nyslfriends Chapter 1880 Inland Northern Region, the Powerful Northern Underworld Palace!
Chapter 1880 Inland Northern Region, the Powerful Northern Underworld Palace!
the other side.
Inland, in the northern regions!
As far as the eye could see, there was an endless expanse of ice, a vast expanse of white, with the sky and earth all around.
The biting wind howled ceaselessly like billions of invisible ice blades, cutting through every wisp of spiritual energy and temperature in the void.
The air was filled with...
A pure, icy aura capable of freezing one's very soul.
That was an eternal chill, penetrating to the very marrow!
In this white hell where life has vanished...
The sky was leaden gray, and the thick clouds, like a frozen ice cap, hung extremely low.
As far as the eye could see, there was almost no trace of a bird in flight.
Even the most cold-resistant ice-feathered vultures would not easily fly over this land.
Below, a vast expanse of white ice stretched to the horizon.
The jagged ice spikes and snow mounds sculpted into bizarre shapes by the wind were equally desolate, with few signs of life.
Occasionally, one can see a few almost transparent "ice moss" swaying in the cold wind.
Or perhaps a fleeting, twisted, eerie blue shadow deep within the ice.
That was one of the few signs of life on this icy plain.
At the edge of sight...
At the blurred boundary where the sky and earth seemed to merge, a majestic, precipitous, and undulating white outline rose abruptly from the ground.
Like the spine supporting the sky, or like a frost dragon sleeping for eternity—
That is the largest and most mysterious mountain range in the Northern Region, the Tianzhu Mountain Range!
Even cultivators whose bodies have been tempered through countless trials and whose blood and energy are as powerful as a furnace, would find themselves in a precarious situation upon entering this icy plain...
If one does not use all their magical power to resist, they will be frozen stiff and shivering within a short time.
Not only that, but the efficiency of a cultivator's mana circulation is also greatly reduced.
Normally, magical abilities that flowed effortlessly from one's own arm required significantly more energy to wield, and their power was also drastically reduced when used here.
It can be described as doing twice the work for half the result.
however!
The natural order is cyclical; things reach their extremes and then reverse.
This icy plain, considered a "deadly zone" by most cultivators, is... a different story for those who practice water and ice-attribute techniques.
It is the sacred place for spiritual practice that I have always dreamed of!
The richness and purity of the water's spiritual energy and the icy, ethereal charm of this place are unparalleled in the inland regions.
The efficiency of practicing related techniques here is more than doubled!
Logically speaking, even in the harshest environment, many cultivators should gather here in pursuit of the Great Dao, forming a market or even a celestial city.
But the reality is...
The Tianzhu Mountains stretch for thousands of miles, sparsely populated and eerily desolate.
The reason is simple—
This vast ice plain is directly under the control of the Northern Underworld Palace, a dominant force in the Northern Region!
The Northern Underworld Palace uses an iron fist to control all resources in and around the Tianzhu Mountain Range, strictly prohibiting outside forces and rogue cultivators from getting involved.
Any unauthorized intrusion will be considered a provocation against the Northern Underworld Palace.
The result is often that it is silently erased, frozen into a new "sculpture" on the ice field.
This is why, even though the spiritual energy in the Tianzhu Mountains is very rich, it is rare to see any trace of cultivators' activities.
Here, there is only the ancient cold wind and the eternal ice and snow.
And... the terrifying silent rule of the Northern Underworld Palace.
Just then—
At the edge of the sky, on the chaotic line where the leaden gray sky meets the pale ice plain, a tiny black dot suddenly appears.
At first, it was like a drop of ink that had been accidentally spilled on this pure white painting, inconspicuous.
But the next moment, this black dot crossed the sky at a speed that defied common sense and was unreasonable!
Wherever it passed, it left a long, transparent trail that twisted the air behind it.
The sharp sound of something cutting through the air was left far behind!
Only after it had passed did the piercing, shrill whistle finally arrive, only to be swallowed up by the endless cold wind.
The outline of the black dot became clear rapidly at high speed.
That was neither a bird nor a streak of light, but a massive, menacing black warship!
The ship was shrouded in a hazy, dark halo, and its prow was carved with the head of some kind of ferocious beast, its fangs bared.
Even from a great distance, one could feel an overwhelming aura of iron-blooded ruthlessness.
In the blink of an eye!
The incredibly fast warship had already torn through the void, transforming into a blurry, dark streak of light, and plunged straight into the depths of the Tianzhu Mountains, disappearing among the continuous glaciers and snow-capped peaks.
at the same time···
Deep within the Tianzhu Mountains lies the gate to the Beiming Palace.
The void darkened without warning.
A vast shadow, large enough to cover several snow-capped peaks, descended from the sky like a sudden nightfall, covering the crystal-clear glaciers and majestic ice palaces below.
