Chapter 2209 The Fallen (1)

Chapter 2209 The Fallen (1)

With Liu Meng'er gone, Yun Lintian polished off his meal and rose, setting off to explore the grove. Its sheer immensity was staggering – a sprawling expanse that would take months to traverse on foot.

Delving deeper into the grove's embrace, Yun Lintian's ears pricked at the renewed roar of cascading water. Curiosity piqued, he followed the sound, his steps quickening with anticipation.

As he rounded a bend in the foliage, a breathtaking vista unfolded before him – a colossal lake shimmering under the dappled sunlight. The very air vibrated with an even purer essence than the spring he'd encountered earlier. A sense of awe washed over him, a silent testament to the grove's hidden wonders.

"This must be the heart of the Azure Spring Grove," Yun Lintian murmured, a sense of wonder coloring his voice. His keen spiritual sense swept outwards, detecting a smattering of harmless beasts around the lake's edge. Notably absent were the more ferocious creatures. An intriguing realization dawned on him – this serene sanctuary appeared to be a designated no-kill zone, respected even by the grove's predators.

Yun Lintian, drawn by an invisible force, approached the lake's edge. He peered into its depths, his spiritual sense probing its secrets. Yet, the water's clarity mocked his efforts – the bottom remained stubbornly out of reach. "Intersting..." A jolt of surprise coursed through Yun Lintian. The lake's unfathomable depths hinted at an immense power hidden beneath its serene surface.

Yun Lintian paused in thought, his gaze drawn to the Moon symbol within his body. This time, its reaction was even stronger. Without further deliberation, he decided to explore the area, curiosity gnawing at him. He yearned to unearth the secrets this place held.

Yun Lintian reached out to the lake and the quiet water surface began to roll with undercurrents. A distorted space stretched and grew, forming an underwater whirlpool that sucked in Yun Lintian.

"This space..." Yun Lintian was surprised to find himself under the water. He looked up and didn't see the surface was nowhere to be seen. Surveying his surroundings, Yun Lintian resolved to delve deeper. His keen eyes soon located an underwater cave entrance, prompting him to plunge straight in without hesitation.

There was no water inside the cave but it was extremely dark. Yun Lintian navigated the dimly lit cave, relying on his enhanced senses to navigate the slippery rock formations.

The air grew cooler as he descended further, a prickling sensation crawling over his skin. He channeled his astral energy, forming a shimmering orb of light around his hand to illuminate the path ahead.

The cave walls, once rough and uneven, began to smooth out, taking on a translucent sheen. Yun Lintian reached out, his fingers brushing against the cool surface. It felt strangely warm to the touch, a gentle tingle coursing through his fingertips.

Yun Lintian raised an eyebrow in surprise. It appeared the Azure Royal Clan was unaware of this. Otherwise, they wouldn't have abandoned it for others to manage.

"Are you a descendant of the Azure Cloud Yun Clan?" Qing Shui asked.

"Indeed, Senior Qing Shui," Yun Lintian confirmed, his voice respectful yet firm. "I am a son of the current Yun Clan Patriarch, Yun Wuhan."

He saw no need for deception. While Qing Shui might have been a True God in his prime, his current state as a residual soul posed no threat.

"I see." Qing Shui said gently. "Tell me, what brings you to this place?"

Yun Lintian launched into a detailed account of the Azure Cloud Convention, recounting the events that led him to this very spot.

Qing Shui listened patiently, the silence occasionally punctuated by the soft dripping of water somewhere deep within the cave. Finally, he spoke, his voice laced with a hint of melancholy.

"It seems my descendants haven't exactly covered themselves in glory."

Yun Lintian, however, remained silent, his expression unreadable. Instead, he posed a question, his voice respectful, "Senior, how did you come to be in this state?"

Qing Shui, sidestepping the question, launched into a new topic. "Reaching the High God Realm at such a tender age... the secret within you must be unfathomably profound. It's no wonder everyone's been kept in the dark." His voice held a curious mix of admiration and suspicion.

Yun Lintian remained calm, waiting for Qing Shui to speak further.

A sigh, a sound devoid of a physical body, echoed through the crystal chamber. "Very well," Qing Shui said. "My story is one of ambition and ultimately, a bitter lesson. Perhaps learning from it will be of some use to you, young one."