The bluestone path beneath their feet gradually gave way to packed yellow earth of an official road, marking their complete departure from Qingxu Temple's range. The official road was wide, its wheel ruts crisscrossing, extending toward the vast mountain wilderness at the edge of vision. The spiritual energy in the air grew thin and impure, lacking that clear, pure feeling within the sect, yet carrying more of the clamor of human life and the roughness of the wilderness.
Tang Xiaoqi stopped his steps, looking back one last time. Beyond the layered mountain ranges, Qingxu Temple's main peak was just a blurry cyan outline, hidden among clouds and mist, like a silent giant guarding the land they had just left. There lay the newly reconstructed halls after destruction, the heroic spirits of the fallen who slept eternally, masters who treated him like their own child, fellow disciples to whom he could entrust his life, and his carefree yet ignorant childhood and youth.
An indescribable sourness and melancholy rose in his heart, as if something important had been left behind, leaving an emptiness. The rabbit spirit on his shoulder also seemed to sense his low spirits, quietly rubbing its fuzzy head against his neck, making soft murmuring sounds.
"Don't look anymore." Beside him, Third Senior Sister Liu Yun's voice rose, carrying her usual sharpness, yet somehow lower than usual. "Keep looking, and it's still there—it won't grow legs and run away."
Xiaoqi withdrew his gaze to look at Liu Yun. She was likewise watching in the sect's direction, her profile lines appearing somewhat taut in the morning light, her expression complex, but more than that was a determination to look forward.
"I know." Xiaoqi softly exhaled a breath of turbid air, as if expelling that parting sorrow and attachment with it. "It's just... somewhat unfamiliar."
From today on, they were no longer Qingxu Temple disciples who only needed to focus on cultivation and deal with fellow disciples' competitions under the sect's protective wing. They were rogue cultivators traveling the world, travelers who needed to struggle for survival in a dangerous and unfamiliar environment, who needed to rely on their own power to obtain resources, face enemies, and seek opportunities.
"You'll get used to it." Liu Yun turned to face the vast and boundless ahead, her hand on the sword hilt behind her, her gaze growing sharp again. "The outside world won't give us much time for sentimental sighs."
She was right. Xiaoqi nodded, his gaze gradually growing firm as well. Parting sadness was pressed down, replaced by vigilance toward the unknown and a hint of excitement.
His mind moved, and the "Map of the Eight Desolations Universe" given by Eldest Senior Brother appeared in his hand. The ancient beast hide scroll felt cool to the touch, bearing the sediment of years. He carefully unfolded a corner. What entered his view was not the exquisitely detailed mountains and rivers he had imagined, but a seemingly chaotic yet actually containing some mysterious pattern of lines and symbols, interspersed with many ancient characters he completely didn't recognize. Some areas were shrouded in mist, some places marked with peculiar symbols—the entire map was full of mysterious and unsolved information.
As Eldest Senior Brother had said, this map was definitely extraordinary, requiring extremely high cultivation and opportunity to interpret. What he could understand now was merely the general outline of "Southern Luzhou" where they currently were at the map's edge, and the markings of several main official roads and important towns.
"We should be here now," Xiaoqi pointed at a spot near the edge of the Qingxu Temple mountain range on the map. "Following this official road east about three hundred li is 'Green Banyan City,' a medium-sized cultivator gathering place famous for commerce—also our planned first stop."
Liu Yun leaned over to look. She had little interest in maps, trusting more in her sword and intuition, but still nodded: "Green Banyan City? I've heard it's a mixed crowd with good intelligence—perfect for asking about the Shadow Snake Pavilion's movements, or other clues about the 'Soul-Controlling Jade.'"
"Mm." Xiaoqi put away the map, his gaze sweeping over the dense forests on both sides of the official road and the rolling hills in the distance. The sunlight was just right, gilding everything in gold, birds singing, appearing peaceful. But he knew well that beneath this calm surface hid countless dangers—bandit cultivators, lurking demonic beasts, ill-intentioned fellow travelers, and possibly even eyes planted by the Shadow Snake Pavilion.
