Samsara Paradise: Dream Weaver of Connections.

The bow of the Doom gently touched the black sand, the hull trembled slightly, and then came to a complete stop.

The waves surged a few times at the stern of the ship before finally subsiding, and the entire sea fell into an eerie silence.

Lin Yi leaped off the bow of the ship, his feet landing on the black sand with a soft rustling sound.

The sand grains were finer and denser than those on a regular beach, giving a uniquely solid feel when you stepped on them, like stepping on the skin of some kind of creature.

He squatted down, picked up a pinch of sand and rubbed it between his fingers. It felt icy cold, without any warmth, as if it had been pulled out of the deep sea even under the midday sun.

Su Xiao stood at the bow of the ship, his hand on the hilt of the Dragon Slayer Sword, his gaze sweeping across the entire black sand beach and the strange vegetation in the distance.

After confirming that there was nothing unusual around him, he turned around and took out a palm-sized glass bottle from his pocket.

The bottle was completely transparent, sealed with a cork, and had no patterns or markings on it; it looked quite ordinary.

Su Xiao held the bottle in her palm and placed her other hand on the gunwale of the Doom.

The black hull began to tremble slightly, the tremor traveling from bow to stern, from deck to mast, from sail to ropes.

The entire ship seemed to be held by an invisible hand, slowly shrinking inward.

The ship is getting smaller, the mast is getting shorter, and the sail is getting narrower.

The black canvas that once fluttered on the sea is now folded smoothly together, shrinking as the ship shrinks.

In less than ten seconds, the Doomsday Ship shrank from a nearly 100-meter-long sailboat to a palm-sized model, landing steadily in Su Xiao's palm.

Every detail of the ship is perfectly preserved; the masts are straight, the sails are slightly billowing, and even the fine lines on the hull are clearly visible.

Su Xiao aimed the mouth of the glass bottle at the model ship in her palm. A faint light flashed, and the model ship was sucked into the bottle and landed at the bottom.

He put the cork back in the bottle and held the glass bottle up to his eyes to take a look.

The doomed symbol in the bottle remained still, without any movement around it, as if frozen in time.

But the moment the Doom was put into the bottle, Su Xiao frowned slightly.

Su Xiao put the glass bottle into his pocket; this was not the first time he had been entangled in karma.

The path of those who destroy the Dharma is never a clean one; every step they take leaves a trace, and every action they take creates cause and effect.

Some of these causes and effects will erupt in a short period of time, while others will remain dormant for a very long time, but they will all eventually come knocking.

There's no escaping it, no hiding from it.

He simply kept these things in mind, turned around, and jumped off the boat, landing on the black sand beach.

Mond and Shangyue had already arrived on the island.

"Is this thing alive or dead?" Mond's voice was unusually loud in the silence.

Shangyue did not answer him. She stood at the edge of the beach, her black wings slightly folded, her silver eyes sweeping over the vegetation on the island.

Lin Yi walked past her and headed towards the island.

Bubuwang darted up from behind, its four legs making a soft rustling sound as it stepped on the black sand.

It ran a few steps, then suddenly stopped, sniffed the ground with its nose, and then raised its head and barked at Lin Yi, its voice filled with confusion.

It could not smell any other living creatures on the island—no seabirds, no insects, no reptiles.

The island is alive, but there is no life on it.

Lin Yi's gaze passed over the black vegetation and landed at the foot of the mountain in the distance.

He sensed that something was waiting for him there.

As I walked through the black vegetation, the surroundings were as quiet as if I had entered a tomb.

The black trees stood motionless, and the sound of footsteps rustling on the black fallen leaves was particularly jarring in the silence, like someone walking in an empty cathedral, each step echoing the sound.

After walking for about ten minutes, the view ahead suddenly opened up.

It was an open space, not very big, about a hundred square meters.

The ground was made of black rock, its surface so smooth it looked as if it had been polished by something. In the center of the open space stood a familiar figure.

