After enjoying the scenery, the two of them had their fill. Jiang Shanghang spoke again, "Junior Brother Ye, do you know that this Extreme North Glacier is actually an ocean?"
Mo Tiange was surprised, "An ocean?"
"That's right." Jiang Shanghang pointed northward, "Over there, north of the glacier."
Mo Tiange strained her eyes to look but could see nothing.
Jiang Shanghang leaped up, stepping onto his flying magical tool, "Let's go!"
Seeing his enthusiasm, Mo Tiange also rose into the air.
Jiang Shanghang had noticed earlier that she flew through the air without using a flying magical tool and couldn't help but ask, "Junior Brother Ye, you can actually fly through the air at such speed?"
Mo Tiange smiled, "Not at all. Senior Brother Jiang, look at my boots—this is my flying magical treasure."
Jiang Shanghang had naturally noticed the spiritual aura emanating from her boots but hadn't been certain. Hearing her words now, he took another look, feeling rather envious.
Boots as a flying magical treasure were much more convenient and mana-efficient than ordinary flying magical treasures. However, flying magical treasures shaped like boots were rare, and Mo Tiange had explicitly stated this was a magical treasure. Jiang Shanghang naturally felt envious. Although he was now a disciple of the Zhengfa Sect and received respect, without a master, he was merely an ordinary sect cultivator. He certainly had no magical treasures, only decent magical tools.
The two flew northward for about half a day before they finally heard a rumbling sound. As they flew closer, Mo Tiange saw a vast ocean between massive glaciers.
"So this is the sea..."
"Indeed." Jiang Shanghang hovered in mid-air, gazing into the distance at the sea. "This is the Sea of the Extreme North. Its expanse stretches for who knows how many tens of thousands of miles, and no one knows where it leads. It's teeming with demon beasts, and its rare treasures are beyond counting—it all depends on whether one has the ability to take them!"
Hearing this, Mo Tiange turned her head, looking at him thoughtfully.
Jiang Shanghang turned back with a smile, "It seems Junior Brother Ye understands my meaning. Indeed, for the sake of cultivation, I venture deep into this Sea of the Extreme North to search for spiritual materials to exchange for what I need for cultivation. By telling you this, Junior Brother Ye, I also wanted to ask if you might be interested."
Mo Tiange did not answer immediately. Instead, she turned to gaze at the boundless sea before her. In the Lands of the Extreme North, whether it was the vast snowy plains or the sea before her, everything was so grand and tranquil, making one's heart feel expansive. She felt somewhat reluctant to let the affairs of the cultivation world taint it.
"Senior Brother Jiang, what kind of treasures are there? And what would the cost be?"
Hearing her words, Jiang Shanghang seemed to relax slightly, pointing to a distant location, "Junior Brother Ye, do you see that pointed peak?"
Mo Tiange followed his pointing finger and saw an iceberg, towering hundreds of zhang high, like a sharp knife tearing a corner of the sea.
Jiang Shanghang explained, "That iceberg has a name among us disciples of the Zhengfa Sect."
"A name?"
"Yes. It's not an ordinary iceberg. It has remained unmelted for ten thousand years, never drifting, standing firmly here. We call it—the Land of Hidden Dragons."
"Land of Hidden Dragons..." Mo Tiange repeated, her face showing confusion. Dragons were the most powerful among the ancient divine beasts. The dragon race possessed innate divine arts and were once the race closest to gods. They commanded clouds and rain, swallowed rivers, and spat out seas. Even a newly born dragon child possessed abilities comparable to a Core Formation cultivator! Upon reaching the peak of their cultivation, they would become Ying Dragons, capable of soaring to the heavens, plunging into the earth, and roaming the cosmos—they were also the most carefree race.
"Senior Brother Jiang, are you suggesting that dragons truly exist?"
Jiang Shanghang shook his head, "Whether they truly exist or not, none of us know. But the Land of Hidden Dragons has been passed down by word of mouth among Zhengfa Sect disciples for thousands of years. I have also witnessed it myself—there is indeed a mysterious spiritual aura inside, but no one knows for sure if it's related to dragons."
"Is it dangerous inside?"
"Of course, danger and opportunity coexist." A fervent light flashed in Jiang Shanghang's eyes as he whispered, "We once had a senior who obtained a mysterious treasure inside and directly advanced to the Core Formation stage. But among the disciples who entered, some emerged severely injured, and some perished." Seeing Mo Tiange remain silent, he asked eagerly, "Junior Brother Ye, aren't you interested?"
Mo Tiange smiled faintly, glancing at him, "Senior Brother Jiang, what happened to that broad-mindedness you spoke of earlier?"
Jiang Shanghang was taken aback, a look of embarrassment appearing on his face, but he said resolutely, "I am no longer trapped by the past, but having embarked on the path of cultivation, how can I give up? If I can go further, of course I won't abandon the opportunity to achieve immortality and attain the Dao!"
Mo Tiange fell silent. The Great Path to Immortality. It was these four words that even those with the broadest minds could not see through, let alone Jiang Shanghang.
She took a deep breath, "Senior Brother Jiang, if there aren't sufficient benefits, I have no need to risk my life. Don't you think?"
Jiang Shanghang was momentarily stunned, then, thinking of her current status, he finally understood. Yet he still smiled and said, "This Land of Hidden Dragons isn't just visited by ordinary disciples like us searching for treasures; even the elite disciples of our sect flock to it. Junior Brother Ye, do you think there wouldn't be sufficient benefits there?"
"Is that so..." The Zhengfa Sect was also one of the Seven Great Sects of Tianji, its influence only slightly smaller than that of the Xuanqing Sect and the Ancient Sword Sect. If that was the case...
