Chapter 25: Chapter 21: A person without long-term worries will have immediate concerns.
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In the northern part of the Wilderness, bordering Dazhen, this ghostly place was said to have boundaries, but in reality, there was no clear demarcation. If one insisted, then the thousands of miles of uninhabited zone between them could be deemed the border.
Even journeying north from the Wilderness, into the territory of Dazhen, one might travel thousands more miles without encountering many living beings.
Chu Ye's Flying Boat raised its defenses, floating in midair, with Mu Zhiqiu closely following behind, providing protection in case of any sudden occurrences.
After all, this place was far from the territory of Daqian.
The forces outside Daqian would be glad to see a Dean of the Langya Institute fall.
After all, a Dao Cultivator at this level was invaluable to Daqian, far beyond that of a formidable powerhouse.
No matter how strong one's individual strength was, it remained personal. But a Dao Cultivator at this level, delving into Dao for many years, with a wide and deep range of knowledge, and without the interference and limitation post-Qi Refinement, had some advantages in certain matters.
For example, improving and creating Cultivation Techniques, secret techniques, even Divine Skills, discovering and creating new materials for Magical Treasures, producing better Magical Treasures, and so forth, could be replicated, lowering costs while enhancing the nation's overall strength.
For Daqian, this value far exceeded a powerful expert.
Usually, a Dean at this level from Langya was rarely allowed to leave the territory of Daqian before Entering Dao.
"Sir, our whereabouts have been exposed, we must return quickly."
"I know, I've almost finished my observations, but I haven't found what my old friend might have left behind..."
Chu Ye gazed north amidst the flying snow.
The cold winds of the Extreme North blew perpetually over Dazhen's western territories, where it was covered in ice all year round. Without unearthing the ice mountains harder than Mysterious Iron, finding eternal ice was easy.
Few of Dazhen's own people lived in its western territories, as nearly everyone gathered in the warmer east.
The mountain range ran north-south, bisecting east and west. After the mountains extended north, they turned east, forming a massive windbreak wall, deflecting the Extreme North's cold wind to either side.
Besides, with Dali adjoining Dazhen's east, warm, moist air from Dali moved north annually, and the cold and warm currents clashed in Dazhen's east, bringing rain.
With various complex factors, the climate differed greatly between Dazhen's east and west, with the east being more prosperous.
The only reason Dazhen's west wasn't colder was several enormous lakes storing heat, plus warmth traveling from even farther west, and abundant unique resources preventing it from becoming a complete wasteland.
Now, on his Flying Boat, Chu Ye could see from afar a new river springing forth, flowing east to west, steaming moisture rising, condensing into snowflakes that fell from the high sky.
Judging by appearances, it had snowed for a long time.
Chu Ye recorded the changes here. Suddenly, Mu Zhiqiu's expression shifted, forming a Seal with his hand, and reached for the sky.
A star lit in the heavens, transforming into a streak that fell into Mu Zhiqiu's hand. The light faded, turning into a palm-sized, transparent You Yu, swimming in mid-air. It opened its mouth, spitting out a scroll, which unfurled itself in the air.
At the center of the scroll, the large "Forbidden" character lay, surrounded by intertwining cloud patterns, constantly shifting. Great power lay within, poised to unleash if anything were amiss.
Mu Zhiqiu stepped forward, formed a Seal with one hand, flipped the other, producing a Big Seal, pressing it onto the "Forbidden" character. The light dispersed, the character and cloud patterns vanished, replaced by dense text.
After Mu Zhiqiu quickly scanned it, the scroll burst into flames, whooshing to ash.
"Sir, let's go back. Not only are the spies from the Seventh Floor active in the Wilderness, but Dali and Dazhen have sent men as well. Sir's presence in the Wilderness is exposed.
Moreover, refugees from the Wilderness have flooded into Daqian, Dali, and Dazhen, especially into Daqian, causing panic among those near the Wilderness boundary. The Evil Dao is stirring trouble.
Furthermore, something happened at the Langya Institute; certain matters require your return."
Mu Zhiqiu urged once more.
"Alright, let's return." Chu Ye looked north again, feeling he missed something. Even if his old friend had Fallen, he couldn't have left nothing behind.
Unaware of Chu Ye's thoughts, Mu Zhiqiu sighed with relief, fetched a scroll, writing a message of their impending return journey, and handed it to the transparent You Yu.
The You Yu swallowed, shrinking the scroll, vanishing it into its mouth, yet didn't leave, continuing to circle the two.
"Ha, Zhiqiu, you forgot, this little thing never works for free." Chu Ye chuckled, reminding him.
Mu Zhiqiu's face darkened, brushing his waist to produce a thumb-sized Spirit Jade, emitting a misty aura, tossing it to You Yu, which swallowed it yet remained.
"Do you think a Kun You capable of spanning tens of thousands of miles from the Capital City will be satisfied with just this?"
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