Inside the pitch-black cave, the damp air carried a faintly sweet metallic tang, tightening Lin Tian's nerves ever so slightly.He could clearly sense that the sound of the dark river was not merely the simple murmur of flowing water—it was laced with a deep, rhythmic vibration, as if beneath the surface lurked the heartbeat of some massive creature.
Zidian coiled at the riverbank, its injuries still severe, yet the cold gleam in its eyes remained soul-piercing. Its tail swayed slowly, leaving thin scratches in the wet stone floor.
"The undercurrent here… is not simple," Lin Tian murmured, his voice barely audible.
Zidian gave a cold snort.
"Not simple? Do you think the Zhao Clan would send an innate-level expert over an ordinary pool?"
Its forked tongue flicked, making the moisture in the air quiver faintly.
"I can feel it—there's a strange pulse hidden beneath this water, older than any spirit vein I have ever known."
Lin Tian frowned.
"You mean… there could be a spiritual treasure buried here?"
Zidian didn't answer immediately. Instead, it slowly lifted its head, and in its jade-green vertical pupils shimmered a faint light from the river's depths. It was not the moonlight's reflection, but a subtle silver radiance, blinking in and out as if luring prey closer.
Just as Lin Tian focused his senses, a sudden splash broke the air. In the instant water sprayed upward, a long, thin shadow shot from the river like lightning, lunging straight for him.
Lin Tian twisted aside, toes barely brushing the ground, narrowly evading the strike. The shadow landed, revealing a twisted, feral visage—its body was pitch-black, scales hard as iron, and inlaid into its forehead was a milky-white pearl whose glow made its eyes seem even colder.
"A Cold-Scale River Otter!" Zidian's voice carried a rare note of surprise. "These things went extinct over a hundred years ago."
Lin Tian narrowed his eyes, tightening his grip on the short spiritwood sword.
"That pearl… is its spirit core?"
Zidian's tail lashed, scattering chips of stone.
"Correct. It's the crystallized core of its spirit power, saturated with potent water-element energy. If you absorb it, not only could it refine your spiritual root, you might directly step into the Condensed Thought Realm."
Lin Tian's heart pounded, but he knew such heavenly fortune would never fall into his hands without a fight.
The Cold-Scale River Otter's eyes glinted with a disturbingly human malice. In the next instant, its tail slapped the ground hard—water mist exploded outward, completely shrouding their vision.
"Careful, Lin Tian! In the water, it's almost invincible!" Zidian growled.
Lin Tian did not panic. Instead, he closed his eyes—if he couldn't see, then he simply wouldn't rely on sight. He heightened his every sense, tracking each breath of air, each trembling droplet. Through the mist, a murderous intent surged from his flank.
"Found you!"
With a low shout, Lin Tian sprang like an arrow loosed from the bow, his short sword whistling as it pierced toward the source of the killing intent.
Clang!The strike met unyielding resistance—the blade was knocked aside, and the river otter countered instantly, claws arcing straight for Lin Tian's throat.
At the last heartbeat, Zidian lunged forward, its massive tail sweeping through the air like a hammer, sending the beast rolling across the stone.
"Don't waste the chance!" Zidian roared.
Lin Tian inhaled sharply, spiritual power surging into his legs. He kicked off the wall, rebounding downward—the short sword flashed like a streak of light, plunging cleanly into the creature's throat.
A piercing shriek split the cave as the Cold-Scale River Otter convulsed violently. The pearl on its forehead flared with blinding light, as though an endless ocean surged within it.
Lin Tian reached out, but the instant his fingers brushed the pearl, it shuddered violently—then dissolved into a streak of silver light that shot straight into his chest.
"Damn it!" Zidian's pupils contracted sharply. "That pearl has a spirit! It's merging with you!"
A torrent of raw, surging energy exploded within Lin Tian's chest, tearing through his meridians. His vision swam; in his ears echoed the sounds of water, heartbeats, and an ancient whisper—
"…My name… is Hanyuan…"
The next moment, his balance gave way completely, and he collapsed heavily onto the cave's wet stone floor.