When Yunxi and Xun Kun appeared above the large white flying boat of Jihan Gate, Han Lian and Yun Chen Fózǐ stepped onto the deck at the same time.
"Ran Xi, Xun Kun, you are here."
Confirming that these were the ones she had been waiting for, Han Lian swept her sleeve to open the boat's ward and invited the two aboard.
After Yunxi and Xun Kun landed on the deck, there were a few polite greetings, then the two were led into the cabin.
Only after the four figures vanished did the Jihan Gate disciples on deck start whispering."Did you see? The one in the red robe is Haoran Sect's Ran Xi Zūnzhě. The one in the black robe with the mask should be Kunmo Sect's Xun Kun Zūnzhě. They both advanced to Divine Transformation through this Grand Tournament."
"I saw, I saw. Their bearing is extraordinary. But there was a problem with the Nascent Soul stage tournament. How did they break through to Divine Transformation so quickly?"
"I do not know the details. I only remember the Yuányīng Zhēnjūn who competed were all pulled into the Shanhe Scroll. What happened afterward is anyone's guess. But that explosion, I remember it clearly. If the Divine Transformation Ancestors of each region had not acted, Huaxian Gate might have been destroyed."
"Your news is too stale. I am friends with a Golden Core cultivator from Huaxian Gate. He says evil cultivators laid a trap in advance to wipe out the Nascent Soul contenders from the five regions. Those who survived were the ones who broke through to Divine Transformation inside the Shanhe Scroll."
A round of sharp intakes of breath sounded. A female cultivator spoke in a low voice. "No wonder that since boarding, I have only seen two newly advanced Divine Transformation Zūnzhě. None of the other Nascent Soul cultivators who went to the tournament are here. Could it be as you said, that they all died in the Shanhe Scroll?"
"Most likely. Have you noticed the Ancestor has not shown himself since boarding?"
"Our sect lost six Nascent Soul cultivators."
Silence settled over the deck. The joy at welcoming new Divine Transformation experts guttered out at once.
Inside the cabin, the four sat together while Han Lian explained the Misty Snow Domain and the dangers of the Polar Extreme Wind Zone.
"The Misty Snow Domain opens once every one hundred fifty years. It limits cultivation. Only Nascent Soul cultivators can enter. The entrance is never fixed. Finding it and passing through depend on fortune.
Roughly five hundred years ago, the entrance appeared within the Polar Extreme Wind Zone. Nascent Soul cultivators who could not pass through the winds missed their chance. A few cultivators did step into the Extreme Winds, but whether they entered the secret realm or returned alive, no one knows.
This time, my master learned that the entrance has opened within the Polar Extreme Wind Zone again, even deeper than before. She does not approve of us taking the risk."
Listening, Yunxi matched those facts to what she had found in the Hive. Her brows lifted. "Han Lian, hearing all this, I think the Misty Snow Domain must have a realm spirit."
Han Lian nodded. "Yes. That is what my master says as well. The last time the entrance appeared in the Extreme Winds coincided with the escalation of the Weiyu Realm's war against evil cultivators. The realm spirit placed the door in the Northern Region's peril to avoid drawing the righteous and the evil into the realm, without violating the timetable of its openings."
"Amitabha. Secret realms that have become self-contained worlds will grow self-awareness. Seeking benefit and avoiding harm is instinct. A realm spirit is even more perceptive than cultivators," Yun Chen said.
Xun Kun cradled his teacup. "By that logic, if the entrance lies deeper in the Extreme Winds this time, it may mean the realm does not wish to be found. Is there any point in going?"
Yunxi nodded slightly. "Xun Kun makes sense. The evil cultivators have not acted often lately, but whenever they do, it is something major. This time the Shanhe Scroll fell under their control and cost so many Nascent Soul lives. It is normal for a realm spirit to avoid us."
Her words drew the three into silence. As those who had lived it, they knew that helplessness best.
Han Lian let out a self-mocking laugh, the usual free ease gone from her face. "I watched comrades self-detonate one after another. All I could do was grit my teeth and hang on. I did not expect to leave the Shanhe Scroll alive. I only wanted to kill as many evil souls as I could, to keep their deaths from being in vain, to keep those souls sealed, to keep the dragon fang from escaping."
"Amitabha. My thoughts were the same," Yun Chen said. "As Yunmen Temple's Fózǐ, if I self-detonated, I could wound Long Ya and buy you more time."
Xun Kun tightened his grip on the cup and continued, "In Kunmo Sect, we walk the path of demon cultivation. As the sole direct disciple of Lin Lang Zūnzhě, I cultivated a soul-control art. After self-detonating my Yuányīng, I could preserve my spirit. I would hand the Soul Control Bell to whoever survived. You could wield my soul to keep fighting the evil souls. Kunmo cultivators press every advantage."
Hearing them, Yunxi understood each of them still carried the aftershocks of that battle. She drew a long breath. "Since we came out alive, we will avenge the fallen and tear out the evil cultivators by the roots. We were ready to die. Why should we fear that we cannot wipe them out?"
Han Lian straightened and raised her voice. "Ran Xi is right. Cultivation is swimming upstream. These are trials from Heaven's Dao. We advanced to Divine Transformation, did we not?"
"Amitabha. Ran Xi Daoyou speaks truly. Let us not be trapped by yesterday's grief. There is much to be done," Yun Chen said.
"Then back to the Misty Snow Domain. If the realm spirit wants no visitors, do we still try?" Xun Kun asked.
"We go," Yunxi said. "The Polar Extreme Wind Zone is a Northern Region peril. Treat it as training. If we cannot force our way through the winds, we will not even touch the entrance to the Misty Snow Domain."
Han Lian nodded quickly. "Indeed. It is too early to judge. Once we reach the Northern Region, the three of you must purchase new protective artifacts. The North is an extreme-cold land of year-round wind and snow. Even cultivators suffer there. Do not get careless because you are Divine Transformation. Inside the Misty Snow Domain it will be colder still."
"Understood. Please help us find a reliable shop when the time comes so we can buy everything we need," Yunxi said.
"Of course. The Northern Region is my turf. I will play host," Han Lian replied.
——
Aboard Haoran Sect's flying boat bound for the Western Region, Sheng Yuhong met Wei Yunqing on deck as she stepped out for air. He cupped his hands with polite formality, then turned to head back to his cabin. He had no wish to see this former junior sister, now Martial Uncle.