Lost Trace Canyon

On the Martial Arts Arena, Tian Yao, Qian Han, Guang Yu, and the others were practicing Soul Power control.

Qin Tian came over and watched quietly from the side without saying a word.

Half an hour later, everyone stopped practicing. When they saw Qin Tian, they gathered around him.

"Brother Tian, Xiao Sheng."

Hearing them, Qin Tian came back to himself and glanced up at everyone.

"Xiao Sheng has successfully obtained his third Soul Ring. According to Great Grandfather's training plan, our next stage is to head to Lost Trace Canyon."

He paused, his voice growing slightly more solemn.

"You should all know what kind of place Lost Trace Canyon is. It's Soul Beast territory, and danger lurks everywhere. If you let your guard down, you might not even know how you died."

"Our strength is decent, but we're still far from a match for the Soul Beasts in Lost Trace Canyon."

"As far as I know, the deepest part of Lost Trace Canyon is home to Soul Beasts over eighty thousand years old, and there are plenty of Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts as well. You should understand how dangerous it is."

Tian Yao and the others listened to Qin Tian, their expressions turning grave.

"Great Grandfather's training plan is for us to survive in Lost Trace Canyon for a year and kill a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast."

After saying this, Qin Tian looked at them again and smiled calmly.

"All right. With our strength, as long as we work together, killing a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast won't be difficult."

"Break up and go prepare. We leave in three days."

Tian Yao and the others exchanged glances. Seeing that Qin Tian had already left, they didn't linger either, and headed out of the Martial Arts Arena.

Qin Tian returned to his small courtyard and sat in a reclining chair, gazing up at the sky with half-lidded eyes.

"Xiao Tian, you're entering Lost Trace Canyon for a year of training in three days. Aren't you going to get ready?"

Hearing the voice beside him, Qin Tian gave a helpless smile.

"Sister Ling Yuan, I've been ready for ages. I have hemostatic powder, medicine for treating injuries, a tent, and so on. All that's left is to enter Lost Trace Canyon and fight Soul Beasts."

"I can't wait. I wonder what it'll feel like to fight Soul Beasts."

Qin Tian was looking forward to the training in Lost Trace Canyon. He was excited at the thought of fighting Soul Beasts.

Without going through battles and the baptism of blood, how could anyone grow? Only by enduring trials of life and death could one become a true powerhouse.

Powerhouses were forged through countless battles.

Qin Tian took a jade box from his Storage Soul Tool and, enveloping it in Soul Power, sent it toward Ling Yuan Douluo.

"Sister Ling Yuan, this is for you. After you refine it, even if your Martial Soul doesn't evolve, its flames will grow much stronger."

Hearing Qin Tian's words, Ling Yuan Douluo took the jade box in front of her.

She opened it and saw the herb inside. Its leaves formed a cockscomb shape at the tip, and its veins were crimson gold. Ling Yuan Douluo froze for a moment.

"What is this?"

Qin Tian answered casually.

"An Immortal Herb, the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower."

"Its medicinal properties are fierce and scorching. It's a pure-yang tonic, best suited to Martial Souls of flying beasts."

"Consume the whole plant, then circulate your Soul Power to refine it. Don't stop halfway, or its effects will be greatly reduced."

Qin Tian gave Ling Yuan Douluo the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower because she would become his guardian in the future. After more than half a year together, he had also come to trust her character and nature.

Ling Yuan Douluo closed the jade box and looked at Qin Tian with a charming smile.

"Xiao Tian, this is too precious. You should take it back."

Qin Tian waved his hand, unconcerned.

"Keep it. Only if you grow stronger can you protect me better. Besides, I have more Immortal Herbs, so I can spare this one."

Ling Yuan Douluo didn't hesitate any longer and put the jade box away.

How could she not know about Immortal Herbs? She had secretly protected Qin Tian when he and the others went to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Qian Renxue had consumed an Immortal Herb, evolving her Six-Winged Angel into an Eight-Winged Angel. Dugu Yan had consumed one too, evolving her Martial Soul from a snake into a dragon.

How could Ling Yuan Douluo not know what Immortal Herbs could do? She had wanted one herself, but had only dared to think about it, since she didn't know who had the herbs.

After all, Qian Renxue had been traveling with Qin Tian at the time.

Ling Yuan Douluo didn't linger. She returned to her room to prepare to refine the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower.

Qin Tian stayed in the courtyard, gazing up at the sky as he considered his next steps.

Time flew by.

Three days was neither long nor short.

On the Martial Arts Arena, Qin Tian and the others stood before Qian Daoliu, their expressions respectful.

"You're heading to Lost Trace Canyon for a year of training."

"No one will protect you during this trial. Don't think you can act recklessly just because someone is protecting you. Whether you live or die on this journey is up to you."

As they listened to Qian Daoliu, the group exchanged glances, each seeing the fighting spirit in the others' eyes.

"Teacher, there's no need to say more. We'll see you in a year."

After saying this, he took a letter from his Storage Soul Tool Ring and handed it to Qian Daoliu.

"Teacher, if Sister Xue comes back, please give her this letter for me."

Then Qin Tian called for the others to leave.

Qian Daoliu watched them go, his eyes full of anticipation.

"Big Brother, are you really sure you don't want me to go with them?"

Watching the group depart, Golden Crocodile Douluo asked with some concern.

Qian Daoliu shook his head slightly and glanced at Golden Crocodile Douluo, answering helplessly.

"What would you go for? Fourth and Fifth Elders have already gone. Third Elder is guarding the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, while Sixth and Seventh Elders have gone to sea to hunt Sea Soul Beasts for Whale Rubber. If you go too, and something happens, am I supposed to take action myself?"

Hearing this, Golden Crocodile Douluo said nothing more.

At the entrance to Lost Trace Canyon, Qin Tian, Tian Yao, and the others got out of the carriage.

"You can all head back."

As soon as Qin Tian spoke, he headed toward Lost Trace Canyon.

Tian Yao and the others followed at once, entering Lost Trace Canyon together.

Inside the canyon, they were met by an ancient, desolate atmosphere. Towering trees stretched toward the sky, vegetation grew thick, roots twisted together, and vines covered the land.

Qin Tian grew more cautious at the sight.

"Take up a battle formation!"

At his words, Tian Yao and the others immediately spread out: two in front, three in the middle, and two behind, ready for the battles ahead.

"Roar!"

"Howl!"

The roars of Soul Beasts sounded from time to time, but they paid them no mind, keeping their eyes on their surroundings, alert to every danger.

"Careful!"

Qin Tian, positioned in the middle, spotted a Gold-Silver Snake that had suddenly appeared. Without hesitation, he raised his hand and sent out a burst of Soul Power.

The Gold-Silver Snake that had appeared out of nowhere was only a Ten-Year Soul Beast. It couldn't withstand Qin Tian's attack and was sliced in two on the spot.

Seeing the dead snake, Tian Yao and the others refocused, their attention—slightly relaxed before—now fully alert again.

The group of seven walked on for some time, and the sky had already begun to darken.

Qin Tian glanced at the sky and furrowed his brows, immediately looking for a suitable place to rest.

But while searching for somewhere to camp, they ran into a pack of Nether Wolves.

Qin Tian looked at the pack, frowning.

"One three-thousand-year-old, two thousand-year-olds, eight over five hundred years old, twenty-two over a hundred years old, and more than a hundred under a hundred years old. This is going to be a nuisance."

Tian Yao and the others were brimming with fighting spirit, eager for the battle ahead.