Chapter 211: Chapter 211: The Eight Main Cities

In truth.

Before deciding to go down and investigate, Li Ping had already swept his Divine Sense over the sled and the massive dog-like Exotic Beasts below. He hadn’t detected the slightest trace of Spiritual Power.

Clearly, both the dog-like Exotic Beasts and the lifeforms inside the sled were mere mortals.

WHOOSH!

Li Ping put away the Flying Ship, and he and Xiao Yunzhi landed on top of the sled.

The sled-like object was about ten feet wide, fifteen feet long, and roughly eight feet high. It was completely enclosed, with only a single crystal window at the front and back to see outside.

Though called a sled, it was actually more like an enclosed carriage.

The two landed on the carriage’s roof without any attempt to conceal their presence, quickly startling the occupants within.

After a syllable of unknown meaning was uttered, the dozens of dog-like Exotic Beasts and the carriage they were pulling slowly came to a halt.

Then, with a CLICK, a side door on the carriage was pulled open from the inside, and four figures wrapped in thick coats emerged.

They looked up and immediately saw Li Ping and his companion standing on the roof. They then noticed the two were dressed in thin clothing, yet carried themselves with an elegant air.

Awe filled the four faces, and they hurriedly bowed. The one who appeared to be their leader nervously said a few words, then stood with his hands clasped, awaiting instructions from Li Ping and Xiao Yunzhi.

Evidently, they had seen Cultivators before and knew of their ability to withstand heat and cold.

The temperature outside the carriage was much lower than inside. After just a moment, the four of them couldn’t help but start shivering.

Unfortunately, Li Ping couldn’t understand a single word they said.

The language barrier made it a completely fruitless exchange.

But just as Li Ping was growing frustrated, Xiao Yunzhi, who was beside him, began to speak, conversing with them.

Clearly, Xiao Yunzhi understood their language.

After a brief conversation, Xiao Yunzhi got the answers she wanted. She casually tossed a Low-Tier Spirit Stone, which landed in the hand of the apparent leader.

Then, ignoring the man’s profuse thanks, she pulled Li Ping away.

「 」

Standing on the Flying Ship, Xiao Yunzhi finally began to explain. "Brother Yan, the man was speaking an ancient language. I enjoy studying ancient texts in my spare time and happened to have learned it, which is why I could understand."

Li Ping nodded slightly. He had suspected as much ever since Xiao Yunzhi had explained the origin of the "Three Yin God-Slaying Sword."

"Brother Yan, based on what that man said, and adding in my own deductions, I’m now quite certain where we are." Xiao Yunzhi said with a smile, "We seem to have been transported to the Land of the Far North."

"The Land of the Far North?" Li Ping couldn’t help but be stunned.

He truly hadn’t expected to end up here.

Speaking of which, he actually had some connection to the Land of the Far North. For instance, his Tier Three Puppet refinement technique came from a Sect in the Far North called the Celestial Skill Sect.

The Divine Sense Secret Technique he cultivated, the *Ten Thousand Spirits Divine Communication Skill*, also came from the Celestial Skill Sect.

However, the Secret Technique he had obtained was only the incomplete first layer.

Back then, he had thought that if he ever got the chance, he would have to find a way to complete the remaining five layers. He never imagined he would arrive in the Land of the Far North through such a coincidence.

’But according to Yu Menghan, the Celestial Skill Sect was completely wiped out after provoking a powerful enemy,’ Li Ping mused silently. ’Obtaining the complete Cultivation Technique probably won’t be that easy.’

"Brother Yan, Yunzhi doesn’t know much about the Land of the Far North either, only the general details from ancient texts." Xiao Yunzhi’s voice was soft. "Fortunately, I learned from that mortal that there’s a human market town a few hundred miles from here. We might be able to get more detailed information there."

Li Ping nodded. "A market town? Good, let’s head there."

WHOOSH!

With a push of his Divine Sense, the Flying Ship beneath their feet transformed into a streak of light, shooting off in the direction Xiao Yunzhi had indicated and vanishing over the horizon in an instant.

An hour later, the Flying Ship arrived at the location of the market town Xiao Yunzhi had learned about.

The market town was situated in a valley formed between several towering icebergs.

These massive icebergs formed a natural barrier, shielding the town from fierce winds and blizzards.

Li Ping steered the Flying Ship over the icebergs. A city enveloped by a Tier Two Array and spanning over ten miles came into view.

Around the Tier Two Array, numerous Tier One Arrays were also set up, bringing the total occupied area to nearly thirty miles across.

Looking down into the Array, he saw vast fields in addition to the streets and houses. Some of these fields were planted with spiritual rice, while others grew only ordinary grain.

With the Array regulating the temperature, even ordinary people could diligently farm and live peacefully in this world of ice and snow.

This was the power of Cultivators.

Otherwise, given the harsh environment of the Land of the Far North, it would be utterly impossible for mortals to survive here. Even if they could withstand the low temperatures, they could never acquire enough food.

Cultivators reshaped the environment, creating a paradise where mortals could live happily.

Of course, this had a prerequisite: it had to be done in a place with a Spirit Vein.

The Grassland deserts north of the Western Wilderness, for example, lacked any established Spirit Veins. Cultivators could not reside there long-term, and mortals could only stay away.

