Frosty Journey
The nights in the North were exceptionally long, but inside the Mountain Lord's pavilion, it was warm and tranquil, as if it belonged to a different world from the howling snow outside the window. Bi Fang's feather robe lay folded to one side, while Wu Ying sipped the hot soup the little imp had brought her. Listening to the sound of snow falling outside, she felt no sleepiness.
At Yunhe's fingertip, a glass bead slowly rotated, its surface shimmering with iridescent light, reflecting the direction of the northern land's veins against the backdrop of snow. Using this "map," she meticulously deduced the possible escape routes of the ten-thousand-year-old ice spirit, as well as the lush and verdant areas where the soul-possessed coral flourished.
Handing the medicine back to the little ghost, Wu Ying gazed at Yun He's profile illuminated by the flowing light and softly broke the silence: "Immortal Venerable, what is that Soul-Attaching Coral...?"
The spinning beads paused, the flowing light momentarily stilled. Yunhe glanced at her, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "You want to ask about the Mountain Lord?"
Before Wu Ying could nod, she tossed aside the glass bead and began to explain, "Back then, the Mountain Lord, in the form of a tiger demon, was undergoing the final tribulation to become an immortal. He was ambushed by villains, but fortunately, his younger sister arrived in time to take the last few bolts of heavenly lightning for him. To take the tribulation for someone else is an act of disrespecting the natural order of heaven. The Mountain Lord successfully became an immortal, but his sister's soul was scattered, leaving only a wisp of her soul attached to a cat's body. The Soul-Attaching Coral has the effect of gathering and solidifying the soul, a treasure for defying fate. However... the process of gathering the soul is lengthy, and solidifying the soul is extremely prone to backlash. This is not a secret; you could go directly to the Mountain Lord, and he would tell you. There's no need for you to go through all this trouble and try to get information from me indirectly."
Her tone was flat, as if she were stating something completely ordinary, but Wu Ying could keenly detect a hint of extremely calm emotion in it.
Similar to immortals and demons, demons also possess extremely long lifespans. Although her cultivation is inferior to that of the immortal Mountain Lord, over the millennia, Wu Ying has witnessed far too many deeply obsessed individuals, some who drift through life in a daze and ultimately die, others who waste their years on a sliver of hope and eventually go mad. She couldn't help but wonder if, beneath the Mountain Lord's carefree smile, lay an insurmountable despair and unwavering resolve. She also couldn't help but think of Yun He, who was also an immortal. But she wondered, when she spoke of the Mountain Lord and his sister, did she ever recall her own path to immortality? Was her own path to immortality just as arduous?
Perhaps it was late at night, and she was a little confused. Wu Ying blurted out the question, startled, and quickly covered her mouth, realizing her foolishness. Yun He, however, didn't seem offended. He calmly withdrew his gaze and simply said, "My path to immortality? It's something too distant. I've never bothered to remember or recall it. It's all in the past anyway. What's the point of dwelling on it? It only adds to my troubles."
"Go to sleep," Yunhe got up and went out the door. "We will enter the Frosty Sea tomorrow, so we must concentrate on dealing with it."
Wu Ying obeyed and went to bed, the Bi Fang Feather Robe covering her. Before sleeping, she glanced at Yun He's retreating figure one last time. The Azure-Clad Immortal was leaning against the railing, gently wiping the Soul Lamp in his hand before putting it away and returning to his room.
The following morning, the mountain king personally saw him off. Several strong little devils were already waiting outside the building, carrying a sedan chair.
“The Frost Sea is a long way, and the closer you get to the core, the more chaotic the spiritual energy becomes. If you try to travel by wind, you're more likely to get lost in the wind and snow. These are old buddies; they know the way and can withstand the pressure of the seabed.” Mountain Lord patted the arm of the leading imp and then took out an ice crystal to give to Wu Ying. “During the chaos of battle, Cloud Crane may not have time to look after you. This can protect you from some common beasts. If the situation becomes critical, you can crush it, and the ley lines and the wind and snow will tell me the location.”
He paused, then smiled gently and said, "You'd better hold on tight, it's very bumpy underwater."
Just as Wu Ying was about to express her gratitude, the ice sedan chair shot off like an arrow and plunged into the swirling snow.
As the Mountain Lord had said, the deeper they ventured into the heart of the Northern Territory, the more violent and chaotic the spiritual energy became. Often, one moment the sky was clear and blue, and the next a blizzard raged with thunder and lightning. However, under the control of the little devils, the ice sedan nimbly avoided ice cracks and sudden avalanches.
Yunhe paid no heed, seizing the time to close his eyes and rest. A fraction of his immortal power emanated, forming a barrier to protect the entire ice palanquin. Wuying, her lips white from the jolting, and seeing the apocalyptic chaos outside, felt a cold sweat break out on her palms. If it weren't for the feathered robes given to her by Yunhe and the Mountain Lord, she feared she would have been torn to shreds by the power of heaven and earth—no wonder the Demon Lord wasn't allowed to come in person.
