Chapter 893: A Battle of Life and Death at the Underground River!
If there were Deity Realm fighters stationed near the sinkhole…
They would definitely be able to sense the fierce battle between Meng Chao and “Lu Siya” the moment it commenced.
Unfortunately, most of the Deity Realm fighters were holding a Deity Realm Conference in the main city.
In order to avoid the extreme weather changes in the Hidden Mist Domain, interfere with the vitality magnetic field, and affect the cultivation of superhumans, there were only a few experts who were still on duty near the sinkhole.
They were also immersed in the joy of victory, and their vigilance was lowered to the lowest point.
Now was the darkest moment before dawn.
It was also the moment when the torrential rain was the most torrential, the thunder was the most violent, and the chaotic spirit energy contained in heaven and earth was like a cornered beast fighting, releasing its final strength.
Whether it was the drones and detectors condensed with ancient runes and the crystallization of Earth’s technology.
Or the life magnetic field of a peak heavenly state expert.
They were unable to pa.s.s through the airtight curtain of rain and sense the soul-stirring battle hundreds of meters away.
But Meng Chao knew that in order to guide the debris flow pouring down from Mist Mountain.
Humans had dug many diversion channels around Mist Mountain in advance.
Beside the diversion channels, there were people on duty 24 hours a day to observe the water level of the flood and the momentum of the debris flow. If the water level was too high and the momentum was too strong, they would detonate the temporary sluice gates and dams, expanding the diversion channels, eventually, it would lead to the source of the Red Dragon River.
Therefore, as long as they went downstream, they would definitely be discovered by the people on duty.
Between the people on duty and the camp, they would communicate with each other through the rubber-wrapped, fist-sized crystal cables. They would not be disturbed by the extreme weather and the violent spirit energy.
In the worst case, if the people on duty did not discover his existence, he would be washed all the way into the Red Dragon River and then drift to the main part of Dragon City. He would be discovered and salvaged by the patrol boats, fishing boats, and armored airships that had been patrolling the river all year round.
This was also an acceptable option.
Therefore, Meng Chao no longer floated up. Instead, he suddenly dived into the depths of the mudslide. Like a big fish that had been stimulated by electric currents, he swung wildly and advanced rapidly.
“Lu Siya” had figured out his intention.
She let out an angry screech behind him.
However, no matter how she waved her tentacles, she could not catch a single hair of Meng Chao.
It was too late to say anything. Meng Chao had already flown straight down and was swept to the foot of Mist mountain by the debris flow.
Only then did he spread his limbs and spurt out b.a.l.l.s of powerful spirit energy from his palms and soles in an attempt to surface and shout loudly.
However…
An inexplicable suction force suddenly came from below him. It was like an invisible tentacle that tightly wrapped around his chest and abdomen.
Not only did he choke, he choked.
And dragged him again to the deepest part of the mudslide.
It was Lu Siya’s mud dragon.
This monster, it would not give up!
Meng Chao gritted his teeth and endured the pain of his bones shattering, his cells breaking down and his soul burning.
As if pulling out the valve core, with the naked eye of the speed of atrophy down the arms, once again ignited the wind and thunder of the flame.
With hundreds of heavy punches, the mud dragon that was wrapping around him was smashed into pieces.
The attack had exhausted his last bit of strength.
He could not even attach his spirit energy to the mucous membranes and alveoli of his nose to filter and absorb the oxygen in the flood.
Both of his lungs had shrunk to the size of dried apples. Every time he breathed, his nasal cavity seemed to have been punched brutally. From his trachea to his lungs, they were filled with cold mud, which made him feel the pain of suffocation.
Meng Chao had a pained expression on his face. He let out a soundless cry from the depths of the mudslide. He leaped up, wanting to jump out of the water.
However, his head crashed heavily into the rock wall that was as hard as iron. His entire body was bounced back, and he was once again sucked into the whirlpool of the mudslide.
“How is this possible?”
Meng Chao turned pale with fright.
He had clearly been swept to the foot of Mist Mountain by the mudslide. He should be surrounded by the valley at the bottom of the sinkhole.
Why was it that there were no crevices above his head or around him, and there was no light at all.
Even the lights of the campsite, which had been flickering on the horizon just now, had been completely swallowed by darkness!
It was the underground river
Meng Chao thought quickly and immediately realized what was going on.
Perhaps it was because of the hibernation and growth of the mother from the ancient era, or perhaps it was because of the chaotic spirit energy that was spreading out from the crystal veins, under the grounds of the Hidden Mist Domain… the underground of the Hidden Mist Domain was filled with dense, interlocking, labyrinth-like crevices and karst caves.
During the dry season, the crevices and karst caves were man-eating demonic caves.
Even the elite teams of experienced prospectors with the most advanced exploration equipment were still likely to be lost in the depths of the underground caves until they were discovered by the lost ones decades later, turning into piles of bones.
During the rainy season, when the rain poured in, the underground crevices would turn into underground rivers again.
Most of the underground rivers were dead ends, as if they were the entrance to h.e.l.l.
Only a few underground rivers were connected to the Red Dragon River and the Raging Tiger River through the meandering crevices.
