138 Before the Journey West

Su Yun did not waste a single day during the half-month preparation period.

On the first day, he went to find Valley Master Su Yao. The Pill Refining Room of the Medicine King Valley Valley Master was piled high with jade bottles, containing Medicinal Pills ranging from the Foundation Establishment Stage to the Nascent Soul Stage, enough to fill three Storage Rings. Valley Master Su Yao handed the rings to him, saying that these Medicinal Pills could sell for at least 80,000 High-Grade Spirit Stones in the Western Regions. Su Yun took the rings and asked how the research on the Soul Transformation Stage Pill formula was going. Valley Master Su Yao said that one auxiliary ingredient was still missing, called Dragon Blood Grass, which should be sold in the Western Regions. Su Yun noted the name and turned to leave.

On the second day, he went to find Zi Wuji. The Purple Mansion Master was practicing swordplay in the courtyard and retracted his sword stance when he saw him enter. Su Yun got straight to the point and asked him how Zi Ling was doing lately. Zi Wuji said his daughter was in seclusion, preparing to break through to the Mid Nascent Soul Stage. Su Yun nodded and asked if Zi Wuji was willing to go to the Western Regions with him. Zi Wuji was stunned for a moment and asked, "Why are you taking so many people with you to buy things in the Western Regions?" Su Yun said, "The Western Regions are not like the Northern Wasteland; the place is unfamiliar. It feels more reassuring to bring a few Peak Nascent Soul Stage cultivators along." Zi Wuji thought about it and agreed.

On the third day, he went to find Fairy Jianyun. The former Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Sword Pavilion was patrolling the city wall and leaped down when she saw Su Yun approaching. Su Yun asked if her arm still hurt, and she said it had long since healed. Su Yun then asked if she was willing to make another trip to the Western Regions, and she said, "Yes." There were no extra words, just crisp and decisive.

From the fourth to the seventh day, Su Yun shut himself in his study to study the map Elder Meng had given him. The route to the Western Regions was marked very briefly, with only a few main trade routes and the distribution of some forces. Longyuan was at the easternmost edge of the Western Regions, near the direction of the Central Regions. Starting from Qinghe City and heading west, crossing a mountain range called Cangwu, and then passing through a grassland called the Sunset Plains, one would arrive. The whole journey would take about twenty days. Along the way, he would have to pass through the territory of several small forces, but none were major powers; a Late Stage Nascent Soul cultivator could handle them.

On the eighth day, he went to see Zhao Lanxin. The little girl was practicing swordplay in the courtyard, very earnestly, covered in sweat. Su Yun stood at the doorway watching for a while, and she did not notice him. Her swordplay was much better than when she was in the Southern Regions; her Moves were sharp, and her footwork was steady. Although she was only at the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment, she was already quite good among her peers. He walked over, and only then did Zhao Lanxin see him. She put away her sword and gestured to ask why he had come. Su Yun said he missed her, and the little girl's face turned bright red instantly. That afternoon, he sat with her in the courtyard, watching her embroider. She was still embroidering a cloud pattern, with fine and dense stitches, every needle and thread worked with great care. Su Yun asked if she could embroider a new belt for him, and she nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling.

On the ninth day, he went to find Elder Han Yue. She was still in that small courtyard, still under that cluster of green bamboo. Su Yun brought a pot of wine, and the two sat by the stone table, drinking slowly. Elder Han Yue asked if the Western Regions were far, and he said they were far. She asked if it was dangerous, and he said it was not dangerous, just buying things. Elder Han Yue was silent for a long time, then said, "Husband is lying." Su Yun was stunned for a moment. She smiled and said, "The time in the Northern Wasteland, you also said it wasn't very dangerous, and as a result, we almost didn't make it back." Su Yun did not explain, just poured her a cup of wine. Elder Han Yue picked up the wine cup and said softly, "My cultivation is low, I cannot help Husband, I can only wait here. Husband must come back." Su Yun said, "Okay."

