With Shao Liguo's words, Zeng Qiang and Shao Xiaonan no longer hesitated. The family of three headed deeper into the cave.
“Lin Feng, they’ve really gone in. Should we follow?” Sister Rose asked. She was worried that Shao Liguo and his group would get there first.
“No need. They’ll regret it later.” Lin Feng sneered. If they didn't listen to him, Shao Liguo and the other two would be the ones to suffer.
At this moment, Shao Liguo and the other two hadn't realized the danger that was about to befall them. Zeng Qiang led the way, carrying a submachine gun. Ahead lay a long, winding cave. An eerie wind blew through, accompanied by sounds like ghosts wailing, sending chills down their spines.
“Dad, why does this place feel a little scary? Could there really be some monsters?” Shao Xiaonan followed behind fearfully. Her woman’s intuition told her that unknown dangers awaited them.
“Xiaonan, don't be afraid. You have me and Zeng Qiang. We’ll be fine,” Shao Liguo said dismissively. He had participated in many adventures and was immune to such gloomy atmospheres. Zeng Qiang was even more so. To prove his manliness, he boasted, “Xiaonan, Uncle is right. With me here, even if there are monsters, I can easily kill them!” With that, he quickened his pace.
After walking for dozens of meters, the cave began to widen and brighten. Ahead was a huge pool of water, and above the pool was the boundless starry sky. It was somewhat like a volcanic crater, and they were currently at the bottom of it. Looking up, the ground was several hundred meters above. The water in the pool shimmered with a faint ripple, and a light mist floated on its surface.
“Uncle, there’s no path. Could the Dragon Abyss be in the pool?” Zeng Qiang surveyed the surroundings, finding only hard stone walls with no passages or mechanisms.
Shao Liguo frowned. “It’s possible. Perhaps we really have to dive down to take a look.”
“Uncle, this water is so cold. I can dive down, but can you two do it?” Zeng Qiang was a martial artist with good physical fitness. Although the pool was bone-chillingly cold, he should be fine with a diving suit. Shao Liguo and Shao Xiaonan were ordinary people, and diving into such a frigid pool might be too much for their bodies.
“Zeng Qiang, you go down and check first. Xiaonan and I will look for any mechanisms,” Shao Liguo instructed. Zeng Qiang nodded and opened his backpack to change into his diving suit. After changing, Zeng Qiang dipped his hand into the pool to test the water temperature, nearly freezing his finger off. The water was extremely cold, at least minus fifty or sixty degrees Celsius.
“Zeng Qiang, can you handle it? If not, forget it. Don't force yourself!” Shao Xiaonan said, concerned.
“Hmph, if I can’t do it, then none of you can go. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine,” Zeng Qiang replied, not wanting to appear too weak in front of Shao Xiaonan. He put on his oxygen mask and jumped into the pool.
Upon entering the water, Zeng Qiang saw many white bones at the bottom through the clear pool water. Perhaps they were left by previous adventurers. But how did these people die? Zeng Qiang couldn't figure it out, thinking they might have frozen to death in the pool.
After descending dozens of meters, Zeng Qiang spotted a passage below and his face lit up with joy. He didn’t have time to check the situation inside the passage and was eager to report the good news to Shao Liguo and Shao Xiaonan. Thus, he hurriedly turned around to swim back.
However, as Zeng Qiang swam back towards the shore, a massive dark shadow appeared before him.
“Holy crap!” Zeng Qiang was startled. His eyes met the shadow, and his heart nearly leaped out of his chest. Before him was a monster covered in scales, somewhat resembling an ancient salamander. This creature was as large as a small boat, with four legs and a thick, powerful tail. Its face was ferocious, and its ears resembled two large fans.
Bang! Before Zeng Qiang could react, the salamander whipped its tail, striking him hard. An intense pain shot through him as the powerful impact sent him hurtling towards the bottom of the pool. The salamander wouldn’t let him go and quickly swam towards him. Realizing the terror of the creature, Zeng Qiang dared not confront it head-on in the water and hurriedly swam towards the shore.
On the shore, Shao Liguo and Shao Xiaonan also noticed the unusual activity in the pool. The father and daughter quickly leaned over the bank and looked into the water. Seeing a behemoth chasing Zeng Qiang, both were greatly alarmed. Shao Liguo reacted quickly, grabbing a large submachine gun from the shore and firing a burst at the monster in the pool. With Shao Liguo’s support, Zeng Qiang managed to scramble ashore.
However, the bullets hitting the salamander's scales were like hitting steel plates. The salamander quickly caught up to the shore.
“Damn you, you son of a bitch, I’ll kill you!” Zeng Qiang took off his oxygen mask, grabbed the submachine gun, and began firing. Unfortunately, the bullets were useless against the salamander. It opened its bloody maw and lunged at Zeng Qiang with a roar. Zeng Qiang used his agile footwork, darting around and shooting.
“This won’t work. This is an ancient salamander. Its scales are indestructible. Aim for its eyes!” Shao Liguo signaled. Zeng Qiang also thought of this and aimed for the salamander’s eyes. Zeng Qiang’s marksmanship was indeed accurate. He quickly hit the salamander’s eye, which was followed by its pained roar.
“Haha, Xiaonan, isn’t my aim good?” Zeng Qiang couldn't resist showing off. “With me here, you don’t need to fear it!”
Shao Xiaonan, however, pointed fearfully behind Zeng Qiang. “Be, be careful!”
“What?” Zeng Qiang looked back and almost peed himself. A giant python had appeared behind him. This python had three heads and was dozens of meters long. Its thickness was comparable to an oil drum. The python let out a ghastly roar and its tail lashed out, striking Zeng Qiang forcefully. Zeng Qiang was sent flying backwards, crashing heavily against the stone wall. In pain, his face contorted, and he finally realized that Lin Feng was right; there were indeed unknown monsters here.
“Oh no, it’s a three-headed python! Run!” Shao Liguo was terrified and shouted to Shao Xiaonan, urging her to retreat the way they came.
“Wait for me!” Zeng Qiang cursed his bad luck.
“Zeng Qiang, hold it off. Xiaonan and I will run first. You cover our retreat!” Shao Liguo saw that the three-headed python was moving too fast. To escape successfully, someone had to be left behind.
“Cover your ass! Why don’t you cover the retreat!” Zeng Qiang cursed angrily. Even as a master on the Earth Ranking, his skills were no match for the python and the salamander. Thus, Zeng Qiang didn't care about Shao Liguo and Shao Xiaonan’s lives and ran even faster than the father and daughter.
Seeing this, Shao Liguo and Shao Xiaonan were stunned. Especially at this moment, the giant python and the salamander had caught up, blocking the path of the father and daughter.
“Zeng Qiang, you scoundrel!” Shao Xiaonan cursed furiously. Looking at the two monsters before them, her face turned ashen. Shao Liguo hadn't expected Zeng Qiang to abandon them. In his panic, he fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a hand grenade.
“Xiaonan, I’ll hold off these two monsters. You take this chance and run!” Shao Liguo had no other choice. He would rather sacrifice himself than let the woman die here.
“Dad, we shouldn’t have ignored Lin Feng’s advice. If we’re going to die, let’s die together. I can’t leave you!” Shao Xiaonan’s stomach churned with regret, and she grabbed Shao Liguo’s arm tearfully.