**Chapter 25: A Secret Within Reach**
The three of them rode on Gyarados, continuing forward along the Passage. After an unknown amount of time, the Passage ahead suddenly widened.
Just then, Bai Feng suddenly pointed at the wall of the Passage. "Look at the walls! Are those Water Stones?"
Lysandre and Calyrex looked towards the wall and indeed saw many scattered blue stones embedded in it, shimmering with a captivating light under the dim illumination.
As they moved further forward, the blue stones became more numerous.
"They are indeed Water Stones!" Lysandre said after glancing at the device in his hand. "It seems the Water-type Energy here has reached an extreme concentration; otherwise, so many Water Stones wouldn't be born."
"These Water Stones are so pure!" Bai Feng casually broke off a piece from the wall, exclaiming in amazement.
A Water Stone is generally deep blue, somewhat similar in color to Popplio's skin. However, Water Stones available for purchase usually have blue and white spots, either dark or light. The number of blue and white spots is determined by the Water Stone's Purity.
The purer a Water Stone, the fewer blue and white spots it contains, and the higher its selling price.
Since Helioptile needs a Sun Stone to evolve, Bai Feng had specifically inquired about Evolution stones at a Pokémon store, gaining some understanding of them.
Calyrex and Lysandre each broke off a stone from the wall and subsequently expressed the same amazement as Bai Feng.
Although Water Stones with high Purity were valuable, the three of them did not collect them indiscriminately, as they didn't know what unknown dangers excessive collection might attract.
Having just escaped danger not long ago, the three unanimously decided to err on the side of caution.
After a while longer, Bai Feng and the others finally reached the end of the Passage. The sight before them left them dumbfounded.
The water flowing out of the Passage cascaded downwards like a waterfall, leading into a massive underwater space. At the bottom lay the unfathomably deep azure seawater. Many other Passages surrounded them, similar to the one Bai Feng and the others were in, adorning the entire space like it was hung with white ribbons.
Fortunately, Gyarados stopped in time, or they would have plunged into the deep sea.
The space above and around them was enveloped by a transparent Protective Barrier, preventing the outside seawater from flowing in. Bai Feng and the others could even see Pokémon like Wailord, Kingdra, and Lanturn swimming outside.
Those Pokémon seemed to ignore the sight inside the Protective Barrier, clearly accustomed to it.
"Could this be the source where all Energy is born?" Calyrex couldn't help but say.
"Probably!" Lysandre frowned, looking intently at the Energy Detector in his hand. The indicator for Energy Concentration had abruptly jumped from A+ to S, and the blue wavy line was faintly glowing red, as if an alarm could sound at any moment.
The Energy itself here was not harmful to the body, but once the Energy Concentration reached a certain alert level, even harmless Energy could become harmful.
In the center of the giant space was a Plot of Land resembling an Island. Its area wasn't large, only slightly bigger than Bai Feng's Fangxing Mountain.
"Let's go check out that Island!"
Just as the three were discussing how to get to the small Island, Mantyke and Mantine suddenly flew out of the seawater below.
These Mantyke and Mantine did not attack the three; they simply collectively sent out signal beams towards the Island.
"Are they calling for backup?" Bai Feng couldn't help but ask.
"Very likely," Lysandre said with a grim expression.
"Screech~"
As expected, just as the two finished speaking, a long cry suddenly echoed from the Island. Immediately after, a beautiful creature with an ice-blue body flew out from within.
"It's Articuno!" Calyrex exclaimed.
Articuno flew in front of the three in the blink of an eye. Its gaze revealed anger, and extremely cold ice crystals continuously fell from its body.
"Screech~" Humans, how dare you!
After a cry, Articuno launched an attack on the three, starting with its powerful Move, Blizzard.
Gusts of cold wind mixed with ice and snow swept towards the three. Fortunately, Bai Ye and Calyrex's Gardevoir promptly used Psychic to erect a Protective Barrier in front of them.
But Articuno was too strong; the two Gardevoir were struggling to cope and couldn't hold on for long.
"Roar~"
The Gyarados beneath them roared and opened its mouth to shoot a Water Gun towards Articuno. Bai Feng and Calyrex took this opportunity to send out Talonflame and Braviary.
"Ya-ro!!!"
Talonflame let out an excited cry, its body erupting in crimson flames, and fiercely pounced towards Articuno using Flame Charge.
"Ho!!!"
At the same time, on the other side, Braviary also used Slash to attack Articuno.
