Zhong Shenxiu finally noticed something unusual: the long path of light was threaded with faint, barely visible strands of pale blue light, incredibly fine. If these strands hadn't become denser the further he proceeded, Zhong Shenxiu might have overlooked them entirely!

The presence of these strands was no accident; Zhong Shenxiu could distinctly sense their mystery, similar to the feeling he had when he first glimpsed those two mysterious worlds—an inexplicable strangeness!

What meaning could this be conveying to me?

Zhong Shenxiu stopped, choosing not to advance further, and began to contemplate.

Could these pale blue threads be connected to the multicolored lights within the space inside his own body?

As he pondered this, Zhong Shenxiu started recalling the patterns of those multicolored lights. They were intricate and interwoven like the meridians within the human body, yet simultaneously orderly. Gazing intently at them evoked an indescribable, profound sense of "space and time." As this feeling sharpened, it was as if he had grasped some ultimate truth! Wait—could it be this? Zhong Shenxiu’s body trembled again; he had finally hit upon the crucial point: Time!

To test his burgeoning suspicion, Zhong Shenxiu directed the "Jing Chan Wave" forward once more! The further he traveled, the denser the pale blue light threads became, and they transitioned from being static to slowly drifting! This... this truly was a 'Time Differential'!"

Having reached this conclusion, Zhong Shenxiu became increasingly excited! He had previously delved deeply into the study of "Time Magic," but the scope of his research had been limited due to a lack of reference points. Furthermore, "Time" itself is an inherently mysterious existence; exploring its essence is no different from probing the "Heavenly Dao," or perhaps the "Heavenly Dao" is merely some composite entity of "Time" and "Space"!

Zhong Shenxiu had always longed to delve into "Time," but he lacked any viable starting point. This "Path of Light" was clearly a textbook example, and a naturally formed one at that, making it all the more worthy of intensive study! As the saying goes, all methods follow nature—the closer one is to nature, the closer one is to the ultimate truth!

Now, he could finally understand why those "Battle Personnel" who vanished for hundreds of years could still return alive—it was because an enormous "Time Differential" existed between the two worlds!

If Zhong Shenxiu could decipher the mystery behind this "Time Differential," he would become truly formidable! He could apply this knowledge to his "Breeding Base"; in that case, thousand-year ginseng and ten-thousand-year immortal fruits could mature in just a few days.

If he applied it to the "Training Base," then while only a few days passed in the outside world, those inside could have cultivated for hundreds of years—what a terrifying prospect that was!

Beyond that, there was the most significant point: If Zhong Shenxiu truly grasped the profound truths of "Time" and "Space," then his return to the cultivation world would no longer be impossible! By then, armed with all manner of rare treasures and countless unique ores, he would undoubtedly make the major sects of the cultivation world green with envy! This demonstrated just how crucial this discovery was to Zhong Shenxiu!

Of course, none of this could be achieved overnight. Even a "prodigy" like Zhong Shenxiu had his limits; he needed time to ponder and internalize these concepts!

Time slipped away remarkably quickly, and before he knew it, dusk had arrived, yet Zhong Shenxiu remained motionless where he stood! "Is Master truly alright?" Rachel asked with a hint of anxiety; this was hardly the first time she had posed the question! "Don't worry, Young Master is fine; this is common. You don't need to fret so much!" Jixidis continued to comfort her patiently. "But, bu-bu-but..."

"Don't worry; we're used to it!" Charlotte also came over to offer reassurance. "If you still don't believe us, you can ask Robin; Robin knows best!" "Is Master really alright?" Rachel directed the question to Robin once more! "Master is fine!" Robin replied placidly. She had experienced these situations countless times and felt no significant alarm.

Rachel said no more, instead directing her gaze back to Zhong Shenxiu. Since he was facing the "Access Point," they could only see his back! If they could circle around to the front, they would surely have been shocked by the sight: faint, light grey strands were subtly appearing before Zhong Shenxiu!

Because the sun was already setting and the light was dimming, these fine strands were difficult to spot, and compounded by the protective array Zhong Shenxiu had established, the others couldn't sense their existence at all. "Rachel, sit down and rest for a while; you've been standing for half the day!" Charlotte suggested.

However, Rachel shook her head and posed another question to Robin: "How long does Master usually take to recover?" "Quickly, in a moment; slowly, in several months!" Robin's answer left Rachel momentarily stunned.

Standing still for months without food or drink—that would imply... The slight relaxation Rachel had just felt tightened again.

