The outside world is undoubtedly the most dangerous place a person can venture.

  Demon beasts, poisonous creatures, treacherous terrain, and unpredictable weather—any one of these could cost someone their life, no matter how strong they were.

  Even the Legend Rank expert lord Ye Mo once said he would have preferred to remain in Glory City and retire as a carefree Grand Elder.

  But he feared the city would one day be overrun by demon beasts.

  Because of that, he had no other choice but to brave the outside world in search of treasures that might increase Glory City's chances of survival.

  Given that, it was no surprise that many experts—even those just a step below lord Ye Mo in strength—did not dare to stray too far from the city.

  They all knew that beyond its walls, a single misstep could lead to disaster… and death.

  And yet, here was Chen Zhenlong, in the outside world, far from the safety of Glory City.

  He sat cross-legged on a patch of lush green grass before a crackling campfire, a bowl of soup in one hand and a skewer of grilled meat in the other. Beside him sat two small children, eating happily as they chattered about the breathtaking sight they had witnessed earlier: a colossal mountain whose peak pierced the clouds. Most astonishing of all was the gigantic sword embedded in its side.

  "That sword could cover half of Glory City!" Chen Linlin exclaimed enthusiastically. She had been in high spirits ever since the three of them first laid eyes on the spectacle.

  "No way," the boy replied, shaking his head. "It's enormous, sure—but at most it could cover the entire southern district."

  The one arguing with her was Xue Hui—the peculiar little boy who had taken it upon himself to guide them on this journey.

  Despite the boy's assurances that he would lead them along the safest paths, Chen Zhenlong had long since prepared himself for brutal encounters with demon beasts at every turn.

  After all, the outside world had long since fallen under the dominion of demon beasts. Every stretch of land beyond the city walls was ruled by a powerful demon beast and its horde. It would not have surprised him in the least to run into dozens of them in each territory they crossed.

  And yet, the boy had proven himself to be surprisingly crafty.

  Before setting out for the outside world, Xue Hui had made a request.

  He asked Chen Zhenlong for access to the family's resources—permission to enter the treasury and take whatever items he deemed necessary.

  The treasury of a major family was not a place just anyone could enter, especially not an ordinary boy like Xue Hui. The Divine Family had stood in Glory City for generations; over the years, countless treasures had been accumulated within its vaults.

  Xue Hui was certain that hidden among them were overlooked gems.

  Rare herbs. Weapons and armor. Battle and enchantment scrolls. And, more importantly, strange and unidentified items whose purposes even the Divine Family did not fully understand.

  He wanted to examine everything and take whatever might prove useful on their journey.

  Chen Zhenlong understood the boy's intentions. Before venturing into the wilderness, Xue Hui wanted as many trump cards as possible.

  So he agreed.

  He personally brought Xue Hui to the family treasury and allowed him to choose what he needed. Chen Zhenlong watched as the selected items disappeared one after another into the boy's interspatial ring. At the time, he knew they might come in handy—but he hadn't fully grasped just how invaluable they would become.

  More than once, those very items had saved them from dangerous confrontations with demon beasts.

  First, there was the Demon Concealing Lamp—one of the treasury's many so-called "broken" artifacts.

  Xue Hui picked it up and calmly explained its function. It wasn't useless, nor was it truly broken; it was merely missing a few components. After giving a brief explanation, he unceremoniously tossed the lamp into his interspatial ring, intending to repair it later and bring it along with them.

  Then he continued searching the treasury.

  At one corner sat a box filled with grape-sized stones, each engraved with intricate enchantment patterns. To the Divine Family, they were little more than curiosities. But Xue Hui immediately recognized them for what they were—talisman stones.

  By injecting a thread of soul force into them, the stones would emit a faint glow. When thrown near a demon beast, the light would draw the creature's attention like a moth to a flame, luring it into a brief trance-like state. It was an effective tool for diversion—perfect for redirecting a demon beast's focus without direct confrontation.

  There was also a compass capable of detecting powerful demonic auras ahead, warning its user before danger came into sight.

  Most of the items Xue Hui selected were geared toward evasion rather than combat. He preferred to avoid unnecessary battles whenever possible. Still, he had mentioned that if circumstances demanded it, he would bring out defensive artifacts as well.

  More surprising, however, was how certain the boy seemed about their route. He appeared to know instinctively which paths were safe and which were not.

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  As a result, two months into their journey—hundreds of kilometers away from Glory City—they had yet to encounter a truly life-threatening situation.

  Chen Zhenlong could only hope their fortune would continue like that.

  "So, Hui-Hui, how far are we from the Wu Zhen Yi Ruins?"

  As Chen Zhenlong spoke, he watched his daughter eat without the slightest concern for the grease staining her cheeks. Smiling faintly, he took out a cloth and gently wiped her face clean.

