As Leyvi's group continued their journey through the sky toward the colossal tree, they crossed a variety of terrains and landscapes. They made several more stops to hunt the commander-level demonic beasts they encountered. Each beast possessed a different bloodline power and inhabited a unique environment, which presented new threats and challenges to the hunting team, ensuring that no two battles were ever the same.
However, not all awakened demonic beasts were willing to engage them. A few chose to flee before the battle could even begin, and others managed to escape after a few initial clashes. When these commander-level beasts decided to run for their lives, Leyvi simply let them go, refusing to give chase. He knew that pursuing them could lead the group into potential traps or toward hidden reinforcements.
Beyond hunting, the group also made stops whenever they discovered rare resources, new plants for Lilian's collection, or unique energy signatures. With the scholarly twins, Barcas and Barbara, among them, Leyvi often had no choice but to pause their travel and allow the siblings to investigate whatever mysterious energy sources they detected.
During their long journey, the group encountered three separate individuals who had managed to survive alone and were also trying to reach the colossal tree. However, only one of them was permitted to join Leyvi's group.
Anda prevented the other two from joining. Despite their friendly faces and seemingly good behavior, both men harbored evil intentions. Their intense, unpleasant spiritual stenches gave them away immediately, a stench that could not be hidden from the innate ability of Anda's Heavenly Fragrant Harmony Body. One was filled with disgusting, lustful thoughts toward the ladies in the group, while the other was already planning to kill and rob them all.
If it were solely up to Anda, she would have eliminated both threats without a second thought. But such an action would have seemed excessive and unreasonable in the eyes of the others, who were unaware of her unique sensory ability, a secret she had no intention of revealing. When she firmly prevented the two men from joining, she made sure to cast a meaningful glance in Seraphina's direction, as if hinting at something.
Seraphina could not help but curse inwardly at the gesture. Are you threatening to kick me out of the group? Damn Panda! I have been behaving. I have not caused any trouble. What else do you want from me?
Although she was deeply unhappy with Anda's provocation, the underlying message struck a chord of fear within her. The thought of being left behind alone was terrifying. Having witnessed the dangers of this world, she was no longer the same arrogant and ignorant noble lady. She knew with chilling certainty that she could not survive on her own.
The one who managed to join was a lady named Carla. She possessed an above average appearance, with a gentle grace about her. She wore a modest, light blue flowing dress, and a silken ribbon was tied around her waist, accentuating her curves. Hanging from this ribbon was a small, carefully crafted musical instrument known as a kalimba.
The kalimba was a handheld sound box made of dark, polished wood. Across its center, a series of slender metal tines of varying lengths were mounted, each one carefully tuned to produce a specific, ethereal note when plucked by the thumbs.
Carla hailed from the Protogaea Continent's Moaning Kingdom. She was a young elite cultivator from a top sect that specialized in music and instruments, but among all the complex and powerful artifacts at her disposal, the small and seemingly simple kalimba remained her personal favorite.
She had managed to survive completely alone on her journey for over three years without ever encountering another soul. Her survival was a testament to her mastery over sound, using it to avoid dangers, locate opportunities, and deal with demonic beasts from a safe distance.
Although she felt a profound relief at finally finding other people after so long in isolation, she could not help but be wary of Leyvi and the others at first, her guard constantly up. It was only after observing their group dynamic and the genuine nature of their interactions for some time that she slowly began to open up to them. Once this trust began to form, she finally allowed herself to relax, experiencing the longest and most comfortable sleep she had had in over three years.
---
Three months later, Leyvi's group descended onto a vast, windswept prairie. Anda stored the celestial cloud away, marking the end of their aerial journey. From this point forward, they would have to travel on land. Senior Lapin had refused to let his celestial cloud fly any closer to the colossal tree, fearing that its presence, and by extension his own, would be detected.
"We are still quite far away from that tree. Is Senior Lapin being too paranoid about this?" Dastan asked, gazing at the distant, yet immense, silhouette.
"Senior Lapin is a King Level Demonic Beast. He has lived here his entire life. He probably knows what he should and should not do better than any of us," Tamina reasoned.
"Hmm... I suppose you are right," Dastan conceded with a nod.
"Hahaha! Traveling on land is fine too," Leyvi said, his voice full of enthusiasm. "It is more dangerous, but that makes it more exciting. It has been a long journey. That tree looks much closer now. Just look at how far its branches reach. It is unbelievable." He stared up at the canopy that seemed to hold up the sky itself, his tone filled with pure awe.
"Dohoho! I want to climb that tree!" Bodo exclaimed, his excitement palpable.
"Oh, right. You have a Giant Golden Ape bloodline. Does that make you like climbing trees or something?" Leyvi asked, curious.
"I do not know. I am just excited to see a big tree," Bodo replied, scratching his head in his characteristic, simple manner.
"If we only walk, it would probably take us more than three months to reach the edge of the tree's shade," Barcas chimed in after performing a few rough calculations in his head.
"Do not worry. We are not going to walk all the way there," Anda said with a confident smile. With three flicks of her wrist, she summoned three modified carriages from her space ring, each spacious enough to carry the entire group comfortably.
Anda's smile then turned mischievous. "Usually, we have Mr. Bison to pull the carriages for our family, but unfortunately he is missing now." She paused, her gaze shifting to the small squirrel. "Tantan, why don't you grow bigger and pull us to that tree?" she suggested brightly.
Tantan, who had been lazing comfortably on Dastan's shoulder, widened her eyes in sheer surprise. What?
"Me? No, no, no! Big Madam, I am just a weak little squirrel. I am not suitable for this job at all. I am slow and I have no endurance," Tantan replied frantically, scrambling for an excuse. "I think Seraphina is much more suitable for this role."
In her panic, she even dropped the haughty 'this princess' she usually used to refer to herself. Aside from Dastan, Anda was the only other person she did not dare to speak to arrogantly.
Damn squirrel! Why drag me into this? Seraphina fumed silently, her face flushing with indignation.
Dastan watched the exchange without comment. By now, he had learned to discern when Anda was merely joking from the particular glint in her smile, and he knew this was one of those times.
"Hehe. I am just kidding," Anda giggled, thoroughly amused by Tantan's frantic reaction. She found it especially entertaining that the small squirrel had even tried to use her bad relationship with Seraphina as a way to escape the imagined chore.
"I already discussed this with my husband," Anda continued, her tone shifting to one of warm pride. "He will pull the carriage himself so everyone can relax inside and enjoy the ride. Isn't my husband so nice?"
Leyvi, who had been listening, could not help but roll his eyes. Why are you saying that while directly facing Carla? he thought with a sigh. Stop it, Madam Panda. No more ladies for now.
"Dohoho! If Brother Leyvi does it, I want to do it too!" Bodo volunteered eagerly, his enthusiasm undimmed by the menial nature of the task.
Anda was not surprised in the least. She had fully expected Bodo to volunteer.
"If that is the case, then you can swap turns with my husband," she agreed warmly. "After he gets tired, you can take over. Is that okay?"
"Dohoho! No problem, no problem!" Bodo replied, his face beaming as it always did at the prospect of helping.
"Kekeke!"
Suddenly, a familiar, distinctive laugh echoed from the sky above them.
They all looked up and saw a celestial cloud descending, carrying a man with distinct, long rabbit ears. It was Senior Lapin himself. He usually preferred to remain on his sky island, controlling his celestial clouds from a distance as they roamed the world. For him to appear in person was a rare event.
"Human Leyvi, it is time!" he announced, his ears twitching with a knowing smile.