At Last, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect
Su Zui did not speed up immediately, but instead continued walking along the wide official road.
Su Zui suddenly realized that he had been in too much of a rush all along the way.
He was eager to become stronger, eager to acquire Soul Rings, and eager to become the strongest person in the entire Douluo Continent.
It seems he really hasn't experienced the everyday life of ordinary people.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Su Zui walked and stopped along the way, his eyes taking in all the sights of the world.
The official road was very smooth, a major road worn out by the passage of various sects and caravans over the years. At intervals on both sides stood directional stone tablets, inscribed with the directions to various cities.
Along the roadside are vast fields of wheat, the seedlings already sprouting ears, and when the wind blows, layers of green waves spread out into the distance.
Occasionally, a few sparrows would be startled from the edge of the field, fluttering their wings and flying towards the distant woods.
Su Zui deliberately suppressed his Soul Power, using only his physical body to travel the entire way.
On one hand, I wanted to fully experience the everyday life of the city; on the other hand, I was constantly reviewing my plans in my mind.
After traveling for about two days, Su Zui arrived at the Seven Treasure Mountain Range, where the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was located. The sun was high in the sky, making one's back feel slightly warm.
The flow of people on the official road gradually decreased, and most caravans chose to travel in the early morning and rest at nearby post stations at noon.
Not far ahead, a simple teahouse stood alone by the roadside. A few thick wooden beams formed the roof, and several wooden tables with peeling paint were placed underneath. An old man was tending a large pot, bubbling away as he brewed coarse tea.
Several Soul Masters, who were on their way, were sitting in the tea stall, and they were speaking quite loudly.
"Have you heard? The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has been keeping a tight rein on things lately. Disciples are taking turns patrolling the surrounding mountains and forests, and outsiders aren't allowed to approach freely."
"That goes without saying. The Upper Three Sects are wealthy and always on high alert. With the two seniors, Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo, in charge, who would dare to provoke them?"
"What a pity. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda has unparalleled auxiliary abilities on the continent. The threshold for asking them for help is extremely high."
Su Zui paused for a moment, then turned into the teahouse, picked an empty table in the corner, and sat down without saying a word.
The old man brought over a bowl of cool tea in a rough porcelain bowl; the tea had a slightly astringent taste. He took out a few Copper Soul Coins and placed them on the table, then slowly sipped the tea, his ears never idle.
Intermittent chatter drifted into my ears, mostly rumors that could be heard anywhere on the mainland, with nothing of importance.
His gaze fell upon the distant, rolling mountains and forests; to reach the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he would have to cross this forest.
The forest itself isn't particularly dangerous, as there aren't many high-level Soul Beasts, but it's dense with numerous forks in the path, making it easy to get lost.
After finishing a bowl of herbal tea, Su Zui put down the Copper Soul Coins and got up to continue his journey.
The further west you go, the sparser the population becomes. The official road gradually narrows, and the bluestone pavement is overtaken by wild grass. In the end, only a dirt road worn into the ground remains, winding its way into the entrance of the Black Wind Forest.
As soon as I stepped into the woods, the temperature around me dropped sharply.
The branches and leaves of the towering ancient trees intertwine overhead, cutting the sunlight into fragmented spots that fall to the ground and sway gently in the breeze.
The forest was quiet, with only the rustling of leaves in the wind and the chirping of unknown insects.
Su Zui still didn't activate his Soul Power, and walked forward lightly, stepping on the thick layer of fallen leaves.
The fallen leaves are decaying and soft to the touch, making almost no sound when stepped on.
As he walked, he mentally rehearsed what he would say when they met later.
He and Ning Rongrong had a very unpleasant argument at the entrance of the Slaughter City.
The little girl, her eyes red, tried to stop him, not wanting him to go to that hell from which there was no return. But at that moment, his mind was filled with Qian Renxue's safety. He was impatient and spoke harshly, shaking off her and going straight in.
In two years, only a few short letters were sent out.
He knew Ning Rongrong was feeling wronged.
What's even harder to talk about is Qian Renxue's matter.
He told Ning Rongrong that he was worried about Qian Renxue, which was why he ventured into the Slaughter City. However, two years later, he and Qian Renxue ended up together. Any girl who was waiting for him with all her heart would find it hard to accept.
Su Zui sighed softly, raised his hand to touch the Wine Gourd at his waist, uncorked it, and took a sip.
The rich liquor slid down my throat, slightly calming the restlessness in my heart.
He didn't intend to lie to Ning Rongrong, nor did he want to be vague.
He would make everything clear and explicit. As for whether she could accept it in the end, Su Zui had no idea.
The only thing he was certain of was that he couldn't abandon her like he did two years ago, without even a word of explanation.
A slight rustling sound suddenly came from the woods.
It wasn't Soul Beast; it was the sound of clothing rubbing against grass and trees.
Su Zui paused slightly, her expression unchanged, not even lifting her eyelids, and continued walking forward as usual, but her peripheral vision secretly swept towards the bushes on her left.
His aura was very faint; he was just a low-level Soul Master, probably a disciple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect patrolling the outer perimeter.
It seems those people in the teahouse were right; the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's security is indeed tight.
The person behind the bushes also realized that the person in front of them was just an ordinary rogue Soul Master on the road, with an ordinary aura and no threat, so they quietly withdrew their probing Soul Power and stopped paying attention.
Su Zui remained calm and continued deeper into the Black Wind Forest along the path.
The further you go into the woods, the more lush the trees become.
Occasionally, a few low-level Soul Beasts would spot him from afar, sense his unfamiliar presence, let out a low whimper, turn around, and disappear into the depths of the dense forest, avoiding any provocation.
As the sky gradually shifted westward, the originally bright spots of light slowly dimmed.
I estimate that in another hour, we will be able to pass through the Black Wind Forest and reach the outer edge of the valley where the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect School is located.
Su Zui stopped and leaned against a thick, ancient tree to catch his breath.
He raised his hand and lifted his cloak slightly, looking towards the distant valley.
Through layers of trees, one could vaguely see wisps of clouds floating on the distant mountain peaks—that was the territory of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
While traveling, he could distract himself by walking, but as he got closer to his goal, all his anxieties and worries came rushing back.
He wasn't afraid of arguments, he wasn't afraid of Ning Rongrong getting angry, and he wasn't even afraid of her kicking him out. What he feared was seeing the disappointment in her eyes.
Su Zui remained silent for a moment, then pulled his cloak back up and straightened his clothes.
What's meant to happen will happen.
He steadied his breathing, took another step, and walked steadily through the layers of shadows towards the valley.
The wind rustled through the trees, carrying the fresh scent of distant mountain vegetation; the road ahead was not far.
The light on the treetops deepened, and twilight seeped in through the gaps in the branches and leaves.
As Su Zui walked out of the last grove of trees in the Black Wind Forest, his view suddenly opened up before him.
A natural canyon stretched out in front of them, with steep mountain walls on both sides. Two blue stone watchtowers stood at the entrance of the canyon, with the light blue flags of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect fluttering on them. When the wind blew, the flags fluttered gently.
Outside the valley entrance, many young disciples were scattered, patrolling the mountain in twos and threes. They wore sect tokens at their waists, and their Soul Power fluctuated evenly, clearly indicating that they were experienced members who had been on duty for many years.
This is the outer defensive line of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.