Regarding the matter of Demon Lord Yueying, Ling Yunhe indicated he was also unaware of the details. He had only encountered Demon Lord Yueying by chance while the latter was pursuing "Tian Can." Under duress, "Tian Can" had entrusted him with a message and promised to invite him along.
Mo Tiange felt a pang of worry. "Demon Lord Yueying is, after all, one of the three great late-Nascent Soul demonic cultivators in Yunzhong. If Nie Wushang is being hunted by him, what if..."
Qin Xi, however, said, "Look at Ling Yunhe's demeanor. He's not the least bit anxious, which tells us Nie Wushang is in no immediate danger. She is, after all, the disciple of the Venerable Songfeng. She managed to forcibly cross the South Sea even at the Core Formation stage, which shows she has some treasures at her disposal. Escaping with her life shouldn't be a major problem."
Hearing this, Mo Tiange found it reasonable. Her concern had clouded her judgment.
Since they had decided to invite Jing Xingzhi to join them, Qin Xi did not delay. That very day, he personally made a trip to Fengxi Valley on Jiuling Mountain in the Jin Kingdom. Mo Tiange stayed behind to host Ling Yunhe.
Now that the Xuanqing Sect had established a large number of Teleportation Arrays, travel was much more convenient. Qin Xi first teleported to the border between Kunwu and the mortal world, then flew the remaining distance. In just half a day, he arrived at Fengxi Valley.
Entering Fengxi Valley, he met Shang Ruwan and inquired about Jing Xingzhi's whereabouts. Shang Ruwan stated that Jing Xingzhi had been in seclusion in the Sword Cave for fifteen years. He had emerged a few years ago and left, not specifying his destination. From his words, it seemed he might have gone to Yunzhong again.
Qin Xi thanked her and hurried back to the Xuanqing Sect.
Upon hearing this news, Mo Tiange said, "In that case, we have no other choice. Perhaps we'll find him once we reach Yunzhong."
Qin Xi thought about it; they couldn't just abandon the trip because Jing Xingzhi wasn't available. He said nothing further.
The next day, they took their spirit beasts, entrusted their cave abode to their disciples, and set off with Ling Yunhe.
They first followed Ling Yunhe via Teleportation Array to the nameless town near Kunzhong City, then used a long-distance Teleportation Array to reach Yunzhong. Borrowing the Jiuyan Sect's Teleportation Array, they arrived at Tianxue City that same day.
Mo Tiange had to admit that the cultivation level in Yunzhong was indeed higher than in the Tianji Region. Not only was the average cultivator's cultivation higher, but daily life was also far more convenient, with Teleportation Arrays available for passage in many places.
Upon returning to Tianxue City, Ling Yunhe summoned Ling Yishun to inquire about news of Nie Wushang.
Ling Yishun reported that according to the latest intelligence, they seemed to have been lingering in the North Sea all this time and had not returned to Yunzhong.
The former North Sea of Yunzhong was the South Sea of the Tianji Region before the Great Cataclysm. After the Cataclysm, Yunzhong shifted northward, so the former North Sea—the Tianji Region's South Sea—ended up south of Yunzhong and east of Tianji. Now, in Yunzhong, the North Sea referred to the true polar northern sea.
The polar North Sea was desolate in the extreme. Apart from some ferocious beasts, it was completely uninhabited. Due to the harsh conditions, the sea beasts were few in number but immensely powerful. Ling Yunhe indicated that the former perilous sea, the Guixu Sea, couldn't even be compared. Even Nascent Soul cultivators were reluctant to venture there.
Hearing this, Mo Tiange grew very cautious and inquired in detail about the conditions of the polar North Sea. Fortunately, Ling Yunhe had come prepared and explained everything to them thoroughly.