On the bandaged face of the Exploding Rat, the exposed skin was wrinkled, and his mouth was wide open, revealing a few yellow teeth.

He was completely drunk, his body swaying slightly, barely able to stand, as if he might fall to the ground at any moment, but he couldn't stop smiling, the smile spreading from the corner of his mouth to the corner of his eyes, and from the corner of his eyes to his entire face, even the blood-soaked bandages couldn't contain it.

He was clutching a bottle in his hand, a bottle Lin Yi recognized—the one he had given to Explosive Rat during the first round of the competition.

The bottle was almost empty, the mouth was open, and the wine dripped from the corner of his mouth, down his chin, and onto his clothes, leaving a dark, wet stain.

He didn't wipe it, just let the wine flow. Occasionally, he would raise his hand, bring the bottle to his lips, take a big gulp, and then exhale a satisfied breath. The aroma of the wine filled the air, mixed with the scent of some kind of herb.

This island is the finish line for the third round, a place all participants must reach.

Mond followed Lin Yi out of the vegetation, and the moment he saw the exploding rat, his feet froze on the spot.

The rugged face first showed confusion, then astonishment, and finally an almost instinctive vigilance.

He recognized the person, or rather, he recognized the aura emanating from that person.

In the demon race's classroom, the first lesson was about the Abyss Jar.

This stuff is so terrible that every child of the demon race has to hear it, and they have to be able to recite it from memory.

The second lesson discusses the forces in the void that should not be provoked.

At the top of the list are always those old Void races, followed by some reclusive ancient beings, and finally, at the end of the list, there are always one or two names that are repeatedly emphasized.

Sword Demon is one of them.

Mond remembers clearly that when the elder who was giving the lecture said those two words, he lowered his voice a few decibels.

The elder said that not only was Sword Demon himself insane, but what was terrifying was the group of madmen behind him who were also insane.

Those lunatics don't care about profit, reputation, life or death, or even whether they'll be alive tomorrow.

They only care about one thing—whatever the Sword Demon wants to do, they will help him do it.

The elder said that most forces in the void have rules, bottom lines, and room for negotiation.

But the group of Sword Demons didn't.

They don't care about your identity, your background, or your strength; they only care about the Sword Demon's mood.

Whoever the sword demons find pleasing, they treat as honored guests.

If the sword demons don't like someone, they'll wipe out that person's entire clan.

There is no logic to it, no rules to follow, and no room for negotiation.

The most terrifying thing about these people is not how strong they are, but that they are not afraid of death at all.

You cut off one of their hands, and they continue to fight with the other. You cut off both of their hands, and they bite with their mouths.

You cut off all four of their limbs, and they banged their heads against them.

Even if you cut off their heads, their bodies will fall towards you.

You never know where the bottom line is for this group of people, because they have no bottom line at all.

When Mond heard these words, he slammed his fist on the table and stood up, saying that he would definitely have to meet the Sword Demons in the future and see just how crazy these lunatics really were.

The day after he said that, several elders of the demon race joined forces to hang him up.

During those days, Mondstadt refused to back down, shouting "I'm not convinced!" and "I want to fight that sword demon one-on-one!" even when he was beaten black and blue.

The elders changed their belts again and again, and by the end their arms were sore, but Mondstadt was still stubborn.

In the end, the clan chief himself had to step in and lower Mondl down from the roof beam.

Mond was beaten for a whole week, so badly that even his own father couldn't recognize him, before he finally etched the incident into his mind.

At this moment, the culprit who had caused him to be hung up for a week stood right in front of him.

The Rat seemed to sense Mondstadt's gaze, turned its head, and its narrowed eyes swept over Mondstadt.

It's very casual, like someone walking down the street, seeing a stone on the side of the road, glancing at it, and then moving it away.

Mond tensed up instantly when he felt that gaze sweep over him.

That's not fear, it's instinct, it's the body's automatic reaction when faced with unknown danger.

His fingers involuntarily curled slightly, as if he wanted to clench his fist, but he stopped himself.

