"How will you know when I'm done though? Unless you plan on waiting in Underwood City this entire time." Venix questioned.
"Don't worry, by the time you get there, you'll know exactly where to meet me." Minos said with a mysterious smile.
Venix believed in Minos's ability to get things done, so he didn't continue questioning him, instead he asked a different question.
"How about you? What are your plans?"
"Well first and foremost, I need to get a new cultivation technique. Green Bull Tendon Fist can only break through the first three Life Lock's, so I'm going to need something more advanced."
Venix pondered for a moment as Minos said that, before reaching into one of his rings and pulling out a book.
"Here, this is the 'Twelve Beast Movement Tome.' It'll let you break through all twelve life locks. Three more than what I thought the limit was."
Minos wasn't a sentimental person, so he said no extra words, but he took this favor to heart, and would naturally pay it back in the future.
"Well, I guess this is goodbye…" Venix couldn't help but say, slightly sad. Minos could be considered his first real friend, and this trial completely solidified the trust they had in one another.
But the things he planned to do from now on were dangerous, and he didn't want to drag Minos into his revenge.
"I guess it is. Good luck, and hopefully we'll meet again soon." Minos smiled. The two looked at each other, clasping their hands in one final shake, before leaving the cave in different directions.
Minos didn't look back, there was no need. Without much difficulty, he found his horse, which was still tethered to a tree and had fortunately survived Minos's entire journey.
Unleashing it, he hopped on its back and headed back to Underwood City. The hundreds of people who had entered this forest with him would forever remain here, reminders of the cruelty of the cultivation path.
…
The sun had reached the middle of the sky, and Minos entered Underwood City under its brilliance. He had washed away his disguise in the forest, revealing his white hair and pale skin.
He was still a little confused about what he planned to do from this point forth. While he could go back to the sect, he knew revealing his improved cultivation would raise suspicions, and Minos didn't want to be targeted.
There was also a lot he wanted to do that he couldn't under the eye of the sect, mainly being experimenting with talismans.
The talisman path was an incredibly wide one, arguably with just as many intricacies as the cultivation path itself. There were a lot of ideas Minos had in mind, which would require tremendous amounts of wealth.
Since that was the case, Minos's next path became obvious, but before that, he needed a better map.
Walking around the city for a little while on his horse, he soon found a large building with a massive sign that read 'Nine Treasures House' on the front. There were two massive jade lions on either side of the door, and people were constantly walking in and out.
Minos quickly tethered his horse before walking in as well. The inside was quite opulent, with the floor paved in marble, a golden chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
"What can I help you with, young master?" Said a beautiful young receptionist, who seemed to have popped out of nowhere.
"I need a map, one of the entire Alephora continent." Minos replied.
"Well young master, you've come to the right place. That will be 10 Nux Crystals." She answered.