After an unknown amount of time, just as Wu Ying was about to succumb to motion sickness, the howling wind was gradually replaced by a deep, muffled roar. A strong, salty, fishy smell permeated the cool, dry air of the snowy landscape.
Yunhe finally opened his eyes: "We've arrived."
Before me stretched a vast, boundless frozen sea. The surface was not entirely frozen; the inky black water surged and churned between the cracks, roaring like thunder. Occasionally, raging waves beneath the ice would burst through the solid ice and roar as they crashed onto the shore, only to freeze instantly, transforming into countless bizarre and magnificent ice sculptures.
The little devils stopped on the shore, and the leader bowed respectfully. He pointed with his semi-transparent hand to a spot on the sea surface, where a huge whirlpool was constantly exhaling cold wind—that was the passage into the seabed.
"Thank you for your trouble," Yunhe nodded and gave the little ghost a few pills. "Wait here."
The leader bowed again, then led his companions to carry the sedan chair back, and found the ice cliff guarded by the snow leopard, where they set up camp.
"Stay close." A hazy celestial light emanated from her, and she was the first to leap into the vortex. Wu Ying took a deep breath, paused for two seconds to prepare herself, and then unhesitatingly activated her demonic energy to jump in. Her crimson feather robe shimmered with warm light, shielding her from the icy cold of the frost sea.
Meanwhile, at the Demon Palace.
Pure demonic energy slowly flowed into the azure-blue auxiliary medicine, and Mo Yiheng's complexion seemed paler than usual. Day and night, he had been relentlessly channeling demonic energy, handling government affairs, and guarding against rebellious clansmen making small moves. Even someone as powerful as the Demon Lord was finding it difficult to cope.
But he dared not stop. The more demonic energy he fed the medicine, the better its effects would be, and the less suffering Yun Shu would endure.
Just as he was about to use something to refresh himself, a divine consciousness suddenly entered his mind.
Gentle and soft, carrying the unique morning mist of Yunhua Mountain, it gently soothed his tense nerves.
It's Master! Mo Yiheng instantly perked up and happily went to touch the ball of white light, feeling that all the fatigue of the past few days was worth it.
"Heng'er..." Yun Shu's voice held a hint of heartache, "How long has it been since you've had a rest?"
His master was worried about him! This realization invigorated Mo Yiheng. Fearing that his master would be concerned about his health, he didn't tell him the truth, only casually mentioning that it would only be a few days, and adding that as a dignified Demon Lord, this little bit of fatigue was nothing to worry about, telling his master not to worry too much.
"Master came to see Heng'er today, and Heng'er has forgotten all the hardships and fatigue!" He smiled foolishly, straightening his back even more. "Heng'er is well, and nothing has happened in the Demon Realm. Master, there's no need to spend so much time seeing Heng'er; it's more important to take care of your health."
"You child..." Yun Shu sighed softly. Seeing that she couldn't persuade her disciple, she used the divine sense connection to soothe his fatigue by smoothing his meridians, and then got straight to the point, "Yun Hua recently observed that there is something unusual in the southeast. I am worried that something has happened in the Demon Realm, so I came to inquire... Heng'er, is the Demon Realm still peaceful?"
Southeast... The Demon Realm is indeed located on the southeast side of Yunhua...
Before he could recall, a shadow twisted behind him, and Night Asura appeared silently, his aura fluctuating almost imperceptibly.
"Your Excellency, I have something to report."
"Perfect timing," Mo Yiheng thought to himself. "Just tell him to speak frankly."
"Half an hour ago, the Envoy of Shenyan Domain and the leader of the Seven Fiends entered the Demon Abyss Secret Realm." Ye Xiuluo's voice remained calm, but the content was shocking. "According to His Majesty's orders, although I did not follow them in, I did not stop them either. Just now, there was a powerful fluctuation of demonic energy coming from that secret realm, which seemed to be related to our clan's forbidden technique."
Mo Yiheng paused, then slowly withdrew his hand, a hint of bloodlust appearing in his eyes.
“Forbidden techniques…” His voice suddenly turned cold. “No wonder there was such a commotion, even Yunhua… Is there any other news?”
"Yes. Besides the anomalies in the secret realm, the Imperial Pharmacy has also recently reported that rare and precious medicinal herbs and demonic plants are not growing well, which is suspected to be due to someone secretly interfering and trying to ruin His Excellency and the Fox Fairy's healing and recovery. However, the specific reason for the reduced production has not yet been found."
"...Water source?" Yun Shu, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly said, "Jin Zhu said that after the Grand Elder finished his afternoon class, he specially sent several senior disciples down the mountain, saying that they were to carefully investigate the rivers and streams flowing out of the Demon Realm."