But in the Land of the Far North, although the environment was even harsher, the presence of Spirit Veins allowed Cultivators to build protective Arrays, which in turn enabled mortals to thrive by relying on those very Spirit Veins.

This market town only had a Tier Two Spirit Vein, meaning the strongest Cultivators here were only at the Foundation Establishment Stage. Naturally, Li Ping paid it no mind.

「 」

At the entrance to the market town, the two of them landed.

Li Ping glanced at the four guards at the entrance and released a sliver of his Foundation Establishment Stage pressure.

Sensing the aura of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator emanating from him, the four guards were startled. They all bowed respectfully and said, "Greetings, Senior! Welcome to Tian Gu Market!"

Li Ping gave a slight nod. On the way here, he had already learned the common language of the Land of the Far North from Xiao Yunzhi.

"We need to enter the market to gather information. Open the Array and let us in," Li Ping said flatly.

Normally, a market town would cautiously inquire about the origins of any outsiders and require them to register for identity tokens.

But at this moment, the guards clearly didn’t dare treat two Foundation Establishment Stage Seniors this way. Hearing Li Ping’s command, they nodded hastily. "Yes, Seniors, please come in!"

Li Ping and Xiao Yunzhi walked into the market town together.

Although called a market town, Tian Gu Market was more like a town established by Cultivators to shelter mortals. The people coming and going in the streets were almost all mortals; the number of Cultivators was very small.

Li Ping pointed to a lavish-looking restaurant on a street corner. "Let’s go. We’ll wait for the master of this place at that restaurant."

The two entered the restaurant, ordered a table of local specialty Spiritual Food, and then began to eat and wait.

With two unfamiliar Foundation Establishment Cultivators entering the market town, its master would surely choose to come out and inquire about their purpose, even if he were currently in seclusion.

And just as expected, they didn’t have to wait long.

A skinny, white-haired old man, led by an attendant, hurriedly arrived at their private room.

The skinny old man’s Divine Sense swept over Li Ping and Xiao Yunzhi, and a look of shock instantly appeared on his face.

He was merely an Early-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator. But of the two strangers before him, the ordinary-looking man was at the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment, and the beautiful Female Cultivator was even a Late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator. How could he not be astonished!

"I am Ma Fang Mountain, the one in charge of this market town. Might I ask the names of you two Fellow Daoists?" Facing them, Ma Fang Mountain was slightly reserved.

Li Ping stood up and spoke with a smile, "So it is Fellow Daoist Ma. My surname is Yan, and this is my younger sister. Please, have a seat, Fellow Daoist Ma. We have just arrived in your esteemed land and have a few matters we’d like to ask you about."

Ma Fang Mountain was inwardly surprised that Li Ping, the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, was the clear leader of the two. The Late-stage Foundation Establishment Female Cultivator, on the other hand, seemed to follow his every word.

However, his expression betrayed nothing of this. He sat down as invited and said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Yan, please ask whatever you wish. I will certainly tell you everything I know."

Li Ping nodded and immediately began asking about the situation in the Land of the Far North.

Hearing Li Ping’s questions, Ma Fang Mountain couldn’t help but give him another look, guessing that he must be an outside Cultivator.

However, the human forces in the Land of the Far North were not particularly strong, so human Cultivators had to band together for warmth. Ma Fang Mountain was actually happy to see two new Foundation Establishment peers arrive and hoped they would stay.

He immediately began to recount everything he knew about the Land of the Far North.

Li Ping listened and nodded, occasionally interjecting with a few questions.

After half a day, he had finally gotten a general understanding of the situation in the Land of the Far North from Ma Fang Mountain.

The Land of the Far North is far more vast than the Western Wilderness.

It is bordered by oceans to the east, west, and north, and by a Grassland desert to the south.

In fact, the Grassland north of the Western Wilderness is merely the western corner of the true expanse. The real Grassland desert spans the entire continent.

But due to the extremely harsh environment and the scarcity of Spiritual Lands, the human Cultivators here cannot compare to those in the Western Wilderness’s Cultivation Realm, neither in quantity nor quality.

In contrast, the Alien Races thrive here as if it were their natural habitat. They do not need Spirit Veins to cultivate and are naturally adapted to the environment of the Land of the Far North.

Moreover, according to Ma Fang Mountain’s description, legend has it that in the distant North Sea lives a Tier Four Great Demon!

This Great Demon considers the Land of the Far North its territory and all living beings within it its food.

Fortunately, this Tier Four Great Demon is in a deep slumber most of the year. Even when it does wake, it rarely comes ashore, so it isn’t considered a major threat.

The real threat humanity faces comes from the Alien Races.

For example, the Barbarians, a cannibalistic Alien Race, are humanity’s mortal enemies.

To fight against the Alien Races, the human Core Formation Cultivators have established an extremely rigid organizational structure.

First, the Land of the Far North is divided into eight major territories, each centered on a Main City built upon a Tier Three Spirit Vein. Within the jurisdiction of these Main Cities, the lesser Tier Two and Tier One Spirit Veins are granted as fiefs to Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining Cultivators, all of whom fall under the command of their respective Main City.

In the event of war, a Main City has the authority to forcibly conscript all of its subordinate Cultivators, and the other Main Cities will also provide their full support.

It is precisely because of this mutual trust and support among the eight Main Cities that humanity has managed to carve out a space for survival in the Land of the Far North.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.