Setting Out

"So that's how it is. You truly have reached the time to spread your wings and soar. The world outside is better suited to your growth; Stone Village would only hold you back." Shi Yunfeng paused, then smiled with understanding.

Although the adults were reluctant to see the two leave, they all knew they could not delay them. Stone Village was too small, like a tiny pond incapable of holding two True Dragon-like geniuses. Even an eagle had to leave its nest and spread its wings beneath the vast sky.

"Take us with you!" Pihou and the others crowded over as well. They had long wanted to go out and see the world.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The moment they said that, their fathers' fists came down on them. Each of them clutched his head, squatting there and howling.

"Have you lot ever cultivated seriously? And you want to go out? Stay in Stone Village obediently, get married, and have children!" Other people's children always looked pleasing no matter how one looked at them, while one's own children only inspired disappointment.

"Hahaha, did you hear that, Er Meng, Pihou? You'd better obediently go have babies!" Shi Hao burst into laughter. Serves you brats right for laughing the hardest earlier. Fortune had turned, and the boys immediately grew embarrassed.

"Little Hao, Little Jue, if you meet someone you like outside, you can bring her back. We don't care whether she's from the village or outside it," Shi Yunfeng said with a chuckle.

"Huh? Fatty Girl are such a hassle. They'd only slow down how fast I eat meat," Shi Hao muttered quietly. His voice was so soft that only Shi Jue beside him heard it.

That Fatty Girl would later make you suffer no end of beatings.

"Understood, Clan Chief Grandpa. If we meet someone, we'll bring her back. If we don't, you can't force us. Besides, Shi Hao and I are only a little over seven. There's no need to be like Pihou and the others," Shi Jue said with a smile.

Shi Yunfeng smiled and nodded.

"This isn't the important matter. You must be careful when you're out there."

"Mm. We'll rest up tomorrow, and the day after that, Shi Jue, Qing Feng, and I will set out. We'll cultivate as we travel toward Heaven Mending Pavilion." Shi Hao nodded, then walked over to Liu Shen.

"Liu Shen, do you have any instructions for us?"

"Just keep a low profile. Also, return before you turn twelve for the baptism. Little Hao, you should be familiar with it, but Little Jue, this will be your first baptism of your true body. It will greatly benefit your future." Liu Shen was not worried about the two of them.

Judging by what Shi Hao and Shi Jue had done in the Void God Realm, it was others who needed to worry. It was unlikely that they would suffer losses, but they would definitely make plenty of enemies.

"I understand. By the way, Liu Shen, I need to discuss something with you!"

Shi Hao was quite interested as well. He often spoke with Shi Jue and Liu Shen, so he had learned quite a few secrets that he was not supposed to know yet.

"Liu Shen, you know Demon King Pu from the other realm, right?" Shi Jue wanted to confirm whether Liu Shen could kill the Demon King Pu within Hundred Broken Mountain now. Leaving it there would only create trouble. At most, it should only be at the Supreme Being level now.

"Demon King Pu? After I absorbed those springs some time ago, I happened to recover this portion of my memories. Its strength was not weak, but it was rather headstrong. First, it fought the True Dragon. Then it turned around and battled the Six Paths Samsara Immortal King. Finally, it fought Wuzhong Immortal King to the death and was killed on the spot." Liu Shen spoke calmly.

She occasionally heard such things from Shi Jue, so she was no longer surprised.

Shi Jue's expression immediately turned strange. This Demon King Pu was quite stubborn. It only fought high-level opponents and picked the fiercest enemies possible. The fact that it had managed to survive at all meant it had been quite lucky.

"Demon King Pu is near Heaven Mending Pavilion. Liu Shen, can you kill it?" Shi Jue asked.

If Liu Shen could do it, they could eliminate the threat completely. If not, they would have to avoid it later.

"I have only just recovered to the Heavenly God Realm. If Demon King Pu has recovered to the Supreme Being Realm, I would not be its match alone." (This is only my personal speculation: at one hundred, it would likely be the Void Dao Realm; at five hundred, the Self-Slaying Realm; at one thousand, the Escape One Realm. Beyond that, realms no longer need to be determined by the number of willow branches.)

Although Liu Shen had been stronger than Demon King Pu at her peak, it could not be denied that despite its stubbornness, Demon King Pu was powerful. Otherwise, it could not have challenged three Immortal King-level experts in succession.

She did not find this shameful. She only had a little over twenty willow branches now. Even if she used forbidden methods, defeating a Supreme Being would be difficult.

"I understand." Shi Jue was not disappointed. There was no need to make Liu Shen, who was still recovering, take such a risk.

"Since Demon King Pu is there, I should give you some protection." Liu Shen spoke softly. Two willow branches trembled slightly, and brilliant rays of light burst forth. The next moment, two inch-long pieces of willow branch fell into the boys' hands.

"If you encounter a life-or-death crisis, use these to contact me. I will come to your rescue."

Shi Jue and Shi Hao carefully put them away in their Heavenly Passages. These were life-saving treasures for critical moments.

"Liu Shen, one of your incarnations should be able to deal with a Sky Swallowing Sparrow at the Venerable Realm, right?" Shi Jue asked. Within the next two or three years, the Sky Swallowing Sparrow should attack Heaven Mending Pavilion. They could not miss the chance to obtain the Mountain Treasure.

"Yes. It is merely a Venerable. When the time comes, use the willow branch to call me, and I will project myself there directly!" Liu Shen said calmly. She could not deal with a Supreme Being now, but a Venerable was an ant she could crush at will.

Shi Jue's face lit up with joy. Now it was settled. The Mountain Treasure was almost certainly within their grasp.

"Chirp, chirp, chirp." Furry Ball on Shi Hao's shoulder revealed a fierce glint in its eyes upon hearing about the Sky Swallowing Sparrow. Although its memories had not fully recovered, it could still sense its killing intent toward it.

"This little fellow is quite cute. Come on, do a monkey trick for me!" Shi Jue tugged on Furry Ball's tail.

"Chirp, chirp, chirp!" Furry Ball slapped his hand away. Did he think anyone could just touch its tail whenever they wanted?

Shi Hao said, "It's Zhu Yan. It doesn't do monkey tricks."

"Who cares what it is? With all that fur, it can be treated as a monkey."

Shi Jue might have been somewhat interested in a complete Precious Technique, but the little monkey's Treasure Bone was currently shattered. It would be better to wait until it recovered.

After a day of rest, the three officially prepared to depart. Early in the morning, everyone from Stone Village came to the village entrance to bid them farewell, all deeply reluctant to part.

"Children, you must be careful out there. We'll all be waiting for you in Stone Village." Old Clan Chief Shi Yunfeng reminded them again and again, unwilling to let them go.

"We understand, Clan Chief Grandpa."

The three nodded one after another. Shi Qingfeng even shed tears. The uncles, aunts, and elders in the village had all treated him well, letting him feel the warmth of family. This farewell truly hurt.

"Ziyun, are you here to see us off?"

The three strange birds that had flown over landed before them. Each was several meters long, with powerful auras and runes flowing all over its body.