The Journey of Immortal Cultivation-Chapter 880 - 484: The End of the Westward Journey (Part 2)
The Hidden Guards always adhered to the domineering style of the demons, seeing themselves as superior to others. Unless they were on a special mission, they rarely kept a low profile. In the past two days, they questioned almost everyone they encountered. Even with the mountain people being so isolated from information, they knew that many "Immortal Masters" had descended upon them, responding with fear and trepidation. Therefore, when Ning Xiaoxian’s group arrived, several thousand people fearfully came out to greet them, regardless of age or gender, all prostrating themselves on the snow outside the village. Over ten Hidden Guards knelt on one knee, eyes straight ahead, presenting an impressive spectacle.
Ning Xiaoxian’s group indeed appeared awe-inspiring. The four Bo Yu pulling the carriage moved unpredictably, exuding a mysterious aura. The occasional transformation of horse bodies with leopard heads instilled a shiver in one’s heart. The carriage was of an ancient design; though purely black, the Ancient Rune Array carved on it shone brightly—things from Miluo’s possessions were never modest, especially with the massive white-headed giant eagle following the carriage. With a wingspan of over fifty meters, when it spiraled down from the sky, it seemed to obscure the sun, inspiring awe in even the bravest mortals.
Yes, awe. When she stepped out of the carriage, everyone before her almost buried their faces in the snow, not daring to raise their eyes to look at her. Ning Xiaoxian sighed inwardly, realizing she was growing farther and farther from mortals. She didn’t like such a demeanor, but the demons of the Hidden Stream needed it, and Changtian also thought she needed it. After all, a higher status and position would inevitably come with the advance of her prowess. He wanted her to quickly possess the dignity of a high-level immortal cultivator.
Regarding this, she had nothing to say. Changtian was a giant demon of immense influence; if she wished to stand beside him, how could she lack the demeanor and grace of a superior? Dragons pair with dragons, phoenixes with phoenixes, does this saying hold no truth? Even at Earth’s high-society parties, no man would take a partner wearing just a T-shirt and jeans, even if it were a masquerade ball.
So she stared at the crowd for a few breaths, silently. Among them, a three-year-old child couldn’t resist looking up, staring at her with big, dark eyes. The mother beside him kept her head down and didn’t see the smile Ning Xiaoxian flashed at him, instead turning pale with fright and hurriedly pressing his head down.
Ning Xiaoxian pressed her lips together and softly said, "Rise." Her voice wasn’t loud, but it was heard clearly by everyone, as if spoken next to their ears. The Pu Clan people showed expressions of surprise, knowing this was an Immortal technique, which only heightened their awe. Some sneaked a glance at her, only to see this Granny wearing a pink lotus-patterned blouse with a white fox fur light coat over it. Her head was adorned with a Pu Pearl Hairband, and her slender waist was wrapped with a long tassel palace ribbon, highlighting her delicate and impeccable figure.
In sharp contrast to their own bulky cotton clothes and leather pants, her snowy white skin had a faint blush, her charming eyes and eyebrows depicting "lotus-like face and willow-like eyebrows," standing there like a peach blossom that hasn’t yet bloomed in the current season, pleasing and appealing. Many young men looked at her and lowered their heads in self-deprecating shame.
However, Ning Xiaoxian had no interest in how others thought, only finding the Clan Leader here and telling the mortals to go home and rest. In theory, the outdoor temperature here would be at least minus thirty-five degrees, making it difficult for adults to stand even for a quarter of an hour, let alone young and weak children. Yet, ever since she landed, she hadn’t felt such brutal cold.
In fact, the settlement chosen by the Hidden Guards was a small village, formed by descendants of the Pu Clan who fled here from the west three hundred years ago. In this harsh cold land, the lifespan of mortals was generally short, and the Pu Clan Chief was merely a man in his forties.
Examining the tribe, Ning Xiaoxian was secretly amazed. This place had already ventured hundreds of miles into the Great Snow Mountain, a desolate area, not at all suitable for human proliferation. How did the Pu Clan develop into thousands? It was known that in the great snowy plains, many small villages had but two hundred-odd people. A population in the thousands could be called a town, yet it seemed the Pu Clan gathering area housed some five to six thousand people.
When they greeted her moments ago, she had glanced quickly. A cultivator’s eyesight was sharp; she swiftly noted that though the faces of most mortals were not rosy, they didn’t seem malnourished either. Although their clothing was bulky, it was at least securely tight and warm—a state of being both adequately fed and clothed. In this place, the freezing period lasted over nine months a year; what did the Pu Clan have to feed their people so they could have food and clothed warmth?
Ordinary cultivators wouldn’t pay attention to these details. However, she had been a mortal herself, understanding the bitter helplessness of mortals against aging, illness, and death. She shared this thought with Changtian, who smiled slightly and said, "Perhaps the cause lies with the volcano."
She had a premonition that this place might be the terminus of her long westward journey. Being a cultivator, she trusted her heart’s whim implicitly. Standing on this land, she couldn’t help but feel impatient, eager to fulfill her wish at once.
The village chief was a perceptive person; seeing her brow slightly furrowed, he knew the Immortal wasn’t in a good mood. He dared not engage in much small talk and directly invited her into his house to take a seat.
Most houses here were built of round logs. To keep warm, they were generally not tall, with A-shaped roofs to allow snow to slide off. Walls, interiors, and floors were all wooden, with stone-built foundations. Every household had a fire basin burning. (To be continued. If you like this work, please 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)
