On the new continent, in the City of Avel, another fleet returned, bringing news from the sea.

After arriving at the palace, the captain bowed to King Sidi on the throne, then paid respects to Yafuan beside him.

“We discovered four more islands and two Wing Demon nests. We can now draw a detailed sea chart of the surrounding waters.”

King Sidi then asked, “What about the Storm Sea?”

The captain replied, “As soon as we approached the Storm Sea, we saw the black storms. The currents and weather in that area are unpredictable, making navigation impossible.”

“We cannot cross the Storm Sea. I cannot imagine what kind of ship could sail through such storms. Even if a ship could stay upright, it would be impossible to find a course in such conditions.”

“Without wind power and with unpredictable ocean currents, it’s impossible for ships to approach Ruhe Beast Island.”

The captain exclaimed, “Your Majesty! Unless we encounter another situation where the black storms are suppressed on a large scale like before, we cannot cross the Storm Sea.”

The Storm Sea was the Avel people’s name for the outermost layer of strange air currents and supernatural phenomena surrounding Ruhe Beast Island, encompassing almost the entire southeastern sea area.

These phenomena were imperceptible near the shores of Ruhe Beast Island and could only be discovered when truly far from it.

The ministers and nobles below began discussing among themselves.

Some felt anxious, while others were unconcerned.

Echilio, a priest, rose from his seat in the palace and spoke.

“King Sidi, Lord Yafuan.”

“It seems we cannot return. Perhaps we should abandon our trade plans and our plans to open new sea routes.”

“We should focus more on developing this new continent.”

Yafuan immediately took the opportunity offered by Echilio: “Weren’t we prepared for this from the moment we set out?”

“Since we’ve already made up our minds, why should we panic now?”

Sidi stood up, offering a conclusion.

“Everyone, we have been given this blessed land by the god. Here, we can farm, hunt, and fish.”

“This place is so bountiful. Everyone should focus on doing their best in all things.”

He called out loudly: “The god will guide us.”

Everyone immediately responded, shouting together.

“The god will guide us.”

“Your Majesty will lead us to glory.”

“We came here by the will of the God of Knowledge. With divine protection, what do we have to fear?”

The Avel people completely severed their connection with Ruhe Beast Island and naturally shifted their focus to developing the land and cultivating crops, which had not originally been their forte.

The Avel people were a powerful maritime nation.

They possessed strong bodies honed in harsh environments, the most skilled sailors on the seas, and shipbuilding craftsmen and techniques cultivated over two hundred years.

However, a crucial factor in determining a country or a nation is its geographical environment. They had come to the new continent and naturally had to adapt to its environment.

This place was suitable for growing crops, as well as hunting and fishing, but their once-proficient navigation and shipbuilding skills gradually became less useful.

Without war and threats, the Avel people reproduced very quickly.

They sought out habitable places to cultivate fields, planting ball ferns and net vines among other crops.

They used ball ferns to make various foods and to brew alcohol for sacrifices to the gods.

They grew net vines to weave coarse cloth, which was then processed into other goods.

Soon, they established numerous towns and villages, with one town even growing into a city.

Roads appeared in the wilderness connecting villages, towns, and cities.

They continuously expanded from the coast inland, spreading towards the depths of the continent like wildfire. But the deeper they went, the more problems they encountered.

Some areas had terrifying stone demons and fire demons, while others were inhabited by herds of beasts and swarms of insects.

There were even land dragon groups that led beast hordes through the jungles.

As a result, new villages and towns of the Avel city-state were often destroyed.

In addition, some terrible poisonous insects and miasmas also caused many casualties.

King Sidi brought up this matter in the council hall.

“There are many monsters and unknown dangers in the wilderness.”

“We cannot blindly establish new towns anymore. We need plans and strategies.”

Yafuan nodded and offered his suggestion.

“We can first send out teams of Ability Users to explore the surrounding lands, marking out dangerous areas as well as safe and suitable places for settlement and development.”

“After the exploration is complete, we can then send pioneers to establish villages and towns.”

Yafuan opened his arms, addressing everyone present.

“The priests of the Temple of Knowledge can take the lead. Each witch spirit can lead a team to the deepest parts of the new continent, drawing maps of the Avel city-state and the new continent.”

Yafuan and Sidi did not yet know how vast the new continent truly was. They both believed this continent could not surpass Ruhe Beast Island in size.

King Sidi was pleased that Yafuan could step up to take on this responsibility. He asked, “Is it appropriate to have the noble priests undertake such a dangerous task, facing the dangers in the jungle directly?”

However, Yafuan believed this was proper. The priests were also part of the City of Avel, and at this time, they must contribute to the city-state.

“Witch spirits can control ghosts, making them the best force for exploring dangers and providing early warnings.”

“Witch spirits can sense crises in advance and then avoid them.”

