Ji Changkong readily agreed to Bi Ye Wuji, his mouth wide with pleasure. She was particularly intrigued by the poison of the Phoenix Lion, her bright eyes constantly darting toward the Origin Poison; were it not for the little thing's truly venomous tongue, she might have even picked it up for a cuddle.

She liked the Origin Poison, but the little creature held no affection for her, at least not when dealing with outsiders. This little guy consistently adopted an unwilling attitude toward everyone, sporting a perpetual scowl as if the entire world owed him money.

Xue Hai, Hong Ge, and the other three offered no comment whatsoever regarding Ji Changkong’s inclusion.

Even Jin Hao, who was notoriously ill-tempered, remained silent, his gaze upon Ji Changkong notably different from before.

Who would dare underestimate someone capable of escaping the containment of the Black Stone Giant Beast?

It remained the same iron boat, but this time Ji Changkong did not refuse; he proactively stepped aboard. Together with Liu Ye and the other five, they ventured deeper into the Sea Monster Forbidden Zone.

The six of them, despite their youth, possessed an extensive understanding of the Sea Monster Forbidden Zone. From their conversation, Ji Changkong learned about its perilous regions, discerning what dangers could be avoided and what were unavoidable.

The Sea Monster Forbidden Zone was rife with peril, mysterious and unpredictable. Restricted areas like the one housing the Black Stone Giant Beast could, with the right knowledge, be bypassed with relative ease.

However, strange fish like the Fang-Sharp Fish could not simply be evaded if encountered; dangers that could be circumvented, Liu Ye and the others navigated effortlessly.

This was precisely where Ji Changkong benefited by accompanying them.

For two full days, Ji Changkong sat aboard the iron boat. Though they encountered minor troubles, the journey was largely smooth, and he did not face any life-threatening perils again.

The third day.

In the pitch-black sea domain, visibility was nearly zero—one could barely see their hand in front of their face. Liu Ye and the others lit torches, proceeding slowly through the dense fog, their expressions taut with caution.

“This area is frequently patrolled by Claw Demons. Anyone passing through here has a chance of running into them; it’s unavoidable. You must be extremely careful!” Liu Ye’s face was solemn as he vigilantly scanned their surroundings.

Upon entering this zone, Xue Hai, Jin Hao, and the others instantly roused their spirits, standing up on the deck and bracing themselves for immediate combat.

Ji Changkong sat calmly on the deck, unlike them, making no move to rise defensively. He rested his eyes half-closed, tranquil as an old monk in meditation.

Claw Demons were bizarre creatures resembling humans but possessing sharp talons and powerful wings. They were unique to the Sea Monster Forbidden Zone.

Legend held that Claw Demons were once human, but for some unknown transgression against the Sea Monsters, they were cursed.

From that moment, they transformed, their hands and feet becoming blades as sharp as knives, and wings sprouted from their backs. Their strength surged almost instantly, but tragically, their intelligence was utterly lost.

Claw Demons possessed only the instinctual urge to kill, feeding on the flesh and blood of any living thing. Forever confined to the sunless depths of the Forbidden Zone, they survived by preying on any creature that dared enter.

The Claw Demons of today were merely evil entities driven only by irrational slaughter. Against a Claw Demon, there was only one path: annihilation.

The Origin Poison perched on Ji Changkong’s shoulder, its small eyes constantly darting about. It possessed a keen interest in everything. Since entering the Sea Monster Forbidden Zone, it stayed outside the Tian Yuan Pearl whenever possible.

Ji Changkong believed that letting it observe the outside world more, and interact with more people, might dilute the seeds of malice within its heart, fostering greater humanity. Thus, unless absolutely necessary, Ji Changkong allowed it to move about freely.

“Hey, you quiet fellow who dislikes speaking, stop constantly staring at my good looks, alright?” After gazing around for a moment, the Origin Poison suddenly fixed its attention on Teng Yang, speaking with mocking sarcasm. “Are you some kind of pervert? Ever since you saw us, you’ve been sneaking glances. Are we that fascinating to you?”

