On the island, deep within the ancient forest, both Tian Fan and Zi Ying felt a strange sensation when they saw that peculiar man. It was as if he shared some profound connection with them.
“What’s wrong with you two?”
Shangguan Yunfeng stepped forward, noticing their odd expressions. He had no idea what had just happened.
“Little Sis, are you okay? What happened?”
Shangguan Jingyi also came forward, pushing Tian Fan aside and grabbing Zi Ying’s shoulders, shaking her vigorously.
“Ugh, annoying brother! Are you trying to kill me?”
Zi Ying swung her tiny fists at Shangguan Jingyi, clearly displeased.
The four of them continued walking deeper into the forest. As they moved through the dense ancient trees, a thick white mist enveloped their surroundings, severely obstructing their vision.
“Why do I feel like we’ve stepped into another world?”
Shangguan Jingyi muttered under his breath. After entering the ancient forest, he could no longer perceive anything beyond it. As an elite cultivator from a sacred land, someone who had reached the peak of Cloud Heaven, his sensory abilities were unparalleled. Yet here, even he felt cut off from the outside world.
“You sense it too?”
Tian Fan asked in surprise. He had the same feeling—this place was even more mysterious than the Enchanted Forest. Some unknown force seemed to be warping time and space around them, making everything feel eerie and unpredictable.
They knew the real trial had begun. So far, they had only ventured about two kilometers into the island. Earlier, they could still see a hundred meters ahead with difficulty, but now, their visibility had shrunk to a mere fifty meters.
“Little Sis, I think we should turn back. This place is too dangerous…”
Shangguan Jingyi started nagging again.
“No! I have to obtain a Sacred Fruit. Great-Grandfather’s lifespan is running out…”
Zi Ying said stubbornly, pressing forward. Her determination made the Shangguan brothers feel a deep sense of shame. They finally understood that Zi Ying had secretly run away not out of childish recklessness but to find a Sacred Fruit for an elder in their family who was nearing the end of his life. She had risked everything to venture into one of the three forbidden zones of the Divine Martial Continent—Immortal Island of No Return.
“Alright, Little Sis! I support you. Even if there’s a sea of fire and mountains of blades ahead, I’ll clear the path for you!”
Seeing their family’s beloved little princess so determined, Shangguan Jingyi refused to lag behind. He waved his hand in declaration, his voice resolute. Shangguan Yunfeng also nodded in agreement.
Tian Fan felt a wave of emotion wash over him. This was the warmth of family—something he had never experienced before. For a moment, he was completely lost in thought.
“Hey, kid! What are you staring at?”
Shangguan Jingyi glared at Tian Fan like a hawk guarding its nest, afraid that he might steal his precious little sister away.
“Nothing… I’m just envious.”
Tian Fan smiled sadly.
“Little Tian, don’t be like that. You still have Sister Ying, Senior Brother Li, and… and me.”
Zi Ying, knowing Tian Fan’s past, hurried to comfort him. By the time she finished speaking, her cheeks had turned slightly red, making her look incredibly adorable.
“Heh, thank you, Zi Ying…”
Tian Fan smiled warmly, touched by her kindness.
As they journeyed forward, they had encountered many fierce beasts. Though powerful, none had posed an inescapable threat. But the last few kilometers ahead were a different story. It was impossible to predict whether even stronger demons lay in wait. If this place were too easy to traverse, it wouldn’t be called Immortal Island of No Return.
“That is…”
Suddenly, Shangguan Yunfeng spoke in a deep voice.
Following her gaze, the group saw a stone gate—no, it was actually a stone stele. The massive stele was a deep, mysterious shade of green, its surface covered in a thick layer of moss. Some parts had even darkened, bearing the unmistakable marks of time.
But what truly shocked them was not the stele itself—it was what lay beside it.
A skeleton.
A human skeleton.
Under the dim light of the night, the remains emitted a faint white glow. The bones looked as if they were sculpted from jade, exuding an otherworldly aura. It was immediately clear that this person had been extraordinarily powerful in life. Otherwise, their bones would have long since turned to dust over the ages.
