I've waited so long for this moment!

At Jin Jiuxiao's question, Da Ming began to stammer. "Well... uh... Sister Xiao Wu... went out..."

Seeing Da Ming act like this, Jin Jiuxiao raised his brows slightly. "She ran off to the Human World, didn't she?"

Since Jin Jiuxiao had laid it bare, Da Ming became much more straightforward. "Yes, Lord Jiuxiao. Sister Xiao Wu did go to the Human World."

"Mm."

Jin Jiuxiao said nothing more and turned to leave.

Although Zi JI was also somewhat baffled, she did not ask about it just then. She simply followed Jin Jiuxiao out.

When they were at home with family, they could naturally speak their minds without holding anything back.

That was true for her, and it was true for Jin Jiuxiao as well.

But outside, they could not behave that way.

Only after they had completely left the Core Area of the Star Dou Great Forest did Zi JI speak up to remind him, "The Titan Giant Ape isn't within my sensing range."

"That means they haven't been gone long."

Clearly, the Titan Giant Ape had escorted Xiao Wu out of the Core Area.

Since Di Tian had previously left the question of whether to bring Xiao Wu along to the Human World to Jin Jiuxiao, that meant she had not yet left before they arrived.

"Let her go."

"We'll do what we came to do." Jin Jiuxiao merely regretted losing such a handy GPS tracker.

He had no feelings whatsoever for Xiao Wu.

Could a hundred-thousand-year soul beast really understand nothing?

Would you believe someone who said that?

Jin Jiuxiao certainly did not believe a word of it.

Zi JI paid no further attention to where Xiao Wu had gone either. "The question now is, which direction should we take?"

"This way." Jin Jiuxiao casually pointed in a direction.

He was not sure exactly where they would emerge once they left.

He only knew that this direction led to the Heaven Dou Empire.

"This direction is... the Heaven Dou Empire?" Zi JI recognized it too. "That works. We'll look as we go."

Although the younger soul beasts did not recognize Zi JI or Jin Jiuxiao, they could sense the ferocious beast aura radiating from her.

Not a single blind fool of a soul beast blocked their way.

As they neared the outer boundary, Jin Jiuxiao looked up at Zi JI. "Sister Zi JI, we're about to enter the Border Zone. You can withdraw your aura now."

A faint smile had remained on Zi JI's face, and she had seemed in quite a good mood throughout the journey. "All right."

Jin Jiuxiao did not think much of it. He simply assumed Zi JI had grown restless from being cooped up at home, and accompanying him on this trip was a good way for her to unwind.

Life in the Human World was still far richer than life in the world of soul beasts.

Soul master teams were the most common sight in the Border Zone.

Most were shouting about how formidable their teams were, how old the soul beasts they had slain were, and how old the soul rings they could help obtain would be.

As Zi JI listened to those calls, her expression visibly darkened.

Noticing the change in her mood, Jin Jiuxiao took her left hand and gave her a meaningful look.

Feeling the warmth against her palm, Zi JI lowered her head and met Jin Jiuxiao's eyes.

She understood what he meant and let out a soft, wistful sigh. "Ah..."

Her steps quickened considerably.

Jin Jiuxiao could understand how Zi JI felt.

She was the Hell Demon Dragon King, one of the ferocious beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Hearing humans take pride in slaughtering soul beasts and profit from their deaths could hardly put her in a good mood.

But this was not something they could change as they were now.

He needed strength to steer the outcome toward what he hoped for.

Before long, the two left the Border Zone and entered an unnamed little town.

No oblivious soul masters got in their faces to hawk their services along the way, either.

Most soul master teams capable of making a living here had razor-sharp eyes.

A stunning woman with an extraordinary bearing had emerged from the Star Dou Great Forest with a child of around six or seven.

They could not even see through the woman's cultivation. What did that mean?

It meant this stunning woman was at least a Soul Saint, if not stronger!

She was not someone Soul Kings and Soul Emperors like them could afford to provoke.

