90: Chapter 90: Arrival at Hanhai City

The sound of the carriage wheels gradually faded away, leaving only Qian Renxue and Xiao Wu in the small courtyard.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting shimmering patches of light on the bluestone slabs, while the stray cat had jumped onto the wall at some point, lazily licking its paws.

Qian Renxue walked over and sat by the stone table, her gaze falling upon Xiao Wu.

The young girl was staring blankly toward the courtyard gate, a lingering sense of reluctance remaining in her red eyes.

She remained silent for a moment, but eventually could not help asking, "Back then... why did you think of transforming?"

Xiao Wu turned her head, looking at her with some bewilderment.

Qian Renxue tapped her fingertips lightly against the stone table, her tone carrying a hint of confusion: "Isn't it better to stay in the Star Dou Great Forest with your hundred-thousand-year cultivation? With the Titan Giant Ape and the Sky Azure Bull Python protecting you, almost no one dares to provoke you; it is far safer than mingling in the human World after transforming."

In her view, a Spirit Beast transforming was simply asking for trouble.

Losing one's original power while having to carefully hide one's identity—and being hunted by Spirit Masters at the slightest carelessness—was truly not worth the cost.

If it were her, she would never take such a dangerous path.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Wu sighed softly, her beautiful face filled with helplessness: "I didn't want to either."

She crouched down, reaching out to stroke the grass by her feet, her voice dropping a few decibels as she said, "But that is how Spirit Beasts are. After breaking through the hundred-thousand-year mark, while strength seemingly increases greatly, it also heralds the end of one's lifespan—one only has a thousand years left to live."

"A thousand years?" Qian Renxue raised an eyebrow, clearly having never heard this claim, and asked, "Then what about the Snow Empress's seven hundred thousand years?"

Xiao Wu shook her head: "I don't know either. Perhaps the information I have is too one-sided."

She looked up at the sky, a hint of yearning in her eyes, and said, "Before meeting the Snow Empress, I even thought that a hundred thousand years was the limit for a Spirit Beast. Who could have imagined that there exists something in this World that has lived for nearly seven hundred thousand years..."

She paused, her tone becoming a bit more firm: "Actually, I transformed as a gamble. Legend has it that if a Spirit Beast can cultivate to the extreme after transforming, it might be able to ascend and become a god just like humans, thereby escaping the limitations of lifespan. Even if there is only a sliver of hope, I want to try."

Qian Renxue suddenly understood.

So, Spirit Beasts transforming was not entirely for experiencing human life; it was more about survival, for that ethereal opportunity to become a god.

Looking at Xiao Wu's clear red eyes, she suddenly felt that these seemingly fragile Spirit Beasts hid such tenacious wills deep within their bones.

"It is indeed hard to imagine." Qian Renxue also sighed, saying, "Previously, I thought that the Titan Giant Ape and the Sky Azure Bull Python of the Star Dou Great Forest were the pinnacle of the Spirit Beast World, but now it seems my horizons were too narrow."

The seven-hundred-thousand-year-old Snow Empress, and even the million-year Spirit Beast that Lu Jing spoke of... the appearance of these existences completely overturned her perception of Spirit Beasts.

It turns out that in places hidden from humans, the World of Spirit Beasts had long since evolved such unfathomable power.

The hustle and bustle of the street drifted in from outside the courtyard wall, and the sunlight gradually slanted westward, stretching their shadows long.

Qian Renxue looked at Xiao Wu and suddenly felt that this period of temporarily looking after her might not be too boring.

Seven days later, a plainly decorated carriage slowly drove into Vast Sea City.

Unlike the grandeur of Heaven Dou City, the architecture of Vast Sea City carried a rich oceanic atmosphere; the shops on both sides of the street were hung with fishing nets and ornaments made of strung seashells, and the air was filled with a faint, salty, fishy scent.

Most of the people coming and going had tanned skin and hurried footsteps, and many had tokens shaped like oars tucked into their waists, clearly fishermen or sailors who made their living from the sea.

The carriage stopped in front of an inn in the city center, and Lu Jing jumped off first, stretching his back: "We've finally arrived."

Seven consecutive days of travel, even with a comfortable carriage, left one's body feeling stiff.

Wang Donger and the Snow Empress stepped off the carriage one after another, curiously observing this coastal city.

Wang Donger looked at the unfamiliar dried seafood on the street, her eyes sparkling: "This is Vast Sea City? It's much livelier than I imagined."

The Snow Empress cast her gaze into the distance, as if able to penetrate the city's buildings to see that expanse of azure sea.

A ripple flashed through her ice-blue eyes as she whispered: "Such a dense aura of water elements."

"It is a city by the sea, after all." Lu Jing laughed: "Let's rest at the inn for the night first, then head to the docks early tomorrow morning to find a ship and go straight to Sea God Island."

Wang Donger nodded, then couldn't help asking: "Is Sea God Island far from here? How long does it take by boat?"

"It's not close; if the wind is favorable, it will still take over ten days."

Lu Jing said this while leading the two inside the inn, adding with a smile: "But the scenery on the sea is quite nice; it will be a good chance to relax."

The Snow Empress suddenly spoke, her gaze turning to Lu Jing: "Who is the strongest person on Sea God Island? What is their level of cultivation?"

She was particularly concerned about this information. Although this trip was to help Wang Donger with the inheritance, she still needed to understand potential opponents in advance to be prepared.

"A level 99 super Douluo, Poseidon."

Lu Jing replied: "Her Spirit is the Sea God, and it is said she can mobilize a portion of Divine Power, approaching the semi-god realm when she goes all out."

"A semi-god..." The Snow Empress's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, and her fingertips curled unconsciously.

Although she had nearly seven hundred thousand years of cultivation, if she were to encounter an existence at the semi-god level, she truly did not have the certainty of victory.

"If she is a semi-god, we should not make enemies with her casually."

The Snow Empress reminded him softly, her tone carrying a hint of caution: "In my current state, I might not be her match."

Lu Jing nodded with a smile: "Rest assured, we are going to inherit the God Position, not to cause trouble. As the High Priest of Sea God Island, Poseidon shouldn't make things difficult for us."

He paused, patted his chest, and replied: "Besides, I am, at the very least, the successor to the Destruction God King; if something really happens, she will have to weigh the consequences."

Upon hearing this, the Snow Empress said no more.

She trusted Lu Jing's judgment and knew what the title of the Destruction God King meant.

The three walked into the inn. The proprietor was a chubby middle-aged man who, seeing that they were dressed remarkably, quickly and enthusiastically welcomed them: "Please come in, guests! How many rooms do you need? We have superior rooms here with a good view, and you can even see the sea!"

"Three superior rooms, and prepare some wine and food to be sent to the rooms."

Lu Jing tossed a bag of gold coins and instructed: "Also, help us inquire if there are any ships heading towards Sea God Island tomorrow."

"Understood!"

The proprietor weighed the money bag, his eyes squinting into slits as he smiled, and guaranteed: "Rest assured, guests, I will definitely arrange it clearly for you! There aren't many ships to Sea God Island, but as luck would have it, there happens to be a cargo ship heading there to deliver goods early tomorrow morning. I will go and contact them for you right away!"

Lu Jing nodded with satisfaction and led Wang Donger and the Snow Empress to the second floor.