Yama Reborn-Chapter 603 - 600: Underground

The rocks overhead became increasingly smaller. At the edge of the water pool, the height of the rocks overhead was still sufficient for a person to stand straight.

As they continued forward, the rocks got lower, until they completely merged with the surface of the water.

The Special Ability Users began to ask Kamisou Ichiro various questions.

In response, Kamisou Ichiro said: The mission is to continue moving forward with the search.

This situation can only be handled by those at Controller level.

Everyone looked at Chen Nuo and the others. Chen Nuo didn't respond, but the Wizard stepped forward voluntarily.

He squatted down, reached out to touch the water of the pool, and then took a deep breath. A Spiritual Force Tentacle fell into the water and extended far away.

Moments later, the Wizard stood up, looking at the Special Ability Users behind him with complex gazes.

"This should be an underground river.

The water flow is not fast, rather calm. I did not sense any hidden currents.

According to my perception, starting from where we are now, the underground pool has about a six hundred-yard area that needs to be dived through. In this area, the rock layer overhead has intruded into the surface, making it impossible to float out of the water during the process.

If you want to get through, you will have to dive."

The Special Ability Users listened, remained silent for a while, then one spoke loudly: "Well, Wizard Lord, what about after six hundred yards?"

"After six hundred yards, it should be another space similar to the underground cave." the Wizard said coldly.

"So we need to dive for six hundred yards of distance?"

"Are you sure it's six hundred yards?"

"Everyone brought oxygen pipes, there should not be much of a problem."

People in the crowd discussed in low voices.

Chen Nuo quickly pondered in his mind.

Six hundred yards is about five hundred meters, almost the length of a mile.

Everyone present is a Special Ability User. With their capabilities and physical fitness, along with carrying oxygen tanks,

diving five hundred meters is not too difficult of a task.

Kamisou Ichiro smiled slightly: "Wizard sir, are you sure the diving part is six hundred yards?"

The Wizard thought for a moment and nodded: "I can be sure, it is no more than this distance, my Spiritual Force perception won't be wrong."

Speaking coldly, the Wizard shot Kamisou Ichiro a glance—actually, your Spiritual Force is stronger than mine. If you don't believe it, use your own Spiritual Force to observe and you'll know, why bother asking me?

However, the Wizard still added a sentence: "On the level of Spiritual Force, I can only sense up to this point, I must clarify, past the diving point, on the other side of the underground cave, the air conditions are uncertain. In case there are any oxygen issues or toxic gas problems, I can't survey them with Spiritual Force."

Kamisou Ichiro smiled: "The process of the underground river's scouring brings in oxygen, with prolonged air exchange, the oxygen content in the underground cave's air should be assured, so no need to worry about that."

As he said this, his smile faded: "Alright, gentlemen, let's proceed. Put on your oxygen tanks, we'll dive for a while."

For the sake of the hefty bonus, numerous Special Ability Users strapped on their oxygen tanks and jumped into the water.

Among them, the experienced ones carefully inspected their oxygen tanks before entering the water, also checked the waterproof functionality of the lighting equipment.

Others followed suit.

When most of the Special Ability Users went into the water, they gradually swam forward, disappearing below the submerged rocks, one by one…

A female Special Ability User who has been accompanying the Son of the Sun looked at the old man hesitantly.

The Son of the Sun thought for a moment, nodded: "You follow me."

She sighed in relief.

Chen Nuo patted the old man's shoulder.

Didn't expect, the old guy still has a heart, not the ruthless sort.

After all the ordinary Special Ability Users were in the water, Chen Nuo and other Controller level individuals along with the Octopus Monster were the last to proceed.

The Son of the Sun was the first to arrive at the poolside, he snorted coldly, and casually released a Mentality Barrier.

The round Mentality Barrier was like a water repelling magic, causing the water in the pool to spread apart immediately.

The Son of the Sun slowly walked down, forming an elliptical water repelling space beside him, just enough for two persons to walk side by side.

