Sunset Forest!

"Let's go. Don't worry about that dead man, Tang Hao."

After Ling Xuqing finished speaking, he took Gu Yuena's soft, fair little hand, turned around, and set off with a brisk pace toward the Sunset Forest.

In the night, Zi Ji followed respectfully behind the pair, her figure flickering in and out of sight within the shadows.

Deep within Ling Xuqing's sea of consciousness, Xiao Wu and A Yin also gradually calmed the ripples in their hearts.

In the days that followed, Ling Xuqing was in no rush to reach his destination. Instead, he took Gu Yuena on a true sightseeing excursion.

The journey from Nuoding City to the Sunset Forest was not particularly long, but Ling Xuqing deliberately stretched what should have been a three-to-five-day trip into more than ten days.

They walked and stopped as they pleased, completely immersed in the embrace of nature.

In the early morning, when the first rays of sunlight pierced through the mist and spilled onto the dew-covered grass, Ling Xuqing would stroll with Gu Yuena along the leaf-strewn forest paths.

Gu Yuena was like a lark released from a cage, filled with endless curiosity about everything in the world.

She would squat by the roadside, carefully observing an ant carrying food, or tilt her head back and reach out her small hand to catch the dappled light filtering through the gaps in the leaves.

"Brother, look! This flower is so pretty!"

Gu Yuena would lift a freshly picked wildflower from time to time, her purple eyes sparkling with a brilliance even brighter than the bloom itself.

"Mm, it's beautiful, just like you."

Ling Xuqing always smiled, reaching out to tuck the strands of silver hair falling by her ear behind it.

By evening, they would stop beside a clear stream.

Relying on her powerful soul power, Zi Ji would silently catch several plump, spiritual fish from the water.

Ling Xuqing would build a campfire on the bank, skewer the cleaned fish on tree branches, and sprinkle them with spices bought in the city.

When the grilled fish began to emit an enticing, charred aroma, the spiritual forms of Xiao Wu and A Yin would emerge impatiently.

"Xuqing, your skills are truly incredible! If only I could eat this every day!" Xiao Wu would circle the campfire, drooling with hunger.

A Yin would sit gently to the side, watching Ling Xuqing skillfully turn the fish, her eyes filled with tenderness.

During this ten-day journey, Ling Xuqing not only allowed Gu Yuena to completely relax her body and mind but also helped her experience the long-lost joy of being "human."

More importantly, in this process of day-and-night companionship and the blending of their auras, the Silver Dragon King origin within Gu Yuena was continuously nourished by the Golden Dragon King's aura, causing her injuries to recover much faster than anticipated.

Of course, to avoid unnecessary trouble, Ling Xuqing had put quite a bit of thought into his choice of route.

They had perfectly bypassed Tiandou City.

That prosperous capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, while filled with countless opportunities and luxury, was also a vortex of tangled factions and surging undercurrents.

Ling Xuqing knew well that with his current strength, getting involved in the politics and power struggles of Tiandou City too early was not a wise move.

Moreover, the true purpose of his trip was the treasure land deep within the Sunset Forest.

Thus, after leaving the noise and bustle of Tiandou City behind, Ling Xuqing led Gu Yuena westward, heading straight toward the Sunset Forest.

More than ten days passed in the blink of an eye.

When Ling Xuqing and Gu Yuena arrived at the outskirts of the Sunset Forest, the surrounding scenery had undergone a drastic change.

If the forest outside Nuoding City was vibrant and lush with life, the Sunset Forest was filled with an aura that was primitive, wild, and tinged with mystery and danger.

The trees here were exceptionally tall, their thick trunks requiring over a dozen people to encircle.

The dense canopy blocked out the sky and sun, keeping most of the light out and leaving the interior of the forest shrouded in perpetual dimness.

The air was thick with the stench of damp earth and rotting vegetation, and occasionally, the long, chilling roars of unknown soul beasts could be heard, making one's hair stand on end.

"Brother, is this the Sunset Forest?"

Gu Yuena gripped Ling Xuqing's hand tightly, her purple eyes filled with curiosity but also a trace of wariness toward the unknown environment.

"Mm, we've arrived."

Ling Xuqing nodded, his gaze looking deep into the forest.

He took a deep breath, sensing the gradually thickening fluctuations of soul power in the air.

"Zi Ji," Ling Xuqing called out softly.

"I am here." Zi Ji's figure emerged instantly from the shadows, standing respectfully at Ling Xuqing's side.

"The road ahead may require your assistance."

Ling Xuqing said calmly.

"You are too kind, Young Master. Protecting you and the Sovereign is my duty."

Zi Ji bowed slightly, her tone filled with absolute loyalty and confidence.

"Good," Ling Xuqing smiled slightly. "Let's head in."

Under the shroud of Zi Ji's terrifying aura, the low-level soul beasts on the outskirts of the Sunset Forest dared not act out in the slightest.

Before Ling Xuqing's group had even approached, they were already fleeing in terror, staying far away from this path of death.

The group ventured deep into the Sunset Forest without any obstruction.

As they pushed further, the environment in the forest became increasingly harsh.

The once relatively flat ground was gradually replaced by thick humus and tangled, knotted tree roots.

A faint white mist began to permeate the air, carrying a pungent, acidic, and rotten odor—clearly a precursor to some kind of toxic miasma.

"Brother, the air here smells terrible."

Gu Yuena frowned slightly, a look of discomfort flashing across her small face.

"This is the toxic miasma unique to the Sunset Forest," Ling Xuqing explained patiently. "It is a mixture of toxins from countless poisonous plants and insects, along with rotting vegetation. If an ordinary soul master lacks detoxifying pills or special protective measures, inhaling too much will lead to poisoning and unconsciousness at best, or the rotting of their meridians and death at worst."

Hearing Ling Xuqing's words, Gu Yuena subconsciously leaned closer to him.

"Sovereign, rest assured, this bit of miasma cannot harm you," Zi Ji said, stepping forward immediately.

She raised her hand, purple light flowing from her fingertips, and a faint purple barrier instantly enveloped Ling Xuqing and Gu Yuena.

The toxic miasma that attempted to approach dissolved into nothingness the moment it touched the purple barrier, like snow meeting fire.

With Zi Ji's protection, Ling Xuqing and Gu Yuena continued to move forward safely.

They passed through a thicket of thorny vines and crossed a muddy swamp that emitted a foul stench.

Along the way, Zi Ji neutralized every hidden danger, ensuring that Ling Xuqing and Gu Yuena were not disturbed in the slightest.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, the view ahead suddenly opened up.

"Stop."

Ling Xuqing suddenly halted and raised his hand, signaling the others to stop.

Not far ahead of them, a natural barrier appeared.

It was an extremely dense patch of toxic miasma, resembling a gray-green city wall stretching across the depths of the forest.

The miasma was so thick it was almost solid, with bubbles occasionally rising to the surface and releasing a nauseating, fishy-sweet scent.

Even birds dared not approach the area above the miasma. Occasionally, a few reckless low-level soul beasts would wander in, only to dissolve into a pool of pus before they could even let out a scream.

"Brother..." Gu Yuena looked at the terrifying miasma, a trace of apprehension flashing in her purple eyes.

Ling Xuqing's gaze, however, was fixed firmly on the deepest part of the miasma.

In his perception, hidden behind that toxic barrier—which even a Title Douluo would find difficult to cross—lay an extremely pure and vast life force.

That was the target of his journey!

"We've arrived," a satisfied curve formed on Ling Xuqing's lips.

He turned his head to look at Gu Yuena, Xiao Wu, A Yin, and Zi Ji, and said softly, "This is the place."