An Guoqing spent seventeen years preparing for that 250-meter deep-sea dive, using his vast wealth to acquire the world's top high-tech equipment. However, no matter how ingenious the design of the diving suit, it is impossible to dive to a depth of more than 700 meters unless it is a submarine.
Needless to say, the underground environment already limits this operation, so it's impossible for a submarine to get here.
Seeing that everyone was staring blankly into space, Zhou Xuan smiled and said, "I can help you dive to that depth."
Zhou Xuan's words truly were astonishing; they left everyone speechless once again.
They already couldn't believe that Zhou Xuan could dive to such an impossible depth, so it was unbelievable that he could also make them dive to that depth.
Of course, there were two people who believed it: Wei Xiaoyu and Fu Ying. They knew Zhou Xuan's abilities, and they could easily imagine how shocked they would be if they knew that this vast, empty space they were in was created by Zhou Xuan.
Zhou Xuan smiled and said, "Everyone, please prepare yourselves well. I have practiced a kind of internal martial art, a secret of Wudang. This internal martial art can improve your physical condition and help you withstand greater underwater pressure. However, I can't explain the exact reason to you right now. Also, when you are underwater, try to hold your breath and breathe slowly to conserve the air in your tanks. This way, you can stay underwater for a longer time."
Looking at Zhou Xuan's expression, An Guoqing and the other four didn't seem to be joking. An Guoqing, in particular, was itching to try it when he heard Zhou Xuan mention that the underground cave might contain the Nine Star Pearl. However, when he heard that they had to dive to a depth of 700 meters, his heart sank. When Zhou Xuan said he could help them dive to a depth of 700 meters, he was overjoyed but also skeptical.
"Can it really help us dive to a depth of 700 meters?"
An Guoqing asked with a mixture of disbelief, surprise, and delight. Although he was half-believing, half-doubting, he was like a drowning person grasping at a straw.
"It should be possible," Zhou Xuan replied. Seeing their somewhat skeptical expressions, he smiled and added, "How about this, I'll have Xiaoyu and Yingying come with me first. After we succeed, I'll come back to pick you up before we go over. How about that?"
This time, An Guoqing, along with Roger, Zhang Yage, Wolf, and Daniel, all shook their heads and refused.
"No, no, no, let's go together. We'll go together if we have to."
"I also agree to go together. This place is very eerie, and it'll be good to look out for each other if we stay together."
Everyone chimed in with their own opinions. People are all selfish, and if Zhou Xuan, Wei Xiaoyu, and Fu Ying were to disappear without a trace, they would all be dumbfounded.
An Guoqing, in particular, was very wary of Zhou Xuan. Now, if they were to cross the 700-meter-deep water, they would have to rely on Zhou Xuan. Although he didn't know if what Zhou Xuan said was true or not, judging from his expression towards the two girls, it should be true. Otherwise, how could he dare to let the two girls go down with him?
Zhou Xuan knew this perfectly well, but within his capabilities, and without harming his own interests or posing any danger, he wouldn't just leave these people there to die.
However, Zhou Xuan thought for a moment and then said, "There's one more thing I need to make clear to you. I can't guarantee that we'll be able to find a way out once we get there. It might just be another dead end. So I need to make it clear to you that once we get there, our gas cylinders will probably be almost depleted, and it will be difficult to get back to this place. So you all need to think it over carefully. If you're willing to go, then come with me. If we can't get out once we get there, don't blame me."
Except for An Guoqing, everyone fell silent. Zhou Xuan's words struck a nerve with them. It was true; if that place was also a dead end, there would be no way to return. Although this place was also a dead end, it was closer to the surface than where Zhou Xuan had gone. That place was 700 meters deeper than here—the thought was terrifying.
However, An Guoqing didn't even consider it and simply said, "I'll go."
His purpose in coming here was for the Nine-Star Pearl. Wherever the Nine-Star Pearl appeared, no matter how dangerous or difficult, he would go. If escape was impossible, but he could see what the Nine-Star Pearl looked like, then even death would be worthwhile. Moreover, An Guoqing harbored a secret that no one else could imagine, a crucial secret concerning his life and death.
The employer is going with them, so what use are the other four if they stay behind? There's no point in staying here. If they leave Zhou Xuan, they're stuck in a rut, unable to move up or down the ladder. They might as well go with him. Their hesitation is actually because of what Zhou Xuan just said.
"Alright, we'll all go. It's a lose-lose situation anyway, so we might as well take the risk."
"Alright, everyone put on your diving suits and get ready to go," Zhou Xuan said, then added, "Everyone, do as I say. Try to hold your breath as much as possible, and only use the air tanks when you absolutely can't hold it anymore. This will allow the air tanks to last longer."
