novelraw Chapter 24 : The Invincible Lotus Root Man
Chapter 24 : The Invincible Lotus Root Man
Chapter 24: The Invincible Lotus Root Man
At the dried water platform.
Following Yun Yazi’s instructions, Zhang Fan quickly walked to the edge of the platform and searched among the thick moss. Before long, he found a gourd-shaped protrusion.
Grasping it with both hands, he slowly turned it three times to the left, paused for a breath, then rotated it half a turn to the right.
“Click.” A faint mechanical sound, as if coming from deep within the rock, echoed softly.
At the same time, Lin Xiaowan circled to the back of the platform and found a kneeling stone statue almost completely covered in vines, its features blurred.
“This is it.”
She brushed aside the vines and damp leaves, revealing the statue’s slightly open mouth.
Looking closely, there was indeed a pitch-black bead lodged inside, neither metal nor wood.
Lin Xiaowan reached in to pry it out, but the bead was firmly stuck and did not budge.
“Can’t take it out? In that case…”
Without hesitation, she stirred her mind, circulating spiritual power within her Qi Sea.
In the next moment, a pale blue Formless Hand with only a single finger quietly slipped into the statue’s mouth. Its fingertip hooked slightly—the black bead trembled, then was steadily “plucked” out, falling into Lin Xiaowan’s palm.
It felt heavy, carrying a restrained chill.
The moment the black bead left the statue’s mouth, a loud “rumble” sounded, and Lin Xiaowan felt the solid ground beneath her feet begin to tremble!
Immediately after, a gentle force, like rippling water, spread outward from the platform.
Sensing something, Lin Xiaowan suddenly turned back.
A shocking scene unfolded: the dense, eerie white fog that had previously obscured everything rapidly thinned, like morning mist under sunlight, becoming transparent before completely dissipating!
The view opened up instantly.
The mountain path they had come from was clearly visible—where were the broken stone pillars, twisted trees, and bizarre eaves?
As far as the eye could see, it was merely a relatively deep, vegetation-dense mountain ravine.
Scattered within the valley were pale animal bones, and… a few human skeletons.
Their clothes had long since rotted away, leaving only rusted weapons and empty packs, silently telling the fate of those who had once entered.
“This labyrinth formation… is truly formidable!”
Even though Lin Xiaowan had expected something like this, witnessing the transformation between illusion and reality still shook her deeply.
Everything they had just experienced—the strange scenery, the step-by-step peril—had all been illusions created by this ancient formation!
“The labyrinth is broken.” Yun Yazi nodded slightly, his tone calm. “Let’s go. The true ‘inner scene’ lies ahead.”
The three wasted no time. Guided by Yun Yazi, they quickly passed through the now-revealed valley and arrived at the end—a cave hidden behind hanging vines.
Inside was darkness, with faint moisture in the air and an indescribable floral fragrance.
Pushing aside the vines, the cave was initially narrow, but after walking dozens of steps, the scene suddenly opened up—
It felt like entering a forgotten world.
Above, white clouds covered the sky. Light filtered in from an unknown source, soft and hazy.
Everywhere the eye could see was overflowing, almost grotesque vitality!
Countless strange flowers and vines grew wildly, covering every inch of rock walls and ground, even weaving into colorful canopies overhead.
Some flowers were as large as bowls, their colors vividly unnatural. Some emitted intoxicating sweetness, while others exuded faint purple mist.
More unsettling were the “inhabitants” of this place.
A centipede as thick as an adult’s arm and several feet long crawled past them.
“Is that really a centipede?” Lin Xiaowan tilted her head.
Along its sides, where legs should have been, were pairs of pale, slender fingers, assisting its movement—coordinated yet grotesque.
As they continued deeper, Lin Xiaowan saw even more bizarre creatures. Not far away, clusters of blood-red flowers swayed, their cores filled with countless eyes of varying sizes.
“This place has been influenced by the leaking power of the formation over the years—everything has undergone mutation,” Yun Yazi warned. “Conceal your aura. Do not disturb them. Our target lies ahead.”
The three lightened their steps, walking along a barely discernible path covered in thick foliage.
Along the way, Lin Xiaowan observed the strange lifeforms.
Suddenly, a butterfly the size of a palm, with dreamlike blue-violet wings, fluttered toward her gracefully.
Just as Lin Xiaowan felt that this butterfly possessed a beauty out of place in such an environment, Yun Yazi’s voice sounded in her mind: “Careful! Don’t let it touch your skin!”
Her heart tightened. Her spiritual sense instantly focused on the butterfly.
At the base of its wings—where a head should have been—was a fully formed human face, complete with features, even carrying a strange smile!
Its eyes stared at her without blinking!
“Hiss—”
Lin Xiaowan inhaled sharply. Almost instinctively, her killing move erupted!
A pale blue infant-like arm shot out, grabbing the human-faced butterfly midair and crushing it!
