Mature and prudent, Han Yunlong left a few Qi Cultivation Cultivators behind to wait with Han Ping and the Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Yan Gui Sect. He then walked over to Fang Qingyuan, a broad smile plastered on his face.

"Sect Leader Fang, we’ll be counting on you for the road ahead. If you need anything, or if there are any rules we should follow, please feel free to say so."

Han Yunlong seemed easygoing, but Fang Qingyuan knew this gentle exterior was merely a facade. To be entrusted with such an important mission, Han Yunlong’s methods, resourcefulness, and ruthlessness were not to be underestimated.

Facing such a key figure from the Pill Alliance—someone second only to the Golden Core Cultivators—Fang Qingyuan naturally didn’t put on the airs of the Beast Taming Sect. He was polite, yet came across as sincere:

"That’s simple enough. We must be cautious in the Barbaric Wilderness. As long as your people don’t randomly provoke the demon beasts inside, we can generally handle the situation. But let me be clear up front: if it comes to a real fight, the five of us will not participate."

Han Yunlong nodded, his eyes crinkling into a smile:

"Of course, that’s only right. It’s getting late. We should head into the forest as soon as possible."

Fang Qingyuan had no objection. He gestured to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Beast Taming Sect beside him. The next moment, this person took a large, blackish lump of something out of their storage bag and distributed it to everyone.

"Smear this on your bodies, then suppress your Magical Power and Divine Sense fluctuations. For the first five hundred li, you’ll have nothing to worry about."

Han Yunlong took the item and asked curiously:

"Is this the dung of a High-level Demon Beast?"

Fang Qingyuan didn’t take the substance. He leaped onto Jinbao’s left shoulder, then pulled Jiang Wanqin onto the right. Once she was settled, he spoke from his high perch:

"It is indeed the dung of a Moon-Gazing Giant Lizard, but many other ingredients have been added. Don’t worry, it doesn’t stink."

Han Yunlong chuckled and smeared a generous amount on himself. The Pill Alliance disciples behind him also applied it, but they struggled to hide their disgust.

Seeing this, Fang Qingyuan shook his head inwardly. ’The Pill Alliance is an organization founded jointly by several sects. If not for the appearance of Han Tianqing, a Nascent Soul Cultivator, they would be little different from the old Artifact Talisman Alliance.’

’Compared to the Spirit Wood and Lihuo Sects, the Pill Alliance still lacks cohesion. In a real confrontation, they would be no match for their rivals. It’s a good thing the Great Zhou Academy has kept those two separated with the nine Sealed Sects. Otherwise, a war would have broken out between them in ten or twenty years.’

These thoughts flashed through Fang Qingyuan’s mind and were gone. Seeing that everyone had applied the substance, he had Jinbao take the lead and walk into the Barbaric Wilderness ahead.

......

The once-clamorous jungle of the Barbaric Wilderness had, at some unknown point, fallen completely silent. A few wild animals with faint demonic auras twitched their ears and then instantly bolted away at top speed.

A moment later, a twenty-foot-tall, black-and-white bear emerged from the low-lying trees, hurrying onward.

After the great bear passed, a group of human Cultivators in green robes followed closely in its wake, proceeding in single file along the temporary path it forged as they hurried forward.

Atop Jinbao’s shoulder, Fang Qingyuan sat with his eyes closed, looking completely at ease. His body swayed gently with Jinbao’s movements.

Jinbao’s shoulders were broad, and its fur was soft. If he weren’t mindful of the Pill Alliance members staring from behind, Fang Qingyuan felt he might have just laid down on Jinbao’s shoulder and fallen asleep.

On the other shoulder, Jiang Wanqin had gone from anxious and uneasy to being in a daze, her eyes filled with wonder. And it had only been three days.

The rich and colorful scenery of the Barbaric Wilderness was a dazzling sight for Jiang Wanqin, who had rarely ventured outside the sect.

She felt that coming out with the Sect Leader this time was a truly rare experience. With Fang Qingyuan around, she wasn’t worried about her safety in the slightest.

Just as Jinbao was striding swiftly forward, Fang Qingyuan’s eyes suddenly snapped open. He murmured under his breath:

"Let’s take a detour ahead. That tiger won’t let us pass."

Upon hearing Fang Qingyuan’s words, Jinbao turned without the slightest hesitation and headed in a different direction.

