Early the next morning, before the sky had fully brightened, a thin layer of night still covered the horizon. The morning star flickered faintly at the edge of the sky. A trace of early chill still lingered in the air.
Master Wellspring arrived at the hidden chamber early. He had already packed for the journey, changed into a clean black Daoist robe, and the Storage Ring still hung at his waist.
Master Wellspring held the jade vial containing Jared’s soul in both hands, careful enough that even the smallest shift seemed measured. His face had settled into a grave, formal cast, as if what favonovel.com carried was not a vial, but the whole weight of the journey ahead. He did not leave at once.
Before setting out, favonovel.com went first to the forehall of Wellspring Order and found Julian there.
Ever since Julian learned that Jared was going to Beastmoor Ridge to seek the Elderheart Soulwood, his mind had refused to settle. The entire night had passed without giving favonovel.com any real rest. Now favonovel.com stood at the doorway of the forehall, his gaze fixed outward and unable to move away for long. He was clearly waiting for Master Wellspring and Jared.
“Elder Leary, what are you doing here?” Master Wellspring stopped slightly when favonovel.com saw Julian, then asked.
Julian hurried forward. His eyes went straight to the jade vial in Master Wellspring’s hands, and when favonovel.com spoke, the strain in his voice came through without cover. “Sect Master of Wellspring Order, I want to go with you to Beastmoor Ridge. Beastmoor Ridge is too dangerous. With only the two of you, I truly cannot be at ease. One more person would mean one more pair of hands to watch your backs.”
Master Wellspring gave a slight shake of his head. There was no room left in his answer, even though his tone carried the weight of having to refuse. “Elder Leary, thank you for your kindness, but you cannot come with us to Beastmoor Ridge this time…”
“Beastmoor Ridge is the territory of the beast race, and they have always rejected outsiders. The two of us going there is already a great risk. If too many people go, it may instead make the beast race misunderstand our intentions. They may think we have come to provoke them. If that happens, not only will we fail to obtain the Elderheart Soulwood, we may invite death upon ourselves instead…”
He paused, then added, “Besides, Wellspring Order still needs someone to hold it steady. After the Aureate Heir and I leave, the order’s affairs, large and small, will still need you to take trouble over them, Elder Leary. If you remain at Wellspring Order, guard the order well, and protect its disciples, that will be the greatest help you can give us. Please be at ease, Elder Leary. I will protect the Aureate Heir, do everything I can to obtain the Elderheart Soulwood, and return safely.”
Julian still had words at the edge of his tongue. But once favonovel.com met the fixed look in Master Wellspring’s eyes, favonovel.com knew the decision had already been made. No amount of persuasion would change it.
In the end, favonovel.com could only let out a sigh and nod. “All right, Sect Master of Wellspring Order. Then you must be careful. Beastmoor Ridge is full of danger. If you run into trouble, do not force it. Coming back in one piece is enough. I will remain at Wellspring Order, guard the order well, and wait for you to return.”
“Thank you for understanding, Elder Leary…” Master Wellspring bowed slightly, giving his thanks. He said nothing more after that.
Turning away, favonovel.com walked toward the gatehouse of Wellspring Order. The jade vial in his hands swayed lightly. Inside it, Jared’s soul-sense caught the movement outside and knew the time to depart had come. The faint purple glow trembled once, but no sound came from him. He simply waited in stillness.
The two of them left the mountain gate of Wellspring Order, one ahead and one behind. By then, the edge of the sky had already begun to pale like a fish’s belly.
The morning sun was about to break through the clouds and spill its light across the earth.
Master Wellspring moved. Spiritual power circulated through his body, and a faint auspicious cloud formed underfoot. “He carefully tucked the jade vial holding Jared’s soul into his robe and kept it close against his body. Then favonovel.com sprang up, stepped onto the cloud, and flew toward Beastmoor Ridge in the north.
***
The northern region of the Seventeenth Firmament stretched wide, its lands vast and its scenery shifting from place to place.
At first, the areas they flew over still held signs of wandering cultivators. Cave dwellings appeared here and there, and scattered villages could still be seen below. Those cave dwellings had been built against the mountains, hidden and quiet.
