Chapter 889 - 431: Zultin Marsh
Guild Calendar Year 300, September 4th, evening, the Eternal Summer arrived near the Zultin Marsh of Ancient Witch Island.
The sunset of the Ignis Sky Realm was as red as fire, but no matter how intense the color, it could not penetrate the enigmatic shroud above the island. Amidst their surging, one could occasionally see dense clusters of strange trees, with peculiar birds flying through them.
Faced with the island, the subtle blue glow of the Lotus of Reincarnation was instead invisible in the Spiritual World because everyone was already within it.
Through those layers of miasma, it was impossible to see if the Lotus of Reincarnation had taken root inside.
If one were unaware of the island’s reality, from above it would only seem like a dense jungle shrouded in clouds. Without accurate information, outsiders who discovered this island wouldn’t want to descend immediately.
"We finally made it, so what now? Are you going in right away?"
The members of the Eternal Summer gathered on the deck; it was Dorothy who asked the question. She was persistently inquisitive, yet surprisingly calm about Li Ang leaving the ship.
Li Ang pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, "I don’t know."
"Don’t know?" The four, Cat, Bird, Wolf, Xiaoniu, and even Da and Xiao Mei showed slight surprise.
"You don’t know whether you’re going in or not?" Dorothy asked.
"Because I don’t even know how to get in."
"Wouldn’t it be as simple as having the ship descend?" Zoe said.
"Zultin Marsh is a special place, where many powerful entities roam the island’s jungle and marshes. To land rashly might shock the Eternal Summer and make it impossible to locate the elusive Ancient Witches."
"Weren’t you here before? Weren’t all your Witch’s Secret Techniques learned from here?" Meimei said, folding her arms.
"Yes, but the last time I was here..."
As Li Ang reminisced, he recounted his first trip to Zultin Marsh to the others.
Initially, studying the Witch was the only means Li Ang found for stable Magic Power usage with sufficient effect after attempting various methods.
Later, to make a living, he became an Adventurer, registered as a Sky Knight, and improved his Curse Art through practice in different scenarios.
Before the transformation of The Soul Apex, and with Rams not yet fully revealing his true nature, Li Ang already felt the limitations of a typical Mage in various situations. Luckily, because he had long delved into this path, he had already heard some legends.
As a Transmigrator, he was bound to realize this Profession, with severed inheritance, held secrets, a notion he once entertained despite the reality offering little room for such thoughts.
However, perhaps due to subconscious collection, Li Ang eventually pieced together a worthy clue—a line suggesting the Witch’s inheritance originated from a group of ancient Casters, some of whom had close ties with the Ancient Witches.
After visiting seasoned Adventurers and scholars, and heading to Thousand Tower City for research and study, Li Ang found the name Zultin Marsh in an ancient manuscript.
Across various scattered tribes retaining ancient witch beliefs, the same legend prevailed.
It could not be mere coincidence.
Through many devout followers of the Ancient Witches, like the Old mage in the Magic Area shop in the City of Trade who gifted Li Ang Rune Tree Bark, he finally confirmed this "Holy Land" lay in the Southwest Region of the Ignis Sky Realm.
Li Ang then sailed alone towards this Aerial Realm.
"Looking back now, whether choosing the Witch or coming here, it seems as though guided by some unseen force. I just ’knew’ I could reach some outcome or find the place I sought.
"Of course, it might just be my delusion, luck, and coincidence. But the result is, I found it."
The others struggled to assess his claim, as it diverged from Li Ang’s usual pragmatic demeanor, leaning more towards the mystical.
Meluna broke the brief silence, "Perhaps some Power awaits you, or grants you some Revelation."
"If so, it must be a high-level Power, one I can’t ascertain even now."
Li Ang nodded, "At the time, I naturally arrived here."
"But you don’t know how to enter," Meimei added.
"Has the master forgotten? Due to some measure from the Witch Doctors inside?" Andasu speculated.
"No, I found myself in the miasma upon regaining awareness."
Li Ang gazed at the concealed Zultin Marsh below, "I had a Dream."
"A Dream?" everyone chimed in unison.
"Yes, I saw strange things, like the Immortal Spirit World from folk tales. For instance, a forest where Fairies and Little People live, talking beasts, and Mountain Spirits. I unknowingly walked through such a wilderness, those entities accompanied me, like guiding, like telling me the direction. When I realized, I’d already entered Zultin Marsh.
"And upon waking, I realized I’d unknowingly entered such a dreamlike state."
Li Ang’s words plunged the group into silence again, absorbing the information contained in his words.
"Such an effect on consciousness resembles the handiwork of a Primordial Being," Livi suddenly said.
Yet, the newborn Dragon Ancestor couldn’t fully access ancient memories, unable to piece together complete answers from the fragments she currently knew.
"So, perhaps we may rest," Farina smiled, "If Li Ang sleeps at night, perhaps he’ll find the way."
However, as soon as she spoke, the miasma in the distance began to surge.
Thump.
Li Ang felt his heartbeat inexplicably heavier.
