"Fairy, hello. We did indeed accidentally enter that forbidden land," Jiang Xuan spoke up.
"To actually come out alive—it's truly no small feat," she said softly.
Her gaze swept over the group, calm and steady.
"Is this your true age?" she asked.
"No, we aren't this old. We don't understand why we lost decades of our youth and vitality," a male student replied urgently, his face filled with anxiety and hope as he looked at the girl.
But the young woman didn't look at him. As if she had already known about their lost youth, her eyes turned instead to Jiang Xuan and the other two.
"We're all in our twenties. For some reason, we became younger, but the others aged," Jiang Xuan explained.
"Did you eat a kind of red fruit, one that was bright red and translucent?" the girl asked, surprised.
"Yes. We were starving and came across this red fruit, which we ate," the three nodded in unison.
"You actually had such a rare opportunity," the girl murmured, unable to hide her admiration.
She couldn't help but marvel at their astonishing fortune. Many sect leaders outside longed for such an opportunity but could not attain it, yet here were four who had.
"We are a group of unfortunate souls. Can we regain our youth?" Lin Jia's voice was desperate. Becoming an old woman was worse than death to her.
"Do not despair. Having survived the forbidden land, your 'Sea of Suffering' has been activated. You can now embark on the path of cultivation, and your lifespan will gradually restore itself."
Her voice was ethereal, like heavenly music to their ears.
"I will lead you out first."
With a graceful wave of her jade-like hand, a divine light radiated from her, enveloping everyone. Then, slowly, they rose into the sky, flying towards the horizon.
"This must be the Rainbow Light of the Zhetian Realm," Jiang Xuan thought, feeling the dazzling aura surrounding him. "In this world, whether in battle or flight, the visual effects are magnificent."
He reflected on his own ability to form a three-foot Qi wall with his violet-black Beiming True Qi, but compared to this flying Rainbow Light, it was worlds apart—not because Jiang Xuan was inferior, but because of the vastly different worlds and environments.
Beiming Divine Skill was top-tier in the martial arts world, but in this divine and demonic fantasy realm, it was insufficient. He eagerly anticipated cultivating more powerful techniques.
"I wonder what form my True Qi will take after practicing the Zhetian Method? Will it integrate with the Zhetian technique? Or must my Beiming True Qi dissipate?" he pondered.
The Rainbow Light swept over forests and mountains, towns and cities quickly disappearing beneath them.
"Can we really regain our youth?" a student asked nervously.
"Your 'Sea of Suffering' has been activated. You now have the qualifications for cultivation. Outside, you would be highly sought after by all major Heavenly Caves. Naturally, your youth will be restored."
The girl was patient and gentle, answering all their questions along the way.
As the sun set, they arrived at a small town, its lights glowing warmly in the dusk.
As they drew near, seven or eight beams of rainbow light shot into the sky, each harboring a figure within.
"Vivi has returned," someone whispered.
"Any discoveries around the forbidden land? The major Heavenly Caves have dispatched experts; they seem to be searching for something. You didn't encounter them, did you?"
"The Supreme Elder sensed the disturbance of the forbidden land. Surely, the other realms have noticed as well."
"Who are these people…"
Among the rainbow lights were several elderly figures, presumably the young woman's elders.
"Amazing beyond belief! Even the sect leaders of the greatest sacred grounds cannot emerge unharmed, yet mortals can survive the forbidden land!"
"Haha, thirty people—all promising cultivators."
"Their Seas of Suffering have indeed been activated."
The elders listened intently to Vivi's words, their faces alive with excitement—this was a major harvest.
"Who are you mortals to have entered the forbidden land?"
"Strange, your language sounds odd!"
"What happened to you inside the forbidden land?"
"…"
The seven or eight old men bombarded them with questions, determined to solve every mystery.
"We are thirty from the same hometown. On a gathering trip, we lost ourselves in a mountain. Suddenly, the world spun, and we fainted. When we woke, the surroundings were no longer as before," Jiang Xuan recited the prepared explanation.
"???"
"We don't know how long we were unconscious. When we woke, hungry and thirsty, we supported each other and slowly searched for a way down," a quick-witted female student added.
"Then how did the four of you find the divine fruit?"
"Did you see any other unusual places inside the forbidden land?"
Jiang Xuan answered one by one.
"There are legends of unparalleled masters who can arrange 'formations' across the heavens, mountains, and rivers—moving stars and altering constellations in an instant, manipulating the universe itself. Such supreme techniques are truly terrifying."
"That must be it. You probably accidentally stepped into the dojang of an unsurpassed master, triggering a formation carved into the mountain, causing time and space to shift in the blink of an eye."
"Many strong cultivators prefer solitude. Being relocated by such forces is quite normal."
The elders nodded knowingly as Jiang Xuan spoke, each chiming in, filling in the gaps and crafting plausible explanations.
Their eyes carefully scanned the group, nodding repeatedly. They already understood the origins of these mortals. Having emerged from the forbidden land, each had activated their 'Sea of Suffering'—all promising candidates for cultivation. Especially Jiang Xuan, who radiated a unique aura, extraordinary indeed.
Yes, the robust youth and the clear-headed young man beside him also looked fit for the path of cultivation.
"Though you have lost some of your youth, there is no need to worry. With your Seas of Suffering fully awakened, once your cultivation reaches profound levels, your youth will naturally be restored. What are your plans moving forward?" the eldest smiled warmly at Jiang Xuan.
"We have wandered for days, regretting we have yet to find a master. If the elders do not refuse, we wish to join your sect," Jiang Xuan replied immediately.
"Ha ha, very well, very well. Heaven-sent talents indeed."
"Respected elders, we will diligently cultivate and strengthen the sect."
The students were so impressed that they felt a chill run down their spines.
"Me too."
"Me too."
"Me too."
When Jiang Xuan proposed joining the elders' sect, many students were left speechless, stunned by his boldness.
Wow, while everyone else was still worrying about their uncertain futures, feeling down and restless, Jiang Xuan was already preparing to enter a cultivation sect.
Jiang Xuan's ability to think three steps ahead left everyone else dumbfounded.
"Just like that? Joining a cultivation sect so easily? It's almost unbelievable. I thought you had to undergo spirit root tests and countless trials first."
"At critical moments, it always comes down to Jiang Ge. His decisions have never been wrong."
"Finally, we can settle down. Thinking back to a few days ago, I still feel chills."
Many students admired and anticipated the future. With the elders' nods of approval, the matter was settled.