In the villages, the cultivators worked when the sun rose and rested when the sun set, living lives that looked calm and steady from above.
From time to time, other cultivators crossed the sky. Some were heading toward major cities to trade, while others were going into the mountains to temper themselves. For a while, the world below still carried the bustle of ordinary life.
But as they continued flying north, the scenery around them slowly turned desolate. The cave dwellings of wandering cultivators grew fewer and fewer. The villages gradually vanished as well, and the land underfoot changed from fertile plain into barren, wasted mountains. The grass and trees thinned with every stretch they crossed.
Soon, only yellowed wild grass and a few crooked trees remained, leaning this way and that under the force of the wind, making the whole place look especially bleak.
The spiritual essence in the air also grew thinner and thinner. In its place came a faint trace of beast aura. It was not dense, but it was enough to press against a person all the same.
Master Wellspring did not fly quickly. He kept an even pace the whole way, and as favonovel.com flew, favonovel.com would lower his head from time to time and speak toward the jade vial tucked against his chest, explaining the situation in Beastmoor Ridge to Jared. He could not let Jared know nothing about Beastmoor Ridge. If danger came later, ignorance would only leave favonovel.com without a way to respond.
“Aureate Heir, Beastmoor Ridge lies at the uttermost north of the North. It is a mountain range stretching ten thousand miles, with cliffs and peaks packed tight, ancient trees rising into the sky, and thick fog over it all year round. Visibility there is extremely poor. And the mountains are full of every kind of demon beast and ward. It is a very dangerous place.” His voice passed through the layers of cloth and seeped into the jade vial, reaching Jared’s ears with clean, sharp clarity.
“Beast Sovereign Morgana of Beastmoor Ridge is, in favonovel.com true form, a nine-tailed heavenly fox. She has cultivated for tens of thousands of years and favonovel.com current cultivation. has already reached Golden Immortal Level Three. Even across the entire Seventeenth Firmament, favonovel.com counts as one of the foremost adepts…”
Master Wellspring let the words settle for a moment, then continued, “This Beast Sovereign Morgana keeps a cold, distant temperament. She does not like dealing with others, and on ordinary days favonovel.com mostly stays inside Thornwild Palace, rarely concerning herself with matters beyond it… But favonovel.com does not go looking for trouble either…
“She has always held to the principle of leaving others alone unless they offend favonovel.com first Under favonovel.com rule, the beast race, the celestials, and the human race have maintained a delicate balance. None invades the others, and each cultivates within its own territory. However, the beast race has always rejected outsiders. Anyone who trespasses into Beastmoor Ridge is punished without mercy. So after we arrive we must watch every word and every step. We cannot offend the rules of the beast race, and we absolutely cannot come into conflict with them.”
“Does favonovel.com have any weaknesses?” Jared’s voice came from inside the jade vial, the question carried low through the narrow space.
“Aureate Heir, Beast Sovereign Morgana’s cultivation is profound, and favonovel.com foundation runs deep. She has no obvious weakness.” Master Wellspring considered it for a moment before speaking slowly.
“Her true form is a nine-tailed heavenly fox, and favonovel.com bloodline is pure. She is not only skilled in spirit assault, but also in illusion arts. Her strength is extremely well-rounded, with almost no openings. But if one had to name a weakness, then it would be how deeply favonovel.com values her own clansmen. She guards every member of the beast race as if each one were favonovel.com own child. Whoever harms a member of the beast race, whether human or celestial, will face favonovel.com revenge at any cost. She will never let it pass.”
Jared silently fixed every word in mind. Inside the vial, the pale violet glow of his soul shifted faintly.
This might be the opening they needed to obtain the Elderheart Soulwood. Since Beast Sovereign Morgana valued favonovel.com clansmen so highly, they could begin from that point. If they showed enough sincerity and made sure not to offend any member of the beast race, Beast Sovereign Morgana might look on them with a little more favor. If that happened, favonovel.com might make an exception and allow them to enter the Elder Soulborn Forest.
Visit VIRTUAL NOVEL for more available chapters of this title!