Path Of The Dragon (A Dark Fantasy Cultivation Wuxia Xianxia Progression Series)

Chapter 90 The Third Plaque

"Now we get that third plaque," Pan Tian said, "my brother's group had to do a tough group fight. But the tests are often different, so be prepared for anything. There should be light down there, but just in case, I have a waterproof lantern for everyone. Just make sure you only use it if you absolutely have to.

"Remember that there are other things in this lake and just because you can't see them doesn't mean they can't see you. Especially if you're holding a light. The pills I gave you will work with this water, so we can breathe it. But don't drink it. It's salty so it'll only make you thirstier. You can drink when we're out of there. Oh, and stay away from the vents unless you want to get cooked."

"Vents?" Jie asked.

"You'll see," Pan Tian said, "just stay away from them. Now, when we go down there it's possible to talk underwater. It can be a little tricky to pull it off at first, but it's possible. I want us to try and avoid it as best we can though. Remember, we're not going to be alone down there. So, follow my lead. Stay close and I want us to keep any talking to an absolute minimum. The plaque is inside the main temple building and I'll lead us to it. Any questions?"

"Do we fight underwater or try and swim away?" Jie asked.

"It'll be up to you, Jie. You're the strongest of us. If you can't handle something, let us know so we can do everything possible to avoid it or escape. Just keep in mind that any enemies down there are likely to be more skilled at fighting and moving underwater than we are.

"So, I think it's wise if we do our best to go unnoticed and avoid unnecessary fights for the most part. Especially since the light from our attacks will be visible for an incredible distance and we don't know what might be lurking in the darkness. Anything else? No? Okay... let's do this. Oh... and try not to throw up," Pan Tian said.

Before Jie could ask what the older girl meant, Pan Tian's claws of light lit up with her resplendent moonlight qi and long silvery white talons grew out from the glass-like claws. The older girl slashed down at the ice, sending arcs of dazzling qi into the ice. Ice and snow sprayed in every direction as she hacked it apart.

The older girl rapidly carved a hole into the ice, and the instant it breached the water it sent a torrent of the most foul-smelling water Jie had ever encountered spraying into the air.

It reeked with the overpowering stench of rotten eggs. Far stronger than the frozen river and lake had been. So intense that not only could Jie taste it, but it had texture too. Like granules of putrefaction that felt as though she could rub them between her fingers like tiny marbles.

Jie gagged but Pan Tian simply dived hooves first into the stinking water. Jie followed Pan Tian almost immediately, even as she forced down a surge of bile before it could spew from her lips. She didn't know what in that lake had her friend so worried, but there was no way Jie was letting her face it alone.

Jie bit back a yelp as she broke through the surface of the ice-cold water. The shock of the freezing water caused her to inhale sharply, drawing the putrid water into her mouth, through her body and out her gills, further adding to the already uncomfortable sensation as she breathed with the unfamiliar organs. The stinking taste of the freezing water didn't help.

She fought against her sharp, shallow, hyperventilating breaths that drew freezing water through her body as Xue and Ithilix dropped into the water behind and beside her.

Pan Tian waved to them and then swam down as Jie and her friends followed, keeping their formation. It felt strange to swim with a tail and webbed fingers and toes, but quickly became something that felt as though she'd done it all her life.

The same was true of breathing through her gills that now surrounded her ribs and the sides of her body even on her abdomen. The water suit's strange design accommodated that of course. Though, she'd expected smaller gills and they made her feel vulnerable as the gills were often a weak point in sharks. At least that's what the nature documentaries she'd watched said.