"So this is the end?"
After flying along the river to check the source of Qi, Xuefeng's group was met with a dilemma. The river tunnel shrunk in size as the water flowed into a wall. They could either get wet and continue traveling with the flow of the river or give up on the treasures and return to their original path.
"The compass is still pointing at the river. Does the Rat King know where it leads?" Xuefeng questioned while Yiren passed on the question. The Rat King immediately shook his head, making it clear they were on their own.
Squeak!
"He says they know how to swim but the flow of the river is too strong for them. They wouldn't be able to swim back if the river leads into the danger zone, so they never tried it. There is also an issue of meeting powerful Beasts and they would be defenseless in the water," Yiren reported. "They are willing to wait for us here for a few hours if we want."
"Alright, tell them to leave if we are not back soon. They already helped us enough," Xuefeng acknowledged. Although they would be fine even without them, the Rat army helped them avoid any random Beasts that would delay their travel.
Seeing a nod from the Rat King, Xuefeng flew above the river and his Water Stone shone brightly. The water flow stopped instantly, exposing a tunnel inside the wall.
Xuefeng didn't even need to order anyone as his group swiftly slipped into the wet tunnel and Xuefeng closed it with the remaining water flow. The small air bubble he created was enough for them to fly inside the river tunnel without getting wet.
After half an hour, they started to get worried since the tunnel didn't show any signs of reaching an end but they could only commit to their decision. Thankfully, they didn't need to wait much longer.
"Ming says there is a large source of Fate Qi ahead. The compass is also vibrating like crazy. We should be close," Xuefeng pointed out and sure enough, they finally saw natural light coming from the end of the tunnel. When they finally broke through the exit, all the girls exclaimed in amazement.
"Whoa!"
They already expected a large basin of water at the end of the river but the view surpassed their expectations. It wasn't the size of the basin that surprised them but rather the source of the golden light that shone as bright as the sun.
"It's mine! I saw it first!" Drakos cried out excitedly only to be smacked by Yiren in the back of his head.
"Calm down. Don't be greedy. All of us saw it at the same time."
The circular basin was tens of miles in diameter with hundreds of waterfalls filling it up from all sides. The object of Drakos' admiration was a mountain-sized Fate Stone that hung from the ceiling. It was so big that even its tip was deep inside the water. It would be an understatement to call it a Fate Stone at this point. It should be called Fate Mountain instead.
"This place looks like our home," Yiren commented as she watched the waterfalls with a nostalgic gaze but when she glanced at her mother, Nuwa was frowning. "Mom?"
"Hahaha, we are rich!" Drakos laughed maniacally as he launched himself towards the Fate Mountain but he wasn't able to fly too far before his body froze.
"Idiot, do you want to die this badly?" Nuwa cursed at him as she pulled him back. "Next time you act stupid I will let you die."
"Huh?" Drakos looked at her dumbfounded, but he was not the only one. Everyone else looked at Nuwa in confusion when Yiren and Xuefeng frowned as well.
"This place is already inhabited," Xuefeng explained in her stead. "And we were already spotted by them."
Swoosh!
Just as he finished speaking, a Lightning bolt broke through the water surface while aiming straight at Drakos. Katherine swiftly flew to the front to block it but even the Master of Thunder like her was pushed back by its brutal force.
"This Lightning…" Katherine muttered as she shook her palm to brush the pain away. "They won't be easy opponents for sure."
"That was a warning shot," Wuying pointed out. "I don't think we are welcomed here."
"Of course, we are intruding into their kingdom," Nuwa replied as she glanced at Xuefeng. "Did you feel the same?"
"Yeah, I could feel a strong Soul Power coming from the depths of the basin to inspect us. It is much stronger than ours," Xuefeng replied seriously. "I don't think we are the strongest group in the Heaven Realm anymore."
'If my guess is correct, the rules inside the Hellhole are much different than the surface,' Ming commented in their channel. 'I have never heard much about the Hellhole as if it wasn't regulated much. If that's the case, it is possible that anyone in the Hellhole can breakthrough into the Ancient Celestial and they won't be forced to Ascend to the God Realm.'
'Ancient Celestial?' Everyone repeated. It was the first time they heard such a term.
'Oh right, I have never taught you about the Cultivation stage above the Celestial Stage. There is only one stage after the Celestial Stage and it's called the Ancient Celestial Stage. In that Stage you can cultivate your Ancient Soul, Ancient Body, and open Ancient Gates,' Ming explained. 'The first two are split into nine levels but I can't tell you anything about the Ancient Gates.'
She didn't leave them confused and added, 'From what I heard, only the Leader of the Ancient Race has unlocked his Ancient Gates and claimed they granted him immortality. We had no way of testing it unless we tried to kill him so we didn't bother with it.'
'So you are saying the Race in this basin must have broken through to the Ancient Celestial Stage and already cultivate their Ancient Soul?' Xuefeng deducted as he glanced at the basin. 'That would explain their strong Soul Power.'
'What is the plan then? Are we returning or fighting them?' Drakos questioned as he cracked his knuckles. 'I don't mind the latter. How about we steal some of that Fate Mountain while you defend us from attacks?'
'First, we should learn who we deal with,' Xuefeng replied as he glanced at the Fate Mountain. He didn't hesitate and flew ahead on his own with a welcoming smile on his face.
They couldn't let go of such an opportunity so Xuefeng was forced to use his most powerful skill.
The art of bullshitting!
"We came in peace! I wish to speak to your Leader!"