After some comparison and calculation, the five performers were finally decided: Andrew, Yale, Wu Feiyan, Yue Nongying, and the newcomer, Rachel!

Standing to the side, Xia Luo hugged her chest, secretly thinking how close it had been. If Rachel hadn't been the one to finish last, she would have been the fifth performer. She truly hadn't expected everyone else to be so monstrously talented; despite catching so many "Wind Wolves," her score still couldn't beat the others…

Amidst the laughter, Rachel quickly integrated into the unfamiliar group. This was precisely why Kaini had included her; nothing brings people closer than shared laughter.

After the performance, everyone immediately began bombarding Rachel with questions. When they learned she was from "Z-War," the inquiries became endless! "Sister Rachel, why haven't you ever left the Forest of No Return?"

Hearing that Rachel hadn't left the "Forest of No Return" in years, Diya felt a mixture of disbelief and intense curiosity! "I've actually been searching for my tribe!" Rachel replied with a touch of melancholy. Before she disappeared, her tribe had been in this "Forest of No Return," yet after years of searching, she hadn't found a single clue about them!

"Sister Rachel, don't be sad, I'll ask Brother Xiu to help you look!" Diya said, casting a pleading look toward Zhong Shenxiu. In her mind, Zhong Shenxiu was virtually omnipotent!

Zhong Shenxiu looked at Rachel and first asked one question: "Do all your kin possess eyes like yours?" "Yes, Master!" Rachel's response to Zhong Shenxiu was distinctly different from how she addressed others.

Zhong Shenxiu slowly closed his eyes. After about ten seconds, he opened them and told Rachel with some regret, "Your kin are not in this forest!" Rachel believed him implicitly, and her expression turned somewhat dejected! "Rachel, the people here are your sisters and brothers now; you are not alone!" Zhong Shenxiu said, his expression serious for once. Rachel's body trembled, and a warm current instantly flooded her entire being, warming her lonely and desolate heart! She had been alone for far too long; now, she had finally found her home. Everyone present was her family! She truly would never be lonely again!

The day passed just like that. The next morning, everyone sat atop the back of the "Azure Fiend," enjoying the scenery of the "Forest of No Return"!

After flying for about two hours, they stopped at a chaotic, flat clearing. "Heavens, what happened here? How did it get like this?" Looking at the surrounding shattered trees and the piles of white bones on the ground, everyone was startled! "This is an Access Point!" Rachel suddenly uttered a phrase that none of them understood. "Sister Rachel, what is an Access Point?" Diya looked eager to learn. "'Access Point' is where this location connects to another dimension; those Demon Bugs come out from here!" Rachel explained.

Her statement startled them again. After sensing carefully, they indeed discovered the anomaly: about a hundred meters ahead, the spatial fluctuations were extremely bizarre, like a mirror submerged in water—easily overlooked if not observed closely!

By this time, everyone had dismounted the "Azure Fiend," gazing at the ravaged surroundings with an inexpressible sense of desolation!

The piles of white bones were clearly those of various magical beasts; no one expected there to be so many! The surrounding trees looked even more barren; not a single patch of green was visible. The fallen, splintered trunks bore distinct tooth marks! From these signs, it was clear the Demon Bugs were split into two types: phytophagous Demon Bugs and carnivorous Demon Bugs!

The appearance of these Demon Bugs had severely damaged this world's food chain. If left unchecked, humanity would face a huge crisis! Currently, the Demon Bugs were only active within the forest, but at this rate of destruction, even the broadest forest would be reduced to a desert. If they turned their sights toward human settlements, it would be an apocalyptic disaster! "Young Master—" Xidisi walked to Zhong Shenxiu’s side. Although she didn't finish her sentence, Zhong Shenxiu understood her meaning. "That location is the 'Access Point,' and its area is still expanding!" Zhong Shenxiu tossed a pebble forward, but it was bounced back by an invisible barrier. However, this allowed everyone to accurately pinpoint the 'Access Point's' location! "Young Master, why is there an Access Point here?" Xidisi asked abruptly after a moment of deep thought. Being someone passionately devoted to all novelties, she seized this excellent learning opportunity! "It can be considered inevitable, or perhaps coincidental!" Zhong Shenxiu smiled playfully.

