In a perfect world, you start by relying on your own strength.

Shi Geng raised his hand to rub his throbbing temples and muttered to himself, "Using my trump card really comes at a high price... My mind was almost assimilated by the Dao, and I nearly lost my true self completely."

When Xiaobai sensed that its master's aura had returned to normal, it stopped being reserved, shook its mane, and its steps became lighter.

The beast was terrified by its master's aura just now; for a moment, it thought it was about to become roast meat.

As they traveled, the wind swept across the wilderness, and the roars of ferocious beasts and birds of prey echoed from all around. Shi Geng lay on the back of the spirit beast, clearly replaying the strange state he had just experienced in his mind.

At the last moment, he activated the Celestial Mode, briefly borrowing the power of heaven and earth, and manifested Dao patterns all over his body, using the power of heaven and earth to suppress his opponent.

In the Celestial Mode, his consciousness was infinitely close to the Dao of Heaven, all emotions and desires were suppressed, his expression was as indifferent as the ancient Dao of Heaven, coexisting with the Dao, and his combat power increased dramatically.

But this trump card doesn't come without a price.

The price was that his mind and spirit would be deeply tainted by heaven and earth. Just now, he almost completely shed his worldly emotions, leaving only his most rational divinity.

Moreover, it severely depletes one's mental energy. If it remains active for too long, one will gradually be assimilated by the world, eventually losing one's true nature and becoming a puppet that only knows how to follow rules and make judgments.

"This move should not be used lightly before reaching the Spirit Transformation Realm."

Shi Geng murmured softly, the last trace of indifference in his eyes completely disappearing, and he regained his usual radiance.

As if sensing its master's change, Xiao Bai raised its head and let out a soft neigh, its four hooves flying as it carried Shi Geng on its way forward.

Shi Gen leaned directly against the soft beast mane, circulating his qi and blood to nourish his damaged internal organs.

Arriving at a secluded valley nestled against the mountains and beside the water, Shi Geng raised his hand to signal Xiao Bai to stop. He rolled over and landed, found a blue stone to sit on, closed his eyes, and focused on regulating his breathing.

Although he had killed a powerful enemy in this battle, his physical body had already suffered considerable damage from the fierce fighting, and his mind had been impacted by the Dao principles, leaving him feeling exhausted.

Little White lay obediently to the side. Seeing that its master's breathing was steady, it drooped its head to rest, only occasionally raising its eyes to look up, as if to check on Shi Geng's condition.

As dusk gradually enveloped the world, the chirping of insects rose and fell in the forest. Half an hour later, Shi Geng slowly opened his eyes, his blood and qi flowing through his body, filling his limbs and bones once again.

He was about to get up and stretch when he suddenly caught a glimpse of a figure out of the corner of his eye. The person was sitting quietly on a blue stone not far away, and it was unclear how long they had been sitting there.

Shi Geng was slightly taken aback, his expression instantly darkened, and he suddenly became fully alert.

Given his current spiritual level, the fact that the other party could approach so silently meant that their cultivation was far superior to Yu Wuchen's, at least a Spirit Transformation Realm expert, or even higher.

"Little one, you're awake? If you're awake, come with me."

A strong, resonant voice suddenly rang out. The speaker was a middle-aged man with a rough, loud voice, carrying a touch of heroic spirit.

The man was tall and muscular, with broad shoulders and a thick back. His coarse cloth jacket was stretched taut by his taut muscles, making his features clearly defined.

His face was angular and strong, his skin was a bronze color from years of sun exposure, his eyebrows were as black as ink, and his eyes were bright and piercing, his gaze carrying a sense of solemnity and authority.

His beard and hair were slightly disheveled, and his aura was extremely restrained. He seemed ordinary, yet he exuded a terrifying majesty.

"Who are you? Why should I go with you?"

Shi Geng was tense all over, his eyes were full of vigilance, his gaze quickly swept across the surrounding terrain, and he secretly gathered strength in his hands and feet, ready to slip away and escape.

