The Return of Stars to the Jianghu

Also a little over a month ago, in the mountains near Tongren County in the northwestern part of the Southern Han Kingdom on the Floating Continent.

As night deepened and most of the bandits in the cave were asleep, only a few remained to patrol, with two guarding the entrance. Unable to find horses, Han Yue led his men to secretly climb the mountain. Having confirmed during the day that the Three Shepherds were inside the cave, and knowing it was easy to defend but difficult to attack, Han Yue had no choice but to feign defeat and flee.

Climbing mountains at night requires both physical strength and eyesight. Han Yue selected a few men from the soldiers given by the two county magistrates to launch a night raid on the bandit's den.

The bandits also became more vigilant. Although there were only two guards at the gate, they kept looking around.

Han Yue ordered the soldiers to stop, picked up his bow and arrow, and shot two men dead. Everyone held their breath. A moment later, Han Yue fired two more arrows, bringing the two men down. The soldiers then sneaked into the cave as planned. The soldiers dealt with the patrolling bandits like ghosts, but one of the bandits spotted them and shouted, "The government troops are coming!"

The shout startled the entire cave awake. The bandits frantically grabbed their weapons and looked around, trying to find any trace of the soldiers. However, they found no soldiers, only their fallen comrades.

Han Yue knew that there was no time to hesitate. He immediately sounded the attack horn, and all the soldiers charged at the bandits like tigers descending a mountain. The bandits were caught off guard, and chaos erupted inside the cave.

Led by Han Yue, the soldiers swept through the mountains like a whirlwind, advancing deep into the cave. They did not indiscriminately kill innocent people, but only dealt necessary blows to the bandits who resisted.

Deep inside the cave, Han Yue finally saw that familiar figure—Sanmu. He was tied to a stone pillar and looked somewhat haggard, but thankfully he wasn't injured.

Han Yue immediately stepped forward and untied his ropes. The two were overjoyed to see each other again.

After successfully rescuing the three shepherds, Han Yue returned the soldiers he had borrowed from the two counties.

The two decided to return to Freedom City along the route they had taken to the Southern Han Kingdom. A very important stop on this journey was Lanting County, located within the territory of the Western Shu Kingdom.

Han Yue and San Mu arrived in Lanting County, the legendary post station where caravans traveled to another world, hoping to find some more clues.

Standing before the ruins of the Orchid Pavilion, the two of them couldn't help but lament the ruthlessness of time.

The once bustling post station is now nothing but ruins, seemingly whispering tales of its past glory and mystery. The small pavilion built by later generations next to it appears rather insignificant compared to these ruins.

Han Yue carefully examined the ruins, trying to find some useful clues. He noticed that the huge pillar in the center of the ruins seemed different, with some blurry symbols and characters engraved on it.

He crouched down, carefully examining the symbols. Sanmu joined him, and the two studied the mysterious script together.

After a long period of deliberation, they finally deciphered part of the meaning of the text. It turned out that the pillar was an ancient mechanism; only by touching the symbols on the pillar in a specific order could a hidden underground passage be activated.

Han Yue and San Mu exchanged a smile; they knew this was the clue they had been searching for. Following the deciphered order, they touched the symbols on the pillar one by one.

Suddenly, the ground trembled, and the ground in the center of the ruins slowly sank, revealing a black hole.

The dim light revealed the bottom of the cave, where there must have been a staircase, which was likely destroyed during construction. Yet, the stone pillar mechanism still functioned, a testament to the ingenuity of the craftsmen from a thousand years ago.

Han Yue and San Mu exchanged a glance and jumped into the black hole without hesitation.

They found themselves in a dimly lit underground passage. The walls were inlaid with luminous pearls, emitting a faint glow. The two continued forward, unaware of what awaited them ahead.

At the end of the passage, they discovered a massive stone gate. The patterns on the gate were intricate and mysterious, seemingly containing some ancient wisdom.

Han Yue took a deep breath and pushed open the stone door. A cloud of light enveloped them.

When they opened their eyes again, they looked around, trying to determine their location. They were in a forest.

Mimu suddenly noticed some strange plants in the forest, and he went over to take a closer look.

"Han Yue, look at this!" Sanmu exclaimed excitedly. He held in his hand a strangely shaped plant with crystal-clear fruit on it.

Han Yue walked over, examined it carefully, and said in surprise, "This is... the legendary Illusion Fruit! It is said that it can only be found in the forests of another world."

The two realized that they might have truly arrived in a completely different world through that ancient mechanism—the Xuan Tian Continent. This world was full of mystery and the unknown, but also concealed endless secrets and treasures.

They decided to continue their exploration of the Xuan Tian Continent, seeking more secrets about the elixir of immortality and the path to immortality. After traveling through the forest for some time, they encountered a group of strangely shaped creatures. These creatures had transparent wings and colorful feathers, appearing both beautiful and mysterious.

"What kind of creatures are these?" Sanmu asked curiously.

Han Yue shook his head: "I don't know either, but we can try to communicate with them."

The two approached the creatures cautiously, attempting to communicate with them in various languages. After some effort, they finally established a basic connection with them.

These creatures called themselves the "Spiritwing Clan," one of the native inhabitants of the Xuan Tian Continent. They possess a unique language and culture, as well as powerful magical abilities. The Spiritwing Clan's leader extended a friendly greeting to Han Yue and San Mu, inviting them to visit their tribe.

Led by the Spirit Wing Clan, Han Yue and San Mu arrived at a mysterious tribe hidden deep in the forest. The architecture here was unique and magnificent, full of exotic charm. The tribe's inhabitants were hospitable and prepared a sumptuous feast for them.

In the tribe, Han Yue and San Mu heard many legends and stories about the Xuan Tian Continent. They learned that this continent was home to all sorts of mysterious creatures and powerful forces, and also hid endless treasures and opportunities.

During their interactions with the Spiritwing Clan, they also learned a crucial clue about the elixir of immortality. It is said that the elixir lies hidden deep within the forbidden land of death on the Xuan Tian Continent, and only true warriors and sages can find it.

This news filled Han Yue and San Mu with anticipation and motivation. They decided to continue their exploration of the Xuan Tian Continent, searching for the elixir of immortality and the secrets of the path to immortality.

In the days that followed, they forged a deep friendship with the Spiritwing Clan and shared many adventures and challenges. Together, they explored mysterious caves deep within the forest, battled powerful monsters, and solved ancient mysteries. Each experience made them more mature and resilient.

More than a month later, they arrived at the legendary forbidden land of death. This was a valley surrounded by ten mountains, with a large lake in the middle. Each mountain was full of danger and unknowns, but also hid endless mysteries and treasures.

They bravely ventured into the forbidden land of death, embarking on an adventure. On one of the mountains within the forbidden land, they finally found the elixir of immortality. It was a herb that shimmered with a mysterious light and exuded a powerful life force.

However, only the roots of these herbs remained. They saw two people in the distance, and when the two turned around...

Sanmu was stunned, and called out, "Luo Yifei."