And the all-encompassing, ever-changing radiance of the sect's protective array.
The source of the shadow was that black warship!
It was no longer moving at high speed, but was quietly and suspended in the air thousands of feet above the ground.
Like a suspended steel mountain, it casts a suffocating sense of oppression.
The warship was ten thousand feet long, and its hull was not simply black; it was engraved with countless complex and ancient spiritual runes.
It was now gleaming with a dark and dangerous light.
Most striking are the huge branding marks on both sides of the hull:
On the left is a lifelike five-clawed golden dragon that seems ready to burst through the wall at any moment!
The dragon's body is coiled, its scales are imposing, and its head is held high!
The dragon's eyes were not lifeless sculptures, but two slowly rotating dark golden vortexes that swept coldly across the area below with each opening and closing.
It was as if they were being stared at by the supreme god of death, causing the souls of all those being watched to tremble.
It seemed that with just one command, the golden dragon would detach from the ship, transform into a destructive torrent, and unleash a world-shaking attack.
On the right is a giant sword branded with the sky in the center!
The sword's blade was ancient and simple, yet its edge gleamed with a sharp, chilling light that stung the skin.
The cold was so intense that fine frost flowers condensed in the air around the warship.
The blade was not smooth; instead, it was covered with winding, twisting lightning patterns, from which a faint, low rumble of thunder emanated.
It seemed to be gathering the power of thunder to destroy everything.
This is more than just a means of transportation...
It's also a mobile war fortress!
It is one of the ultimate symbols of the authority and power of the monks' association!
next moment.
A sharp streak of light shot out from the bow deck of the warship, cutting through the stagnant, cold air, and arrived outside the protective formation of the Northern Underworld Palace in an instant.
As the light dissipated, a cultivator clad in heavy black armor stood in mid-air.
Black armor covered his entire body, with jagged barbs at the joints. The helmet and visor fell down, revealing only a pair of sharp, hawk-like, and icy-cold eyes.
The magical power emanating from his body was vast and powerful, clearly indicating that he was a Nascent Soul True Monarch!
Moreover, judging from his refined aura and the faint hint of malevolence, he was definitely not someone who had just entered the Nascent Soul stage.
He was a seasoned veteran.
The black-armored Nascent Soul True Monarch's eyes flashed like lightning as he stared at the seemingly thin but actually indestructible multicolored light screen before him.
The light curtain flowed like ripples on water, within which countless intricate and profound runes rose and fell, appeared and disappeared...
This forms a perfect and powerful defense system, firmly protecting the core area of the entire Beiming Palace.
He stared at it in silence for a moment, then flipped his wrist.
A scroll, neither gold nor jade, made of a special material and with dark gold dragon patterns inlaid on its edges, appeared in his hands.
The moment the scroll appeared, it emitted a faint golden halo, and an aura of solemn, dignified, and unquestionable legal authority permeated the air.
It even briefly dispelled some of the chill in the surroundings.
The black-armored Nascent Soul True Monarch held the scroll in both hands and unfurled it. His lips did not move, but his vast and majestic voice, like a divine decree, resonated through magical power, clearly reaching every corner of the great formation in front of him.
And it resounded even more loudly in this vast, desolate world:
"By the resolution of the General Council of the Monks' Association, a joint decree of the Hall of Surveillance and the Hall of Conquest is hereby issued!"
"Upon investigation, it has been found that Xuan Shuang Zhenjun, an elder of the Beiming Palace in the Tianzhu Mountain Range of the Northern Region, has violated Article 1 of Chapter 1 of the Basic Law of the Cultivator World, the core clause of the Spirit Vein Protection Law, by unauthorizedly seizing and damaging the source of an ice-attribute spiritual vein. The evidence is conclusive, the circumstances are serious, and the impact is egregious!"
"In accordance with the relevant laws and regulations of the Cultivator Association, you are hereby ordered to immediately open the mountain gate, disarm the defensive formations, and welcome the joint law enforcement team of the Cultivator Association to enter and investigate."
"And immediately hand over the involved parties, including True Lord Xuanshuang, for a fair trial by the Cultivator Association's Tribunal!"
"This order shall take effect immediately!"
"Any delays, resistance, or cover-ups will be met with full consequences!"
The last four words struck like a hammer blow on ice, carrying a chilling killing intent and an undeniable, powerful force.
The rolling sound waves crashed against the colorful light screen, creating distinct ripples.
In an instant.
Within the grand formation...
In the magnificent palaces and pavilions constructed from millennia-old black ice and various ice-attribute gems, countless cultivators from the Northern Underworld Palace, who were either meditating or busy with their work, suddenly stopped in their tracks.
Someone was disturbed from their meditation, their brows furrowed slightly, and a hint of displeasure and coldness flashed in their eyes.