Do not move.

There should be no actions that could be interpreted as hostile.

Mond took a deep breath and took half a step back.

That half-step back was very light and slow, but it was a retreat without hesitation. Shangyue's reaction was more subtle than Mond's; she did not retreat, did not tense her body, and did not even change her expression.

She stood behind Lin Yi, her wings folded, her hands clasped in front of her, her demeanor as composed as if she were attending a noble banquet.

But she knew that if the Rat attacked her now, she wouldn't even have time to react.

It wasn't because Bakuma was stronger than her, but because Bakuma didn't care whether he would die or not.

Even the strongest warrior will instinctively hesitate when fighting someone who is not afraid to die, and that moment of hesitation can be fatal.

When the elders of the Feather Clan teach their younger generations, they always have the phrase "assess the situation and act accordingly" on their lips.

Knowing when to advance, when to retreat, when to fight desperately, and when to admit defeat—these are lessons that the Winged Clan children must learn from a young age.

But the elders only said four words to the Sword Demon and his group—"Hide if you can."

It's not that I'm afraid, it's that it's not worth it.

Competing with a bunch of lunatics is dishonorable if you win, and even more shameful if you lose.

The best way is to stay away from them, the farther the better.

At this moment, Shangyue finally understood why the elders had said that.

However, when Lin Yi saw the exploding rat, his first reaction was not to be wary or on guard, but to take something out of his storage space.

He rummaged through the bottles, found a few bottles of wine, and handed them to the rat.

Those bottles were far more exquisite than the one in the Rat's hand; the bottles were made of transparent glass, refracting delicate sparkles in the sunlight. The necks were sealed with corks, which were also wrapped in a layer of gold leaf.

The wine is a deep amber color. When you gently swirl it in the bottle, you can see tiny bubbles rising from the bottom and bursting on the surface, releasing a rich aroma.

This is a good find that Lin Yi found on the workers' street.

The winemaker has long since passed away, and these wines are his last batch of creations. They are extremely rare, of exceptionally high quality, and each bottle is a unique, irreplaceable piece.

Lin Yi rarely took it out, not because he was reluctant to part with it, but because he felt it was unnecessary.

He has always been casual about drinking; he can drink anything, good or bad, so there's no need for him to waste such a rare drink on his daily life.

But for the rats, taking out these bottles of wine is worthwhile.

When Lin Yi handed over the bottle, he thought to himself that this guy was probably out of alcohol again.

Judging from his appearance this time, those bottles were probably already empty, which is why he came here to wait.

But the rat didn't accept it.

He looked down at the bottles of wine Lin Yi had handed him. The bottles gleamed warmly in the sunlight, their aroma filling the air, far more fragrant than the half-empty bottle in his hand.

His Adam's apple bobbed, clearly indicating that he was swallowing.

But his gaze lingered on the bottles for only a moment before he looked away.

He looked up at Lin Yi, his narrowed eyes full of smiles.

"No need, no need." He waved his still-movable hand, his voice hoarse like sandpaper rubbing, but there was an indescribable lightness in his tone.

He shook the half-empty bottle of wine in his hand, the liquid sloshing around inside, making a gurgling sound.

The sound was exceptionally clear in the silent open space, like someone shaking a jar full of pebbles in an empty room.

Lin Yi looked at him, his brows furrowing slightly.

It wasn't because the Rat refused his drink, but because the Rat's reaction was strange.

When did this drunkard learn to say no?

"What's the good news?" Lin Yi asked casually as he put the wine bottle back into his storage space.

He had expected Bakuro to say something like "found some good wine" or "beat someone up," but Bakuro's answer stunned everyone present.

Exploding Rat chuckled, the laughter squeezing out from deep in his throat, as if someone hadn't laughed in a long time and was no longer used to expressing joy in this way.

But his smile was genuine; the smile that welled up from the bottom of his heart was impossible to suppress, spreading from the corners of his mouth to the corners of his eyes, and from the corners of his eyes to his entire face.

