Jiang Shanghang's answer made Mo Tiange pause. "This..."
Jiang Shanghang smiled. "Junior Brother Ye, you've been in Kunwu for a long time and have seen many beautiful women in the cultivation world, so you don't think much of your own appearance. But this is the Extreme North. Haven't you noticed that the two Senior Sisters are rather ordinary-looking?"
Hearing this, Mo Tiange looked ahead. Indeed, for cultivators, Ai Xian and Xiahou Yuan Xia were far too plain.
"The Lands of the Extreme North rarely have beautiful women. When I first arrived, I found it quite jarring. I never thought much of Junior Brother Ye's looks before, but upon reuniting this time, I realized I missed out on a beauty back then!" Jiang Shanghang's tone was now playful.
Mo Tiange was truly unaccustomed to such jokes. "Senior Brother Jiang, please don't tease me. I'm thin-skinned."
"Heh," Seeing her genuine discomfort, Jiang Shanghang stopped. "My apologies, Junior Brother Ye. I shouldn't have made such a frivolous joke."
Mo Tiange shook her head. "It's just that I'm not used to it. Senior Brother Jiang, please don't mind."
"Mm." Jiang Shanghang thought for a moment, then offered comfort. "Junior Brother Ye, you needn't worry. These Senior Brothers are just curious because they're used to seeing our sect's female disciples. As for those two Senior Sisters, even if they don't like you, you are, after all, a disciple of the Xuanqing Sect. They won't do anything."
"...I know." Cultivators were mostly rational, and besides, she wasn't a peerless beauty whose looks could drive others to jealous madness. Still, the current situation was somewhat laughable. It turned out looks needed contrast. Back in Kunwu, only Bai Yanfei had ever shown interest in her, and his reason was that she met his conditions. Only upon arriving in the Extreme North did she realize she could be considered a beauty.
She surveyed her temporary teammates once more. Lu Rongsheng and Xiang Zhiyang were slightly older, looking around forty, while the others appeared to be in their twenties or thirties. They were, after all, sect cultivators, much younger compared to rogue cultivators. However, their looks were indeed rather average, not matching up to the cultivators of Kunwu, where handsome ones were plentiful—Mo Tiange glanced at Jiang Shanghang, suppressing an urge to joke. Against the backdrop of these people, Jiang Shanghang also looked much more handsome.
The group of ten flew for a long time, yet the iceberg still seemed far in the distance.
Mo Tiange frowned and asked Jiang Shanghang, "Senior Brother Jiang, it doesn't look that far away!"
Jiang Shanghang explained, "Junior Brother Ye, you wouldn't know. In our Extreme North, glaciers are everywhere, a vast expanse of white, so it creates an optical illusion. The Land of Hidden Dragons is actually thousands of li away."
"So that's how it is..." Thousands of li would indeed take a long time to fly for Foundation Establishment cultivators.
After flying for a while longer, the iceberg finally drew near. As they approached, Mo Tiange realized its grandeur was in no way inferior to the mountains of Kunwu.
The majesty of Kunwu lay in its vast, imposing mountain ranges, stretching for tens of thousands of li. The mountains connected, each with its own distinct scenery—some perilously steep and uniquely spectacular, others elegant and composed. Yet the iceberg before them stood alone, solitary and silent, its icy peaks hundreds of zhang high. It seemed as if since time immemorial, it had stood here in lonely solitude, overlooking the Sea of the Extreme North, watching the surrounding icebergs drift, witnessing seas change into mulberry fields, while it remained forever aloof and independent—a beauty of isolated pride.
Looking up, Jiang Shanghang said, "In the legends of the Extreme North people, this iceberg has been here from the beginning. Other icebergs have melted, vanished, drifted away. Only it has remained unchanged since ancient times."
"Why doesn't it melt?" Mo Tiange couldn't help but ask. In the sunlight, every icy peak was crystalline and translucent, shimmering with light, breathtakingly beautiful.
"We don't know." This time, it was Ren Yufeng who answered. His cultivation was the highest, and he was the team leader, standing at the forefront. "That's just how the Land of Hidden Dragons is. Even Nascent Soul Grandmasters cannot answer these questions. Perhaps only when a cultivator emerges from the Deity Transformation stage can we begin to understand."
Having said that, Ren Yufeng swept his gaze over them. "Are all Junior Brothers and Sisters ready? If so, we shall enter now."
Mo Tiange looked at Jiang Shanghang. Before this journey, Jiang Shanghang had said some special items were needed, but he would prepare them for her.
Jiang Shanghang now took out a small cloth bag the size of a palm and handed it to Mo Tiange. "Junior Brother... no, Junior Sister Ye, these are Bubble Fruits. Eating one will form a water-avoidance barrier around your body, lasting for a day. There are several dozen here, which should be enough."
Bubble Fruit? Such a... childish name. Mo Tiange took the small cloth bag and, following their example, took out a fruit resembling a plum, bit into it, and swallowed—hm, the taste wasn't bad, a bit sweet.
Jiang Shanghang also ate one and leaned closer. "This fruit is unique to the Lands of the Extreme North. It's often used to coax children."
"..." Speechless, Mo Tiange watched as Ren Yufeng led the group diving underwater.
She noticed they didn't activate defensive shields. Yet once underwater, a water-avoidance barrier automatically formed around each of them—the Bubble Fruit lived up to its name.
