Seeing the smile in those clear eyes, Henry Clark couldn't help but be a little dazed. These eyes were so beautiful, filled with a faint joy and not a trace of impurity.

　　"Can you still walk? Let me take you out." 'Wildman' spoke to Henry Clark again.

　　Realizing her own loss of composure, Henry Clark gave an embarrassed smile, only to find that the other person's gaze showed no sign of strangeness. Supporting herself to stand up, Henry Clark tried to take a few steps, but a sharp pain shot through her foot again.

　　Turning her gaze, Henry Clark looked at 'Wildman' and shook her head with a bitter smile.

　　"Then let me carry you out."

　　Seeing Henry Clark shake her head, Wildman stepped forward directly, scooped Henry Clark into his arms, and then, with a flash of movement, sped off rapidly in a certain direction.

　　The faded blush reappeared on Henry Clark's face. She only felt the cool wind whistling past her body, and as she saw the surrounding scenery blur into illusions, Henry Clark exclaimed in her heart, "So fast!"

　　Before long, Henry Clark heard a few low whispers drifting into her ears, mixed with faint sobbing, and Wildman's footsteps also came to a stop. He set Henry Clark down and said, "Your companions are all outside. If you call out, they'll come over."

　　"You know them?" Henry Clark asked in surprise.

　　"They got lost just like you, but I was the one who led them out," Wildman said calmly, then turned around and left without the slightest hesitation.

　　Watching 'Wildman's back, as if suddenly remembering something, a knot formed in her heart—she didn't even know his name. She kept watching for a long time, then Henry Clark let out a long sigh, not knowing if the two of them would ever meet again. But the chances seemed so slim.

　　After 'Wildman' left Henry Clark, his figure flickered like the wind, moving with incredible speed—much faster than when he had been carrying Henry Clark. After running for a while through the lush mountain vegetation, a few simple grass huts appeared in Wildman's line of sight. In front of the huts, a disheveled old man was sitting with his eyes closed, resting.

　　"Master!" Approaching, 'Wildman' called out to Scruffy Old Man.

　　Scruffy Old Man opened his eyes at the sound. Though his hair and beard were white, there wasn't a single wrinkle on his face. Those brilliant eyes were filled with the vicissitudes of time, unfathomably deep.

　　"William Parker, why did today's training take you so long?" Scruffy Old Man asked William Parker, his voice betraying no emotion. William Parker was 'Wildman''s real name. When he was sixteen, his family of three drove to Tianmai Mountain for an adventure, but their car crashed on the winding mountain road. The car exploded, and just before dying, his parents pushed William Parker out of the car, sending him over a cliff. William Parker was extremely lucky—he was saved by Old Man.

　　Three years had passed. Now William Parker was nineteen. In these three years, he had always stayed by his master's side, learning skills. He also knew that his master was no ordinary person, but an immortal. In Master's own words, a cultivator!

　　"Master, I ran into some unexpected things," William Parker said, recounting what had just happened to Old Man. Scruffy Old Man nodded after hearing it, not blaming William Parker at all.

　　"William Parker, it's been three years. I can already sense that the celestial tribulation is about to arrive. It's time for you to return to the world," Scruffy Old Man said, his gaze drifting to the distant horizon, his tone filled with indescribable weariness. In the world of cultivation, he had many enemies, and with the tribulation approaching, he had come to Earth to undergo it. By chance, he had saved William Parker.

　　"Master, I wish to always stay by your side and serve you," William Parker said to Old Man, a trace of reluctance flashing in his eyes.

　　"Heh, it's enough for me that you feel this way. But your master is about to transcend the tribulation and become immortal—how could you possibly follow me?" Scruffy Old Man smiled warmly at William Parker, then continued, "In these three years, I've taught you everything I should. From now on, everything depends on you."

　　William Parker knew that saying anything more was useless. He knelt down, kowtowed deeply to Old Man, his eyes filled with deep reluctance.

　　"Alright, go now." As Old Man spoke, he waved his hand, and William Parker felt as if he were riding on clouds. When he landed, he was already on the winding mountain road. Gazing into the distance, he bowed slightly toward the thick mist. After this parting, who knew when master and disciple would meet again.

　　"William Parker, in your storage ring, there is a crystal bead. I obtained it by chance. Although I know it is no ordinary item, I have never been able to comprehend it. I hope that one day you will be able to understand it." At this moment, Master's voice sounded again, clearly reaching William Parker's ears.

Chapter 2: The Forbidden Tome of Creation

　　William Parker gazed at the mist for a moment, then withdrew his gaze. A ring flickered faintly on his finger—the storage ring left to him by Master, extremely precious. It was the only thing Master had left him, but inside the ring, the stored items were quite abundant.

　　Focusing his mind into the storage ring, he searched for a moment. With a thought, a brilliantly colored crystal bead appeared in William Parker's hand. Aside from being beautiful, there seemed to be nothing unusual about it.

　　But William Parker had absolute faith in Master's words. He held the crystal bead in his hand, examining it. Under the sunlight, the bead's radiance became even more dazzling and colorful.