In the North Sea, the most dangerous element was the Aurora that perpetually covered the entire sea area. Its magnetic force disrupted the Five Elements and destabilized Yin and Yang. Within its range, a Nascent Soul cultivator's power would be greatly diminished. This sea area illuminated by the Aurora was called the Arctic Circle in Yunzhong. The second danger was the Hurricane Wind that blew intermittently. This wind contained a strange power; every time it swept through, space would become unstable. There was almost no way to resist it; one could only avoid it.
Mo Tiange thought to herself that these two factors were probably why Demon Lord Yueying couldn't do anything to Nie Wushang.
It was only after arriving at Tianxue City that Ling Yunhe revealed his own circumstances.
He had formed his Nascent Soul twenty years after returning from the Guixu Sea. Although he hadn't obtained the Vermilion Bird Bow back then, misfortune turned to fortune. The Vermilion Bird's Breath had coursed through his meridians, actually widening and tempering them to an incredibly robust state, so he faced no obstacles during his Nascent Soul formation. After forming his Nascent Soul, he followed convention and relinquished his position as Sect Master of the Jiuyan Sect, becoming a Supreme Elder instead.
Mo Tiange calculated. Ling Yunhe had formed his Nascent Soul even before she did. Back in the Guixu Sea, he was only at late Core Formation stage. Yet within twenty years, he had advanced through Core Formation Perfection and stepped into the Nascent Soul realm in one go. This showed just how great the benefits the Vermilion Bird's Breath had brought him. Thinking of this, Mo Tiange felt slightly comforted. At least they hadn't harmed Ling Yunhe too badly.
Recalling this matter, Mo Tiange joked, "Fellow Daoist Ling, now that the two of us are right under the Jiuyan Sect's nose, will your esteemed sect seize the chance for revenge?"
Ling Yunhe smiled faintly. "Over these years, Elder Uncle Yuanmu's injuries have never fully healed, and Elder Uncle Tiemian is on the verge of passing away. The Jiuyan Sect has no mind to trouble the two of you."
"Is that so?" Mo Tiange withdrew the smile from her face. She had played a part in the Jiuyan Sect's current predicament. It was best not to say anything more.
After a moment of silence where neither side had anything to say, Ling Yunhe spoke up. "You two should rest first. Once we have confirmed news, we will set out."
They naturally had no objections, nor was it appropriate to have any. After resting in Tianxue City for a day, Ling Yunhe obtained the latest news about Nie Wushang the following day, and they departed.
They continued to utilize long-distance Teleportation Arrays along the way, teleporting directly from Tianxue City to Beiji Island. The current Beiji Island was truly worthy of its name; among the confirmed landmasses, it was the northernmost.
In just over twenty years, the once bustling and lively Beiji Island now lay desolate before their eyes. All the shops had moved away, no residents were in sight, and the streets were empty. In the bleak, cold wind of the North Sea, shop signs that hadn't been blown away yet swayed precariously, a scene of utter desolation.
Witnessing this, Ling Yunhe sighed. "Who could have predicted in the past that Beiji Island would one day become so desolate? Human effort and resources are no match for the power of heaven and earth."
Mo Tiange and Qin Xi remained silent. They too had seen the former Beiji Island. Compared to what lay before them now, it was almost a different world.
In the cold wind, a hunched figure slowly approached. When it reached them, it revealed an aged face.
"Honored Immortals," the old man bowed respectfully to the three of them. "Beiji Island is already deserted. If you've come for trade, you should turn back quickly."
The old man was merely a mortal and couldn't discern their cultivation levels, hence his guess. In the first few years after the Great Cataclysm, cultivators who had just emerged from seclusion, unaware of the situation, would often come to Beiji Island to hunt beasts or trade, only to make the trip in vain.
"Old sir, thank you for the reminder. We are not here for trade," Ling Yunhe replied amiably.
"Grandfather! Grandfather!" Before the old man could speak, a call came from not far away. A sturdy young man came looking for him.
"Grandfather!" This youth was a Qi Refining cultivator with spiritual roots. Seeing the old man, he ran over joyfully. The next moment, spotting the three of them, he quickly subdued his smile and bowed with some trepidation. "This junior pays his respects to the three Seniors."
