Light Soaks In! A Good "Repayment" for Ci Yan!

The boat docked.

Everyone disembarked in turn and followed a winding stone path deeper into Sea God Island.

Ancient trees towered on both sides of the path, blocking out the sky and sun. Some trunks were so thick that several people would be needed to encircle them, while their dense canopies allowed only a few rays of sunlight to filter through the gaps, scattering shifting halos of light across the stone road.

The air was filled with the fresh scent of earth mingled with ancient wood. From time to time, crisp birdsong drifted over from afar. Rather than breaking the silence, it made the island's atmosphere seem even deeper and more tranquil.

After walking for about fifteen minutes and passing through the final stretch of dense forest, their view suddenly opened up. At the end of the path lay a flat mountaintop platform, and in its center stood a three-story building.

The entire structure was built of wood, its surface a deep brown that gleamed under the afternoon sun with a warm, lustrous sheen like polished oil.

The little building was not tall, only around ten meters high. There were neither carved beams nor painted rafters, nor any splendid golden ornamentation. It was so simple and ancient that it resembled an old man forgotten by time.

The only thing that revealed its status was the black plaque hanging directly above the first-floor entrance. Three large gilded characters stood upon it, vigorous and powerful, with a faint golden gleam flowing between their strokes...

Sea God Pavilion.

At the sight of those three words, everyone who had been quietly chatting fell silent without prompting.

It was not the silence of intimidation, but a solemnity that arose from the depths of their hearts, as though they stood before history itself. All noise and