  It was almost amusing. The little girl had eaten more during this journey than she ever had back at the mansion. Seeing Chen Linlin greedily chomping on grilled meat was not something he would have expected—especially not on an expedition fraught with danger.

  And yet, despite the countless threats lurking beyond the city walls, this journey had somehow become a refreshing experience for her.

  "We're almost there," Xue Hui replied. "See those hills covered in red flowers?"

  He pointed toward a stretch of rolling hills blanketed in a sea of crimson blossoms, their color so vivid it looked as though the earth itself had been dyed red.

  "Beyond those hills lies the territory of the Wu Zhen Yi Ruins. Once we arrive, I'll retrieve the treasure we came for—and use it to heal your illness."

  Both father and daughter froze at his words.

  That was right.

  This journey had never been about adventure.

  It has always been about Chen Linlin.

  Two months had passed—two months of danger, tension, and narrow escapes. And now, they were only a few hills away from achieving their first true goal.

  For Chen Zhenlong, it meant finally removing the poison that had tormented his little girl for two long years.

  For Chen Linlin, it meant casting aside the shadow of a bleak and uncertain future.

  Excitement surged in both their hearts. Chen Zhenlong rose from his seat and turned his gaze toward the distant hills.

  "Then what are we waiting for? Let's head over there already," Chen Zhenlong said, unable to hide the eagerness in his voice.

  "Not until the Crimson-Soaked Lilies are in full bloom," Xue Hui replied calmly.

  At his answer, both father and daughter slumped in disappointment.

  They had traveled with Xue Hui long enough to understand one thing clearly—ignoring his guidance was the fastest way to invite disaster.

  "So… we just wait for them to wither?" Chen Linlin asked softly, her eyes fixed on the vast sea of crimson flowers. Those blossoms were the only thing standing between her and the chance to reclaim her life.

  Xue Hui shook his head. Rising to his feet, he brushed the dirt from his pants. The subtle movement made both father and daughter look at him expectantly.

  They knew that look.

  He had already thought of something.

  "It would take at least three to four months for the Crimson-Soaked Lilies to wither," Xue Hui said, glancing thoughtfully at his interspatial ring.

  "We can't wait that long," Chen Zhenlong replied immediately, and Chen Linlin nodded in agreement.

  "But we can't disturb them either," Xue Hui continued. "If we do, the flowers will release nerve-attacking spores. Once those spores enter the body, the pain will feel as though your insides are being burned"

  Father and daughter instinctively turned to stare at the sea of red once more. The beautiful blossoms no longer looked so inviting.

  "So what do we do?" Chen Zhenlong asked, scanning both ends of the seemingly endless field. Even from a distance, he could tell the Crimson-Soaked Lilies stretched across the entire span of the hills.

  "Are we supposed to walk around them?"

  "Nope. Those directions are far too dangerous. This is the only safe path," Xue Hui said firmly.

  Before either of them could ask what he meant, he reached into his interspatial ring and pulled out a shovel—followed by several large buckets.

  Turning to the older man, Xue Hui gave a sheepish smile and handed him the shovel.

  Chen Zhenlong caught it instinctively, staring at the tool in confusion before looking back at the boy.

  "The only way forward… is to make one," Xue Hui said with a light chuckle. "Lord Patriarch, with your strength, it should only take about five days to dig a tunnel straight to the Wu Zhen Yi Ruins."

  "YOU—!"

  Five days later.

  On the far side of the Crimson-Soaked Lily hills, near the outskirts of the Wu Zhen Yi Ruins, the steady clang of metal striking hardened earth echoed through the air. The rhythmic pounding startled nearby birds and small beasts, sending them scattering into hiding.

  Along the side of one hill, a crack spread across the surface. Dirt crumbled away as the fissure widened, chunks of soil tumbling down and slowly revealing the outline of a tunnel.

  THUD! Rrrrumble—

  With one final powerful swing, Chen Zhenlong shattered the last wall of packed earth blocking their way. Sunlight poured through the opening, bathing him and the two children behind him in warm golden rays.

  The tunnel was complete.

  Just as Xue Hui had estimated, it had taken Chen Zhenlong five full days to dig a passage through the hills blanketed in Crimson-Soaked Lilies.

  At last, the Wu Zhen Yi Ruins lay before them.

  Gone was his usual dignified patriarch appearance—no immaculate robes, no perfectly groomed hair. His face was smeared with dirt and sweat, and his clothes were caked in dust. The pickaxe in his hand suited his current state far better than any weapon he ever had.

  Raising an arm to shield his eyes from the sudden sunlight, Chen Zhenlong stepped out of the tunnel, unable to suppress the excitement swelling in his chest.

  Five days underground.

  Five days of digging, shoveling, and hauling soil to the rear of the tunnel.

