Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Unexpected Fall (Part Two)

A chorus of sweet cries erupted from a flock of divine seabirds, drawing Jiang Feng’s gaze instinctively toward the source. He was so startled that he nearly fled back into the sea. Somehow, standing right before him was a group of creatures resembling penguins—clumsy and lovable, their demeanor evoked a sense of innocent charm. Yet their fur shone with an unnatural luster, and a vivid crimson mark adorned their bellies. Jiang Feng searched his memory; these divine beasts were among the few gentle species in this world.

They were known for their docile and kind nature, rarely attacking humans or other helpless animals. These seabird beasts were self-sufficient, requiring only water to survive, and thus had no need to battle for food like other divine creatures. Despite their gentle temperament, their offensive abilities were not to be underestimated; as mid-level, sixth-rank nether beasts, they were the equivalent of human cultivators at the True Nether Realm. While they appeared endearingly harmless, few divine beasts dared provoke them. Their strength lay not only in their individual power but also in their tightly knit flocks; together, they were formidable. That was why, even as Jiang Feng lay weak and helpless, the other divine beasts circling from afar—who could easily have made him their meal—did not dare approach, deterred by the seabird beasts’ protection. They could only linger at a distance, waiting for a chance or for the seabirds to leave before making a move.

“Where is this? Did you save me?” Jiang Feng asked, bewildered as he surveyed his surroundings. Mountains encircled him on all sides, and beyond, the vast expanse of ocean stretched endlessly. He had no idea where the water led, nor which country or sea lay beyond the horizon.

Everything ahead was unknown. Though Jiang Feng longed to escape this forsaken place—or even to return to the cliff and continue his cultivation, which would be preferable to becoming a meal for mid-rank nether beasts—there was only the open sea before him. No boats, no ships; was he expected to swim across? That was absurd. He was no seabird beast; he lacked the stamina to reach the far shore. The ocean was so broad he couldn’t see its end, and who knew what higher-level nether beasts lurked beyond? Having narrowly escaped death, Jiang Feng had no desire to step from the jaws of death straight back into hell.

The seabird beasts greeted him warmly with their calls, nodding as if welcoming him. Jiang Feng managed a bitter smile—he would rather be atop the cliff than stranded here. At least in the forest, he could find his way home. Here, how would he return? How could he contact his family? The final evaluation was drawing near, but his trial had seen no real progress, and now he was trapped in this predicament. Jiang Feng hung his head in frustration, ignoring the seabird beasts around him as well as the lurking threats nearby. He simply didn’t know what to do. His hands, once bloodied, had been washed clean by seawater, leaving only deep gashes and exposed bone, sending chills through him.

Soaked to the skin, water dripped from his hair down his face onto the sand. The sea breeze stung his face as he gazed at his bleak surroundings, hope draining from his heart. Complete despair swallowed him.

Again, the seabird beasts called to him, persistent as ever. They began to gently peck at the wounds on his hands with their broad beaks. The pain was sharp, reopening barely healed cuts. Jiang Feng instinctively recoiled, bewildered by their intentions.

He had always heard that seabird beasts were exceedingly gentle, unlikely to attack humans or other creatures. So why were they hurting him now, after saving him? Were they simply bored, treating him as a toy? Anger flared in Jiang Feng’s heart; he wanted to use his twenty-fifth style footwork, but his injuries left him too weak to resist. All he could do was collapse back onto the reef, gasping for breath, more desperate than ever before.

The flock of seabird beasts grew even larger, and together, they carefully lifted Jiang Feng onto their plump bodies, forming a living stretcher. With coordinated effort, they carried him slowly toward the far side of the sea, to a place that connected the ocean to the forest world—a mysterious and perilous region known to few.

He had no idea how long they traveled. Drowsiness overtook him, and when Jiang Feng awoke, he found himself in a vast cavern. The seabird beasts surrounded him, having placed him on a patch of dry grass. Some of the more intelligent and empathetic seabirds even covered him with extra mats of grass.

He could be certain now that these seabird beasts would not harm him, but their intentions remained a mystery. Why were they helping him, and why bring him to this strange cave?

As he pondered, several more seabird beasts entered from outside. They chattered among themselves in their peculiar way, and then one, distinguished by the especially bright red mark on its belly, approached Jiang Feng.

Instinctively, Jiang Feng shrank back, only to find his retreat blocked by the cold stone wall. He eyed the elder seabird beast nervously, guessing it was the leader or perhaps an elder among them. He steeled himself for a desperate struggle, but before he could act, he noticed something new—the elder’s thick claw held a translucent, glowing red fruit.

Jiang Feng had never seen anything like it; the fruit seemed to emit its own light. Despite its strangeness, it was unmistakably food—something very much like a fruit.

Another seabird beast followed, carrying a similar fruit, though this one glowed blue instead of red.

Did the colors have any special meaning?

The seabird beasts’ next actions only deepened Jiang Feng’s confusion. Both offered the glowing fruits to him, as if urging him to eat.

He furrowed his brow, staring at the two fruits, unsure whether to eat them or throw them away.

Jiang Feng recalled many legends about divine fruits—wondrous fruits said to exist in this world. It was rumored that eating one would change a person’s body, bestowing mysterious, unparalleled power. Supposedly, only a handful of such fruits existed in the entire world—perhaps fewer than ten. Many spent their lives searching for them, yearning for strength, while others met strange deaths in their pursuit.

There were also poisonous fruits, nearly identical to the divine ones. If eaten by mistake, the victim would develop pustules and itchy sores within half an hour—or less. These would spread across the body until the person or beast died in agony, their flesh rotting away.

So Jiang Feng hesitated. Should he trust these seabird beasts just this once? After all, they had saved his life, and with so many mid-rank beasts around threatening him, he needed to recover quickly and gain strength. His only option was to take a risk.

Resolutely, he took the red-glowing fruit and swallowed it whole. It was sweet—so sweet that it seemed to seep into his very bones, with a hint of tartness that made the combination delicious.

He waited, but nothing happened. No surge of power, no strange transformation. Everything was normal—so normal that Jiang Feng was left even more bewildered.

So he took the blue-glowing fruit and cautiously bit into it—sour and astringent, nothing like the first one.

But then, a miracle occurred. As he finished the blue fruit, the cracks and wounds on his hands began to heal before his eyes!