Facing the combined attack of multiple Pokémon, Articuno did not panic. It vibrated its wings violently, and a hurricane appeared, instantly sweeping away the Talonflame and Braviary that were pouncing on it.
"Screech~"
Bai Feng and the others' resistance completely enraged Articuno. It vibrated its wings even faster, and the Blizzard blowing towards Bai Feng and the others became more intense. The two Gardevoir finally began to falter.
With a crisp sound, the Psychic Protective Barrier jointly created by Bai Ye and Calyrex's Gardevoir shattered. As the strong wind swept over, Bai Feng and the three of them were all blown away, falling into the seawater below one after another.
As for Gyarados, it directly took Articuno's Blizzard head-on and was frozen into an ice sculpture, solidified in the seawater of the Passage.
"Ya-ro~"
"Ho~"
Talonflame and Braviary wanted to dive down to catch Bai Feng and Calyrex, but Articuno, which followed closely, blocked their path.
"Ya-ro~"
"Ho~"
The two giant bird Pokémon had no choice but to continue their entanglement with Articuno.
Splash~ Splash~ Splash~
Bai Feng, Calyrex, Lysandre, Bai Ye, and Gardevoir fell into the water one after another.
Because of the rapid descent, Bai Feng swallowed several mouthfuls of seawater after falling in before he could surface. He quickly sent out Popplio and instructed:
"Popplio, save them!"
"Woo~"
Popplio responded with a cry and in the blink of an eye blew a huge blue bubble, enveloping Bai Feng and the others one by one.
The bubble Popplio created was very sturdy. After holding Bai Feng and the others, it floated steadily on the water surface.
However, misfortunes never come singly. Articuno above was temporarily held back by Talonflame and Braviary, but the Mantyke and Mantine below were now surrounding them, eyeing them menacingly.
Crucially, Bai Feng and the others couldn't use their Pokémon to attack them, or the bubble protecting them would shatter, and the three would fall back into the water.
"Popplio, Sing!" Bai Feng suddenly had a flash of inspiration.
"La la~ la~ la la la~ la"
As Popplio's captivating Singing began, the surrounding Mantyke and Mantine stopped their advance, closed their eyes, and splashed into the water.
"Quick, let's get on the Island," Calyrex said, pointing to the small Island not far from them.
"Woo~"
Hearing this, Popplio quickly controlled the bubble to float towards the Island.
"Screech!!!" Humans, how dare you!
Articuno in the sky saw that Bai Feng and the others' goal was to land on the Island and was instantly furious. It flapped its wings, forcing back the Talonflame and Braviary attacking it from both sides, and immediately prepared to dive down, determined to freeze Bai Feng and the others into ice sculptures.
But Talonflame and Braviary wouldn't let Articuno succeed. After stabilizing themselves in the air, they attacked it again.
Braviary used the Tailwind Move, and the speed of the two giant eagles suddenly increased, blocking Articuno's path in the blink of an eye.
Articuno was completely annoyed by these two large birds, which were as bothersome as flies. It opened its mouth and spat out an ice-blue ray, freezing the closer Braviary into an ice sculpture in just an instant.
Talonflame was shocked at the sight, quickly grabbed the falling Braviary with its claws, and then quickly retreated, no longer daring to approach Articuno.
Below, Calyrex, who was landing on the Island, saw her Braviary frozen into an ice block and her face changed drastically. But seeing Talonflame rescue it in time, she slightly relaxed.
Talonflame radiated high temperature from its body, slowly melting the ice block on Braviary.
With Talonflame and Braviary's delay, Bai Feng and the others successfully landed on the Island. At the same time, Articuno also chased after them.
"Quick, let's run into the Forest!" Lysandre shouted, simultaneously sending out his Pyroar.
"Roar~"
As soon as Pyroar came out, it turned its head and sprayed a pillar of fire at Articuno in the air. Unfortunately, Lysandre's Pyroar was not as strong as the previous Gyarados; its Flamethrower didn't even reach Articuno before being swatted away by its wings.
Seeing that it couldn't win, Pyroar turned around and chased after its Pokémon Trainer.
"Screech!!!" Humans, stop, don't go any further!
Articuno's angry roars were continuous. It shed a large amount of extremely cold energy from its body. Wherever it passed, the vegetation was completely frozen.
"I can't run anymore!" After running for an unknown amount of time, Calyrex said breathlessly, an unnatural blush spreading across her pale little face.
"Just a little longer!" Bai Feng gritted his teeth, though he was also exhausted.
The most relaxed among the three was Lysandre. He was physically fit and clearly someone who exercised regularly.
