The pool was truly deep; Du Fei and Fang Chao swam for several minutes without any sign of reaching the bottom.
Once the giant python entered the water, it was completely in its element.
Du Fei and Fang Chao desperately dived downwards, barely managing to stay a hair's breadth faster than the python.
As Du Fei and Fang Chao descended deeper, they felt the water temperature dropping with the depth.
Gradually, their hands and feet began to go numb.
Fang Chao tugged Du Fei's hand. When Du Fei looked at him, Fang Chao hugged himself tightly, signaling that the water was too cold.
Du Fei naturally knew the water was getting colder, but the pursuing python was right on their heels. If they stopped, they would die.
In the brief moment they paused, the python had already caught up.
It then opened its gaping maw and lunged at Du Fei and Fang Chao.
If the python's bite had connected, they would have been seriously injured, if not killed.
They dodged desperately to either side.
*Bang!*
The python missed them, but its jaws clamped down on the wall behind them.
Though it missed its prey, the python was undeterred and immediately launched another attack.
Earlier, in the cave, Du Fei and Fang Chao could still evade the python's attacks due to their agility.
But now, in the water, they were no match for the python's fluidity. Furthermore, the extremely cold water had numbed their limbs, making their evasive maneuvers sluggish.
Just as they were about to be devoured by the python, Du Fei's eyes suddenly lit up.
He then pulled Fang Chao, signaling him to follow.
Although Fang Chao didn't know what Du Fei was planning, at this point, he could only trust him.
Du Fei led Fang Chao to a section of the wall.
As Fang Chao looked on in confusion, wondering why Du Fei had brought him there,
Du Fei suddenly kicked hard at the wall.
After several kicks, Du Fei managed to create a hole in the wall.
Seeing the opening, Du Fei grabbed Fang Chao and they scrambled inside at top speed.
*Bang!*
Just as they slipped into the hole, the python slammed its head against the entrance.
The immense force of the impact sent Du Fei and Fang Chao tumbling to the ground.
However, the hole Du Fei had kicked open was small, too small for the python to enter.
Seeing its prey escape, the python immediately began to frantically ram the opening.
Du Fei and Fang Chao quickly got to their feet and fled the scene.
They ran dozens of meters before their legs gave out, and they collapsed to the ground, motionless.
In fact, their stamina had been largely depleted in the pool.
The desperate evasions of the python had drained their remaining strength.
If Du Fei hadn't led Fang Chao into this hole, they likely would have perished.
After a period of rest, they finally recovered some strength.
"Du Fei, how did you find this place?"
Having narrowly escaped death and being utterly exhausted, Fang Chao, after regaining some strength, asked Du Fei how he had discovered their refuge.
Du Fei was now pushing himself up with his hands, supporting himself on the ground.
He surveyed their surroundings while explaining to Fang Chao how he had found the location.
It turned out that at the most critical moment, Du Fei had noticed that the spot where the python had previously rammed the wall had caved inwards.
The situation was dire. If he hadn't thought of a solution, the exhausted Du Fei and Fang Chao would have surely fallen prey to the serpent.
So, Du Fei gritted his teeth, took a gamble, and led Fang Chao to the indentation.
Fortunately, Du Fei's gamble paid off. After a few kicks, he broke through, creating a hole, and they escaped to safety.
It was truly a miraculous hidden spot beneath the pool.
If the python hadn't rammed the wall with such force, causing the indentation, Du Fei would likely never have discovered it.
Moreover, after entering, Du Fei noticed that although it was underwater, aside from the water they had brought with them, the area was surprisingly dry.
The place where Du Fei and Fang Chao were now was a tunnel leading to an unknown destination.
This tunnel was clearly not naturally formed; there were distinct signs of artificial construction. However, the pervasive dust suggested it had been built many years ago and had remained undisturbed.
"Let's go. Let's see where this path leads."
Seeing that Fang Chao had rested enough, Du Fei called him to move forward.
They walked for about dozens of meters before reaching the end of the passage.
At the end of the tunnel stood a stone door.
Du Fei and Fang Chao exchanged glances, their faces filled with surprise and confusion.
A stone door, here?
What lay beyond it?
Was it dangerous?
A series of questions flooded Du Fei's mind.
However, he quickly made a decision: they had to go in.
Whatever was behind the stone door, they needed to find a way to leave this place.
Otherwise, the python would surely be waiting for them in the pool, and returning now would be walking straight into a trap.
Having made up his mind, Du Fei prepared to ask Fang Chao for his opinion, as they had now faced danger together.
"Du Fei, at this point, no matter what's behind the stone door, we both have to go in and see."
Fang Chao's thoughts mirrored Du Fei's.
Hearing Fang Chao's words, Du Fei nodded, and together they exerted force, intending to push open the stone door.
From the outside, the stone door appeared to be incredibly heavy.
To their surprise, when Du Fei and Fang Chao pushed, they stumbled forward, nearly falling.
The stone door was incredibly light; it practically opened with a single push.
As the stone door creaked open, it revealed the scene within.
Inside was a small chamber, about a few square meters in size.
In the center of the chamber sat a skeleton.
A skeleton?
Fortunately, both of them possessed considerable courage. If it were someone timid, they might have screamed immediately upon seeing a skeleton right after opening the door.
Beside the skeleton lay a suit of dust-covered armor and a sword still in its sheath.
It was unclear what material the armor was made of, but even after being stored in the chamber for an unknown period, after wiping off the dust, it still gleamed with a metallic luster. A simple touch revealed its sturdiness.
While Fang Chao was examining the armor, Du Fei picked up the sheath beside the skeleton.
*Clang!*
Du Fei gripped the uniquely crafted hilt and, with a slight effort, drew the sword from its sheath.