This floating land appeared to be a paradise, with picturesque mountains, serene lakes, and lush peaks.
In the distance, one could see orderly villages, crisscrossing paths, and wisps of smoke rising from the chimneys, carrying a strong sense of mundane life.
Several streaks of light flew over from afar, but instead of leaving the area covered by the light barrier, they stopped among the mountains, cautiously observing the outside world.
Layers of chaotic spatial currents, like tidal waves, continuously crashed against the barrier, carrying terrifying power.
The outside world was a blur, and unless one stood directly in the Sea of Time and Space, it was difficult to see clearly.
Ling Yuling frowned, noticing that these beings seemed to be whispering among themselves, occasionally glancing outside.
Their language didn't belong to any era she was familiar with, but from the faint divine sense fluctuations she captured, it was clear that these beings had sensed the disturbance outside and had come to investigate.
"Why are these people so wary of me?"
What she saw now left Ling Yuling extremely puzzled and surprised, feeling somewhat unexpected.
A sense of unease rose in her heart, but she didn't let her thoughts drift to the worst. She guessed that perhaps terrifying and strange beings occasionally emerged from the Chaotic Sea of Time and Space, disturbing the peaceful lives of the local residents in this paradise.
That was why they were so cautious about any movements from the outside.
"It seems I'll have to reveal myself and ask directly."
Ling Yuling shook her head slightly, hesitated for a moment, and then revealed her figure from the Chaotic Sea of Time and Space, heading toward the floating land.
A straight golden path appeared before her, and the turbulent Sea of Time and Space seemed to calm down, extending forward.
Accompanied by crystal-clear divine light, it looked extremely holy.
She tried to make her aura appear as peaceful as possible to avoid being misunderstood by the local residents, which could lead to unnecessary trouble.
---
"As expected, she's hiding. I knew the Sacred Ancestor's relic wouldn't activate for no reason."
The moment Ling Yuling revealed her true form, the few beings who had rushed over from the floating land stared intently in her direction.
Among them, an elderly man with a weathered appearance narrowed his eyes and whispered to the others in an ancient, cryptic language.
The other beings beside him also tensed up, their bodies stiffening with nervousness.
Several of them gripped ancient artifacts hidden in their wide sleeves, full of vigilance.
"Don't worry. The barrier left by the Sacred Ancestor is enough to protect us. As long as we don't leave this place, we'll be safe. Remember, no matter what happens, do not leave the barrier."
"The Sea of Time and Space is filled with countless dangers. No one who leaves can return alive."
The elderly man, who seemed to hold a high status on the floating land, comforted the others as they grew increasingly tense.
"Elder Zhu, do you think the person approaching is Shen or a Shadow?"
A middle-aged man with ancient patterns on his clothing looked at Ling Yuling outside the light barrier and asked in a low voice.
"I don't know. It's hard to tell for now. But anyone who can come here and activate the Sacred Ancestor's relic is definitely not simple. Whether it's Shen or a Shadow, we can't afford to be careless."
The elderly man, named Elder Zhu, spoke with a grave expression.
The beings beside him also grew serious, their eyes fixed unwaveringly on Ling Yuling as she approached.
In the dim and chaotic Sea of Time and Space, where the laws of the Great Dao were broken and order was shattered, a snow-white woman surrounded by holy light walked forward.
Her black hair fluttered, her demeanor transcendent, her beauty otherworldly, like a figure stepping out of an ancient painting.
No matter how one looked at it, the scene felt incredibly eerie.
The few people inside the floating land were on edge, facing Ling Yuling across the light barrier, none daring to move.
Seeing this, Ling Yuling couldn't help but frown. Although the light barrier separated them, she had already captured their divine sense fluctuations.
Even though their languages were different, with her current strength, this wasn't a problem. She easily understood the content of their conversation.
Shen? What is that?
And Shadows?
And the Sacred Ancestor's relic?
"You don't need to be afraid of me. I mean no harm. I came here to find an old friend. I heard her response and followed it."
After some thought, Ling Yuling chose to speak softly, explaining her purpose.
She used the language of the people before her, so they would definitely understand.
However, to Ling Yuling's surprise, after she spoke, the expressions of the people inside the light barrier didn't change at all. Instead, they seemed to have anticipated her words.
"As expected, any being that can come here is not simple. Its intelligence far surpasses that of ordinary Shen. It might even be the legendary Shen Emperor."
