He smirked, “I know a little bit of quite a lot of things, but yes, I have learned both Swordsmanship and Spearsmanship.”
Han Qingyu approached as well, her silver eyes shining with awe. “You handled those Shades effortlessly. And a spear is not even your main weapon, I can’t help but think how strong you really are.”
“I also wonder how strong I really am.” He chuckled while looking at the forest ahead, “Let’s keep moving. The exit should be close now.”
The trio continued through the forest, their journey interrupted occasionally by smaller groups of Mist Shades.
Each time, Shen Yuan decimated them with Tyrant’s Wrath, despite the restrictions placed upon it, its power was evident from the slaughter it committed.
…
After what felt like hours, the eerie mist began to thin, and the dense canopy of trees parted to give way for a clearer path.
The faint glow of moonlight filtered through the trees, signaling that they were nearing the edge of the forest.
Finally, they emerged from the misty forest, stepping onto a wide, open plain bathed in the soft light of dawn.
The air felt lighter, and the faint hum of Thunder Qi that had filled the forest was now gone.
“We made it,” Wan Ling said with a sigh of relief, lowering her sword. “Finally.”
Han Qingyu stretched her arms, her silver hair glinting in the morning light. “It’s good to be out of that place. The Mist Shades were getting on my nerves.”
Shen Yuan smiled faintly and, with a flick of his wrist, the trio’s horses appeared, their sleek forms unharmed after being stored in the Beast Companion Space.
“Let’s not waste time anylonger now,” Shen Yuan said, mounting his Northern Wind Horse. “The Volcanic Fire Region is still a long journey from here.”
Han Qingyu and Wan Ling nodded, quickly mounting their horses and following Shen Yuan as he led the way across the plains.
Shen Yuan looked at the rising sun, “Volcanic Fire Region huh… let’s see if it can give me a surprise as grand as my Tyrant’s Wrath spear.”
The tattoo on his shoulder pulsed as if disdaining even the mere idea of finding something of its level in this barren place.
‘Haha, no need to look down on this place, it has quite a lot of good stuff, just look at yourself.’ Shen Yuan internally sent a message to the spear before continuing on his way.
…
Continue your adventure with empire
The trio continued onward, the cool air of the plains gradually becoming a dry, heated breeze. The horizon shimmered with waves of heat, and the faint outlines of volcanoes loomed in the distance like dormant giants slumbering.
The atmosphere grew heated with each step closer to the Volcanic Fire Region.
Shen Yuan, riding at the front, squinted at the distant peaks. “It seems we’re approaching the outskirts of the region. The environment is already changing.”
Wan Ling rode up beside him, her cheeks slightly flushed from the heat. “The air here feels so different. It’s heavier, like there’s fire energy permeating everything.”
Han Qingyu looked refreshed, as she said with a smile, “This heat is amazing. I can feel the Fire Qi growing thicker with each mile.”
Shen Yuan glanced back at them with a faint smile. “The Volcanic Fire Region is known for its extreme conditions. It’s said that only cultivators with high tolerance to fire or those with a fire affinity can survive here for extended periods.”
Han Qingyu raised an eyebrow. “And what about Wan Ling?”
Shen Yuan chuckled. “I will take care of her. Besides, she will adapt quickly once we’re inside.”
Wan Ling confidently nodded her head despite her flushed cheeks.
As they continued, the terrain began to change. The lush greenery of the plains transformed into rocky, barren land, and the air grew hotter with every passing moment.
Shen Yuan slowed his horse and glanced back at the two of them.
“We’re close now. It’s time to prepare,” he said before flicking his wrist. The three horses disappeared into his Beast Companion Space, leaving the group falling for a short second.
Han Qingyu and Wan Ling dismounted gracefully, their expressions turning serious as they adjusted their gear and prepared for the challenges ahead.
Wan Ling glanced at Shen Yuan, who stood at the edge of the fire region, his gaze fixed on the distant volcanoes. “Senior Brother, do you know what we’ll encounter here?”
Shen Yuan nodded his head. “The Volcanic Fire Region is full of opportunities and dangers. The heat alone is a natural barrier for most normal cultivators to stay away, but there are also fire beasts, rogue cultivators, and treacherous terrain to deal with.”
Han Qingyu gripped her spear tightly. “And what are we looking for here? Another treasure?”
Shen Yuan smirked. “Not just any treasure. The Volcanic Fire Region is rumored to have rare Fire Essence Orbs, which can enhance cultivation techniques and refine weapons. But that’s just one of many possibilities of what we can find here.”
Wan Ling’s eyes sparkled. “Flame Essence Crystals… If we can find some, it would be a huge boon.”
Shen Yuan nodded. “Exactly. But don’t get too excited. The closer we get to the volcanic cores, the more dangerous it will become. Stick close to me.”
The group stepped into the fire region, their boots crunching against the scorched ground.
The heat was oppressive, waves of it rising from the earth and distorting the air around them. Despite the harsh conditions, Shen Yuan’s expression remained calm, his own fire affinity shielding him from the worst of the heat.
Wan Ling followed suit, using her own Qi to form a protective barrier. Even so, beads of sweat formed on her forehead as she adjusted to the rising temperatures.
On the other hand, Han Qingyu walked normally due to her high Fire Affinity that she got due to her Azure Phoenix Physique.
Wan Ling glanced at Han Qingyu, her eyes subtly flashing with a hint of jealousy at Han Qingyu’s talent.
Shen Yuan’s sharp gaze noticed it as he smiled, but he didn’t comment on it as he had prepared something special for her in this place.
As they ventured deeper into the region, the ground beneath their feet became uneven, with cracks revealing molten lava bubbling below.
The sound of distant eruptions echoed through the air, and the faint glow of magma lit up the landscape beautifully in fiery hues.
Shen Yuan closely observed the area, looking for any possible danger, “Be on guard. Anything can attack you here, the beasts might be below the rock or in the lava.”
Just as he finished speaking, a low growl rumbled from behind a cluster of jagged rocks. The trio stopped in their tracks, their senses heightened as they sensed some movement.
From behind the rocks emerged a pack of flame hounds, their bodies made up of flickering flames and their eyes glowed like molten lava. All of them were in the Origin Core Creation Realm.
The largest of the pack, a Flaming Alpha, snarled at the intruders in his territory, its fiery mane softly burning. The Alpha was at the late stage of the Origin Core Creation Realm.