Region Number 23, near Bloodfiend Stream
Huang Ling looked at Li Yuxong and asked, puzzled, "What happened to him?"
Li Yuxong explained, "His soul is injured and somehow his Spiritual Imprint is damaged. Now he can't use his Spiritual Imprint, and he can't even sense his own soul."
Huang Ling's face turned serious. "A damaged Spiritual Imprint is not easy to heal."
Li Yuxong's eyes brightened with a hint of excitement. "Do you happen to know how to cure it? Is there a way to get his Spiritual Imprint back?"
Huang Ling met his gaze and said gravely, "There is only one way I know. But it is not easy, even for kings."
Li Yuxong was immediately moved. "Can you tell me the method?"
Huang Ling nodded, but warned, "It is not easy. Listen carefully. First, forcefully remove the damaged Spiritual Imprint and heal the injured soul. Then use Heaven-and-Earth treasures to allow him to sense his soul."
Li Yuxong's face changed, but he pressed on. "How can that be achieved, and what treasures are required?"
Huang Ling replied, "Since he is only at rank 2 peak, you can use a grade-3 Purification Fern to completely eliminate the damaged Spiritual Imprint."
She paused, then continued in a low voice, "Then use a grade-3 Tranquil Lotus on him; it will allow his soul to heal. But he will no longer be able to cultivate his Soul—without a Spiritual Imprint, he cannot sense the existence of his own soul."
Li Yuxong asked, "Is there no way to let him continue Soul cultivation? Without it, even if he has Warrior Cultivation, he'd be extremely vulnerable against opponents!"
You have to know, Soul serves special purpose in the battle. It enhances your reflexes corresponding to your battle strength. You would get ideal battle strength only when your Soul Cultivation and Body Cultivation are at the same level.
Huang Ling looked at him. "There is a way. Use a Heavenly Lotus grade 7 on him; that would let him sense his soul even without a Spiritual Imprint. Although it can't give him a new Spiritual Imprint, it would allow him to continue cultivating his soul. But Heavenly Lotus is not easy to find. There are rumors that one exists in a Forbidden Area on the Northern Continent. It is also said that the Celestial Sect of the Central Continent possesses a Heavenly Lotus. That's all I know."
Li Yuxong turned to Ren Ying. "I promise you, I will definitely get the Heavenly Lotus and help your injured soul recover!"
Ren Ying, face sorrowful, replied, "You don't have to."
Huang Ling warned Li Yuxong, "I would advise you to give up that thought. It is better to heal his soul only. Even if he can't cultivate Soul, he can still cultivate his body."
Ren Ying nodded in agreement. "She's right."
Li Yuxong remained stubborn. "No. I will help him. We've been through life and death together—how can I abandon him?"
Huang Ling subconsciously smiled at his righteousness. "Fine. I'll help you, too. But before that, we have to get this inheritance. Only by becoming stronger can you help him."
Ren Ying hesitated. Li Yuxong patted his shoulder and nodded at him. Ren Ying sighed, as if resigning himself to fate.
Huang Ling looked at them and suddenly said, "I know of a place—Region 9. I felt some danger when I sensed it, so I didn't explore much. But I can feel something there that might be related to Souls. We can start by searching that area. All three of us need Soul-type resources now. My Soul is still rank 5 peak; I must advance to match my Warrior Cultivation. Yuxong just reached rank 4 in Warrior, and he needs to advance his soul. Ren Ying also needs to try his luck. There are many treasures that can temporarily resolve his situation."
Ren Ying asked, "Are you an alchemist?"
Huang Ling nodded. "Grade 5 peak, and I might reach Grade 6 once I upgrade my soul cultivation."
Ren Ying looked at her and nodded.
Huang Ling then turned to the two of them. "We will start this evening. Be prepared."
Li Yuxong checked the map and, surprised, confirmed, "Is it really Region 9? Are you sure?"
This whole small world covers around a million miles, so even traveling from one side to the other can take months. Region 9 is located a few hundred miles away from the Shadow Phoenix faction. To reach it they would have to take a detour, avoiding the Thunder Peak faction at the rightmost part of the bottom of the map, then circle around the center point of the small world to reach the upper part of the map where the Shadow Phoenix sect sits at the leftmost side. They wouldn't have to go all the way to the Shadow Phoenix faction, but they would pass near Region 9 before that.
