Underwater Ruins

Just as they were preparing to dive into the water to investigate, Noah, hanging at Starlight’s waist, shouted out anxiously, “Hey, hey, hey! I say, you guys, isn’t it a bit too much to ask a book like me to go underwater?!”

Only then did the four of them remember that Noah’s paper body couldn’t move in water like a human’s. Heaven only knew what would happen to him after being soaked in seawater for a while.

“Oh, right! Senior, how about you squeeze into Little Star’s storage space for a bit?” Po Kong asked, scratching his head.

“No way! Little Star’s storage space was constructed together with me; I can’t go inside! Besides, I don’t want to miss out on an underwater journey I’ve never heard of before!” Noah quickly rejected the idea.

He had known since he helped Starlight construct the storage space that his body could not enter it.

This put the four of them, who had just mustered up the spirit to dive, in a difficult position again. Moen’s Water Breathing Spell couldn’t block out water elements, and they couldn’t just leave Noah alone on the reef.

Ultimately, after some discussion, Starlight and Moen dug out various materials from their respective storage spaces and used ironwood and stone to craft a box on the spot that could hold Noah.

After being meticulously sealed with tree resin, the box was essentially waterproof. Furthermore, if Starlight used water elements to create an insulating layer inside the box, there would be no risk of it being crushed even in the deep sea.

However, after all that work, the specially made box ended up being the size of a suitcase and was exceptionally heavy. As a result, it could only be carried by Po Kong, who had the best physical constitution.

Noah wasn’t idle either. While they were busy, he improved the soul link technique, using his own soul to allow the four of them to communicate via thoughts within a short distance.

He called this improved method a mental link. Compared to his direct soul link with Starlight, there were some differences. Doing this would make Noah very tired and leave him with no time to search the surroundings, but overall, the advantages outweighed the disadvantages.

“There shouldn’t be any problems now! Let’s get ready to move!” Po Kong strapped the box containing Noah to his back with two leather belts. He moved his limbs a bit, and after confirming it didn’t hinder his movement, he shouted excitedly.

But his voice echoed directly in the minds of Starlight and the others, the massive vibrations making their heads ring.

“!!! Po Kong, keep it down! We’re connected through a mental link right now!” Xia Duo’s voice rang in their heads, tinged with helplessness.

“Are you planning to knock us all unconscious first?” Starlight couldn’t help but retort.

“Mr. Po Kong, please be more careful, won’t you?” Moen’s voice was still gentle, but her tone carried a hint of a warning.

“...Uh, sorry! It’s my first time communicating with people in my head. So this is what it feels like? Then... let’s try that again! Let’s go~!” Po Kong laughed awkwardly, then adjusted his tone and issued the command again.

After this small interlude, the four of them followed Xia Duo’s guidance and jumped into the blue seawater together. Before entering the water, Starlight also stored the rented boat into his space, completely erasing their tracks.

It had to be said that Moen’s Water Breathing Spell was indeed very useful. After entering the seabed, the four of them could breathe normally like fish, with no side effects other than a slight feeling of stuffiness.

Even Starlight and Po Kong, whose swimming skills were average, could move around easily, not to mention the two elven sisters. They were like two beautiful mermaids, gracefully swimming among countless fish in the colorful underwater world.

Soon, a massive underwater ruin gradually came into view. This was the lost city that had sunk to the seabed ten thousand years ago. After the passage of so much time, the original city was almost entirely surrounded by colorful coral, making it impossible to see its original appearance.

The dappled light shining down from the water’s surface was like dazzling lamps, illuminating the entire lost city as brilliantly as a crystal palace.

“As expected... it’s right there! In that ruin, there is an underwater undercurrent with an extremely fast flow. We just need to swim along the direction of the undercurrent to reach the other side of Firefly Beach, which is very close to the southern coast of Night Lotus Valley!” Xia Duo’s voice rang in their minds. Upon hearing the instructions, the group immediately adjusted their posture and swam toward the underwater ruins.

While moving, Xia Duo had Moen take out two short blades from the storage space and strap them to her arm and thigh respectively, just in case.

Her actions piqued Po Kong’s interest, so he asked through the mental link, “Is there some kind of danger in the ruins ahead? Let me take the lead; after all, you guys don’t have much combat power in the water.”

After saying that, he even flexed his arm to show off his solid biceps.

Upon hearing this, Xia Duo rolled her eyes at him, gave a light snort, and yielded her position at the front. “Hmph~ Then you go first. I hope you don’t regret it later!”

“Huh? Why do you say that?” Po Kong asked with a face full of confusion, but Xia Duo haughtily turned her head away, clearly having no intention of answering him.

It was Moen, beside him, who answered his question. “According to the journals left by our parents, the War of Gods back then destroyed the originally prosperous city, causing the living beings within to sink to the seabed along with the city. In this pitch-black deep sea, the obsessions and souls of those beings still wander the lost ruins to this day, unable to find release.”

“No... way? Little Crescent, are you saying... that ruin is... haunted? Do I still have a choice here?” Upon hearing Moen’s explanation, Po Kong couldn’t help but shudder, an awkward smile appearing on his face as if he were planning to back out.

“We’re already here; it’s too late to say that now~ Why else do you think my sister didn’t tell you this earlier?” Moen smiled softly, delivering another critical blow to Po Kong.

“I say, Po Kong, how can a big man like you be afraid of this stuff? It’s just some ghosts and whatnot. Go on, clear the way!” Seeing Po Kong looking so defeated, Starlight almost burst out laughing. After suppressing his amusement, he also began to urge him forward.

“That... Little Star, my best friend! You’ll stay with me, right? I’m really not good at dealing with these floating things!” Po Kong’s voice carried a hint of entreaty.

“Didn’t you say you’d take the lead? Then the vanguard position is naturally yours~ Lord Po Kong-Mars! I’m just a weak and helpless mage~”

Starlight laughed as he pushed Po Kong forward. To his surprise, Po Kong instinctively transformed his bracelet into a large shield and held it in front of him.

“Good luck, Po Kong. We’ll be right behind you!” Xia Duo’s voice carried a hint of teasing.