After half a month of exhausting travel, the journey finally came to an end.
The carriage wheels rolled across the final stretch of gravel-covered road before slowly stopping outside Stone City, a border city on the western frontier of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Yang Chang’an was the first to lift the carriage curtain and leap down.
The moment his feet touched the ground, a gust of wind carrying the scents of earth, vegetation, and a faint trace of blood drifted toward him.
Looking into the distance, he could clearly see an endless stretch of vast and ancient forest.
Yang Wushuang stepped down from the carriage shortly after.
Though dressed only in plain robes, the restrained aura of Spirit Power around him could not be concealed.
He merely glanced indifferently toward the forest before shifting his gaze to the city before them.
“Stone City?” Yang Chang’an looked around, his eyes sweeping over the city walls as his brows lifted slightly in surprise.
“The name really doesn’t fit.” Although Stone City was located on the border, it was nothing like the crude frontier town Yang Chang’an had imagined.
Rather than being a rough city piled together from stone, it appeared orderly and prosperous.
Though nowhere near as grand as Spirit City, it was still lively and bustling, completely unworthy of such a crude name as “Stone City.” Beside him, Yang Wushuang merely glanced calmly at the city outline, his expression unchanged and his tone neutral enough that no emotion could be discerned.
“It only prospered because of its advantageous location near the spirit beast forest.
That’s not real capability—just good luck.” After saying that, he spoke no further and walked straight toward the city gates.
Yang Chang’an hurried after him while asking, “What are we doing next?” Without even turning his head, Yang Wushuang replied, “We’ll find an inn and rest first.
We enter the forest tomorrow.” As a Spirit Saint, half a month of travel was nothing to Yang Wushuang.
But Yang Chang’an was still young.
Even though his physique far surpassed others his age, enduring endless travel day and night for half a month was still a considerable burden on him.
Walking beside Yang Wushuang, Yang Chang’an constantly observed the surroundings.
Stone City’s prosperity was completely different from Spirit City’s.
Spirit City was Spirit Hall’s holy city—majestic, strict, filled with Spirit Masters everywhere, orderly yet oppressive.
Stone City, meanwhile, stood at the borderlands where all kinds of people mixed together.
Soldiers, Spirit Masters, and merchants moved through the streets in a constant stream, carrying a sense of wildness and freedom.
To Yang Chang’an, who had grown up within Spirit City since childhood, it felt refreshingly different.
Grandfather and grandson did not wander around.
They quickly found an inn and rented a premium room.
The exhaustion from continuous travel finally surged over him.
Even Yang Chang’an could not help rubbing his brow in fatigue, and before long, he fell into a deep sleep.
Not long after they fell asleep, two figures silently appeared inside the room next door, which had originally been empty.
Like ghosts, they emerged without making the slightest sound.
Even the night wind outside the window did not stir in the slightest.
The Fifth Worship still wore that youthful and refined appearance.
He smugly raised a brow toward the burly man beside him.
“Well?
Didn’t I tell you so?” The burly man slowly nodded, a trace of admiration flashing through his eyes.
“He really is a clear-headed child.
What a pity…” “After that upheaval back then, he was completely ruined.” Given Yang Wushuang’s sensitive status, there was no way Spirit Hall would easily allow him to take Yang Chang’an all the way to the spirit beast forest.
The reason the Fifth Worship and the burly man had followed them was partly to observe Yang Chang’an.
But if Yang Wushuang showed even the slightest sign of betrayal, the Fifth Worship would not mind sending an arrow through both grandfather and grandson.
After a moment of silence, the burly man suppressed the regret in his eyes and shifted the topic toward Yang Chang’an.
“That kid is interesting.
Just like you said—he’s quite remarkable.” Recalling Yang Chang’an’s earlier words about being “qualified to be plotted against,” even the burly man couldn’t help but show a faint smile.
There were many geniuses in the world.
But geniuses who understood the situation were exceedingly rare.
The Fifth Worship’s smile deepened.
He patted the burly man’s shoulder proudly.
“Of course.
Since when has your Fifth Brother ever misjudged someone?
I personally took a liking to this kid.
Would I really deceive you?” Clearly, he had been extremely satisfied with Yang Chang’an’s reactions throughout the journey.
