Chapter 153: Is This a Fantasy Forest?

Mirrored images of the four seasons flashed rapidly within the space. A thick fog permeated the area, and low, rumbling roars echoed intermittently.

The ground was covered in strange runes that emitted an eerie blue light. Wen Qian tried to find any trace of Yin Zhi and the others, but there was nothing... only countless pale yellow specks of light hovering at her side.

Countless images flooded her mind, and Wen Qian’s head felt like it was splitting open. She sank to her knees, the corners of her eyes growing inexplicably moist. She clenched her fists at her sides, trying to grab onto something, but besides herself, nothing in this space seemed to have a physical form.

Her consciousness faded. The woman collapsed in agony into a pale blue halo of light. In the last second before she passed out, she saw a brilliant light burst like a firework, and everything around her vanished...

「Back in a familiar world.」

Yin Zhi found himself in a vast, boundless forest—a mysterious corner of the Beast World.

Towering, thick ancient trees blotted out the sky. Their trunks resembled the bodies of colossal beasts, their bark covered in peculiar patterns. Some looked like winding rivers, others like birds with outstretched wings, all glowing with an ancient luster polished by the passage of time.

Overhead, the branches crisscrossed like a giant net, shattering the sky into fragments. Occasionally, a few rays of sunlight, like golden threads, managed to pierce through the dense canopy, dappling the moss-covered ground below.

Strange plants were everywhere. Giant mushrooms, several times taller than a person, held up colorful caps whose surfaces shimmered with a crystalline glow.

’As much as I hate to admit it, this is the exact spot I was in before entering Blue Star. Does that mean the other Beastmen were also sent back to their original locations?’

’If that’s the case, then Ling Xuan should be nearby...’

It was midday, and the sun was fierce, yet quite a few Beastmen were gathered nearby. Yin Zhi frowned as he looked over, surprised to see several familiar faces.

"Young Master!" The man clearly recognized Yin Zhi and bowed to him respectfully.

Yin Zhi nodded, his gaze sweeping rapidly through the other Beastmen as he searched for a familiar figure.

The rest of the Beastmen had now also arrived in the Beast World.

The Little Fox stood in a sea of flowers, extending a hand to feel the plants’ power. The Fox Clan could commune with the Beast World’s Mist Dream Flowers to sense their surroundings, and he was attempting to use this ability to find Wen Qian’s whereabouts.

Flowers of all shapes and sizes opened like palms, their stamens releasing a strange fragrance that attracted a swarm of colorful bees and butterflies.

The Little Fox placed his hand on one, and its stamen instantly emitted a soft glow... But his expression quickly darkened. He couldn’t sense Wen Qian.

「Elsewhere.」

Grass and trees swayed gently in the wind as various strange beasts moved between them.

Gu Mian rested both hands on a railing, looking down at the scene below. In the jungle, agile beasts ran wild, their fur sheening in the sunlight.

They occasionally glanced up at Gu Mian with curiosity, but none dared to approach.

Farther in the distance, a flock of winged beasts circled the sky. One of them, Se Dan, flew with his wings outstretched, as if searching for something.

Compared to the other Hundred Bird Clan Beastmen, Se Dan’s body was on the smaller side, but his wingspan was a full two meters. As if sensing something, he abruptly changed direction and flew toward the mountaintop, landing steadily on a treetop near Gu Mian.

The air was filled with the mixed scents of earth, grass, and flowers, laced with a faint, wild aroma.

A breeze swept by, rustling the leaves. The Wind Chime Grass hanging from the branches swayed, producing a crisp, pleasant sound...

Gu Mian gestured for those around him to move aside, making some room for him.

Their eyes met. After a brief exchange, Gu Mian’s expression slowly darkened.

’No news of Wen Qian.’

The calls of insects wove together, creating a unique forest symphony.

Everyone had been transported back to the places where they had vanished. But there was no joy of recovery on their faces, only a forcibly suppressed anxiety...

Wen Qian was jolted awake by a roar. She opened her eyes to see a giant, white-furred beast nudging her with its nose. Though the motion was gentle, it gave Wen Qian a terrible fright.

"Holy crap! What the hell?!" Wen Qian’s eyes went wide, and she scrambled backward, only to slam solidly into a wall of flesh.

A hand immediately gripped her waist, and as the world spun around her, an incredibly handsome face came into view.

"Th-Thanks..." Wen Qian swallowed, her eyes glued to the man’s face. He had a ruggedly handsome face, but there was a faint gentleness in his eyes. She was mesmerized and only snapped out of it after a moment. "What’s your name, handsome? Can I get your number?"

"You don’t recognize me?" the man asked, his brows furrowing. Seeing her dazed expression, he reached out, grabbed her chin, and forced her to meet his serious gaze.

Wen Qian was startled by him and flailed, trying to break free from his embrace, but in the next second, he held her firmly against his chest.

The giant beast beside them, seemingly displeased with his actions, let out a low growl and spread its wings.

At this, Wen Qian immediately shrank back into the man’s arms, her voice tight with nerves. "Is... is this a movie shoot?"

’Is this giant beast some kind of new-and-improved prop?’

The man gazed down at her, his expression complicated. The next moment, he lowered his head, openly revealing a pair of wolf ears.

"Cosplay?" Wen Qian subconsciously reached out and gave one a pinch. A faint blush immediately appeared on the man’s face.

She pinched it again. He immediately buried his head in the crook of her neck, his warm breath washing over her skin.

"Wen Qian, you have to take responsibility for pinching them," he murmured, his wolf tail coiling around her waist.

Wen Qian was shocked. "You know my name?"

It was only then that Wen Qian realized something was wrong. The ear had felt far too real, just like pinching a puppy’s. With a trembling hand, she let go and took another careful look at her surroundings...

Countless colossal trees stretched out their limbs like giant arms, and every single leaf glowed like a tiny lantern, emitting a soft white light.

Thick, long vines snaked down from the trunks like living pythons. Some even sprouted sharp thorns, their tips adorned with dewdrops that sparkled like brilliant jewels in the sunlight...

Wen Qian was dumbfounded, but the wonders didn’t stop there.

In grass half a meter high, a unicorn strolled elegantly through the woods, observing them with curiosity.

Meanwhile, several thumb-sized Elves were fluttering their wings, hovering around them...

Wen Qian saw that the Elves had human-like faces and bodies. They wore clothes made from petals and leaves... and left a trail of sparkling dust in their wake.

’What the hell... Am I dreaming?!’