"Sister, will there be any treasures? You like treasures, I'm afraid you'll snatch them," said Xiaobai first, knowing how much her sister loved treasures.
With a chuckle, Ji Chenmu found Xiaobai adorable and couldn't help but laugh. Ji Wuye's lips also curved into a slight smile.
"Naughty girl, what treasure are you afraid of others snatching but afraid of me snatching?" Ju Xue was also amused by Xiaobai.
"Xiaobai has a point, perhaps that treasure was originally yours?" Feng Chu mused!
This statement shocked Ju Xue. She had lost many things, could it really be?
"Let's put this topic aside for now. Today, Miss Qu gave another storage bag of raw stones, the kind you like, Gongzi Feng Chu," Steward Zhu suddenly remembered and took out the storage bag.
"Really?" Ju Xue was overjoyed. These were immortal stones! She almost forgot, she planned to investigate the matter of the Mutu River. She'd ignore Madam Zhu's previous issue for now.
"This Gongzi indeed likes them. Miss Qu is quite grateful," Feng Chu smiled happily at Ju Xue. His mood, soured by Madam Zhu, finally improved a bit!
"What are the stones inside?" Steward Zhu's curiosity was also piqued.
"Yes, sister, what do you need these stones for?" Ji Chenmu couldn't help but ask. He felt that after spending so many top-grade spirit stones for these stones, he was afraid his sister had been swindled.
"Hehe, these are all treasures. Sister has made a fortune," Xiaobai could feel the energy within the stones was more comfortable than the spiritual energy in her body.
"Xiaobai is right. The spiritual energy contained within these is one level higher than spirit stones. We can absorb them after ascending," Ju Xue revealed without holding back.
"What? Are these immortal stones?" Steward Zhu, with his rich experience, knew that after ascending, one's spiritual power would transform into immortal spiritual power, and immortal stones could provide immortal spiritual power.
"Uncle Zhu is right. These stones are immortal stone mines, and they are from the Mutu River," Feng Chu added.
Ji Chenmu and the others widened their eyes in shock. Was he hearing things? How could things from the upper realm appear in this realm?
"Yes, Feng Chu and I planned to explore the Mutu River, but we were delayed by the Assassin's Hall," Ju Xue also said.
"Miss Qu's cousin said these stones were washed out from the Mutu River. Then Dushan must be strange. I guess it's connected to the upper realm. We'll go to Dushan to investigate later. The rest will return to the spatial realm."
Investigating the river required familiarity with water. Thus, the final candidates were Feng Chu, Xiaobai, Qi Mo, and the water spider couple. However, Ji Wuye, worried about his sister, insisted on going. Ju Xue had no choice but to agree.
The flying ship flew to the source of the Mutu River at Dushan. After the others returned to the spatial realm, Ju Xue put away the ship. This place was sparsely populated, with giant trees growing everywhere, making it difficult for ordinary people to approach. The river flowed out of a massive cliff cave in Dushan. The mountain's name was also strange; it was a continuous range stretching tens of thousands of meters, yet it was named Dushan.
Although Feng Chu did not practice water-elemental magic, he had obtained a water-repelling pearl from somewhere, allowing him to descend into the water as if walking on flat ground, as did the water spider couple. Only Ji Wuye, though familiar with water, lacked a water-repelling treasure. Ju Xue had no choice but to teach her brother on the spot how to condense spiritual energy into a ring to repel water, though it was quite draining. Xiaobai and Qi Mo were even less of a concern. So, when Xiaomo descended into the river and transformed into a golden dragon, Ji Wuye was almost shocked into falling into the water. How many more trump cards did his sister have that he didn't know about?
Qi Mo transformed into a golden dragon and carried everyone down into the Mutu River. The river was indeed strange; the deeper they went, the wider the riverbed became. Upon entering the cave entrance, the current slowed down. The dragon's pressure made any sentient creatures in the water prostrate themselves in the underwater caves, and no large swimming fish were visible. The deeper they went, the darker it became. As Tu Yue had said, the water had countless hidden passages connected to underground rivers, and the waterways were extensive. Scattered at the bottom of the river were some immortal stone mines.
Ju Xue unceremoniously collected them all. Xiaobai was also busy. The underwater waterways were complex, with the deepest part estimated to be around two hundred meters, while the shallowest was only thirty to forty meters deep. Ju Xue unfurled her divine senses and discovered many fierce demonic beasts, but they dared not move, cowed by the dragon's pressure.
After an unknown duration of swimming, the water spider couple, weaving dreams and leading the way, transmitted a message back.
"Fairy, there's a spiritual energy fluctuation in an underwater side channel to the right."
"Honored Lord, I'll go investigate!" Feng Chu immediately headed in that direction.
"Be careful!" Ju Xue cautioned.
"Sister, look. What are those?" Xiaobai suddenly pointed at some glowing white objects at the bottom of the water.
Qi Mo immediately swam down.
"Sister, don't look, these are human skeletons," Ji Wuye knew they were bones before getting close, as if something had eaten them and left them here.
Ju Xue's hair suddenly stood on end. These piles of bones were eerily similar to a place where some demonic beasts fed.
"Master, there's a big catfish here. Don't be afraid, this fellow isn't enough for me to swallow in one go," Qi Mo said domineeringly.
"Big catfish?" Ju Xue unfurled her divine senses but found nothing.
"Sister, this catfish isn't here, it's hiding." Xiaobai initially thought they were treasures, but seeing that she had frightened her sister, she knew her sister was most afraid of these things.
"Sister, when a divine dragon enters the water, all creatures must yield. This Mutu River is indeed as Miss Qu said. Many cultivators must have come here to seek treasures. The waters here are treacherous, with crisscrossing passages. They must have been ambushed and eaten by this catfish monster," Ji Wuye explained. Who else has a divine dragon as a mount like his sister? It is the overlord of the water. What kind of aquatic demonic beast in this world would dare to provoke it?
Feng Chu and the water spiders had been gone for nearly half an hour and hadn't returned, making Ju Xue a little worried. However, the hidden passage was too small for Qi Mo's true form to enter.
Ju Xue attempted to transmit a message to Feng Chu, and Xiaobai also called out to the water spider couple using the power of their soul contract, but there was no response.
"Sister, have they had an accident?" Xiaobai's face showed concern.
"Sister, I'll go in and see!" Ji Wuye also felt something was wrong.
"No, there are so many hidden passages here, and divine senses can't penetrate them. Brother, let's go in together, don't separate," Ju Xue had a bad premonition.
Qi Mo returned to human form and led the way. Ju Xue rode the water, following behind. Xiaobai and Ji Wuye covered the rear. The few of them swam into the hidden passage. The water flow was rapid, and they were swept downstream uncontrollably. It was no wonder they couldn't contact Feng Chu; they were likely washed away once they entered the waterway.
"Xiaobai, brother, hold hands and don't let go." There was a岔道 every ten meters or so, making it easy to get separated and lost. Ju Xue quickly instructed.
"Okay, sister, I'll take care of Xiaobai. You be careful," Ji Wuye's breathing was a little unsteady.
Ju Xue heard it, but the water flow was getting faster, and she couldn't turn back. Her brother couldn't breathe autonomously, and his spiritual power was depleted, which was extremely dangerous.
"Xiaobai, give your brother Wuye some spiritual spring. His spiritual power is depleting too quickly," Ju Xue transmitted to Xiaobai.