It was at this exact moment that Han Yunlong, who was behind Jinbao, suddenly quickened his pace. He came to the front of the great bear and made a request to Fang Qingyuan:

"Sect Leader Fang, why don’t we rest for a bit? We’ve been marching for three days straight. These young ones with me are physically weak and are reaching their limit."

Fang Qingyuan glanced at him and nodded slightly. Jinbao immediately slowed down and found a relatively open area. With a single roar, it scared away the Foundation Establishment Demon Beast that occupied the territory, forcibly claiming the spot for themselves.

After climbing down from Jinbao, Fang Qingyuan saw that every last one of the Pill Alliance’s Qi Cultivation Disciples immediately sat down cross-legged on the ground and began to meditate, recovering their Magical Power and stamina.

Three days of non-stop travel, without being able to use Magical Artifacts or Talismans, was indeed quite difficult for these Qi Cultivation Disciples.

But it couldn’t be helped. Up ahead, Jinbao had been emitting its aura as an apex predator among Foundation Establishment Demon Beasts the entire way, scaring off the demon beasts along the path and clearing a temporary road for everyone.

However, if the auras of the Cultivators in the group were too strong, the demon beasts that had sensed Jinbao’s power and didn’t want a direct confrontation would likely have been driven into a frenzy, choosing to face Jinbao head-on and leading to unnecessary fights.

The Barbaric Wilderness had never welcomed human Cultivators. The demon beasts were hostile, and even the plants were unwelcoming.

Jiang Wanqin casually slashed away a few unknown vines that were coiling toward her calves, then asked in a quiet voice:

"Sect Leader, how much deeper do we have to go?"

Fang Qingyuan didn’t know the answer to that question, as Han Yunlong hadn’t revealed their final destination.

But now that they were already several hundred li deep into the Barbaric Wilderness, it was time to get a clear answer. He stood up, walked over to Han Yunlong, and asked him directly:

"Brother Yunlong, that Spirit Beast Han Ping mentioned back then... can you finally tell me what it is?"

Han Yunlong was also meditating to regulate his breathing. Unlike Fang Qingyuan, who had a Spirit Beast like Jinbao at his command, he had to travel on foot.

Moreover, Han Yunlong did not practice Body Refining. Although his body was much more robust than a mortal’s, he was still susceptible to some fatigue.

Hearing Fang Qingyuan’s question, Han Yunlong thought for a moment and decided to reveal their objective. Now that they were deep in the Barbaric Wilderness, surrounded by their own people, he no longer had to worry about Fang Qingyuan and the other Beast Taming Sect disciples leaking the secret.

"We are looking for a type of Spiritual Cicada called the Spring and Autumn Cicada. Last year, a disciple from our Pill Alliance chanced upon one in the Barbaric Wilderness and brought it back. An Alchemy Grandmaster in the alliance then used it as an ingredient and discovered that the Elixir Pills refined from this cicada are of great help to late-stage peak Cultivators when they are trying to break through to the Golden Core realm. That’s why I was ordered to bring back a few more this time."

Han Yunlong was indeed being forthright with Fang Qingyuan. A matter like this wasn’t worth keeping secret forever. On the contrary, if the Spring and Autumn Cicadas proved to be rare, the Pill Alliance might even publicize this information.

Realm-Breaking Elixirs had always been the most expensive type of elixir in this world, bar none. In comparison, even Longevity Elixirs and life-saving Healing Elixirs were slightly less valuable.

This was because once a Cultivator broke through to the next realm, issues like lifespan and injuries would naturally be resolved. Furthermore, when it came to demand, the need for Realm-Breaking Elixirs was terrifyingly high.

Not everyone needed a Longevity Elixir or a Healing Elixir, but a Realm-Breaking Elixir was something every Cultivator craved. A Qi Cultivation Cultivator needed a Foundation Establishment Pill to break through to Foundation Establishment, and a Foundation Establishment Cultivator naturally needed all sorts of Realm-Breaking Elixirs to break through to Golden Core.

The secret that the Spring and Autumn Cicada could be used in alchemy was valuable, but it was nothing compared to the pill formula required to actually refine the cicada into an elixir.

The Pill Alliance naturally looked down on the meager profits that would come from monopolizing this information. Their vision was much grander. The Pill Alliance hoped that enough Loose Cultivators would supply them with large quantities of Spring and Autumn Cicadas, as only then could they continuously produce Realm-Breaking Elixirs.

