Above The Sky
Chapter 384 - 384 356 The Beginning of the Journey

384: Chapter 356 The Beginning of the Journey 384: Chapter 356 The Beginning of the Journey The sunlight filtering through the leaves in the forest sprinkled a hazy golden green onto the brown sunshade of the caravan’s canopy.

Riding on a camel beast, Ian followed the slowly advancing caravan.

He lifted his head towards the source of the sunlight, the expansive sky fragmented by the branches, tinted with a touch of vibrant green.

On the branches perched several common brittlebone sparrows, with light green feathers and a ring of brown around their necks, tilting their heads to regard the passing caravan with their chirping chatter.

Perhaps because their heads were relatively small, or maybe they were truly bold, they weren’t afraid of people, which often made them a bonus snack for the children of the Southern Ridge—hence the name “brittlebone.”

Ian had tried them before, and they tasted quite good.

But today was not the time, as birds in early summer were thin.

The caravan proceeded along the official road, heading northeast.

The White Chamber Commerce Guild and the White Chamber Fleet were family enterprises of the White Folks of Harrison Port.

Ian naturally had a certain degree of managerial authority, but this time he was not acting as the steward of the caravan; he was merely a passenger who would leave partway through the journey.

Of course, no one truly treated him as just a passenger.

Ian alone occupied one carriage and one camel beast, and the regular visits from the steward to check on him were clear proof of that.

The caravan wasn’t solely comprised of White Folks; there were also herb gatherers and hunters from Harrison Port.

Like Ian, they were passengers who would leave partway through.

Their destination was the entrance to the Bison Mountain Range for a ‘remote hunt.’

Although the Southern Ridge was rich in resources, the areas surrounding the cities had mostly been scavenged clean; what was left was usually land cordoned off by the local lords or the natives.

To truly obtain substantial game, one had to venture deep into the mountains for a long haul of hunting lasting several weeks or even more than two months.

This was the origin of ‘remote hunting.’

In the traditions of the Mountain People of the Southern Ridge, only those who had completed a remote hunt could be considered adults.

During this process, hunters would learn to survive independently, find game, assess and utilize every bit of their surroundings, and join forces with trustworthy companions to take on sufficiently troublesome prey.

Ian’s journey was essentially a form of remote hunting.

Most of these hunters and herb gatherers preparing for remote hunting were skilled veterans, yet the lands of the Terra Continent, especially the Southern Ridge, were still far from peaceful.

Setting aside the native mountain people and bandits, elite squads from the Fiery Flame Land had indeed infiltrated various autonomous regions and colonies, causing several horrifying incidents.

For instance, Mina Town near Sanhe City was attacked by an Ironshell Bear.

Several households were devoured alive, and much of the town’s wooden wall was damaged.

Yet Ironshell Bears are gentle creatures that only eat fish and honey.

The Sublimator from Sanhe City who arrived to slay the giant bear discovered that it had been infected by a fungus from the Fiery Flame Land, which damaged its nose and made it aggressive.

Similar signs of fungal infection were spreading, and many wild beasts began to show aggressive tendencies.

The biowarfare of the Fiery Flame Land had begun.

In such times, venturing out alone was rather bold, so the smart people of the Southern Ridge chose to travel in groups or simply join a caravan.

Most of the caravan consisted of acquaintances, but the only person Ian really knew was Brin.

After a bloody battle with the natives, this herb gatherer reflected deeply and realized that if he continued to live with his past casual attitude, it wasn’t about making easy money—he might end up as fodder for the natives or wild beasts.

Therefore, he trained hard for several years, passed the caravan’s assessment, and became the leader of a small team.

“Ian, how are you holding up?”

This tall former herb gatherer rode over on a pack horse, trying to cozy up to him with a broad smile, “First time traveling far from home?

Need me to pass on some wilderness survival skills?

Don’t worry, it’s on the house!”

“Cut it out,”

Ian glanced at him dismissively, “I’ve never journeyed far, but it’s not like I haven’t left the port.

I’ve probably killed more magical beasts than you’ve even seen, no need for you to teach me survival skills.”

“But if you’re willing to pay me, I can teach you a thing or two about Labyrinth knowledge.”

“I don’t have the money for that,” Brin raised his hands in surrender.

Brin indeed had tried to forcefully take Ian’s Sleep Powder in the past, but setting aside the fact that the youth had baited him on purpose, the man had fought desperately to ensure Ian’s safety until the end, so the young man had forgiven him long ago.

It was all just a misunderstanding between family.

Over the years, Brin often brought the latest medicinal herb news and small insider tips to Ian, advising him on which affordable and effective herbs to stock up on, so their relationship remained fairly good.

