My Journey to Immortality Begins with Hunting
Chapter 215 – Exploration Complete, Moving to the Holy Tree Temple - Part 2

Chapter 215 – Exploration Complete, Moving to the Holy Tree Temple - Part 2

Li Yuan toyed with the idea of investigating the ghost domain but ultimately decided against it. What interested him more was the icebone flower growing on its outskirts; no one seemed to have found that plant anywhere else. It had to be some local specialty of the ghost domain, which explained why Gongshan Jun had chosen to set up camp here. Who knew what other motive he might have had?

It did occur to Li Yuan that Gongshan Jun might have belonged to some hidden power, collecting demon hunters out here to further that power’s goals. But according to Wood Dog Quatro, Gongshan Jun had been around for three decades. What force would station a sixth rank martial artist in the middle of nowhere for 30 years straight...just to capture demonic beasts?

Pushing those thoughts aside, Li Yuan decided to head north and look for a suitable place for people to live. With the local terrain map in hand, he had a much better sense of the region and no longer needed to wander blindly.

“Heading south, there are four mountain paths,” he mused. “The leftmost path is off-limits because it crosses directly through the ghost domain. Anyone walking that road without realizing what’s happening would wander into that estate and perish. That’s also where these hunters used to collect icebone flowers. If I hadn’t recruited them first, they could have tricked me into going that way and left me for dead just to keep their precious secret.

“As for the middle two paths, both lead toward the Sunset Rainforest. The demon hunters usually operate on the flatlands, in the woods, or around the small ponds along those routes. They’ve only explored the first leg of those paths. Farther along, the demonic beasts get much stronger.”

Li Yuan studied the map for a long moment, feeling that the two middle paths were like ventilation shafts. Not for wind, but for demonic beasts. If they settled there, they’d inevitably face unending incursions by demonic beasts.

“Maybe I could tame a few powerful demonic beasts to guard our home,” he mused, then shook his head. “These paths connect directly to the Sunset Rainforest, a paradise for demonic beasts. There must be fifth rank, fourth rank, or even stronger creatures there. Even if we only run into one, it’ll be a disaster. And I don’t yet have a way to tame anything stronger than seventh rank. In a human settlement, at least we can anticipate most threats and prepare. Living at one of these ventilation shafts would mean constant fear.”

His gaze shifted to the rightmost path. “That road’s strange. There are hardly any demonic beasts, but no one knows where it leads. The hunters have tried exploring a few times. Some found nothing; others went in deep and never came back. It’s incredibly dangerous.”

Propping his chin on his fist, Li Yuan mulled it over. Ultimately, he decided to personally investigate the middle routes, excluding both the leftmost ghost domain path and the mysterious rightmost one.

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Li Yuan and Tang Nian spent the next several days scouting the forests, recording the lay of the land and noting where various demonic beasts congregated.

With his ability to see combat power indicators, Li Yuan quickly identified each territory’s wildlife.

Along the way, they encountered a seventh rank tri-horned ox-beast, which Li Yuan successfully tamed and rode with his goddaughter. Having a seventh rank beast around kept weaker creatures away, sparing them needless battles.

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A month and a half later.

The two returned to their original camp. Tang Nian, once a fair-skinned girl, had been thoroughly tanned by the sun. Her eyes, however, shone with new intensity.

“Pops,” she said, “it looks like this place really isn’t suitable for us.”

Li Yuan nodded. Reality was harsh. Not only was this region unsuitable for habitation, it was full of hidden perils. During their exploration, he had witnessed something astounding. Once a demonic beast reached a certain level of power, it could force weaker beasts into submission, almost like a higher-order command rather than a simple act of taming.

At one point, the tri-horned ox they were riding suddenly reverted to its wild state when they crossed into another creature’s domain. It collapsed to the ground, whimpering in surrender. No matter how Li Yuan coaxed or commanded, the beast refused to move. His taming skill had failed, overridden by an even greater power.