An organization the size of the Pill Alliance was no longer suited for small, workshop-style production. They craved an abundant supply of raw materials, a fact Fang Qingyuan understood perfectly.

"Spring and Autumn Cicada? I’ve never heard of it, and there are no records of such a Spirit Insect in the Beast Taming Sect’s archives. Brother Yunlong, if you don’t mind, could you tell me about it in more detail?"

Fang Qingyuan looked curious, so Han Yunlong naturally told him everything he knew. While everyone was resting, he began to describe the place where the Spring and Autumn Cicada had been discovered.

A short while later, after hearing Han Yunlong’s story, Fang Qingyuan’s expression became troubled. The Spring and Autumn Cicada had been found near Awakening Lion Valley.

Recalling the secret Lechuan had told him before he left, Fang Qingyuan immediately wanted to back out. An existence that even several Divinity Transformation Cultivators were helpless against... ’How could I dare approach? How could I risk messing around right under that Old Lion’s nose?’

Seeing Fang Qingyuan’s expression, Han Yunlong’s eyes darted about for a moment, and he seemed to misunderstand the cause of his concern:

"Sect Leader Fang, there’s no need to worry. Although Awakening Lion Valley is fraught with danger, over the past fifteen years, waves of explorers have used their own lives to chart a safe path. We only need you to guide us to the entrance of Awakening Lion Valley. You and your people need not accompany us for the remainder of the journey."

Fang Qingyuan nodded slowly. ’It’s best if we don’t enter Awakening Lion Valley,’ he thought. ’Lechuan said the Old Lion is hibernating. A few Foundation Establishment Cultivators like us shouldn’t be enough to disturb its slumber.’

After resting for half a day, Fang Qingyuan once again sat on Jinbao’s shoulder and they continued their silent journey. After they safely passed through the territory of the Cloud-Clawed Lizard and traveled for another hundred-plus li, they would reach the domain of the Nascent Soul Ancient Beast, the Golden Reng Bear Owl Beast.

According to past intelligence, this Golden Reng Bear Owl Beast also had a fondness for sleeping. As long as they were careful, passing through its territory shouldn’t be too difficult.

As Jinbao advanced, the proportion of bear-type demon beasts detected on Fang Qingyuan’s Mind Map increased dramatically.

In just over two hundred li, Fang Qingyuan felt as if he had seen every variety of Bear Beast that existed in the world; some he couldn’t even identify.

When they encountered these Bear Beasts, Fang Qingyuan would usually have Jinbao release its oppressive aura. If the other beast couldn’t withstand it, it would know better than to resist and would cede its territory.

For the Bear Beasts that weren’t afraid of Jinbao, Fang Qingyuan would choose to bribe them for safe passage with Golden Jade Flower Honey. This tactic was often very effective. After eating the Flower Nectar, some of the Bear Beasts would do him the favor of letting Jinbao pass.

As for the Golden Core Bear Beasts, as soon as Fang Qingyuan sensed their presence, he would opt to take a long detour rather than risk passing through their territory.

By employing all these methods, Fang Qingyuan’s group slowly made it more than halfway through the region without any major incidents. But just as Fang Qingyuan thought they would pass through the area safely, his vision blurred, and a strange Bear Beast that looked like a cross between a bird and a bear appeared before him.

Fang Qingyuan’s heart leaped in alarm. He realized his Mind Map was showing no specific reaction to the Bear Beast before him—only a vague sense that it was far more powerful than it appeared.

Then he recalled the name of this territory’s master—the Golden Reng Bear Owl Beast. A chill ran down Fang Qingyuan’s spine. ’How did we run into the master of this place? Am I really this unlucky?’

With no time to think, Fang Qingyuan immediately prepared to activate the Five-Colored Divine Light Escape Technique and flee. As for Han Yunlong and his people, he couldn’t afford to worry about them now.

The most he could do was pull Jinbao into his Immortal Mansion and sweep Jiang Wanqin up in his Escape Light. And even then, Fang Qingyuan couldn’t guarantee that he could escape from a Nascent Soul Level Ancient Beast.

But just as Fang Qingyuan was about to make his move, he noticed that the Bear Owl Beast’s eyes were still closed. It seemed to be in a deep sleep, its nostrils twitching continuously as if sniffing for something.

Just two breaths later, the Bear Owl Beast’s eyes snapped open. Its small eyes stared intently at Fang Qingyuan... no, at Jinbao beside him. Then, a remarkably human-like expression of joy spread across its bearish face.