After diving several dozen zhang down, the group stopped. Ren Yufeng took out a jade talisman, recited an incantation of some sort, and sent several streams of Spiritual Qi striking the ice surface. The water above rippled, and a black hole slowly appeared on the previously smooth, unblemished ice.
This was an extremely sophisticated restriction. Despite Mo Tiange's attainments in formations, she couldn't discern any clues. It seemed the Nascent Soul Grandmasters of the Zhengfa Sect also placed great importance on this place. Yet this made Mo Tiange even more puzzled. Since this was an important site for the Zhengfa Sect, why would they invite a disciple from another sect like her? Jiang Shanghang trusted her, but why did the others also have no objections?
There was no time to ponder further. Ren Yufeng turned around. Underwater, his voice sounded somewhat distorted. "Junior Brothers and Sisters, we are entering now. Be cautious and careful!"
Everyone cupped their hands in acknowledgment, their expressions solemn.
At this moment, Mo Tiange felt a bit like laughing. It was her first time seeing such a scene—so many Foundation Establishment cultivators, each talking with a bubble over their head. It was truly... amusing.
Led by Ren Yufeng, the ten of them slowly passed through the black hole. Mo Tiange followed behind, with Jiang Shanghang deliberately letting her swim ahead of him.
The moment they passed through the hole, the scenery before their eyes changed, and they immediately felt a warm, comfortable sensation all over. Under the Sea of the Extreme North, there was only ice and water. Yet within this iceberg, it was a vast expanse of blue, with lush aquatic plants, schools of fish swimming about, refracting points of light—it was entirely the scenery of a warm ocean.
Mo Tiange even felt that the water's surface and sunlight were not far above. A school of silver fish, each about the length of a finger, swam over. Their silvery scales shimmered with silver light under the refraction of water and light, exquisitely beautiful.
She was somewhat enchanted by this sight, even wanting to reach out and touch these silver fish. But Jiang Shanghang behind her changed expression, a sword appearing in his hand as he slashed towards the school of fish.
Startled, Mo Tiange turned to see similar expressions on everyone else's faces, each wielding their magical instruments.
Even if she were foolish, she should know these silver fish were problematic. She immediately flung out her Flying Sky Shuttle, sending a spray of golden light—though underwater, her movements were noticeably slower, somewhat hampered.
Realizing this, Mo Tiange pondered inwardly. These Zhengfa Sect disciples came here regularly and attacked without any hindrance. Yet she was impeded by the water's resistance, her strength significantly reduced. This was very disadvantageous for her...
With ten Foundation Establishment cultivators attacking, the school of small fish was quickly exterminated. While everyone was cleaning up, Mo Tiange quietly asked Jiang Shanghang, "Senior Brother Jiang, these little fish only have a trace of Spiritual Qi, not even Demon Beasts yet. Why then..."
Jiang Shanghang sheathed his sword. "Junior Sister Ye, these fish indeed aren't Demon Beasts yet, but they possess peculiar teeth. If they touch us, they'll latch on—they can even bite through our protective defensive shields."
"..." Mo Tiange was astonished. She had never heard of non-Demon Beasts being able to harm cultivators. Truly, the world was vast, full of wonders.
Next, seemingly harmless aquatic plants actually extended tendrils, trying to entangle them. Some even had huge mouths hidden in the grass, attempting to swallow them whole.
Within just one hour of entering the iceberg's interior, they had already encountered several battles in succession. Only then did Mo Tiange understand what Jiang Shanghang had meant.
Facing these peculiar creatures required constant vigilance. Things that looked harmless could cost you your life. Thus, danger lurked everywhere here, because many small things you might not even notice could be hazardous. Yet if you remained alert at all times, these seemingly harmless things weren't difficult to kill.
After exterminating a swarm of transparent jellyfish, they arrived at a massive coral reef, glowing with a fiery red hue. Mo Tiange could tell these corals were brimming with Spiritual Qi, qualifying as treasures.
At this point, team leader Ren Yufeng stopped and turned. "Junior Brothers and Sisters, these Flaming Corals are also rare finds. We can gather them freely. However, they may harbor some dangerous little creatures. Be extremely careful."
Everyone nodded in acknowledgment, then dispersed to find a spot they fancied.
Jiang Shanghang also pulled Mo Tiange over to one area. "Junior Sister Ye, these Flaming Corals are at least a thousand years old. Let's gather some. Even if we don't gain anything else from this trip, it won't have been in vain."
Coral was only used in a few special pill recipes. She hadn't heard of any uses in artifact refining, so it wasn't particularly valuable. Still, it was a thousand-year spiritual material, rarely circulated in the world. Keeping some might prove useful someday.
Jiang Shanghang had already summoned his flying sword, carefully cutting a cluster of coral. Mo Tiange followed suit, taking out her own small flying sword, carefully cutting off a piece, confirming it was safe before storing it in her Qiankun Bag.
After collecting several pieces, Mo Tiange stopped. She wasn't greedy. Ren Yufeng had said the coral clusters might harbor danger. Taking risks for something not overly precious wasn't worth it.
After a while, Ren Yufeng spoke up. "Alright, everyone stop. Don't gather too much. It's not worth encountering danger for this."
At his words, these Zhengfa Sect cultivators obediently stopped, collected their gains, and gathered around him.
Once everyone was assembled, Ren Yufeng showed no intention of proceeding forward. Instead, he swept a very serious gaze over the group, finally resting his eyes on Mo Tiange, though he addressed Jiang Shanghang. "Junior Brother Jiang, regarding the true purpose of this journey, have you spoken to Junior Sister Ye about it?"