Chapter 169: Hunting for the Forest Spirit Seed Part 8
As they were already starting to get familiar with the northern part of the Slumbering Forest, it didn't take long for Kayn's group to finally find the location of the river.
The river wasn't very wide, but it also wasn't something they can just cross easily because of how strong the current was.
Although the river was inside the forest, it was surrounded by a wide expanse of empty land, thus slightly separating it from the forest.
Looking closely at the river bank, they confirmed one of the signs of the Forest Spirit Seed being nearby — grass growing on rocks.
Normally vegetation doesn't grow very well in areas covered in pebbles. Not to mention, plants don't grow on rocks.
The only explanation as to why that is possible is that a Forest Spirit Seed caused the anomaly.
The discovery of this clue instantly raises the morale of Kayn's group.
"Now we are finally no longer searching around blindly," Gilbert sighs in relief.
"These traces seems to be not from long ago, probably two days or so," Jude informs everyone after briefly investigating the traces. "From here to the north, the traces seem to range from two days and so on. However, going to the south, the traces slowly becomes fresh,"
"Can a Forest Spirit Seed move?" Gilbert can't help feeling curious. According to what they talked about yesterday, the Forest Spirit Seed is just similar to the other three items that they've found so far. So, how exactly is it leaving traces as if it was moving from one place to the other?
Jude turns his head in the south direction before starting to explain. "My guess is these pebbles came from the south. Because the water is flowing north, and these are light objects, it is possible that the water carried them to this location,"
"Fair enough,"
"Let's follow where the traces lead us. As soon as these traces stop, that should be where the Forest Spirit Seed is located," Kayn interrupted.
"Most likely," Jude agrees. "Hopefully the Forest Spirit Seed is still a seed when we find it,"
Considering that the Forest Spirit Seed is now affecting the objects nearby it, it can only mean that it started its maturing phase a long time ago.
"Hopefully," Kayn can only wish that they would be lucky enough to find a not fully matured Forest Spirit Seed yet. Otherwise, all their efforts would be for nothing because a mature Forest Spirit Seed means their energy is now being injected into the ground in order to enrich the surrounding area.
…..
As they followed the traces of the clues, they started seeing fresher and fresher plants growing on top of pebbles.
"This one was less than a day. This means that we are close," Jude hastened his footsteps.
Seeing Jude in a rush, Kayn and the others also increased their speed to catch up.
After ten minutes or so, Jude suddenly came to a halt.
"This is strange…"
"Why?" Kayn wonders.
"The traces stops here," Jude crouched down. He looks around and still, he sees no signs of any evidence of an area where a Forest Spirit Seed is maturing. "If the traces stops here, then there should be a wide area where the trees are bright green, the river crystal clear, and pebbles as smooth and white as quartz,"
"The only reason why it is no longer here can only be because someone already found it," Jude concluded.
"Even if that's the case, an area that you mentioned just now should still be present," Kayn dismiss the possibility. Even if one cancels the maturing phase of the Forest Spirit Seed, its effect would still be around and it won't just disappear.
"Perhaps they removed all evidence of its existence,"
"Then there should be an area that's completely out of place somewhere nearby us," Kayn looks at Gilbert and Charles. "You two, look for a place that fits either of the two descriptions,"
Instead of just standing here talking, it is much better to search for more clues.
"Okay," Gilbert and Charles acknowledge before starting their search.
As the two were searching, Kayn and Jude continued with discussing all the possibilities.
"Is there a possibility that the pebbles came from somewhere else instead?" Kayn suggested.
"Are you saying that someone threw it here in order to mislead us?"
"Not likely," Kayn walks closer to the river. "Like for example, what if there's a cave underneath us right now,"
"Supposed there is," Jude came beside Kayn. "How can it spit out those pebbles?"
"It could if it is an underwater cave just like when we were at Springwater Canyon?"
"That's impossible. A river on top and an underwater cave underneath would simply cause the soil in between them to collapse after some time,"
"It won't, because the soil in between them is a mixture of rocks and dirt. And on top of that, these river is very shallow, so it's not enough to affect the ground underneath,"
"In that case," Waving his hand, Jude conjured a huge flaming ball above his hand. "There's only one way to find out!"
Whoosh!
Boom!
Sizzzleeee!
Whiiishh!
As the flaming ball crashed onto the river, the water exploded everywhere making the water rain nearby for a brief moment.
And with the heat of the flaming ball, a sizzling noise created by water hitting on hot rock continuously sounded.
At the location where the flaming ball crashed, a fountain spewing water on the river could be seen, and down below it was a hole leading to what Kayn had claimed to be an underwater cave.
"What happened?!"
"We immediately came after hearing that explosion,"
"What the heck is that?!"
"Oh my goodness!"
Gilbert and Charles immediately shut their mouths upon seeing the shocking sight of a hole underneath the river.
"How did you know?" Jude stares at Kayn with a look of surprise.
"I was honestly just guessing," In truth, Kayn already suspected that there is an underwater cave when the traces of the pebbles stopped at a dead end.
The pebbles they've seen so far were very tiny, which is a perfect size to pass through possibly tiny holes that connect the river to the underground cave. And considering that the river has a strong current, it explains why it can pull out pebbles, which are light objects, from the underground cave.
"If someone tells me you are a scholar, I would for sure be the first one to agree to that,"
"I was just lucky, that's all,"
"As if," Jude rolled his eyes, not taking Kayn's words seriously.
Even Gilbert and Charles also don't believe Kayn's explanation. But they simply let it pass as they are already used to it.
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