From the tenth to the fourteenth day, Su Yun began to pack his luggage. He brought five Storage Rings of Medicinal Pills, all his savings in Spirit Stones, and for Magical Artifacts, he brought the mysterious iron short staff and a few spares. Valley Master Su Yao had listed a list for him, written with various things needed in the Western Regions, from Spiritual Plants to Ores, from Medicinal Pills to Talismans, densely filling two pages of paper. Su Yun read through it once and put the list away.

On the fifteenth day, the day of departure arrived. Before dawn, Su Yun woke up. Zhao Lanxin was curled up in his arms, sleeping soundly, still clutching the unfinished belt in her hand. He gently pulled his arm out, took the belt from her hand, and placed it by the pillow. She frowned, snuggled into his arms, and fell back asleep. Su Yun lowered his head and kissed her on the forehead, then got up and got out of bed.

In the courtyard, Valley Master Su Yao, Fairy Jianyun, Zi Wuji, and Bai Shuang were already waiting. All four were in fitted attire, carrying their respective weapons. Valley Master Su Yao carried a large medicine chest on her back, Fairy Jianyun carried a long sword on her back, Zi Wuji had a purple short sword hanging at his waist, and Bai Shuang carried nothing, wearing only a crisp white fitted outfit.

Su Yun walked out of the courtyard and looked back. Zhao Lanxin was still asleep, Zhou Ruoyun stood at the doorway next door, her eyes red, but she did not cry. Liu Wugou leaned against the corridor pillar and smiled at him. Elder Han Yue stood at the back of the crowd, still wearing that cold, detached expression. He nodded at them, turned around, and walked toward the city gates.

At the city gate, Zhou Yuanshuang was already waiting with people. She handed a Storage Ring to Su Yun, saying this was all the Spirit Stones Qinghe City could provide, a total of 30,000 High-Grade Spirit Stones. Su Yun took it and said, "Thank you." Zhou Yuanshuang shook her head and said, "Take care, Master." Su Yun took the four of them and soared into the air, flying toward the west.

After flying more than ten miles, Su Yun looked back. Qinghe City became smaller and smaller in the morning light, and the figures on the city walls gradually blurred. He withdrew his gaze and accelerated.

Five days later, the five of them crossed the Cangwu Mountain Range. The Cangwu Mountain Range was the dividing line between the Central Plains and the Western Regions. The mountains were very high; the highest peaks were covered in snow all year round, and the summits were covered with thick layers of ice. Below the mountainside was a vast sea of forest, with tall trees that blotted out the sky. Su Yun flew with the four of them over the forest sea; occasionally, they could see a few Yao Beasts moving in the forest, but none were strong, the highest being only at the Golden Core Stage. No one provoked them, and they did not provoke Su Yun.

Crossing the Cangwu Mountain Range, the view suddenly opened up. The Sunset Plains. An endless grassland, the grass was very long, undulating in the wind like a green sea. The sky was very high and blue, the clouds were very white, hanging low on the horizon. The air had a faint scent of green grass, mixed with the smell of soil and wildflowers. Valley Master Su Yao took a deep breath and said, "The Spiritual Qi in the Western Regions is much denser than in the Central Regions." Zi Wuji nodded and said, "No wonder there are more Soul Transformation Stage cultivators in the Western Regions than in the Central Regions."

The five of them flew over the Sunset Plains for three days. There was no cover on the grassland, and the view was wide, allowing one to see very far. Occasionally, they could see a few herdsmen driving Spirit Beasts to graze on the grassland. Those herdsmen did not have high cultivation, mostly at the Foundation Establishment Stage. Seeing Su Yun and his party flying overhead, they all looked up. Bai Shuang said those herdsmen were Loose Cultivators of the Western Regions, who made a living by herding Spirit Beasts and were not under the control of any force. Su Yun nodded and did not stop.

On the evening of the fourth day, the outline of buildings appeared on the distant horizon. Bai Shuang pointed in that direction and said, "That is Longyuan." Su Yun accelerated and flew toward that legendary largest marketplace in the Western Regions.