It was noon by the time Ishin and Zhu Rhee finally passed through the Northern Gate. By then, Ishin was eager to set his eyes on the dangerous forest Zhu Rhee had told him about. His first thought upon exiting the city was that there was no entry line of new arrivals like there had been when he’d first entered the Eastern Gate months before. His second thought was awe at the vast, verdant landscape before him.

  As Zhu Rhee had said, the Howling Scape Forest was nearly endless in size. Towering evergreens and pine trees stretched in all directions, their canopies forming an emerald ceiling. Specks of sunlight that managed to reach the forest bed provided a dim illumination, revealing lush grass, thick brush, and occasional moss-covered stones.

  Accompanying the green and shadowed forestry was an unusual silence. Out on the Nine Striped Hills, the continuous sound of blowing wind, the rustle of grass, and the chirping of birds had always filled the air. Here, there was only quiet.

  “Is it always this… quiet?” Ishin asked as they walked away from the gate.

  “From what I’ve heard. Most of the animals stay away from the city walls. My uncle explored the forest for three months once. It’s why our school has such a detailed map of the immediate surrounding area. He said the further in you go, the more prominent the spirit beasts become.” Her voice brightened. “He even told us he saw a Merit Realm black scale bear deep within the forest once.”

  Ishin had never heard of a black scale bear before, but any spirit beast in the Merit Realm would be formidable. In general, spirit beasts were naturally stronger than humans. If a cultivator encountered a spirit beast of the same realm, the beast usually had the advantage—especially if it had gained awareness.

  “Think we’ll encounter one of those while we’re here?” He began scanning the forest with far more caution. How hard would it be to flee a Merit Realm spirit beast? Probably very.

  Zhu Rhee shook her head, her raven-black hair swaying with the motion. “We shouldn’t where we’re going.” She removed her pack and pulled out a rolled parchment. Once the pack was back in place, she unfurled the map and showed it to Ishin. “We are going here,” she said, pointing to an oval-shaped boundary drawn in red chalk.

  Ishin recognized the mark reflecting the Northern Gate. Using that as reference, the region they needed to reach wasn’t too far. They’d have to cross a stream and a separate triangular-shaped region marked in blue chalk, but if he was reading it right, they would arrive by nightfall.

  “What’s this region?” he asked, pointing to the blue triangle.

  “That’s the breeding ground for the jade foot rabbits. They’re typically unhostile as long as we don’t disturb their warrens. Most are in the lower Initial Realm.”

  Same as me.

  “What about the thunder horned wolves? Are they in the lower Initial Realm too?”

  Zhu Rhee gave him a dumbfounded look. “Now you ask about that? After we’re already out here?”

  “Yes,” Ishin replied, a little sheepishly.

  She sighed. “As their name suggests, thunder horned wolves have lightning and thunder-aspected qi. Two types of qi.”

  “So they’ll be at the Adept Realm.” She could have just said so. But a more concerning issue surfaced. “How are we supposed to hunt Adept Realm spirit beasts?” I hope coming out here wasn’t a mistake. Two Initial Realm cultivators would be no match for an Adept Realm spirit beast. I’m not interested in dying—not when I still have so much to accomplish.

  “Only some,” Zhu Rhee said, clearly catching the worry in his tone. “We won’t fight the adults. We’re targeting the cubs. They should all be in the lower Initial Realm.”

  “You want us to hunt their babies?” Ishin understood the practicality, but it didn’t sit right. It’s like when I watched Mother kill the sun tiger cubs back in the Nine Striped Hills.

  Zhu Rhee rolled up the map and crossed her arms. “As opposed to hunting the Adept Realm adults, yes.”

  The two cultivators locked eyes. A familiar, aggressive part of Ishin stirred, eager to clash. He forced it down, annoyed by its growing presence. Instead, he focused on his goals: Find my clan. Avenge Mother. Spear Shore. The Hidden Ring.

  This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

  “Fine,” he eventually said, turning northwest. “How many do you think we need to kill?”

  “How close are you to the third layer?”

  “Not close at all.” He finally understood why the Daihu disciples spent years progressing from the second to third layer. And they had one of the eight primary qi elements. With lightning qi so sparse, he could be stuck at the second layer for half a decade.

  Zhu Rhee’s eyes drifted to his navel—using her third eye to inspect his chakra. “We’ll need more than I thought. At least fifteen. Maybe twenty.”

  “Twenty?” That was absurd. He thought they’d only need to kill half a dozen at most. “Senior Sister Zhu, how are we supposed to kill twenty thunder horned wolves in three days? How are we even going to carry all their chakras and pelts back?”