Elder Zhu's expression grew even more serious as he whispered.
Ordinary Shen had little intelligence, like soulless walking corpses.
But Greater Shen, with intelligence comparable to cultivators was far more terrifying. They were leaders among Shen, possessing immense power and the ability to command others.
As for Shen Kings and Shen Emperores, they were even more mysterious and terrifying, legendary entities that might appear only once in billions of Shen.
A Shen Emperor could no longer be called Shen. It was the embodiment of Shen itself, indistinguishable from a normal being.
Even standing right in front of it, one wouldn't be able to detect its true nature.
Of course, the methods of Shen were incredibly mysterious and unpredictable. Just by standing there, it could envelop a being's thoughts and discern their intentions. Therefore, they naturally wouldn't believe anything Shen said.
In his life, Elder Zhu had seen many strange beings, but he had never encountered a Shen Emperor.
In his view, the Ling Yuling before him was likely the legendary and extremely rare Shen Emperor. Her outward appearance might seem transcendent and otherworldly, but in reality, she had been corrupted by Shen, transformed into something equally terrifying.
"If it really is a Shen Emperor, I don't know if the barrier left by the Sacred Ancestor can stop it. Xiao Wang, hurry back and inform the council. Have the major families send more people."
Elder Zhu spoke gravely to a middle-aged man beside him.
The middle-aged man nodded solemnly and, without delay, transformed into a streak of light, rushing off to deliver the message.
If a Shen Emperor had truly arrived, countless Shen would surely follow.
After so many years, they had thought their clans were safe here, having escaped endless pursuit.
But who would have thought that Shen had discovered this place and followed them here?
Their conversation didn't escape Ling Yuling's notice. She frowned even more deeply, feeling that the local residents had misunderstood something.
But what exactly were Shen and Shadows?
She had never heard of them before.
Were they strange entities that had appeared in recent epochs?
But even the Prime-Origin Civilization had no records or information about such things. The Imperial Immortal Palace, as a dominant force in the Prime-Origin Civilization, was also completely unaware of them.
"Perhaps you've misunderstood something. I am not the Shen you speak of, nor do I know what Shen is. I came here only to reunite with an old friend."
Ling Yuling felt deeply helpless and couldn't help but explain again.
However, no matter how she explained, the people inside the light barrier remained unmoved, not believing a word she said.
This left Ling Yuling with no choice. She couldn't just force her way through the light barrier.
Nan Zun was a figure from her era, and she believed Nan Zun might be隐居 here.
If she were to take direct action, it would be somewhat disrespectful.
However, when Ling Yuling mentioned Nan Zun, the group showed no reaction, as if they had never heard of such a person.
"We are just a group of remnants seeking refuge. We don't know who your old friend is, and we don't welcome you here. No matter who you are, please leave. Otherwise, you'll bear the consequences."
Elder Zhu finally spoke up, choosing to confront Ling Yuling directly.
He didn't know if this Shen Emperor was stalling for time, waiting for more Shen to arrive.
As he spoke, more streaks of light flew over from the mountains, lakes, and marshes behind him. These were beings dressed in ancient patterns, from various clans, all exuding a powerful aura, with the fluctuations of the Great Dao surrounding them.
Seeing this, Ling Yuling frowned even more deeply.
She had finally received a response from an old friend of her era. If she were to leave now, wouldn't this trip be in vain? Would she even be able to return?
Moreover, her purpose in finding her old friend wasn't just to reminisce.
A catastrophe that couldn't be seen was about to engulf the entire Prime-Origin Civilization.
She suspected it was related to the great war of the past and needed to discuss countermeasures with her old friend.
"Grandpa!"
From the other side of the light barrier, a young man with sharp eyebrows and handsome features strode over.
In his hand, he dragged the corpse of a beast resembling a saber-toothed tiger. The body was as large as a small hill, exuding a fierce and intimidating aura.
"Zhu Xuan, why are you here? This place is dangerous. It's not somewhere you should be."
The elderly man, Elder Zhu, frowned at the young man and scolded him sternly.
The surrounding beings clearly knew the young man and greeted him.
The young man, named Zhu Xuan, had a tall and slender figure, exuding an extraordinary air.
He casually tossed the beast's corpse to the ground, causing the earth to shake as if an earthquake had struck.