“If we don’t do this, who else can?”

To ensure that other priests would willingly undertake this task and do their utmost to complete it well, Yafuan announced, “I will also be a member of the exploration team, leading the priests in drawing maps and predicting dangers.”

“I will explore this land together with everyone.”

Yafuan clenched his fist: “When the map is completed, every place it encompasses will be the land of Avel.”

Twenty years later.

The Avel city-state had firmly established itself on the new continent.

They now possessed five cities and countless towns and villages.

Without war and the limitations of cold, barren wastelands and highlands that once restricted their survival, they reproduced very quickly.

This place truly was, as the Avel people thought, a paradise prepared for them by the God of Truth and Knowledge.

In twenty years, the population of the Avel people had multiplied several times over.

Those children born on the new continent had already begun to grow into adults, gradually becoming the backbone and future of the Avel city-state.

Although they still missed Ruhe Beast Island, those memories had slowly turned into stories told by the elders. The new generation would only focus their attention on this continent.

The Avel people had developed better than before and become even stronger.

The City of Avel, true to its name, had become a real city-state kingdom, a thriving nation and people, rather than the kingdom with only one city they once were.

During these twenty years, they had gradually pushed their known world to the upper-middle region of this peninsula covering hundreds of thousands of square kilometers.

They inched closer to the northwest, wanting to include the entire world in their maps and bring it into the territory of the Avel city-state.

Yafuan pushed aside the dense jungle.

Twenty years had passed and Yafuan had matured. His beard was unkempt because he had no time to groom it. This gave him the appearance of a tall, strong, and rugged man.

He was still fulfilling his promise, leading the team whenever there were the most dangerous outer exploration missions.

He walked down the hillside and saw a large lake.

A lizard was drinking water on a rock by the lake. Hearing the noise, it quickly scurried away in fright.

A giant insect flew out of a hollow rotten log, its wings buzzing loudly.

Yafuan lowered his head.

He took out a piece of paper from a wooden tube and began writing with a pen.

The map in his hand already had detailed records of the surrounding terrain, with lakes, rivers, mountains, and jungles clearly marked.

He had noted down where there were herds of beasts, where monsters dwelled, and which areas had particularly dangerous terrain.

“Sss!”

The sound of a snake’s tail sliding across the ground came from behind. Another group of Snake People emerged from the jungle and appeared beside Yafuan.

Accompanying Yafuan were his companions Echilio and Nia.

Echilio looked largely unchanged, while Nia had grown taller and more valiant, with a hint of wildness between her brows.

Echilio pointed downwards and said, “This area is suitable for cultivating fields. We can plant ball ferns here.”

Nia pointed to a blank area on the map and said, “I just checked this area. It’s suitable for growing net vines. We could build a small town here in the future. I believe it would thrive.”

Although Yafuan recorded this suggestion on the map, he still said,

“This place is more than a thousand miles away from the nearest Avel village. Who knows when a town will be established here.”

“Even if I write down your suggestion, no one will actually come here to develop it.”

Nia said with anticipation, “It will happen soon.”

“In the future, someone will definitely see this suggestion and establish a town here.”

The group walked down the hillside, preparing to fill their water flasks in the lake before continuing to explore the surroundings.

They chatted and laughed, using this method to alleviate the tedium of the long journey.

Some even rushed into the lake to swim, earning a scolding from those who hadn’t yet filled their water containers.

Yafuan remained silent.

After filling his water flask, he continued to study his map, checking the markings of unexplored destinations and planning how to allocate the upcoming tasks.

Looking at the map in his hand, Yafuan couldn’t help but say,

“This continent is truly vast!”

Yafuan suddenly had a hunch that this continent might be about the same size as Ruhe Beast Island, or at least not much smaller.

His expectations and predictions about this place changed as their exploration and understanding evolved.

The circle in his mind grew larger and larger as they explored.

But in reality, they had yet to realize that they were only on a peninsula, a corner on the edge of the continent.

What we don’t know is the vast sea of stars; what we know is merely a drop in the ocean.

The members of the exploration team leaned against the hillside to rest.

“Whoosh!”

A sudden gust of wind blew past, refreshing their hot and weary bodies. However, with the wind came a beam of light descending from the sea of clouds above.

“Who’s there?”

Yafuan immediately sensed something was amiss. He stood up and looked towards the opposite side of the lake.

Everyone summoned their Books of Witch Spirits, and ghosts flew out from them, extending into the distance.

All members instantly entered a state of battle readiness.

Yafuan saw a glowing figure standing on the opposite shore. The light slowly dissipated as the figure descended.

The silhouette was reflected in the lake, and its light rippled with the water.

It was as if a messenger of the gods had descended.

Yafuan, Echilio, Nia, and all the members of the exploration team were stunned, their mouths agape as they stared across the lake.

