I am the sacred tree, evergreen for eternity.

The eastern mountains are vast and verdant.

Compared to the tranquility and harmony of the Sacred Tree Valley and the secluded depths of the northern forests, the vast, endless mountain ranges, which appear as ridges from one side and peaks from another, exude a raw and untamed atmosphere.

Five figures moved swiftly along the mountain ridge, their movements as agile as monkeys, leaping and bounding among the jagged rocks and tangled tree roots without making a sound.

Xuan walked at the front, the iron sword on his back gleaming coldly in the morning light, his eyes constantly scanning his surroundings.

"Captain, we've been traveling for seven days."

The speaker was Yan, a young man with a calm face and a well-proportioned figure. He was the second-in-command of this exploration team and Xuan's childhood friend.

"Based on our location, we have penetrated more than 300 miles into the mountains."

"Further ahead is an area not marked on the map."

Yan took out a map made of animal hide from his pocket, on which every route they had taken was marked with charcoal.

Xuan stopped and looked back at his teammates.

Meng was squatting on a rock, munching on jerky. He was the most robust man in the group, with arms as thick as tree trunks and fists that looked like two iron hammers when clenched.

Feng leaned against a large tree, eyes closed, ears twitching slightly, like an alert hunting dog, constantly listening to the surrounding sounds. He was slender with long limbs, and was the fastest man in the group.

Ling squatted on the ground, gently touching the soil with her fingers. Her senses were the most acute among the five, allowing her to detect subtle traces that ordinary people could not.

"Three hundred li?"

Xuan grinned, revealing a set of white teeth. "Not enough."

"My father once said that they migrated from afar, traveling over a thousand miles."

Yan put the map away and frowned, saying:

"Captain, the leader means we should first find out the situation of the eastern mountain range, not that we should go all the way to the ends of the earth."

"I know."

Xuan patted Yan's shoulder with such force that the latter staggered.

"But now that we're out here, we should at least see more of the sights."

"Besides—"

"Don't you want to know what's on the other side of the mountain?"

Xuan's gaze turned eastward, where the mountains stretched as far as the eye could see.

Yan remained silent for a moment, then sighed softly.

He knows Xuan too well.

This person has restless blood flowing in his veins.

"Wherever the captain says to go, I'll go."

"Anyway, following the captain is always the right thing to do."

He swallowed the last bite of jerky, stood up, clapped the crumbs off his hands, and gave a simple, honest smile.

The wind opened its eyes, and the corners of its mouth turned up slightly:

"Last time I was with the captain, I almost fell off a cliff."

"But it didn't fall, did it?"

Xuan laughed heartily.

"Let's go! Keep going!"

The five people set off again, their figures disappearing into the depths of the mountains and forests.

After another three days of walking, the changes in the terrain became more and more obvious.

The mountains became steeper and the forests deeper, completely blocking out the sunlight. Only a few beams of light occasionally peeked through the gaps, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

The air was filled with a damp, rotten smell, mixed with a strange, indescribable sweet and pungent odor.

Ling suddenly stopped and raised her right hand.

The five people stood still at the same time, like five sculptures.

"There's a smell of blood ahead."

Ling lowered her voice and pointed to the northeast.

"It's not far away, and the smell is very strong."

Xuan drew the iron sword from his back and gestured for the others to surround him.

The five people silently dispersed and moved towards the location Ling had indicated from different directions.

After passing through a dense thicket of bushes, a deep cave came into view.

The cave entrance was more than two people high, and the rocks on the edge were polished smooth and shiny by something. The air was filled with a strong smell of blood and the stench of wild animals.

From deep within the cave came a low, menacing snoring sound.

Xuan Chao gave him a wink.

He nodded sharply, took a wooden shield with iron edging from his back, and strode toward the cave entrance.

The snoring stopped abruptly, and then a huge black shadow pounced out from the depths of the cave!

It was a grizzly bear, but much larger than a normal grizzly bear. When it stood up, it was as tall as two people. Its body was covered with rough gray fur, its eyes were blood red, and its mouth dripped with foul-smelling saliva.

Its forepaws are huge, like fans, and its claws are as sharp as knives. When it slams down, the wooden shield in its hand vibrates and makes a buzzing sound.

He let out a muffled groan and took two steps back, but his body did not fall.

"You beast!"

Xuan shouted, his spiritual energy surging within him. His iron blade flashed with a cold light, slashing at the grizzly bear's side.

The blade sliced ​​into flesh, but got stuck in the hard bone.

The grizzly bear, in pain, let out a deafening roar, and its massive paw swept across. Xuan drew his sword and retreated, narrowly avoiding the attack.

"Its bones are very hard!"

"Everyone be careful, it's a monster."

Xuan flicked the blood off his knife, his brows furrowing slightly.

Yan charged out from the flank, his iron spear aimed precisely at the demon bear's eye.

The demonic bear turned its head to avoid the spear, which pierced its shoulder blade, causing blood to gush out.

Feng appeared behind the demonic bear like a ghost, his dagger slicing across the back of its neck, leaving a deep bloodstain.

The monster struggled, roared, and waved its giant paws frantically.

However, the five of them cooperated well, advancing and retreating with measured steps, giving it no chance to retaliate.

Not long after, the enormous creature collapsed to the ground, its blood staining the soil at the cave entrance.

He strode forward, stepped on the grizzly bear's head, and forcefully plunged the iron knife into its eye socket, delivering the final blow.

"Pack your things and bring everything you can."

Xuan wiped the iron knife clean on the bear skin, then turned and walked into the cave.

The cave was more spacious than I had imagined, with thick layers of dry grass and animal hides on the ground, and some gnawed bones piled up in the corners.

Xuan's gaze swept over the bones and then suddenly stopped.

His pupils suddenly contracted.

Deep inside the cave, against the rock wall, lay several items scattered—

A stone axe and two bone spears.

The stone axe blade was rough and simple, and it was tied to the wooden handle with vines in a clumsy way that was heartbreaking.

The tip of the bone spear was made from the leg bone of some large wild animal and had cracks, indicating that it had been used many times.

Xuan crouched down and carefully picked up the stone axes and bone spears, examining them thoroughly.

He froze when his fingers touched the weathered, blurred marks on the wooden handle of the stone axe.

Those aren't naturally formed patterns; they're marks left by humans.

It's a grip mark.

These are the deep and shallow fingerprints left on the wood after countless hands gripping it.

Xuan raised his head and looked at Yan.

Yan's expression also turned serious.

"This does not belong to the Xia family."

Yan took the stone axe, examined it carefully for a moment, and spoke in a low voice.

"The Xia family has long since phased out stone tools. These... are too primitive."

"But this belongs to the human race."

Xuan stood up, his gaze intense.

"Besides the Xia clan, there are other human races in this region!"

The five people exchanged glances, and all saw the same thought in each other's eyes—

This is a matter of great importance.

We must go back immediately!