Lin Hao sensed a familiar aura.
It was the aura of the Flood Dragon.
Although Lin Hao still couldn't see the Flood Dragon's form, he was certain it was nearby.
After looking around and still finding no sign of it, Lin Hao spoke, "Hello, I know you are nearby. I mean no harm. I am here to ask for dragon saliva to save someone."
"Rest assured, I will not take the dragon saliva for free. If you have any requests, please state them, and I will do my best to fulfill them."
Having spoken, Lin Hao gazed into the dark depths of the lake and waited.
However, a minute passed, and there was no response.
"Perhaps my offer was too meager?"
Lin Hao frowned, staring at the dark, calm lakebed.
"Hello, in addition to the above conditions, I also promise that I will help you ascend and transform into a dragon in the future!"
"If you don't believe me, I can make a solemn oath of karma here. If I break my word in the future, I will surely suffer karmic backlash and endure the torment of a hundred reincarnations!"
"Hehe, that's more like it."
As soon as Lin Hao finished speaking, a voice like that of a young girl echoed in his mind.
"Please reveal yourself!" Lin Hao exclaimed in surprise.
As the words fell, Lin Hao saw ripples on the water, and the Flood Dragon emerged from them.
The dragon saliva, which had previously vanished, was now atop the Flood Dragon's head.
The saliva emitted a multicolored glow, appearing as if it had grown there, not falling off as the dragon moved.
Seeing the Flood Dragon and the dragon saliva on its head, Lin Hao breathed a sigh of relief.
Everything was as he had expected; the Flood Dragon was indeed nearby.
And the vanished dragon saliva was indeed on the Flood Dragon.
However, one thing still puzzled Lin Hao: he wondered how the Flood Dragon had managed to conceal itself so effectively. He hadn't detected it at all during his first descent, having been completely deceived.
Still, Lin Hao knew that creatures with spiritual awareness usually possessed divine abilities. This Flood Dragon had likely cultivated at the bottom of this lake for at least five hundred years, so its ability to hide its presence silently was understandable.
"You can't lie to me. If you do, I'll... I'll eat you." The Flood Dragon swam closer to Lin Hao and bared its teeth at him as if to threaten him.
Lin Hao looked at the baring Flood Dragon with surprise.
He hadn't expected this enormous Flood Dragon to be a child with a soft, childish voice, and a female at that.
Even so, Lin Hao dared not let his guard down. He looked at her and said earnestly, "Rest assured, I have made a solemn oath of karma. I will not deceive you."
"Mmm, I believe you. But... but you still have to tell me another story. If it makes me happy, I'll give you the dragon saliva," the Flood Dragon said in its childish voice, looking at Lin Hao.
What was this? Another story?
Lin Hao was stunned.
"If you don't tell it, then forget it." The Flood Dragon swayed its body and prepared to leave.
"Wait." Lin Hao quickly said, looking at the Flood Dragon, "I'll tell you a story about Ji Ni Tai Mei."
"Ji Ni Tai Mei?"
"Yes."
"You don't need to tell it. I know this one." The Flood Dragon said with a hint of pride in its childish voice.
"You know it?" Lin Hao looked at the Flood Dragon, utterly bewildered.
Could Brother Ji really be that amazing, known even to a Flood Dragon at the bottom of Changbai Mountain's Heavenly Lake?
"Yes, I've known it for a long time." The Flood Dragon nodded cutely, then looked at Lin Hao and said, "Since you also know Ji Ni Tai Mei, then you should perform it."
"If your performance is good, I'll give you the dragon saliva."
Lin Hao's heart skipped a beat as he looked at the somewhat cute Flood Dragon.
"Has she seen through my true identity?"
After all, his most skilled performance was Ji Ni Tai Mei. He had secretly practiced for two and a half months to master its essence.
But no one had ever known about this.
"Hey, are you going to dance or not? If not, I'm leaving," the Flood Dragon called out when Lin Hao remained silent for a long time.
"I'll dance, I'll dance," Lin Hao quickly agreed.
If he were outside, Lin Hao might have felt a little embarrassed.
But underwater, who would know even if he danced?
"Music!"
Lin Hao snapped his fingers and immediately began to dance.
About a minute later, the little Flood Dragon clapped its hands happily.
"Oh, yes, yes! You danced so well!"
Lin Hao watched the little Flood Dragon excitedly shake its head and tail. After completing the final move, he smiled and looked at her, "Since I danced well, can you give me the dragon saliva now?"
"Mmm, take it." The Flood Dragon said, then swam to Lin Hao.
Lin Hao looked at the multicolored dragon saliva on the Flood Dragon's head, suppressed his excitement, and reached out to grasp it.
"I'm really taking it," Lin Hao said, taking a deep breath.
"Hurry up, my neck is getting sore," the Flood Dragon said impatiently in its childish voice.
"Okay."
As Lin Hao agreed, he quickly took the dragon saliva from the Flood Dragon's head.
Holding the dragon saliva in his hand, Lin Hao was extremely excited. However, he quickly suppressed his emotions and looked at the Flood Dragon, saying, "Thank you. I'm pressed for time, so I'll be going up now."
"Rest assured, I will keep my promise."
"Mmm, I believe you. Just remember to visit me often in the future," the Flood Dragon replied somewhat cutely.
"Mmm, I will visit you often."
"I'm leaving."
Lin Hao cast one last glance at the Flood Dragon and then quickly swam upwards.
A little over a minute later, Lin Hao finally reached the surface.
As soon as he surfaced, Xiao Hei, who had been waiting in the area, rushed over.
"Senior Brother, are you alright?" Xiao Hei looked at Lin Hao, his face full of anxiety.
He had been truly terrified by how long Lin Hao had been underwater.
But Lin Hao had instructed him before going down not to enter the water or to prevent the helicopter from retrieving him until he signaled.
So, no matter how worried Xiao Hei was, he could only wait.
"I'm fine. What time is it?" Lin Hao asked Xiao Hei as he quickly climbed onto the speedboat.
"It's eleven-thirty," Xiao Hei replied grimly.
"Let's go back quickly." Lin Hao urged.
It was eleven-thirty, half an hour before midnight. Fortunately, he hadn't delayed any further and had surfaced quickly.
If he had lingered any longer, Tang Ziyuan might have lost her life.
Xiao Hei didn't say anything, knowing the urgency of the situation. He immediately twisted the throttle and sped towards the shore.
About twenty minutes later, Lin Hao and Xiao Hei finally returned to Tang Ziyuan's side.
At this moment, Tang Ziyuan's face had turned an extremely pale, corpse-like white.