Pillar of Yita

After all, the time the photograph on the wanted order was taken was a year ago, and during this period, the Big Cat People had changed equipment several times.

”What about those crystal monsters?” Reed asked again.

”They stopped outside.” Hilveld said with a smile.

”Stopped outside?”

”It seems like there’s an invisible boundary outside this forest. When those monsters reached that place, they automatically stopped, Mr. Reed,” Fang Hong adjusted his goggles as he replied.

”It seems this is a sacred place.”

Miss Ship’s Officer glanced around, ”In Asuka, Xiesta and I once visited such a place. The local Lizardmen built a shelter sanctuary in the valley, causing the malevolent forces within the rainforest to dare not set foot.”

”Order Temple, Land of the Sage, I’ve also heard of such places, the former repels chaos, and the latter rejects evil. It’s a force that guards alignments,” Reed said, twirling his mane with his paw, ”but constructs like those artificial entities don’t inherently have alignment biases.”

”I know,” Parker shouted excitedly, ”this is a sanctuary of nature, rejecting all unnatural things.”

”I’ve never heard of such a sanctuary, Parker.”

”Well, now you have.”

”Great,” Tianlan said sarcastically, ”I suggest we throw this Papalarian out first, to spare Goddess Ameya’s eyes the sight.”

”However, this is indeed Lady Ameya’s forest,” Tang Xin suddenly interjected.

Everyone couldn’t help but look at her.

”Do you sense something?” Fang Hong asked. Tangtang is a priest of Milaila, and a believer of friendly deities entering the domain of other deities should have some sense of it.

Tang Xin nodded.

”Could it really be because of the sacred place?” Gita softly asked.

”See, I told you,” Parker said proudly.

”Just like a blind cat stumbling upon a dead rat,” Tianlan retorted immediately.

”But it’s still uncertain,” Hilveld shook her head, ”there could be another reason.”

Fang Hong turned to look at Miss Ship’s Officer, ”Hilveld, what did you discover?”

”Lord Captain is aware of a beast’s territorial sense, right? Perhaps there’s a more powerful presence here that prevents the Crystalysis Beasts from advancing easily.”

Fang Hong paused slightly at her words, suddenly recalling the telepathic voice he heard before entering this place. Could the powerful presence here be the owner of that voice?

It’s a pity Miss Tata remained on the ship; otherwise, he could have asked for her opinion. Without the assistance of Miss Fairy, he felt as if his intelligence had halved.

As for Nini, Fang Hong glanced at the little girl curled up, hugging her tail, sucking her thumb, sleeping soundly in his spirit world. He thought it over and decided against it.

If he woke the little one, she’d likely throw a tantrum, and in her babbling stage, Nini might not articulate what’s happening accurately anyway.

However, given how much the Crystalysis Beasts fear the powerful existence here, why would the voice’s owner seek their help?

Or is it that only lower-rank Crystalysis Beasts behave this way, while some stronger individuals among the Crystalysis Beasts do not fear the owner here?

He recalled what the logs described about the mysterious and enigmatic commander behind those Crystalysis Beasts. In fact, he still remembered the larger Crystalysis Beasts he saw not too long ago. Although they didn’t come too close, Fang Hong could still sense the terrifying aura emitted from them.

Were those the highest rank of Crystalysis Beasts? A voice in Fang Hong’s mind told him, probably not.

The Big Cat Man looked at the others and asked, ”What about the underground Walnuts and the others?”

”They’re behind us, they’ll catch up soon,” Tianlan replied.

In fact, the underground Walnut group was carrying the Time Reflection, making a simple stretcher from tree branches and placing it on top.

Meanwhile, Beiji hung at the back of the group, and Reed found it surprising how brave this girl was, indeed exhibiting more composure than others along the way.

”She’s quite an odd girl,” Reed thought.

...

With the help of the clockwork fairy in mid-air, they kept tailing Amatoran’s group.

However, they hadn’t walked long before the scenery around them changed once more.

They actually saw a strand of light deep in this underground world—the underground realm had become increasingly expansive and broad since the boundary line of the valley outside, with the valleys on both sides retreating, and the rock layers overhead rising higher and higher until vanishing beyond their deep, dark sight.

And at this point, the underground fissure formed a massive rock cavity, seemingly self-contained, creating a vast world beneath the earth.

And at the center of that world, they unexpectedly saw a glowing sun radiating gentle light.

”Oh my god,” Tianlan’s eyes widened, ”what is that!?”

The light orb hung high in mid-air, casting endless light into the entire dark underground space. The withered forest gradually disappeared, and green slowly appeared around them.

The forest seemed to be rejuvenating, sprouting tender branches from the desolate soil, young green leaves emerging from the grey clods, and gradually connecting into a lush expanse. The underground world even had rivers, and after crossing a natural wooden bridge arching over the trickling river, they arrived at a golden meadow ahead.