Although rescuing Xiao Chubei had cost them a fair amount of time, they had also saved plenty by racing through Tree Demon Valley. As chance would have it, they actually arrived at roughly the planned time, if not a little earlier.
After passing through the tangled terrain of the Dark Marsh Creeklands, the waters ahead gradually joined together. At last, from a hillside lush with flowers and grass, they caught sight of a vast lake not far away.
Autumn Cloud Lake.
Mountains and rivers shared autumn's twilight; the moon held silver ripples, like clouds drifting in.
It was said to have been a famous scenic spot in the wilderness even before the cataclysm, its waters always clear, its air filled with tranquility-
Later, its area had expanded dramatically with the Spiritual Energy Revival, and its scenery had become even more beautiful. Unfortunately, few people could come here to admire it anymore.
In this age, the strong not only enjoyed higher status, but could also see a broader world.
"Judging by the sky, we should have about half an hour until nightfall." Luo Bawen looked around. "Once night falls, the areas covered in thin mist are where Snow Lotuses grow on the bottom. Mature Cloud-Wave Snow Lotuses emerge from the water at night to absorb moonlight. That's when we can pick them."
"Picking Cloud-Wave Snow Lotuses isn't dangerous in itself, but a kind of Demon Beast called the Ripple-Wave Swallow lives around Autumn Cloud Lake. For generations, these Demon Beasts have advanced by eating Cloud-Wave Snow Lotus seeds, so they consider the lotuses their own property and guard them fiercely. Whenever anyone approaches a lotus on the water, the Ripple-Wave Swallows swarm them."
"Ripple-Wave Swallows fly incredibly fast, and their wings have iron feathers. A charging flock can mince someone into