Bai Yuanshi's gaze shifted from his hands to her face, then back to his hands. Lu Zhaozhao noticed his surprise and curiosity, but silently withdrew her hand.
The blood that had just dripped into the water had not yet dissipated. At this moment, there was no sound from the bottom of the boat. Not far from the boat, the monsters emerged from the water and crowded together in a particularly terrifying manner.
“These things are bloodthirsty. When that fellow practitioner was injured and dragged onto the boat, the blood that flowed out may have seeped into the water through the gaps in the boat, attracting these things. Now they are attracted to my blood, but the blood will soon spread in the water, and the boat, which is stained with blood, will still be their target.”
Lu Zhaozhao calmly analyzed that, apart from the injured and unconscious person and Bai Yuanshi, the other three all looked worried.
"Could we occasionally bleed them to attract their attention?"
One person offered an idea, and Lu Zhaozhao thought about it, shook her head, and said, "We don't know how long this road will take, and bloodletting is not a long-term solution."
"If only there were a way to wipe them all out in one fell swoop."
Another person sighed, but he probably knew the idea was a bit far-fetched, so he just muttered something under his breath.
Upon hearing this, Bai Yuanshi seemed to ponder, and then cast a spell on the imprisoned but still breathing monster on the ship.
It was immediately surrounded by fire. After the raging flames, the outer shell was only charred, but the inside was undamaged.
"It seems they are not afraid of fire."
Lu Zhaozhao raised an eyebrow and made a lightning spell.
After a flash of silvery-white light, the monster's outer shell was cracked, but it was still alive.
"Somewhat useful, but not much."
Lu Zhaozhao scratched her head, looking somewhat troubled. She picked up the candle and moved closer, wanting to examine the details more closely.
The moment she crouched down, the monster immediately began to struggle. Lu Zhaozhao thought it was because the smell of blood on her body hadn't dissipated, which excited the thing.
The blood in the water was diluted and mixed with the water, and the monsters gradually returned to the side of the boat, eager to try again.
"Oh no, these things are back again."
The people watching from the side of the boat shouted, and Lu Zhaozhao couldn't help but feel a little anxious.
The candle in her hand had burned for too long and reached its limit, suddenly going out in an instant, plunging her into darkness.
"Excuse me, could you lend me a light?"
Lu Zhaozhao said to Bai Yuanshi beside her, and he turned around to get the candle.
While waiting for the fire to be lit, I was bored and used the dim light to observe the monsters on the ship.
The candle went out, and it became quiet.
Wait a minute? Suddenly it's quiet?
Lu Zhaozhao seemed to have thought of something.
According to the principle of controlling variables, the candlelight is the only variable.
So, is it possible that the monster's struggle just now was not out of excitement, but out of fear?
At this moment, Master Bai Yuan walked away with the new candle. The newly lit lamp was even brighter and more dazzling.
As they approached from afar, the light changed from dim to bright, and the monster's state changed from calm to agitated.
The cave is dark and without light, so any outsiders must light a lamp before entering. If they are not attacking because they are guided by the light, then they are besieging a potential crisis!
As if she had discovered a treasure, Lu Zhaozhao looked up at Bai Yuanshi with equal excitement.
In the warm orange candlelight, her eyes shone like countless stars, and when she looked up suddenly, Bai Yuanshi was stunned for a moment.
"I see."
Lu Zhaozhao said softly.
"What?"
Master Bai asked.
She looked at Bai Yuanshi, slowly stood up, a slight smile on her lips, and said, "I know what these monsters are afraid of: they are afraid of light!"
"How do you know?" Bai Yuanshi continued to ask.
Lu Zhaozhao didn't answer. She pulled his wrist and slowly brought the candle closer to the monster, watching it slowly change before moving it away.
After going through the whole process, she turned to look at Bai Yuanshi and asked, "Do you understand?"
"Understood."
As Bai Yuanshi spoke, he handed the candle to her and withdrew his own hand.
Lu Zhaozhao then realized that she had gotten carried away and had actually reached out to touch him, and apologized somewhat embarrassedly.
Bai Yuanshi blinked rapidly, coughed, and said, "Now that we've discovered the weakness, how should we utilize it?"
Lu Zhaozhao lowered her eyes in deep thought.
"Perhaps... I can help."
A soft voice emerged from the corner. Lu Zhaozhao looked in the direction of the voice and saw it was the disciple who had made the initial prayer.
Two gazes came from above, and he flinched slightly before continuing, "I am Ji Li from the Kongshan Sect. One of the talismans I practice is called the Scorching Sun Talisman. It doesn't have much power, but it can make the surroundings as bright as day for a short period of time."
Kongshan Sect? Lu Zhaozhao was no stranger to this term. In the team that explored Mushan Temple together, there was a fellow Daoist named Cen Jianwen who also came from Kongshan Sect.
However, this was Lu Zhaozhao's experience, not Fusang's, which was the first time the Tianyin Sect disciple had gone out, so she did not mention it.
Master Bai Yuan caught the ambiguity in the words and pressed further, "How long exactly can it last? And how many times can you cast it?"
"It can probably last for about half an incense stick's time? If it is used continuously, it can last for at most half an hour."
Ji Li replied in a low voice. Lu Zhaozhao did a quick calculation, raised an eyebrow and smiled lightly: "In that case, I'll have to trouble Fellow Daoist Ji."
"It's nothing, nothing at all," Ji Li said, his face flushed red as if it were about to bleed.
He walked to the edge of the boat. By then, the monsters in the water had already circled the boat, looking eager to attack at any moment.
Ji Li took out a blank talisman paper, wrote something on it with a cinnabar pen, then placed it in front of his forehead, closed his eyes, and softly recited an incantation. When he opened his eyes again, he threw the talisman onto the water.
A beam of light spread across the lake, illuminating the pitch-black cave as if it were daytime.
The sudden bright light forced everyone on the ship to close their eyes, and it took them a long time to adjust to the brightness.
Slowly opening her eyes, Lu Zhaozhao circled the ship to check it. The excessive light did indeed keep the surrounding monsters away for the time being, although they might still be hiding somewhere waiting for an opportunity to strike.
"Now I can finally breathe a sigh of relief."
One person collapsed, letting out a long sigh of relief.
Lu Zhaozhao looked around and chuckled, "I haven't had a chance to introduce myself yet. I am Fusang from the Tianyin Sect. May I ask your honorable names, fellow Daoists?"
"I am Xun Hua of the Mu Li Sect." The man lying on the ground cupped his hands in a gesture of respect and said loudly, "The three of us are from the same sect. They are all my junior brothers, Xun Yin and Xun Ye."
The other two nodded, which was considered a greeting.
Bai Yuanshi was about to speak when Xun Hua interrupted him: "I know you, the famous Bai Yuanshi. I'll need your help in the future."
Bai Yuanshi frowned almost imperceptibly, but said nothing.
"There seems to be something ahead, come and take a look."
Ji Li stood at the bow of the ship and shouted something, arousing everyone's curiosity.
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