Chapter 18 : Heading out.

Their journey towards Lan Yunyue's home isn't bad at all. Nie Li wanted to use this time to take some short sleep but failed to do so because of her.

Lan Yunyue put aside her fear and shyness towards him as she continue asking for Nie Li's towards her cultivation. She seems to be very obsessed with it. Her thirst to get stronger is just so strong, probably the same as Xiao Ning er. Nie Li didn't know why she's like this until she finally told him.

" Your mother is.... a prostitute? " Nie Li asked a bit amused and started thinking - this profession really do exist in every era but it's still surprising for him to hear that Lan Yunyue's mother is one of them.

It's not like Nie Li is feeling disgusted by it or anything, he just find it very unusual and...... unfortunate.

Unusual because according to Lan Yunyue, her father was a soldier of Glory City. One of those who fights against Demon Beasts siege under the Snow Wind Family's wings. But after he died in battle, his wife was forced to work as a prostitute so she can feed her child and to save some money to send her to school in the future?

Just how stupid was that?

Is this one of the best example on how messed up the order in Glory City was? They can't even afford to at least compensate the family of those brave men who died in battle for protecting the City itself? It's indeed very unfortunate.

Nie Li isn't sure about this as he didn't know the full story. Perhaps they did compensated them but the amount is so small due to the huge number of people who died and have to be compensated as well. Although Nie Li still wanted to know more, he can't do it for now because they already arrived.

" Let's continue this next time, Yunyue. I still have to go somewhere after this so goodbye for now? " Nie Li opened the door to to let Lan Yunyue get out. "Oh, by the way. This is for you, there's also some money inside so tell your mom to stop like that from now on. "

Nie Li then handed an interspatial ring to her.

" This... I can no-.. "

" Just take it. It's your reward for having the highest cultivation among your peers. I did said that before remember? "

Lan Yunyue didn't know what to say. She did remember Nie Li saying those words before but... isn't this too much of a reward?

Nie Li had already helped them become stronger. He also gave them a very powerful cultivation that suits them well and now, he's giving her something so valuable again!

Lan Yunyue even thought that she's dreaming. Just what did she ever do to deserve this kindness from Nie Li? Why is he so kind to her?

These are the thoughts that spins inside her mind as she watched Nie Li's carriage getting farther and farther away till she can't see it anymore.

-----

" Young sir, where are we heading now? " asked the driver of the carriage.

" Send me to the east side of the wall. At full speed. " Nie Li replied. This was his real purpose of coming here after all.

" Roger that. "

Two hours later...

Nie Li was standing straight on top of the wall watching the beautiful sunrise in the horizon. He already sent the carriage away after paying him a generous amount of money.

" That Demon Spirit has a God Level growth rate so I should take it. And it's quite powerful too but the greatest thing I really like about it is that it is... cool. " Nie Li muttered to himself as he organized a plan inside his head.

" Hey! What are you doing here... what!? " a man in charge of patrolling this side of the wall said confusedly. He seems to have seen someone standing there just now but it suddenly vanished. " Perhaps I'm just tired. "

Psh.

Pew.

Pow!

In the forest, Nie Li keep jumping from one tree to another at an insane speed. His destination, Ancient Orchid City.

Nie Li plan to go there to take that Shadow Demon Spirit along with the treasures but most importantly, the remnant page of Temporal Demon Spirit Book.

" Grrr... Raa-.. "

As he's moving forward, a demon beast that happened to be on his path saw Nie Li and was about to roar at him but before it can do so, Nie Li sent it flying with a single punch. It's body curb like a broken doll before landing heavily on the ground dozens of meters away.

It's the seventh unfortunate beasts now that tried to attack Nie Li. Because Nie Li isn't releasing any aura around him, these Demon Beasts thought that he's a very tasty meal so they keeps on attacking him.

" Errm.. what kind of animal is this.... a bear? Doesn't look like one. " said Nie Li after arriving in front of the Demon Beast's corpse. " Whatever, I hope this will be tasty. " he said before putting the body of the Demon Beast inside his spatial garden. He continue moving forward after that.

Nie Li didn't have any actual map on him so he can only rely on the vague memory he got from his predecessors. He knows that the Ancient Orchid City is definitely somewhere in this forest but don't know the exact place so he can only look for it. It's a bit troublesome but with his current speed and strength, it is still doable.

The next day, Nie Li finally arrived at the place.

Ruined buildings, cracked walls, flattened houses with trees growing on top of them lies in front of Nie Li. It's a bit hard to believe that the once powerful and bustling city like this one, probably even more prosperous than Glory City had turned like this. It had become history.

Nie Li can only shake his head seeing all of these. It's all in the past now and can't be changed. The only thing he can do now is to make sure that the same thing won't happen in Glory City.

Not wanting to waste anymore more time, Nie Li entered the city.

------

Somewhere in the forest.

There's a huge group of young children around 30 or so, are resting under the shades of trees in this part of the forest.

It's the expedition group led by Chen Linjian on the purpose of exploring the Ancient Orchid City.

For some reason, these children looked tired and exhausted. Some of them are even breathing a little heavy while some are still scared and shivering.

Last night, when they are about to take a rest, their group was suddenly attacked by Fox Bears. It's a Silver Rank Demon Beast around four feet in height and they are very territorial so it's not surprising that they will attack humans. If not for Chen Linjian also bringing quite a few Silver Rank Demon Spiritualists with them, they might have suffered more casualties than they already have.

Chen Linjian was standing on the side, frowning. They just started their journey and still have a long way to go but they already have casualties. This isn't a good sign at all.

One of his men approached Chen Linjian and said, " Young master Chen, we have buried all the bodies. All in all, we lost 3 Bronze Rank fighters from our family and 1 rogue cultivator. "

" I understand. Gather all of our men, we will set off soon. "

" Yesssiir! " replied the man before leaving.

Chen Linjian then turned to the people he brought along with him before commanding, " Okay, that's enough resting. Hurry and start packing your things, you have ten minutes. "

Good thing those two girls are unharmed else this will be a lot more troublesome. thought Chen LinJian as he looked at the two girls that are packing their things under the tree.

" Are you okay, Ning er? Are you hurt somewhere? " Ye Ziyun asked worriedly. " It's my fault, if I knew this would happen, then I shouldn't have asked you to come here with me... "

" What are you talking about, Ziyun? It's definitely not your fault. It's my choice to come here with you. " replied Xiao Ning er. " This is an accident okay? Not only I am not blaming you but I'm even very greatful that you invited me here. "

Ye Ziyun can't help but become emotional after hearing what Xiao Ning er said.

" Ning er... I -.... "

" I already said that it's fine. We can talk about it again tonight if you want. But for now, let's follow them first? " said show Ning er as she pointed at theie group that was about to leave.

" Mn, I understand. Thank you. "

Xiao Ning er didn't say anymore words. Instead, she held Ye Ziyun's hand and the two of them started moving towards the others.

Their relationship have obviously become a lot better after that event with Nie Li in the school library before.