407 A New Journey Begins

It was a team she had not gone adventuring with for many years. Loeri, Frey, Claire, Rose, Starla, and Annelia were all geared up and ready to go. Blake also stood by Alicia's side. Although at this time they were heading off to a place they had been before, Alicia planned to also head to the southern half of the continent to try to find a soul recovery herb. Even though she had sent out scouts to look for it, the more Alicia thought about it, the more she wanted to go search for the herb on her own. She hoped maybe her luck would be good and she would be able to find one.

To Alicia's question, everyone nodded their head with smiles on their faces. They were all happy that the old group was back together again. It had been many years since they were able to join up like this and every one of them looked older than they had before. Although thanks to their cultivation, their aging had stopped, they still looked older than Alicia by a few years.

"This brings me back. I remember when Alicia would still be blushing at the sight of Blake. Now she can naturally hold hands with him. She even went and did that and had a baby with him. She's such an adult now!" Rose said as she gave a teasing smile to Alicia.

Alicia's face began to turn red from Rose's words as she snorted and said: "Humph! Was it not you who I saw a few days ago holding hands with a handsome young cultivator that looked to be five years younger than you? Are you a cougar going after fresh meat? Hmmm?"

Now it was Rose's time to blush as she never thought someone saw her when she was out on a date! "Alicia! He's- He is only two years younger..." 

"Rawr! We have a cougar here or should I say robbing the cradle?" Starla couldn't help adding in her own teasing words which resulted in her being glared at by Rose. 

"Starla, I may not be able to do anything when Alicia says something but I can still beat you up!" Rose and Starla suddenly began chasing after each other as they ran circles around the group. 

Watching the joking around of her friends really brought Alicia back. It had been many years since she has had a time where she could relax like this. Her journey this time was not one with political means or anything to do with any really. This time she just wanted to venture out and explore with her friends. She would not hold any of her friends back either. She would not try to safeguard them. Unless they were on the verge of death she planned to not get in the way of their fights. 

But now, her friends were strong enough to handle almost everything on this continent. They were powerful enough to survive on their own. She hoped this journey would also allow them to grow even more than they had before.

"Alright, enough joking around let's go or we will be here until nightfall." Alicia said as she began walking forward. Rose and Starla stopped chasing each other and followed after Alicia. 

Their first goal was the Subterranean city, after which they would head south. Alicia wondered what the spirit looked like since she never got to see it with her own eyes. Taking in what she saw in animes and manga in her previous life she could only hope it looked like something from that and not some ugly thing. 

With the speed of everyone getting to the Barren Lands did not take long. They were able to arrive within a few hours. Although Alicia made many lands fertile she did not do so to the Barren lands since the ecosystem here thrived on the hot dry air. She did covert it, it would have killed off a lot of species of animals.

"It's just as hot as it was before. Thankfully I can use my spiritual qi or magic to cool myself off, otherwise, I would be sweating buckets." Annelia complained.

"Yeah, but we will not be in it for long. The underground area is very cool. " Claire replied.

"Humans complain about heat too much..." Loeri mumbled. 

"Loeri you are a dragon you wouldn't understand." Rose who was next to Loeri had heard her mumbling, whispered back.

"This I can not deny. But it is a fact that humans have weak constitutions. But… They are able to strengthen themselves and refine their bodies. It just takes time is all. Trust me, I do not look down on humans. Even if I was not contracted with Alicia I would never dare look down on humans. Your abilities to come out on top even when faced with extinction is quite amazing." Loeri replied. Now Loeri was only saying this because she came to know Alicia, if it was before she would most likely still see humans as nothing but ants but now she felt humans had their own kind of strength. Even if they were a newborn they were able to learn and progress quickly. The knowledge and wisdom, the unique way they use their ideas was truly amazing.

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