Chapter 548: Chapter 548 Power Below Trouble Above
Before I could utter a word, Ximena Santos snapped coldly, "Get out!"
I shrugged, completely unfazed.
I’d come here for the lake water anyway.
Since they wouldn’t believe me, I might as well check it out myself.
I stood up and walked out of the office.
A voice drifted after me, "So that guy was a phony. I actually believed he was Mason Raymond."
"He looked so sketchy, definitely no good."
I couldn’t help but grin wryly. I never thought my reputation had grown so big that people would start pretending to be me.
Still, this was actually good news.
It showed that my influence reached way beyond what I’d imagined.
I found myself back at the lake, sensing the faint Qi drifting from it.
For me, the most crucial thing right now was to boost my cultivation fast and break into the Military Marquis Realm.
"Once I reach the Military Marquis Realm, I’ll march straight to the Capital City Martial Arts Association and settle this myself." I made this firm promise.
Then I walked along the lake until I reached that opening.
All the lake water poured in through this crack.
Looking through the gap, I spotted a small stream.
I stood beside the stream, crouched down, cupped some water and took a sip.
Sure enough, the Qi was several times more potent.
As I traced the stream’s path, I quickly noticed something weird.
The stream formed a circle and eventually flowed back to the lake.
This meant it was trapped water!
"Odd." My frown deepened.
Standing at the lake’s edge, I muttered, "Could the answer be beneath this water?"
With that thought, I dove into the lake.
As I descended, I was shocked to discover the pressure below was much more intense and the Qi significantly thicker!
This lake ran much deeper than I’d thought. After plunging dozens of meters down, I finally hit the bottom!
It was completely black down here. I activated the water evasion technique from the secret arts and summoned spiritual fire for light.
Soon, I spotted something unusual!
There was a massive crack in the ground under the water!
All the Qi was streaming from this fissure!
I rushed over, and when I tried to pry the gap open, I discovered it was incredibly solid!
I immediately channeled my Inner Strength, made a fist and struck!
Unfortunately, the crack’s toughness far surpassed my expectations, and I couldn’t move it even slightly!
"What tough stone!" I couldn’t mask my shock.
I sat cross-legged underwater, soaking in the surging Qi.
The gap pulsed in size and the rushing Qi shifted in intensity.
My eyes lit up with thrill!
"This is a natural Qi formation of heaven and earth!" I was absolutely thrilled!
This meant this Qi was in its purest state, a leftover from when the world remained untouched!
Unlike medicinal herbs, even thousand-year-old ones were just Qi containers at best.
But this Qi, completely pure, without any contamination, was identical to the Qi from when the world stayed pristine!
"In this setting, there’s actually a remnant of a Qi crack!" Excitement blazed in my eyes.
What could be beneath this gap? Maybe a realm where the Qi hadn’t faded yet? Beyond belief!
"With this kind of gap, the qi energy is limitless!" I thought to myself.
I wasted no time and sat down cross-legged immediately, beginning to absorb the qi underwater.
Since I was positioned near the gap, the qi energy that burst out was instantly drawn in by me!
——
Above, nobody at Chilton Tower realized that Mason Raymond was beneath the water.
When evening came, many regular folks from Green City showed up at the lake.
They carried buckets, drawing water from the lake.
At this moment, Ximena Santos arrived at the lake with an imposter.
"What’s happening here?" the fake frowned.
Ximena Santos grinned and said, "Mr. Raymond, you wouldn’t know, but the water here has special properties. Half the people in Green City come here to collect drinking water."
The imposter looked confused, "Special? What kind of special?"
"It heals sickness and drives away the cold." Ximena Santos beamed.
"Miss Santos." As they talked, people gathering water came up one by one to greet Ximena Santos.
Ximena Santos smiled warmly and acknowledged each person.
The fake didn’t ask more questions. He gazed at Ximena Santos and said with a smirk, "Patriarch Santos, you mentioned all conditions were valid, correct?"
At this topic, Ximena Santos’s cheeks flushed red.
She pressed her lips together and said, "Of course it’s valid. As long as Chilton Tower stays safe, I can agree to anything."
The imposter lit up with joy and rushed to say, "Patriarch Santos, it’s getting dark now. Why don’t we get some rest?"
"This soon?" Ximena Santos felt slightly uncomfortable.
The fake smiled and said, "Aren’t you exhausted? Let’s go."
With that, the imposter attempted to drag Ximena Santos along.
Ximena Santos felt some reluctance, but for Chilton Tower’s sake, she could only clench her teeth and follow the fake.
"Patriarch Santos, this is bad!"
Right then, several people came running over.
Ximena Santos scowled and said, "What’s wrong? Why the panic?"
"Bodhi... Bodhi Gordon is approaching!"
Just hearing Bodhi Gordon’s name made Ximena Santos’s expression darken.
For days, Bodhi Gordon had been targeting Chilton Tower, attempting to force Ximena Santos to surrender it repeatedly.
Bodhi Gordon was the local bully with immense power, and most critically, he had the Great Saint Sect backing him!
As a woman, Ximena Santos couldn’t compete with Bodhi Gordon.
She’d sought help from many people, but when they heard Bodhi Gordon’s name, they all declined.
In desperation, Ximena Santos had thought of Mason Raymond!
In her mind, perhaps only Mason Raymond wouldn’t fear the Great Saint Sect behind Bodhi Gordon!
"Don’t panic. We have Mr. Raymond here. This Bodhi Gordon is as good as finished!" someone nearby declared.
Ximena Santos instinctively glanced at the imposter and whispered, "Mr. Raymond, I’m relying on you."
The fake’s expression darkened and he cursed silently, "Damn, wasn’t he supposed to show up tomorrow? Why did he arrive so early!"
Though he thought this, the situation had become critical. The imposter could only probe cautiously, "What level of cultivation does this Bodhi Gordon possess?"
Ximena Santos bit her lip and whispered, "He’s a half-step Martial Marquis, formerly of the Great Saint Sect."
Just hearing ’half-step Martial Marquis’ made the imposter’s face go completely pale!
"This half-step Martial Marquis is nothing! He’s not worth mentioning before Mr. Raymond!" the man beside them shouted.
After saying this, he looked at the imposter and grinned, "Mr. Raymond, you agree, don’t you?"
The imposter kept swearing internally, his mind racing to find an escape route.
"This half-step Martial Marquis is nothing? Who’s spouting such nonsense?" Just then, Bodhi Gordon’s voice echoed from nearby.
