The island was vast. Besides its forest of reefs and sandy beaches, it also had plenty of trees.
These trees were all exceptionally tall, far taller than trees on an island should have been. Together with the damp sea breeze, they made the entire woodland feel moist and chilly.
Beneath these trees, wherever the sea breeze blew, lingzhi mushrooms grew, shimmering with spiritual light.
A pale gray stone figure abruptly sprouted from the ground like a winter bamboo shoot breaking through the soil, appearing at the edge of the woods.
It slowly walked deeper into the woods, finally stopping before an enormous locust tree. The tree was covered in charred marks and had been dead for years, seemingly still bearing traces of a lightning tribulation.
Beside the locust tree, a lingzhi mushroom as wide as a basin glimmered with dazzling spiritual radiance. Extraordinary visions even unfolded within it.
The stone figure gazed at it, utterly engrossed and intoxicated.
"Damn it!" Yet the next moment, a tremendous crash came from the shore, as though towering waves were surging in.
Ferocity returned to its eyes, and its entire body sank into the earth.
When it appeared again, it had already reached the reefs beside the island.
In the distance, the giant ape had appeared again. Its eyes were filled with mockery and greed, making the stone figure loathe it all the more.
An enormous meteoric-iron staff came smashing down again with a terrifying whistle through the air, as though it would shatter the entire island.
The stone figure raised its hand again, sending a fearsome water dragon flying out.
The expected collapse of the water dragon never came. Instead, the staff was sent flying.
But the giant ape, which had kept probing from outside, now made an uncharacteristic move and flew closer,