Zhao Yangzi, Ye Ju, and Qi Mo set out on a purple bamboo boat. Ye Ju had originally intended to go alone, but Xiao Mo adamantly refused, stating only two cold words: "I'm going!"
Ye Ju stared at him for a moment before nodding. Xiao Mo was on the verge of a breakthrough, but he needed a catalyst. His opportunity lay outside. She hoped this journey would help him.
With Zhao Yangzi's assistance, the purple bamboo boat had grown considerably. Its width had doubled, and its length extended by over five meters, making it large and long. However, with several superimposed formations, the purple bamboo boat could also shrink to thirty centimeters in size, taking up no space in the spiritual ring.
Since the purple bamboo boat was repaired, Xiao Zi had been in a deep slumber. Therefore, Xiao Mo was currently controlling the boat.
The weather had turned noticeably cooler, and a fine drizzle began to fall from the sky. Ye Ju stood in the rain, feeling the coolness on her face.
"Tell Xiao Mo to activate the spirit energy shield. In less than fifteen minutes, it will start raining heavily," Zhao Yangzi said from behind.
"How long will this rain last? Is winter coming?" Ye Ju also sensed the changing intensity of the rain.
"For another month, and then it will start snowing, marking the official start of winter."
"We only have one month, otherwise, with winter approaching and heavy snow, the snow beasts will also appear!" Zhao Yangzi gazed at the sky through the rain curtain, his expression slightly somber.
"Snow beasts?" Ye Ju asked, confused. Was it what she was thinking?
"Yes, the snow beasts from Ice Moon Mountain in the Immortal Realm." Before recovering his memories, Zhao Yangzi knew nothing of the snow beasts' origins. But now, with the rift appearing, the prophecy was being fulfilled, and the snow beasts were a harbinger of the coming storm.
How could the snow beasts from Ice Moon Mountain have come to this world? Under normal circumstances, unless it was by human intervention, snow beasts couldn't possibly cross the void to the Tianchen Continent. Ye Ju had been reborn here, the spiritual quality space had fallen here, becoming the legendary Penglai Immortal Island of this continent! Qing Yang and Qing Yin were also in this world.
Snow beasts are a peculiar species, ferocious and irrational, driven only by the need to feed, consuming both spiritual beings and objects. Their only weakness is that they can only survive in snowy environments, and their cultivation is not very high. However, they are intelligent, understand group attacks, and coordinate their efforts! This is different from the snow beasts of Ice Moon Mountain. The snow beasts of Ice Moon Mountain possess sentience and high intelligence, with leaders within their species; their dependence on snow is the same, Zhao Yangzi explained.
Ye Ju thought about the Tianchen Continent's ten-month-long winter, which would melt in spring. Then the snow beasts would dissipate, making survival difficult, let alone cultivation! Sentience? No wonder the people of the Tianchen Continent stored so many provisions during winter and tried to stay indoors. With snow beasts appearing in winter, those with lower cultivation would become food for the snow beasts.
Ten days later, Xiao Mo knocked on Ye Ju's door. Ye Ju was in the midst of meditation and cultivation.
Ye Ju felt a sense of urgency. With her current strength and the Sky-Supporting Sword, she could fight against cultivators at the Deity Transformation stage, but her realm was still below Nascent Soul. The side effect of fighting beyond her level was insufficient spiritual energy, leading to exhaustion that required ten days to half a month to recover from. This was extremely dangerous; if an enemy were to strike when she was weak, her life would be forfeit!
Within her body, there was one golden core left that had not yet undergone the lightning tribulation. The one used during the memory recovery to cast the resurrection spell had refined the wood-elemental green bead into a golden core. Wood-elemental core formation signified the understanding of life abilities and did not require lightning tribulation. Now, only the white bead remained to be formed.
The white spiritual energy of this white bead was related to Xiao Bai's healing technique; it could be said to originate from Xiao Bai. In her previous life as a Divine Venerate, she possessed lightning techniques, which disappeared when she used them to strip the spiritual quality space.
