Deep within the green sea.
The arrival of Xu Yi and the other two startled the nearby birds and beasts, leaving only the gentle rustling of leaves in the wind.
"Shall we continue forward?" Xu Yi suggested.
Guan Li, knowing he had no right to answer, turned his gaze to Ji Buwang.
"We can."
Ji Buwang naturally raised no objection. The trio, treading on fallen leaves, continued deeper into the forest.
As they ventured further, Xu Yi's body suddenly felt a wave of discomfort.
This discomfort caused her to slow her steps, and she naturally fell to the back of the group.
Guan Li was the first to stop.
When he realized he had overtaken Xu Yi, he broke out in a cold sweat, daring not to move. He wondered if the two immortal masters would take a disliking to him because of this.
The ancestral records stated that cultivators from other lands were arrogant and aloof, not warm towards the tribal people, and even disliked them.
It had taken the people of the Earth Tribe considerable effort to gain the acceptance of the Four Symbols Immortal Masters as their followers.
Therefore, the ancestor of the Earth Tribe had warned in the records that if any descendant encountered a cultivator, they must be humble and never offend them.
Guan Li kept this point firmly in mind, which made him exceptionally anxious at this moment.
However, neither Xu Yi nor Ji Buwang paid him any mind.
"What is it?"
Ji Buwang turned around, frowning slightly, with a hint of confusion.
"Something feels off," Xu Yi blinked. "I can't quite explain it, but be careful from now on. Something might happen."
Xu Yi believed her intuition was quite accurate; this was likely a subconscious hint.
"Alright."
Upon hearing her words, Ji Buwang also became extremely vigilant and slowly advanced.
The trio walked through the mountain forest covered in fallen leaves, yet they made almost no sound. The surroundings were eerily quiet.
Thump, thump, thump!
The sound of a beating heart, at some point, began to fill Xu Yi's ears.
And as they walked, the heartbeat grew faster and stronger.
There was definitely something strange ahead.
Xu Yi was very sure.
She had even specifically reminded Ji Buwang to be prepared.
Not long after Ji Buwang agreed, a dense thicket of bushes, a zhang high, appeared before them, completely obscuring the view ahead.
Xu Yi said in a deep voice, "That thing must be behind there."
Could it be their chance to return to the Kyushu Continent?
Xu Yi hoped the answer was yes, yet she knew in her heart it wouldn't be that simple.
The thicket harbored many small wild animals and insects. As the trio entered, they immediately disturbed the creatures hidden within.
Instantly, the thicket erupted with various chirps, calls, and the rustling of animals moving through.
"There are signs of tribal activity here."
Ji Buwang picked up a long black hair clinging to a branch in the thicket and said to Xu Yi and the other.
"It must be people from the Li Tribe. Only they would be active in this area."
The Li Tribe was the tribe Guan Li had mentioned earlier, who claimed to be descendants of the Beast King.
They lived and died in this place, having never seen the world outside, living a secluded life.
The only ones who could communicate with them were a few small tribes living nearby who occasionally entered the green sea.
However, those smaller tribes never ventured deep into the green sea, firstly due to the danger, and secondly because the Li Tribe considered the green sea their territory. If outsiders were discovered entering, they would be immediately expelled.
Therefore, Guan Li was certain these were the traces of the Li Tribe.
"Li Tribe?"
Ji Buwang suddenly thought of something, his eyes flashing. He exchanged a silent glance with Xu Yi.
Although they did not communicate with words, Xu Yi surprisingly understood what Ji Buwang meant.
Xu Yi's eyes lit up slightly, and she nodded gently at Ji Buwang.
The expressions on both their faces simultaneously eased.
Witnessing all this, Guan Li felt a strong resonance with Bai Shan from another continent at this moment.
Can't these two just speak their minds!
What was the meaning of exchanging glances like that!
Fortunately, Xu Yi and Ji Buwang did not engage in any further behavior that made him unable to look, and the trio emerged from the thicket in less than the time it took for half an incense stick to burn.
"This, this is..."
Guan Li raised his head in shock, staring at the ancient tree that was thicker than ten people could embrace, and his mouth fell open involuntarily.
Even though he had lived on the Beast King Continent his entire life, he had never seen such a thick tree.
In comparison, Xu Yi and Ji Buwang remained very calm. After all, trees nourished by spiritual energy on the Kyushu Continent were even thicker than the one before them.
However, the tree before them gave them a slightly different feeling.
Ji Buwang's eyebrows lowered, and he suddenly felt a sense of unease.
He also felt what Xu Yi was feeling.
That feeling was very subtle, not like danger, but it made his heart race, as if something unexpected was about to happen.
"Guan Li, can you identify what kind of tree this is?" Xu Yi asked.
Guan Li withdrew the shock from his face, studied it carefully for a moment, and then shook his head. "I've never seen anything like it."
If he had seen such an ancient tree, it would have left a deep impression on him.
He suddenly recalled the legend of the Beast King being born here.
He thought that if there was truly a place on this continent related to the Beast King, it could only be in the depths of this green sea.
"There's a fruit hanging on it."
Xu Yi's eyes were sharp. Through the layers of leaves, she spotted a fruit, only half of its body exposed.
The fruit was about the size of a fist, black in color, and elongated, not round.
Guan Li followed Xu Yi's gaze and also discovered the fruit. He immediately volunteered, stepping forward. "Disciple will pick that fruit for the two immortal masters to examine."
Neither Xu Yi nor Ji Buwang objected. They simply nodded and tacitly agreed to his action.
Although the tree didn't seem threatening, having someone to do the task for them, they were too lazy to do it themselves.
With Xu Yi and Ji Buwang's agreement, a hint of joy flashed in Guan Li's eyes. He took a few running steps, stomped hard, and leaped onto the ancient tree in a few bounds.
Within moments, he reached the spot where the tree bore fruit.
Just as he was about to reach out and pluck the fruit, he noticed another one hidden not far away.
"Two immortal masters, there's another fruit here. Do you want me to bring both down?"
"No need, just pick one first," Xu Yi replied casually.
She was hesitant to eat fruit of unknown origin and only intended to pick it to examine.
"Disciple understands."
Guan Li reached out, grasped the fruit in front of him, and pulled with force, then his eyes widened in surprise.
The branch bent under his pull, yet the fruit still hung firmly on its stem.
He glanced down at Xu Yi and Ji Buwang, who were waiting for him. He immediately channeled his witch power into his palm, forcefully snapped the stem, and holding the fruit, jumped back to Xu Yi and Ji Buwang, handing it to them respectfully with both hands.
Xu Yi did not immediately take it, but stared at the fruit with an expression of awe.
"This fruit looks like a heart."