And she looked to be in a terrible mood.

Since she had not approached them to talk, they would not go looking for trouble.

Jin Jiuxiao studied the storefronts along the way, chose a general store, and walked inside. "Shopkeeper, do you have any maps?"

The shopkeeper was a middle-aged man in his thirties or forties. He glanced at Zi JI and Jin Jiuxiao without asking unnecessary questions. "What size? What kind?"

"The biggest and most detailed kind you have."

The shopkeeper turned and dug out two maps, laid them on the counter, and pushed them toward the pair. "One simplified rough map, one finely drawn map."

"Which would you like?"

The rough map was made of paper, while the detailed one was made of beast hide, easy to store and difficult to damage.

Jin Jiuxiao picked up the detailed map and unfolded it to examine it. "How much?"

It marked all the continent's major cities, mountain ranges, forests, routes, and other geographical information in detail.

It also marked dangerous areas and regions where soul beasts were found.

Practically every soul master would buy a detailed map like this.

"Twenty-five gold soul coins. A fair middle-ground price, no cheating young or old."

"Some places in the cities sell it for thirty gold soul coins."

"The regular price is twenty gold soul coins, but this place is right next to the Star Dou Great Forest. It's dangerous here."

The shopkeeper left the rest unsaid.

Had he not come to this dangerous place to do business precisely because he coveted the high profits?

In truth, a map like this could be bought for fifteen gold soul coins.

"Understandable. I'll take this one." With a turn of his hand, Jin Jiuxiao took out twenty-five gold soul coins and placed them on the counter.

"Thank you for your patronage."

Seeing how freely the two spent, the shopkeeper offered a friendly tip. "About four hundred meters east, there's a decent inn. It's nothing luxurious, but it's clean."

"Thanks for the tip." Jin Jiuxiao took Zi JI's hand and left the general store.

The shopkeeper gave their departing backs one last glance and muttered, "Probably an elder from some great clan taking a young member out to obtain his first soul ring."

"Those great clans really do spend generously..."

Following the shopkeeper's directions, Jin Jiuxiao found the inn.

From the outside, it was certainly not luxurious. It could even be called rather shabby.

The doors stood open, and the lively hubbub of conversation drifted out.

The tables, chairs, and other furnishings were all wooden, but they did indeed look clean.

The two entered the inn together.

Seeing new guests, a waiter hurried over to greet them. "Honored guests, would you like a room or a meal?"

This time, however, Zi JI spoke before Jin Jiuxiao could. "How much is your best room per night?"

The waiter bent slightly at the waist and immediately answered, "Our finest single room costs five silver soul coins a night. It's spacious, with a cushioned bed and a private bathing room. It has everything you could need."

"Would you two like one room, or...?"

"One."

"Right away! This way, please! I'll take you to your room so you can rest your feet." The waiter offered excellent service.

His eyes did not wander, his manner was respectful, and his service was enthusiastic.

It really did make for a pleasant experience.

*?*

When Jin Jiuxiao heard Zi JI say one room, he could not help looking at her.

He found that Zi JI had already composed herself, and a faint smile once again graced her face. Paired with her distinctive bearing and exquisite beauty, it made her even more captivating.

After following the waiter to their room, Zi JI gave him another instruction. "Bring up some food, too. Whatever tastes best. Money is no object."

"Certainly! It'll be here in about half an hour."

After giving them an approximate time, the waiter tactfully withdrew, closing the door behind him.

His footsteps gradually faded into the distance.

"Sister Zi JI, it's not as though we're short on money. Judging by the waiter's reaction, there should be more fine rooms available."

The prices here were indeed steep for ordinary people. At five silver soul coins a night, a fine room was not something the soul hunting teams that came here would choose.

Those who chose accommodations like these were most likely either powerful themselves or backed by powerful forces.

They wanted peace and quiet. Unless something unexpected happened, no one would come to disturb them.

Who could have imagined that the curve of Zi JI's lips would only grow wider? "Hehe~ I've waited so long for this moment!"