Among the six, Teng Yang was the type who seemed most low-key, rarely speaking and appearing indifferent to everything, maintaining a demeanor of detached calm.

However, due to the Origin Poison’s accusation, Teng Yang’s face instantly flushed with awkwardness, his eyes showing an indescribable strangeness.

Xue Hai, Liu Ye, Jin Hao, and the rest widened their eyes at the Origin Poison’s outburst, their expressions shifting to surprise.

“You… you knew I was watching you secretly?” Teng Yang rubbed his nose, offering a stiff, dry laugh.

“I spotted it the moment we first met,” the Origin Poison shot him a disdainful sidelong glance. “Hmph. You are the worst kind of scoundrel, quiet and always engaging in that kind of perverse activity!”

“Hahaha!” Xue Hai roared with laughter.

Liu Ye and the others also struggled to suppress their amusement, their lips twitching, clearly finding the Origin Poison’s words immensely entertaining.

“I… I—” Teng Yang attempted to explain, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he froze, unsure how to articulate a defense.

“My apologies,” Liu Ye interjected smoothly, smiling warmly at the Origin Poison and the equally smiling Ji Changkong. “Teng Yang is just accustomed to it. He always likes to use his ability to quietly observe every movement around him. Ah, you two are just too mysterious for him, so…”

Waving a hand dismissively, Ji Changkong said, “No matter. Brother Teng Yang’s power is quite unique. It grants him a natural advantage in that regard; it’s genuinely difficult to detect Brother Teng Yang’s small maneuvers without close attention.”

Ji Changkong’s words only made Teng Yang feel more embarrassed. His face reddened, and he murmured, “Sorry.”

Shaking his head, Ji Changkong said no more.

“The Claw Demons you were worried about are here,” the Origin Poison said suddenly, its small ears twitching slightly before it spoke.

Liu Ye, Teng Yang, and the others were momentarily stunned.

Teng Yang squinted, seemingly utilizing his sensory method to probe the surroundings.

A few seconds later, Teng Yang stated blankly, “Nope.”

Hearing this, Liu Ye, Xue Hai, and the others relaxed their stances, taking no defensive measures.

Evidently, they placed greater trust in their companion.

“You little thing, really, you can’t joke about something like that; you put everyone on unnecessary edge,” Liu Ye chided the Origin Poison gently, giving it a mild glare. She seemed genuinely fond of the creature, as even her reprimand lacked any real severity.

“I’m not joking,” the Origin Poison snorted dismissively. “Believe it or not!”

“I haven’t worked with Teng Yang for many years, but his sensitivity in this area is the strongest among us. Over the years, he has rarely been wrong,” Kong Yuan said earnestly and innocently.

Teng Yang smiled, appearing quite self-assured.

Ji Changkong glanced at Teng Yang, then at Liu Ye, and remained silent.

Teng Yang’s expression abruptly changed. “Be careful, the Claw Demons are here!”

“Slowpoke!” the Origin Poison inserted aptly.

Liu Ye, Jin Hao, Hong Ge, and the other two no longer dismissed the Origin Poison’s previous statement as a jest. A flicker of alarm suddenly crossed their minds.

Due to the unique nature of his cultivation technique, Teng Yang possessed miraculous divine sense. For years, they had relied on this ability to escape death multiple times and often held the advantage in confrontations.

Suddenly, they realized that Teng Yang’s peculiar power was inferior to the Origin Poison’s perception, which caused a wave of panic to rise within them.

Teng Yang looked momentarily defeated, a shadow of frustration crossing his eyes.

“The range of Teng Yang’s power is limited, and it’s very diffuse, making it hard to detect. It has its merits and demerits; it isn’t necessarily inferior to the little one’s perception,” Ji Changkong remarked calmly, looking at Teng Yang.

This made Teng Yang feel slightly better. He looked gratefully at Ji Changkong and said sincerely, “Thank you.”

He understood that if he allowed the thought of being inferior to fester, it would create a mental hurdle, a minute fissure in his path of power cultivation.

One should not underestimate such a small crack; perhaps that tiny gap could halt his future progress entirely!

