noveltune Chapter 64 Northern Wilderness
Chapter 64 Northern Wilderness
The pressure within the spatial rift was like a crushing mountain, the turbulent flow of spacetime tore at my body, and the distorted light and shadows swayed into a chaotic blur before my eyes.
If Lu Ming had not already forged an unparalleled foundation and possessed an incredibly resilient body at the peak of the Body Tempering Realm, he would likely have already had his meridians ruptured and his body shattered by the power of the void.
Even with all the support, the journey was still difficult.
Lu Mingru was like a lone boat, drifting and navigating through the bizarre and chaotic tunnel.
After an unknown period of darkness and turmoil, it was finally propelled out by an immense and unparalleled spatial force.
"Bang!"
Lu Ming lightly touched the air with his toes and landed steadily.
The first thing Lu Ming touched was the softness and coolness unique to the snow. That real touch made his nerves, which had been tense for more than 30 years, tremble slightly.
He looked around intently, feeling as if he were in another world.
What comes into view is a vast, desolate snowscape, with snow covering thousands of mountains and frost-covered rime.
A cold wind swept through the treetops, swirling up fine snowflakes that landed on my shoulders with a slight chill.
"This is... snow."
Lu Ming subconsciously reached out and caught a snowflake. The cool touch spread from his fingertips, stirring a long-lost flutter in his heart.
For over thirty years, ever since he was swept into a spatial rift in the Land of Immortal Remnants, he has struggled and trained in that darkness filled with only deathly silence and endless battles.
The void where the Martial Ancestor resided was devoid of the alternation of sun and moon, the changing of seasons, and the presence of smoke and fire; it was filled only with eternal solitude and the relentless tempering of each passing day.
He had almost forgotten the warmth of the sun on his body, the chill of the snow on his skin, and the most vibrant sights and sounds of the world.
He greedily inhaled the air, the crisp breath carrying the vibrant energy of heaven and earth, a stark contrast to the deathly stillness of the Immortal Remnant Land.
In an instant, a myriad of emotions surged within Lu Ming's heart.
There is the ecstatic joy of escaping the cage, the surreal feeling of seeing the light of day again, and the deep longing for this real world.
His eyes welled up slightly; this emotion came unexpectedly, but he forcibly suppressed it.
More than thirty years of rigorous training and countless battles have forged his will into an unyielding one, and the youthful spirit he once possessed has been deeply buried within him.
Lu Ming laughed, looking as innocent as a child. The unwavering determination and weathered look between his brows melted away, making him appear more vibrant.
He greedily absorbed the vibrant life outside, but he quickly regained his composure.
His immediate priority was to determine his location and rush to Shenzhou to return the legacy of the Martial Ancestor to the Zhenwu Sect. This was his promise to the Martial Ancestor and the most important task of this trip.
After that came the journey home, the direction of Qinghe Village, which held his longing for over thirty years.
Thinking of his parents, Lu Ming felt a pang of sadness. He dared not think too deeply about it, only wishing that time would be gentle and that his parents would be well.
Suppressing his worries, Lu Ming leaped into the clouds, focusing his mind on sensing the flow of spiritual energy between heaven and earth.
Lu Ming's gaze swept across the mountains and rivers, and his mind raced through the classics he had read in the Dao Academy's library, such as "Records of the Customs of the Nine Provinces" and "Records of the Wilderness of the Four Seas".
The spiritual energy here is mixed with a faint demonic aura. Although the mountains and rivers are covered by snow, they cannot hide the unique topography of the northern frontier of China.
This place is the Northern Wilderness, a transitional zone between the northern part of Shenzhou and the Demon Realm. A vast wilderness stretches across it, serving as the border between the human and demon races. To the north lies the heart of the Demon Realm, and to the south lies Shenzhou.
"The Demon Realm is in the north, and the Divine Land is in the south."
"Luckily, it's not far." Lu Mingyao looked towards the southern horizon.
He concealed all his aura, his figure transforming into an inconspicuous streak of light, speeding southward through the wind and snow.
His tattered robes were whipped about by the cold wind, but it couldn't dispel his burning passion.
However, the Northern Wilderness has never been a peaceful place. This desolate land, which lies between the Divine Continent and the Demon Realm, has always been the forefront of the conflict between humans and demons, hiding endless dangers.
Lu Ming had only flown a few hundred miles when a violent energy fluctuation suddenly came from a secluded valley ahead.
The clash of weapons and the roars of monsters broke the tranquility of the northern snowfield.
Lu Ming paused, then concealed his aura, his figure blending into the wind and snow like a solitary shadow, quietly stealthily approaching the secluded valley.
Before even arriving, one could see that the valley was a scene of devastation, with crimson bloodstains splattered on the white snow, the contrast of red and white stark and shocking.
The group of about a dozen human cultivators, dressed in various styles, were engaged in battle ahead. They were currently huddled together in a defensive formation, struggling to hold on.
The leader was a middle-aged cultivator with an anxious expression. He held a longsword whose light had dimmed, and his body emanated the spiritual energy fluctuations of the Golden Core stage. He was clearly the leader of this temporary team.
He continuously swung his sword to deflect the attacks of the demonic beasts, desperately protecting his companions behind him.
However, everyone in the team, including him, was injured, their robes stained with blood, and their spiritual energy was greatly depleted. The spiritual light supporting the formation was swaying precariously under the frenzied attacks of the demons.
They were surrounded by dozens of blue-haired wolf demons, agile and gleaming with a chilling light in their claws and teeth, fearless and relentless in their attacks.
But what truly plunged the human cultivators below into a desperate situation was the slender figure hovering in mid-air above the valley, exuding a chilling killing intent.
It was a woman, clad in silver-gray armor that accentuated her lithe and graceful figure.
She had a beautiful face with delicate features and a wild beauty. Her eyes were an eerie, dark green, with vertical pupils that shone with a cold light.
Her silver hair danced wildly in the wind and snow, and the silvery downy fur of the wolf clan was still preserved around her ears.
Her fingernails were like sharp blades, gleaming with a cold, metallic light, and her whole body exuded a surging demonic aura.
Its aura was in no way weaker than that of the human Golden Core cultivator, and it even had a touch of the ferocity unique to the demon race.
At this moment, the wolf girl did not personally take action, but simply hovered in mid-air, coldly directing the wolf pack to attack.
Occasionally, he would raise his hand and unleash a sharp silver claw beam that would tear through the air, causing the formation of the cultivators below to shake violently.
The middle-aged Golden Core cultivator had to exhaust his spiritual power to cope, his face grew paler and paler, and traces of blood began to seep from the corner of his mouth.
"Form the array! Guard the array's core! Don't lose your composure!" the middle-aged cultivator shouted sternly.
The cultivators behind him gritted their teeth and used their last bit of spiritual power.
However, the spiritual light of the formation gradually dimmed under the tearing of the wolf demon and the impact of the wolf girl's claws, and its destruction seemed imminent.
Lu Ming, hidden in the snow and wind at the edge of the secluded valley, took in all of this.
He was eager to return home, but Zhenwu Sect was still in the south, and his parents' concerns were still far away. He didn't want to meddle in other people's business.
Seeing their fellow cultivators in dire straits under the siege of the demon race, they could not stand idly by and watch the human race be slaughtered by the demon race.
"It seems we have no choice but to intervene."
Lu Ming had already made up his mind.
As the wind and snow swirled slightly, Lu Ming's figure moved.
He sped down the mountain and headed straight for the battlefield.