Chapter 158: Escape to Safety

Shen Ke fell asleep.

After experiencing extreme tension, being wrapped in two sets of clothes by Lin Jian, and lying in his arms, she had actually fallen asleep.

Lin Jian remained motionless. It was almost dawn outside. Not only had the two of them not eaten, but they had also been exhausted from the night’s ordeal, leaving Shen Ke completely drained.

Fortunately, he was full of energy. Moreover, just a moment ago, he had found the exit.

The exit was over eight hundred meters away, and there was no place to catch a breath along the entire route. In other words, to get out, one had to swim underwater for eight hundred meters.

It was important to note that this was neither a competitive swimming pool nor a racing lane. Trenches crisscrossed this area, and the water was freezing. The currents were rapid in some places and sluggish in others. Furthermore, there were many hidden reefs underwater; a single moment of carelessness could result in smashing against the rocks. Therefore, not just anyone could swim through this eight-hundred-meter waterway.

However, if it were an Ancient Martial Cultivator, holding their breath for an extended period should be feasible. But anyone who wasn’t an Ancient Martial Cultivator would absolutely fail to make it out.

Shen Ke slept very sweetly, occasionally nuzzling deeper into his arms.

Since Lin Jian had nothing else to do, he picked up the Golden Volume to browse through it. He had his Thought, so he could see the text on it even without light.

The Golden Volume only had eight lines of text, because there were only eight golden leaves. On the first Ye Zi, a few characters were written: Seven Stars Foundation Building Technique.

"Hmm, Seven Stars Foundation Building Technique?"

Curious, Lin Jian continued reading the second line.

On the second piece, it was written: First Star, Baihui Qi Storage (Guide Qi into Baihui, a hundred times a day).

Third piece, Second Star: Shentang Qi Storage (Guide Qi into Shentang, a hundred times a day).

Third Star: Chest Qi Storage (Guide Shentang Qi downwards into the chest, a hundred times a day).

Fourth Star: Jiuwei Qi Storage (Guide downwards from the chest, a hundred times a day).

Fifth Star: Shen Que Hidden Qi (Guide downwards from Jiuwei, a hundred times a day).

Sixth Star: Guan Yuan Hidden Qi (Guide downwards from Shen Que, a hundred times a day).

Seventh Star: Qi Sea Qi Storage (Cycle the Qi through the above seven acupoints into the Qi Sea, then disperse it from the Qi Sea back into the seven acupoints. Repeat this process; in ten years, the Seven-Star Keystone can be established, and the divine skill will be perfected!)

Lin Jian was completely dumbfounded after reading this. Was this the legendary Martial Arts Manual?

You’ve got to be kidding me! Could anyone actually master a peerless martial art with this kind of Martial Arts Manual? This was way... way too sloppy, wasn’t it? He felt that this Golden Volume was a bit of a scam. Only foolish people from ancient times would believe such nonsense, right?

"Besides, it doesn’t even say how to guide the Qi. I don’t even know how to guide it, yet you want me to direct it into this sea and that acupoint..." Lin Jian was speechless. This Golden Volume was clearly a Martial Arts Manual meant for someone who had already grasped the basics. For a layman like him, this kind of manual was a bit too difficult. It was like a primary school student trying to read high school mathematics. It was far too difficult.

"Hmm, I’d better try my Mind Control instead!"

Taking a deep breath, Lin Jian focused his Thought, attempting to move the travel bag filled with jewelry!

BUZZ!

In an instant, the travel bag actually wobbled, looking as if it were about to lift off the ground!

Lin Jian was greatly startled! No way! That travel bag had to weigh over a hundred and fifty catties, right? If he could control a weight of a hundred and fifty catties to lift off, then he could fly himself.

At this moment, he was extremely excited. He continued experimenting, trying to make the travel bag hover. However, after five or six attempts, the travel bag ultimately failed to lift off. It seemed he was just a tiny bit short of the Power needed to lift a heavy object of a hundred and fifty catties!

