CHAPTER 1088: CHAPTER 1085: WHEN LEGENDS BECOME REALITY

In the depths of the ice cave, the innermost ice wall cracked open with a seam. If Ning Luoxi and Lin Tian were still here, they would find something resembling an ice coffin emerging from within the ice layer, and this ice coffin’s material was exactly the same as the Ice Soul!

At this moment, Lin Tian has no way of knowing what changes have occurred in the ice cave due to their arrival; he also has no time to find out.

Lin Tian and Ning Luoxi were running quickly along the bank of the Underground River. When the sound of crashing water echoed again, they arrived at the edge of the Underground River’s waterfall.

Lin Tian glanced back and said, "It seems the Blue Snake won’t rest until it destroys us, chasing us all this way."

"From the sound of it, it should be catching up soon. How do we get across here?" Ning Luoxi said.

"Don’t rush. If we go now, we’ll definitely become targets for the Black Water King Snake. It’s better to wait until the Blue Snake arrives. I think the Black Water King Snake will properly greet the intruding Blue Snake." Lin Tian said with a calm smile.

As the saying goes, one mountain cannot accommodate two tigers, and one pond cannot accommodate two snakes. Both are giant snakes and of different species; it would be unbelievable for them to become friends to save Lin Tian’s life.

The two didn’t have to wait long before a loud noise echoed from deep within the Underground River. The Blue Snake was coming at full speed; soon enough, its iconic horned snake head appeared before them.

The Blue Snake also saw the two of them, raised its head, and let out a hiss, then rushed toward them even faster.

Lin Tian sneered internally, "Yell away! I hope your voice is loud enough to wake up your old neighbor and give you a warm welcome."

Just as the thought crossed his mind, a loud "bang" came from the water below. Lin Tian didn’t need to guess—it was the Black Water King Snake bursting out of the water. Clearly, the commotion by the Blue Snake had alarmed it.

"Quick, jump! We’ll jump into the pond," Lin Tian shouted, pulling Ning Luoxi as they leaped off the waterfall. Only their robust bodies could withstand such a height.

Their speeds were fast, flying quite a distance before descending. Midair, Lin Tian turned his head and saw the Blue Snake also leaping out.

The Blue Snake dashed out recklessly. If not because of arrogance or blindness to other snakes, then it must have lost its senses without checking whose territory it was.

The Black Water King Snake shot up from below, opening its massive mouth and biting the Blue Snake, gripping it tightly, and dragging it down.

The two giant snakes crashed into the water, sinking the surface considerably, and the impact directly blasted Lin Tian and Ning Luoxi.

Initially, when they jumped, they were close to reaching the opposite bank, but with the blast, it was like two fish were catapulted to shore.

Lin Tian quickly jumped up, stabilized himself, and moved back. Now, torrential rain poured around the pond, all caused by the two snakes’ fierce battle.

"Lin Tian, did you see that? The Black Water King Snake has an iron chain locked on it!" Ning Luoxi exclaimed after retreating to safety.

Of course, Lin Tian saw it too. When it leaped out, he saw the entire Black Water King Snake emerge from the water, and midway through its body, an iron chain was locked around it.

Who knows how long it has been chained, maybe decades or even centuries. The iron chain had sunk into its flesh, and the other end stretched into the pond, unknown how deep it was anchored.

"What kind of powerful person chained the Black Water King Snake here? Could it be that this person wanted to prevent anyone from accessing the ice cave, protecting it?" Lin Tian’s mind was filled with questions.

Encountering the Black Water King Snake was strange enough, and it’s even more bizarre to find it artificially chained. Truly fitting for the name Dragon-locking Well.

"It makes sense. For others, reaching the ice cave might be impossible. Luckily, with you here, I wouldn’t have been able to even get past the Black Water King Snake." Ning Luoxi agreed somewhat.

Boom...

Another loud noise interrupted their conversation. The two massive snakes, entangled, burst from the pond, crashing violently against the rock wall. The wall shattered and crumbled, with fragments of blue and dark green scales raining down.

Occasionally, splashes of bright red blood fell, unclear which snake it came from. Originally both snakes targeted Lin Tian, but now locked in a mighty clash, they had no time to worry about the "small fry" Lin Tian.

Indeed, in their eyes, human bodies were synonymous with "small." They couldn’t compare with their powerful forms.

"Let’s go, no more watching. Who knows how long these two masters will fight. Let’s avoid getting noticed by them." Lin Tian advised.

Ning Luoxi naturally understood this and took one last look before hurrying away from the pond with Lin Tian. The sound of battle faded more and more, eventually disappearing entirely as they could no longer hear the Blue Snake and Black Water King Snake’s fight.

"Finally, we got rid of them, but who knows who will win between the two snakes?" Ning Luoxi heaved a sigh of relief.

"I think the Blue Snake has a slightly higher chance of winning. Though the Blue Snake may not be as ferocious as the Black Water King Snake, with a horn on its head, it exudes an extraordinary aura, a kingly presence. The Black Water King Snake is at most a rogue warrior. Plus, being chained, the Black Water King Snake is at a disadvantage." Lin Tian analyzed casually, to which Ning Luoxi nodded, not optimistic about the Black Water King Snake.

"However, both snakes have coexisted in the Underground River for so many years without either dying. I guess even if the Blue Snake wins, it can’t kill the Black Water King Snake." Lin Tian added.

As they talked, light appeared ahead in the river channel. It wasn’t the surface, but they had returned to the section with Crystal Stones, marking their proximity to the Dragon-locking Well.

Upon reaching the Crystal Stone section, Lin Tian and Ning Luoxi increased their pace and soon returned to the pond at Dragon-locking Well.

Once they exit the Dragon-locking Well, this herb-gathering journey would conclude. Ning Luoxi looked back toward the depths of the Underground River with a touch of melancholy on her face. Who could have guessed a simple herb-gathering mission would encounter so many unforeseen situations? Indeed, as the saying goes, wherever there’s a rare treasure, there’s a guardian beast.

Before diving back in, Lin Tian suddenly thought of something amusing and said, "Our country’s Heavenly Pond has rumors of monsters appearing, with many witnesses. There’s also the Loch Ness monster tale abroad. Do you think these beasts occasionally surface from the underground world, sparking curiosity among people?"

"Legends of the Heavenly Pond are even more mysterious than the Dragon-locking Well. I didn’t pay much attention before, but now it seems those legends aren’t baseless. In this underground world we know so little about, there exist creatures unknown to us. Many places we’ve never visited hold many incredible wonders."

"If someone tells me one day that a dragon has been discovered somewhere, I might not even consider it a mere legend anymore," Ning Luoxi remarked with profound meaning.