Forest of Mist, though called a forest, bore no resemblance to one. There were no trees, no grass, not even a single sprout of green life. The reason it was named so was because it was blanketed entirely by mist—mist that was not ordinary, but woven from the lingering memories of countless people who had once ventured into it, many never even returned.
This mist was treacherous, infamous for its sinister ability to meddle with the minds of those who entered. It confused them, twisting their thoughts, pulling them into a spiral of illusions and hallucinations until, at last, they succumb to death. Even the strongest of cultivators, those of higher ranks, had fallen prey to its grasp. Only a rare handful had ever walked out alive.
Yet, despite its dreadful reputation, this Forest of Mist was also known as an opportunity of immense value. For those who could endure its illusions and survive, the mist granted fragments of knowledge, experiences, and memories left behind by others. But in truth, such triumphs were almost nonexistent. Out of a thousand brave enough to attempt, not even one dared step forth, for the chances of survival were virtually zero.
Inside the mist, one's sense of direction would vanish, memories would scatter, and the very core of one's identity would unravel. It stripped away not only awareness but the self itself, leaving nothing but chaos.
The mist stretched for over a thousands of miles, a boundless sea of deathly haze.
These thoughts emerged within Yang Zhai's mind.
"Still, avoiding it isn't difficult. One simply needs to dive beneath the ocean's surface, and the way forward becomes clear," he mused quietly.
The kilt flew steadily, carrying Yang Zhai and the others across the waters. Their journey remained undisturbed until, in the distance, a wall of mist came into view, sprawling endlessly across the horizon.
When Li Min caught sight of it, her expression tightened. With a swift order, she commanded the kilt to dive beneath the waters and press on.
By the time evening arrived, the sun was already dipping low into the horizon. Though the kilt had not ventured too deep, choosing to remain near the water's surface, the sky was dimming steadily. Colors of red and orange spread across the heavens, their glow reflecting against the surface of the sea. Even the mist ahead, veiled and endless, was bathed in a crimson-orange hue beneath the last light of day.
On the canoe, darkness began to settle, and no lamps were lit. None dared to attract the eyes of unknown beasts lurking in the vast ocean.
Exhausted from the day's ordeals, the disciples had already fallen into slumber. Fear and fatigue weighed heavily on them, leaving no strength to resist sleep.
Meanwhile, Yu Hao and the other elders remained vigilant. They knew too well the dangers that prowled these waters, dangers that could strike at any moment.
Li Min guided the kilt carefully, her expression steady and sharp.
Yang Zhai, in his usual manner, had activated his blue and yellow lines. The faint glow pulsed quietly within his void as he sat at the edge of the canoe, eyes scanning the surroundings with caution. Beside him, Zuh Qil also stayed awake. Unlike before, he did not feign cultivation but instead kept his gaze sharp and alert.
"It's getting late. Soon, night will completely fall. Though our eyes can pierce the darkness, the dangers hidden within will only multiply," Li Min murmured, her voice calm yet filled with caution.
"You're right. But tell me this—don't you think our journey has been too smooth so far? Even after the Water Peacock, things have been strangely quiet." Yu Hao replied, his words casual, though a shadow of unease lingered behind them.
"Like silence before a storm," Lei Mou added grimly.
"These kids sleep so soundly, as though nothing threatens them. If only they understood how unforgiving these oceans are, they would not dare rest so easily," another elder remarked in a low voice.
"You're not wrong. Still, about those two who haven't closed their eyes yet. Perhaps the fear from today's encounter has stripped them of sleep altogether," Lei Mou said, glancing toward Yang Zhai and Zuh Qil.
Though the elders kept their voices low, Yang Zhai could hear every word. He chose not to respond, simply keeping his silence, pretending he had heard nothing.
"I recall when I was young, I loved this hour of twilight," Lei Mou continued, his tone softening with nostalgia. "Whenever I crossed oceans, I would marvel at the way the sun painted the waters. I could never understand why the adults around me never seemed to enjoy it. Only later, when I grew older, did I realize why."
"You're not alone," Li Min answered calmly. "I still find it beautiful, but my vigilance outweighs my ability to savor it. Beauty fades quickly when survival hangs in the balance."
Their quiet conversation was interrupted when the kilt suddenly shifted, its direction faltering slightly.
It was already dark.
Li Min narrowed her eyes, her instincts flaring. She scanned the waters carefully, but in that brief moment, they had already strayed off course.
Her vigilance sharpened. She raised her voice slightly to alert the others.
"Yu Hao… something's not right."
Yu Hao frowned, then his expression darkened. "The waters… they're moving in circles?"
Lei Mou, at first uncertain, quickly grew pale. "No… don't tell me… an undercurrent?!"
"But how? We plotted our route to avoid such regions. How could one suddenly appear here?!" Li Min demanded, her face grim.
Yu Hao silenced the group, his gaze narrowing as he focused on the water's flow. "…Even if an undercurrent did form, it shouldn't be dragging us straight into its heart. We should have been at the edge."
Before he could think further, the undercurrent surged, its pull growing violent. The kilt shuddered under the pressure.