Ji Changkong inwardly praised them. These five were indeed exceptional. The fact that Teng Yang could so quickly mend the fissure in his heart and keenly sense the threat was truly rare.

The Claw Demons arrived exactly as predicted.

They were indeed strikingly similar to humans, save for their lack of hair, their hands and feet mutated into razor-sharp claws, and the addition of a pair of powerful, muscular wings.

Each Claw Demon was skeletal, yet they exuded a feeling of brutal, potent strength. Their eyes were a dull yellow, shining with a vicious light. When they looked at someone, they emitted a nauseating, putrid breath with heavy snorts.

Fifty or sixty Claw Demons surged from the darkness, instantly lunging toward Liu Ye and his companions!

Liu Ye and the others adopted solemn expressions. Before the creatures even drew close, they began their assault. Liu Ye’s eyes flashed, and a ball of fierce flame shot from her hand.

It was a rhombic divine weapon, glowing like a red-hot iron, blazing with intense fire.

Before the first two Claw Demons could reach them, they were struck by the weapon. Smoke hissed from their bodies as they shrieked in agonizing pain.

Hong Ge stood on the deck, manifesting a long spear. The spear, gleaming brightly, shot out like lightning through the air, piercing the body of one Claw Demon instantly.

Jin Hao’s expression was icy as a slender flying sword also shot out. The sword weaved through the air with tricky angles, its gleam sharp, and wherever its blade passed, Claw Demons were sliced into pieces.

Xue Hai fought empty-handed, yet he summoned the sea water, condensing the dark blue ocean into a water curtain that smashed the attacking Claw Demons apart.

Kong Yuan stood rooted to the spot, unmoving as a massive stone, suddenly projecting an aura as imposing as a mountain.

Any Claw Demon that broke through the layered defenses and reached the proximity of the deck was met by Kong Yuan’s fists. Their bodies shattered like they had been struck by iron hammers, dropping into the sea one after another.

Teng Yang kept his eyes closed, thin threads of scattered soul power slowly emanating from him. These soul forces silently infiltrated the Claw Demons, causing many of them to clutch their heads and scream.

Liu Ye and the other five displayed varied techniques, but all possessed astonishing offensive power. Dozens of Claw Demons emerging from the darkness were decimated under the thunderous assault of the six.

In less than half an hour, the suddenly appearing Claw Demons were completely wiped out by Liu Ye’s group of six.

“Hurry!” Liu Ye immediately shouted.

Ji Changkong was mildly surprised, looking at Liu Ye with some confusion. Why the tension when they had just killed all the attackers?

“The corpses of the Claw Demons release a peculiar stench. This odor spreads quickly. Ordinary people might not notice it, but to other Claw Demons, this smell serves as a directional beacon!” Liu Ye explained anxiously. “There are an enormous number of Claw Demons in this area. They will track the scent. If the entire area fills with them, we’ll be in serious trouble!”

“I see,” Ji Changkong nodded, understanding.

Without wasting words, Liu Ye’s group acted. Hong Ge took the helm, while Kong Yuan, Liu Ye, and the others exerted their strength onto the iron boat. Their formidable cultivation amplified the vessel’s speed significantly as they rapidly passed over the floating corpses of the Claw Demons.

“Here they come again,” the Origin Poison said casually, looking up toward the sky.

Teng Yang froze, sensing intensely for a moment, then urgently pointed in one direction: “Go that way!”

Hong Ge steered without hesitation, altering the boat’s course according to Teng Yang’s direction.

Not long after, dozens more Claw Demons materialized from the darkness.

“Hong Ge, keep steering forward, don’t stop! There are many more Claw Demons approaching from all directions; we have to shake them off quickly!” Teng Yang shouted.

Hong Ge affirmed grimly, “Understood!”

Liu Ye’s brow furrowed deeply. She, along with Teng Yang, Xue Hai, Jin Hao, and Kong Yuan, continued to focus their full power on fighting the Claw Demons, while Hong Ge dedicated himself entirely to piloting the boat.