On the previously empty lakeshore appeared a winged young woman, the light emanating from her white wings.

She wore a soft white garment that revealed her slender arms and snow-white skin.

Her feet stood directly on the water’s surface without sinking.

Some of the younger exploration team members were so frightened by this sight that they lost their composure and immediately shouted.

“A god!”

“An incarnation of a god.”

They couldn’t help but think this way, as her appearance and entrance were truly astounding.

Generally, those with such an appearance.

If not an incarnation of a god, they were at least an apostle of the gods in the mortal world.

Yafuan looked at her but sensed that her power had not yet reached the level they were describing.

Yafuan had entered the Door of Truth. He knew how truly powerful real gods were.

“Not a god.”

“But…”

Yafuan stared at her, sensing a unique aura that was somewhat similar to that of the ghost Polik family.

The winged young woman walked across the lake, gradually approaching Yafuan’s team.

Her pure white feet touched the water’s surface, stirring up ripples.

She saw the Snake People’s completely different body shape from her own, but her face showed no surprise.

It was as if she already knew of Yafuan and his team’s existence, or had been observing them for a long time.

The winged young woman walked up to Yafuan, knowing he was the leader of the team.

Yafuan grew increasingly nervous, feeling a chill run down his spine.

She was incredibly powerful, and he unconsciously covered his chest, where the Divine Artifact Polik’s Right Hand was stored.

The young woman finally stopped and began to speak.

It was a language Yafuan had never heard before, and everyone was stunned after hearing it.

The young woman seemed to understand that Yafuan couldn’t understand her words, so she switched to communicating through consciousness.

A voice entered Yafuan’s mind, speaking in a calm tone words of dismissal and rejection.

“Leave this place!”

“This is not a place you should come to.”

Yafuan looked at the winged young woman and asked her,

“Who exactly are you?”

In fact, what Yafuan wanted to ask more was: “What exactly are you?”

Her form and her power filled Yafuan with extreme confusion and unease.

But these words were too offensive, so Yafuan didn’t voice them.

The winged young woman didn’t answer Yafuan’s question at all.

After speaking, she spread her wings on the surface of the lake.

Her pure white wings unfurled, releasing beams of light. A gale swept across the jungle and lake surface as she flew into the sky with an incredibly graceful posture, piercing through the cloud layer.

Only then did all the Snake People gather, looking up at the sky.

“Who exactly was that?” It wasn’t until the figure had completely disappeared that someone finally spoke.

“A person? Was she even a person?” Some couldn’t believe she was a mortal at all, still thinking she was some being from the realm of the gods.

“Could it be the legendary Winged People?” Echilio guessed with a doubtful voice.

Yafuan had the same suspicion.

But the Winged People in the myths were not like this.

According to the myths, the Winged People had dark gray wings and strong legs with sharp claws.

The young woman who had just appeared was more like the holy maiden who once appeared in the Temple of Ten Thousand Serpents. It was said that legendary holy maiden, believed to be a descending apostle of the god, could freely transform between a snake tail, legs, and wings.

Even now, the Snake People were not clear about the true origins of the holy maiden. They simply regarded her as a descending apostle of the god who also took away the Mother of Ten Thousand Serpents.

Nia wore a worried expression: “What did she mean by saying this is not a place we should come to? Does she not welcome us here? Is this her territory? Or have we entered a place we shouldn’t have?”

Echilio looked at Yafuan: “I think we should stop the exploration.”

Before Yafuan could decide, the sky suddenly turned gloomy. Soon, dark clouds covered the sky. Thunder rumbled, and lightning flashed.

Rain poured down in the darkness, drenching everyone’s faces. A layer of gloom settled over everyone’s mood.

Yafuan nodded: “Let’s head back for now.”

New Continent.

The mountain range connecting the Avel peninsula to the mainland.

The Winged People predominantly inhabited this mountain range. Their social hierarchy was reflected in their dwelling places: the higher one lived, the higher their status.

Looking down from above, cities and towns of various sizes dotted the peaks of the mountains and nestled between the ridges.

Some cities were built entirely of wood. Some towns were carved into cliff faces. Some Winged People villages were built in valleys and on hillsides.

The sun was about to set, and flocks of Winged People were circling above the mountain range.

“Hiss!”

A strong male Winged Person with talons on his lower limbs descended from above clutching prey and landed on a house. A female Winged Person also landed.

The two embraced, their wings overlapping.

This was a Winged People family, just returning from a hunt. They folded their wings and entered below.

Every Winged People building had a platform skylight on top for takeoff and landing. This had become a characteristic feature of Winged People architecture.

However, overall observation revealed that the Snake People here were still in a relatively primitive era.

They could build cities and houses, smelt and manufacture simple tools, and even create an exquisite feather robe that the Snake People didn’t have. However, their smelting technology was still equivalent to the Fire Guardian era of the Snake People. Their writing and vocabulary were simple, and they didn’t even know how to farm or raise livestock.

