Thymaleon, weakened from reassembling his body, transformed into a dim streak of white light and flew toward a hidden valley in the southeast.
Under the moonlight, his figure no longer looked transcendent and graceful. Instead, he appeared hurried and disheveled.
He passed through layers of primitive jungle shrouded in eerie mist and swept over several marshes lurking with dangerous presences. Finally, he reached his destination.
The valley’s entrance was blocked by dense vines and bizarre stone formations. Unless someone knew the path, they would never be able to find it.
Thymaleon chanted an obscure incantation. His fingertips barely gathered a trace of light, which he pressed into the empty air.
As the ripples spread outward, the vines and stones twisted and vanished, revealing a narrow opening just wide enough for one person.
The cave inside was deep and dark. Strange gemstones embedded in the stone walls on both sides emitted a soft, white glow, illuminating the way forward. The passage descended steadily, leading deep into the mountain’s belly.
After walking for roughly half an hour, the space opened up. Before him stretched a massive underground chamber.
At its center was an intricate teleportation array carved from a single enormous block of stone. The patterns were ancient, and a soft, glowing energy flowed through them.
Thymaleon staggered onto the array and channeled what little spiritual energy remained in his body into the core of the formation. A low hum resonated, followed by a blinding pulse of white light, and his form dissolved into nothingness.
After a brief sensation of spatial distortion, he emerged in a completely different world. This place was the heart of Elysium Isle. It was a paradise sealed off by powerful forces from the outside world.
The sky was pure azure blue with a few lazy clouds drifting across it. Warm, gentle sunlight bathed the land, forming a stark contrast to the dangerous and sinister areas outside the island.
Lush grass grew everywhere Spiritual springs babbled, and exotic flowers competed in brilliance. Rare beasts also wandered leisurely.
The air was thick with spiritual energy so concentrated it felt almost tangible. Just a single breath could invigorate the spirit.
At the center of this paradise stood a magnificent and imposing palace. The entire structure was constructed from warm stone and golden crystal. Its flying eaves and ornate brackets gleamed with soft yet dignified light. Ethereal mist surrounded the palace, and faint celestial music drifted from within.
Thymaleon’s face grew even paler. He straightened his wrinkled and stained robe, took a deep breath, and walked toward the palace gates.
The gates weren’t guarded by soldiers, but by two animated stone constructs in armor. Their eyes glowed red when they saw him, yet they didn’t block his way.
Passing through the grand entrance hall, the sounds of noisy extravagance hit Thymaleon head-on. The scene before him clashed completely with the immortal atmosphere outside the palace.
Inside the great hall, luxury reached its extreme. The floor was paved entirely with spiritual stone. Night-luminous pearls and coral trees decorated the surroundings. Most eye-catching of all was the massive ” wine pool and meat forest” at the hall’s center.
The pool didn’t contain ordinary water but amber-colored immortal wine that gave off a rich fragrance and spiritual energy. Around the pool’s edge grew a peculiar type of fruit tree
Instead of fruit, the branches bore perfectly sliced cuts of spirit beast meat that released tempting aromas. This was the “meat forest.”
Dozens of men and women dressed in sheer, gauzy clothing frolicked in the wine pool or lounged at its edge. They plucked delicacies from the meat forest, indulging themselves without restraint. Laughter and decadent music filled the entire hall.
At the center of this pleasure-seeking crowd, four people stood out. Their area seemed separate from the rest. Though the men and women around them continued their revelry, none dared approach too closely
From the four, one had an unusually massive build, nearly ten feet tall. He wore a black battle robe with dark gold patterns. His muscles were coiled like steel cables, radiating explosive power.
His face was rugged and handsome, with sword-like eyebrows and piercing eyes. His gaze was cold and commanding, as he looked down on all living things.
He lounged lazily on an enormous white recliner, surrounded by three or four breathtakingly beautiful women. They fed him crimson spiritual fruits.
To his left sat a man in a pink-purple robe. His features were delicate and androgynous. His fingers were slender. He casually played a lap harp. Its languid notes harmonized perfectly with the surrounding atmosphere. When his eyes moved, they carried a carelessly playful glint.
To the right was a man wearing a green long robe left open at the chest, exposing his muscular torso. His features were sharp and striking, a rebellious smile playing at his lips. He toyed with a wine cup in his hand, his sharp gaze seeming capable of seeing through people’s hearts.
There was also a woman nestled at the tall man’s feet. She wore a water-blue silk dress. Her face was devastatingly beautiful -the kind that could topple kingdoms.
Every movement of her eyebrows and every smile carried a soul-stirring charm. When her eyes swept across the room, seductive appeal radiated from her, yet it concealed a trace of barely perceptible sharpness.
These four people possessed perfect physical forms. The aura they emanated was as deep as an ocean. It was far beyond what ordinary martial artists could compare to. They seemed more like the legendary cultivators from stories.
When Thymaleon entered the hall, his face was pale and his breath weak. A few strands of gray hair appeared at his temples.
A hush spread through the hall. Many of the pleasure-seekers looked over with curiosity or awe. The four at the center naturally noticed him as well.
The androgynous man stopped playing his lap harp and chuckled softly.
“Well, well, if it isn’t our esteemed ‘ guardian’ Lord Thymaleon,” he said mockingly “What happened to you? Don’t tell me you went out for a stroll and tripped?”
