Chapter 227 Chapter226-The Lonely Mountain (2nd update, Cheer me with Power Stones!)
Beyond a stretch of sparsely vegetated hills, the faint sound of flowing water could be heard in the distance.
John and his companions looked up to see a solitary mountain looming silently ahead.
The barely audible murmur of water seemed to emanate from that very peak.
Adam and Blue Sea felt a jolt of excitement.
On their journey, they had specifically consulted the Godslayer Continent map, acquired from Treasure Thief Rat, to pinpoint the location of the Thousand Streams Cave, which was situated near a mountain.
After their long trek, they were finally nearing their destination.
As they proceeded, the sound of flowing water became more pronounced.
Adam, looking at the solitary dark mountain, curiously remarked, "It's odd. Typically, mountain peaks extend from larger ranges, stretching endlessly. Why is there such an isolated mountain here?"
John chuckled lightly, explaining, "That's because we're at the northernmost edge of the Godslayer route, close to the world's boundary. Here, anything can happen; any scene might manifest."
Snow began to blanket their path.
The further north they went, the colder it got.
The snowflakes drifting from the sky were almost the size of fists.
A muted grey enveloped the world.
They had donned their specially prepared fur coats, wrapping themselves tightly.
Yet, the biting wind managed to sneak past their collars, stealing the last remnants of warmth from their bodies.
Fortunately, the trio was powerful enough, with a high resistance to the cold, allowing them to progress at a steady pace.
"The snow's falling so heavily, it's hard to discern the path," Adam shouted, his voice raised to be heard over the swirling blizzard.
With a hint of confusion, he asked, "In such an extreme cold environment, shouldn't the sound of flowing water be unlikely? Shouldn't all that water be frozen?"
John couldn't provide a reasonable explanation to Adam's question right away.
The three continued to trudge through the snow, and as they ventured further north, the snow's depth increased.
Eventually, even their mounts struggled, sinking deeply with every step.
Resigned to the circumstances, John and Blue Sea had to dismiss their mounts and proceed on foot.
Adam, however, didn't face the same dilemma.
The unicorn he rode, a magical creature by nature, glided effortlessly above the snow, leaving no trace behind.
Yet, seeing his companions on foot, he felt it only proper to dismiss his unicorn and join them.
It's said that mountains can be deceiving to the eye, making them appear closer than they truly are.
What seemed to be within arm's reach took the trio almost an hour to approach.
Finally, they stood at the base of the mountain.
Looking up, they were immediately struck by the wonder of the place.
There were streams of water that seemed to defy freezing, flowing gently down the mountain's face.
In areas with a significant drop, these streams transformed into roaring waterfalls, their cascades splashing against the rocks below, creating a spray of droplets.
Such scenes were not uncommon on this mountain, adding to its mystique.
From just the direction in which John and the others were gazing, they could see the spectacle of dozens of waterfalls cascading down simultaneously. It was evident that from other angles, similar scenes would unfold.
John arched an eyebrow in realization. "So, this is why it's called the Thousand Streams Cave," he mused. The "thousand streams" alluded to these very live waters...
"It's truly an unimaginable marvel," Adam exclaimed, awestruck. "In such bitter cold, there are still streams formed by lively waters..."
Blue Sea smiled faintly, adding, "It's more than just streams. With such a vast expanse and power, they could almost be called rivers..."
The trio tightened the thick cloaks around them, pressing on against the wind and snow.
Strangely, once they set foot within the mountain's domain, the blizzards that had raged around them disappeared.
The mountain seemed like its own microcosm, with a pleasant climate and flourishing vegetation, belying its far-northern location.
[System Prompt: You have entered Thousand Streams Cave (This area is highly dangerous; proceed with caution).]
The timely system notification rang in their ears.
Adam looked around, bewildered.
Beyond the surging torrents of water, no entrance or exit was in sight.
"Hold on, if the system indicates we've arrived at Thousand Streams Cave, why can't we find an entrance?" he pondered.
