Chapter 8.

The next day early morning, just after finishing today's Qi gathering technique, and came rushing back to the village chief's house and started to pound at the door as I shouted.

" Grandma quick open the door." continuing with another hard pound on the door.

Listening to the loud noise outside, Grandma's irritated voice came.

" Stop hitting the door little Tim, I am opening the door. "

Hearing the irritation on her voice my jolted back to calm as I thought of her terror and my arms began to sweat a little. Thinking about their might be the punishment I quickly thought of a way to get out of this predicament.

I heard the doorknob open and saw Grandma's face filled with irritation. Quickly changing my face I started to sell cute as I hugged her and murmured some sweet little things, like 'I missed you' and how 'I want to eat your snacks already', etc.

Seeing my cute look her heart melted but she still stretched out her hand and bend my ears slightly causing some pain, as I quickly apologized for the noise I made.

Looking at my pained look she sighed and let me go and said.

" Don't do it next time." I quickly nodded in response and entered the House with her.

Inside Village chief was packing a big bag while I watched from the side as he turned and nodded with a smile and continued with his stuff while I quietly filled my stomach with the breakfast Grandma prepared.

After a few minutes Village chief finished his packing while I finished my breakfast. He looked at me and asked.

"Have you brought your bag?"

I nodded and showed my shoulder bag which was filled with a few clothes, food seasonings, and some toilet papers. He nodded at me which meant I got everything right. Turning his head to look at Grandma he smiled and said.

" We will be back in a few days."

Grandma just softly said.

" Be careful"

As we headed out and moved towards quickly disappearing from the view of Grandma.

Heading towards the main road beside the village, the chief booked a cart to take us towards our destination. Sitting on the cart which moved as a horse-shaped beast pulled it forwards and from the spirit energy, it leaked I knew it wasn't ordinary.

Asking Village Chief about how come we use spirit beast to travel won't this cause chaos. He replied.

" They can't make chaos because the most potent spirit beast pulling the carts won't exceed the range of drivers strength they will be suppressed or killed as soon as they leak even a small amount of killing intent. The spirit beasts are strictly trained by them from a young age which makes them easier to control."

I nodded towards his explanation and tried to decipher the age of the spirit beast at the same time the strength of the driver who looked very ordinary like a normal villager just from time to time spirit power leaked out of him showing he is a spirit warrior.

Few hours passed by while the Village chief kept telling me about his adventures at the same time some details about the place we were heading to. We passed by a large city while I curiously asked.

" Village Chief why didn't we get inside the city now but detoured it?"

He looked at me and seriously said.

"It's simply because first, we have to get your spirit star if go through the city because of the excess traffic inside it will delay our time. so it's better to take a detour from the sides and rush straight towards the forest."

"Another reason for not going through the city is that to go inside we have to pay a tax of one gold coin. You should know how high the tax is, it's 1 gold coin that is 100 silver coines and 1000 copper coins and an ordinary would only need 100 copper coins to live well for a year or two."

" The reason for such high tax rate is because the truth is said it's the city from where the real defense line of Humankind begins as towns and villages may get a surprise attacked any time but to attack the city in surprise is not possible because every 10 days there will be spirit warriors killing the beast that enter a 100-mile radius around the city."

Hearing him I took a deep look at the city behind while he continued with a smile.

" Once we finish getting your spirit I will take you to have a tour around the city. Let this be the first look around the city at the same time you should take this opportunity to meet and register in the Spirit Pagoda."

After half an hour we reached a busy market type area where the Village asked the driver to stop and paid him 25 copper coins which are already expensive for ordinary people and for spirit warriors its nothing to care about as for the reason we will talk when I register as a spirit warrior.

Getting out I looked at the busy people going in and out of this little market. The village chief beckoned me to follow him as we continued to head inside, we could only chaos and lawlessness with people fighting every few seconds but although there was fighting everywhere there weren't any serious injuries because we Humans are quietly united so that we could live well, at least that's what I have heard from Village Chief and Grandma.

Moving ahead we didn't try to check the market as we had everything and as this area is closer to the forest the prices of simple things here are 3-4 times higher than other places.

Quickly reaching outside a large gate with thick wooden walls surrounding the area we headed straight towards the guard there as there was only a little line and nearly everyone who wants to enter will go inside early morning nit like us moving in afternoon.

Reaching the guard's, Village Chief showed him some certificate and said.

" We want to enter the forest."

He took the certificate whether the certificate is real while explained the situation to me.

" This little forest is called Spring city forest which is built by the City Chief at the orders of the emperor. This area is guarded by the provincial officers who are responsible for supplying the beasts into it whenever the beast ratio inside is decreased to a low enough number."

" Everyone who wants to enter these types of the forest has to get a certificate from the city office or any other influential place. The reason we can go in is that you have agreed to join the Spirit Pagoda and Chen Rong gave you a preferred treatment by handing me this certificate and asking me to get you your first spirit as quickly as possible."

" Well, he also has his reasons since if you get your spirit start at such a young age and just right before Pagoda academy starts he will get some benefits to upgrade his spirit rank."

" Well if you are not connected with any powerful organizations you will have to go to the city office and apply for one which requires you to show some strength to get it. There various types of certificate which lets you enter the regional forest based on it. The city official certificate will allow you to have access to forest outside the city, the provincial office certificate gives you the right to allow access to the provincial forests, at last, its the Capital office allows you access to all the forests within the specific capital's range."

" By the way, there are spirit beasts here that can let you level up to only Spirit Sovereign after that you have to go the frontlines to get your chance. Which are divided like this. City forest have beasts of Spirit chief level, province forest has the spirit beasts around spirit duke level and Capital Forest has spirit beasts of Spirit Sovereign level."

At this time the guard returned us the certificate and nodded while saying us.

" Be careful."

Entering the forest I took around while all the clamoring from outside disappeared filling the atmosphere with more tranquility and calm air, giving people a refreshed feeling, letting the people feel more free and open, without any outside worry.

I took a deep breath of the surrounding air calming my rolling and excited emotions, quietly murmuring to myself.

" Just you wait my little star, I'm coming to get you."