Yulong Tianchi, a volcanic lake nestled between mountains, stretched over two thousand meters from north to south and more than three thousand meters from east to west.
From a distance, the lake's surface was smooth, clean, and pure.
Normally, the Tianchi resembled a giant mirror, inlaid within the mountain passes.
But at this very moment, at the heart of the Tianchi, the lake water surged and churned, creating a vortex.
A light flickered at the center of the vortex, emitting a gem-like luster.
Beyond this, there was nothing else. The ninja troops and the mountain-guarding elder mentioned by the ninja were nowhere to be seen.
"That is the Boundary Yuan Gate leading to Jile Island. It seems we are a step too late; they might have already entered."
Chu Qingluan pointed at the vortex in the center of the lake.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go in too!"
Chen Xiao said, about to fly into the vortex.
At this moment, Chu Qingluan stopped him. "Mr. Chen, going in just like this is too reckless! I don't think this is that simple; this could very well be a trap."
"What makes you say that? Do you know something about this?"
Chen Xiao asked, puzzled.
Chu Qingluan shook her head.
"I don't know anything specific. I mean, this might be a trap set by Grandpa Mountain Guard for those Japanese scum. Given Grandpa Mountain Guard's personality, he wouldn't open the Boundary Yuan Gate for those Japanese scum even if he were beaten to death, unless he was confident he could eliminate them!"
Chen Xiao frowned. "We can't worry about that now. The mountain-guarding elder has disappeared, and this is the only entrance for us to enter Jile Island. If we hesitate any longer, it will be too late!"
The vortex in the center of the lake was shrinking, and it looked like the Boundary Yuan Gate would close soon.
"Whether you want to come in with me is your decision!"
Chen Xiao said finally.
"For Grandpa Mountain Guard, I will try even if it means facing mountains of knives or cauldrons of oil. It's just that I'm worried..."
"Since you've decided to try, stop with the 'just that.' Hesitation leads to no achievement. Everyone, get on. We're leaving!"
Chu Qingluan, Xiao Hongchan, and Da Hui all jumped onto Chen Xiao's Yitian Sword.
The three people and one wolf flew into the vortex. After a period of dizziness and disorientation, they fell into a forest through a spatial rift.
As soon as they fell in, the spatial rift immediately closed and disappeared, cutting off any possibility of returning the way they came.
"Is this Jile Island?"
The trees before them were incredibly tall, blocking out the sky. The surrounding environment was warm and humid. Chen Xiao felt as if he had entered a primeval forest.
"Big Brother, why do I feel like my body has become so heavy? I'm so tired I can barely stand..."
Xiao Hongchan mumbled with a frown.
Reminded by Xiao Hongchan, Chen Xiao realized it was indeed the case.
Since arriving in this space, he felt his body had become much heavier, his strength significantly reduced, and he felt extremely weak.
Most importantly, in this space, his divine sense was useless again... Furthermore, the circulation of spiritual energy had become extremely sluggish, and he couldn't even fly on his sword.
Chen Xiao's current strength was likely less than a tenth of his normal capacity.
At this moment, Chu Qingluan reminded them, "Don't panic. The environment on Jile Island is like this. It's my fault for not warning you beforehand. The ancestors of the ancient martial world believed this environment was more conducive to cultivation. It not only enhances the physical strength of martial artists but, more importantly, tempers their combat will."
Chen Xiao was speechless. To become stronger, to what extent had these people pushed themselves?
However, their theory did have some merit.
The principle was similar to runners tying sandbags to their legs; after removing the sandbags, they could run with incredible speed.
But the problem was, this method was too primitive... It was hard to imagine that this was a method of improvement conceived by martial gods.
In short, it was too primitive.
However, this also sparked a question in Chen Xiao's mind: these middle-thousand worlds seemed to be domain spaces artificially created by someone.
These restrictions were very telling.
Just then, a rustling sound came from the nearby grass.
"Wow, it's a little bunny!"
"The little bunny is so cute. I'll love it even more when I eat it!"
Xiao Hongchan pointed at the grass.
Chen Xiao and Chu Qingluan looked in the direction she pointed and indeed saw a cute little rabbit.
The rabbit seemed unafraid of people. It was only two or three meters away from Chen Xiao and the others, yet it was leisurely nibbling on grass leaves, showing no intention of running away.
Da Hui was a wolf. A rabbit leisurely eating grass in front of a wolf?
This was too insulting! Where did it put the wolf's dignity?
Da Hui couldn't stand it. It scratched the ground with its hind paws, opened its massive maw, and lunged at the little rabbit.
The little rabbit seemed oblivious to the impending doom. Da Hui was within striking distance; one bite would tear the little rabbit to shreds.
However, at that moment, the little rabbit suddenly kicked out, sending Da Hui flying.
Da Hui flew three or four meters before landing on the ground.
Then, the little rabbit abandoned the grass leaves in its mouth, glared fiercely at Da Hui with its blood-red eyes, and then charged over!
Chen Xiao was utterly bewildered. What was going on?
A rabbit charging at a big grey wolf?
"Fierce beast, it's a fierce beast!"
Chu Qingluan's face turned ashen, and her body trembled uncontrollably. "I know where this place is..."
Chen Xiao didn't have time to ask Chu Qingluan what she had discovered. Da Hui was his wolf, and he couldn't just watch Da Hui be killed by a rabbit!
He raised his foot and kicked at the rabbit!
With a bang, the rabbit was kicked dozens of meters away before falling to the ground.
What happened next was even more unbelievable.
The rabbit was still alive after falling to the ground. It got up, shook its head, and then hopped away with incredible speed that the eyes couldn't follow!
Chen Xiao was completely stunned. Although his strength was greatly limited in this damned place, and his power might only be a tenth of his normal capacity, he shouldn't be unable to kill a rabbit with a single kick, right?
"This rabbit is definitely strange!"
Chen Xiao stated with certainty.
Chu Qingluan nodded. "Yes, it's not an ordinary rabbit; it's a fierce beast. And if I'm not mistaken, this is the forbidden area of Jile Island, the Forest of Fierce Beasts."
"Forest of Fierce Beasts? Forbidden area of Jile Island? What kind of place is this?"
Chen Xiao asked, full of confusion.
Chu Qingluan explained with a wry smile, "The creatures living in this forest are almost all fierce beasts in their transformation stage... I understand Grandpa Mountain Guard's intention."
"He opened that Boundary Yuan Gate precisely to use these fierce beasts to eliminate those Japanese scum."
"Mr. Chen, we really shouldn't have come. Today, we might all die here..."