"Does this mean if I have one more Dao Fruit, I’ll be able to fly in the sky?

"Even if I can’t fly right now, if I jumped down from a hundred-meter-tall building, I wouldn’t fall to my death, right?

"Because while falling, I can slightly control my body, which would reduce the Power of the impact.

"Should I lose some weight? If I slim down to around a hundred and twenty catties, I should be able to fly!"

Lin Jian’s breathing grew a bit heavy; he was getting impatient to lose weight!

"But before losing weight, I need to test exactly how heavy of an object I can control. The weight of the backpack is just my estimate. It might be less than a hundred and fifty catties, or it might be more."

Lin Jian gradually calmed down. At the same time, he began to ponder whether he should take this bag of jewelry with him!

It was true that he had already found the exit, which meant his next step was to take Shen Ke and leave this place. When the time came, he would not only have to carry Shen Ke but also the jewelry weighing over a hundred catties. Furthermore, once submerged in water, the jewelry would become even heavier. Therefore, he would have to make a return trip; otherwise, it would be impossible to take both the person and the jewelry out in one go!

Since this jewelry had to be handed over to the Duke anyway, why should he risk his life returning for it?

Just then, Shen Ke slowly drifted awake.

As soon as Shen Ke woke up, Lin Jian lightly tapped her nose and said, "Get ready, I’m taking you out!"

"Can we get out?"

"Yes, I’ll take you with me. It shouldn’t be a big problem, but..." Lin Jian glanced at the travel bag and continued, "But I can’t take that bag of jewelry out in one trip, so I’ll have to come back and get it later."

"You still want to come back for it?" Shen Ke blanked for a moment before immediately shaking her head. "Come back for what? You’re not allowed to. Just leave it here. After a few years pass, you can find an opportunity to come back and get it yourself."

"What are you saying?" Lin Jian looked at her as if he had heard wrong. Shen Ke actually wanted him to come back for it in a few years.

Shen Ke simply smiled. "I don’t know anything anyway. As long as you like it, you can keep it."

PHEW.

Lin Jian took a deep breath, then suddenly smiled. "Shen Ke, what do you think about this?"

"Okay, tell me!" Shen Ke said, looking at him.

"I’ll come back and get this bag in a few days. Then, I’ll sort through the jewelry inside. If they are cultural relics with historical significance and value, I’ll donate them to a museum. If they’re just valuable pieces of jewelry, I’ll exchange them for cash and use a portion of it to do some good deeds. What do you think?

"For example, I could fund a Hope Primary School, donate to a nursing home, or give it to the street cleaners. Does that sound okay?"

"Yes, yes, yes, that’s the best way!" Shen Ke nodded repeatedly. "Anyway, you handle it. I won’t get involved."

"Alright, then I’ll come back and fetch it in a few days."

Lin Jian breathed a sigh of relief. Shen Ke was currently looking at him with eyes full of tender affection. Let alone donating a portion, even if he didn’t donate a single cent, she wouldn’t have any objections.

The two made some brief preparations. Lin Jian once again strapped the seven Spirit Stones, the Treasure Sword, and the Golden Volume to his body. He then told Shen Ke to wrap her arms around his neck before diving straight into the water!

SPLASH!

This time, he pushed forward as fast as he could, using all his might. He could stay submerged for a long time, but Shen Ke couldn’t. Furthermore, he would have to share his breath with her at least once midway, or else she wouldn’t survive the eight-hundred-meter distance!

The underwater currents were rapid, but Lin Jian had his Thought and could breathe underwater. Therefore, even with Shen Ke on his back, he still moved freely!

Two minutes in, Lin Jian held Shen Ke’s head and kissed her, transferring a breath of air to her before they continued forward!

Five minutes later, the turbulent water suddenly slowed down. Immediately after, their bodies felt light, and they saw a radiant glow of light.