Though the boy’s thoughts leaned somewhat dark, in their eyes, that was not a problem at all.
A person without any cunning or depth simply did not deserve to survive in this cruel world.
…
The night passed in silence.
Early the next morning, before dawn had fully broken, Yang Chang’an and Yang Wushuang finished preparing and headed toward the entrance of the spirit beast forest.
The closer they got to the forest, the more Spirit Masters they encountered.
At the same time, the stench of spirit beasts grew increasingly heavy, and occasional beast roars echoed through the air.
Before long, the checkpoint guarded by Heaven Dou Empire soldiers appeared ahead of them.
Several guards in polished armor were carefully inspecting travel permits.
Seeing the two approach, the captain of the guards stepped forward and raised a hand to stop them.
“Do you have travel authorization?” Yang Wushuang slightly raised his left hand, and a pitch-black token appeared in his palm before he casually handed it over.
The guard captain accepted the token.
The moment his eyes landed on it, his expression changed sharply.
After carefully confirming its authenticity, he hurriedly returned it with both hands respectfully.
“So it’s Lord Black-Robed Bishop.
My apologies.
Please proceed, my lord.” What Yang Wushuang had presented was precisely the exclusive token of a Spirit Hall Black-Robed Bishop.
Within Spirit Hall, Black-Robed Bishops held extremely high status, and every one of them was a powerful expert.
Within the Heaven Dou Empire, their status was at least comparable to hereditary viscounts.
Ordinary officials and soldiers would never dare slight them casually.
However, the guards merely treated him with proper courtesy and did not act overly flattering.
After all, they served under the Heaven Dou military.
Though they respected the identity and strength of a Black-Robed Bishop, they were not so intimidated as to become submissive.
Especially now, when the conflict between the Heaven Dou Empire and Spirit Hall was no longer any secret.
The two sides had long since been openly and secretly fighting one another, with friction constantly escalating.
Yang Wushuang retrieved the token and gave a slight nod.
Without another word, he gestured for Yang Chang’an to follow before the two stepped into the spirit beast forest one after the other.
The moment they entered the forest, a thick, bloody wind rushed toward them.
Towering ancient trees stretched in every direction, and the surroundings were terrifyingly silent apart from distant beast roars and insect cries.
Yang Wushuang walked ahead, releasing a faint trace of Spirit Power as he cleared the way.
Without turning back, his calm voice rang out clearly.
“Ever since the new Pope ascended the throne, the conflict between the two empires and Spirit Hall has become increasingly intense.
They’re practically irreconcilable now.” “In the future, if you encounter people from either empire while outside, you must remain cautious.” His grandson had grown up in Spirit City since childhood.
Though he had heard of outside affairs, he knew little about them in detail.
Yang Wushuang naturally had to explain some things in advance so Yang Chang’an would not suffer losses later.
Walking behind him, Yang Chang’an nodded.
In truth, he understood the conflict between the empires and Spirit Hall even better than Yang Wushuang did.
The relationship was far beyond mere incompatibility.
It had practically reached the point of life and death.
These hidden truths and future events were things Yang Wushuang could not yet foresee, but they had already formed clearly in Yang Chang’an’s mind.
“Don’t worry, Grandpa.
I’ll remember.” Then he raised his head and asked, “Grandpa, where are we going next to find a suitable Spirit Ring?” Yang Wushuang stopped walking and identified the direction before pointing toward a narrow path on the left, half-hidden beneath hanging vines.
“According to the information I gathered, a Spirit Master once spotted a Star Breaking Rock Dragon deep within the forest.
Judging by its size, it should be around four hundred years old.
We can start there.” Despite the “dragon” in its name, the Star Breaking Rock Dragon actually had little connection to true dragons.
It was a descendant of ancient exotic beasts.
Its appearance resembled a giant crocodile, possessing an extremely powerful body with rough hide and immense strength.
Its fangs were terrifyingly sharp, capable of splitting mountains and crushing stone with ease.
Even against spirit beasts carrying dragon bloodlines, it could often prevail through brute force alone.
An exceptionally troublesome creature.
As his words fell, Yang Wushuang took the lead down the small path.
Yang Chang’an followed closely behind, anticipation flashing through his eyes.
Soon, the figures of the old man and the young boy disappeared into the depths of the forest.