“We’ve found the adult,” he said.

The rat's voice was soft and gentle, as if he were talking about something very ordinary.

But the moment those words landed, Shangyue felt her heart stop for a second.

Mond's reaction was even more direct; his mouth opened and closed repeatedly, but he couldn't utter a single word.

His mind went blank, with only one thought echoing in his mind—the Sword Demon was still alive.

In the void, rumors about the Sword Demon have never ceased.

Some say he found a path to a higher level in some forgotten world and has left this void.

Some say he perished in a battle with some ancient being, leaving no trace of his body.

Some say he was just tired of it all and wanted to hide somewhere where no one was around, not wanting to be found again.

These rumors have one thing in common—the Sword Demon hasn't appeared for a long time, so long that many people have begun to believe that he is indeed dead.

But Rat never believed it. He led that group of madmen to search this void for countless years, turning over every corner and traversing every inch of land.

Some say they're crazy, some say they're stupid, and some say they're just doing something that can never be accomplished.

Now, they've found it.

After saying that, Exploding Rat took another big gulp of wine.

Wine spilled from the corner of his mouth, dripping down his chin onto his clothes. He didn't wipe it away, just tilted his head back and grinned foolishly at the sky.

There was a sense of relief in that smile, like someone who had carried a heavy burden for many years finally unloading all their baggage.

Mond stood behind, looking at the face of the Rat that was wrapped in bandages, and suddenly felt that being hung up and beaten for a week wasn't so unfair after all.

If the Sword Demon is still alive, and if those madmen really found him, then the demon elders' reaction back then makes perfect sense.

This group of people has been searching for someone for so many years, even risking their own lives. If you really provoke them, do you think they will let you off the hook?
Shangyue lowered her eyes, concealing the complex emotions that flashed across them.

She needs to bring this message back: the Sword Demon is still alive.

The shock this news caused among the Feather Clan's high-ranking officials was no less than that of a meteorite crashing into the council hall.

As the rat turned around, it took the wine bottle from Lin Yi's hand.

His movements were incredibly fast, almost unlike someone covered in wounds. He grabbed the bottle neck, pinned the cork to the edge with his thumb, and with a push, the cork sprang out, rolling twice on the ground.

He tilted his head back, brought the bottle to his lips, and gulped down the wine, making gurgling sounds in his throat.

Wine dripped down his chin, mixing with the blood seeping from the bandages, leaving a dark, damp stain on his clothes.

He didn't care and just kept drinking, as if he wanted to make up for all the alcohol he had missed over the years.

Lin Yi stood there, watching him pour the wine, without saying a word.

The appearance of the exploding rat here is no coincidence.

Moreover, given his injuries, it's unlikely he would have come here to ambush me instead of recuperating in a safe place, just to freeload a few bottles of alcohol.

Sure enough, after finishing the bottle of wine, the rat casually threw the empty bottle on the ground, let out a loud burp, and then moved closer to Lin Yi.

He was more than a head shorter than Lin Yi, and he could barely reach Lin Yi's ear height by standing on tiptoe.

The bandaged face was very close, so close that Lin Yi could smell the strong smell of alcohol mixed with herbs emanating from him.

The sound of the exploding rat was kept very low, so low that only Lin Yi could hear it.

"Second place is not out of the question."

After saying that, he stepped back, picked up the half-empty bottle of wine again, tilted his head back, and took a big gulp.

His posture was so casual, as if he hadn't said anything at all, and had just mumbled something drunk.

But Lin Yi knew that wasn't drunken talk.

During the first round, Explosive Rat said something that saved him a lot of effort and prevented him from taking many detours.

Now he said something else.

Second place.

Lin Yi looked at the Exploding Rat, but the Exploding Rat didn't look at him.

His eyes narrowed to slits as he stared at the bottle in his hand, as if studying how much wine was left, or perhaps thinking about something else entirely.

Clearly, that's all the hints he can offer. (End of Chapter)