Thus, Gu Zhi and Gu Xiao made their way out of the room looking for secrets in the palace.
In the area they were in there was a huge open air garden in the center of room just outside the elevator, although they were at a higher floor that didn't stop the palace from having a garden in the "sky" so to speak. They were railings sectioning off the gardens with natural windows of open air between the hallways to the room, and the railings to the garden. They first checked the garden for any secrets.
"I've heard of a story once about a place called the hanging gardens, It was a lush and vast garden in the sky. although I doubt this compares, this is the closest thing I've seen to the hanging gardens" Gu Zhi said.
"Do you think we would really find anything here? I bet with such an open space there aren't any hidden rooms" Gu Xiao said.
"You need to have a little bit more imagination, there could be an illusion formation covering the sky, hiding a room, or maybe under those fountains is a hidden sewer system of the palace that holds many secrets."
The garden obviously had a lot of water to it. Most plants need water to survive so it was very common to see fountains and waterways in big gardens such as this one.
"That is a good point, they must have a very advanced sewer system to transport the water so high up" Gu Xiao said.
"Or maybe it's very simple but ingenious, such as using very simple formations or physics" Gu Zhi responded.
"Hmm, it doesn't matter that much let's quickly check it out" she said.
"I doubt that a quick look would reveal the secrets you are looking for" Gu Zhi said a little mockingly.
Gu Xiao ignored him and moved closer to a nearby fountain.
The fountain looked no different than traditionally seen fountains but Gu Xiao was trying to look at where the water came from.
"It's to small. The pipes wouldn't fit us if we were trying to find the sewer system".
"Well yeah, if you want to enter the sewer system than a fountain wouldn't be my first option" Gu Zhi responded.
"Then what would it be" she asked back.
"Well I would try to find the traditional entrance to the sewer, the palace would no doubt have an easy way to enter, if I had to guess, then it would be underground".
"That's an easy guess, but it's not like the guide is just going to let us into the sewer system. It doesn't take a genius to know that place would be off limits."
"Well then what do you propose, I bet the only way we could get in through unorthodox methods is if we find a really big fountain, go against the current and swim to wherever the waterway takes us, that however is a stupid and dangerous idea that could get us killed" Gu Zhi said.
"Oh, please for a strong body cultivator I bet you have enough strength to last the current and with a special wood spell to help with oxygen you might be able to enter the sewers" she said.
Gu Zhi gave her a weird look, "you can't be serious, we have no idea how long the waterways are or where they lead, it would be a suicide mission".
"That's exactly what makes it so appealing just think of all the undiscovered things we would find" she said while biting her thumb in anticipation.
"What things we could find in the sewers...? What are we going to find some undiscovered shit".
He instantly regretted the statement when he looked at his wife's expression.
"That's right, I'm going to send you down the main palace fountain that we saw in the courtyard, and your going to find some UNDISCOVERED SHIT. Once you find something of value then you can come back".
"Ughh, as long as the pipes are wide enough and you really have a spell that can help me I guess we can go sewer diving."
"That's great" she said with a bright smile on her face. "In all seriousness though I do think you have a good chance and finding something, maybe through the sewers we can find some hidden rooms that haven't been discovered yet".
'Your delusional' he thought to himself.
He obviously didn't say it out loud. They got a guide to bring them to the ground floor using the elevator before going to the courtyard.
The fountain was very large with the water moving in splendid ways between some statues propped up on the fountain, the biggest waterway they could spot from a distance however was the big gushing water flowing from the top.
"That's your ticket in. Wait here I need a tree to help you with the oxygen problem." she said as she went to the nearest tree.
'This is going to suck ass' Gu Zhi thought to himself.
Gu Xiao returned back to him carrying a mask made out of wood.
"Here I casted several spells on this, in theory this should give you several minutes of oxygen" she said.
"In theory?" he asked with a horrified look on his face.
"Yes, in theory. Make sure to be back before the next trial starts, I will explore the palace through my own means. If you haven't found the sewers in about 3 minutes I would turn back as it would start to get dangerous by then. So keep track of the time, and remember why we are doing this in the first place. Try to find as much knowledge you can about the palace and find any resources, just a testimony about the palace sewer systems and how you got there could be sold for a high price to future contestants" she said.
"Sure I'll do my best" Gu Zhi said before taking the mask stripping his clothes and climbing the fountain. "Wish me good luck".
"I wish you good luck" she said.
As Gu Zhi put on the wooden mask it stuck to his face magically letting him breath in oxygen as he dived right into the fountain swimming against its raging current.