I never imagined this place was under the lake. I could even see some water plants at the bottom clearly.
Just as everyone was stunned by the sight before them, A Yuan, unconcerned, used stones to block the newly created opening.
This man truly cared about nothing, just like a stone.
I couldn't be bothered to mind him, so I transferred Jin Qiaoyue from Fu Honglang's back.
If it were before, I might not have bothered with this woman.
However, after spending time together and chatting frequently, I had come to consider her a friend.
As a friend, I naturally couldn't stand by and watch her die.
Still, I wasn't sure if she could hold on. It wouldn't be easy to get out of this place.
The space here was vast and extremely empty, devoid of anything. Any sound we made would even echo.
After A Yuan finished blocking the hole, we continued walking forward.
The ground sloped downwards, not very steeply, but we could clearly feel ourselves descending.
After walking for about ten minutes, the lake surface above was getting further away, yet the light still illuminated the surroundings.
Before long, a massive city gate appeared before us.
Standing on the slope and looking beyond the city gate, we saw a vast ancient city.
The city gate was double-doored, with one of the doors already collapsed on the ground. Streets of all sizes crisscrossed the city, but they were mostly in ruins. Overall, the ancient city was considerable in size and quite imposing.
The light refracting from the lake rippled like water waves above the ancient city, giving it an unreal quality.
Although the ancient city was in ruins, its former prosperity could still be glimpsed.
This ancient city could easily accommodate at least a thousand people, perhaps even more.
"This is the true Taohuai Kingdom!" Fu Honglang exclaimed, "The murals we saw in the secret chamber depicted this!"
His reminder made me recall that there was indeed a mural in the secret chamber depicting an ancient city, which bore some resemblance to this one.
At that time, the mural showed colorful clouds above the ancient city, and I had thought it was a product of ancient imagination. Now it seemed that those were not colorful clouds at all, but the lake water above.
This white desert had a natural magnetic field, making it impossible for planes to fly over. As for people, it was difficult to find this place.
In other words, besides us, it was highly likely that no one had ever been here.
With this thought, I took a deep breath, my mood becoming excited.
Could the Suihou Pearl really be in this place?
Fu Kui, impatient, walked towards the ancient city, and we quickly followed.
After entering through the city gate, we found a main road paved with stone slabs.
This main road was not wide, only about two meters across, with abandoned houses on both sides. Some were made of earth, and some of stone.
All the houses had a uniform architectural style, with a triangular roof structure.
The interiors of some houses were visible from the street. Most of the furniture inside was overturned, as if the place had been ransacked.
It was unclear what had happened here in the past.
It could have been internal strife or foreign invasion. Regardless of the possibility, it was certain that the crisis had turned this ancient city into a dead city.
Everyone seemed uninterested in this ancient city, showing curiosity only at the beginning.
I knew that everyone's purpose for coming here was to find the Suihou Pearl, and nothing else mattered.
On the contrary, Fatty, looking around and fiddling with things: "Xiang Ye, how do you think this ancient city was built in this place? Don't tell me, living here would actually be quite good."
I chuckled, "How about I find you a nest here, and you can move in from now on?"
"It's not impossible, but it needs electricity and other supporting facilities..." Fatty suddenly thought of something, "Right, I saw a news report a few days ago saying that rich people abroad love living in places like ancient castles. If we develop this into an Eastern Castle Capital and sell it, wouldn't that be very profitable?"
I retorted unceremoniously, "Do you think this is your home? Why don't you suggest developing this place into a scenic spot and charge admission fees?"
"Hey! That's a good idea! Charging admission fees is reliable. If a ticket costs fifty or sixty yuan, and a thousand people visit every day, at fifty yuan per ticket, wouldn't that be a net profit of fifty thousand a day? That's one hundred and fifty thousand a month, and then a year..."
"Alright, can you stop daydreaming?" I said, "You seem quite energetic, come help me carry her."
"Xiang Ye, you know my weight. I get tired just walking myself, and you want me to carry her? I can't handle that."
As Fatty spoke, he raised his eyebrows and smiled, "Xiang Ye, why are you so popular with women? Besides Little Chili in Guangling, there's also President Wu. Why are you still thinking about... what's that song again?"
"I'll see you off beyond the small village, with words to say, though flowers are already blooming... Wildflowers by the roadside, don't pick them..."
Fatty sang, winking at me: "If it's free, why not pick it? After picking, you'll want to pick more."
I kicked him in the backside: "Are you looking for a beating?"
Fatty, covering his backside with feigned amusement, ran ahead, leaving me behind.
Jin Qiaoyue wasn't very heavy, but I was indeed exhausted, so it was a bit difficult.
Finally, Fu Honglang was kind enough to help me switch. He carried Jin Qiaoyue.
After crossing the main road of the ancient city, we quickly arrived at a square. This square was in the center of the ancient city, a circular plaza.
In the middle of the plaza stood seven pillars, all densely covered with intricate carvings and symbols, their meanings unclear.
In the center of the pillars was a pool, and astonishingly, there was a spring bubbling up within it.
It seemed this was the only water source for this ancient city. Usually, there are underground rivers beneath deserts, and this water should be from an underground river.
We had already drunk most of our water by the time we arrived, and we were all uncomfortable, covered in sweat and sand.
Upon seeing the water, almost everyone wanted to drink their fill and take a bath.
"I think everyone should rest here for a while," Fu Kui announced.
I asked Fu Honglang to place Jin Qiaoyue by the pool, then I scooped some water to wipe her face.