Chapter 180: Chapter 180: Caught

The words in the ancient diary started to reveal their secrets, like a jigsaw puzzle slowly coming together to form a coherent picture. Each symbol, each passage we deciphered, brought us closer to understanding the true nature of the ancient tree and its connection to the floating island.

As we pored over the pages, a pattern emerged. The ancient tree was not just a towering giant in the forest; it was a gateway, a bridge between the mortal realm and the ethereal floating island. The diary spoke of rituals, of offerings to the tree, and of a specific alignment of celestial events that could trigger the tree's transformative power.

"It's a key," Ma Chen whispered, his eyes wide with realization. "The ancient tree is the key to unlocking the path to the floating island."

Wan Quan nodded, his excitement mirrored in his expression. "And the Beast Sect must have discovered this secret as well. That's why they're so desperate to control it."