Chapter 492 - The Arctic Wilderness

Among the Levitating Dark Fragrance, a woman in purple who was about 20 years old came out. She stood there in silence with hidden murderous aura and an expressionless face. Her eyes looked as cold as blades, and her whole person gave others a feeling of iciness, which showed that she could kill people without a sound in the dark night.

Xiao Chen looked at her. He seemed to pay little attention to her before. However, since Qingluan personally appointed her, she must be more outstanding than others. Thus, he nodded at once and said, “Okay.”

In the end, Xiao Chen walked over to Gui Xian and the others. Clasping his hands, he saluted them and said, “Senior Gui Xian, I’ll leave everything here to you for the time being.”

Gui Xian nodded. “Boy, remember to find Ren Tianxing. I’m waiting for you to come back.”

“Okay!” Xiao Chen nodded and then arched his hands to say goodbye to None-flower and Yi Tong. Yi Tong smiled and said, “Well, I’ll also wait for you to come back. At that time, let’s drink in your Forever City.”

Ziyun’er said with a smile, “We’ll then call you City Master, hee hee.”

“Koo-chee! Koo-chee! Woo…” The Koo-chee beast jumped on Xiao Chen and rubbed itself against his face. It seemed that it was reluctant to leave him too. Xiao Chen chuckled and said, “Brother Koo-chee, rest assured and stay here. Wait for me to return.” In the end, he turned to look at Huangfu Xin’er and nodded gently.

After saying goodbye to everyone, Xiao Chen was still unwilling to leave. He didn’t know when he could return. But when he returned, he would become the leader of a major force. He then would no longer be afraid of any sect deliberately making things difficult for him, and neither would he fear to tell anyone that he was the people of the Devil’s Practice. At that time, no one would dare to provoke him again!

“Brother Yang, let’s go.”

The group of people did not delay any longer, for they had to hurry to the north border of the Northern Continent before nightfall. After resting for a night, they would find a Flying-cloud Stone shop. Then, they could fly over the Kunlun Mountains by riding the Flying-cloud Stone. After that, they would pass through the Arctic Wilderness.

At once, the nine people levitated their flying swords and flew to the northwest. Seeing that the nine rays of sword light finally disappeared into the sky, Gui Xian sighed with emotion. “I hope he can grow up for real after this trip to the Wastelands. When he comes back, the second stage of the Annihilation Times will come. But if he is still like this, I’m afraid…”

…

It was not until dusk that the nine of them arrived at a city near the northern border. It was called the Northern Wilderness City, but in fact, it was not desolate at all. Instead, it was flourishing and busy like Xianyong City.

No flying on swords was allowed in the city, so the few of them walked into the city. The city was crowded with carriages and people jostling each other in a crowd. If Ziyun’er were here, she would surely jump up and down vivaciously, exclaiming that the scene was very lively here. But… Xiao Chen turned his head around to look at Chu Qi, who was behind him. From the beginning to now, she seemed to have ever uttered a word.

Xiao Chen felt as if an iceberg were following behind him.

“Well, Chu Qi, you…”

“What can I do for you, Master?”

“Well, it’s all right.”

Before nightfall, the few of them found a relatively large Flying-cloud Stone shop. Generally speaking, if they went to other places in the North Continent, it would only take them less than 500 Spirit Stones. If they went to other continents, the price would go up to 1,000 Spirit Stones. However, as soon as the owner heard that they would go through the Arctic Wilderness, he directly asked for a sky-high and fixed price—200,000 Spirit Stones.

“200,000 Spirit Stones? Are you a robber? Master, let’s go to other shops!” Then a voice came into Xiao Chen’s mind.

If Ziyun’er were here, she would definitely say like that immediately. However, Chu Qi just stood quietly behind Xiao Chen like an iceberg. She said nothing and didn’t seem to hear anything. She solely focused her attention on the passers-by nearby. As long as she encountered anyone who looked suspected, she would instantly be on the alert.

Xiao Chen frowned and said, “The price is too high, isn’t it? Since we only have nine people, are 150,000 Spirit Stones enough?”

