Chapter 99 The appearance of Water Breath. The two of them came to a spiritual spring. Suddenly, delicate ripples appeared on the surface of the spiritual spring, as if they were nature's most delicate brush, outlining subtle patterns on the mirror-like surface of the water. As the ripples expanded, a figure gradually condensed from the water, as if pulled out of the abyss by an invisible force, and finally transformed into a woman in a turquoise dress. Her hair lay softly on her shoulders like dense water plants, and her eyes were deep and bright, as if containing the wisdom and tenderness of the entire spiritual spring. "I am Luo Li, the guardian of this ancient spiritual spring." The woman's voice was clear and pleasant, like the sound of spring water, refreshing. She stepped lightly across the water, as if ignoring the constraints of gravity, and walked towards Xiao Chong and Zi Yan step by step, with a gentle smile on her face. Xiao Chong and Zi Yan took a step back involuntarily, their hearts filled with surprise. Luo Li in front of them exuded an indescribable peaceful aura, which made people feel close to her involuntarily. "The 'Breath of Water' appears once every thousand years. It is condensed from the natural essence deep in the spiritual spring. It has the powerful power to purify all things and give birth to life." Luo Li's eyes moved slowly between the two people, as if she could see into their hearts. "You two must have an extraordinary opportunity to discover its existence." Zi Yan bit her lower lip, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and anticipation: "Ms. Luo Li, you said that this 'Breath of Water' is rare in a thousand years, so how can we get it? We really need it urgently." Luo Li smiled slightly. She tapped the water lightly with her finger, and ripples of water spread out as if in response. "It is not easy to obtain the 'Breath of Water'. You need to pass the three trials set by my Spirit Spring. Each trial is a test of your character, wisdom, and strength. Only by truly understanding the mystery of water can you touch the purest power core." Xiao Chong straightened his back, his eyes firm: "Please tell us the content of the trial. No matter how difficult it is, we will do our best."
Luo Li nodded with satisfaction: "The first level of trial is a trial of the heart. You need to sit quietly beside this spiritual spring for three days and three nights without any distracting thoughts in your mind. Only those with pure hearts can feel the subtle changes of the water element." Zi Yan frowned slightly, looking a little hesitant, but then her eyes became firm: "Since it is for the sake of obtaining the 'Breath of Water', then we are willing to accept the challenge." The sun rises and the moon sets, the stars change, and the two sit quietly beside the spiritual spring, as if time has frozen at this moment. The hustle and bustle of the outside world seems to be isolated, and only the dialogue between the soul and nature quietly blooms in the heart. Finally, when the first rays of morning light sprinkled on the water again, Luo Li slowly spoke: "You have passed the test of the heart, and the next is the test of wisdom. In the misty forest ahead, there is a water heart stone that I specially arranged. You need to find it within three days and bring it back here." Xiao Chong and Zi Yan looked at each other, without saying anything, and immediately stepped into the misty forest. The moment you step into the misty forest, the light around you suddenly dims, as if covered by an invisible curtain. Amid the mist, the towering trees and intertwined branches and leaves form a natural barrier that completely isolates the noise from the outside world. Luo Li's voice seemed to still echo in her ears, but her figure was no longer visible. Only the faint light and shadow were dancing among the leaves, guiding the direction. "This misty forest is more mysterious than I imagined." Zi Yan said softly, her purple eyes flashing with curiosity and alertness in the dim light. Xiao Chong's eyes were firm: "No matter how many difficulties we face, we will not retreat. Let's go, Zi Yan, the test of wisdom is waiting for us." The two walked side by side, and the dead branches and leaves under their feet made a tiny sound, which was particularly clear in this silent forest. In the mist, the occasional roar of unknown beasts added a bit of unknown danger. "Look over there!" Zi Yan suddenly pointed to the right, where a path surrounded by strange flowers could be vaguely seen. The flowers emitted a faint fluorescence, like stars in the mist. "This path may be what we are looking for." They carefully walked deeper along the trail, taking every step with caution. Suddenly, a deep and ancient voice sounded in their minds: "Traveler, you can continue to move forward only after you solve my riddle - what weapon can both hurt and save people?" Zi Yan frowned slightly, then smiled: "It's knowledge. Knowledge can enlighten people's minds, and it can also be a weapon of attack." As she answered, the fog around her seemed to dissipate a little, and the road became clearer. Xiao Chong couldn't help but admire: "Zi Yan, your wisdom always brings us surprises." As they continued to move forward, they encountered several similar puzzles. Each time, they were cleverly solved, either with Zi Yan's wit or with Xiao Chong's strength. However, the real challenge was yet to come. "We have gone deep into the center of the forest. The Water Heart Stone should be nearby." Xiao Chong looked around. Among the dense trees, everything seemed so peaceful, yet it hid endless possibilities. Xiao Chong and Zi Yan walked slowly under the dense shadows of the trees, and every step seemed to be stepping on the heartbeat of the ancient forest. The sunlight shines through the dense branches and leaves, sprinkling on the ground in a mottled manner, adding a bit of mystery to this quiet world.
"Zi Yan, have you sensed the location of the Water Heart Stone?" Xiao Chong asked in a low voice, with a barely perceptible hint of nervousness in his voice. Zi Yan closed her eyes and clasped her hands together gently, as if trying to capture some faint information in the air. "We are very close, right in the center of this area." She opened her eyes, her eyes flashing with determination and expectation, "But the power of nature is very active here, we must be careful." Before he finished his words, the ground suddenly shook, as if some huge monster had awakened deep underground. The two separated quickly and looked around vigilantly. A moment later, several huge, dark green geckos suddenly emerged from the cracks in the ground. Their eyes reflected a strange light in the sunlight, and they rushed straight towards the two with sharp fangs and claws. "Back off!" Xiao Chong shouted in a deep voice, and at the same time, he suddenly jumped up, turning into a silver lightning, and rushed directly to a large gecko in the front. His movements were as fast as a ghost, and a long sword with a cold glow appeared in his hand. With a light tap of the sword tip, it pierced the gecko's vital point accurately, killing it with one blow. The huge body of the gecko fell to the ground with a bang, and dust flew up. "Xiao Chong, be careful!" Zi Yan's voice was filled with anxiety. She waved the staff in her hand, and the moment the spell was recited, the air condensed into tiny ice crystals, which shot towards the remaining geckos, freezing them unable to move. (End of this chapter)