“Pfft!” A soft sound rang out as blue-violet powder and unidentifiable fluid splattered. The eerie smiling face twisted and shattered.
“So many butterflies! And other creatures—they’re approaching us!” Zhang Fan exclaimed.
Under the firelight, rustling sounds rapidly intensified from the surrounding plants.
The once seemingly calm mutated garden had suddenly awakened!
“Within a hundred steps ahead, past that crystal cluster forest, lies the lotus platform! Move!” Yun Yazi said.
“Got it!”
Zhang Fan nodded and activated the Fire Pill in his hand!
The crimson pill flared, expanding into a blazing golden ring of fire that spread outward. Wherever it passed, flowers and mutated creatures sizzled and withered, forcibly tearing open a path!
The two didn’t hesitate, rushing forward along the fiery path!
Behind them surged a tide of enraged mutated creatures.
The hundred-step distance was crossed in an instant under pressure.
Breaking through a forest of massive, shimmering crystal clusters, the scene suddenly cleared—and purified.
This was a space entirely different from the grotesque garden.
The ground was perfectly smooth, like a flawless slab of green jade. Upon closer inspection, it was actually composed of countless tightly fitted jade tiles.
“This… was deliberately constructed by someone.”
Lin Xiaowan withdrew her gaze and looked ahead.
At the center stood a circular lotus pool, also made of jade.
The water was clear, emitting a faint milky glow, rich with spiritual energy.
At its center floated a single green lotus.
It stood about a foot tall, crystal-clear. Its leaves resembled jade plates, and its bud had yet to bloom, emitting a gentle radiance like moonlight.
Just one glance brought calm to the mind, dispelling distracting thoughts.
“Is this the Pure Water Lotus?” Zhang Fan’s eyes flickered.
“No… something’s off.” Yun Yazi’s voice followed. “This lotus contains a hidden sharpness within its gentle glow. It is indeed a rare treasure, but not the ‘Pure Water Lotus’ I sensed back then. That lotus thrives in flowing water, not a sealed jade pool. This… may be another spiritual plant.”
As his words fell—
A figure slowly “walked” out from behind the lotus platform.
It was not flesh and blood, but a humanoid form assembled from segments of white lotus root.
Its “head” was a rounded segment, crudely marked to resemble facial features.
The lotus root man moved stiffly, as if controlled by invisible threads, stepping forward to block the lotus.
At the moment it stopped—
Two points of cold light lit up where its eyes should be.
Emotionless, piercing, locking onto the intruders.
Its arm shot up, five slender tips forming a blade, striking toward Zhang Fan!
“Slash—!”
Zhang Fan had been prepared. With a shout, flames surged in his palm!
“Boom!”
The two collided!
A massive force surged through him. His arm went numb as he staggered back three steps, barely holding his ground.
“So hard!”
Shaking his arm, Zhang Fan showed no fear and pressed forward with flames.
Lin Xiaowan initially assisted from the side, attempting sneak attacks.
But the lotus root man’s body was incredibly tough. Even Zhang Fan’s flames left only slight scorch marks.
Worse, it possessed terrifying regeneration—broken sections regrew within moments.
It also seemed to have eyes all over its body. Most of Lin Xiaowan’s attacks were evaded.
The battle reached a stalemate.
After several exchanges, Zhang Fan noticed something odd. “Why is it only targeting me?”
Nearly all of the lotus root man’s attacks were directed at him.
Lin Xiaowan narrowed her eyes. “Could it… favor attacking men?”
Yun Yazi added thoughtfully, “This guardian was left by its creator. It attacks based on certain conditions. You must meet them. Think about the difference between you two…”
At one point, Zhang Fan was forced back by a sweeping attack that also grazed Lin Xiaowan.
She was struck slightly and staggered.
At that moment, the lotus root man locked onto her and thrust forward—
But suddenly, its movement froze.
Its light flickered.
Then it completely ignored her, turning back to Zhang Fan!
Lin Xiaowan’s eyes sharpened.
She didn’t advance again.
As the fight continued, realization dawned.
“Zhang Fan! Don’t step on the jade tiles!” she shouted.
“Then where should I step?!”
“On the gaps!”
Understanding instantly, Zhang Fan balanced himself on the intersections of the tiles.
The lotus root man froze—losing its target.
The truth became clear.
“It detects us through changes in weight on the tiles,” Lin Xiaowan said calmly.
Testing further, she lured it step by step to the edge.
At the right moment—
She triggered its attack, then unleashed her full sneak attack!
Several pale blue arms struck its joints!
“Bang!”
Its leg broke, its body destabilized, and it toppled backward—off the jade platform.
The moment it left the jade—
The light in its eyes vanished.
Its body withered instantly, turning into lifeless fragments.
Silence returned.
“It’s over.”
Lin Xiaowan exhaled softly, looking at the green lotus.
Zhang Fan rushed over, full of awe. “Miss Xu… you’re incredible!”
Yun Yazi nodded. “Sharp mind, bold yet careful. Impressive.”