Outing

Shi Kang asked cautiously, "Father, can I cultivate this technique?"

Shi Gang nodded. "It's a little dangerous, but this technique is indeed powerful!"

"Since the Old Ancestor told you to cultivate it, he probably won't harm you. If, as he said, he gives you that Spiritual Earth comparable to the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame to refine in the future, there's no reason not to cultivate this technique!"

The hardest part of achieving results with the Myriad Spirits Body Refining Technique was finding spiritual materials.

Heavenly Flames were easier to deal with, but spiritual materials of other attributes were not so easy to find.

But since the Old Ancestor had promised him Spiritual Earth, what was there to hesitate over? He just had to cultivate it.

Shi Kang nodded. He had only wanted Father to check it over and make sure there was nothing wrong with the technique itself.

The Old Ancestor had previously said that, in life, he had refined three Heavenly Flames and a mass of Saint Origin Spiritual Land, tempering his physique to the point where an Eight-star Dou Saint could face a Nine-star Dou Saint head-on. With such results right before him, what was there to hesitate about?

Besides, he was a transmigrator. He knew perfectly well where the Heavenly Flames on the continent were hidden and where the Nine Profound Golden Thunder could be found.

Shi Kang could not help imagining it: if he refined three Heavenly Flames, Saint Origin Spiritual Land, and the Nine Profound Golden Thunder in the future, pushing his physique to its limit, perhaps an Eight-star Dou Saint could go toe-to-toe with Hun Tiandi?

The thought was exaggerated, but one had to have dreams. What if they came true?

Since one could possess an Emperor Realm Soul, why could one not forge an Emperor Realm Physique?

In any case, Shi Kang had made up his mind to cultivate this technique.

He was definitely cultivating it. No one could talk him out of it!

Shi Kang then asked whether Father wanted to switch to cultivating this technique as well, but Shi Gang refused.

Heaven and Earth Spiritual Materials were not so easy to find, and Shi Gang did not want to compete with his own son for them.

Thus, Shi Kang had no more concerns. After hurriedly saying goodbye to Father, he rushed off to switch cultivation methods.

Meanwhile, Shi Gang began dispatching people across the continent to search for these so-called Heaven and Earth Spiritual Materials.

After four days, Shi Kang finally succeeded in switching cultivation methods.

The cultivation method had changed from Low-tier Heaven Grade to High-tier Heaven Grade. The most obvious changes were that his Dou Qi capacity had increased considerably, and he absorbed the Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth much faster.

Shi Kang was already impatient to devour a Heavenly Flame and test the effects.

"Since I'm heading out anyway, I'll find a Heavenly Flame and refine it to test this technique's body-refining effects..."

Having made up his mind, Shi Kang went to find Father.

"Father, I want to go out and gain experience." Shi Kang got straight to the point.

He had come for two reasons: first, to seek Shi Gang's approval, and second, to ask Father to assign a guard to protect him.

Outside was not like the clan. There was no telling what dangers he might encounter, so bringing a guard would be safer...

Safety had always been Shi Kang's top priority.

Shi Gang frowned as soon as he heard this. "There are plenty of strong people in the clan. If you want to spar and gain experience, there are plenty of opponents. Why go outside?"

He truly did not want his son to leave. Shi Kang was the hope for the Stone Clan's revival. What if something went wrong?

"Father, you know that cultivating the Myriad Spirits Body Refining Art relies on Heaven and Earth Spiritual Materials. I want to go out and look for them." Shi Kang made up an excuse.

But Shi Gang said, "You don't need to worry about that. I've already sent people to search all over the continent."

Clearly, Shi Kang's reason for going out was not convincing enough to persuade Shi Gang.

But Shi Kang's attitude was firm. He even invoked the Old Ancestor. "The Old Ancestor said that cultivation cannot be done behind closed doors. If I stay cooped up in the clan all the time, I'll never amount to much. Towering trees cannot grow in a greenhouse."

