After leaving the ruined lakeside, Dustin, Margaret, and the others moved even more cautiously, struggling through the dense and perilous jungle. The strangeness of Penglai Island exceeded all imagination. Shrubs that appeared tranquil could suddenly lash out with thorny vines, bright flowers sprayed numbing pollen, and even the ground underfoot could turn in an instant into quicksand that devoured everything. Fortunately, with Dustin—the unfathomably powerful one—leading them, he always sensed danger in advance or casually dispelled threats, allowing the group to continue unscathed. After traveling like this for about a day and a night, the scenery opened up. Before them appeared a lush bamboo forest, green and vibrant. The stalks stood tall, the leaves swayed, faint mists curled among them, and the air carried a refreshing fragrance. Compared to the perilous jungle behind them, this place felt quiet and harmonious, almost like a hidden paradise. “This place… is so peaceful,” Qin...