The skeleton’s hand rested upon the stele. Carefully brushing away the moss, they revealed a line of ancient text, engraved tens of thousands of years ago:
[The path of mortals is obscure; the path of immortals is elusive…]
Eight simple words, forceful and powerful, were etched into the stone purely by finger strength. Yet, despite their simplicity, these eight words carried the voices of countless supreme experts. For millions of years, not a single person had been able to become a god or an immortal, nor had anyone ascended.
They could imagine the helplessness, loneliness, and sorrow of the senior who had inscribed these words in their final moments, their lifespan exhausted. Unable to change anything, all they could do was carve these words, leaving behind the regret of a lifetime.
The four of them solemnly bowed before the pristine remains, then continued forward. Becoming a god or an immortal was still too distant a goal for them. Such matters were concerns for those at the peak of the path to immortality. They were not yet qualified to think about such things.
Boom!
A streak of lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating the ancient forest in a dazzling white glow. At the same time, a fine drizzle suddenly began to fall, filling the air with an eerie atmosphere.
They had trekked through the forest all night, their bodies covered in mud.
“D*mn it, my clothes are dirty…”
Zi Ying was utterly displeased, her brows furrowed tightly. As she walked, she grumbled nonstop. A girl her age naturally preferred to stay clean—this was simply in her nature.
“Gurgle…”
The Xiao Hua on her shoulder looked listless, its stomach growling in protest.
“Didn’t you just eat?”
Zi Ying turned her head and questioned it. The striped tiger immediately put on an aggrieved expression. It was a mighty tiger, after all. Even though its size had shrunk, its appetite remained the same. A single piece of dried food was nowhere near enough to fill its belly.
Just then, the sound of flowing water suddenly reached their ears. The tinkling of a gentle stream, like the chime of silver bells, carried a soothing melody that cleansed their weary hearts.
Though they had yet to see it, they could already picture the scene ahead. Almost in unison, they rushed toward the source of the sound.
What awaited them was a crystal-clear spring. Water seeped from the cracks of a nearby mountain, forming a small waterfall. The pristine stream cascaded into a pool, its gentle currents nourishing the surrounding flora. Around it bloomed an array of exotic flowers, radiating vibrant colors and a faint, refreshing fragrance.
“Wow…”
Zi Ying cheered in delight and leaped toward the spring. She scooped up a handful of water and took a sip—it was incredibly sweet. None of them had expected to find such a clean and pure spring in this place.
“I’m taking a bath!”
Zi Ying turned around and looked at the three men behind her.
“Oh…”
The three of them responded absentmindedly and continued drinking water.
“I said, I’m taking a bath!”
Seeing that they were still focused on quenching their thirst, Zi Ying’s frustration spiked. Her voice grew louder, and faint black lines appeared on her smooth, beautiful forehead.
“Oh… Huh?!”
It was only then that the three of them realized—she actually intended to bathe here.
“If anyone dares to come back, I’ll gouge out his eyes!”
Without hesitation, the three of them walked away, continuing down the path ahead. From behind, the sound of splashing water echoed continuously—it was clear that Zi Ying was thoroughly enjoying her bath. For a girl, going several days without bathing was worse than death. Now that she had the chance, she was determined to make the most of it.
“Hey, kid! My sister just said she was taking a bath—why didn’t you leave?!”
Shangguan Jingyi glared at Tian Fan, pulling him aside to interrogate him.
“What the hell? You didn’t leave either!”
Tian Fan was just as annoyed, grabbing Shangguan Jingyi by the hand.
“Enough, Jingyi, stop arguing. Just shut your mouth.”
Shangguan Yunfeng intervened, and the group resumed their journey, exploring the path ahead.
Not long after, a sudden scream came from the direction of the spring.
The three who had been scouting immediately froze, their faces filled with alarm. In a flash, they bolted back toward the source of the cry.
Tian Fan was the fastest—his Divine Cloud Steps were unmatched.
In the blink of an eye, he disappeared from the others’ sight…
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