For thousands of years, they had always lived by hunting.

The entire Winged People tribe was very large and populous, but everything was still in a very primitive stage.

There was one exception.

Mount Fenbuk was the highest peak here, also known as the mountain that mortals could not surpass.

Even among the Winged People, only a select few of the noblest could fly here and ascend it.

It was a pyramid-shaped mountain with a peculiar city built entirely on its steep cliffs.

On the upper half of the mountain, one could see huge doorways carved out. These massive openings carved into the mountain interconnected, allowing a view of the light on the other side.

Encircling the mountain body were layer upon layer of houses, cave-like halls, buildings, and warehouses carved out of the rock.

There were also strange aqueducts forming waterfalls of various sizes.

This was definitely not something ordinary people could achieve. It must have been built using supernatural powers.

At the top of the mountain stood an even more magnificent building resembling a divine temple. The temple had gate after gate that ultimately led to the final hall.

This city looked as if it were composed of door after door, large and small. Doors seemed to hold a very special significance for the Winged People on this mountain.

“Dong dong dong dong dong!”

The bell hanging at the mountain top rang out, and sunlight cast a shadow on the bronze bell that stretched from the peak all the way down the mountain.

The bronze bell swung widely as it rang, its shadow seeming to transmit the sound throughout the entire world.

Hundreds of unique Winged People wearing pure white robes emerged from door after door.

The Winged People living in other parts of the mountain range generally had dark gray wings and strong legs with talons on their lower bodies.

The Winged People here were almost identical to those in Snake People legends, with no significant differences.

But the scene at Mount Fenbuk was completely different.

The Winged People living on this mountain were an entirely different species from those below. They were taller in stature and more elegant and beautiful.

Their wings were pure white, and their lower limbs were not feathered like birds, but long thighs like humans. Their feet were not talons, but soles with five toes.

They were like the beautiful race envisioned by the Mother of Life, possessing the form of gods and wings for flight.

Upon closer inspection, it was clear they were not naturally born. Each was a supernatural individual with a wisdom bloodline surging within them that was not their original ability bloodline but one infused with divine power.

Their form was somewhat similar to monsters or, more accurately, to witch spirits and alchemists.

It was difficult for them to naturally produce offspring like the creatures created by the Mother Conch of All Things. Instead, they were a special group created by supernatural power.

These special Winged People flew to the temple at the highest point.

They passed through gate after gate, finally arriving inside the temple.

Standing at the forefront was a being of extreme beauty. Her entire body radiated with the light of power, her pure white wings carrying a spiritual glow.

She was the queen of the Winged People.

At this moment, the queen led everyone into the temple, kneeling and bowing before the divine statue.

They knelt, their pure white wings spread out on the ground.

Every dawn and dusk, they would come here to pray to the deity.

The queen raised her head slightly, gazing at the deity with enraptured eyes, then called out the god’s name in a beautiful, lyrical voice.

“Great Gate of Spirituality, Eternal Lord of Radiance, Ruler of Dawn and Dusk.”

“God Xia.”

As all the Winged People chanted, darkness gradually enveloped their vision.

It was as if they had collectively left reality, their consciousness traversing space to reach a realm beyond the mortal world.

A massive gate appeared before their eyes.

This was a mythical gate, representing the path of wisdom leading to divinity and eternity, and also the highest crystallization of wisdom from the previous era of the Trilobite Men.

This gate was the embodiment of wisdom’s power, symbolizing the transformation from mortal to divine.

The gate was engraved with patterns depicting life’s endless cycles. It showed vast species that neither the Winged People nor the Snake People had ever seen, arranged systematically.

Trilobite Men, ancestral fish, and various bizarre fish and species all appeared on this great gate.

Extending upwards, one could see these fish growing legs, crawling onto land, and gradually evolving into various animals.

This gate recorded over 200 million years of evolutionary history, chronicling the journey of evolution from the ancestral fish to the present.

On closer inspection, the patterns formed a cyclical path, like a tree diagram. This was the Path of Wisdom.

The fish and insect-like creatures at the bottom, representing spiritual power, emitted a phosphorescent glow reminiscent of the ocean.

But the upper layers, the trunk of wisdom, the branches of desire, and the leaves of knowledge appeared withered and dim.

“Rumble.”

The gate opened with a thunderous sound, revealing a terrifying figure twisted like a vortex behind it, emanating white light.

This was the deity worshipped by the Winged People.

The Lord of Spirituality and Radiance.

The special Winged People immediately fell into a frenzy, frantically calling out the name of their god.

“God Xia!”

“God Xia!”

“God of Dawn and Dusk, Eternal Lord of Radiance…”

As they chanted, they grew stronger bit by bit, their forms gradually becoming more perfect.