After Zhou Xuan finished speaking, he helped Wei Xiaoyu and Fu Ying put on their diving equipment. The two of them had much more air left in their tanks than An Guoqing and his group of five. They could use it for at least three and a half to four hours. This was entirely thanks to Zhou Xuan's secret assistance. Zhou Xuan's own tank had an even more impressive amount of air left, with only about 10% of it used. However, An Guoqing and his group did not notice this or check the other people's tanks.
After checking and preparing, Zhou Xuan made a gesture and led Wei Xiaoyu and Fu Ying into the water first. Then, An Guoqing and the others jumped into the water one after another, closely following Zhou Xuan.
At this time, it's best to get as close to Zhou Xuan as possible, because what Zhou Xuan said seems a bit mystical and unreliable. Without any contact, how can he help the other seven people resist the enormous pressure in the deep water at the same time?
Unable to understand, the only thing to do was to stick close to Zhou Xuan; the closer one was to him, the safer one might be.
Because there were too many people, and he had to take care of seven people at once, Zhou Xuan stretched out his left hand and took Wei Xiaoyu's arm, and Wei Xiaoyu then took Fu Ying's arm.
To ensure a safe passage, Zhou Xuan immediately activated his supernatural power within Wei Xiaoyu and Fu Ying's bodies. Wei Xiaoyu and Fu Ying felt a warm and comfortable sensation in their bodies. They had experienced this feeling before, but now they realized that Zhou Xuan must have been secretly helping them. Otherwise, how could they have reached a depth of 300 meters when they were above?
When they reached a depth of over 100 meters, Zhou Xuan used his special ability to increase the weight of the seven people, which accelerated the descent. When they reached nearly 300 meters, he slowed down, because he needed to be careful at this depth to avoid not being able to reach the bottom and not having enough time to react if something went wrong.
Out of concern, An Guoqing and the other four simply linked arms like Wei Xiaoyu and Fu Ying, and stood close to Zhou Xuan. An Guoqing wondered how Zhou Xuan managed to reduce the pressure on all five of them, since Zhou Xuan was at least half a meter away from them and didn't seem to be pointing his hand at them.
When they reached 300 meters, An Guoqing and the other four people carefully watched the depth gauge and secretly checked their bodies. Strangely enough, their bodies felt like they were soaking in warm water, and they felt completely comfortable without any discomfort.
Previously, at a depth of 300 meters, my heart felt like it was about to jump out of my chest; the immense atmospheric pressure of the deep water felt like a mountain pressing down on me. But now, I don't feel that pressure at all.
The Wolf brothers suddenly understood. Earlier, at the waterfall, when they reached a depth of about 200 meters, they felt they had reached their limit and wouldn't be able to cross it. But then they easily made it through. They had always thought it was the diving suits, but now they realized that Zhou Xuan must have secretly helped them then, because he could now help in a way that no one could even tell.
Watching the numbers on the depth gauge rise little by little, 350 meters, 400 meters, 500 meters, 600 meters...
Everyone was both excited and surprised, but they were all too nervous to say a word. When they reached 700 meters, Zhou Xuan asked, "Are you feeling any discomfort?"
"No"
"No, I don't feel uncomfortable at all."
...
Zhou Xuan hummed in agreement, then added, "Everyone, pay attention and try to move as fast as you can; we're about to enter the cave."
Then Wei Xiaoyu and Fu Ying swam to the front, and under the bright lights of the crowd, they indeed saw the underwater cave entrance a few meters ahead.
Then, glancing at the dive watch on his wrist, the digital display showed "717" meters.
It seems they have indeed reached a depth of 700 meters, a number that no one could believe.
An Guoqing was incredibly surprised. Although Zhou Xuan had made this clear earlier, arriving here brought a completely different feeling. Zhou Xuan seemed far more than he appeared, and he seemed to harbor countless secrets. This astonished An Guoqing even more, as even with his own astonishing martial arts skills, he couldn't possibly have done what Zhou Xuan was capable of.
The entrance to the cave was wide enough to accommodate four or five people swimming in at the same time. Zhou Xuan, Fu Ying, and Wei Xiaoyu went in first, followed closely by An Guoqing and the other five, with a distance of less than one meter between them.
Because the water flowed forward, Zhou Xuan led the group forward at a considerable pace. Although they were in water over 700 meters deep, going downstream made things much easier, as the current was not strong and posed no danger to them.
This time it took ten minutes, less than the time it took to dive. When they reached the fork in the road, Zhou Xuan said, "Everyone, pay attention, we've reached the fork in the road. Do not go down into the cave. I'll go up first, and then you can follow me one by one."
Zhou Xuan poured the energy of the sun's flames into their respective bodies, and then they passed through the energy ring at the cave entrance.
Actually, Zhou Xuan didn't need to explain; the other seven people could see that a dazzling light shone down from the cave entrance above, illuminating the surrounding waters brightly, far brighter than their underwater lights.