Seeing that Mo Tiange didn't seem very interested, Jiang Shanghang added, "Junior Brother Ye, don't underestimate the treasures there. Within our Zhengfa Sect, even Nascent Soul cultivators frequently visit the Land of Hidden Dragons. Unless one is a disciple at the Foundation Establishment stage or above, they cannot even invite non-sect members to enter!"
"Oh?" This piqued Mo Tiange's interest slightly. Ordinary treasures wouldn't interest Nascent Soul cultivators at all. What could make them frequently go treasure hunting must be heaven-defying materials and earth-shattering treasures.
Seeing Mo Tiange finally show some interest, Jiang Shanghang hurriedly said, "Junior Brother Ye, if it were anyone else, I wouldn't even mention it. You are my old friend, reliable in character, and your strength is also decent. That's why I feel comfortable seeking you as a companion. You also don't need to worry too much; it's not so dangerous as to be a brush with death. Since I reached Foundation Establishment, I've been there many times, and each time I returned safely. As long as one is careful, cautious, and well-prepared, there generally isn't a life-threatening danger."
"Is that so?" Hearing this, Mo Tiange was somewhat tempted. "In that case, Senior Brother Jiang, why are you so eager to invite me? Wouldn't it be better to go with fellow sect members?"
Jiang Shanghang shook his head with a bitter smile, "I won't hide it from you. In the Zhengfa Sect, I'm just an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator. My relationships with fellow disciples aren't close, and whenever I enter the Land of Hidden Dragons with them, I'm always at a disadvantage. The few I get along well with have rather ordinary methods. If Junior Brother Ye goes with me, with your support, I can also have more say."
So that was it. Mo Tiange pondered this in her heart; these words did seem genuine. Even within major sects, there were small cliques—the Xuanqing Sect was the same.
"Then... when does Senior Brother Jiang plan to go?"
Hearing that Mo Tiange's words implied no refusal, Jiang Shanghang felt a surge of joy in his heart and said, "My return to the tribe this time was precisely to prepare for this trip to the Land of Hidden Dragons. I had already made arrangements with fellow disciples earlier; we have about ten days left."
Mo Tiange nodded, "Senior Brother Jiang, please tell me what I need to pay attention to."
"Actually, there's not much." Jiang Shanghang said, "Pills, magical tools, and the like—I presume Junior Brother Ye is already prepared. There's just one thing: entering the Land of Hidden Dragons requires some secret medicines. But you needn't worry about that, Junior Brother; I'll prepare your share."
"Alright." Mo Tiange formally agreed, "In that case, I'll accompany Senior Brother Jiang on this trip."
Jiang Shanghang beamed with joy, "Junior Brother Ye, I owe you for this favor. I'll remember it."
Mo Tiange waved her hand, "If it benefits me as well, it's nothing much."
After speaking, Mo Tiange observed the surrounding scenery once more before returning with Jiang Shanghang.
Along the way, Jiang Shanghang gave a rough introduction to the Land of Hidden Dragons.
It turned out that before the Zhengfa Sect arrived, the tribal shamans of the Lands of the Extreme North already knew of this place. Every year on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, they would gather here for sacrifices. Occasionally, someone would gain an opportunity from it and advance to the Foundation Establishment stage. But at that time, it didn't have this name.
After the Zhengfa Sect established itself here and learned of this place's existence, the sect's founding Nascent Soul Dao Ancestor went to investigate. He returned after a perilous journey, and only then did the name "Land of Hidden Dragons" spread.
Strangely, over thousands of years, countless Zhengfa Sect disciples had entered the Land of Hidden Dragons and obtained many treasures from it, yet the treasures inside never seemed to diminish.
Hearing this, Mo Tiange couldn't help but ask, "Senior Brother Jiang, how is that possible?"
Jiang Shanghang said, "Exactly. I thought the same at first. But since reaching Foundation Establishment, every time I entered the Land of Hidden Dragons, I found it completely different from the last time."
"Completely different?" Mo Tiange was puzzled, "What exactly is it like inside?"
"Yes, completely different." Jiang Shanghang explained, "The Land of Hidden Dragons is located underwater, so it's an underwater world. But every time we enter, we find the terrain entirely different from the last time. Even the demon beasts and resources bear no resemblance."
"Are there traces of formation arrays inside?"
Jiang Shanghang shook his head with a bitter smile, "That... I can't tell. Even our Nascent Soul Ancestors can't tell."
Mo Tiange thought deeply, "So, it's an existence beyond our current realm?"
"Precisely." Jiang Shanghang nodded, "This Sea of the Extreme North experiences a tide every year on the fifteenth day of the eighth month. After that, the entire scene inside changes completely."
"Can't one stay inside during the tide?"
"Naturally not. It's said that once, someone failed to come out during the tide. After a day passed, they could no longer be found. However..." At this point, Jiang Shanghang paused, hesitating slightly before saying, "I once heard a senior brother reveal that the second layer of the Land of Hidden Dragons only changes once every few years."
"Second layer?" Mo Tiange frowned, "Are there multiple layers inside?"
"Yes. There are three layers inside. The first layer can be entered by us Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining disciples, but the second and third layers can only be entered by Core Formation cultivators and above."
"... Is this a rule established by your Zhengfa Sect over thousands of years?"
"Exactly." Jiang Shanghang didn't hide it, "This was a rule set by our founding sect ancestor. There were once people who violated it, and several Foundation Establishment cultivators entered the second layer, never to return."
Mo Tiange was startled—it was that serious. She thought for a moment and asked, "What exactly is in the second layer? Have any Core Formation seniors in your sect passed down any information?"
"No." Jiang Shanghang shook his head, advising, "Junior Brother Ye, life is precious. Let's just go to the first layer. If we're lucky in the first layer, we can still obtain heaven-defying treasures. There's really no need to risk going to the second layer."