These dozens of Claw Demons were only the advance wave; under the coordinated attack of Teng Yang and Liu Ye, they, too, were quickly annihilated.

But Liu Ye and the others could not rejoice.

Because the Origin Poison, appearing bored, made another pronouncement: “Over two hundred of them, right ahead of us…”

Hong Ge stiffened, and the iron boat suddenly halted.

“Break through!” Teng Yang’s expression hardened. “There are even more coming from all sides! If we don’t charge through, we’ll be surrounded!”

Hong Ge’s face shifted, and he immediately applied full power to pilot the boat forward.

Teng Yang and the others combined their efforts, channeling their energy into the iron boat, helping it escape this treacherous place at maximum velocity.

Ji Changkong remained composed, watching the six fight desperately, not lifting a finger to assist throughout the ordeal.

At the crucial moment, Ji Changkong realized that Teng Yang was the true leader of this group of six!

Teng Yang issued commands, and the other five executed them without objection. Even Liu Ye, who possessed the highest cultivation realm, followed his orders precisely, without any contrary thought.

Ji Changkong wanted to gauge the true strength of these six. He sensed that although they were all anxious, their faces radiated undaunted fighting spirit; there was no trace of fear or cowardice.

They clearly had a trump card! This was Ji Changkong’s assessment.

Over two hundred Claw Demons stood like a wall across the path of the iron boat, seemingly waiting for them to deliver themselves straight into their jaws.

But what they awaited was not prey, but sharks!

All six, including Hong Ge, unleashed their power. In that instant, Ji Changkong clearly perceived that the power within all six had increased to varying degrees!

Teng Yang’s internal power amplification was the greatest!

It was as if they had acquired an external source of strength, power that shared the same origin, as if drawn from a single wellspring. After receiving this boost, Teng Yang, who was only at the Five Elements Heaven Realm, suddenly possessed power that surpassed Liu Ye’s, making him the most formidable among them!

The six’s methods of attack did not change due to this infusion of power.

However, the destructive force of their attacks had violently escalated!

The same rhombic divine weapon, like glowing red iron, flew toward the Claw Demons, its temperature now several times hotter. The moment the weapon touched a Claw Demon’s body, the creature erupted in fierce, inextinguishable flames!

A mere spark was enough to reduce a Claw Demon to ash!

Jin Hao’s flying swords weaved through the mass with several times their previous speed, moving with unpredictable complexity. As they carved through the horde, Claw Demons were torn apart, plunging into the sea.

Teng Yang was even more terrifying!

His mysterious soul power flooded into the Claw Demons, causing them to violently explode into bloody shreds. One wave of soul energy swept over them, and a dozen creatures were brutally annihilated by that force alone.

The six, their power suddenly surging, unleashed a terrifying might far exceeding their normal capabilities.

The over two hundred Claw Demons blocking their path were swiftly eradicated under the six’s quasi-berserk strength; not a single one escaped alive.

When the six focused their amplified strength onto the iron boat, the vessel, already moving rapidly through the sea, suddenly lifted into the air. It sped across the sea surface at a velocity matching that of a fully exerting Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm expert, quickly clearing the hostile area.

Bang!

The iron boat crashed back into the water. The six, who had just erupted with terrifying power, were now pale-faced, sitting rigidly on the deck, focused entirely on regulating their breathing, as if unable to move a single finger.

The moment the boat flew through the void, they were already a hundred miles distant from the previous engagement zone, certainly having left the Claw Demons far behind.

The Origin Poison blinked, observing the six, now utterly spent, with curiosity.

Ji Changkong also looked astonished, his gaze strange. He wondered how these six could suddenly magnify their power so drastically, especially Teng Yang, who had leaped from a Five Elements Heaven cultivator to the terrifying strength of a Seven Star Heaven master—an incredible feat!

This power was clearly not of the same lineage as the Yuan Power within their bodies. Yet, this energy integrated perfectly with their forms, allowing them all to experience a massive surge, possessing strength far exceeding their original realms for a short time.

The six cultivated different techniques, including the anomaly that was Teng Yang with his unique divine sense and soul power.

