Carrying the mountain-heavy backpack, Chen Hao's steps seemed unsteady, each step weighing like lead. He gasped for breath, his breathing distinct in the silent forest, his chest rising and falling violently. "This is truly a huge challenge, but I believe we can do it," Chen Hao forced out, wiping the sweat pouring down his face. His voice, heavy with breaths, was filled with unyielding strength. Chen Hao's face flushed crimson, sweat streaming down his cheeks, soaking his collar and back. His shoulders ached from the backpack straps, but he stubbornly held his back straight, refusing to let the heavy burden weigh him down. Su Yao and Zhao Lei nodded in unison upon hearing Chen Hao's words. Su Yao's eyes were bright and fervent, filled with anticipation for the future. Her delicate chin tilted slightly upward, her gaze radiating a resolute courage, as if she had already seen the dawn of victory. Zhao Lei's eyes were deep and resolute. He clenched his fists tightly, and responded with a resolute gaze. There was no trace of retreat or hesitation in his gaze, only determination and courage. In that moment, it seemed as if all difficulties would pale into insignificance before them. In this mysterious and uncharted forest, the five of them supported and encouraged each other, their eyes burning with anticipation and courage, ready to face all the challenges that lay ahead.

After hours of tireless trekking, Xiao Yi, Lin Meng, Chen Hao, Su Yao, and Zhao Lei's legs felt like lead, each step requiring immense perseverance and strength. Their clothes, drenched with sweat, clung to their bodies, their hair drooped wetly, and their faces were stained with exhaustion and dust. Chen Hao panted heavily, his shoulders scarred by the weight of his backpack. Su Yao's feet were blistered, stinging with every step. Zhao Lei's strength was nearly depleted, but their gazes remained resolute, unwavering, with no thought of giving up. Finally, after passing through a dense jungle and traversing several steep slopes, they arrived at a relatively flat, open area. Unencumbered by tall, dense trees, the sunlight filtered down more freely, and the grass was relatively sparse. Xiao Yi was the first to enter the area. He carefully surveyed his surroundings, a smile of relief gradually breaking through his tense face. He turned back and called out to his companions, "This is it! We'll build our survival base here!" Upon hearing this, the others, their exhausted bodies, seemed to be instantly infused with renewed strength, and they all quickened their pace towards this promising land. Lin Meng excitedly opened her arms, feeling the gentle breeze, a smile of relief spreading across her face. Chen Hao set down his heavy backpack and sat down on the ground, breathing in deep gulps of the fresh air. Su Yao and Zhao Lei began to walk around the area, their eyes filled with longing and plans for their future base. Though their bodies were exhausted, their hearts were filled with joy and anticipation, for they knew this was a crucial step forward in this mysterious forest; a home that would soon be theirs.

Xiao Yi slowly lowered the heavy backpack from his back, as if a thousand-pound weight had been lifted. He straightened up, resting his hands on his knees, breathing heavily. After a long moment, he raised his arm and wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve. Then, he stood up straight and began to observe the surrounding terrain with a focused and careful eye. His eyes first swept over the ground beneath his feet, carefully examining its smoothness and the softness of the soil. Then, his gaze slowly moved upwards, taking in the distribution of the surrounding trees, noting the spacing between them and their growth patterns. Xiao Yi narrowed his eyes slightly and looked up at the sky, assessing the position of the sun and the angle of the light, thus inferring the time and direction. He listened carefully, listening for any unusual sounds, such as the sound of flowing water or a change in the wind. He slowly turned his body, taking light steps, and walked step by step around the flat, open area. Every few steps, he would stop, squat down, touch the grass, or pick up a stone to examine it carefully. Xiao Yi's brows were sometimes slightly furrowed, and sometimes slightly relaxed, his mind constantly thinking about how to take advantage of this terrain to build a survival base. His eyes were full of thoughts and plans, as if he had already seen the prototype of the future base on this seemingly ordinary land.

"Let's clear out a piece of land first, and then set up the tent," Xiao Yi said with a firm gaze. His voice was steady and powerful, and it was particularly clear in this empty space. Xiao Yi's eyes revealed an unquestionable determination, as if he had already planned every step in his mind. As he spoke, he pointed to an area not far away where weeds and rocks were scattered. "Start from here, clear away all these weeds and rocks to make enough space for our tent." Xiao Yi's tone was filled with a hint of urgency, as he was well aware of the urgency of time and the difficulty of the task. After speaking, he took a deep breath and clenched his hands into fists, as if he was ready to go into battle. Xiao Yi's eyes swept across the faces of each of his companions, as if conveying courage and strength to everyone. At this time, a breeze blew, ruffling the hair on his forehead, but he didn't care at all. He still focused his attention on the area that needed to be cleared, and thought about the next course of action in his mind.

After hearing Xiao Yi's instructions, everyone leaped into action without hesitation. Lin Meng gripped her machete tightly, her eyes focused and determined. She raised it high and chopped down the branch in front of her with all her might. With a snap, the branch snapped. Her arm trembled slightly from the effort, but she didn't pause, chopping at the nearby weeds. Sweat streamed down her cheeks, but she didn't bother to wipe it away. Chen Hao panted heavily, his strength now at its peak. Every blow of his machete was accompanied by a whirring sound, and thick branches fell under his fierce blows. His clothes were already soaked and clung to his body, but he seemed unfazed by fatigue. Only the unwavering faith in his heart fueled his continued swing of the machete. Despite her petite frame, Su Yao also displayed incredible strength. She gritted her teeth, her hands firmly gripping the handle of the machete, carefully avoiding the thorny weeds and precisely slicing through the obstructing branches. Her movements gradually became more skilled, her eyes filled with focus and perseverance. Zhao Lei methodically carried out the clearing work, first observing the distribution of branches and weeds, then choosing the appropriate angle and force to cut them.