Sunset Forest!

On the afternoon of the fourth day, the two of them finally arrived at the outskirts of Sunset Forest.

Standing at the edge of the forest and looking ahead, they found the scene before them completely different from Star Dou Great Forest.

The trees of Star Dou Great Forest were mostly dark green and deep emerald, their layered branches and leaves blocking out the sky and sun like a silent green fortress.

Sunset Forest was far more colorful. Dark red cliffs, deep brown trunks, and golden dead leaves carpeted the ground. Occasionally, red or orange moss could be seen growing between cracks in the rocks, like natural colors baked out by the lingering heat of Earthfire year-round.

The air was filled with a faint mixture of sulfur and damp earth. It was not unpleasant, but it was clearly different from the crisp air outside.

The terrain within the forest was much more uneven. Less than half a li in, they encountered a steep rocky slope that required both hands and feet to climb over.

After climbing over the slope, Qian Yaoting glanced back at Li Long. "This place is different from Star Dou. The terrain is much more complicated, and there are ground fissures everywhere. One careless step, and you could fall through. Stay close to me."

Li Long nodded and followed two steps behind him.

The two followed a winding animal trail deeper into the forest. The vegetation along the way gradually changed from low shrubs into towering trees, but the trees were spaced far apart, allowing sunlight to filter through the sparse canopy and cast mottled shadows over the ground.

After walking for about two hours, Qian Yaoting stopped at a relatively high spot. He took out rations and a waterskin from his pack and handed them to Li Long. "Rest for a while. The road ahead won't be easy. There's a scree slope, so stay focused."

Li Long took the waterskin, drank a mouthful, and sat down against a tree trunk.

His gaze habitually swept over the surrounding vegetation and terrain. He had been doing this throughout the journey, noting the distribution of plants in different areas, the color of the soil, and the texture of the rocks.

The herbal guide Qian Yue had given him had been a great help. He could already identify several medicinal herbs that could not be found near Spirit City.

But another matter had been occupying his mind.

The Icefire Yin-Yang Well.

He knew that treasured place was somewhere in a valley within Sunset Forest, surrounded by a barrier of poisonous mist.

But he had no idea which direction it lay in or how to find that poisonous mist.

The original work from the first part had not given precise coordinates. It had only described a valley shrouded in poisonous mist, where all kinds of rare immortal herbs grew.

This was two hundred years earlier. Dugu Bo had not even been born yet. The poisonous mist from the Jade Phosphor Seven-Colored Flower might still exist, but without anyone maintaining it, its range might be smaller than in later generations—or it might have become thinner without an owner strengthening it.

He could not simply say, "I know there's a treasure site in this forest."

He had not seen any record of the Icefire Yin-Yang Well in Spirit Hall's archives, nor had the ancient books Qian Shengyuan gave him mentioned that specific valley.

If he suddenly showed an obsession with a certain area, Qian Yaoting would grow suspicious, and Qian Shengyuan would question him after they returned.

He needed a reasonable lead.

"What are you thinking about?" Qian Yaoting's voice came from beside him, interrupting his thoughts.

Li Long came back to himself and casually replied, "I was thinking that the vegetation here is quite different from Star Dou. Some of these species can't be found anywhere else."

Qian Yaoting followed his gaze around the area and nodded. "This place is close to an earthfire belt, and the soil is rich in minerals. Naturally, what grows here is different. When I passed through here before, I saw some medicinal herbs that are rare outside. Some can't even be found in apothecaries."

Li Long's heart stirred.

Qian Yaoting's words gave him an idea: use "looking for medicinal herbs" as an excuse.

He did indeed have records of gathering herbs during his cultivation in Spirit City, and Qian Yue's herbal guide was right there. It was a ready-made cover.

If he showed interest in some rare medicinal herb, then "happened" to discover something unusual in a certain direction, the chain of logic would hold together.

"Are there any herbs unique to this area that are hard to buy elsewhere?" Li Long asked, following the topic.

Qian Yaoting thought for a moment. "Earthfire Root. It grows in volcanic rock crevices and can be used to prepare medicinal baths for fire-attribute cultivators. But it's troublesome to harvest. You have to look for it on stone walls with very high temperatures, and soul beasts often guard the area. There's also something called Scarlet-Scaled Fern. It grows on cliff faces. Dried and ground into powder, it can be used as a hemostatic. It works much better than ordinary wound medicine."

Li Long stored the information away and asked, "What about spiritual herbs with especially potent effects? The kind that are very old—what sort of terrain do they usually grow in?"

Qian Yaoting glanced at him and raised an eyebrow slightly. "You certainly know what to ask. Old spiritual herbs have extremely demanding environmental requirements. They generally don't grow in open areas. Most are found in places like deep valleys, caves, or behind waterfalls, and soul beasts are often guarding them. If you want to find that kind of thing, you'll have to go deeper into the forest. You won't find much on the outskirts."

"Deep valleys..." Li Long repeated the words.

The Icefire Yin-Yang Well was located in a valley.

Qian Yaoting's answer further confirmed the direction of his plan.

He stood up, stretched his limbs, and glanced deeper into the forest. "Should we head farther in and take a look?"

Qian Yaoting did not object. He packed up his bag and rose to his feet. "Fine, but don't go too deep. We need to find a place to camp before dark."

He walked in front, with Li Long following behind as they continued deeper into the forest.

After another two hours or so, the terrain began to change noticeably.

The forest floor, which had been fairly level before, gradually turned into rolling mountain terrain. There were more and more rocks, while the vegetation became somewhat sparser instead.

As he walked, Li Long continued observing the surrounding environment, watching for possible signs of "anomalies"—the direction of air currents, subtle changes in scent, and boundaries in the distribution of plants.

The poisonous mist was produced by the Jade Phosphor Seven-Colored Flower, a highly toxic plant that required specific environmental and ley-line conditions to grow.

If poisonous mist existed, it would affect the surrounding plant distribution and airflow, creating a dead zone or an abnormal area with a clear boundary separating it from the surrounding environment.

There might be visible clues to follow.

As Li Long was considering this, Qian Yaoting ahead of him suddenly slowed down and tilted his head slightly as he sniffed the air. "Do you smell that?"

Li Long stopped as well and sniffed along with him.

There really was an unusual scent in the wind—faint, with a cloying sweetness tinged with decay, as though it came from some decomposing plant. It was completely different from the usual earthy smell of the forest.

"What is that smell?" Li Long asked.

Qian Yaoting frowned. "I can't say. There might be some special plant nearby, or perhaps a rotting animal carcass, but it doesn't smell quite like the latter."

He turned toward one direction. The scent seemed to be drifting over from a low-lying area to the southeast.

Li Long's heartbeat quickened slightly.

Without revealing anything, he followed Qian Yaoting's gaze in that direction and firmly committed the bearing to memory.

There was a strong possibility it was poisonous mist. Even if it was not, this anomaly was worth investigating.

"Come on. Let's go take a look." Qian Yaoting had already started walking in that direction as he spoke.

Li Long followed behind him. He looked calm on the surface, but the string in his heart had already tightened.

As long as they were heading in the right direction, there was hope of finding the Icefire Yin-Yang Well.

He did not know exactly where that valley was, but he knew that once he stepped into the range of the poisonous mist, he would be able to confirm that he had found it.

All he had to do now was follow this lead.