Chapter Forty: Arrival at the Northern Sea

Whirlwinds abound in the desert, each gust lifting yellow sand high into the air, resembling columns of smoke rising from the flat earth, spinning and racing across the wasteland.

On cold days, the ground beneath one's feet seems covered with a yellow carpet. When the wind blows, it’s as if someone lifts the carpet and shakes it, sending dust swirling into the sky. Staring at the wall of mist that stretches from earth to sky, a hint of disappointment flickers across his face. “Could it be that only I managed to come out? Are the others still trapped inside?”

Just as he was about to turn and continue on his way, a piercing sound split the air. He paused and looked back, only to see a deep green streak, trailing a long tail of light, shooting out from the mist and arcing across the sky. Accompanying it was the faint cry of a woman, and the streak soared over his head, crashing into a sand dune.

A trace of astonishment passed through Cold Sky’s eyes as his gaze shifted to the sand dune, eager to see who had emerged in such a dramatic fashion.

“Ouch, I thought I’d die from the fall! You big dumb bug, just you wait—when my strength surpasses yours, I’ll beat you so badly your bug mother won’t recognize you!” Guo Guo poked her head out from the mound of sand, shook the grains from her hair, and, cheeks puffed in indignation, cursed furiously.

Luan Jade Butterfly soon climbed out as well, pulling Guo Guo from the yellow sand as she continued to berate the Bug Emperor. Jade Butterfly shielded her forehead with a delicate hand and surveyed her surroundings, her eyes taking in the endless expanse of gold and the occasional sand tornado forming in the distance.

“Big Brother Cold Sky, you made it out too!” Guo Guo straightened her clothes, wiped the sand from her face, and, looking up, spotted Cold Sky standing atop the dune. She waved enthusiastically in greeting.

Jade Butterfly turned as well, surprise flickering in her heart. She hadn’t expected Cold Sky to have exited the bug nest before them, which stirred a sense of competitiveness within her, though she showed no sign of it on her face.

She tidied her disheveled hair, feeling a blush on her cheeks. To have Cold Sky witness her in such a state—even her broad-minded nature couldn’t prevent a hint of embarrassment. Yet she quickly regained her graceful and charming composure, waving warmly to Cold Sky as he approached.

Cold Sky hadn’t expected it would be the two young women; he felt a bit awkward. Both were prodigies, powerful figures in the Mystic Realm. To have witnessed them in such an undignified moment—it was best to pretend he’d seen nothing, lest they hold it against him.

As he drew nearer, Cold Sky cupped his hands and smiled, “To meet Jade Butterfly again is my good fortune.” Even Cold Sky felt his words were somewhat forced, but unable to think of anything better, he pressed on.

Jade Butterfly smiled enchantingly. “You really surprise me, Brother Cold Sky! If I’m not mistaken, you were the first to come out, weren’t you?”

Her autumn-like eyes gazed directly into his, searching for the answer she sought.

Cold Sky didn’t shy away, letting Jade Butterfly scrutinize him. He scratched his short hair and replied awkwardly, “You flatter me, Jade Butterfly. To be honest, I don’t know if I was first, but since I exited, you two are the first I’ve seen come out.”

“Oh, then you must have been the first to emerge! That truly impresses me!” A glimmer of admiration flashed in Jade Butterfly’s eyes, and her words rang with sincerity.

Cold Sky felt uncomfortable with her praise and managed a sheepish smile. “If you knew how I got out, you’d see it was just luck. With my meager strength, how could I have escaped so soon?”

Jade Butterfly pursed her lips with a meaningful smile. “Don’t be modest, Brother Cold Sky. Luck is a manifestation of strength, isn’t it?”

Seeing that Jade Butterfly was firmly convinced, Cold Sky realized further explanation would only seem contrived, so he changed the subject, gazing toward the desert’s edge. “Let’s hurry along; we should try to cross this desert before nightfall.”

Jade Butterfly recognized the shift and nodded thoughtfully. “You’re quite right, Brother Cold Sky.” She smiled captivatingly. “Then we must rely on your dragon for transportation!”

“Are you two done yet? I’m tired and want to sleep. Big Brother Cold Sky, hurry and summon your dragon,” Guo Guo yawned, her pout prominent, clearly dissatisfied with the conversation.

Cold Sky focused his mind, and a brilliant crimson light burst forth from his core. In the blink of an eye, a massive golden form appeared before them.

A thunderous dragon roar echoed to the heavens. Maximus spread his wings, standing before the trio, his huge eyes fixed on Guo Guo. His voice resounded in Cold Sky’s mind.

“Boss, who’s this little girl? Two Mystic Realm powerhouses at once—you’d better be careful! I sense these two are no ordinary girls.”

Cold Sky remained composed, replying mentally, “Yes, I’ll stay alert. For now, I don’t think they’ll make any move against me.”

“Ah, it’s so comfortable lying here. I need a nap to restore my energy.” Guo Guo floated onto Maximus’s back, pulled a silken blanket from her storage ring, and spread it across the dragon’s back.

