The helicopter landed on an open, flat ground.
Yaoyao nimbly hopped down from the aircraft. Gazing at the sparkling lake surface, she took a deep breath of the crisp, fresh air. The scent of deep mountains and vast wilderness made her small face involuntarily take on an expression of blissful contentment. This was an aroma the Imperial Capital lacked.
"You like it here?" Gu Huanzhen descended from the helicopter at that moment. He was clad in field uniform, his broad shoulders and narrow waist clearly outlined, complemented by his rugged, chiseled features.
Standing ramrod straight, he inexplicably exuded a powerful visual presence. This was also why Chen Hui had insisted he come along: protecting his daughter wasn't necessary, but he could at least command some respect.
"Mm-hmm, I like it," Yaoyao nodded obediently.
"Then if you're free in the future, you can come here for a vacation. We have a helicopter at home, so it's convenient to get here." Gu Huanzhen considered the idea; it had feasibility, though it wouldn't be suitable to come in winter or summer, as the environment could be harsh.
Yaoyao, however, didn't think so much. She closed her eyes, extended her spiritual sense outwards, and quickly sensed the familiar auras not far away – it was Uncle Chen and his team. She knew they had arrived earlier than her. She gestured to Sixth Brother, and the two rose to go meet them.
"The Master has arrived. Quiet down, everyone." Chen Qiushi's eyes immediately lit up when he saw the tall and small figures approaching. He sternly reprimanded the team members behind him.
"Hello, Uncle Chen!" Yaoyao greeted everyone with her chubby little hand.
Hearing this, the team members' faces were filled with excitement, and they clamored in a chaotic chorus, "Hello, Master!"
Yaoyao smiled and nodded, then said, "Since everyone's here, let's get started right away."
She unslung the large backpack from her back. The bag was so big it was nearly as tall as she was. After setting it down, she began pulling things out. Gu Huanzhen had initially offered to carry it for his younger sister, but Yaoyao had adamantly refused. Now, seeing her unpack, he watched curiously.
He then saw her retrieve small apricot-yellow flags, each adorned with intricate patterns drawn in cinnabar. At first glance, it gave him the dizzying illusion of vertigo. These were all Formation Flags. Individually, their power was negligible, but combined into a vast formation, they were enough to envelop the entire Heavenly Lake.
The true perilous region of Changbai Mountain had always been the Ghost Realm beneath the lake's waters. As long as that area was controlled, her objective could be achieved. As for why not envelop the entire Changbai Mountain? That was simply impractical; the scope was too vast, even the Human Emperor couldn't achieve that.
"You are to follow the marked locations on the map and bury the Formation Flags in sequence. One flag-bearer per ten li interval. Once they are placed, each of you report your status in the group chat." Yaoyao said, distributing the marked copies of the map to the team members present.
They took the maps and responded in unison, "We guarantee mission completion!"
Then, one by one, they sprang into action. Before long, only three people remained at the original spot. Yaoyao didn't idle either. She took out the core of the magic formation—the Formation Plate—which she needed to bury in the center of the Heavenly Lake.
Hearing this, Chen Qiushi's expression subtly changed. He said with a hint of trepidation, "Master, entering the Heavenly Lake is too dangerous, because… there's an anomalous beast in the lake waters here. Its cultivation level is no lower than Seventh-rank." He seemed to recall something, and his face turned slightly pale, clearly remembering an unpleasant experience.
It turned out that when the satellite first detected an anomaly in the Heavenly Lake, he had received news and personally come to investigate. At that time, he had just stepped into the Sixth-rank and was at the peak of his ambition and vigor, fearing nothing, and intending to capture the anomalous beast.
If not for his team members holding him back, preventing him from entering the water, he would have perished at the hands of that anomalous beast. Although he hadn't seen its full form, the way it had attacked, even now, sent shivers down his spine upon recollection.
Now, hearing that the Master intended to go into the water, he naturally was the first to try and stop her.
"That dangerous? Yaoyao, can't the Formation Plate be placed somewhere else?" Gu Huanzhen's brows furrowed at the news. Humans were naturally not skilled in water; cultivators should be no exception. Under such a significant environmental disadvantage, no matter how confident he was in his sister, he couldn't help but worry.
"No, it can't," Yaoyao shook her head. This formation was called the Hundred Locks Facing the Sun Formation, and its core could only be the lake's center. This was because the area directly above the Ghost Realm was where yang energy was strongest,
and only by placing it there could the formation be complete and without flaws. Otherwise, the Ghost Generals would too easily scent its traces, and the possibility of silent surveillance would be lost.
"Sixth Brother, Uncle Chen, don't worry. Yaoyao won't act rashly. I'll first negotiate with that big monster." Yaoyao wasn't overly nervous.
The moment she disembarked from the plane, her spiritual sense had mysteriously sensed the hidden aura beneath the lake's waters. It must be the anomalous beast Uncle Chen spoke of.
In fact, it wasn't just her; she hadn't concealed her aura, and the moment she stepped onto the Heavenly Lake, that big monster should have also noticed her. So, Yaoyao's talk of negotiation was not a joke.
"This... this... is that really possible?" Chen Qiushi couldn't help but swallow, after all, that thing had nearly sent him to his death last time. Gu Huanzhen also looked doubtful, but his trust in his younger sister prevented him from voicing the question.
"Let's just try!" If it didn't work, she'd just beat it into submission with her fists! Yaoyao didn't voice the latter half of her thought, instead flashing a sweet smile.
The two men present exchanged glances, having mostly guessed her true intention. Gu Huanzhen paused, then said, "Be careful. If it truly doesn't work, don't act impulsively.
Come back, and we'll discuss another approach." Since she wasn't rushing headfirst into the water to fight, the knot of anxiety in his chest largely loosened. To put it bluntly, if even Chen Qiushi could save his own life on the shore, his sister should find it effortless.
Seeing no one obstructing her, Yaoyao didn't delay. She took a small step, and her figure vanished from its spot. In the next blink of an eye, she appeared in the center of the lake. She hovered about ten meters above the water, looking at the abyss-like dark water. Her spiritual sense and her Eighth-rank aura unfolded, completely unmasked.
Then, Yaoyao's beautiful large eyes fixed on the water surface. She had done everything she needed to do; now she just had to wait for the fish to bite.
This wait was agonizing. Of course, not for Yaoyao, but for Chen Qiushi, who had witnessed the anomalous beast's terror. He absolutely did not want anything to happen to the Master.
The Action Team had finally found someone who could command such authority; if anything went wrong, he would be in trouble again. He couldn't quite understand why she had to take such a risk.
Of course, he didn't expect the Master to explain herself. So, bearing this apprehension, he stared unblinkingly at the lake surface, wary of any disturbance.
After an unknown period, as his eyes began to ache from staring, the entire lake surface suddenly reacted. A colossal figure emerged from the water with a resounding crash. Following closely, tentacles covered in suction cups writhed, swiftly coiling towards the tiny figure in the air.
"No!" Chen Qiushi's face instantly blanched. He knew the Master wasn't afraid on land, but these tentacles were too fast. If the Master couldn't react in time and was dragged into the water, then everything would be over. He knew he couldn't defeat it, but at this point, he didn't care about anything else; saving the Master was paramount.
Chen Qiushi lunged forward without thinking, but before he could even take that step, he suddenly froze, his gaze fixed forward in disbelief.
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