The Journey of Immortal Cultivation-Chapter 878 - 483: Feelings (Part 2)
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When Ning Xiaoxian opened her eyes, it was already the afternoon of the second day, just in time for the last rays of the setting sun, after which this icy snow domain would be plunged into a long darkness.
The Bo Yu flew quickly and steadily, not as fast as Qi Zai, but not worse than a great monster. She looked out the window and saw that a Hidden Guard had transformed into the true body of a white-headed eagle, carrying others and flying through the sky, closely following behind her black carriage.
Looking down, the ground was covered in white snow, the incessant gales carving the surface into a jagged landscape, sculpting the mountains into something majestic and grand. Fortunately, they didn’t take the usual path, and in less than ten hours, she had left behind the nearly insurmountable Ten Thousand Mountains.
Relying on her strong physique, her injuries had already healed sixty percent. While she was unconscious, Changtian hadn’t wasted any time; he not only caught up with old times with Gongshu Zhao but also questioned a cultivator who used the Witch Evil Skill. According to Changtian’s request, she brought Dou Er into the God Demon Prison to inquire about the volcano. Gongshu Zhao sat to the side, giving her a friendly smile upon her arrival.
"Volcano?" Dou Er was taken aback, "I’ve never heard of a volcano appearing in the Atalia area; even if there was one, it would have been a long time ago, wouldn’t it?"
Changtian said calmly, "We need to clarify how ’long ago’ it was. Was it more than thirty thousand years ago?"
Dou Er, being a savvy person, already knew the purpose of this group’s visit to the Northwest. After pondering for a moment, he suddenly said, "Could it be related to the Nanming Lihuo Sword? Now that you mention it, it reminds me of something."
"Five years ago, while traveling with the Beauty Collection Team through the northwestern part of Atalia Mountain, I arrived just in time for the local bi-monthly market day. Our convoy stayed there for two days; I knew that residents from within a radius of five hundred miles would bring out their best items to sell on market day. Having found some great treasures in the past, I spent those two days mostly submerged in the market."
"But due to a snow disaster three months earlier, this market day seemed very bleak, with even fewer people attending, likely having perished in the disaster. I was quite disappointed, but as I was about to leave on the afternoon of the second day, two newcomers arrived with a stall to sell their goods. They didn’t have much, but one item left a lasting impression on me."
"Dusk Sky Bead, and in quite a good color."
As soon as the name was mentioned, Ning Xiaoxian and Changtian exchanged a glance. The Dusk Sky Bead was a small sphere resembling a pearl, growing on the rhizome of Dusk Grass, light green and slightly transparent; after maturing, its surface hardens, feeling like the glass marbles she played with in Huaxia, and it’s also a precious alchemy medicinal material. However, this plant is extremely fiery and only grows near lava, so it’s mostly found in the northern and northeastern parts of the Southern Continent.
Seeing the snow mountain residents selling such an item surprised Dou Er, who repeatedly asked how Dusk Grass could grow within the snow mountain area. The sellers, intending to fetch a high price, were already quite displeased by Dou Er’s haggling. They resorted to the stubbornness of mountain folk, ignoring him completely. Dou Er casually asked at the time; when the two didn’t answer, he still purchased the two Dusk Grass plants and sold them at a good price after returning to Central Earth.
Ning Xiaoxian grumbled angrily, "So after all this talking, you don’t even know where those two picked the Dusk Grass from!"
Dou Er chuckled, "My dear lady, you’re underestimating me. First, they live within a five hundred mile radius of the market; for us cultivators, finding people within that distance is no big deal. Second, although they won’t reveal where they picked the Dusk Grass, the harsh environment of Atalia means that even if the mountain dwellers climb the mountains, they won’t go too far from home. Finding their residence would pretty much indicate the location of the Dusk Grass."
"And lastly, hehe, although their clothes weren’t particularly special that day, their scarves were dyed in ochre blue. From my knowledge, this ochre blue comes from a type of blue rock. Locals crush the rock into powder to get the ochre blue pigment used in dyeing, and it’s quite vibrant. Moreover, the Wulu River is the only place in the vicinity that produces this blue ochre stone, which can only be excavated from the riverbed during the thawing period from May to September each year."
So it was mineral pigment. Hearing this, she couldn’t help but admire this man’s broad knowledge and keen insight. Indeed, everyone has their strengths, and even though Dou Er’s cultivation is low, the meticulous understanding of Northwest’s local customs showcases the effort he has invested. No wonder, a low-level cultivator like him, taking a different path with the Beauty Collection Team heading west to abduct people, managed to thrive so successfully.
During her slumber, Changtian had already sent a message to the Hidden Guard within the Great Snow Mountain, instructing them to head northwest to search for any clues regarding the volcano. Meanwhile, Ning Xiaoxian and her group were also moving in that direction.
She rubbed her temples, still feeling a bit uneasy: "If there’s an active volcano within the Great Snow Mountain, it would be like a flea on a bald man’s head—plainly obvious. Even if it’s beyond the reach of mortals, cultivators should know its location. Why has no one discovered it for thousands or tens of thousands of years?" She glanced at Gongshu Zhao, "Mr. Gongshu, with your skills, can’t you undo this damned Dragon Binding Rope?"
Gongshu Zhao gave a bitter smile, "I just tried, and I’m overwhelmed; with my current skills, I really can’t undo it. After all, this is a Divine Artifact; haven’t you heard the saying ’One strength conquers ten skills’? All sorts of cleverness are still weak in the face of absolute power, and my trick tools are the same against this Dragon Binding Rope." (To be continued. If you like this work, please feel free to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)