The woman found joy in his eyes, she swiftly walked over, put her arms around the Son of the Sun, and together, they walked underwater, soon vanishing into the depths.

Then the Wizard descended into the water, his Spiritual Force was much stronger than the Son of the Sun's, he casually set up a Mentality Barrier, and then swiftly disappeared into the water.

Nolan chuckled: "I don't mind diving. I used to be a diving enthusiast."

He surprisingly didn't use a Mentality Barrier, just carried his oxygen tank, walked happily into the water, and with a flip, submerged underwater.

Chen Nuo glanced at Lu Xixi.

Lu Xixi smiled, took the initiative to create a Mentality Barrier, forming a cocoon-like barrier, and dragged Chen Nuo underwater.

At this time, Chen Nuo's power had only recovered to the Destroyer's level. He could form a Mentality Barrier, but a five hundred meters distance, walking it, would be exhausting. Lu Xixi's initiative saved him from revealing his true abilities, especially facing the Octopus Monster, where he didn't want it to see that he can only exert Destroyer level power now.

`

This part of the underground water flow was indeed very gentle.

Probably due to the slow water movement, without the scouring force, the relatively calm current, over time, resulted in clear water quality, the impurities settled at the bottom.

However, the temperature underwater dropped considerably.

Side by side, Chen Nuo and Lu Xixi occasionally shone their flashlights around.

There were also some fish underwater, but these fish living in underground waters, due to years without light, their eyes degenerated long ago, all blind fish.

Lu Xixi seemed fairly relaxed—after all, being with Chen Nuo, she really didn't bother considering too much.

Now that Lu Xixi possesses immense strength as a foundation, her powers have reached the level where she can briefly solo the Octopus Monster, with Chen Nuo assisting from the side. Even if they encounter danger, the couple can support each other and have enough confidence to retreat safely.

The Empress even has the leisure to reach out her hand and touch the water outside the Mentality Barrier. Occasionally spotting strange fish swimming in the underground river, Lu Xixi would frown and pull her hand back disdainfully.

The fish in the underground river look particularly ugly; not only their eyes have degenerated, but even the scales on their bodies appear to have devolved. It's unclear what species they are.

A group of more than twenty people, some diving and others walking along the riverbed using a Mentality Barrier.

This movement instantly stirred up the sediment at the riverbed, causing the originally clear underground river water to gradually become turbid. Even a powerful flashlight gradually lost visibility against the increasingly murky water.

Lu Xixi sighed and simply withdrew her gaze, unwilling to look at the swirling mud in the water anymore.

·

At a length of six hundred yards, it took the group less than twenty minutes to complete the crossing.

Chen Nuo and Lu Xixi were in the second-last group to reach the shore.

Upon landing, they found themselves in a low underground cave, with rock ceilings barely allowing short people to stand straight. Tall and slender individuals like Wizard had to slightly hunch or find a slightly elevated spot in the rock to stand upright.

However, as they ventured further inland, the rock ceiling became higher, and the cave gradually expanded.

After Chen Nuo and Lu Xixi landed, there were originally two Special Ability Users squatting and panting by the shore. Seeing Chen Nuo and the Star Sky Empress approaching, they quickly moved away with respect.

Lu Xixi furrowed her brows, a bit unhappy, extending her foot to wipe the mud off her boot on the adjacent rock.

Chen Nuo observed his allies.

The Son of the Sun looked the most relaxed, sitting on a rock, while a female Special Ability User crouched in front of him, holding a cloth and helping the elder wipe mud off his shoes.

Nolan was soaked, but he didn't mind the water on him at all. He had already gone to the front, where the cave widened, carefully observing the surrounding environment.

With footsteps sounding, Kamisou Ichiro emerged from the water last.

At this point, the Special Ability Users by the shore were initially stunned seeing Kamisou Ichiro emerge, then couldn't help but show shocked expressions on their faces.

