On the eastern fringes of the Central Region.
The vast wilderness mountains gradually grew gentler, and waterfalls tumbled down from high mountain ravines, gathering into a lake.
The lake water was clear and cool, reflecting the drifting clouds.
Footsteps and hoofbeats broke the stillness as a company approached from the southeast, racing along the foot of the mountains.
At their head was Li Yi.
Seeing the landscape, he reined in his mount. The Blackflame Sealing Wolf beneath him immediately stopped, snorting two streams of scorching white vapor.
The brothers behind him all stopped as well.
Li Yi swung down and handed his reins to a young office soldier beside him.
"Rest here. Water and feed the mounts, and check your weapons and talismans."
Most of those in Heaven's Deputy Office followed the true martial lineage, and even those who did not generally practiced body tempering.
For them, flying was not only too slow but also consumed a great deal of spiritual power.
Thus, office soldiers were generally equipped with red-maned steeds. If they had encountered opportunities of their own, any spirit beast they could tame and ride could be registered.
These spirit beasts ran no slower than they could fly.
They simply could not keep going without a moment's rest like flying carriages and spirit boats, which only needed a few more spirit stones.
The office soldiers answered in unison and dismounted.
They tended their mounts, replenished their supplies, and checked their equipment.
Everything proceeded in an orderly fashion.
Li Yi walked to the lakeside and found a flat blue stone to sit on.
The lake was clear to the bottom, with a few fish darting to and fro.
He took a jade slip from the storage bag at his waist and sank his divine sense into it.
Within the