"Who am I? You little brat, you think you can just run away after you've demolished my inn? You'd better come back with me and work to pay off your debts. You can only leave when you've paid them off."

The man crossed his arms, glanced at Shi Geng indifferently, and looked completely unconcerned that Shi Geng would escape.

A child at the Blood Transformation Realm could escape right under his nose? What a joke.

Upon hearing this, Shi Geng's heart skipped a beat. His battle with Yu Wuchen had indeed damaged many buildings, but he hadn't expected that creditors would come knocking on his door.

But he didn't have the money to compensate for such a large inn, so he could only bite the bullet and say, "Senior, I didn't intentionally damage the inn, and most of the damage was done by that guy. How can you pin it all on me?"

The man chuckled, taking a light step and instantly closing in, the surrounding air seeming to freeze slightly. "I'll naturally collect his debt from the Rain Clan. As for yours, you'd better come back with me and work to pay it off."

Shi Geng cupped his hands in a fawning smile, his tone almost pleading: "Senior, it was indeed my fault for damaging the inn. How about letting me go back first, and I'll come back to compensate you after I get the money? Is that alright?"

He muttered to himself, "Working is impossible, absolutely impossible in this lifetime. Every beast in the Great Wilderness is a genius, and I love this place."

The man crossed his arms and shook his head repeatedly: "That won't do. If I let you go and you never come back, where am I supposed to find you?"

Shi Geng scratched the back of his head, knowing that a direct confrontation would definitely not yield any good results, but he was absolutely unwilling to work to pay off his debts.

He coughed twice, looking troubled: "Senior, it's not that I'm trying to shirk responsibility. I'm here on the orders of my elders to gain experience. If I don't return soon, and they come looking for me, then..."

The man narrowed his eyes, a glint of shrewdness flashing within them: "Oh? What are the names of your elders?"

Shi Geng smiled calmly and said lightly, "My surname is Shi, and I believe you understand the significance of that."

In the Kingdom of Shi, Shi is the royal surname, representing the status of the royal family, the significance of which is known throughout the country.

Upon hearing this, the man was taken aback, his gaze falling on Shi Geng as he pondered.

Shi Geng had just breathed a sigh of relief when the other party's words made his heart leap into his throat again.

"Which branch of the Stone Clan are you from? I had no idea that such a person as you existed in our clan."

Shi Geng was stunned. He hadn't expected that the other party was also a member of the Shi clan. This was truly a case of the flood washing away the Dragon King's temple.

He composed himself and answered with a forced smile, "I am Shi Gu, a descendant of King Wu."

Shi Geng smiled bitterly to himself. He hadn't found the Shi Clan, but instead encountered them, and he couldn't even explain which branch he belonged to.

Stone Village has a very deep history, having migrated from the upper realm. It is the first ancestral home of the Stone Clan, but it has long been forgotten by the outside world.

Bringing up the Martial Prince's Mansion now is just a temporary expedient, since I have some connection with the Martial Prince's Mansion based on my relationship with Little Dot.

The man's gaze swept over Shi Geng, and he repeated in a low voice, "The Martial Prince's Mansion..."

He then raised his eyes and asked, "I am not unfamiliar with the Martial King lineage, but I have never heard of you. To be able to fight and kill a Cave Heaven Realm cultivator while being at the Blood Transformation Realm level, even Shi Yi might not be able to do that."

Shi Geng's heart tightened, but he remained calm on the surface, secretly pondering how to deal with the situation.

As he was pondering, a gentle yet inescapable force wrapped around Shi Geng's limbs. No matter how hard he struggled, it was like an ant trying to shake a tree.

"Don't waste your energy." The man raised his hand and gestured, leading him around and taking steps. "It's better to come back with me obediently than to cause trouble all over the Great Wilderness. With me here, the Rain Clan won't dare to touch you."