Early the next morning.
After making the necessary preparations and getting everything in order.
Yu Tianchen left the sect with Yu Yuanzhen.
"Grandpa."
In the carriage, Yu Tianchen looked over at Yu Yuanzhen, who was still studying the Eight Gates Resonance Method.
Ever since Yu Tianchen had given Yu Yuanzhen the Eight Gates Resonance Method yesterday, Yu Yuanzhen and Yu Xiaotian had spent the entire day studying the secret technique without stopping.
The only reason Yu Tianchen had been able to cultivate so quickly was that the system had transmitted the entire secret method directly into his mind.
On top of that, the Soul Power Vortices that the Great Sun Thunder Body had condensed beneath his skin allowed him to use the vortices near his acupoints to strike the Eight Gates Acupoints directly, achieving resonance in the shortest possible time.
That was why the technique had been effortless for him to practice.
But Yu Yuanzhen and the others were different.
First, they had to memorize the locations of the Eight Gates Acupoints.
Then, they needed to accumulate large amounts of Soul Power within the acupoints. Only then could they draw on the Soul Power stored there to quickly resonate the gates when they were ready to open them.
So, the Eight Gates Resonance Method was still a little difficult for other people to cultivate.
"Hmm? What is it?"
Hearing Yu Tianchen call to him, Yu Yuanzhen finally came back to himself from his study of the Eight Gates Resonance Method and looked at him.
"I've been thinking about something, and I'm not sure whether I should go."
A trace of hesitation showed in Yu Tianchen's eyes.
"Oh? What is it?"
Seeing Yu Tianchen so hesitant, Yu Yuanzhen grew curious.
It was the first time he had seen his youngest grandson so indecisive.
He couldn't help wondering what was on his mind.
"After this trip to Sunset Forest, with the help of the Immortal Herb, I should be able to break through to level thirty for sure. My physique should even improve further."
Yu Tianchen spoke slowly.
"The Mimicry Training Ground I've been using probably won't be enough to support my training anymore."
"Ah, I thought it was something serious."
"Once we get back to the sect, I'll arrange a better training ground for you."
Yu Yuanzhen thought Yu Tianchen was simply embarrassed to ask the sect to prepare another Mimicry Training Ground for him, and that was why he was hesitating.
With a bold wave of his hand, he immediately decided to get Yu Tianchen a new training ground.
"No, Grandpa."
Unexpectedly, when Yu Yuanzhen proposed getting him a better training ground, Yu Tianchen shook his head firmly. His expression shifted from hesitation to resolve.
"After this trip to Sunset Forest, I plan to go to the Mixed Zone of Star Dou Great Forest."
"The Mixed Zone of Star Dou Great Forest?"
Yu Yuanzhen furrowed his brow.
"What do you want to go there for?"
Yu Tianchen then explained his thoughts to Yu Yuanzhen in detail.
He had started considering the trip to Star Dou Great Forest the night before, after returning from Yu Yuanzhen's courtyard to the mountaintop.
The Mimicry Training Ground on the mountaintop was no longer improving Yu Tianchen as much as it once had.
If he took the Immortal Herb, became a Soul Elder, and returned to the sect to keep training in that Mimicry Training Ground, he probably wouldn't make much progress even after another two years of practice.
Besides, there was another crucial problem.
By staying cooped up in the sect and training every day, he was missing out on tests of character.
Especially the kind of tempering that came from facing life and death.
Although sparring with Yu Xiaotian and Yu Yuanzhen in the sect could still improve his combat skills, one was his grandfather and the other was his father.
No matter how they sparred, neither of them would ever want to harm him.
If he kept training in such an environment, then no matter how much his strength grew, he would still be nothing but a paper tiger.
And when he faced a life-or-death crisis, he might well fold on the spot.
That was why he had begun thinking about going to the Mixed Zone of Star Dou Great Forest to temper himself.
In terms of level, most of the Soul Beasts in the Mixed Zone were far beyond anything Yu Tianchen could take on.
But in terms of his actual strength, after taking the Immortal Herb and using all his methods, he could really trade blows with the Soul Beasts in the Mixed Zone.
Besides, training in the Mixed Zone wouldn't interfere with Yu Tianchen's cultivation.
Thunder Pattern Cliff, where he had gone to hunt his First Soul Ring, was the ideal training ground for him in Star Dou Great Forest.
In other words, going to Star Dou Great Forest would suit both his need to temper himself and his need to train.
It was exactly what Yu Tianchen wanted.
Still, ever since the idea first occurred to him, Yu Tianchen had been hesitant.
After all, stepping out of a comfortable, safe haven was no easy thing.
It wasn't until just now that he had finally made up his mind.
Without fighting for his life, he would never become anything great!
He had to go to Star Dou Great Forest!
After hearing Yu Tianchen's plan, Yu Yuanzhen furrowed his brow so deeply that he could have crushed a fly between it.
He sat with a stern expression the whole time, and didn't speak even after Yu Tianchen finished.
Yu Tianchen didn't say anything either. He simply gazed at his grandfather with unwavering resolve.
He knew that even he had hesitated before making this choice. Yu Yuanzhen, who had spent the past two years doing everything he could to protect him, must be even more reluctant.
The carriage was silent, save for the sound of its wheels rolling along the road.
After a long while, Yu Yuanzhen finally spoke.
"Xiao Chen, have you thought about how grueling it'll be to train in Star Dou Great Forest?"
"What will you do if something happens to you?"
"I've thought about it, Grandpa."
Yu Tianchen spoke in a low voice.
"But I don't want to be a flower in a greenhouse!"
Yu Yuanzhen closed his eyes and clenched his fists, then loosened them, then clenched them again.
In the end, he let out a deep sigh.
"Whether as the head of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan or as your grandfather, Xiao Chen, I should refuse your request."
"But..."
"As a Soul Master..."
"I agree with you."
He raised his eyes to look at Yu Tianchen.
"I agree to let you go to Star Dou Great Forest."
"After we finish our trip to Sunset Forest, I'll personally take you to the entrance of Star Dou Great Forest!"
Yu Tianchen wanted to temper his resolve through life-and-death battles.
From the perspective of a Soul Master, Yu Yuanzhen wholeheartedly agreed.
But agreement or not, there would still have to be protection in secret.
He couldn't actually let Yu Tianchen die in Star Dou Great Forest, could he?
Of course, he couldn't say any of that to Yu Tianchen outright.
Otherwise, it would defeat the purpose of tempering his resolve.
For the rest of the journey, since Yu Tianchen had decided to train in Star Dou Great Forest, Yu Yuanzhen simply stopped studying the Eight Gates Resonance Method and used their time on the road to teach Yu Tianchen survival skills for the forest.
And so, with Yu Yuanzhen instructing him along the way, they arrived at the area where Skywater City stood.
"So this is Skywater City."
After getting out of the carriage, Yu Tianchen gazed curiously at the towering city walls.
Skywater City was one of the more prosperous cities in the Heaven Dou Empire.
Skywater Academy, one of the Heaven Dou Four Elements Academies, was located here.
After entering the city, Yu Tianchen and Yu Yuanzhen didn't go straight to look for Shui Wusheng and his daughter, Shui Bing'er.
Instead, they wandered around the city.
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