Kamisou Ichiro's clothes and hair were dry, without the slightest sign of water!

This means he used strong spiritual power to create an underwater Mentality Barrier, a Mentality Cocoon, paving a water-free path as he walked out!

Everyone present was a Special Ability User, and none were fools. They knew very well what this action indicated!

At this moment, although the ordinary Special Ability Users did not yet know Kamisou Ichiro was the true Octopus Monster, seeing him showcase such powerful spiritual power made them realize that the man claiming to lead this Octopus Monster Company operation—Kamisou Ichiro—was likely a formidable spiritual Special Ability User!

Creating a Mentality Cocoon with telekinesis to travel this far… his power must be at least Controller Level!

Involuntarily, the ordinary Special Ability Users looked at Kamisou Ichiro with more respect in their eyes.

·

The space in the underground cave wasn't very large, and with so many people crowded in the area, Chen Nuo soon felt the air becoming increasingly turbid.

The oxygen levels were probably never high to begin with. With so many people here breathing, consuming oxygen, and emitting carbon dioxide, the temperature implicitly rose.

Before Chen Nuo could frown, Kamisou Ichiro was already making commands: "Let's rest here for five minutes, then proceed.

Check your equipment, and any gear with depleted energy can be left here; there's no need to carry it further."

Indeed, after checking, some Special Ability Users discarded flashlights with exhausted batteries on the ground.

Chen Nuo said nothing, simply kept carrying the oxygen tanks he and Lu Xixi had brought.

The two had not used oxygen tanks during the underwater journey, and the tanks remained full now.

None of the other Special Ability Users discarded their oxygen tanks either—who knew if they might be indispensable in the subsequent journey, or if they would encounter another underground river requiring diving.

The five-minute rest period was not long, but it allowed everyone to catch their breath and slightly recover their strength.

Few ate, as it hadn't been long since dinner.

Chen Nuo calculated the time; from entering the tunnel to this point, about an hour had passed.

Five minutes later, Kamisou Ichiro urged everyone to continue moving forward.

"Alright, gentlemen, let's proceed. The oxygen levels here are decreasing, and resting here longer won't help us. The falling oxygen will make us feel more tired the longer we rest, so let's leave immediately and keep moving forward!"

·

People gradually stood up and continued on their journey. This time, the Octopus Monster smiled warmly and invited Wizard to lead the way.

"Wizard, could you use your spiritual power to help everyone map the terrain ahead? I think your skills are most suited to this task here."

Of course, Wizard didn't refuse. He knew there was no rejecting requests to exert effort. After glancing at Chen Nuo and the others, he proceeded to the front of the group.

With such a renowned top-tier expert leading the way, all the Special Ability Users felt invigorated!

This underground cave sloped further down as they progressed, yet space gradually expanded.

Clearly, this was a fissure caused by ancient geological movements and shifts in underground rock layers. It showed no signs of artificial excavation.

Nolan walked alongside Chen Nuo.

Having studied geology, he observed the surrounding rock walls and shared his insights with Chen Nuo.

"This underground cave was likely created by ancient crustal movements, which caused the underground plates to compress. After geological displacements, this fissure was squeezed out—you can see the visible fracture marks on the rock walls, evidence of geological shifts.

Then, due to changes in underground geology, original groundwater filled these cracks, forming an underground river or lake."

"In this scenario, is there any chance of an exit leading to the surface?" Chen Nuo asked.

"It's hard to say," Nolan shook his head, "Though there's still oxygen here, which suggests there might be. But it could also be just some very fine cracks, of unknown length. Not necessarily a passage one can navigate."

Chen Nuo nodded.

His spiritual power at present wasn't enough to probe far distances, but he was silently calculating the route and distance from the surface, roughly estimating the height here relative to the surface.

At least two hundred meters below ground—that was Chen Nuo's rough estimate.

The previous five hundred-meter underwater segment wasn't level but sloped downward.

That segment alone had taken them thirty meters deeper underground.