The six trusted one another implicitly and cooperated flawlessly. Once their power surged, combined with years of practiced teamwork, their overall strength could likely ascend another tier.

Ji Changkong gazed deeply at the six, feeling a distinct sense of apprehension.

He estimated privately that if these six truly unleashed the full extent of their combined power, they might not suffer losses even when facing an Eight Trigrams Heaven expert!

At their current stage, Ji Changkong was not overly concerned by this level of power, but these six were still young, and their strength continued to grow.

Given their talent and temperament, in time, each had the potential to reach the Seven Star Heaven or even the Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm. If that day came, the combined force of these six would be a truly terrifying prospect!

If all six cultivated to the Eight Trigrams Heaven Realm, and that external force amplified them again when they joined forces… just contemplating it sent a chill down Ji Changkong’s spine!

However, this power seemed to have side effects. After the brief surge, their essence, spirit, and energy suffered massive depletion. Currently, the six struggled to control their internal Yuan Power, which had become turbulent. Their divine souls were unstable; it seemed the high of the surge was immediately followed by crushing fatigue.

Staring closely at the six, Ji Changkong pondered in silence.

His pupils constricted, and Ji Changkong’s gaze locked onto Teng Yang, a flash of astonishment in his eyes.

Teng Yang was the first to regain composure. As soon as he calmed down, his severely depleted Yuan Power began to recover at a rate far faster than an ordinary person’s.

After Teng Yang, Xue Hai and Jin Hao also settled their minds. Then followed Liu Ye and Kong Yuan, and finally Hong Ge, the eldest.

Like Teng Yang, once they achieved stillness, the speed at which their internal Yuan Power recovered was much quicker than normal people’s.

This was the Sea Monster Forbidden Zone!

Here, Ji Changkong could not communicate with the Big Dipper Seven Stars. The area was perpetually enveloped by a peculiar energy. Inside the Forbidden Zone, one’s internal Yuan Power should, theoretically, recover much slower than outside.

Ji Changkong was immune to the Forbidden Zone’s effects because he possessed the blood of the Four Sacred Beasts and because his cultivation technique, the Grand Void Secret Record, was the most miraculous art in the world.

What were they relying on?

Ji Changkong’s doubts grew deeper.

The iron boat continued to move slowly without external control. On the deck, the six kept their eyes tightly shut, rapidly recovering their exhausted strength.

Ji Changkong squinted slightly, silently observing them.

He knew that although the six were weaker than usual now, they had not lost combat effectiveness. Teng Yang, despite his closed eyes, kept his wondrous soul power constantly lingering around his person, never fully retracting it.

Though the strange group of five appeared to be cultivating peacefully, their brows were furrowed; it was clear they remained wary of one another, guarding themselves in secret.

Ji Changkong could sense it.

After a long, long while…

Teng Yang was the first to recover.

Smiling faintly, Teng Yang looked at Ji Changkong. “Those Claw Demons shouldn’t be coming back.”

Ji Changkong nodded. “We’ve moved over a hundred li from where we were. Given the Claw Demons’ speed, they certainly can’t track our scent anymore.”

“True,” Teng Yang replied, his gaze hesitant, as if he wanted to say something more. However, after a moment of contemplation, he ultimately said nothing.

Ji Changkong smiled faintly, asking no further questions. He chose not to mention the sudden surge in their power, acting as if he knew nothing about it.

But both he and Teng Yang understood clearly that he was fully aware of what had just transpired.

“I think we’re…” he began, offering a wry smile.

The expressions on Liu Ye and Teng Yang’s faces shifted simultaneously.

“Lost?” Teng Yang’s face darkened. He, who had remained unshaken facing almost anything until now, looked grim.

“Getting lost in the Sea Monster Forbidden Zone—this is truly the unluckiest thing this year,” Liu Ye’s sensual, full lips formed an extremely helpless angle, her expression one of deep frustration.

“Can we go back?” Xue Hai frowned, rubbing his temples and groaning. “I’d rather go back and face a thousand Claw Demons than wander aimlessly here.”

