As they ventured deeper, the pressure increased, and the light gradually dimmed.
However, for Bai Ye, who possessed spatial perception within a hundred-meter radius, none of this was an issue.
One hundred meters underwater.
Two hundred meters.
...
Around five hundred meters, Bai Ye saw Lydia.
At the center of the lakebed, instead of rock and mud, there were irregular cracks emitting fluorescence, forming a light screen. The entire lakebed's light screen, beneath which lay a dark void...
Lydia coiled upon the fluorescence, with mana slowly converging towards its body. The wounds torn by the fire dragon had stopped bleeding, even when immersed in the lake water.
Upon seeing Bai Ye descend, Lydia immediately opened its eyes.
Sensing the mana emanating from the cracks, which was much denser than that in the lake, and the distant, seemingly endless void below, Bai Ye marveled internally and spoke, "This, is this the spatial rift leading to the Tetes Continent?"
Despite the lake water separating them, with the amplification of magic, communication was not an issue at all. Bai Ye could even 'speak' without uttering a sound, by manipulating magic.
Lydia pondered, "Roar roar roar ing— (Mm~ the rift here connects to the spatial passage leading to the Tetes Continent, but this rift is still unstable and cannot be used for free passage.)"
Bai Ye inquired, "Oh? Then how did you get out?"
Upon hearing Bai Ye's question, Lydia's emotions suddenly turned agitated and sorrowful.
It remained silent for a moment, then suddenly, its enormous eyes shed crystalline tears, which mixed into the lake water.
"Roar~ Roar roar ing~ (On the Tetes Continent, our Shanti tribe offended a Demon King... That Demon King... massacred my kin. My parents, to cover my escape, were also killed by that Demon King. I was chased for a long time, fled into a cave, and then was suddenly transmitted here...)"
"..."
Lydia spoke at length.
Bai Ye remained silent.
Suddenly, Lydia looked up, its enormous eyes revealing a look of unwillingness.
"Roar roar roar ing— (I~ submit to you, not because I fear death. I want to go back to avenge my parents, and my people! I have been guarding this place, waiting for this passage to transport me back...)"
"But you can't even defeat me..."
Bai Ye's calm words shattered Lydia's last shred of stubbornness mercilessly.
According to Lydia's account, on the Tetes Continent, beasts could be classified by strength as D, C, B, A, S, SS...
A was also called Disaster Level, S was Cataclysm Level, and SS was Demon King Level.
Here, according to the system, strength was divided into low, intermediate, and advanced magicians.
Based on his own magical power, Bai Ye estimated he belonged to A-class, or Disaster Level.
However, the destructive power of his ultimate moves, judging by Lydia's words, could rival a Demon King (SS-class)...
Taking a middle ground, Bai Ye felt he was perhaps barely S-class. But overall, he preferred the title of advanced magician.
As for Demon Kings, ferocious beasts, and Lydia's matters, to be honest, Bai Ye didn't particularly want to get involved...
Lydia, upon hearing Bai Ye's words, lowered its head and cried silently, continuing to heal and displaying a somewhat sulky demeanor...
Thus, the conversation ended!
Bai Ye also stopped speaking, landing on the rift's light screen and walking around for a while, observing carefully.
He attempted to use his mastered spatial power, applying it to the closing rift, to see if he could seal it.
But when his spatial power was released onto the rift, it vanished silently like raindrops falling into a vast ocean, unable to budge it in the slightest.
After a while, Bai Ye shook his head slightly.
According to Lydia's account, other fierce beasts might emerge from this rift at any time. In that case, would I have to guard this pass???
But I still want to go out and see the beautiful scenery of the world, and earn some reputation, to further improve my magical skills...
Bai Ye tilted his head slightly towards Lydia, contemplating internally.
Although this fellow had already submitted, if this passage were to reverse-teleport it back one day, it might defiantly resist my commands and rush back to seek revenge on that so-called Demon King.
With its current strength, it would most likely not return!
I need to find a way to make it willingly guard the volcanic crater for me.
A moment later, Bai Ye silently took out a bottle of magic potion and slowly drank it, wearing an expression of enjoyment.
The moment Bai Ye uncapped the bottle, Lydia's eyes immediately snapped open, gazing with longing and anticipation at the small bottle in Bai Ye's hand.
Gulp~
Lydia forcefully swallowed. It could sense that the mana contained within the tiny bottle in Bai Ye's hand was even greater than the mana of the entire lake!!!
Its intuition told it that the contents of this small bottle could rapidly enhance its strength!!!
However, as a slave, how could it ask him for it?
After hesitating for a long time, Lydia couldn't help but let out a low hum: "Roar roar ing~ (Master~ I want—your treasure~)"
Bai Ye glanced sideways, a faint smile curving his lips:
"Oh? Why should I give it to you?"
Lydia thought seriously for a long time, the hint of expectation in its eyes slowly fading, and it remained silent for a while.
Suddenly, Bai Ye's voice rang out again.
"I don't have much of this treasure. But it's not impossible to give it to you, as long as you help me do one thing..."
Lydia's eyes immediately flashed with excited brilliance.
"Roar roar ing~ (You are Lydia's master. No matter what you ask Lydia to do, Lydia is willing to do it and will never disappoint Master!!!)"