Mo Yiheng immediately understood and ordered Ye Xiuluo to secretly investigate all the major and minor streams in the Demon Realm, leaving no place unchecked. He also said, "In addition, continue to monitor the Demon Abyss Secret Realm and find out the specific purpose of the Demon Array."
"Yes." Night Demon accepted the order, but did not leave immediately.
When the Demon Lord finally looked up at him, he took out a small jade bottle from his robes and presented it expressionlessly: "Left by Wu Ying. She did not explain the effects of the medicine, only saying that it is necessary to persuade Your Majesty when your complexion is not good. Please be sure to take it."
Mo Yiheng: "..."
He silently accepted the jade bottle, his eyes flickering slightly. Several times he wanted to put it down, but ultimately, urged by Ye Xiuluo's silent words and Yun Shu's advice in his mind, he uncorked the bottle, tilted his head back, and drank the medicine in one gulp. The warm medicinal power dissolved, and with the soothing effect of Yun Shu's demonic energy, the pain from the stagnation in his meridians was instantly relieved.
He wanted to say that Ye Xiuluo and Wu Ying were meddling, but Yun Shu was present. Fearing that his master would misunderstand, Mo Yiheng swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue and simply waved his hand, ordering Ye Xiuluo to leave.
Having completed his mission, Night Asura had no intention of lingering to gossip. After bowing respectfully, he once again disappeared into the shadows.
After Ye Xiuluo left, it was Mo Yiheng's turn to be scolded.
"Heng'er..." Yun Shu's voice carried a hint of reproach, "Didn't you just tell me that a dignified Demon Lord like yourself wouldn't be bothered by such a little fatigue? Is everything alright in the Demon Realm?"
The dignified Demon Lord froze upon hearing this, and could only awkwardly chuckle twice before obediently accepting the scolding.
In reality, aside from those two sentences, Yun Shu didn't say anything more to him. The fox spirit merely sighed a few times and advised him to take better care of his health.
"Yes! Heng'er will obey Master's teachings!"
"Alright, stop trying to fool me." Yun Shu's voice was a little ethereal, as if she was sleepy. "Now that you have some free time, you should relax and take care of yourself..."
Mo Yiheng's heart softened, and he could only say, "Okay. Master, are you tired? Don't worry about me... If Master gets better, I'll get better too."
For the sake of our master, no matter how tired or bitter it is, it's all worth it.
“…Hmm.” Yun Shu said dazedly, “I’ll come find you another day.”
"Okay. Heng'er will wait for you."
As his divine sense dissipated, Mo Yiheng's gaze turned icy and piercing once more. No candles were lit in the dimly lit hall; only the auxiliary herb still swayed and emitted a ghostly glow. He gently brushed against the herb's curled leaves, causing demonic energy to surge.
"A clown." A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips, and the herbs seemed to gleam even brighter because of it. "The Demon Realm needs some fresh blood."
If it were just for the position of Demon Lord, he might have spared their lives. But now, they've even set their sights on the Medicine Master—Yun Shu… then don't blame him for cleaning up their ranks before Uncle-Master Yun He returns with the medicine.
The North, the Frosty Sea.
Logically, the deeper one goes into the ocean, the dimmer the light should become. But this principle doesn't seem to apply to the Frosty Sea. As Yunhe and Wuying descend, the surroundings become increasingly bright. The thick ice walls glow with an eerie red light, and some green-glowing seaweed floats in the water, the two reflecting each other, making the surroundings feel like a desolate underworld, devoid of any life.
Meanwhile, the chaotic spiritual pressure in the seawater grew increasingly intense, and Wu Ying even felt the demonic energy within her body throbbing erratically.
After swimming for a while, the seawater in front of me suddenly became turbid, and a piercing roar pierced through the waves. I wondered what kind of mythical beasts were fighting.
"Conceal your breath and hold on tight to me." Yunhe's voice rang in her mind, unusually solemn. "Do not believe what you hear or see."
Wu Ying didn't understand, but she did as she was told. Almost the instant she withdrew her demonic energy, held her breath, and tied her red ribbon with Yun He, the murky seawater suddenly cleared, and the dull thud of the tide receded. In its place was an underwater "capital" made up of a whole corpse, and beautiful singing.
Millions of fish gather here, politely yielding to each other to avoid collisions. The hollows of their carcasses are their dwellings, the swaying seaweed their finery, the delicate shells their currency, and the pale corals and anemones their tombs…
This extraordinary sight made people overlook the most unusual aspect of the place—everything in sight, whether inanimate or alive, was covered in ice crystals and frost flowers.
When Wu Ying came to her senses, she suddenly realized that she could no longer see her companions.
"...Immortal, Immortal Venerable?" A great panic surged up, and she involuntarily called out softly, her hands clenching even tighter, almost as if she wanted to grab the red silk and pull Yunhe back to her side.
Fortunately, she was unable to carry it out.
"Don't panic." Yun He's cool voice rang in my ears. "Tell me, what did you see?"
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