Fortunately, she possessed the Chaos Physique, allowing her to cultivate any technique. However, she found the healing technique somewhat cumbersome, lacking the killing power of lightning techniques!
"Master, we've reached the boundary monument," Xiao Mo's cold voice sounded from outside the door.
"Okay! I'll be out immediately!" Ye Ju got up and got out of bed.
Zhao Yangzi stood at the bow of the boat, gazing at the distant coastline. The boundary monument was on a small island, and the rift was not far from it. This was why the black-clothed individuals were mostly coming from the sea. Ye Ju emerged and unleashed her divine sense. Her divine soul was powerful, now extending thousands of kilometers. All scenery was captured within her sight…
Suddenly, her expression turned serious: "Qing Yang, I see people from your sect." The disciples of the Chaotian Immortal Sect wore unified attire, which Ye Ju recognized.
Zhao Yangzi was startled and exchanged a look with Ye Ju. He immediately summoned the Qingfeng Sword. Ye Ju put away the purple bamboo boat and took out the Yu Shou.
They were close to the coast, and the boat was too conspicuous. The situation was unclear, so they would use swords to hide their presence and observe first.
Zhao Yangzi gave Ye Ju and Qi Mo each an invisibility talisman, and the three of them set off on their swords. Within a hundred meters of approaching, they saw no figures, only the sounds of fighting. It came from a mountain valley. There seemed to be three factions in the valley. Ye Ju looked closely and, even through the rain, spotted a familiar figure: Tianji. Her Star Guard strategist, Tianjizi. No wonder Yushou had asked her to intervene last time. If it hadn't been someone familiar, Yushou himself would have been flown away.
The Chaotian Immortal Sect and the Canglan Sect had clearly joined forces to deal with a group of black-clothed men. The black-clothed men, without a doubt, were likely from the Imperial Beast Sect. Ye Ju muttered about why villains always liked to wear black.
"You people of the Imperial Beast Sect are running rampant in the Tianchen Continent, committing evil, bullying the weak, and showing no martial integrity. Go back to your Imperial Beast Sect! The Tianchen Continent will not tolerate your arrogance!" a noble young man in ornate robes, adorned with a golden belt and wearing a golden crown, sternly rebuked among the guards of the Chaotian Immortal Sect.
Zhao Yangzi looked at the young man with the golden crown with an inexplicable expression. No wonder the news hadn't reached him. The sect had decided to investigate the origin of the black-clothed men but had intercepted the information. Others in the sect were too eager for their eldest brother to gain merit. Humph, his good brother was still not giving up. Was the position of sect leader truly that important to him? Ye Ju noticed Qing Yang's oddity and followed his gaze, realizing he was looking at that noble young man. She glanced at him suspiciously...
Zhao Yangzi transmitted his voice: "He's my elder brother, born to my father and a concubine!" Ye Ju suddenly understood. In Huaxia, she had watched plenty of these melodramatic plots about disputes between legitimate and illegitimate children over family property. To be honest, she rather missed her life in Huaxia; living an ordinary and stable life was also good.
Tianji of the Canglan Sect also spoke. "My lord, it's best you return. Crossing the border without a boundary key is a violation of regulations. Moreover, you commit evil deeds. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to kill you on the spot today."
"Hahaha, what regulations? We of the Imperial Beast Sect make the rules. You are only a few people; are you afraid of us?" The leader of the black-clothed men glanced contemptuously at the group, believing no one could stop the Imperial Beast Sect's march to dominance. He gestured backward with his right hand, and someone behind him understood. They waved their Soul-Summoning Banners. Instantly, the sky darkened, an ominous wind swept around, and white, skeletal hands suddenly emerged from the ground, breaking through the earth. In a short while, a full ground of skeleton armies appeared, accompanied by wandering spirits.
It was truly seeing ghosts in broad daylight!......