“We can’t go back,” Hong Ge said with a bitter smile, lifting the compass in his hand to show the needle to everyone. “The compass is malfunctioning.”

“Malfunctioning again,” Xue Hai mumbled dejectedly, his head drooping. “It seems the Great Sea God has been tampering with this place again.”

The group gasped in unison.

“What do you mean?” asked the Source Poison curiously.

Liu Ye, who adored the little fellow, walked over to explain despite her frustration. “The compass Hong Ge holds is the most precise spiritual treasure for determining direction. In the Sea Monster Forbidden Zone, since we can’t use the sun, moon, or stars to navigate, we have to rely on the compass.”

“But in certain parts of the Forbidden Zone, the compass just fails, for no reason at all! In our view, these strange areas must have been intentionally set up by the Sea Monsters; otherwise, the compass wouldn’t fail.”

“If it fails, it fails. We can just wander around,” the Source Poison said dismissively.

“Wandering randomly in the Sea Monster Forbidden Zone means you’ll die very quickly,” Liu Ye replied with a wry smile.

The Source Poison was about to retort dismissively when, recalling the Black Stone Giant Beast Ji Changkong had encountered earlier, he suddenly fell silent.

If Ji Changkong hadn't possessed such extraordinary talent, any ordinary person would have perished against the Black Stone Giant Beast long ago—there would have been no chance of survival. Even Ji Changkong had passed through it by a hair's breadth; if he hadn't stretched his body to slip through, who knew what would have happened next?

Lost. What should they do?

Hong Ge had no answer either. The compass was useless. He carefully steered the iron ship forward.

Teng Yang and the others stopped speaking. Each of them looked grave and alert, knowing that being lost made this group of six more vulnerable than ever before.

Ji Changkong understood their caution; he knew they were anxious because they understood the terror of the Sea Monster Forbidden Zone.

Unable to discern their direction, the group proceeded with extreme caution, moving aimlessly toward one direction, hoping to find a familiar path.

Thus, the iron ship sailed slowly onward.

After an unknowable period, a light suddenly appeared in the pitch darkness ahead.

Hong Ge’s expression tightened, but he didn't accelerate immediately. Instead, he observed the light cautiously. Teng Yang’s gaze drifted into the distance, also watching the glow secretly.

Ji Changkong suddenly ascended, gaining a higher vantage point to survey the area. After watching for a while, he returned to the deck, his expression odd. “That’s a massive island. It’s covered in white bones, and the lights are emanating from above those bones.”

At these words, Liu Ye and the others’ faces turned pale with shock. They exclaimed in unison: “Bone Island!”

Ji Changkong was also deeply shaken. “That’s Bone Island?”

He had never been to the Sea Monster Forbidden Zone before, but he knew that the place where Li Hentian was cultivating was precisely Bone Island! The information sent by Tuoba Lie could not be wrong. When they came to the Forbidden Zone, he had asked the Xiao, Duan, and Chen families about Bone Island, but even they knew nothing of it within the Sea Monster Forbidden Zone.

It was for this reason that when he heard the group from the Guiyuan Sect had arrived, even earlier than him, he hadn't been overly worried. The Guiyuan Sect didn’t even know where Li Hentian was hiding in the Forbidden Zone; how could they find him in such a mysterious place? Before entering the East Sea, he had also consulted Yi Kui about Bone Island, but even Yi Kui was ignorant of its existence.

The fact that these six people cried out in surprise upon hearing his description immediately drew Ji Changkong’s attention.

“Bone Island? You know this place?” Ji Changkong asked.

Hong Ge nodded heavily. “We’ve heard of Bone Island, but we’ve never been here. Bone Island is rumored to be the most perilous spot in the Sea Monster Forbidden Zone. Some say Bone Island is where the Sea God himself resides.”

“It’s said that the countless white bones on Bone Island are the leftover bones from the Sea God’s… Sea God’s meals,” Kong Yuan mumbled innocently, his expression tinged with fear.

A resting place for Sea Monsters? Ji Changkong was startled inwardly. He thought: Old Li, why did you choose such a place?

