The next day at noon, Yang Yunhai returned to Lone Grass Village.
After resting for one night, he set out early toward the Spirit Hall branch in Nuoding City.
When he met Ma Xiunuo, the latter personally helped him test his soul power and even tried out his second soul skill himself. After confirming that it could only absorb soul power, he promised on the spot to file and report it as soon as possible.
Seeing this, Yang Yunhai also asked Ma Xiunuo about maps. He explained that he wanted to take this time to walk around the area near Nuoding City before traveling to other cities after the New Year. Having barely left home before, he worried he might get lost on the road.
Now that Yang Yunhai's soul power had already reached rank 21—meeting even the graduation requirements of an intermediate soul master academy—there was no reason for him to stay in a small place like Nuoding City. Since he had graduated early and there was still time before the new year, it was understandable that he wanted to travel around his homeland before setting off on longer journeys. Naturally, Ma Xiunuo expressed full support for his request.
Afterward, he returned to his own room and took down a Spirit Hall–issued terrain map of the area surrounding Nuoding City that hung on the wall, presenting it to Yang Yunhai as a parting gift. As for other regions, he really didn't have any. As a branch officer, his jurisdiction was only this small area, so the higher-ups would never give him maps beyond his responsibility. At most, he could remind Yang Yunhai to stick to the main roads while traveling.
Yang Yunhai, of course, expressed sincere thanks. After collecting his monthly soul master stipend, he politely bid farewell and left.
Back in Lone Grass Village, he entered his small room and quickly unrolled the map across his bed.
The Spirit Hall–issued maps were created through aerial observation by flying-type soul masters. According to Ma Xiunuo, the original master map covered the entire continent. Other than a few dangerous areas occupied by soul beasts left blank due to inaccessibility, the rest of the terrain was drawn with remarkable precision.
Distances were even marked using measurement units.
However, since these maps were based on aerial surveys and not detailed ground investigations, they couldn't provide specifics like exact mountain heights or the number of rivers inside forests.
"This copy I have probably isn't a full-scale reproduction either, but a condensed version. Makes sense. Maps precise down to small roads and bridges would be classified as military maps. How could a small branch like Nuoding possibly have those?"
Yang Yunhai sighed as he examined the map.
"But this is good enough. Even as a condensed version, it clearly shows the general terrain—surrounding mountains, rivers, and villages are all marked."
As he thought this, his fingertip slid across the parchment until it stopped at the location of Holy Spirit Village. He raised his gaze, sweeping the surrounding area.
"A broad river runs through the middle, and the outer terrain is steep. Getting from the outer edge to the interior requires half a day. Half a day… even if the mountains are dangerous, with Tang San's cultivation in the original story, that wouldn't be slow. So the area shouldn't be too small…"
Muttering, he continued searching.
Soon, his pupils shrank as his gaze locked onto a midsection of mountain terrain.
"No way! This horizontal marking—that's a waterfall!" He was stunned.
"Of course. A waterfall 20 meters wide and nearly 200 meters tall. No matter how tall the trees are, they can't block it. As long as your eyes aren't blind, you'd see it clearly from the sky!" Relieved, he looked closer. "This cluster of dense peaks around it obviously marks a steep area. And it's less than 300 li from Holy Spirit Village. With Tang Hao's strength, he could run there and back in a single day."
"I really owe thanks to the flying-type soul master who drew this map!" A smile crept across his lips.
This waterfall marking was, in his eyes, a stroke of genius.
He had expected to spend ages checking mountain after mountain, but now, without any effort, everything matched perfectly. He was almost certain this was where the Blue Silver Emperor was hidden.
Still, to be cautious, Yang Yunhai studied all the other mountain ranges near Holy Spirit Village.
His conclusion was clear: only this one met every condition.
"So then, what about the Blue Silver King's location?" Having pinpointed the Blue Silver Emperor, his thoughts wandered further.
"In the original, Tang Hao took Tang San on a five-day journey, eventually reaching a primeval forest. That was where the Blue Silver King's domain was. Five days of travel, an untouched forest, and a Blue Silver King of 85,000 years living there undisturbed… that has to be a massive soul beast forest, nothing like ordinary mountains."
His gaze swept the map before he shook his head.
Anything within five days' range of the waterfall already extended beyond the map's coverage.