“You’re headed to Leyan Territory, we’ll have to part ways in the Midra Autonomous Region.

That place is situated in a small basin between two mountains, with only one direct route.”

After exchanging pleasantries, Brin began to discuss serious matters.

He unfolded the map for Ian and explained in detail, “We need to first pass through the influence zones of the Great Rift Valley and the Fantasia Labyrinth Reef Cluster, and go past Amor Town, then reach Sanhe City.

It’s dangerous all along the way, and we need to be careful.”

“Further up is the entrance to the Indigo Mountain Gorge where the Mountain People live, and behind that lies the Agate Stone Plains.

It gets much more peaceful from there.

We’ll part ways in the Agate Stone Plains, we’ll continue towards Nauman City, and you’ll detour to the Leyan Territory.

The whole journey might take about ten days or so.”

“There won’t be any bandits or something along the way, will there?”

Ian felt that there was no issue with the route and nodded.

Then he casually asked: “What do you usually do when you encounter bandits?

Pay them or fight?

Do you need me to sweep them away?”

“Hey.”

Brin just shook his head at this question: “Where would there be bandits to the south of Agate Stone Plains—could bandits even be as fierce as our natives here?”

“Bandits will let you pass once you pay them, and you might even be able to do some business.

Natives, on the other hand, they might eat people!”

“True,” Ian thought and felt that his own idea was somewhat absurd.

You see, even though the Redwood Forest Natives are now in decline, they still have their own Sublimator Heritage ‘power’…

Bandits, those scattered soldiers, or impoverished folks who can’t survive, dare to enter the forest zones around Harrison Port, they might just end up delivering fresh takeout to the natives.

“Got it.”

Ian said to Brin: “Remember to call me if there’s trouble, and find me if you come across anything good.

No trouble at all for a business venture from our own caravan.”

“If we run into some troublesome natives or bandits, let me know as well.

I want to test my new weapons.”

“Got it.

But magical beasts are far more common than those guys.”

Brin laughed heartily and waved his hand as he continued to lead the way.

Ian merely smiled.

As an experienced medicinal herb gatherer like Brin, who had undergone professional training, he was one of the best guards of the Southern Ridge caravan.

While the caravan advanced, he would patrol nearby, monitoring the surroundings and it made it easier to spot traps in the forest or sources of natural poison gases.

Accompanied by the sound of bells that could drive away wild animals, the caravan moved steadily forward, sometimes entering the deep forest, sometimes reaching the riverside.

A light rain, and the trees beside the official road began to ‘breathe’, white mist flowed between the trees—it was a unique phenomenon in the Great Redwood Forest Zone.

It’s said that the forest communicates information through such mists, much like the pheromones between ants.

From time to time, the course of Ivoke River could be seen, with merchant ships often floating downstream, transporting giant logs suitable for shipbuilding and goods.

If the source of Ivoke River were near Nauman City rather than deep in the Bison Mountain Range, the construction speed of Harrison Port could be ten times faster.

Ian enjoyed the pristine forest scenery along the way.

Even the power of The Empire couldn’t restrain this land indefinitely.

The official road that was developed decades ago was now crumbling and decayed, and perhaps in another ten years, this road would revert to wilderness again.

The weeds that climbed over the road surface, the young trees, and the moss-covered crusted soil were clear evidence of this.

But that didn’t matter—new paths would always be found and trodden by people.

However, the young man was not merely gazing at the scenery.

“The third one.”

He watched the birds in the trees, counting some obscure numbers, then nodded slightly: “There are quite a few of them.”

But since there was no ‘immediate danger’, he did not care and just continued riding his camel beast, leisurely moving forward.

On the other side.

“Commander, what’s the matter?”

In a small hill, a bear den that had been remodeled into a hidden outpost.

The old soldier with short brown hair lifted his head and opened his eyes, allowing the pale yellow Spirit Energy Halo to flicker.

His expression was grave.

The burly soldier beside him immediately stood at attention and asked seriously: “Is there an anomaly?”

“Something’s odd.”

The elder with a Fiery Flame Land accent muttered to himself, his sparse eyebrows frowning so deeply that they formed circles: “The birds I control seem to have been noticed by the target…

but it seems to be just him plain observing birds?”

“Does he really enjoy watching birds that much?

Next time, I’ll use another small animal for surveillance.”

Shaking his head slightly to calm himself, the elder spoke seriously: “I’ll continue the surveillance, and you go inform the local squad that one of our targets has left Harrison Port.”

“When the moment is right, initiate the plan and capture him immediately!”