Regions 1–10 lie between the Shadow Phoenix faction and the Thunder Peak faction.
Region 9 is about 700,000 miles from Region 23, and it would take around six to seven months to reach if they traveled continuously. But people—even Warriors—often grow exhausted. There are many downstream paths from the center to the peripheries, but none that can help them reach Region 9 directly from the center; besides, they are too far from the central region.
Huang Ling took out one of her Space Rings and murmured, "Come out!"
Suddenly, a huge twenty-foot beast appeared in front of them.
Li Yuxong said in surprise, "You're a beastmaster?"
Huang Ling denied it. "I'm not a beastmaster, but my master gifted me this Whirlwind Eagle as my protector when I came for the inheritance. It has a battle strength of rank 6 peak and can fly long distances with ease. With it, we can shorten our journey to one month!"
Li Yuxong realized immediately. "If we move by land, we'd have to take many detours through forested regions. But if we travel the wind path, the distance is shortened to around 300,000 miles!"
Huang Ling nodded.
That evening they packed and set out. It was Li Yuxong's first time traveling by air.
The Eagle made a loud screech and took off. Huang Ling rode at the front, followed by Li Yuxong and Ren Ying.
Li Yuxong subconsciously grabbed Huang Ling's waist when he lost his balance. Ren Ying lay on the Eagle's back to avoid balance issues.
Eighteen days later, above Region 7
On their journey they suddenly encountered another rank-6 mid-stage beast: a Cloud Serpent, known for hiding within the clouds and attacking deviously.
Because of the snake's sneak attack, the Whirlwind Eagle was seriously injured and began to fall. Huang Ling immediately took control and helped Li Yuxong and Ren Ying remain on its back.
As the Eagle started descending toward land, the Cloud Serpent launched another attack. The Whirlwind Eagle was already wounded and was carrying them, so it was unable to retaliate. It immediately fell into a dilemma.
Huang Ling patted its head to calm it, then looked at the Serpent with raging eyes.
She shouted, "Spiritual Imprint: Divine Phoenix!"
A huge red shadow appeared behind her with a heavy, imposing aura that immediately suppressed the Serpent.
The Cloud Serpent sensed the danger and tried to escape, but Huang Ling didn't allow it. "If you attack, be ready to be attacked."
"Infernal Beam!"
A blue beam shot from the shadow and burned the Cloud Serpent to ashes, not even leaving its core.
Ren Ying's eyes deepened. At least rank 6 peak battle prowess. "Such a legendary Phoenix—when did such strength become so easy to find?"
In truth, Huang Ling is an exception; the level of talent she possesses can be counted on one hand across the entire Divine Spirit Continent.
Soon the Eagle landed. Huang Ling tended to it, then looked at Ren Ying with cold eyes.
"If this gets out, I will make sure you die a terrible death."
Li Yuxong defended Ren Ying immediately. "You don't have to worry—he's not that kind of person. I think you already know that."
Huang Ling looked at Li Yuxong and was silent.
Ren Ying looked around and said cautiously, "It's better to camp here for the night. When the Eagle recovers, we can restart our journey."
Huang Ling responded heavily, "We will go on our own from now on. It's injured, and we can no longer travel with it. Anyway, we've already bypassed most of the detours. It's not much further. We'll reach our destination within a month."
Ren Ying nodded and thought inwardly, Why is she so grudging with me? Did she realize?
At that moment, a few Rank-5 and Rank-4 Warriors surrounded them. They were from the Spirit Dragon faction.
Huang Ling glared at Ren Ying. "Was it you? It was your idea to go through Region 7!"
Li Yuxong frowned, put Ren Ying behind him, and confronted her. "You don't have to be so suspicious. We've traveled together for a long time, and I know Brother Ren very well. Before blaming him, we have to figure out how to deal with them."
Huang Ling opened her mouth to speak, but a black knife suddenly pierced Li Yuxong from the back, catching him off guard.
Li Yuxong looked back at Ren Ying, shock and quivering lips on his face. "W-why?"