It wasn’t that he couldn’t bear to use the Spirit Stones, but Gui Xian had told him that money was needed in many places of the Wastelands. Besides, people in the Wastelands might not want to buy pills. Now that Xiao Chen had only about 200,000 Spirit Stones left, the rest of the money that he earned by selling pills at the auction in the Myriad Immortals Pavilion.

The shop owner smiled and said, “Sir, we also know that there are only nine people. It is not because we are not willing to make it a lower price. Not all people can go to the Arctic Wilderness, right? To guarantee your safety, we will arrange the best Flying-cloud Stone and the most distinguished flyer for you.”

Xiao Chen was still frowning. It was apparent highway robbery, but there was nothing he could do. All through the year, no one was willing to go to such a place. The Arctic Wilderness was nothing but a boundless ice plain. If they went there by riding their swords, they would be like birds crossing the seas. Xiao Chen could not bear to think of the result once their True Energy was exhausted or they lost their orientation.

Xiao Chen clenched his teeth and finally took out the Spirit Stones, thinking, “I will equip the Forever City with a few Flying-cloud Stones to save me from the trouble when I want to go somewhere.” So he immediately paid 30,000 Spirit Stones as the front money. He would pay the rest of the 170,000 Spirit Stones tomorrow after they decided to go there.

Then, the few of them went to a nearby inn and ate some food. After a good rest at night, they went to the Flying-cloud Stone shop the next day. The shopowner had gotten the Flying-cloud Stone ready and quickly invited them to go to the square at the back.

At the square at the back, when Yang Qing and the other six people saw the luxurious Flying-cloud Stone, they couldn’t help feeling a little stunned. Even Xiao Chen was slightly surprised.

On the Flying-cloud Stone, there were not only a lot of flowers, grass, and trees but also a courtyard. Outside the courtyard were tracts of flowerbeds and a pavilion with a chessboard placing inside…

The shopkeeper saw the surprised expressions on their faces and asked with a smile, “Dear guests, are you satisfied?”

Xiao Chen nodded. Although the price of this journey was a little expensive, it was also worth it. One should know that even many major sects didn’t have the Flying-cloud Stone that was as luxurious as this one. At once, he paid the remaining 170,000 Spirit Stones. Then, he got on the Flying-cloud Stone with Chu Qi, Yang Qing, and the others.

The speed of the Flying-cloud Stone was not bad. Only in the afternoon, they arrived at the Kunlun Mountains, which was known as the ancestor of ten thousand mountains. The towering snow mountains of Kunlun were endless, like a long dragon laying on this land.

Xiao Chen stood on the edge of the Flying-cloud Stone, looking down at the Kunlun Mountains below. He could even faintly see some snowbirds flying between the peaks of the mountains.

There were many myths about the Kunlun Mountains. It was said that that the Queen Mother of the West had a fairy tree, named Immortal Wood. Later, the Demon King caused a great disturbance within the Heaven Realm, which made the Immortal Wood descend to the Human Realm. It then fell on the Kunlun Mountain.

The place where the Immortal Wood landed gradually evolved into a Kunlun Fairyland that was hard to be found by the people in the world. There were many immortals and rare beasts in the Kunlun Fairyland, such as Bai Ze, who knew the feelings of all things and Hun Dun, one of the four fierce beasts.

However, these were only legends, after all. For thousands of years, countless cultivators had gone to the remote Kunlun Mountains to seek eternal fate. But none of them eventually had ever found the Kunlun Fairyland, and many of them froze to death there.

Of course, some Rogue Immortals once said that they had entered the Kunlun Fairyland, but the truth was not known yet. In fact, the real existence was the Kunlun Sword Sect, which was called the ancestor of those sword practitioners. It was also because of the legends of the Kunlun Mountains, people in this world called Kunlun disciples the Sword Immortals of Kunlun.

Xiao Chen took a deep breath. He didn’t know where the Kunlun Sect was either. He thought, “Perhaps it is hidden in the Kunlun Mystic Land (not the Kunlun Fairyland). I don’t know how Brother Yifeng and Muxue are doing now. Can I see them when I come back from the Wastelands?”