As if responding to her worry, Zhong Shenxiu’s body finally moved, and he turned around, offering the others a smile.

Zhong Shenxiu inwardly congratulated himself for pulling his consciousness back in time. He felt he had only been gone for a few minutes, yet it was already dusk! If he had pressed further along the path, who knew what temporal rift might have opened...

While traveling along the "Path of Light," Zhong Shenxiu had realized the "Time Differential" was progressively widening. He couldn't specify the exact difference, only that he had a feeling: if his spiritual wave reached the alien space via the "Path of Light," returning might take an indeterminate eon!

He didn't want to cause his companions distress. Having learned from past experience, Zhong Shenxiu now valued his loved ones above all else. He would rather delay his research than see them worn out with worry!

It wouldn't be too late to thoroughly investigate the "Alien Space" after he had completely understood "Time." After all, there were many such "Access Points"; finding another wouldn't be hard.

Moreover, by then, he might be able to reverse this "Time Differential"—meaning he could explore the "Alien Space" for years, yet only moments would pass in the real world! "Master!" Rachel called out, a touch of relief in her voice. "Young Master, what did you discover?" Jixidis rushed forward eagerly—truly, she was a fanatic researcher! "Something profound!" Zhong Shenxiu replied vaguely. Until he fully understood it, he couldn't offer Jixidis a detailed explanation.

Since night had fallen, the group needed to find a place to set camp; the current location, being a mess, was unsuitable.

Before leaving, Zhong Shenxiu used his magic to seal the "Access Point" he had enlarged, intending to prevent the emergence of demon insects like the "Heiluo"! Some might find it strange—since the "Heiluo" was reputed to be a treasure trove, shouldn't more of them appearing be a good thing?

In truth, everything has two sides. While the "Heiluo" possesses valuable attributes, its appearance would inevitably cause a greater disruption to the ecological balance. Putting aside larger concerns, consider the immediate vicinity: if "Heiluo" were to infest the "Forest of No Return," a vast number of rare herbs and exotic flora would certainly be destroyed, which is not what Zhong Shenxiu desired! He preferred to leave these treasures undisturbed here rather than watch them ruined!

The camping spot chosen was once again a cliff edge, as the environment was excellent there. After eating, they could collectively admire the moon, accompanied by the music played by Wu Feiyan—a guaranteed pleasure!

Currently, Wu Feiyan was playing a newly composed piece for everyone, "Cliffside Moon Gaze"; its exquisite notes entered their ears, instantly transforming into sweet dew that nourished their souls!

Everyone listened, entranced, but Zhong Shenxiu moved towards Rogeirel, who was sitting alone beneath a tree, seemingly lost in thought. "Young Master!" Rogeirel quickly shifted aside upon seeing Zhong Shenxiu approach.

Zhong Shenxiu took a seat next to her, first gazing up at the bright, clear moon in the sky, remaining silent for a good while before asking, "You have something on your mind?"

Rogeirel lowered her head, also falling into a long silence before finally speaking, "Young Master, I am worried about my kinsmen!" Her expression held barely concealed anxiety. For an Elf, such worry was natural!

Seeing the devastation wrought upon the "Forest of No Return" by the demon insects, and witnessing their unusual strength, Rogeirel felt deep concern for her people dwelling in the "Evergreen Forest"!

"Elves" primarily reside in the heart of dense forests, self-sustaining within the embrace of nature. The appearance of "Demon Insects" often occurs in these central areas, and many feed on vegetation, meaning their presence posed an incalculable threat to the resident "Elves"! "Then we will go see your kinsmen tomorrow!" Zhong Shenxiu's simple statement caused Rogeirel's body to tremble.

Rogeirel knew Zhong Shenxiu was deeply curious about the "Forest of No Return." Under normal circumstances, they would have needed to explore here for at least another month. Yet, now, because of her concern, he agreed to leave without hesitation. It would have been impossible not to be moved!

Seeing Rogeirel's hesitant look, Zhong Shenxiu offered a faint smile and then asked, "Do you remember what you asked me once before?"

This question reminded Rogeirel of the words she had spoken when agreeing to join the "Misty Mercenary Group." Her original query had been: "'Cultivation'—can it provide the 'Elves' a tranquil sanctuary?" Zhong Shenxiu's reply to her then had been: "Follow me, and I will help you realize that dream!"

Recalling this, Rogeirel’s eyes unexpectedly misted over, and tears rolled uncontrollably down her cheeks!

Zhong Shenxiu had not forgotten his promise to her; he never had!!!