After leaving the eerie forest, Grace and her group followed the elderly man's directions and headed southeast.The deeper they went into the grove, the denser the fog became. The leaves no longer rustled with their pleasant sound. Instead, an unsettling stillness hung in the air. The faint, fresh scent of the woods carried an underlying trace of something sickly sweet."Ms. Linsor, can we really trust what that elderly man said?" Judith asked, lowering her voice and glancing around warily.Grace shook her head, her expression tense. "It's hard to tell, but this is the only clue we have," she replied.If Dustin, a terrestrial immortal realm powerhouse, hadn't been with them, she never would have dared take the risk.After about an hour of walking, they finally spotted the deep canyon that the elderly man had told them about.The entrance was narrow, flanked by towering black cliffs that seemed to have been carved with giant blades. Not a single plant grew on the barren rock walls
The little boy glared at Dustin, his jet-black eyes looking him up and down. For someone so young, his voice was unexpectedly pompous and commanding."Huh? An outsider like you actually has some skill. You managed to block my casual strike?"Dustin remained calm. He lowered his hand and said evenly, "For someone so young, there's no need to be so vicious. We can talk this through.""Vicious? Hmph! You trespass in my sanctuary, disturb my cultivation, and now you dare lecture me?" the boy snapped, clearly provoked by Dustin's calm demeanor.He stomped his foot and shot into the air like a cannonball. Curving his hands into claws, he lunged at Dustin's head as an azure glow wreathed around his fingertips, whistling sharply.This attack was far stronger than the last. The air warped where his claws passed, and invisible pressure bent the surrounding trees until they nearly snapped.Dustin shook his head, with a trace of exasperation on his calm face. Without moving from his spot or
After leaving the lakeside carnage, Dustin, Grace, and the group moved with extreme caution. They threaded their way carefully through the dense, treacherous jungle.The dangers of Elysium Isle far surpassed anything they'd imagined. Harmless-looking shrubs could suddenly whip out barbed tendrils, and vibrant flowers spewed clouds of paralyzing pollen. Even the soil underfoot might collapse without warning into churning quicksand ready to devour them whole.Fortunately, Dustin, a man whose strength seemed limitless, was there to lead them. He seemed to sense danger before it struck, handling each threat with effortless ease and guiding the group safely through one deadly encounter after another.After traveling for roughly a day and a night, the landscape suddenly opened up before them.A vibrant green grove stretched before them. Slender trunks rose straight and tall, leaves rustling gently in a light mist. The air smelled fresh and clean. It was a sharp contrast to the dangers th
Talmor, the man in the long green robe, sneered. "Judging by how Thymaleon looks, I'm afraid his core power has likely been damaged. It's unbelievable. Who else on Elysium Isle could injure him this badly besides us?"The stunning woman, Valindra, covered her mouth and chuckled. Her eyes lingered on Thymaleon without saying a word.Only the tall, broad-shouldered man, Malthor, remained expressionless. He slowly sat up and pushed the woman beside him aside. His cold, piercing stare locked on Thymaleon. When he spoke, his voice was low and carried an edge that made everyone tense."What happened?" he asked.Thymaleon trembled ever so slightly under the stares of the four people, especially Malthor's.Swallowing his humiliation, he stepped forward, dropped to one knee, and lowered his head. He recounted everything that had happened in full detail.He told them how Tristan and the others had awakened him and how he'd casually slaughtered the mortals nearby. Then Dustin intervened,
Thymaleon, weakened from reassembling his body, transformed into a dim streak of white light and flew toward a hidden valley in the southeast.Under the moonlight, his figure no longer looked transcendent and graceful. Instead, he appeared hurried and disheveled. He passed through layers of primitive jungle shrouded in eerie mist and swept over several marshes lurking with dangerous presences. Finally, he reached his destination.The valley's entrance was blocked by dense vines and bizarre stone formations. Unless someone knew the path, they would never be able to find it.Thymaleon chanted an obscure incantation. His fingertips barely gathered a trace of light, which he pressed into the empty air. As the ripples spread outward, the vines and stones twisted and vanished, revealing a narrow opening just wide enough for one person.The cave inside was deep and dark. Strange gemstones embedded in the stone walls on both sides emitted a soft, white glow, illuminating the way forwar
Dustin exhaled sharply, relief washing over him. He had finally dealt with it. Facing an opponent at his own level for the first time was no easy task.Even stranger, there was some peculiar power inside Thymaleon's body, much unlike a grandmaster's internal energy. It was a completely different kind of energy, something that defied description. Either way, the threat was eliminated.Footsteps sounded in the distance.Grace and the others emerged cautiously from the edge of the forest. Their eyes swept over the devastation, and fear lingered in their expressions.The clash of lightning and sword aura had been so intense that even distant observers felt as if their hearts were being crushed.As they approached the battlefield, they saw scorched earth still warm beneath their feet. The lake water along the shore had been stained red, and the metallic tang of blood hung in the air. Everything spoke silently of how brutal the fight had been.Judith hurried to Dustin's side. She stare