He frowned, sensing the cause of this from within, since an enhanced perception of Spirituality had seldom left him unaware of abrupt and elusive occurrences upon himself.
Thump thump.
With the vibration recurring, he realized it wasn’t his heartbeat, but some rhythm transmitted to him from the Otherworld, causing such an illusion.
The companions beside him were unaware of his body’s condition, but the changes in the miasma were visible to the naked eye.
As the mists churned, briefly pierced by a pale blue glow, a pale blue Phantom with a trailing tail traced an arc in the sky, heading towards the Eternal Summer.
In the separated miasma, one can see the swamp that engulfs the skeletons, mixed with twisted mutant trees, shrubs, and wild grass.
And that blue radiance is a graceful antlered doe. Its four hooves seem to tread on air, yet as if stepping on solid ground. The arc of fluctuations merely marks the trajectory of its leap as its hooves push off.
This doe’s species is evidently unique, possessing female characteristics yet still bearing elongated antlers, though not as massive as a male deer’s, more slender and refined.
"What is that?" The young girls gazed intently at the mystical radiant doe.
"It’s someone from the Zultin Marsh," Li Ang said.
"Someone?" Zoe was puzzled.
Previously, the only ones they had seen transform were beings of strong formats like Star Souls and Dragon Ancestors.
"She’s a Shapeshifter, it’s a special power they possess. Here, whether Witch Doctors, Mages, or Druids, more or less know the corresponding transformation Magic abilities."
Just as Li Ang finished explaining, the doe had arrived outside the deck of the Eternal Summer.
It immediately spotted Li Ang.
As it drew near, everyone realized how large this doe truly was; it stood four to five meters tall, akin to a Giant Beast, yet without the oppressive feeling of one, it exuded an aura of peace and harmony, like a Spirit of the world.
"Ten Thousand Spirits have awaited you for a long time, unfinished trial receiver." The doe spoke, with a crisp female voice, to Li Ang.
Uh, they remember, after all.
Li Ang scratched his head.
"Unfinished trial?" Meluna asked with a questioning expression.
"Because in the latter half, I felt it unnecessary to complete. I had already obtained the things I needed. Coupled with the situation at The Soul Apex, leaving for too long wasn’t ideal."
Li Ang sighed, somewhat embarrassed, as the Sanctuary of All Spirits treats this matter very seriously.
But back then, they hadn’t stopped Li Ang from leaving. When he proposed his departure, they advised him a bit, yet ultimately held a confident stance of, ’you will surely return.’
Was this born from experience, or some mysterious power delivering foresight?
Who knew there would be a Demon Curse and a system?
This time, no visions were needed, as the Shapeshifter came personally, indicating they had indeed been waiting for him.
"Please ride upon my back and return to the Ten Thousand Spirits."
The doe lowered its body in the air, aligning its back parallel to the ship’s deck.
Since it went to such lengths, Li Ang decided not to leave it waiting; this journey’s purpose had already been to reunite.
"Well, I’m off then, everyone."
Everything had been arranged, and there was no need to repeat unnecessary words.
Li Ang stepped upon the doe’s back, facing those on the ship.
Some worried, others anticipated a reunion, some with reddened eyes... The journey to this point has been truly...
Li Ang mused sentimentally, noticing ALulu who was silent, her small face somewhat sullen.
He still remembered how last night, ALulu was full of resentment.
"Brother, liar."
"Uh, why would you say that?"
"You promised to do the same as them with me."
"How did you...?"
Li Ang hadn’t expected ALulu to be so perceptive. She lacked the kind of cheating-like abilities Othella possessed.
"Brother doesn’t know, but everyone’s meals were delivered by me, weren’t they? I had to bring them to the rooms." ALulu said, with a meaningful tone.
"However, you’re very busy, so I shouldn’t take up too much of your time, but I’ll wait for you to return."
Through their gaze, Li Ang connected with Xiaoniu’s pale purple eyes, reinforcing his promise from last night with a look.
He waved his hand, softly told the doe a few words, and the leader of the Star Flower Travel Corps temporarily left his members, to once more embrace his own trial.
A faint blue gleam catapulted Li Ang’s silhouette into the miasma, the doe’s antlers once again piercing the mist as they quickly vanished within.
On the deck, Meluna’s Magic Power erupted, her ascent swift as she drew near the miasma’s height only after everyone’s reaction.
"She! She wants to chase after?!" Dorothy exclaimed in surprise.
"Then we can too!" Zoe immediately shouted.
Andasu already headed for the rudder.
However, when the Female Sword Saint cleaved the miasma, what emerged was empty, lifeless swamp.
She refused to accept this situation, charging forward, an ankle ring entwining with the chaotic cloud, pressing ahead.
In the air, all saw clouds torn open by her advance, but no matter how far she went, Zultin Marsh remained still and barren, absent of any residents or souls.
Clearly, Li Ang had reached a realm untouchable by common folk.
Perhaps even only accessible to those with special inheritances.
Meluna returned to the ship, face calm, yet the Magic Power she gathered radiated her unwillingness and anger.
The girls aboard took turns looking at this island, each carrying distinct emotions as they recalled what they should be doing daily.