Luo Chen took Su Heng to Hailun City Junior Soul Master Academy. Although Fule also served as the city lord, he was still officially the principal of Hailun City Junior Soul Master Academy, so he usually worked there.
Hearing a knock, Fule didn't look up. "Come in."
Luo Chen pushed open the door and entered. Seeing him, Fule said, "It's you, Xiao Chen. What brings you here? Come, have a seat. And this student here—Su Heng, right? You sit too."
Luo Chen and Su Heng sat down, and Luo Chen said, "Uncle Fule, actually, there's something I'd like to ask you."
Fule sat down and asked, "What is it? Is there something the chief needs my help with?"
"No, Uncle. It's something I'd like to ask you for myself."
"Oh?"
"I'm going on a long trip. It'll be dangerous, and I can't take Su Heng with me. I'd like you to send someone to take him back to Heaven Dou Royal Academy." Luo Chen paused. "Also, I'd like to borrow some paper and a pen to write a letter to my teacher, so Su Heng can take it back."
"A long trip? And it's dangerous? Where are you going?"
"I'm going to the Far North."
Fule's expression changed in an instant.
"The Far North?" He furrowed his brow, his voice turning grave. "Have you lost your mind, boy? Do you even know what kind of place the Far North is? Forget everything else—the climate alone could cost you your life!"
"I know," Luo Chen replied.
"You know, and you're still going? By yourself? You're only Soul Grandmaster rank twenty-five. Going there now is suicide! No, I won't agree. Your parents wouldn't agree either, and neither would the chief."
Luo Chen didn't rush to argue. He waited until Fule had finished before speaking slowly. "Uncle Fule, do you think I'm the kind of person who rushes headlong into danger on a whim?"
Fule paused.
"If I dare to go, it's because I'm confident I can handle it." Luo Chen looked Fule straight in the eyes. "Don't worry, I won't force my way through. My destination is an ice fissure deep in the Far North Ice Plains. There are fluctuations in space and time there, and they're important to me. I have a way to conceal my presence and avoid the powerful Soul Beasts."
Fule fell silent for a moment, his brow still tightly furrowed. "What makes you so confident? Let me hear it."
Luo Chen thought it over. He kept the Evil Emperor's existence secret and only said he had a special Soul Skill that could conceal his presence, making him difficult for Soul Beasts to detect.
After hearing him out, Fule was silent for a long time.
"Luo Chen, you're only seven. Your future is full of endless possibilities. Why are you in such a hurry to get ahead? If I agree and something happens to you, how am I supposed to answer to your parents and your teacher?" Fule's face was as dark as a still pool.
"Uncle Fule, you recommended me to study at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and I'm grateful. You're like a real uncle to me. But I have to go. I'm already a Soul Grandmaster, and I can take responsibility for my own words and actions. I have to make this trip to the Far North."
"Fine. If I say any more, I'll only seem petty. You really can stand on your own now. I have just one thing to say: come back alive. Otherwise, I truly won't know how to answer to them." Fule's expression was calm as he spoke.
Luo Chen nodded. "I promise, Uncle Fule. I'll definitely come back."
Fule turned and took paper and a pen from his desk drawer, then handed them to Luo Chen.
Luo Chen turned and wrote two letters, one to Meng Shenji and the other to his parents.
When he had finished, he folded the letters and gave them to Fule.
"Uncle Fule, please wait until after I've left to give them the letters. I plan to set out in ten days," Luo Chen requested.
"Don't worry." Fule took the letters and advised him, "The Far North is bitterly cold. Be sure to bring plenty of warm clothes and food, and be careful on the road."
Ten days later, Luo Chen got up early in the morning. Su Heng got up with him, while Lin Xiaomei and Luo Dashan were reluctant to see them go.
"Xiao Chen, can't you go back a few days later? You've only been here a few days." Lin Xiaomei's eyes were red.
Luo Dashan chimed in. "That's right. Why can't you stay a few more days?"
"Mom, Dad, don't worry. It's not like I'm never coming back. You should head back now. We're about to leave."
Luo Chen jogged all the way to the carriage taking Su Heng home. He didn't like goodbyes.
"Let's go, driver," Luo Chen instructed.
Su Heng asked, "You're just leaving like this?"
"Just like this."
The carriage started up and slowly rolled toward the city gates. Fule stood atop the city wall, gazing after it as it moved farther and farther away.
"I hope we meet again, Luo Chen."
As soon as the carriage left the city, Luo Chen got down. After a brief farewell to Su Heng, he headed north.
"Evil Emperor, about how long will it take us to reach the outskirts of the Far North Ice Plains?"
"At your current speed, another three or four days. Good thing you have those Soul Beasts to carry you. Otherwise, who knows how long it'd take you to get there?"
During this time, the Blazing Wolf and Feather Eagle had taken turns carrying Luo Chen. Fortunately, he was still a child; carrying one was barely any weight for two Hundred-Year Soul Beasts.
They had now reached the northern part of the Heaven Dou Empire, where the climate had grown bitterly cold.
But over the past two days, the Blazing Wolf had become reluctant to come out of the Gulu Ball. The weather was too cold, and it was miserable for a fire-type Soul Beast like him.
"Boy, I think it's time you caught an ice-type Soul Beast."
"I think so too," Luo Chen said. "Do you know where I can find a suitable one?"
"About a day farther north, there's a small canyon where two kinds of Soul Beasts live. One is a thousand-year Ice Plains Bear King; the other is a flock of Ice Feather Eagles, flying Soul Beasts that live in groups. They're incredibly fast. If you can catch one, it'll not only increase your combat power, but also let you travel quickly across the Far North Ice Plains, giving you a better chance of survival."
A day later, Luo Chen stood before a steep canyon.
Bare rock walls rose on both sides of the canyon, covered in thick layers of ice. The cold wind howled out from within, carrying tiny shards of ice that stung his face.
"Is this Ice Wind Canyon?" Luo Chen squinted and looked up at the sky.
Several dark shapes circled overhead.
They were Ice Feather Eagles, pure white from head to tail, with wingspans of three meters. A pale blue sheen edged their wings. They soared effortlessly through the cold wind, agile and graceful.
"Beautiful," Luo Chen couldn't help exclaiming.
"What good does beautiful do you? You have to catch one first," the Evil Emperor urged. "At this point, anything with a low age is nearly useless to you. I think you should find one that's over five hundred years old. If you go any higher, will your Martial Soul have a high enough chance of success?"
"Let's find one that's close to a thousand years old. There's bound to be a time when I succeed, even if the odds are against me. Failure has nothing to do with its age. That problem you mentioned doesn't exist."
"Fine, then we'll do it your way. But to find one close to a thousand years old, you'll need to go deeper into the canyon. Keep an eye on those peaks. They like to nest there."
"Okay. Evil Emperor, cover me with your spiritual power. I'm going to head into the canyon's depths!"
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