Bai Feng's stamina wasn't bad; after all, he did so much farm work every day. It was just that he was young and his body hadn't fully developed yet, so he was far behind an adult like Lysandre.
At this moment, he wished he had the physique of a Super Trainer like Ash Ketchum.
Seeing that Calyrex's face was indeed very pale, Lysandre shouted to Pyroar, "Pyroar, help Calyrex."
"Ah woo~"
Pyroar responded with a cry, stopped in front of Calyrex, and instantly carried her on its back.
Pyroar is not a large Pokémon. Even if Lysandre's was bigger than average, using it as a mount was still a bit difficult.
Fortunately, Calyrex was just a young girl in her teens, light in body, so Pyroar could barely carry her.
"Screech~"
The angry Articuno sprayed another blast of cold air, which Bai Ye and Gardevoir promptly blocked with Psychic. But as Articuno's attacks became more fierce, the two Gardevoir were also close to giving out.
"Quick, eat these!"
Bai Feng ran while taking out two Berries and handing them to Bai Ye and Gardevoir to replenish their stamina.
Just then, the Energy Detector in Lysandre's hand emitted a piercing alarm sound.
"Not good, this place is filled with a large amount of Energy harmful to the human body."
"What is that?" Calyrex said, pointing ahead.
Before the three of them appeared a giant deep Giant Pit. In the pit stood a tall White Jade Pillar. Even from a distance, Bai Feng and the others could feel the terrifying Energy emanating from the White Jade Pillar.
"Screech~" Don't go near there!
As Bai Feng and the others approached the Giant Pit, Articuno let out a frightened cry and also stopped its pursuit.
"Let's recall our Pokémon," Lysandre suggested with a pale face, seeing that Articuno was no longer approaching. "The Energy here is already starting to affect our bodies, and the Pokémon outside will also be affected."
The Energy Detector in Lysandre's hand was still flashing red frantically, but he had turned off the alarm.
Bai Feng and Calyrex nodded, took out their Poké Balls, and recalled their respective Pokémon.
As time passed, Lysandre and Calyrex's faces became paler and paler, clearly suffering from the erosion of the harmful Energy.
But what puzzled Bai Feng was that he didn't feel much.
After checking his body, Bai Feng quickly discovered the anomaly.
There was indeed a scarlet Energy in the air, difficult to discern with the naked eye, eroding Bai Feng's body. However, as soon as this Energy entered his body, it was collectively attacked by the Golden Finger Energy and then expelled. Therefore, it could not cause harm to Bai Feng's body.
"What do you plan to do?"
Seeing Calyrex and Lysandre covered in cold sweat, Bai Feng asked hesitantly, unsure whether to continue forward. He himself was fine, but Calyrex and Lysandre seemed to be in pain.
"Continue forward. We've already come this far; I won't be satisfied if I don't take a look!" Lysandre said, pointing at the White Jade Pillar. "The secret of the Sea God's Cavern is very likely hidden there!"
Bai Feng looked at Calyrex, and saw her nod with a pale face, agreeing with Lysandre's suggestion. This girl also had a stubborn Nature, unwilling to give up until the last moment.
"Alright, since you both want to see, I can only accompany you."
"Wait!"
Lysandre rummaged through his Space Backpack for a few moments and then pulled out three black suits of Clothes. He handed two of them to Bai Feng and Calyrex, saying:
"These are Protective Suits produced by my Research Institute. They may not completely resist the Energy's erosion, but they will definitely help a little."
Bai Feng and Calyrex quickly took the Protective Suits and put them on.
The effect of the Protective Suits was much better than Lysandre had expected. At least Calyrex felt less uncomfortable.
As for Bai Feng, he still didn't feel anything.
"Okay, let's go!"
Just as the three were about to descend into the deep Giant Pit, two more cries came from behind them. The three turned back and saw that two more legendary Pokémon had appeared beside Articuno at some point – Moltres and Zapdos.
These two Pokémon were not in the Sea God's Cavern before. Unexpectedly, after returning, humans had actually broken in and even approached that forbidden Plot of Land!
"It's Moltres and Zapdos!" Calyrex said in a low voice.
"Don't worry about them. They seem very wary of this place and don't dare to approach," Bai Feng said.
This was indeed the case. The three legendary birds watched as Bai Feng and the three descended into the deep Giant Pit step by step, their faces filled with terror, yet they dared not approach a single step, only able to watch helplessly as the three disappeared from their sight.
(End of Chapter)