CHAPTER 968: CHAPTER 948: YINGZHOU ISLAND

Countless small boats drifted on the sea, densely packed like dumplings in a pot.

As they approached an island, the area was shrouded in white fog, obscuring vision and making it unclear if there were more boats around.

Luo Qianqian held tightly onto Tang Tianyi’s hands as they disembarked from the boat together.

The others remained skeptical, but they had sufficient trust in each other.

"I hope you all make it back safely," prayed the three people left on the small boat, including Diwu Yan, as they wished luck for their team.

Faintly, a somewhat illusory barrier could be seen ahead, where Luo Qianqian and Tang Tianyi stopped simultaneously.

This was the first time it had opened since before they were born, so they knew nothing of what to be cautious of, nor did they ask, as there was nothing worth asking.

Even if there was some secret, no one would kindly tell you.

They all picked up their wooden tokens, watching the people around them mostly move forward, then tightly held each other’s hand, pressing the wooden tokens forward.

Exchanging glances, they slowly nodded and walked into Yingzhou Island.

However, as they held hands, a strong tearing sensation and distance-induced pain appeared.

Luo Qianqian clung tightly to Tang Tianyi’s hand, and he responded by gripping her hand firmly.

Soon after, they found themselves among an oddly sinister forest. The ground was a sea of green, with occasional patches of black soil and lively small animals, heralding life and vitality.

Before they could take in the scenery, they instinctively looked back, only to find an endless expanse of forest.

Stunned for a long time, they eventually examined their intertwined hands, riddled with wounds, blood spilling forth, yet the rest of their bodies were unscathed except for those hands.

With a hint of helplessness, Tang Tianyi remarked, "No wonder people never travel in pairs."

Seeing their somewhat exposed hands, he took out medicinal powder and sprinkled it on.

Luo Qianqian flinched in pain, swiftly retrieving a small medicine bottle obtained in the Chaos Realm, poured out two pills, and gave one to Tang Tianyi.

Then she put away the jade vase.

Tang Tianyi showed no surprise at this nor that Luo Qianqian held nothing in her hands.

He roughly bandaged his hands; though they no longer hurt, they still looked alarming.

Luo Qianqian also wasn’t curious about his response because Tang Tianyi had produced the medicinal powder in the same manner. Their backpacks were just for decoration, easily cast into their rings, exchanged for black sportswear and comfortable running shoes, and picked up nearby branches.

Luo Qianqian looked around, seeing nothing but trees, furrowing her brow, "How do we proceed? And don’t tell me Yingzhou Island is just a huge forest; are we here to pick mushrooms?"

Tang Tianyi was speechless for a moment before replying, "Let’s find a direction first, and then see."

"But we need a direction first. There are so many ways; which way do we go?" With no path in sight, no footprints or trails, not even a cliché path where the more people walk, the road emerges, how to approach a path that no one’s ever traversed?

After a moment’s contemplation, Tang Tianyi took out a pair of gloves, putting them on, "Wait for me."

He said, eyeing the thickest tree on the right, and began to climb.

To Luo Qianqian’s surprise, Tang Tianyi’s tree-climbing ability was quite impressive. In a flash, he disappeared among the branches, as if the canopy spawned another canopy blocking her view.

Fortunately, not long after, Tang Tianyi descended.

Pointing to the right, he said, "There are buildings in this direction." Indicating the left, "And there’s a desert this way."

As for the front and back, "Both seem endless."

So, they moved, heading to the right. Even if the treasure wasn’t in the direction of the buildings, it wouldn’t be in the midst of the forest or vast desert.

Luo Qianqian was somewhat puzzled, "Is there really a desert on this island?"

Because of the fog, the size of the island was unclear, but it was not impossible.

After all, the island’s edge was visible with pebbles, quickly leading into a dense jungle, making one question their eyesight.

The two moved forward, occasionally stopping to observe, and Luo Qianqian paused to dig up medicinal herbs, but they avoided wasting time as they had prepared plenty of food and water.

"Qhianqhian."

After two days of travel, practicing cultivation at night against a tree without daring to sleep, they were grateful for the medicinal powder and tents, freeing them from fear.

Hearing Tang Tianyi call, Luo Qianqian lifted her head from a freshly dug herb, tossing the plant and tool into her ring, yet noticed something different about the direction Tang Tianyi pointed to.

It was a strange light not typical of the forest, and a moment later, her expression turned odd...

They were on a cliff?

And Tang Tianyi saw was not a small building but a massive structure... he had only seen the top.

"I..." She wanted to praise its grandeur, but no words came to mind.

Shocked, Luo Qianqian beheld the seemingly resplendent building.

"What material could have built it?" Despite her modest fortune, Luo Qianqian couldn’t help feeling envious.

If the structure was made of gold, estimating the gold used seemed impossible, wouldn’t it?

Faced with reason, she dismissed the idea quickly.

Gold is soft; if a high building were truly golden, wouldn’t it collapse in seconds?

Yet if something else, how could it withstand the elements while remaining pristine?

Aside from gold, what stable golden-toned metal existed?

Her wild thoughts only lasted a moment, quickly returning to normal.

The surrounding, visibly sharp winds could be heard from a distance, intimidating any approach.

The shrill sounds kept observers at bay, fearing even metal would be shredded.

This place was evidently an Asura Hell, with no hope of returning.

"Should we head there?" Tang Tianyi ignored the spectacle, pointing instead to ruins on the palace’s side, seemingly devoid of terrifying wind blades.

Swish, swish!

As they turned and skirted through the forest, a squad of black-clad troops appeared before the palace, their shields gleaming.

A dozen figures galloped from afar, halting at the wind blades’ periphery.

Just as they reached the boundary, the ground erupted, and a giant scorpion burst forth, instantly killing an unguarded man with a single swipe of its tail.

The man quickly dissolved into a pool of black water...

But the pair had already left, missing the scene.