"Looks like I'll need to find a larger-scale map later."
"For now, I just need to focus on cultivating, and wait until Tang San graduates from Nuoding Academy."
With that, he carefully rolled the map back up.
He then sat cross-legged in the center of his bed, closed his eyes, and began to cultivate.
Time flew by. Within a month, the new term at Nuoding Academy had ended.
"The break lasts a month. No rush. After the New Year is fine. If I'm right, Tang Hao will probably visit the Blue Silver Emperor during the holiday, then return to the village to keep watch over Tang San and Xiao Wu, preventing them from leaving early for Shrek Academy and running into high-ranked soul masters along the way."
"So it's safer to set out after the New Year. Slower is fine too."
On the Lone Grass Village hillside, Yang Yunhai lifted his gaze toward Nuoding Academy, then closed his eyes again and resumed cultivation.
A few days later, after the New Year celebrations, Yang Yunhai bid farewell to the village chief and set out on the road riding a black donkey he had purchased.
Spring had yet to arrive, and the weather was still chilly. To keep warm—and to avoid being recognized if he ran into Tang Hao—he had prepared a large shawl that covered his neck and face. It also served to ward off mosquitoes in the forests. A bamboo hat and raincoat were essentials too, just in case of rain.
Not in a hurry, he decided to first take the official road toward the nearest region before turning off, enjoying the scenery along the way.
Around noon, a wisp of cooking smoke rose ahead. His eyes lowered to see a small roadside tea stall. A few benches, two small square tables, and three customers.
Two of them were chatting together, clearly companions. The third, a middle-aged man, sat alone sipping tea.
The moment Yang Yunhai's gaze landed on him, his pupils shrank.
He quickly pressed down the brim of his hat and pulled his shawl higher.
"That leather coat, that robe, that hairstyle, that beard, the cloth tied around his forehead… that can't be Tang Hao, can it?"
He had never seen Tang Hao in person, but the resemblance to his memory of the animated version was uncanny.
"My luck… I really shouldn't have gone out today!" He cursed inwardly.
"I wonder if Tang Hao is heading back to the mountains or to Holy Spirit Village…"
If Tang Hao walked toward Nuoding City, then he must have just returned from the mountains. That would mean Tang Hao wouldn't head back for at least two days, giving him an opening to search for the Blue Silver Emperor.
But if Tang Hao headed toward the mountains, then Yang Yunhai would have to wait and circle around for days.
As these thoughts spun, his donkey plodded past the bamboo stall.
At that moment, the middle-aged man paused in his drinking and glanced at him. Then, as if nothing had happened, he returned to sipping his tea.
"Did he sense my soul power? Maybe even guessed my cultivation level, maybe even my age just from looking at my hands…" Yang Yunhai forced himself to stay calm, casually glancing at the stall before continuing on.
"This way, guest…" The shopkeeper called out politely.
Yang Yunhai waved quickly, nudged the donkey forward, and hurried past. After living in the same dorm as Tang San for six years, there was no doubt Tang Hao had seen his face before. If Tang Hao saw him now and later discovered the Blue Silver Emperor missing, suspicion would inevitably fall on him.
His martial soul was also Blue Silver Grass. If it evolved, the connection would be impossible to ignore.
"Ah…" The shopkeeper's expression dimmed slightly as he returned to brewing tea.
Yang Yunhai rode past the stall, slowly disappearing from sight.
Half a cup of tea later, the middle-aged man placed two copper soul coins on the table, stood up, and left.
"He's heading back!" Watching from where he had hidden under a tree, Yang Yunhai's heart leapt with joy.
Once Tang Hao had vanished completely, he wolfed down his bread, gulped some water, and set off again.
Though it was just after the New Year and few people were traveling, the official road still had the occasional passerby. Before long, he encountered a peasant family. Without hesitation, Yang Yunhai traded his donkey for food.
The terrain around the Blue Silver Emperor's mountain was too steep; there was no way to take the donkey up with him. Leaving it outside would only mean it would be eaten by beasts. And now, he needed speed. On foot, he could travel faster anyway.
By leaving it with a family, at least it would be treated kindly. Donkeys were valuable helpers in farm work.
"What a good man!" the peasants murmured as they watched his figure disappear down the road.
(End of Chapter)
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