Sensing danger, Li Yuan and Tang Nian slipped away. Skirting around a nearby peak, they glimpsed a thunderous herd of demonic beasts surging through a distant canyon. Towering behind them was a monstrous creature, as tall as a multi-story building. Li Yuan got a clear look at the combat power indicator above its head, on par with Elder Zhu, which meant it was a fifth rank beast. Perhaps because Li Yuan himself wasn’t weak, or maybe because of his natural affinity with beasts...the monstrous beast glanced at them, then continued on its original path.

So much for heading south. Li Yuan thought, deciding they should return to Gemhill County. Before leaving, he took 10 sticks of ghostly incense, a case of gold ingots weighing about a thousand taels, and worked out a secret signal with Wood Dog Quatro for future contact. He left behind a demon bird to watch from afar, then boarded his carriage and drove off.

Half an hour later, the settlement was well out of sight. Inside the carriage, Tang Nian asked, “Are we going to Silkfloss Province next?”

Holding the reins, Li Yuan replied, “As soon as we get back, we should hear some news. Our first set of messages should have arrived by then.”

“Mhm.” Tang Nian murmured in agreement.

After a pause, Li Yuan added, “Remember when we first got here, how I asked you to infiltrate that settlement for some practical experience?”

“I remember.”

“Now that it’s all behind us, any thoughts?”

Tang Nian fell silent for a moment, then said, “I shouldn’t have gone.”

“Oh?” Li Yuan’s eyes crinkled with amusement. “Why not?”

“Because I just did what you told me based on your intel, which I didn’t really understand. I acted confident and jumped right in, but I’m not an assassin. I’m not trained to sneak into a camp or poison anyone quietly. I’m a puppeteer. My fighting style has never involved rushing in alone. Why did I even go in person? Even if you had assigned me that task, I should have stood my ground and explained that it didn’t suit me.”

Li Yuan laughed. “You’ve grown, I see.”

Tang Nian smiled too. “It’s only because you’re a good teacher.”

In those nearly two months of traveling side by side, Tang Nian had soaked up Li Yuan’s advice and example. Her way of doing things, and thinking things through, was changing.

Li Yuan turned and asked, “So, do you still feel stained by all the blood on your hands?”

Tang Nian gave him a helpless look. “Pops, quit teasing me. That was just me being squeamish back when I had zero combat experience...I’ve sorted myself out now.”

Li Yuan said, “Once we’re back, you’ll spend time with Sheng’er, right? Be sure to teach her a few things. You’ve spent more time with her than I have.”

“Alright, I will,” Tang Nian agreed.

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A few days later, Li Yuan returned to Gemhill County. Xue Ning had compiled a trove of new information about Silkfloss Province.

“Silkfloss Province is poor and heavily forested. Among its various martial factions, the Beggars Sect is the most powerful. When our people traveled through Silkfloss Province, they were actually stopped by bands of beggars demanding tolls and, in some cases, even women. Fortunately, Yan Mu showed his credentials, so they were able to pass.”

“Silkfloss Province has eight prefectures. Skygarden Prefecture, home to the Holy Tree Temple, is at the heart of it all. In that region, you hardly see any beggars. Even those who are around wouldn’t dare act so brazenly.

“The Holy Tree Temple’s city stronghold is enormous. It’s three times larger than Gemhill in fact. It’s the most prosperous and best-policed spot in Silkfloss Province. Living or doing business there is no easy feat. If it weren’t for Deputy Gu graciously granting her permission, our people wouldn’t have been able to open any shops or conduct any trade.

“There’s also a famously forbidden place in Silkfloss Province...a ghost domain that the locals call Happyland.”

“Happyland?”

“Yes. The people there refer to it that way because, from time to time, they hear bursts of laughter coming from inside. Since the area is so vast, everyone knows about it. They call it Happyland as a sort of dark joke, so the name stuck.”

Xue Ning relayed all of this in detail. Li Yuan listened, pondering his options yet still hesitating. After all, Yan Yu remained bound by the constraints of her own ghost domain, making it impossible for her to leave with him.