After flying about 30 minutes, they still hadn’t crossed the Kunlun Mountains, but the temperature was getting lower and lower. Even though this luxury Flying-cloud Stone had several layers of defensive barriers, they could still feel the bone-chilling coldness outside.

Although it was frigid, for some reason, Xiao Chen suddenly had some strange feelings in his heart. Somehow, when the Flying-cloud Stone arrived in the sky above this mountain range, he suddenly felt that the place below looked very familiar and friendly to him. This feeling became increasingly intenser, and it became so strong that he nearly wanted to go down there immediately.

“Brother Xiao, what’s wrong?” Aside, Yang Qing asked when he saw Xiao Chen’s strange expression.

Finally, Xiao Chen came to his senses and shook his head. “I’m fine.” He answered with some frustrating meaning in his tone. Xiao Chen didn’t know what was going on either, but suddenly, he felt… It was an indescribable feeling, which strongly attempted him to go down.

“Elder brother, can you please stop for a while? I want to stay here and watch for a while longer,” asked Xiao Chen, looking at a middle-aged man who was controlling the Flying-cloud Stone not far away.

The middle-aged man was dressed in a long green robe. When he heard Xiao Chen’s request, he seemed to be in a dilemma. Smiling bitterly, he said, “This is absolutely impossible. The mountains here are relatively high, and the physical features of this place are dangerous. Beyond these, it is very easy to encounter a cold current here. If we suddenly stop here, I’m afraid that the Flying-cloud Stone will lose control. That will come to no good end.”

“Is that so…” Xiao Chen couldn’t help feeling a little lost. Somehow, he suddenly had a feeling of attachment to this place.

Just as he finished speaking, the entire Flying-cloud Stone suddenly shook violently. Before he could react, Chu Qi had already activated his weapon in an instant and cropped up beside Xiao Chen to protect him. “Be careful, Master!”

Xiao Chen couldn’t help feeling a little startled. Her speed of reaction was much faster than Qingluan’s. The middle-aged man, who was controlling the Flying-cloud Stone, smiled and said, “It doesn’t matter. It’s just an ordinary cold current. My guests, please come inside and have a rest. Someone will send food to you later.”

Xiao Chen didn’t say anything more. He just looked at the vast expanse of whiteness below, but still, he had this uncanny feeling. Finally, at dusk, the Flying-cloud Stone ultimately passed through the towering Kunlun Mountains and arrived at the Arctic Wilderness, which was outside the realm of the Five Continents.

Looking from a distance, Xiao Chen found that it was a boundless ice plain. He couldn’t help feeling emotional. It had been thousands of years, but the Arctic Wilderness was still here. In previous, it was a vast land in the Immortal Century and hadn’t yet divided into five continents. But also, the ice plain of the Arctic Wilderness was there at that time.

At that time, Immortal’s Practice flourished, and so the evil demons withdrew and kept off. To avoid the Cultivators’ sect of the Immortal’s Practice, many small sects of the Devil’s Practice fled to the Arctic Wilderness to hide. As time went by, thousands of years had passed in the blink of an eye. Now, the sects of the Devil’s Practice could stand up to the Cultivators’ sect of the Immortal’s Practice as an equal. Thus, there was no need for them to flee to such a barren and cold place now.

At the thought of this, Xiao Chen took a deep breath. He couldn’t help feeling a little sad. After flying for a while, the Flying-cloud Stone slowed down. Below the floating yellow clouds in the sky was a vast glacier.

Xiao Chen walked to the edge and looked down, thinking, “Before the Yaoguang Temple, there were two lotus ponds, in which grew a few thousand-year-old wilderness Wilderness Ice-lotuses. Master said that she brought these lotuses back from the Arctic Wilderness when she was chasing after an evildoer of the Devil’s Practice. Did my master really come to this place in the past?”

At this moment, Xiao Chen’s heart was full of unspeakable bitterness, which had accumulated for seven thousand years. He really wanted to go down and see if there was any trace left by his master…

Just then, something glittered on the glacier ahead of them. Xiao Chen fixed his eyes on it, and then his face changed dramatically.

“Stop! Stop now!” He shouted.