However, utilizing his Spirit Wood Technique, he found that far off in the distance, a forest was engulfed in fog. In the Secret Realm Manual, it was referred to as the Misty Forest, which contained the first Medicine Garden of the Wood Element region.
At his current speed, he estimated a travel time of at least two days. As for the deepest reaches of the forest, where the Medicine Garden with Spirit Grass for life-extension and foundation replenishment was located, he expected it would take more than ten days, assuming he didn't stop for anything else along the way.
Without a second thought, he decided to head towards the Misty Forest. This decision was not driven by the need for the Spirit Grass within the garden, but because this route was a necessary one to reach the deeper parts of the Secret Realm.
This area was a canyon, with the Misty Forest acting as a bridge connecting two regions. If one didn't pass through the Misty Forest, the only other option was to fly.