Eve of Departure!

Over the next few days, Li Long stabilized his level-thirty-six Soul Power while preparing for the journey.

He applied to Qian Shengyuan for a high-level travel permit, which allowed him to request supplies and intelligence free of charge from any Spirit Hall outpost under its jurisdiction, in case of emergencies on the road.

"Don't go too far. Stay safe."

Qian Shengyuan approved it quickly without even asking why, saying only that.

Li Long made another trip to the underground black market, found the shopkeeper who sold Whale Rubber, and collected the second shipment of thousand-year Whale Rubber.

The shopkeeper was delighted to see him and voluntarily threw in an extra piece of eight-hundred-year Whale Rubber as a gift.

"Keep any ten-thousand-year ones for me if you get them."

Li Long did not refuse. After putting away the goods, he reminded the man again.

He spent the rest of his time making final preparations in the East Courtyard.

He polished his iron rod clean and checked through his storage ring. Herbs, food, medicine for injuries, and changes of clothes were all put in their proper places.

He replaced his Holy Son badge with an ordinary iron deacon's badge. Keeping a lower profile outside would save him a great deal of trouble.

"I'm heading out with Senior Brother for a trip."

As for Qian Yao and Qian Yue, he only gave them that brief explanation. Neither woman asked further questions. Qian Yao stuffed a packet of pastries into his hands, while Qian Yue handed him a handwritten, simplified herbal guide. Being able to identify common roadside herbs while traveling could help him avoid plenty of poisonous plants and traps.

On the evening before their departure, Qian Yaoting came by.

He had changed into a dark gray fitted outfit, with a flat leather pack slung across his back and that golden longsword hanging at his waist. He looked much more sharp and capable than usual.

"Are you all ready?" Qian Yaoting asked from the doorway.

"I'm ready." Li Long slung the cloth bag containing his iron rod over his back and stepped outside.

The two exchanged a glance, then walked side by side toward the outside of the Papal Palace.

Qian Yaoting led the way, his stride relaxed and casual, yet without any intention of wasting time.

After leaving Spirit City through its western gate, he spread his wings and glanced back at Li Long. "Can you keep up?"

"I can." Li Long answered, pushed off with both feet, and followed. The two traveled south along the main road, stopping after nightfall at a Spirit Hall outpost south of Spirit City for the night.

Early the next morning, they continued south.

Qian Yaoting was very familiar with the region. He pulled out a rough map he had drawn himself and spread it over a roadside rock, pointing at several circles marked on it. "I've traveled through the outer regions of Sunset Forest quite a few times. There's a mountainous area to the east with abundant medicinal resources, though high-level soul beasts occasionally appear there. The west is close to the earthfire belt. It's hot and sparsely vegetated, but you can find some rare ores there. You haven't been to this region before, so get used to the outskirts first."

Li Long crouched beside the rock and studied the map.

Qian Yaoting's drawing skills could only be called barely passable, but the key markings were extremely clear. Areas where soul beasts were active, water sources, and dangerous terrain that should be avoided were all marked plainly.

He pointed to a location labeled "suspected spirit herb area." "What is this place?"

"I marked it myself," Qian Yaoting said. "I passed through once before and thought the terrain and vegetation suggested there might be spirit herbs there, but I was in a hurry and didn't go in to investigate. If we have time this trip, we can take a look."

Li Long nodded without saying much, though his gaze lingered on that area for two extra breaths before moving away.

The herbal guide Qian Yue had given him lay quietly in his storage ring, stacked together with the map Qian Shengyuan had given him.

The two put away the rough map and continued onward.

As the sun rose, the temperature gradually climbed. Qian Yaoting did not walk quickly, keeping a pace Li Long could maintain.

They occasionally encountered small soul beasts along the way. Sensing the aura Qian Yaoting released, they all detoured around them, and the journey went smoothly.

"Did you often travel outside alone before?" Li Long asked as they walked.

"Two or three times every year, unless I was in seclusion." Qian Yaoting did not turn around, his voice drifting back from ahead. "Cultivating in Spirit City is safe, but staying there too long can make you stagnate. Coming out lets you see different things. Some combat experience and judgment can't be developed even after a lifetime in a cultivation room."

He tilted his head and glanced at Li Long. "You've always cultivated in the East Courtyard. Your foundation is solid enough, but your ability to adapt in real combat can sometimes be rigid. Fighting people and fighting soul beasts follow completely different logic. You'll understand once you encounter a true high-level soul beast. They don't care much for patterns or tactics. They rely more on instinct and intuition."

Li Long gave a quiet acknowledgment and remembered it.

He thought of the hundred-year soul beasts he had dealt with during missions at the Notting City branch hall. It was indeed just as Qian Yaoting said. Soul beasts often attacked in ways that defied common sense, and applying his combat experience from his previous life might not always work.

"What was the most troublesome soul beast you've ever encountered?" Li Long asked.

Qian Yaoting thought for a moment. "About three years ago, when I was in my fifties, I encountered a ten-thousand-year soul beast that had wandered out unexpectedly in the outer region of Star Dou Great Forest. I originally wanted to take a detour, but that thing happened to be blocking the route I needed to take. I tried attacking it and realized I couldn't hurt it at all. In the end, it chased me through half the forest, and I only managed to shake it off after dragging things out until dark."

His tone was light as he recounted the incident, but Li Long noticed that when he said "couldn't hurt it at all," he slowed down for an instant, as though the memory still lingered.

"So there was a reason you wanted me to come out on this trip," Li Long said.

"That's right." Qian Yaoting stopped and turned back to look at him. "Knowing where your limits are beforehand is better than realizing it only when you're truly in danger. You've fought me and opponents at your own level, but you've never fought something that truly does not follow rules. I didn't bring you out this time to fight some powerful soul beast. I brought you out to see what the outside world is really like."

Li Long did not reply after hearing that, but he nodded.

He understood Qian Yaoting's reasoning. He had simply been too immersed in cultivation before to spend time specifically testing it.

This journey would fill that gap perfectly.

The two continued south for most of the day.

After the last rays of sunset faded, Qian Yaoting found a level clearing at the edge of a woodland to spend the night. As he spoke, he took dry rations from his pack and shared them with Li Long. The two sat with their backs against tree trunks while the campfire crackled beside them.

Qian Yaoting poked at the fire with a branch and asked, "Do you think my father treats you well?"

Li Long took a bite of dry rations and thought for a moment. "Very well. He gave me the resources I should have, protected me when he should have, and even gave me the position of Holy Son. What are you trying to say?"

Qian Yaoting smiled. "I'm saying my father rarely misjudges people. He thought you were different from the start, and now you really are different. When you truly reach that position someday, just don't forget him."

Li Long looked at him. Firelight fell over their faces, softening their features beneath that golden glow.

Li Long did not say something like "I won't forget." He merely gave a quiet acknowledgment and lowered his head to continue eating his rations.

Qian Yaoting did not say anything else either. He leaned farther back against the tree trunk and looked up at the night sky.

The wind in the woods carried the damp scent of grass and leaves as it swept over the campfire, lifting sparks and carrying them into the darkness.

They still had to travel tomorrow, so getting some rest early tonight was the practical choice.