  It had tested the limits of his patience. Since when has the patriarch of a major family a Black Gold rank Demon Spiritualist been reduced to digging tunnels like a common laborer?

  It wasn't that he disrespected honest work. Far from it. But such tasks were never meant for someone of his status and strength. Under normal circumstances, he would never have imagined himself doing something like this.

  And yet, on this journey, he had done it without hesitation.

  All for his daughter.

  He wasn't complaining. If anything, he simply found the situation absurd.

  Still, he had to admit—Xue Hui's idea had proven to be the safer option.

  On the second day of digging, while taking a short break inside the tunnel, the three of them had felt a distant tremor of heavy footsteps.

  A group of powerful demon beasts had approached the Crimson-Soaked Lily hills.

  Even from underground, Chen Zhenlong could sense their overwhelming auras. If they had attempted to cross the hills directly, they would have been forced into a dangerous confrontation—or worse, trapped between the beasts and the poisonous flowers.

  Remembering that moment, Chen Zhenlong let out a relieve breath.

  As ridiculous as it had felt, digging through the hills had spared them from a far greater danger.

  From the echoes of their roars alone, Xue Hui quickly reached a conclusion.

  "A group of Silver to Gold rank demon beasts," he said quietly. "They're fighting each other… and getting pushed in this direction"

  The moment he finished speaking, he sprang into action.

  Using the loose soil Chen Zhenlong had already excavated, Xue Hui swiftly sealed the tunnel entrance, concealing them completely—from both the demon beasts and the Crimson-Soaked Lily spores.

  "If they keep forcing each other toward the hilltop," he warned, "the flowers will be triggered."

  He then explained the danger in full. If the lilies were disturbed on a large scale, the entire area could be blanketed in a dense cloud of nerve-attacking spores. Once that happened, the only safe option would be to remain underground until the wind carried the spores elsewhere.

  And just as he had predicted, it happened.

  The outside world erupted into a chorus of agonized howls and miserable shrieks.

  The demon beasts' cries were so loud that even deep within the tunnel, the trio could hear them clearly.

  Chen Linlin instinctively clutched her father's sleeve. Even Chen Zhenlong felt a chill run down his spine—not from fear of the beasts, but from the terrifying thought that the tunnel might collapse under the chaos above.

  It wasn't only the initial group of demon beast that suffered.

  Every creature within the vast sea of crimson flowers was caught in the spreading cloud of spores. The air itself had become dangerous.

  Xue Hui calmly explained that while the spores were not lethal, the pain they inflicted was overwhelming—so intense that even a Black Gold rank Demon Spiritualist would be rendered helpless under their effects.

  Away from those spores, Chen Zhenlong could not help but feel a lingering sense of relief.

  Digging a tunnel for five days suddenly seemed far less ridiculous.

  No wonder Xue Hui had chosen to dig beneath the hills rather than walk around them or attempt to leap across. One careless mistake, and the three of them would have been trapped in a sea of nerve-burning spores with no escape.

  Fortunately, the chaos above had died down the day after Chen Zhenlong completed the tunnel into the Wu Zhen Yi territory.

  And he had done it almost entirely on his own.

  Though Xue Hui occasionally helped during breaks, the boy's current physical strength was far too limited to make significant progress. Compared to what Chen Zhenlong could accomplish with a single swing, Xue Hui's efforts barely carved out any distance at all.

  Still, it seemed the boy hadn't been digging for efficiency. He had likely taken up the shovel to temper his body.

  In terms of raw physical strength, Xue Hui lagged far behind the power of his soul force.

  So while it wasn't wrong to say he had participated in digging the tunnel, the truth remained—Chen Zhenlong, a dignified Black Gold rank Demon Spiritualist and patriarch of a major family, had been the true laborer.

  And that fact left him feeling slightly depressed.

  "Are those the ruins!?"

  His thoughts were interrupted by his daughter's excited voice.

  Chen Linlin peeked her head out from the Fuzhuang box strapped securely to Xue Hui's back. The box looked comically large against the boy's smaller frame, yet he carried it effortlessly, his Three-Star Bronze rank strength more than sufficient for the task.

  "Yep! We're here," Xue Hui replied.

  Ahead of them stood towering stone columns—the only structures still standing after centuries of destruction and decay. Time had reduced the once-glorious site to little more than scattered remnants, but even in ruin, it exuded a sense of ancient majesty.

  Unable to contain his excitement, Xue Hui broke into a run toward the crumbling structures, Chen Linlin laughing as she bounced lightly in the box on his back.

  Watching the two children rush ahead, Chen Zhenlong pushed aside his lingering thoughts about dignity and appearances. There would be time to clean himself up later.

  For now, he simply ran after them.

  End of Chapter 17