sound contained a wild pressure, clearly not something those muddled Water Beasts from earlier could produce.

Gao De looked up, his gaze seemingly piercing through the layers of water waves toward the mountains from which the roar originated.

Due to the shackles of the Great Desolation Bloodline in the water, it was difficult for Yao Beasts to develop Intelligence, but what about those in the mountain forests on land?

"If there were Yao Beasts that had developed Intelligence back then and witnessed the scene of the Yunhe Sect's retreat..."

Thoughts raced through Gao De's mind. "With the long lifespans of Yao Beasts, perhaps some have actually survived until now."

This speculation stirred his heart.

The Yunhe Sect's evacuation happened a thousand years ago; for many Yao Beasts with extraordinary Bloodlines and great strength, a thousand years was not an unbridgeable span of time.

If he could find such a "witness," he might obtain information more valuable than a collapsed passage.

However, he also knew that most intelligent Yao Beasts were proud and solitary, making it extremely difficult for them to live in groups unless they shared the same Bloodline. Finding them and getting them to speak would be no easy task. It required a method and strength.

"No Intelligence in the water, but spirits in the mountains... This might be a Breakthrough point."

Gao De glanced at the completely blocked passage entrance and no longer lingered. It seemed he would have to seek clues about the Yunhe Sect from a different direction.

"Green Edge."

"Your subordinate is here."

"Go up and scout the edge of the mountain forest, and be careful to stay hidden. The focus is to find traces of intelligent Yao Beast activity, especially those old fellows who might have lived for a long time. Do not easily engage in conflict; just get a sense of the situation."

"Understood!"

Green Edge took his orders, flicked his snake body, and floated toward the surface as silently as a wisp of green smoke, ready to execute the new reconnaissance mission.

Gao De remained suspended in the dark depths, calculating in his mind.

Seeking information from mountain Yao Beasts carried both risks and opportunities.

On one hand, he might gain precious Intelligence; on the other, he might provoke an existence he couldn't match. He had to plan carefully before acting.

This seemingly peaceful boundary between mountains and water hid the shackles of ancient Bloodlines underwater, while the mountains might harbor witnesses of the passing years.

The secrets of the Yunhe Sect, as well as the peculiar rules of this water region itself, all drew Gao De to continue his deep exploration.