22 Departure

"I want to go to the Dark Forest to gain battle experience." Said Li Jing to his father and grandfather.

Li Bai and Li Zhang thought about it for a moment.

"Since you're already in the fifth level of the Qi Gathering realm, you should be strong enough to kill the weak Demonic Beasts who live at the edge of the forest… Alright, I can arrange two shadow guards to accompany you there." Said Li Bai.

"Father, I don't want to be accompanied by shadow guards, I want to go there alone." Said Li Jing.

Li Bai frowned, he didn't understand why his son would want to go alone.

"Why?" He asked.

"I want to experience battle knowing that no one would save me in case of danger."

"You know that it is impossible. You are the heir of the clan, your life is very important. Demonic Beasts are not the only threat, you can be targeted by assassins when you are outside the clan compound." Said Li Bai.

"I think you worry too much, father. But if it can put your mind at ease, why don't you give me a Protection Talisman and let me go alone?" Asked Li Jing.

A Protection Talisman was an Earth-grade life-saving artifact. Once activated, it could protect its carrier by absorbing attacks dealt by a cultivator in the Foundation Establishment realm or a tier-2 Demonic Beast. Furthermore, once it activated, the owner of the talisman would immediately know that the carrier was in danger and his location.

A Protection Talisman was very rare and expensive. Usually, a powerful clan only had one of them and even the Li clan only had three of them.

Seeing that his son was so determined to go to the Dark Forest alone, Li Bai started to ponder if he should let him go. It was true that his son has been sheltered all his life and had not left the clan compound for the past seven years. He thought that maybe he should let his son experience the life outside the clan alone, it could be beneficial for him. Moreover, with a Protection Talisman, he would be relatively safe.

"Who would dare to assassinate my grandson? I may be old, but I'm still one the most powerful person in this kingdom! If Jing'er wants to go to the Dark Forest alone, we should let him go." Exclaimed Li Zhang.

Li Bai sighed before finally agreeing.

"Fine, you can go… But you must be back in a week, before the king's birthday. When are you leaving?" He asked.

"Thank you, father and grandfather! I plan to leave right now." Said Li Jing, smiling.

"Alright, I will soon send someone to bring you the Protection Talisman and prepare the carriage. In the meantime, make sure you have everything you need for your journey."

Li Jing nodded and went back to his courtyard.

Li Hua who attended the entire discussion was worried about her young master.

"Young Master, are you really going to the Dark Forest alone? Isn't it too dangerous?" She asked.

"Don't worry Sister Hua, I will be fine and will come back soon." Said Li Jing.

"I'm sorry I can't accompany you…" She said, lowering her head.

When she was tested during last year's Awakening Ceremony, Li Hua discovered that she had no talent for cultivation. She really couldn't cultivate contrary to the maid of Teng Fen, who had a unique bloodline that prevented here to cultivate before it was activated by him.

Li Jing didn't know what to say. He knew that Li Hua cared a lot about the original owner of his body. She acted like a big sister and was even sometimes a bit overprotective with him.

"You should really not worry. I'm very strong, you know." He said, smiling.

Li Hua just nodded, trusting her Young Master, and they both continued to walk towards Li Jing's bedroom…

Inside his bedroom, Li Jing made an inventory of the things he needed.

He still had around forty-five Healing Pills and Qi Replenishing Pills inside his spatial ring and last time he asked Li Hua to bring him twenty Food Replacement Pills. So, he thought that all these pills were enough for a week.

He walked to his wardrobe and stored a few clothes in his spatial ring, then he stored the two jade slips containing the Foundation Daggers Manual and the Martial technique Power Slash, he planned to study them using his Lightning-flame Spirit Daggers in the Dark Forest.

Next, he took a brush and drew a very basic map of the Dark Forest. The author of the web novel had published an interactive map of the Dark Forest and although Li Jing didn't remember every detail of it since there were too many, he still remembered that it was divided into many areas. Each area was occupied by a specific race of Demonic Beast.

Admiring the map he drew, he marked some areas that he should visit once he will be there.

Half an hour later, a man brought him the Protection Talisman and informed him that the carriage was ready.

Li Jing took the Protection Talisman, it was shaped like a large round stone with a rune engraved in its center. Then, he mentally checked that he didn't forget anything and followed the man towards the carriage after he bade farewell to Li Hua.

The Dark Forest was located east of the White Jade City and the journey from the city to the forest took about three hours.