Rubbing his chin thoughtfully, Blue Sea speculated, "Could this entire mountain be the boundary of the Thousand Streams Cave?"
John nodded gently, "It seems so. But where we currently stand is likely just the periphery of the Thousand Streams Cave's mystical terrain. It's not where our quest needs us to be..."
"Neither the Water Orchid you seek nor the mysterious power the mercenary quest mentions are here..."
John's gaze swept the surroundings, searching meticulously.
The flora around was typical of the Godslayer Continent with no trace of magical essence.
It differed entirely from the magical ambience described for the Thousand Streams Cave in the quest.
Either they hadn't found the right spot, or the true entrance to the Thousand Streams Cave was concealed somewhere within the mountain.
John closed his eyes, letting his divine power radiate outward.
Suddenly, he snapped his gaze to the nearest waterfall.
His eyes, intense and piercing, seemed to want to look past the tumultuous flow, deep into the heart of the cascade.
A warm smile tugged at the corners of John's lips.
"I know where the entrance is..."
Both Blue Sea and Adam turned to look at John.
Without hesitation, he strode forward until he stood right before the waterfall.
With a playful smile to Blue Sea and Adam, he said in a nonchalant manner, "Please, follow me."
With that, John leaped forward, his form shooting through the air like a released arrow, diving straight into the fierce current of the waterfall.
Blue Sea and Adam were initially taken aback by John's abrupt move, but understanding dawned upon them soon after.
The two exchanged knowing smiles and, without hesitation, followed John's lead, jumping into the torrent of the waterfall.
Beyond the waterfall was a vast cavern.
The cascading sheet of water concealed its entrance flawlessly.
As Adam and Blue Sea soared into the cave, they found John standing with his back to them, hands clasped behind him.
Directly in front of John was a gently rotating circle of light.
Evidently, this was the genuine entrance to the Thousand Streams Cave.
"Now that we've found the real entrance, let's not waste any more time," Adam said, stepping up next to John. Side by side, he prepared to step into the glowing portal.
Yet John swiftly reached out to halt Adam's advance, "Wait a moment. Something feels off."
Adam paused, looking at John with confusion, "What do you mean? Everything seems fine to me."
John glanced sidelong at him, remarking coolly, "Does it really? Hasn't our journey been a bit... too quiet?"
It suddenly dawned on both Adam and Blue Sea.
From the moment they'd entered this mountain, the trio hadn't encountered a single creature.
This was a gaming world where monsters, meant for players to gain experience, were in abundance.
It was unlikely to journey this far without spotting even one, especially in such a scenic setting.
The serene beauty outside resembled a terrestrial paradise; how could there be no creatures stirring?
Blue Sea stepped forward, furrowing his brow, "Brother Galewind, are you suggesting this entrance might be a deception?"
John slowly shook his head, "The entrance is real; the spatial ORDER above would not deceive us. But as to where it leads, we cannot be certain."
Adam chimed in nonchalantly, "Where else? Obviously, it's the Thousand Streams Cave."
John offered a slight smile, revealing his white teeth, "Of course, I know it leads to the Thousand Streams Cave. My concern is entering without precautions. What if it's a trap?"
Adam stared in disbelief, "That can't be. How would the creatures inside even know we're coming?"
John patiently explained, "Regular monsters wouldn't have that intelligence. But remember the high-level quest from the Mercenary Hall?"
"It hinted at a vast and malevolent force within the Thousand Streams Cave."
"If the Mercenary Guild acknowledges a force as both vast and malevolent," John continued, "its bearer is no fool."
The reason for John's caution was an unexpected discovery: his usually infallible divine power couldn't penetrate the cavern's entrance to reveal what lay beyond.
This puzzled him immensely. John's divine power was at a staggeringly high level, surpassing even traditional deities.
There were few in the world who could challenge him in a direct contest of divine strength.
What force could possibly block his divine perception?
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