"Yes, let's keep our spirits up." I chimed in.
The ground was covered with a thick layer of fallen leaves. Every step produced a soft rustling sound, as if whispering the ancient and mysterious tales of this forest.
All sorts of bizarre plants grew wildly here. Some emitted a captivating fragrance that felt almost magical, intoxicating anyone who caught a whiff and making them forget all their worries and fatigue. Others would suddenly, without warning, shoot out flexible vines, attempting to bind people tightly with lightning speed.
The illusions in the forest were even harder to guard against. Sometimes, a gorgeous garden would suddenly appear before our eyes, filled with colorful, competing blossoms and rich aromas that made one yearn to walk closer and admire them.
"This garden is so gorgeous. Could it be a trap?" I blurted out.
"Junior Sister, don't be fooled by appearances. Proceed with caution," Mu Yanfeng warned.
Yet the moment we drew near, that beautiful garden would transform without warning into a terrifying swamp, exuding a nauseating stench.
Sometimes, we would spot the familiar figures of loved ones calling out ahead, their voices laden with longing and care. But when we joyfully rushed toward them, those figures would vanish into thin air, leaving behind only profound disappointment and bewilderment.
Right at that moment, I suddenly caught sight of an injured fawn. It stood alone beside an ancient tree, its head lowered, its eyes filled with pain and helplessness.
Its once-smooth coat had several tears and was stained with blood, while twigs and dirt clung to its wounds.
"How pitiful! Let's help it," I said, my heart aching with sympathy.
Hearing my words, Mu Yanfeng and Qingmiao did not hesitate for a second and immediately stepped forward. We carefully examined the fawn's wounds, gently cleared away the debris around them, and applied the medicinal herbs we carried with us.
Under our careful ministration, the fawn's condition gradually improved. It raised its head, gratitude shining in its eyes. Perhaps wishing to repay us for saving its life, it struggled to its feet. Though its steps were still somewhat unsteady, it walked resolutely in a specific direction.
We followed behind the fawn, pushing through a dense thicket and skirting around several massive boulders. Finally, the fawn stopped in a secluded nook.
There, we discovered a hidden spring. Water trickled slowly from a crack in the rock face, gathering into a crystal-clear pool. A faint mist drifted above the surface, carrying an aura of mystery.
Eagerly, we approached the spring, cupped the water in our hands, and brought it to our lips. The instant we drank, a cool and miraculous surge of energy flowed through our throats into our bodies, as though all our fatigue and pain had been swept away, leaving our minds and bodies deeply refreshed.
We looked at the fawn gratefully. Having apparently fulfilled its mission, it gave its tail a light flick and slowly turned to disappear into the depths of the jungle.
"What a wondrous encounter," I remarked with emotion.
"Perhaps this is the forest's benevolent response to our kindness," Qingmiao said with a smile.
Gazing in the direction the fawn had left, Mu Yanfeng said thoughtfully, "Let's move on. There may be even more surprises and challenges waiting for us."
We re-packed our gear and, with our energy restored, ventured deeper into the forest. The further we went, the taller the trees grew and the dimmer the light became.
Suddenly, a gust of howling wind swept past, rustling the leaves.
A massive figure lunged out from the woods—a ferocious beast. It was hideous in form, its body covered in green scales that flashed with a cold, piercing light.
When its gaping maw opened, it looked as though it could swallow the entire sky, and its jagged fangs resembled sharp lances, striking terror into the heart.
"Watch out!" Mu Yanfeng shouted loudly.
The beast lunged forward fiercely, kicking up a foul-smelling gust of wind. Qingmiao flickered aside like a ghost, her sword slashing out in a smooth arc to spark a flurry of fire against the beast's scales.
Yet this blow caused no real damage to the beast; instead, it only enraged it.
The beast whirled around and lunged at Qingmiao once more, its massive claws sweeping down amidst a rushing sound of wind.
At that critical juncture, I rapidly wove seals with both hands, and a surging wave materialized out of thin air, crashing violently into the beast and knocking its attack off course.
Taking advantage of the opening, Mu Yanfeng unleashed a powerful wind spell. Gales gathered around him, forming spinning tornadoes.
The roaring tornadoes hurtled toward the beast, colliding with its massive body in a deafening crash. Blasted backward by the sheer force, the beast let out an angry roar.
However, the beast quickly steadied itself, swinging its thick, powerful forelimbs in a sweeping arc. We scrambled out of the way as its claws smashed a massive crater into the ground.
Seizing the gap in the beast's assault, Qingmiao darted forward, her sword thrusting straight for its eyes. Sensing danger, the beast jerked its head back, and her blade left only a shallow scratch along its chin.
I channeled my power once more, summoning a continuous stream of water magic that transformed the waves into countless sharp ice spikes, which shot toward the beast. It twisted its body to dodge, but a good number of the spikes still embedded themselves in the gaps between its scales.
Mu Yanfeng raised both hands high as immense wind power condensed into a massive wind blade in his grasp. With a mighty roar, he brought it down upon the beast. The blade sliced across its body, cutting through its tough armor and sending blood spurting out.
Howling in pain, the beast attacked us even more frantically. Yet the three of us refused to yield an inch. Working in tandem, we engaged the creature in a thrilling, desperate battle.
Qingmiao moved with fluid grace, darting like a fluttering butterfly through the gaps in the beast's attacks. Her sword flashed outward continuously, every strike imbued with unyielding resolve. Her gaze was steadfast and sweat dampened her brow, but her movements never faltered.
I poured all my focus into controlling the waves and ice spikes, continuously assaulting the beast to restrict its movements. The relentless output of magical energy left me feeling drained, but I gritted my teeth and held on.
Mu Yanfeng danced with both hands, the winds growing increasingly fierce under his command. Tornadoes roared, clashing against the might of the beast. His booming voice rang out to coordinate our movements, brimming with tenacity.
"Focus your attacks on its legs!" Mu Yanfeng shouted.
Hearing this, we immediately shifted our assault to the beast's legs. Qingmiao's sword struck like lightning toward its knee joints, while I used ice spikes to block its retreat, and Mu Yanfeng's wind blades continuously hacked at the muscles in its legs.
The beast's movements gradually slowed, and its roars began to carry a hint of fear and exhaustion.
"Now's the time! All-out attack!" Seizing the opportunity, Mu Yanfeng whipped up another massive wind blade.
Qingmiao leaped high into the air, her sword blazing with intense light as she drove it straight toward the beast's heart.
I channeled the very last of my magical energy to summon a colossal water tornado, charging straight at the beast.
Under our combined assault, the beast finally collapsed, crashing heavily to the ground and perishing.
"Let's get out of here quickly and find the Divine artifact fragment," Mu Yanfeng said.
We quickened our pace and finally arrived at the clearing deep within the forest, canopied by giant branches. Resting upon an ancient stone platform, the Divine artifact fragment radiated a mysterious and powerful glow.
"We finally found it!" I cried out in excitement.
Yet the moment I eagerly reached out to grab the glowing fragment, a powerful force violently knocked me back.
I crashed heavily to the ground, a wave of pain wracking my entire body. Immediately afterward, a seal glowing with strange light materialized out of thin air, trapping us firmly in place like an invisible cage.
"It seems getting it won't be that easy," Qingmiao said calmly. Her gaze locked onto the seal, her brows slightly furrowed as a look of grave contemplation crossed her face.