“Sister Liu, should we… should we turn back?” Xue Hai pleaded, his face crumpled. “I’d rather keep being lost.”

Jin Hao, Hong Ge, and Kong Yuan all nodded in agreement with Xue Hai’s suggestion.

“No!” Teng Yang suddenly hissed. A spark of madness flashed in his eyes, mixed with a slight excitement. “Most of the countless people who venture into the East Sea are swallowed by its dangers. Those who luckily survive have only heard rumors of Bone Island; few have ever actually reached it.”

Teng Yang’s gaze swept over Xue Hai and the others one by one. “We’ve stumbled here by chance. If we don’t go take a look, witness the wonder of the bones, and then flee with our tails tucked between our legs—is that our usual style? If we leave today, we might never have another chance! Bone Island isn't something everyone is lucky enough to encounter!”

“Right!” Liu Ye nodded fiercely, unwilling to back down. “This is fate! Fate brought us to Bone Island. If we turn tail and run now, I guarantee we will regret it for the rest of our lives!”

Teng Yang and Liu Ye were the leaders of the six. Since they had both decided to investigate Bone Island, the other four had no choice but to agree.

Indeed, under the gaze of Teng Yang and Liu Ye, the four nodded with wry smiles, conceding to the leaders' decision.

“What about you two? Bone Island is incredibly dangerous. You don't have to join us in this adventure. I think we can part ways here,” Liu Ye offered sincerely to Ji Changkong and the Source Poison.

“Since Bone Island is the most miraculous place in the Sea Monster Forbidden Zone, if we are fortunate enough to arrive here, we certainly don't want to miss out,” Ji Changkong said with a carefree smile.

Liu Ye looked surprised, studying Ji Changkong deeply before slowly nodding. “If that is your decision, then let’s continue traveling together.”

“Let’s go!” Teng Yang commanded.

Hong Ge said nothing more, continuing to steer the iron ship slowly toward Bone Island.

With a clear direction, the iron ship soon reached the edge of Bone Island. They secured it to an immensely large rock, and all seven of them, including Ji Changkong, disembarked onto the island.

At a glance, the ground was covered entirely in bleached white bones. Some of these bones were enormous, perhaps ten zhang long and a person wide. Staring at such bones, Ji Changkong felt his scalp tingle. What terrifying colossus could possess such massive skeletal remains? The widespread bones were as smooth as jade and shone with a soft, ethereal halo, possessing a peculiar kind of beauty.

It was a sinister beauty.

Crack, crack, crack!

Walking upon the sea of white bones, the sound of small bones shattering underfoot accompanied the slow advance of the seven figures. Their faces were solemn, ready to meet any danger that might arise.

Bone Island, the most perilous and terrifying place in the Sea Monster Forbidden Zone, an island where something monstrous lurked. Even Ji Changkong felt a degree of uncertainty in his heart. Why? Why would Old Li know of Bone Island’s existence, and why would he choose this place to break through to the Ninth Palace Heaven Realm? A string of questions crossed Ji Changkong's mind, leaving him increasingly perplexed.

“Source Poison, can you… can you sense any terrifying souls nearby?” Ji Changkong whispered to the Source Poison perched on his shoulder.

The Source Poison, whose eyes were slightly narrowed, shook his head gently, his gaze strangely distant. “No! I don’t know why, but here, the range of my soul power… has shrunk considerably. I can’t sense any life fluctuations within a radius of ten li.”

Ji Changkong’s expression shifted slightly. He had initially assumed he was the only one experiencing this; he hadn't expected even the Source Poison’s soul power to be affected here.

“Ahem.” Ji Changkong looked toward Teng Yang.

Teng Yang had clearly overheard their exchange and understood the meaning behind Ji Changkong’s look. Under Ji Changkong’s gaze, Teng Yang nodded slightly. “Me too.”

“It seems Bone Island really is strange, capable of affecting soul power,” Ji Changkong grew even more cautious.

“Empty, empty, life forms whose soul power is far greater than ours can naturally affect our soul power. It’s impossible for our soul power to perceive beings vastly superior to us. That’s just the rule of nature,” the Source Poison reasoned.