"Let's go, Senior Sister." Xiaoqi took a deep breath of air carrying the scent of grass, trees, and dust, feeling the spiritual energy in his body slightly restless in the unfamiliar environment—that was his body's instinctive warning of potential danger. "The road is still long."
He didn't look back again, taking firm steps onto the journey. Liu Yun walked beside him, her Autumn Water sword in its sheath seeming to sense its master's mood, emitting a faint clear ring. The rabbit spirit became active again, standing upright on Xiaoqi's shoulder, its ruby-like eyes vigilantly scanning everything around.
The official road wound, leading to an unknown distance. The scenery on both sides began constantly changing—sometimes dense primeval forests with ancient trees reaching the sky, vines entwining, faint low roars of unknown demonic beasts; sometimes open hilly terrain with wild flowers blooming and streams babbling, yet possibly a hunting beast around some corner; occasionally scattered fields and villages could be seen, mortals working hard, casting reverent yet curious gazes at the cultivators with obscure auras passing on the official road.
They didn't rush at full speed, maintaining a vigilant yet unhurried pace. Xiaoqi periodically released his spiritual sense, perceiving spiritual energy fluctuations and life signs within several li; periodically circulating his vision, observing distant mountain terrain, cross-referencing with the "Map of the Eight Desolations Universe" in his mind. Liu Yun paid more attention to investigating the specific environment—her worldly experience was richer than Xiaoqi's, able to judge from details he overlooked, such as trampled grass stems, inconspicuous scratches on tree trunks, faint scents remaining in the air, whether others or beasts had recently passed.
On the way, they encountered a team of low-level cultivators escorting goods. Seeing their extraordinary auras (Xiaoqi deliberately concealed most, but still revealed Foundation Establishment spiritual pressure), they yielded to the roadside from afar, their expressions respectful. They also met a group of rogue cultivators who looked ill-intentioned, peeking from the roadside forest, but after sensing Xiaoqi's bottomless aura and Liu Yun's undisguised sharp sword intent, they ultimately didn't dare to act, retorting indignantly.
These were just the most insignificant small interludes in a long journey, yet they made Xiaoqi and Liu Yun truly feel the difference between outside and the sect. Here there were no rules, only strength. Goodwill might not be repaid, but malice could descend at any moment.
At sunset, they found a clean spot in the lee of a hillside to rest. Xiaoqi took out Second Senior Brother's "Portable Multi-Function Artifact Refining Crucible," tried injecting fire spiritual energy, and indeed successfully lit it, cooking a pot of steaming spirit grain porridge, even adding several edible mushrooms Liu Yun had gathered, the fragrance overflowing. The rabbit spirit held a spoon bigger than itself, eating with relish.
Night fell, stars appearing. The mountain forest's night wasn't peaceful—wolf howls and beast roars came from the distance, adding wildness. Xiaoqi set up a simple warning and concealment formation, taking turns keeping watch with Liu Yun.
The bonfire crackled, illuminating the two young and determined faces.
"How does it feel?" Liu Yun poked at the fire, asking.
Xiaoqi gazed at the dancing flames, feeling the spiritual energy in his body circulating more actively in the silent night, speaking softly: "Very real. Also very... free."
Though the road ahead was unknown, though dangers lurked, this feeling of holding fate in one's own hands, relying on one's own strength to venture and explore, was something that couldn't be experienced within the sect.
Liu Yun smiled, saying nothing, only throwing a dry branch into the fire, splashing up a few sparks.
Night grew deep, all sounds silent, only the breath of the night watch and the light sound of the bonfire accompanying them, spending the first night after leaving the sect in this unfamiliar world.
When the first morning light again pierced the darkness, illuminating the winding endless official road, Tang Xiaoqi and Liu Yun had already packed up, extinguished the fire, erased traces, and embarked on their journey again.
Figures determined, merging into the vast world—the path of training in its true sense thus unfolded.