Yao Guang Furen was the first to recover.
She sat cross-legged, eyes closed, as if meditating, her expression serene and dignified. Soon, a change began.
Her countenance gradually restored itself, as if time were flowing backward, youth rapidly returning. Her half-white hair turned pitch-black and lustrous at a visible rate, the wrinkles on her face disappeared one by one, and her skin became smooth and delicate again, revealing her original unparalleled beauty, astonishing all who beheld it.
Soon, Shang Xie Zhuo, Duan Jing Hong, and the various elders also recovered.
They gathered their thoughts, casting aside distracting notions as they would during their usual cultivation, resisting inner demons and temptations. Their entire beings became as still as water, and the lost time gradually returned, restoring them to their previous appearances.
Even though they now knew the reason for their aging, some disciples still felt fear and unease in their hearts. No matter how hard they tried to meditate, they couldn't calm down.
They trembled all over, and the more they tried to suppress their agitated emotions, the less they could. Watching their skin rapidly wither, their strength drain away faster and faster, and their vitality falter, they cried out in terror.
Whether in the Hall of Longevity or on Penglai Island, disciples with weak willpower completely aged, collapsing to the ground, panting their last breaths, and eventually dying. They couldn't overcome their inner demons and were ultimately claimed by the life-force of this mysterious and eerie environment.
No one could offer any rescue.
Even Su Luo did not intervene. Although she possessed the Spring of Life, even if she gave it to these people, it would only restore them for a moment at best. They would still be corroded by the special power, a force that external aid could not counter.
"So many have died..." Su Luo sighed, her mood somber.
The ground was littered with corpses, all reduced to dried husks, skin stretched taut over bone, lying scattered about in a horrifying display.
These were once the elites of their respective families, geniuses cultivated for over ten or twenty years, yet they had met such a tragic end.
Shang Xie Zhuo and Duan Jing Hong were filled with heartache, watching their disciples die before their eyes, unable to do anything to stop it. Such anxiety and helplessness were beyond their control.
The moment their focus wavered, their hearts were stirred, and they were immediately invaded by the power once more, beginning to age again.
Li Tian Jue said expressionlessly, "Esteemed Sect Leaders, and everyone else, pay attention to your condition. Do not have emotional fluctuations and ensure your minds are stable, or you will age again. If you are completely eroded, it will be impossible to recover."
The two then became alert, forcing themselves to calm down.
However, due to the tragic death of their sons before their eyes, and the loss of more than half of the Penglai Island disciples, Duan Jing Hong momentarily lost control. Everyone watched as his eyelids twitched, his temples throbbed, and his face began to age once more.
Only when his hair turned white and his entire body became like withered skin and aged bones did Duan Jing Hong manage to stabilize his mind.
Looking at his hands, like chicken claws, he sighed deeply.
He dared not think of anything else.
"Since things have come to this, we have no choice but to press onward; there is no turning back."
Yao Guang Furen looked at the ethereal yet mysteriously eerie surroundings and said solemnly, "Although many have died, the more this is the case, the more it proves the wonder of the Life-Death Chasm. Regardless of the outcome, I must see it. As for the rest of you, feel free."
Shang Xie Zhuo nodded, "My sect shares the same view as Madam Yao Guang. Such a wondrous place, whether or not we can achieve godhood in the end, it is worthwhile to witness. If we can meet Sect Leader Bai, that would be even better."
Beside them, Li Tian Jue and the others said nothing more.
No matter what, they would not retreat. They had to find their master.
Except for the people of Qing Xu Tian, who remained unharmed, the original group of over a hundred people was now reduced to one-fifth. Only those with extremely firm minds could resist the special power of this place.
The group set off again, picking up speed as they flew forward. This time, thankfully, no further incidents occurred.
The surrounding environment kept changing. Clouds drifted ethereally, and the spiritual energy grew more concentrated. Although they had entered from a valley, the scenery before them was incredibly vast, as if they were in a boundless wilderness, stretching endlessly.
In the distance, the sounds of dragon roars and phoenix cries could be heard from the sky, along with various beast roars that were indistinct.
Each time they sounded, the ancient aura that washed over them was startling. No matter how far away they were, the subtle pressure they could feel made them dare not underestimate it. It was as if divine beasts that existed tens or hundreds of thousands of years ago were still alive, though their forms could not be seen.
"It sounds like Pi Xiu, and the calls of Azure Dragons and Green Phoenix... So many divine beasts are still alive!"
The Dragon Hound stopped, tilting its head to look at the clouds, filled with uncertainty.
Su Luo stood beside it and asked, "Da Hei, are you sure those sounds are from divine beasts?"
The Dragon Hound let out a low whine from its throat. After listening for a while, it said, "Although I haven't seen any of these kin since I was born, the aura and the emitted fluctuations confirm it. I don't know why I can recognize them; perhaps it's inherited from my bloodline."
At this moment, someone pointed into the clouds and exclaimed in shock, "Look, such a massive... it looks like a dragon!"
High in the sky, a section of an enormous body emerged from the thick clouds, winding powerfully. Its massive claws appeared for only a moment before it vanished back into the clouds.
After a while, it emerged again from another patch of clouds, sacred and majestic, its aura imposing.
Everyone watched this scene with astonishment, as it completely overturned their understanding. They had never imagined that the Life-Death Chasm would be like this. There were actually living divine beasts here, and not just one or two!
"Be careful, don't disturb them, or it might be dangerous," Li Tian Jue immediately warned.
Only then did the others snap out of their shock, further concealing their presence and hiding behind rocks, trying to avoid being discovered by these divine beasts.
If it were a one-on-one fight, perhaps the three sect leaders and the island master could contend with this divine dragon. However, there was more than one divine beast in the sky. If they were agitated, it could trigger a chaotic battle, and few present would be able to escape.
Everyone waited cautiously; even the usually bellicose Dragon Hound remained silent.
This was not the time for bravado. Even if it wanted to contend with these ancient ancestors, it had to first ensure the safety of so many people from Qing Xu Tian. This much it understood.
A quarter of an hour later, the divine beast, resembling a dragon, finally burrowed into the clouds and disappeared.
The group waited for a while longer. In the distance, a divine bird with a long tail and body covered in seven-colored light also flew away. Following that, several more roars were heard. It seemed something ahead was attracting these divine beasts. The group then emerged from behind the rocks.
Wen Dai'er was greatly shocked and asked curiously, "This is my first time seeing so many divine beasts. They've flown away, and it seems like there's something ahead..."
Just then, a roar faintly echoed from afar, startling everyone.
Even though they were at least several dozen miles apart, and the sound was not very clear, Su Luo recognized it as the roar of an unknown divine beast, containing anger and killing intent. Had something happened?
Otherwise, why were they all heading in that direction?
"Could it be Shui Han Yi and Mo Luo Jia up ahead? Have they been discovered?" Lu Ji Xing said thoughtfully.
"Yes, it's possible."
A glint flashed in Shang Xie Zhuo's eyes, and he said, "Let's go and see. Regardless of whether it's them or not, there must be something unusual ahead to attract so many divine beasts."