Before Xidisi could ask again, Zhong Shenxiu continued, "This can be understood as a type of 'Natural Formation'! Due to certain celestial or geographical factors, formations appear naturally in some locations. The 'Whirlwind Forest' we visited before frequently experienced whirlwinds because it naturally formed a wind-elemental array!"

Xidisi carefully pondered the meaning of Zhong Shenxiu's words. Although they were rather profound for her, she was beginning to grasp the concept!

"Rachel, did you emerge from this 'Access Point'?" Xidisi suddenly asked this question.

Rachel shook her head and replied, "No, I returned from another 'Access Point.' There are no fewer than seven such Access Points in this forest!" "So many?" Xidisi was stunned; she found this one strange enough, yet there were many more! "There will be more in the future!" Zhong Shenxiu suddenly interjected, startling everyone!

Everyone knew Zhong Shenxiu well; when he said "more," it certainly wouldn't just mean one or two more! It could even mean hundreds or thousands appearing! If that day truly came, wouldn't this world be... Just picturing the subsequent scenario sent chills down their spines!

Although, with their strength, they might not fear these Demon Bugs, people as powerful as them were few and far between. The ordinary people in this world were the vast majority, and they were completely no match for the Demon Bugs; they could only be slaughtered! This world might very well end up covered in corpses and flowing with blood!

Moreover, based on Rachel's description, these Demon Bugs entering this world were only low-level ones. The more advanced and powerful Demon Bugs, constrained by size, couldn't pass through the 'Access Points,' but what if the 'Access Points' expanded?

The outcome was clearly singular: this world would become a breeding ground for Demon Bugs!

Everyone’s mood instantly grew heavy. Although they could help slaughter these Demon Bugs, if they came in overwhelming waves, if the entire world suffered an insect plague, they would be stretched too thin and could only watch helplessly as humanity slowly marched toward extinction! Just as everyone fell into deep thought, Zhong Shenxiu suddenly urged sharply, "They're here!"

Though just two words, their effect was to instantly hoist everyone's hearts. In that moment, everyone held their breath, eyes fixed intently on the "Access Point."

Time seemed to stand still. The surroundings fell into a deathly silence!

Just then, a piercing screech suddenly erupted from the "Access Point," accompanied by a powerful gust of air. As people of power, they naturally weren't affected by the blast, but the shock was undeniable! "What is that? Are the Demon Bugs about to emerge?" Xidisi asked, suppressing her inner excitement.

Originally, she hoped Rachel would answer, but unexpectedly, Rachel recoiled in terror, muttering under her breath, "Heiluo, that's Heiluo’s sound. How could... How could it be..."

Everyone looked at Rachel, puzzled by her extreme distress. Unlike them, Zhong Shenxiu kept his gaze fixed on the "Access Point," his expression showing an eager longing! "Rachel, what's wrong?" Xidisi became increasingly tense, influenced by her reaction! "Run, it's Heiluo!" Rachel's face grew paler! Heiluo? What was that? Hearing this unfamiliar term suddenly, confusion resurfaced on everyone’s faces! "Heiluo" was actually the name of a Demon Bug, coined by "Z-War personnel" to warn their comrades!

In the alternate dimension, simply uttering the name "Heiluo" caused anyone to change color. Upon hearing that "Heiluo" had arrived, even the most powerful "Z-War personnel" would choose to flee! In their minds, this type of "Heiluo" Demon Bug was the embodiment of a black Asura! Just as the others were about to question Rachel further, a massive crash suddenly sounded from the "Access Point"! "Boom!" It was the sound of tens of thousands of tons of massive vessels colliding with an iceberg.

And at that moment, a monstrous entity, as black as ink and shaped like a sheer cliff face, suddenly emerged from the "Access Point," though it seemed stuck, with only a portion visible. Yet, even this section was terrifyingly large! "It's Heiluo! It really is Heiluo! Everyone, get away from here!!" Rachel's face was completely devoid of color.

Reason told her to flee immediately, but she would not abandon these people; even in death, she chose to stay with these "family members"! However, no one paid her any attention, as all sight lines were focused on the behemoth!

And then, this behemoth moved, opening and closing, revealing terrifying teeth within—this was merely a mouth!

As everyone watched, a stream of black viscous liquid suddenly spewed out of this giant maw, aimed directly at the stunned group...