Soon, under the Water Tower Tree, Andrew reached out and placed his hand on Shire's sturdy trunk.

Ivan stood beside Andrew, placing one hand on Andrew's shoulder.

Little Ha squatted nearby, tilting its head as it watched this scene, thinking it was a game of leapfrog. It then stood up and attempted to place its paw on both Andrew's and Ivan's shoulders but was scolded by Ivan, causing it to step back, puzzled: Isn't this a game? So what are they doing?

Ivan also wanted to ask, "What exactly are we doing?"

He and Little Ha would never have guessed: Andrew actually intended to enter Shire's body.

Then, through Shire's connection to that mysterious underground waters, enter that enigmatic underground space.

"Water Source Exploration."

Andrew silently mouthed to himself.

He removed distractions and operated his Magic Power at full capacity, also activating the Fingertip Series.

With the five fingers of his right hand pressing Shire, he gently massaged, activating the newly unlocked "Water Source Exploration."

Then he closed his eyes, using Shire as a conduit, to carefully experience and feel.

Soon, Andrew once again "saw" that image: a dreamlike vast underground space, azure waters, mysterious temples...

And this time, due to the magic potency of "Water Source Exploration," he saw it even more vividly, as if he were truly there.

"It's real."

Andrew was quite excited, "It's definitely real! And this place, this place is connected to Shire and the Water Tower Trees..."

Still owing to the magical prowess of "Water Source Exploration," Andrew saw and felt more this time—

It's as if the entire Inner Sea Desert was ravaged by a type of "drying fire" more severe than any elsewhere in this Flame Realm.

Then, each Water Tower Tree, including Shire, actually served as pillars in this barren desert otherwise deemed a death zone, forcibly sustaining a habitable space for people!

And the power source for the Water Tower Trees was indeed that underground waters.

At this moment, Andrew suddenly felt an urge to cry.

Because this time, not only did he feel that underground waters through Shire, but he also, further through the underground waters, sensed other Water Tower Trees across the desert.

Some Water Tower Trees were already very old, near wilting, yet still struggling silently and resiliently to draw water for the nearby townsfolk.

Several Water Tower Trees clearly suffered severe fire damage, barely surviving, but unable to grow or gather water, causing nearby towns to naturally decay and desolate. Still, they were striving to self-repair, attempting to restore their water gathering and storing abilities!

On the branches of the most severely wounded Water Tower Tree, Andrew "saw" some simple but evidently heartfelt ornaments.

These were from town residents who, forced to relocate near healthier Water Tower Trees, never forgot the old Water Tower Tree and continued, year after year, to organize people to return beneath the old tree to bestow their thanks and blessings.

Through "Water Source Exploration," what Andrew witnessed, he felt as if he saw the long history in which the people of the Inner Sea Desert were trying to survive while striving to protect the Water Tower Trees with their aid.

Unconsciously, tears began to flow.

Tears flowed freely.

"...Crying?" Ivan and Little Ha looked bewildered.

Yet they didn't mock Andrew for these seemingly unjustified tears.

On the contrary, someone and a dog, who were both filled with Water Power just like Andrew, faintly sensed an empathetic sorrow, even though they couldn't see what Andrew was seeing.

This sadness gradually transformed into a firm belief: they must enter Shire's body and then proceed to that waters.

Andrew now understood something: not only did he need the help of this waters, but that waters also needed his support.

The waters and Water Tower Trees have silently sustained the daily life of the Inner Sea Desert's people, for who knows how many years.

Now they're struggling to keep it up.

"I was a bit hesitant initially, but it seems there's no doubt about the next course of action—"

Andrew silently consumed all of his remaining Fire Extinguishing Value, but didn't unlock any Water Magic to fight Desert Speaker Rose.

Not even "Magic."

Instead, he unlocked a one-time-use "artifact": Water Manipulation Technique.

The real Water Manipulation Technique, within the "Water Shadow Series," is a highly advanced Water Magic.

If learned, Andrew could merge his body with air, ground, objects, or even steam and liquid in other bodies, essentially "waterizing" himself and gaining stealth and stealth abilities comparable to that of a Shadow Fire Mage in this Flame Realm.

The problem is, it's so advanced that even after unlocking it, Andrew, at his current Tier One, couldn't perform it.

Thus Andrew unlocked an artifact with reduced effect but immediately usable post-unlock.

It contained a mini-version of the Water Manipulation Technique. Although not the real thing, at least... it was at a level he could handle.

Among the many options opened to him by the Water God Mark, one special category included various artifacts. Many were mini versions of powerful magic. Although these artifacts vanish after one use, similar to the Water Needle Prop he used against Raymond.

But the key is: utilizing this "Water Manipulation" artifact should allow entry through Shire into that underground space.

"Need to keep the shoulder pressing pose?"

Ivan groaned impatiently, "Can't you at least let me know what we're doing—"

Before he could finish speaking, with a swoosh.

Ivan's body, along with Andrew's, vanished.

"Awooo?" Little Ha was startled and jumped up, running around Shire the Water Tower Tree, but Andrew and Ivan were nowhere in sight.

This is because Andrew and Ivan's bodies had entered a "waterized" state, merging into Shire, and then moving along Shire's trunk, towards its massive root system, downwards, further downwards!

Andrew only felt a whirl of light and shadow, with body sensations temporarily gone, leaving only his soul.

The further down he went, the stronger a summoning he felt.

"By the way, how can I still hear sounds with no body?"

Andrew thought.

"In his 'ears'," he only heard Ivan's terrified screams.

This burly man was like someone forcibly dragged onto a roller coaster, frightened beyond compare, shouting pitifully with helplessness.

How long it lasted, who knew.

Suddenly, the scene before him brightened.

The senses to his body instantly restored, leaving the "waterized" state to return to normal bodily form.

Then, his feet felt solid ground beneath.

"Have we... arrived?" Andrew felt his heart settle.

He was about to assess the surroundings when suddenly his vision blacked out, as the heavyweight form of Ivan, also returned to human form, slammed him to the ground.

"Ahhhhh! I'm gonna die! I'm damn well gonna die!" Ivan continued to scream, flailing on the ground.

Andrew, seeing stars, climbed up, feeling a strong urge to spit blood, cursing inwardly, should've brought a gal along for these adventures! Should've had An Ya accompanying me!

Images of An Ya's graceful body crashing into his and then clinging to him out of fear instinctively flashed in his mind... Thinking this, Andrew paused, raised his hand to his nose.

He had a nosebleed.

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