"What's happening now?!" Yu Hao's face changed with confusion.
The protective glass barrier shattered, and in the next instant, something massive slammed into their canoe.
The impact scattered everyone in different directions, tossing them into the chaos.
"Cloud Serpent…" Lei Mou's eyes widened as a shadowy figure appeared in his eyes.
"No! Impossible! We deliberately avoided its territory, going through the Water Peacock's territory! How could it appear here?!" Li Min shouted, struggling to stabilize herself as the waters churned violently around them.
"Forget the why! Lei Mou, gather the disciples and retreat! Lead them beyond the Forest of Mist and wait for us!" Yu Hao roared, then turned to Li Min. "Li Min, fight with me. I am a sand path cultivator—I hold no advantage here."
Li Min nodded resolutely and directed the kilt to brace for battle.
From the depths, a colossal figure emerged. A serpent nearly sixty feet long, its body shimmering with menace. Violet stripes curled like burning patterns across its scales, while its underside gleamed faint black and its back shone golden. Black spikes crowned its head, giving the appearance of a dark, regal crown. Its eyes were as dark as the abyss itself. When it hissed, its tongue flickering sharply, the silence of water swallowed all sound.
Yu Hao and Li Min steeled themselves, ready for combat.
Meanwhile, Yang Zhai had been hurled out of the undercurrent's pull. Blood spilled from his lips as dizziness overtook him, but with sheer will he forced himself to stay conscious. He knew that closing his eyes now meant certain death.
No. I must endure. I can't fall here. No one will come for me. I cannot depend on them—I must depend only on myself. These were the thoughts carved into Yang Zhai's mind.
To him, survival meant vigilance, and vigilance meant never letting his guard drop—not even for a breath.
Thankfully, I saw the Cloud Serpent a split second before it struck. I had just enough time to activate the blue lines. Though Yu Hao's glass barrier absorbed most of the blow, the remaining force still tore into me. Had I been slower by even a heartbeat, I would already be dead.
The realization flickered through his thoughts in less than a second.
Holding his breath, Yang Zhai activated the Last One ring. But to his disappointed, he couldn't recall Zuh Qil back.
Yah Yan, why can't I recall Zuh Qil back into the ring? he asked inwardly.
Master, it only works within a hundred meters range. You must already be beyond that range, Yah Yan explained.
Ina Ya's voice followed, calm and precise. But you should still be able to send him a message. The range for communication is five miles. You should do it quickly—if you drift too far, even that connection will be lost.
So that's the reason… I remember Zuh Qil sat to my left when the serpent struck, while I took the brunt of the blow from the front. He should still be alive. I can't risk exposing Yah Yan or Ina Ya before Yu Hao's group, so searching for him directly is impossible. No choice…
Resolving himself, Yang Zhai sent a single message through the ring, instructing Zuh Qil to accompany Yu Hao and the others, and wait for his return. Nothing more. If he died after that, he couldn't do anything.
All this happened within mere seconds.
The seal ring was already active, and the gate ahead had begun to stir, opening faintly in the distance.
Still, Yang Zhai poured energy into his yellow lines, activating all five at once to push his vision outward. His sight stretched, piercing the waters up to 407.5 miles. Yet, the strain was unbearable—pain stabbed his eyes mercilessly, forcing him to withdraw in haste.
But in that fleeting instant, what he saw froze his breath.
Another Cloud Serpent, rushing straight toward him.
"A Cloud Serpent…?"
Damn it! I'm already wounded. If I'm caught in a fight, I won't survive! The gate isn't ready yet, and with its speed, it'll reach me long before I can escape!
!|!*****!*****!|!
Yah Yan & Ina Ya: From the Ring of Truth. Curious to know more? Visit Chapter 243.
A note of correction: During Yang Zhai's battle against the false immortals of Mantora Mountain, he had only activated four yellow lines together, not five. At the time, the severe pain of activating all five was too much for his eyes to endure. This has already been adjusted accordingly.
…..
Author's Gone Crazy
I know this novel hasn't given me much in return, and honestly, I don't have many expectations left. But even so, I still hope you can motivate me—whether it's through comments, reviews, or simply helping bring in a little more attention. Even the smallest gesture means the world to me, and I believe I at least deserve that much.
You've probably noticed the improvement in my writing toward the end of Volume 1 and the beginning of Volume 2. That's because every chapter goes through at least two rounds of proofing before I release it, which takes a lot of time and effort. Still, I plan on continuing this process to make sure the quality keeps getting better.
And maybe you haven't realized it yet, but the story behind this novel runs far deeper than it seems. There are layers and moments ahead that I can't wait to share with you—things that will only reveal their weight if you stay on this journey with me.
Know this: a motorbike can't keep moving forward with just one tire. I'm already giving my best effort, but I truly hope to see even a little effort from your side as well. Your role matters too—and don't worry, I'm not asking for money, lol.
This time, I've made up my mind not to disappear into another long hiatus. No matter what, even if I can only share two or three chapters a week, I'll keep writing.