A daunting aura shot up to the sky, causing all creatures around to instinctively cower and tremble. In this forest, countless low-order spiritual beasts succumbed to the pressure and exploded, dying instantly.

Even among the humans here for trials, the deceased were not few. However, this sudden oppressive force, instead of waning over time, grew even fiercer, compelling powerful spiritual beasts in the forest to seek escape routes. Consequently, chaos erupted at the forest’s edge.

Meanwhile, Luo Qianqian and her group, having already left the forest and perched on the backs of three Yunpeng Birds, felt nothing unusual, their expressions tense with fear of falling.

On the other hand, the Little White Snake had mysteriously fallen silent.

Confused, Luo Qianqian asked the Little White Snake, "What’s wrong? Are you afraid of heights or homesick after leaving Grandpa?"

The two who left home missed their family greatly, yet they had more pressing matters requiring attention, hence their sky-high journey to appreciate nature’s craftsmanship and the unpredictable shifting clouds.

The Little White Snake nestled on Luo Qianqian’s shoulder, gazing at the direction they departed, its young voice tinged with maturity and depth as though it were just a figment of Luo Qianqian’s imagination, "I can’t go back."

Hearing this, Luo Qianqian turned to the sun-drenched red sky and smiled, "You can go back whenever you wish. It’s not like you chose a one-way path and can’t return."

Yet the Little White Snake remained silent, lying quietly on Luo Qianqian’s shoulder.

Thinking it had dozed off, Luo Qianqian did not press further, joining Luo Shufan in photographing the scenery.

Soon, however, they sensed instability in the Yunpeng Birds beneath them, their bodies quivering uncontrollably.

Before they could react, a surge of air flipped them over, the Yunpeng Birds spiraled downward uncontrollably.

Luo Qianqian clutched the Little White Snake with one hand, grasping Luo Shufan with the other, striving desperately to gather her energy yet unable to halt her descent.

"Brother, gather your energy!" Luo Qianqian tried to shout but the wind distorted her voice, making it sound bizarre.

Luo Shufan sensed his sister’s despair, prepared to let go, when an arm grasped his other arm, slowing their fall.

Luo Qianqian breathed a sigh of relief, spotting a figure clothed in purple — it was Baili.

In Baili’s other hand was Xiao Tian, the black cat peeked from his embrace.

Quickly scanning her surroundings, Luo Qianqian spotted the other four unharmed and relaxed.

After softly landing, Luo Qianqian weakly approached Luo Shufan, "Brother, are you okay?"

Luo Shufan weakly smiled, "I’m fine... sorry..."

"It’s okay," Luo Qianqian disregarded what Luo Shufan intended to say, immediately hugging him, relieved.

Yet Mo frowned, looking at their rear, "Just now..."

Yan said nothing but knit his brows, looking at Baili.

The Little White Snake coiled around Luo Qianqian’s wrist remained still, pretending to be dead, yet Luo Qianqian sensed its sadness and despair.

"Was it self-destruction?" Huangfu Yihui furrowed his brows tightly, feeling fortunate. Had Yan not pulled him back, he might have ended up like the Yunpeng Birds.

Thinking about it caused him to shudder.

Yann Yao spoke not, only looking at Baili.

Just now, Mo’s hesitant words indicated something was amiss; though uncertain, fortunate still.

If they had been closer, they might have suffered severe injuries, unable to gather strength for self-rescue.

Yet observing everyone’s expressions, was this more than it seemed?

Baili said nothing, turning his gaze behind them.

They controlled their descent onto a clearing, facing a slope of shrubs, behind an abyss. The cliff across stretched thousands of meters away. Unlike them, the Yunpeng Birds weren’t as lucky, plunging into the abyss, with no echo returning...

Luo Qianqian suddenly kneeled, pale-faced, extracting a green crystal stone from her bosom, "What is this..." Why was it on her?

Seeing it, Baili was stunned, "How could..."

The next instant, they saw a spiritual energy vortex appear far across the sky, as if a rift had split the heavens and earth, spiritual energy rapidly flowing in, yet the fissure swiftly closed, leaving behind a palpable sensation.

"This is..."

"Transformation Pill material."

Baili’s unfinished words were interrupted by the Little White Snake. It remained motionless on Luo Qianqian’s wrist, "If you like it, keep it."

"I don’t want it..." Luo Qianqian shook her head vehemently, puzzled why it was on her, and more so by the oppressive force’s mysterious origin.

It left her feeling apprehensive, as if she were under surveillance.

"Let’s go." Baili said nothing more, turning away without a glance back.

Although curious, the group refrained from questioning more.

Evidently, the explosion’s proximity and intensity could only belong to the old man.

To their knowledge, no one has ever survived self-destruction.

This meant the old man was no longer in this world.

Luo Qianqian felt confused and anxious, why? Was it because she looted his treasures? But he seemed delighted to bestow them upon her, even revealing a spatial storage device, lest Luo Qianqian couldn’t hold them all.

Such behavior indicated it wasn’t due to being ’left penniless’ that led to self-destruction. She didn’t understand...

Avoiding queries, sensing Baili and the Little White Snake knew something yet hesitated to disclose, fostering alienation.

The sun slowly descended below the horizon, the moon hung, resembling a giant bitten cookie, with pumpkin-colored edges.

A sigh echoed, marking the forest’s ruler’s demise.

Their once-familiar woods were now ruins, the dust-shrouded earth obliterating prior lushness, leaving no trace of a rumored dragon treasure-housed mountain.

Now only dust remains, the former glory vanished.

The Illusory Tiger stands over the ruins, howling to the sky, receiving no response.

A single tear quietly falls, sliding past lips, dripping onto the dust. Leaving a trail of footprints, the Illusory Tiger vanishes into the forest.

He will wait, for the king belonging here, to return.