The problem was that these crevices were often extremely narrow. Even snakes, insects, rats, and ants had to scratch their bodies to get through them. It was simply impossible for humans to pa.s.s through.
Meng Chao refused to believe it. He dashed left and right several times, but he was. .h.i.t by a wall everywhere.
He must have missed the entrance to the underground river and been swept deep underground by the mudslide.
The entrance was behind him.
So was “Lu Siya.”
Sensing the snickering of the snake-haired banshee behind him, Meng Chao realized that the banshee must have controlled the direction of the mudslide and pushed him underground.
He had no other choice but to endure the pain of his lungs exploding one by one and continue moving forward.
Finally…
Deep in the underground river, the stalagmites and the stone pillars had collided countless times and almost spat out the last mouthful of blood.
Before his lungs were compressed to the size of a ping-pong ball, Meng Chao emerged from the water.
He panted desperately.
Mud spurted out of his ears, nostrils, and mouth.
Even though the air underground was decaying as well.
To him, who was living and dying, he was not stingy with the sweetest spring water. Through his lungs, it flowed slowly through his internal organs, limbs, and bones.
Meng Chao used his hands and feet to struggle ash.o.r.e. He sprawled on the ground and enjoyed the last moment of peace before he fell into h.e.l.l.
The weak magnetic field of life was like a candle in the wind. It was emitting dim light and slowly scanning the surroundings.
He realized that he was not, and it was impossible for him to escape.
This place was still underground.
However, it was just a karst cave with a relatively large s.p.a.ce.
The entire karst cave was about half the size of a football field.
The mudslide had just been guided by “Lu Siya” and surged toward the karst cave through the crevices underground. It had not been completely submerged yet.
However, judging from the rising tide, it was only a matter of time before the whole place was submerged.
Meng Chao had been standing on a high platform in the karst cave. It was like an extremely thick stalagmite that had been cut off.
However, it had become an isolated island under the siege of the flood.
Moreover, as the mudslide swallowed it, the isolated island became smaller and smaller. Soon, it was only left with a standing cone.
He had no choice but to curl up and watch his feet sink inch by inch into the dark mud.
Meng Chao tried his best to release the magnetic field of life, trying to find a way out above the cave—even if it was a gap as thick as a finger.
However, whether it was the almost frozen air or the 100% feedback of the sound after he screamed desperately, including the glimmer of light that he could not find no matter how he rubbed his eyes and activated his super vision, all told him a cruel truth.
There was no road ahead.
This was the land of death.
The sound of flowing water came from behind him.
“Lu Siya” slowly emerged from the dark swamp and floated in front of Meng Chao.
If it was said that she, who had been possessed by the main brain of the monster in the beginning, was allowed to release a trace of her true feelings, when she faced Meng Chao, she seemed to be playing a game of cat and mouse.
Now, every inch of his skin was covered with Green Tide and Blood Flowers. Even his face was covered with an extremely evil mask, as if it was made of bronze, and his crystal eyes, as red as blood, revealed only an inhuman coldness.
“Lu Siya” no longer had a human will. She had completely become the tool of ancient power.
“Hiss, hiss, hiss!”
The green armor wrapped around her body disintegrated slightly.
The tips of the disintegrated vines split apart like crab-claw chrysanthemums. They opened more than ten b.l.o.o.d.y mouths and roared at Meng Chao in hunger.
It was as if more than ten man-eating flowers had grown out of “Lu Siya’s body.”
“Pah!”
Meng Chao did not even look at the man-eating flowers.
He spat out a mouthful of saliva mixed with blood and sand.
His fists, which were trembling slightly, were clenched again.
His arms, which were covered in wounds, were once again emitting crimson steam because of the boiling blood.
Even if he was burned into a dried corpse by the boiling blood.
Even if the dried corpse burst into flames and turned into ashes on the spot.
Meng Chao swore that he would fight to the end on the journey to reverse the future!
“Lu Siya” narrowed her eyes.
Her scarlet eyes were full of confusion.
It seemed that even the wisdom from the ancient era could not understand it. Meng Chao had been forced into such a desperate situation. What reason did he have to resist stubbornly?
She quickly evaluated Meng Chao’s value and will to resist.
She withdrew the man-eating flower and snapped her fingers.
Above the cave, a stalact.i.te as sharp as the tusks of a doomsday beast was growing longer and longer. It was shaking crazily, and cracking sounds could be heard from its roots, which were about to be blown out at any moment.
Meng Chao’s swollen and scalding throat could no longer make any sound.
The light in his eyes, which looked like an erupting volcano, replaced his throat and fists and issued the final battle cry.
“Crack!”
The stalact.i.te’s root finally shattered.
Like a thick spear, it flew toward Meng Chao at lightning speed.
Meng Chao closed his eyes and swung his final blow.
“Puchi!”
The sound of flesh and blood being pierced through by the stalact.i.te tore at his eardrums.
However, the antic.i.p.ated pain of having his arm or chest pierced through did not come for a long time.
Meng Chao’s punch missed and lost his balance. He almost fell to the ground.
He opened his eyes in surprise and saw an unbelievable scene.
The stalact.i.te that should have pierced through him had pierced through Lu Siya’s armor and scapula from above and nailed the jungle banshee to the wall of the cave!