Xiao Zhuzi, Xi Xi, and Fei Bao soon arrived at the edge of the pond at the foot of Lonely Cloud Peak. Exhausted, the three little ones plopped down by the water's edge. The tranquil pond lay like a crystal-clear mirror, cradled by a circle of massive stones. The water was so clear that they could see the bottom, and the air around the pond was humid and fresh, carrying a hint of coolness.
The initial excitement of seeing Lonely Cloud Peak had faded, replaced by a deep weariness. The three little friends yawned in unison and quickly fell into a deep sleep.
They slept soundly! When Xiao Zhuzi woke up, she found that Xi Xi had already gathered plenty of fresh water by the pond. Xi Xi was always so thoughtful, and a wave of warmth surged in Xiao Zhuzi's heart.
"Are we all awake? Let's discuss our plans for what comes next," Xiao Zhuzi called to her two friends.
The three companions sat down to eat while discussing their plan to climb Lonely Cloud Peak. They decided to fully utilize Fei Bao's aerial navigation skills, allowing him to observe the terrain and changes in the surrounding environment to help them find the Time-Space Spiral Gem and Moonlit Sky Herb more quickly.
Once everything was ready, the three friends stood at the base of Lonely Cloud Peak, gazing up at the towering wonder.
Xiao Zhuzi took a deep breath, her bright eyes sparkling: "Xi Xi! Fei Bao! Are you ready to climb Lonely Cloud Peak?"
In response to their enthusiastic agreement, the Ground Sky Squad officially set off towards Lonely Cloud Peak!
The terrain of Lonely Cloud Peak proved to be even more peculiar and challenging than they had imagined. The mountain's irregular spiral shape meant that the climbing path alternated between steep cliffs and gentle slopes. In some areas, the rock surfaces were as smooth as mirrors, making it difficult to find footing; in others, sharp edges required extra caution.
Fei Bao led the way, occasionally flying high above to scout ahead and guide Xiao Zhuzi and Xi Xi:
"Go this way; this path is a bit gentler."
"Xiao Zhuzi, Xi Xi, be careful ahead; there are loose stones on the trail!"
Although Xiao Zhuzi was the smallest among them, her years of dance training gave her remarkable agility. This made Xi Xi worry as she followed closely behind. With her keen perception, she constantly reminded Xiao Zhuzi: "Xiao Zhuzi! Wait for me; slow down! Don't jump!"
As they continued their ascent, the environment around them changed significantly. The air grew thinner and cooler, with an abundance of glowing moss appearing that thrived in low temperatures. A thick fog began to swirl around them, sometimes obscuring their vision.
They paused to rest in a valley where the rock walls formed unique curves that created an interesting echo effect; even the smallest sounds were amplified and reverberated. Curious Fei Bao let out a loud shout, and instantly his voice echoed throughout the valley as if hundreds of Fei Baos were calling out simultaneously. The three friends were both surprised and excited, playing around with echoes for a while before continuing their journey.
After a long day of strenuous climbing, they decided to find a safe place to rest. Just then, Fei Bao shouted excitedly from ahead: "Xiao Zhuzi! Xi Xi! Look over there! There's a fascinating forest ahead!"
Xiao Zhuzi and Xi Xi perked up and quickened their pace to catch up with Fei Bao. When they climbed over a hilltop, they were greeted by a magical Glowing Forest! They stepped cautiously into this enchanting realm where everything glowed; towering trees stood like massive luminescent pillars with soft blue light flowing down their trunks. Each leaf on the treetops emitted a gentle green glow. The forest floor was covered in soft glowing moss that felt like walking on a plush velvet carpet, leaving behind brief glowing footprints with every step. Various peculiar mushrooms dotted the moss, each radiating soft hues of light. This forest felt like a dreamlike fairy tale world!
Xiao Zhuzi thought she had seen many breathtaking sights along their journey, but she was still deeply awed by this Glowing Forest: "It's... so beautiful!"
Xi Xi exclaimed in delight: "It looks safe and comfortable here; we can rest well! I've never seen so many types of glowing plants..."
Sitting together on the soft glowing moss, Xiao Zhuzi and Xi Xi felt completely relaxed. Fei Bao excitedly circled above them in the forest canopy, curiously looking around. Suddenly, something caught his eye. He quickly flew towards a giant glowing tree nearby and returned moments later holding something in his arms while shouting with excitement:
"Xiao Zhuzi! Xi Xi! Look what I found!"
Fei Bao spread out what he was holding before Xiao Zhuzi and Xi Xi. They soon realized it was an unusual fruit they had never seen before. About the size of Xiao Zhuzi's fist, it was perfectly spherical with a smooth and shiny skin that seemed to change colors from different angles—like it contained a miniature starry sky inside—absolutely stunning!
Xiao Zhuzi gently picked up a fruit and exclaimed, "Wow! What kind of fruit is this? It looks so beautiful! It must be delicious!"
"Mm-mm-mm! I think so too!" Fei Bao nodded vigorously beside her, eagerly agreeing.
Xi Xi also picked one up. As the most cautious member of the team, she observed carefully and said, "You two wait a moment; don’t eat it yet. Let me take a look first." Xi Xi gently touched the surface of the fruit with her antennae, then broke off a small piece to smell it closely. "Although I've never seen this fruit before, it definitely doesn't emit any toxic aura. It should be safe."
Next, Xi Xi cautiously took a small bite and announced, "Hmm! No poison, and it tastes very sweet! It's a bit like a mix of honey and juice, with a hint of refreshing mint."
With Xi Xi's confirmation, both Xiao Zhuzi and Fei Bao couldn't resist the temptation to taste this magical fruit. Xiao Zhuzi poked the surface of the fruit with her finger and was surprised to find it soft like jelly; pressing it gently made it indent, but it slowly returned to its original shape when she released it. She took a delicate bite, and instantly felt a burst of cool, sweet juice in her mouth, as if countless tiny stars were dancing on her tongue.
"It's so delicious!" Xiao Zhuzi exclaimed with her mouth full of fruit, mumbling in delight, "It's like tasting the flavor of a rainbow!"
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