Someone stopped what they were doing, a slight, mocking smile playing on their lips.
It was as if I had heard some absurd joke.
Many others, however, raised their heads expressionlessly, coldly glancing at the massive warship and the black-armored Nascent Soul figure outside the formation.
There was not a trace of awe in his eyes!
This was a deep-seated indifference and alienation unique to cultivators from the far north.
They then looked away and went back to what they were doing.
It was as if the noise and threats from the outside world were nothing more than the slight noise of the cold wind blowing across the ice.
Their reactions were remarkably consistent and surprisingly indifferent.
seem……
The cultivators of Beiming Palace do not have as much awe for the powerful cultivator association as outsiders imagine.
Or rather, on this icy plain where they have ruled for millennia, they are the true masters.
next moment.
A voice, colder and more piercing than the surrounding wind, devoid of any emotion, came from the depths of the multicolored light curtain.
His tone was flat, yet every word was clear, conveying an undeniable rejection:
"roll."
"This is my [Northern Underworld Palace]'s territory, and it's not your place to interfere."
Concise and efficient!
It even carried an undisguised sense of disgust and a desire to expel.
Upon hearing this...
The black-armored Nascent Soul True Monarch, standing in mid-air, had a chilling glint in his eyes, and his aura subtly rose, the pressure of the Nascent Soul stage beginning to gather.
He placed his hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist, and even made a more forceful move.
However, just as he was about to make a move—
A familiar, calm, yet indifferent voice imbued with supreme authority rang directly in his ear, transmitted through divine sense:
"Return it first."
The owner of the voice was clearly of a much higher status than this black-armored Nascent Soul cultivator.
Upon hearing this!
The cold light in the eyes of the black-armored Nascent Soul True Monarch quickly faded, and his rising aura also quietly subsided.
Without any hesitation, he glanced coldly at the direction of the great formation, then his figure transformed into a streak of light, swiftly and cleanly flying back into the enormous black warship behind him, disappearing behind the menacing ship's side.
On the main deck of the warship.
The view here is expansive, offering a panoramic vista of the entire Beiming Palace gate below.
The deck surface, engraved with intricate energy-gathering and defensive array patterns, was now emitting a faint glow.
Two figures stood at the bow of the ship.
The man on the left is wearing the official robe of the head of the Surveillance Hall. He has a lean face and three long wisps of beard, and looks quite like a scholar.
He was none other than Xuanming Half-Venerable, the Deputy Hall Master of the Inspection Hall of the Cultivator Association!
now!
Xuanming Half-Venerable had a faint, enigmatic smile on his lips as he looked at the person beside him.
Beside him stood an elderly man dressed in a dark gold, ancient-style battle robe.
The old man was tall and imposing. Standing there, he seemed to be one with the massive warship beneath his feet, exuding a mixed aura that was both as solid as a mountain and as sharp as a knife.
His face was resolute, with features as sharp as if carved by a knife and axe, and his hair and beard were all white, but every white hair seemed to contain astonishing power.
Especially his eyes, which, when opening and closing, seemed to flash with the phantom images of clashing swords and galloping horses, seas of blood and mountains of corpses.
He was from one of the most powerful departments in the Cultivator Association.
—The Lord of the Hall of Conquest, Fu Wanjun, Fu Banzun!
Xuanming Half-Venerable chuckled and said:
“Brother Fu, look, this Fellow Daoist Xuanbing is indeed as rumored, with a very stubborn temper.”
"How should we deal with their ungratefulness?"
His tone was relaxed, as if he were talking about a trivial matter rather than a sect with a history spanning thousands of years.
Upon hearing this,
Fu Wanjun showed no surprise on his face, as if everything was under control.
His voice was deep and steady, with a metallic quality:
"Isn't this what you and I expected?"
Deep in the northernmost part of the inland region, the Northern Underworld Palace lies far from the capital and the emperor's reach.
Due to their cultivation methods and environment, the cultivators of this sect have almost always remained in this icy plain for generations, rarely engaging in in-depth exchanges with the outside world. Consequently, their recognition and reverence for the Cultivator Association are already limited.
In addition, the association was established not long ago and its authority was limited.
Moreover!
The ice-elemental cultivators of the Northern Underworld Palace form their own system, regarding the Arctic ice plains as their private domain.
He paused, then continued:
"We have come here with the decree of the General Assembly, ordering them to open the mountain gate and hand over their Nascent Soul level elders to submit to our command..."
How could we possibly give in so easily?
If they were to bow down so easily, the Northern Underworld Palace wouldn't have stood for ten thousand years in this harsh land.
"Otherwise, I alone am enough!"
That's all!
Fu Wanjun, a half-saint, turned his head to look at Xuanming, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes, and said calmly:
"Why bother Fellow Daoist Xuanming to accompany me on this journey?"
"···"
...(End of this chapter)