Those words made sense, and Shi Gang could not refute them for a moment.

"Fine. You can go out, but you must take two guards." Shi Gang made a concession.

Going out to gain experience was acceptable, but Shi Gang had to ensure his son's safety.

Shi Kang did not refuse. Father's arrangement suited him perfectly.

Shi Gang then asked where his son planned to go.

"The Northwest Continent." Shi Kang casually fabricated another reason. "The Old Ancestor said there might be spiritual materials there, so I'll try my luck."

Thus, Shi Gang arranged two Half-Saint guards for his son.

That was right—Half-Saints, two High-level Half-Saints.

Taking two Half-Saints as bodyguards while going out to gain experience—only a Dou God Clan could afford such extravagance.

And within the Stone Clan, probably only Shi Kang could receive such treatment.

After all, he was the future hope of the Stone Clan. Even assigning a Dou Saint Elder to protect him would not have been excessive.

Besides that, Shi Gang handed Shi Kang a Communication Jade Slip and instructed him, "If you encounter danger you can't handle, crush it. I'll rush over as quickly as possible."

Shi Gang still placed great importance on his son's safety.

"Don't worry, Father. The Northwest Continent is famously barren. Dou Zongs are rarely seen there, so there won't be any danger..."

"By the way, Father, Mother still hasn't emerged from seclusion?"

Shi Kang's mother was named Shi Qin, and she was a High-level Half-Saint.

As the Clan Leader's wife, she lacked no Cultivation Resources.

Her talent was not bad either. Otherwise, she could not have given birth to such an outstanding son as Shi Kang.

Over the past two years, Shi Qin had often entered seclusion to attempt a breakthrough to One-star Dou Saint.

Shi Gang shook his head. "It will probably take some more time..."

Early the next morning, with the first light of dawn barely visible, Shi Kang had already finished preparing. After checking that everything needed for the journey was in order, he placed it all into his Storage Ring. Following his farewell to Father, he set off with the two Half-Saints.

The two Half-Saints were named Shi Fei and Shi Long. They looked only a little older than Shi Kang, but were actually under a hundred years old. Their talent ranked among the best in the clan, and they had hope of advancing to Dou Sheng in the future.

Shi Gang had sent the two of them along partly to ensure Shi Kang's journey went without a hitch and to protect him completely. On the other hand, he also hoped his son would cultivate trusted subordinates.

After all, if Shi Kang took over as Clan Leader in the future, he would need several confidants he could trust and use effectively by his side.

On the night before their departure, Shi Gang specifically summoned Shi Fei and Shi Long before him. His expression was solemn, and his words rang like iron. "You will accompany the Young Clan Leader on this journey, and you must protect him with everything you have. If the Young Clan Leader suffers even the slightest mishap, bring me your heads! In ordinary matters, do whatever the Young Clan Leader commands without error!"

Listening from the side, Shi Kang silently gave Father a thumbs-up.

This way, he would save himself the trouble of explaining all his strange actions.

Along the way, Shi Kang knew the importance of winning people over, so he found an opportunity to make the two of them a promise. "Follow me well. In the future, I'll help you break through to Dou Sheng."

Shi Fei and Shi Long's eyes lit up. They respectfully said, "Thank you, Young Clan Leader! We will certainly do our utmost and follow at the Young Clan Leader's side!"

Shi Kang nodded in satisfaction, then said, "First, we'll head to the Northwest Continent..."

"Yes!" the two answered in unison, their movements crisp and efficient.

They raised their hands at the same time. A powerful surge of Space Power poured from their palms, instantly tearing apart the void before them. A deep, pitch-black spatial rift appeared in front of them.

Then, the two carefully shielded Shi Kang as they stepped into the spatial rift.

During the journey through space, Shi Kang kept calculating to himself: judging by the timeline, Xiao Yan should already be in the Monster Beast Mountain Range by now.

He needed to hurry as well.