Ying Gui also realized that Zou Qiang's words were actually correct, instantly causing the easy-going expression to disappear from his face, as it was quickly replaced with a serious one.
Of course, as a rank 1 Spirit realm cultivator and someone who didn't even know a single martial skill, there was no way that Ying Gui could do anything but rely on the strength of his guards, as well as the young man who had come to support him from the Holy sect.
Turning his head to look at Shun Long, he noticed that the look on his face was serious as well, but thankfully he didn't seem afraid like his guards, causing Ying Gui to relax a bit as well.
At the same time, Zou Qiang turned around, and ignoring both Shun Long and Ying Gui, he looked at his subordinates that were still in defensive positions to protect the carriages and said in a serious voice
''In approximately 4 hours we will reach the 'Flame Lion's' canyon. As long as we manage to cross the canyon safely, Yanzhu city will only be half a day's journey away!''
The guards all nodded with solemn expressions on their faces, as they kept staring at their surroundings vigilantly.
..
Indeed, before the 4-hour mark was crossed, Shun Long who was still sitting on top of the second carriage saw a large canyon appearing in the distance in front of them, before Ying Gui's serious voice sounded a moment later as he explained seriously
''Young master Shun Long, we have almost reached the 'Flame Lion's' canyon. This is the most dangerous place that we have to cross to reach Yanzhu city, as there are many powerful magic beasts living inside the canyon.
Of course, even though there are also rumors of a rank 6 'Flame Lion' living inside the canyon, they are most likely just rumors in the end, as very few people claimed to have truly seen it.
The biggest danger in this canyon is actually the early rank 5 and middle rank 5 magic beasts that may attack us at any moment.
Although the guards will probably be able to handle 1 or 2 early rank 5 magic beasts without any problems, if a middle rank 5 magic beast ends up attacking us, I hope that you can join hands with Zou Qiang and protect me.''
Shun Long thought seriously for a moment upon hearing Ying Gui's request before he eventually nodded his head.
After all, the point of the mission was to protect Ying Gui's caravan.
Although hunting down a middle rank 5 magic beast would be normally considered a D-rank faction mission and not a personal mission based on the Holy sect's rankings, as more than one rank 6 Nascent Soul stage cultivators were normally required to kill a middle rank 5 magic beast, Ying Gui didn't ask Shun Long to hunt the magic beast down if it appeared but simply protect him and his caravan.
Shun Long wasn't certain if he could hunt down a middle rank 5 magic beast by himself, but he was actually eager to fight one and test his current limits, after enhancing his 21 qi balls and breaking through to the early fifth stage of his 'Monarch's Eternal body' as well.
It was too bad that Zou Qiang's expression turned extremely ugly when he remembered that aside from being ambushed by their enemies, he would also have to be wary of the magic beasts inside the canyon, while a look of scorn had also appeared on his face at the same time when he saw Shun Long accepting Ying Gui's request to help him while he thought to himself in a mocking tone
''Let's see how you intend to help me if a middle rank 5 magic beast really attacks us with your cultivation at the early rank 3 of the Nascent Soul!''
As this thought appeared in his mind, Zou Qiang turned around and looked at the rest of his troops with a serious expression, certain that at least one-third of them would die if they were really unlucky enough to face a magic beast of that level.
At the same time, the look in Shun Long's eyes had turned more serious when he heard that a rank 6 'Flame Lion' was actually living inside the canyon, and that this was where the canyon took its name from.
Although Shun Long may not be afraid of middle rank 5 magic beasts, he knew that the 'Flame Lion' was a completely different level of magic beast!
Every single 'Flame Lion' would always reach at least the middle of rank 6 upon reaching adulthood, while the powerful ones may even reach the peak of rank 6!
That level had already exceeded even Little Silver's level, and even rank 9 Dao Kings may not be able to subdue such a magic beast!
Shun Long would never try to fight against such a terrifying magic beast with his cultivation at the early rank 3 of the Nascent Soul, especially when Little Black was still asleep.
Staring at the carriages that had almost reached the entrance of the canyon by now, he looked at the look on Ying Gui's face that was growing more solemn by the second before Shun Long actually heard a guard by his side asking
''Boss, is this the only path available to reach Yanzhu city?''
Although most of the guards had followed Zou Qiang for many years, some of them were still new and had to replace the position of the guards who had died in other missions. It was obvious that this guard was going to Yanzhu city for the first time as well.
Shun Long however was also curious about this, since he didn't know if there was no other way to get to their destination or if Ying Gui was simply following the shortest path to get there.
Shaking his head, the rank 1 Spirit realm merchant had a pained look on his face as he looked at the young guard whose cultivation was a full major stage above him, at the peak of rank 1 in the Nascent Soul, before he answered seriously
''Although the 'Flame Lion's' canyon is extremely dangerous to cross, for any merchant who wants to arrive in Yanzhu city quickly there is actually no other way but to pass through it.
We could take the long way around to reach Yanzhu city, but doing so would mean that our journey would be delayed by at least half a month!''
As Ying Gui finished his explanation half the guards looked at him with furious looks in their eyes, while at the same time, the carriages also started to enter the canyon's entrance one by one.