“If that’s the case, then it’s highly possible that Bone Island is truly inhabited by Sea Monsters?” Ji Changkong frowned.

“Who knows,” the Source Poison replied with feigned indifference. “Whatever. We’ll take things one step at a time.”

Thump-thump-thump! Thump-thump-thump!

A sound like the earth shaking reverberated from a distance. Bone Island seemed to be experiencing a massive earthquake; the ground trembled violently.

“What is that?” Liu Ye cried out in horror, looking ahead in panic. “What can make such a tremendous sound?”

“Something’s coming! Damn, that’s a strong life force!” the Source Poison shouted.

Ji Changkong felt it too—an overwhelmingly fierce life fluctuation, like a volcanic eruption, suddenly manifested deep within his soul.

Thump! Thump-thump-thump!

The earthquake sound continued to pulse, striking the hearts of the group like giant hammers, making everyone’s hair stand on end, their eyes wide with terror.

Gradually, a massive, flesh-and-blood creature slowly emerged from ahead.

A giant bear covered in golden fur lumbered forward. The bear was dozens of meters tall, pressing down like a mountain, releasing a world-shaking, violent aura that made one want to turn and flee immediately.

Kong Yuan’s legs gave out, and he stared blankly as the giant bear approached, eventually collapsing onto the ground.

The bear held a shark nearly ten meters long in its paw. Its mouth was smeared with blood as it tore chunks from the shark, which was considered a dominant predator of the sea. But in the bear’s grip, compared to the bear’s sheer size, it looked like a normal person holding a small fish.

The bear was simply too huge! So large that even the shark was insignificant by comparison!

“Wow! How majestic!” the Source Poison yelled, excited. “Empty, this guy’s vitality is off the charts, even stronger than yours! Ah, it noticed us! It’s really looking at us!”

Whoosh! Whoosh!

A fierce wind howled from above. Several giant birds swooped down from the sky, flashing above the bear’s head, circling around it repeatedly.

Ji Changkong’s pupils contracted violently, his face frozen in shock.

Those weren't just giant birds—they were Tian Jing Pterodactyls! The five Tian Jing Pterodactyls, with wingspans stretching over ten meters when fully extended, were even larger than the dragons found in the Poison Dragon Pool of the Cloud Dream Marsh! Their vitality was even more vigorous!

Heavens!

What kind of place was this? Ji Changkong screamed internally.

“I think we’re in trouble,” Teng Yang said with a wry smile. He suddenly felt that insisting on coming to Bone Island might have been the most foolish decision of his life.

The giant bear seemed to notice the group and was about to approach them, but the five Tian Jing Pterodactyls kept circling it, occasionally attacking to annoy it.

Howl!

The giant bear roared to the sky and swung its arm, which resembled a towering stone pillar, to strike at the pursuing Pterodactyls. The five Tian Jing Pterodactyls clearly feared the bear’s arm; they dodged with extreme agility, then chose more insidious angles, attacking the bear’s hind neck and head—places it couldn't easily guard.

The Pterodactyls’ massive claws, like iron hooks, tore at the bear’s nape, leaving gashes, but failing to inflict a critical wound.

Ji Changkong watched, dumbfounded. The Tian Jing Pterodactyl, a ferocious beast that dominated the Cloud Dream Marsh, was clearly not the overlord in this place. In fact, it seemed to be the weaker party here.

“Maybe we should retreat,” Liu Ye shivered, fear creeping into her as well.

“This might be the last sanctuary for ancient fierce beasts,” Ji Changkong murmured, staring ahead, the sudden statement leaving his lips.

Reviewing some knowledge he had once gained from the Azure Dragon of the Holy Beasts, he suddenly felt a glimmer of understanding.

Thank you, thank you brothers and sisters for the monthly ticket support. Thank you for all the tips. Thank you for the recommendation tickets. In short, thank you very much!

Another ten thousand words. Can you continue to give me motivation and strong support? I want monthly tickets. I want to fight my way into the top fifty of the monthly ticket rankings—please satisfy this small ambition of mine! I beg for monthly tickets!