The young girl sprawled there, wrapped in her blanket, preparing for sleep without a hint of ladylike decorum. Jade Butterfly, seeing Guo Guo’s antics, gave Cold Sky an apologetic glance before leaping onto the dragon’s back, sitting cross-legged to restore her energy.

Cold Sky gave the bug nest a calm look, then flew up onto Maximus’s broad back and began his own meditation. With a powerful flap of golden wings, they soared into the sky, transformed into a stream of golden light, streaking toward the horizon of the golden sand sea.

As the golden streak vanished into the distance, high above, space rippled like water. From within a black cloak, Nightshade revealed himself, his cold, emotionless eyes fixed on Cold Sky’s departing figure. He sneered, “Golden Dragon Warrior, I worried I’d never find you. Who would have thought you’d appear here? Hmph! Within the Ancient Realm, your grave awaits!”

With a chilling tone, Nightshade finished his words, then faded once more into the void.

Time slipped by in silence. Within the golden sand sea, small tornadoes swept past, and as the sun moved westward, darkness began its reign.

At sunset, several disheveled figures burst from the bug nest—the group from the Demon God Realm. Their faces were grim, especially the leader, whose prominent eagle nose sniffed incessantly. Soon, he pointed toward the setting sun and growled, “Damn it, they went that way. Brothers, after them!”

The Demon God Realm group, five strong, had lost one to Nightshade’s assassination, leaving four. All were furious, chasing after Nightshade in pursuit.

Not long after they left, the Sword Saint in white, Du Qingfeng, emerged with a calm expression, his starry eyes surveying the surroundings. He stepped onto his ancient sword, flashing away to the distant horizon. With several more flickers, he disappeared, leaving only a tiny dot at the edge of the sky.

Next, Dreamchaser Yan Nanfei appeared, gazing after Du Qingfeng with a smile. His green feathered wings vibrated, and, like a phantom, he flashed every hundred feet, vanishing into the void.

Li Tianzheng, his face gloomy, drifted out of the mist with Wang Mang. “Hmph! Du Qingfeng, within the Ancient Realm, I must test myself against you!”

“Brother Li, don’t be rash. Let’s finish our sect’s task first. When that’s done, I’ll gladly join you in challenging them!”

Wang Mang’s eyes flashed with sarcasm, though his tone was gentle as he advised Li Tianzheng. He had no desire for this hot-headed companion to seek a duel with Du Qingfeng upon entering the Ancient Realm—such a move would disrupt his own important business, and without Li’s help, their sect’s mission would be hard to accomplish.

Li Tianzheng, hearing Wang Mang’s advice, allowed his grim expression to ease slightly, though his eyes remained sharp as lightning. “We can’t let ourselves fall behind, or our sect will lose face!” With that, he unleashed his energy, streaking into the distance in a blur, leaving only a fading shadow.

Wang Mang’s eyes brimmed with disdain. His deference to Li Tianzheng was mere pretense; in truth, he hated him. Due to one mistake, Wang Mang had fallen below Li Tianzheng in the ranking of the three sects’ leaders—a fact that galled him, though he concealed it with apparent humility.

Calming his inner frustration, Wang Mang enveloped himself in dense demonic energy. With a flash of black light, he vanished into the void, reappearing hundreds of yards away. This was his hidden escape technique: Demon Shadow Flight.

“How interesting—when did the Qiankun Martial Academy begin teaching demon arts to its disciples?” A figure in green appeared at the edge of the mist wall, his face hidden behind a white jade mask. From his voice, he sounded young.

He muttered to himself for a moment, then gradually faded from sight.

The setting sun hovered at the horizon, its face half gone. Cold Sky sat cross-legged, gazing ahead at the edge of the sand sea, where a line of deep blue was emerging.

“It seems we’ve arrived. The sea brings back memories!” Cold Sky’s handsome face softened with nostalgia. Back on the Yuan Continent, he had spent two years meditating by the sea to break through a bottleneck.

“Brother Cold Sky, you said the sea—have we reached the Northern Sea?” Jade Butterfly stopped her cultivation, opened her eyes, and asked softly.

Cold Sky smiled silently, pointing to the edge of the desert where the blue line shimmered. “See for yourself.”

Jade Butterfly’s clear eyes followed his gesture. In that brief moment, the blue grew more distinct, and with her keen vision, she could vaguely see the surging waves and the vast, rolling sea.

“Yes, it seems we truly have reached the Northern Sea.” Her radiant face, bathed in the sunset glow, looked supremely gentle. She stretched her arms in a languorous arch, and the movement of her chest made the peaks of her figure seem poised to burst free.

For a moment, Cold Sky’s gaze was wholly captivated, but the image of Fire Dance flashed in his mind, prompting him to look away.

Jade Butterfly noticed his reaction, her confidence fading into disappointment. She silently fumed, “He knows nothing of appreciation—just a blockhead!”

Guo Guo remained fast asleep, oblivious to the world. Who knew what kind of cultivation technique the little girl was practicing, able to meditate even in her dreams—truly unique and extraordinary!

Maximus increased his speed, and soon the contours of the sea were vividly revealed before them.

Martial Path Extreme Peak 40—Chapter Forty: Arrival at the Northern Sea.