"This python looks more dangerous than the ones we've encountered before," Nightshade said in a low voice.
Conan pondered a solution. He noticed strange markings on the python's body, markings that seemed to bear a resemblance to the energy fluctuations emanating from the eerie girl they had encountered earlier. "Everyone, don't act rashly. This python might be related to the girl from before. Let's see if there's another way to bypass it and obtain clues."
Just then, the python suddenly opened its mouth wide, spewing out a plume of black smoke that rushed towards Conan and the others. Conan shouted, "Oh no! This smoke might be poisonous! Everyone cover your mouths and noses!"
Everyone quickly covered their mouths and noses with damp cloths, but some smoke still managed to get into their respiratory tracts. Soon, Conan and the others felt dizzy and their bodies gradually lost strength.
In his fading consciousness, Conan saw the python slowly slithering towards them, seemingly about to devour them. Suddenly, a figure appeared at the cave entrance—the same strange girl from before. In her hand, she held a crystal emitting a soft glow, the light gradually dispelling the black smoke.
Conan and the others gradually regained their senses and looked at the girl in surprise. The girl looked at Conan and the others with a complex emotion in her eyes, then threw the crystal to Conan and said, "Take this. It can help you find a way to break the curse, but you must promise me that you will stop the release of the evil power."
After saying that, the girl turned and disappeared into the forest.
Conan looked at the crystal in his hand, which was engraved with some strange symbols. Ai Haibara took the crystal and studied it carefully. "These symbols seem to have some connection with the previous runes. I think I can decipher them."
After some effort, Ai Haibara deciphered the meaning of the symbols on the crystal. It turned out that the crystal was guiding them to a lake in the forest, where an ancient book was hidden at the bottom. This book contained the key information to breaking the temple's curse.
“Let’s go check out the lake,” Conan said.
Following the crystal's guidance, the group trudged through the forest. Along the way, they encountered strange phenomena such as sudden hallucinations and moving trees, but they overcame them all with their wisdom and courage.
Finally, they arrived at the lake indicated by the crystal. The lake's surface was as calm as a mirror, reflecting the surrounding trees, yet it exuded a mysterious aura.
"This is it, let's go down and take a look," Conan said.
Lin Yu took out some basic diving equipment and distributed it to everyone. After everyone put on their gear, they slowly submerged into the lake. The lake water was crystal clear, but the deeper they went, the lower the temperature became, and it seemed as if something was watching them from all around.
Suddenly, a giant octopus burst forth from the darkness at the bottom of the lake, its tentacles like thick ropes, lunging towards Conan and the others. The octopus's body was covered in glowing spots, and its eyes gleamed with an eerie light.
"It's another monster! Everyone be careful!" Conan shouted.
Ran Mouri swiftly grabbed one of the incoming tentacles, pulling hard in an attempt to draw the octopus's body closer, then struck its head with her other hand. However, the octopus's body was exceptionally tough, and Ran's attack did not cause it much damage.
Nightshade used his agility to weave through the octopus's tentacles, searching for an opportunity to attack its weak points. He discovered that while the octopus's eyes were hard, there was a relatively soft area behind the eyeballs. Nightshade seized the opportunity and stabbed at the back of the octopus's eyeballs. The octopus, in pain, let out a low growl, and its tentacles began to thrash wildly.
Lin Yu activated the high-tech equipment, firing beams of electricity in an attempt to paralyze the octopus's nervous system. The electricity struck the octopus's body, causing it to tremble slightly, but it continued its attack thanks to its tenacious vitality.
Conan quickly considered a countermeasure. He observed that octopuses change color using pigment cells to confuse their prey when attacking. Conan realized he could use this to disrupt the octopus's attack rhythm by interfering with these pigment cell changes.
"Lin Yu, use your equipment to emit a strong flash of light to interfere with its pigment cells!" Conan shouted.
Lin Yu immediately adjusted his equipment and emitted a powerful flash. The flash illuminated the water instantly, and the octopus, stimulated by the intense light, began to experience a disruption in its pigment cells, causing its color changes to become erratic. The octopus seemed to lose its sense of direction, and its attacks became chaotic and disorganized.
Taking advantage of the octopus's confusion, everyone concentrated their efforts on attacking its weak points. Through their combined efforts, they finally managed to defeat the octopus.
"Phew, this octopus is even tougher than I thought," Ran Mouri said.
"Don't relax, everyone. We still need to find that ancient book," Conan said.
The group continued their descent and finally found the ancient book in a cave at the bottom of the lake. Conan carefully took the book out and placed it in his specially made waterproof backpack.
Just as they were preparing to surface, the lakebed suddenly trembled, and a powerful current surged up, scattering them. Conan gripped his backpack tightly and shouted, "Everyone stay calm! Swim with the current! Don't resist!"
In the chaos, Conan and his friends were swept away by the current to an unknown place. When the current finally subsided, they found themselves in an unfamiliar valley surrounded by steep peaks, with only a narrow path leading into the depths of the valley.
"Where are we?" Lin Yu asked, somewhat confused.
Conan looked around at his surroundings, then at the backpack in his hand; the books were still inside. "No matter where we are, we must keep going and find a way to break the temple's curse," Conan said.
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