“Mortals had vanished from the island. Where their city once stood, towering trees had sprouted, transforming it into a primordial forest.

“Clusters of fruit hung from their branches, each bearing a human face.”

“Whenever a gentle breeze swept by, those faces would twist into eerie, unsettling smiles.”

As He Zhenghao spoke, Li Fan could almost see countless smiling faces turning toward him. 

The memory of having just eaten one of those fruits sent a shiver down his spine, raising goosebumps across his skin.

He Zhenghao continued, his voice low. “After the initial shock, the Golden Core guardian ventured into the city to investigate.

“Not a single mortal had survived. All had become smiling-faced fruits. Yet, despite his efforts, the guardian could not determine what caused this bizarre transformation. He had no choice but to report...