Treading the path paved with golden motes of light, Tang Wulin and Gu Yuena seemed to be walking between dream and reality. Their feet landed on the tranquil lake's surface as though it were solid ground. Ripples spread from beneath their steps, only to be smoothed away by a gentle force. This road of light led straight toward the island at the lake's center—or rather, toward the city in the sky suspended above it, upheld by a colossal canopy and radiating a hazy glow—Eternal Sky City.
The closer they drew, the more they could feel the majestic aura contained within the Golden Ancient Tree, like the very source of life for all Douluo Star. It filled Tang Wulin with incomparable familiarity and peace. Waves of warmth echoed from deep within his bloodline, as if a wanderer had finally caught the scent of cooking smoke from his mother's stove.
They had no need to fly. The road of light extended on its own, carrying them gradually upward until they finally stepped steadily onto the ground of Eternal Sky City, formed from pure life energy and ancient wood.
The air here was unbelievably fresh. Every breath seemed to cleanse their souls, while life energy so dense it was nearly liquid actively flowed into their bodies, nourishing every inch of their meridians. Looking around, pavilions and towers were nestled amid lush branches and misty spiritual energy. The place was tranquil and peaceful, like a paradise beyond the world.
Before them, beneath the mountain-like trunk of the Golden Ancient Tree, stood a man in a plain gray robe. He stood quietly there, as though he had become one with this land and this ancient tree.
He appeared to be a middle-aged man in his thirties or forties. His features were refined, and his gaze