Chapter 677: Competing in Shrewdness
Lin Jin arrived at this conclusion, not through overthinking, but it was Yan Shenjun’s behavior that betrayed him. Through his actions, Lin Jin could easily see Yan Shenjun’s ‘woes’.
Curator wouldn’t try to get ahead or do anything for that matter because he was just the physical manifestation of Lin Jin’s bravado.
Yan Shenjun’s eyes inadvertently swept over to Lin Jin, just in time to meet the latter’s gaze. The instant their eyes locked, they casually averted their gazes.
Both were just as cautious and cunning. Yet, neither of them was able to tell what the other was planning to do next.
In other words, they still had to keep up the act.
Yan Shenjun had no plans of taking action right now and neither did Lin Jin. The latter just couldn’t.
The plasma continued to evaporate until finally nothing was left.
Knowing she couldn’t escape, the oriole helplessly descended from her flight as the atmosphere around fell solemn. Now that the thunder pond’s entrance was unlocked, it became a good time for their cooperation to break down.
After all, when they go down there and see the treasure, there might be another round of brawling in there.
Lin Jin didn’t want to fight now.
If Yan Shenjun’s group decided to turn on them, Lin Jin could only hide inside the Visitation Hall while Inferno Monk escaped with his Inferno Sprint. They had no other choice.
A sudden idea came to mind and Lin Jin said, “The oriole should come with us. Should there be another restriction just like this plasma, she could undo that as well. What do you think, Yan Shenjun?”
Yan Shenjun was hesitating to fight when he heard Lin Jin’s remark. If there truly was another restriction down below, fighting here would be pointless.
Lin Jin wanted to avoid a fight and Yan Shenjun could tell. If they fought here and there was another restriction down there, Lin Jin wouldn’t know how to handle it since he was clueless about the Mantra of Heaven. There might even be other restrictions that required different solutions, and Lin Jin a.s.sumed that Yan Shenjun knew how to break them, hence the reason for his reserved behavior.
This worked in Yan Shenjun’s favor!
Yan Shenjun went on to suppress his intention to kill.
Now didn’t seem like the time to fight. Since Lin Jin could endure it, he could too. Had it not been for the unfettered immortal, Curator, Yan Shenjun wouldn’t even bat an eyelid at this mere mortal.
“That would be great!” Yan Shenjun said. He turned back to look at the people behind him and one of his half immortal disciples jumped into the thunder pond without hesitation.
Lin Jin had asked to bring the oriole along out of desperation. He feared Yan Shenjun would kill her, and even if he wouldn’t, his subordinates might.
If they brought her along, he could keep her safe.
With him around, the oriole was safe for now. Of course, so long as they didn’t turn against each other, Lin Jin’s party was still safe.
Yan Shenjun arranged for a few half immortals to stand guard outside before returning his focus to Lin Jin. He gestured for the mortal to head in first.
Lin Jin and Inferno Monk exchanged a glance. Both men previously agreed that Lin Jin would call the shots for every choice presented to them. So, Lin Jin nodded and both of them jumped into the empty pond.
Yan Shenjun followed after them, going down the path where plasma used to be.
This place was like a huge cave, hollow and empty with densely-packed stalact.i.tes hanging from the ceiling. The path further down led to a seemingly bottomless pit. No mortal could last in this place because there was no oxygen here.
Everyone had to invoke various spells from the Breath Holding Art to Turtle Breath Technique to help them breathe. Although Lin Jin wasn’t an immortal, he knew many similar techniques. Though, because he had pet beasts, these spells were unneeded. He just had to use his blood contract powers to help him hold his breath and this method could help him last days down here.
Lin Jin was sure no one had been down here before.
No one knew what to expect, even Yan Shenjun. Lin Jin saw this as a good thing. He tried sensing through his blood ghost but received no reaction from Xiang Yun. There was no choice but to continue with the act.
Lin Jin even wished this tunnel would last forever, as it would give him enough time.
However, reality was oftentimes a cruel mistress.
They reached the bottom to see a larger cave. Everyone enhanced their sight to help them see in the darkness. After some immortals activated light amulets, they could vaguely see their surroundings.
It was indeed a ma.s.sive cave that even Lin Jin would mentally shudder at sight due to fear of absolute darkness. He was afraid of falling into the abyss should the cloud below his feet disperse.
Just then, Inferno Monk’s eyes caught sight of a huge shadow twitching underneath.
He grabbed Lin Jin at once, frantically sending him signals through his gaze.
Lin Jin took note of Inferno Monk’s expression and used the blood ghost’s powers to strengthen his vision. When he looked down, gooseb.u.mps formed all over his body as cold sweat drenched his back.
Sure enough, there was a black creature down there that was at least a thousand feet long.
It honestly wasn’t that big, but in such limited s.p.a.ce and this environment, Lin Jin had to admit he was afraid.
Yan Shenjun noticed, but before he could say anything, the half immortal probing the path in front suddenly screamed. As if something had caught him, he was dragged away into the darkness.
It felt like an unseen hand had taken him away.
“Preposterous!” Yan Shenjun roared angrily. How dare someone sneak an attack on them. Yan Shenjun reacted quickly by invoking a spell that took the form of a large hand to reach down and grab the immortal back.
However, Yan Shenjun was forced to retract his hand as if it was scalded by hot water.
Before he knew it, a tiny slash wound opened up on his slender fingers like he had been cut by something sharp.
The screaming of the half immortal stopped abruptly. Like a furnace being doused with cold water, the man’s immortal aura was extinguished and the cave returned to silence.
He must have died.
Lin Jin couldn’t believe it. That was a half immortal. To think a being so powerful died just like that!
This was surely a dangerous place. Lin Jin’s hand clung tightly to the hilt of Clear Wind Sword and he could distinctly feel its fear.
Needless to say, Clear Wind had detected the danger here and was trying to warn Lin Jin about it.