  “Not by complaining,” Zhu Rhee replied dryly.

  “Then how, Senior Sister?” Ishin gritted out.

  “Trust me,” she said, her smug smile returning. “All we have to do is kill the wolves, and I’ll take care of the rest.”

  Ishin still didn’t see how she could possibly solve their logistics problem, but decided not to argue. “Lead on, then, Senior Sister.”

  Zhu Rhee guided them deeper into the forest. It became immediately apparent when they entered the jade foot rabbits’ breeding ground. Green-furred creatures bounced across the underbrush without a care in the world. At first, Ishin thought it a miracle they hadn’t been hunted to extinction. Then he saw the sheer numbers. Hundreds—no, thousands. All between the first and third layer of the Initial Realm. Even an Adept Realm cultivator would be overwhelmed by their sheer numbers.

  “Watch your step,” Zhu Rhee called as she leapt over a shallow stream.

  Ishin followed, recognizing the terrain from the map. He glanced up. The sunlight had shifted from brilliant yellow to a deep orange. They must be getting close.

  Zhu Rhee raised a hand, signaling him to stop. She pulled out the map, studied it, then nodded. “We’re nearly there.” She packed the map away and scanned the canopy. “I think we’re still five miles from the wolves’ hunting grounds. We should set up camp here.”

  “Good call.” Ishin had no desire to sleep in the middle of a predator’s hunting territory. Even five miles felt a little close.

  They dropped their packs and unrolled their bedrolls. A fire was out of the question—they couldn’t afford to attract any wandering beasts. Instead, they sat in relative silence and ate a meal of moss rocks and water.

  “Do you mind telling me about the tournament?” Ishin asked, breaking the quiet.

  Zhu Rhee swallowed her bite of moss rock and coughed. “Did Hou Lei not fill you in?” she asked with a raspy voice, then took a drink of water.

  “He told me a little. About how the three big schools use it to compete and how sects recruit promising disciples. He also mentioned that it's a team event and individual duels come in the later phases.”

  “All true,” Zhu Rhee confirmed, her voice steady again. “It’s also a major event for Yellow Dome City. A full week of festivities accompanies it, and tourists from nearby cities and villages come to watch.” She leaned back, resting on her arms. “If one of our school’s disciples wins, it boosts our standing. The more prominent clans will send their younger members to join us instead of the other schools.”

  So there’s both reputation and profit involved. It made sense. Attracting talented juniors would create a cycle of future victories.

  “It would make my grandfather really happy too,” Zhu Rhee muttered, almost as an afterthought.

  “The Grandmaster?”

  “Hmm?” Her attention drifted back. “Oh, yes. Him.”

  Odd... but not going to press.

  “What about you?” Ishin asked, trying to shift to safer ground.

  Zhu Rhee blinked. “What about me?”

  “I know you want to win, but is that all? Just to increase your school’s prestige?”

  There was a long pause. When she answered, she leaned forward, tucking a loose strand of hair behind one ear. “I… want to join a sect.”

  That surprised him. “Really? Do you have one in mind?”

  “My family usually joins the Righteous Mantle Sect after leaving the school. But,” she glanced toward the dark canopy, “I’d like to join the Sea Farer Sect or maybe the Flame Devil Sect.” She shrugged. “It’d be interesting to go somewhere new. Somewhere people don’t see me as just a member of the Zhu Clan.”

  “I see.” Ishin genuinely understood. Back in the Daihu Tribe, he’d always been seen first as the son of the First Warrior. His desire to walk his own Immortal Path was part of why he stayed in Yellow Dome.

  “What about you?” Zhu Rhee asked. “You only joined our school to improve your cultivation. If you join the team, what will you do after the tournament?”

  “I’m not sure,” he admitted. I need strength. Maybe joining a sect is the path.

  “Radiant Spear Sect?” She nodded toward his spear.

  “Is their name that literal?” Ishin grimaced. He liked the spear, but worried about being pigeonholed.

  Zhu Rhee burst into laughter. “No. They train more than just the spear. But your face...” she giggled again.

  Despite himself, a grin tugged at his lips. This is nice. Like talking to a friend.

  “I’ll just wait to see what the Heavens have in store for me.”

  “Sometimes I wish the Heavens would reveal my Immortal Path too,” Zhu Rhee said. She looked up at the starry sky. “We should get some rest. We’ll start at sunrise tomorrow.”

  Ishin peered toward the northwest, where the thunder horned wolves awaited. “Understood. I’ll take first watch.”