The group started advancing toward the upper path as per my suggestion. As usual, Barak left a mark indicating our choice at the fork.

"Old Du, do you really think all this is some sort of image? How do we explain that creature and black smoke? Their existences are real," Zhang Xingxing asked.

"It's probably similar to a movie, or perhaps it's similar to the five-dimensional alternate realities Canyue saw on Jupiter II, with the reality being presented in a three-dimensional form," said Old Du.

"I still don't understand. How can a three-dimensional projection feel so real?" muttered Zhang Xingxing.

The upper path was rugged. Some of the steps were as tall as two meters, forcing us to climb with all four of our limbs. Slowly, the group spread into a long line. Just like that, we advanced for about half an hour. We were approaching the floating star at the end of the path.

The star before us was shining with a gentle radiance. Instead of a churning surface caused by the constant nuclear fusion within the...