His cultivation was too low; he similarly couldn't perceive their actual realms. But the powerful aura they exuded was unmistakable. He guessed they were stronger than Foundation Establishment cultivators, so they must be at the Core Formation stage, right?
"No need for such formalities." Ling Yunhe raised a hand in a gesture of courtesy and asked, "Since Beiji Island is already deserted, why haven't you left?"
The youth said, "It's my grandfather who refuses to leave. He says he's lived his whole life on Beiji Island and doesn't want to leave his homeland."
Ling Yunhe frowned slightly. "But this place is no longer suitable for living." Although Beiji Island wasn't yet within the Arctic Circle, it was very close. The Aurora leaked over from time to time, and the tail end of the Hurricane Wind would also sweep here.
The old man's face was etched with the vicissitudes of life. He sighed, "This old man doesn't have many years left. Let me die here. My grandson is filial. I told him to leave years ago, but he just wouldn't..."
Ling Yunhe looked at the youth and said, "Do you know that living here for a long time will damage your body and affect your future achievements?"
"Ah?" Upon hearing this, the old man panicked and pulled his grandson. "Good grandson, is this true?"
The youth remained silent for a long time, then nodded. "I know. But I can't abandon my grandfather."
"Oh, my good grandson..."
"The homeland is hard to leave..." Ling Yunhe sighed, took out a jade bottle from his robe, and handed it to the youth. "This bottle of pills was originally for body tempering. Using them to resist the Aurora and Hurricane Wind shouldn't be a problem. Your grandfather is old and frail; he can take at most one pill. You can use the rest for body tempering."
The youth was both shocked and delighted. "Senior, this..."
"Take it."
The youth accepted it and, without another word, knelt and kowtowed. "Thank you, Senior."
The old man beside him also bowed repeatedly. "Thank you, Honored Immortal, thank you. You are truly too kind."
"A mere trifle, not worth mentioning." Ling Yunhe said this lightly, then turned to Mo Tiange and Qin Xi. "Let's go."
With that, he took the lead. Without any visible flying motion, he was already far away.
Mo Tiange and Qin Xi exchanged a glance and followed.
They could both tell that Ling Yunhe's behavior during this meeting was very strange. The former Ling Yunhe, though valuing loyalty and righteousness, would never show it on his face, much less be so sentimental.
Mo Tiange couldn't figure it out. Qin Xi knew even less about Ling Yunhe. After pondering, she simply asked directly, "Fellow Daoist Ling."
Ling Yunhe, flying ahead, didn't stop, only responding faintly, "Hmm?"
She said, "Have you encountered something?"
Ling Yunhe didn't answer for a long while. He was flying at the very front, so they couldn't see his expression.
After a long time, they heard his soft voice. "If everything is destroyed, what meaning is there in fighting and striving..."
Everything is destroyed...
Qin Xi suddenly stopped. Mo Tiange stopped with him.
Ling Yunhe flew for a while, noticing they weren't following, and had to turn back.
"What's wrong with you two?"
Qin Xi stared intently at him. "What do you mean, 'everything is destroyed'?"
Ling Yunhe smiled, appearing completely unconcerned. "Just a casual remark."
"I'm afraid not, right?" Qin Xi also smiled. "Although you and I have no great enmity, we do have a grudge with the Jiuyan Sect over seizing treasures. The current difficult situation of your sect's two late-Nascent Soul Great Cultivators is somewhat related to us. Under such circumstances, an ordinary person would hardly be willing to associate with us. Yet you not only bear no grudge but also traveled a thousand miles just to deliver a message..." At this point, Qin Xi's expression turned cold. "Fellow Daoist Ling, if you still have sincerity, it's best to speak the truth."
Ling Yunhe stared at him but remained silent.
Qin Xi neither pressured him nor gave up, his gaze calm and direct.
Suddenly, Ling Yunhe laughed. His gaze shifted to Mo Tiange beside him. "If it were anyone else, I wouldn't. But for her..."