269: Chapter 269 A Snow-Covered Border Town and a Pot of Spiritual Tea

The biting cold wind whistled between the towering snow-capped peaks like a sob. The extreme cold Law of the North Cold Immortal Domain was displayed here to its fullest extent; even an ordinary True Immortal Stage Cultivator would find it difficult to stay in this blizzard for long without a high-quality Magic Treasure to ward off the cold.

Zhou Wannian walked across the snow. He did not use any magic power to resist the severe cold, simply letting the seemingly thin green robe drape over him in the wind. The cold air, capable of freezing and cracking gold and stone, fell upon his skin like a spring breeze, unable to move even a single hair. The Major Achievement of his True Demon Indestructible Body had long since allowed his Physical Body to reach a profound Realm where he was impervious to all methods.

His cuff moved slightly, and Golden Boy poked half of its round head out from within.

"Boss, this place is chilly. The Spiritual Qi is quite abundant, but I wonder if there are any tasty mineral veins," Golden Boy said via Divine Sense transmission, its two golden antennae shivering in the wind and snow.

Zhou Wannian's pace remained steady as he responded warmly, "The North Cold Immortal Domain is rich in ice soul profound crystals. That material is extremely hard and contains the ultimate Law of extreme cold; it should suit your appetite. However, before that, we need to find a populated place to settle down."

He wandered through the wind and snow for half a day until finally, a massive silhouette appeared at the end of the white expanse before him.

It was an immortal city built entirely of massive ice-blue boulders. Above the city loomed a vast Formation emitting a faint golden glow. The Formation completely isolated the violent blizzard outside, allowing a hint of the warm, mundane atmosphere of the mortal world to seep from within the city.

Zhou Wannian walked to the towering ice-stone city gate. Three large characters were carved in ancient seal script above the gate.

Winter City.

Cultivators entered the city in a continuous stream, most wearing heavy robes crafted from Spirit Beast furs. Someone like Zhou Wannian, walking through the snowy plains in a single thin green robe, naturally drew some side-glances from the city guards. However, those guards were perceptive people; they knew that someone daring to dress like that was either a fool or a powerful master hiding their cultivation. Naturally, they did not dare to step forward and interrogate him, and after collecting a few Low Grade immortal yuan stones quite readily, they let him through.

Stepping into Winter City, a wave of air mixed with the fragrance of Spirit Medicine and heat rushed toward him. The wide streets were paved with neat blue-gray flagstones, and the shops on both sides were a feast for the eyes. The architectural style here was rugged and heavy, completely different from the elegance of the south.

Zhou Wannian was in no hurry to browse the shops selling Magic Treasures and Medicinal Pills. He strolled around the streets casually, eventually stopping in front of a teahouse at a street corner named Warm Snow Pavilion.

The teahouse had three floors and was bustling with people and steam. For Cultivators, such places where people from all walks of life gathered were always the best spots to gather information.

Zhou Wannian stepped into the teahouse, went straight to the second floor, and chose a seat by the window.

A waiter with a white towel over his shoulder, whose cultivation was around the Qi Refinement Stage, immediately approached with a face full of smiles.

"Sir, the snow is heavy outside. Would you like something to warm your body? Our Warm Snow Pavilion's signature Blazing Fire Red Lotus Tea is only two immortal yuan stones a pot. I guarantee it'll make your whole body feel comfortable after drinking it," the waiter greeted warmly.

Zhou Wannian casually tossed out two crystal-clear immortal yuan stones, which landed steadily on the table.

"Bring the Blazing Fire Red Lotus Tea you mentioned, and two plates of your local specialty spiritual fruits," Zhou Wannian ordered indifferently.

"Right away, sir. Please wait a moment." The waiter picked up the immortal yuan stones and scurried downstairs.

Zhou Wannian leaned against the back of his chair, looking at the drifting snow outside through the window, his posture extremely relaxed. Since the Wood Origin of the Great Five Elements Illusory World Art had been completed, his state of mind seemed to have become increasingly close to nature, no longer as constantly tense as before.

The conversations within the teahouse fell into his incredibly vast Divine Sense without missing a single word.

"Have you heard? Things haven't been peaceful deep in the Snow Soul Mountain Range lately. Several Elders from first-rate Sects have gone missing there," a bearded man at the neighboring table whispered mysteriously to his companion.

"How could I not have heard? Rumor has it that the ruins where an ancient ice Dragon fell are about to open, and various forces are jockeying for position in the shadows," his companion took a sip of tea, a flash of greed in his eyes. "If we could scavenge even a single scale of that ice Dragon from the ruins, our brothers wouldn't have to worry about cultivation resources for the rest of our lives."

The burly man sneered, "With our Early True Immortal Stage cultivation, we want to join the fun? We wouldn't even know how we died. I heard that even the head inner Disciple of the Profound Cold Sect is personally leading a team there. That's a ruthless character at the half-step Golden Immortal level."

Listening to these street rumors, the corners of Zhou Wannian's mouth curled into a very faint arc.

An ancient ice Dragon ruin sounded like quite an interesting place. However, he was not lacking in resources now; the time crystal sand and jianmu remnant branch were enough for him to Cultivate for a long time. Rather than going to the ruins to fight over scraps with low-level Cultivators, he preferred to first grasp the overall power structure of the North Cold Immortal Domain.

Before long, the waiter arrived carrying a mahogany tray, placing a pot of steaming crimson spiritual tea and two plates of crystal-clear spiritual fruits on the table.

Zhou Wannian lifted the teapot and poured himself a cup. The tea water appeared a vivid red, like lava, emitting a rich fire-attribute Spiritual Qi that happened to dispel the pervasive cold in the air.

He picked up the teacup, took a gentle sip, and exhaled a breath of warm air with a faint white mist, feeling extremely relaxed.

"Waiter, I'd like to ask you something." Zhou Wannian set down his cup and looked calmly at the waiter standing nearby.

The waiter quickly bowed and replied respectfully, "Please ask, sir. Within a hundred thousand miles of Winter City, there's nothing I don't know."

Zhou Wannian's slender fingers tapped lightly on the table twice as he asked, "Which chamber of commerce nearby sells the most detailed map of the North Cold Immortal Domain? Ideally, a star map that marks the spheres of influence of the top Sects and the locations of cross-domain teleportation Formations."

Hearing this, the waiter was slightly stunned, then a flash of realization crossed his eyes. Someone daring to ask about a star map of that level was definitely not an ordinary Loose Cultivator he could afford to offend.

He leaned in a bit closer and whispered, "If you want an ordinary map, sir, just turn left out the door and any general store will have one. But if you want a top-tier star map, in all of Winter City, only the Heavenly Frost Pavilion in the city center can provide one. That is a property of one of the three major chambers of commerce in the North Cold Immortal Domain. Not only do they have the star map you want, but as long as you can afford the price, they can even get you Taiyi-level Cultivation Techniques and Secret Manuals."

"Heavenly Frost Pavilion." Zhou Wannian nodded slightly and casually tossed another immortal yuan stone to the waiter. "Thanks."

The waiter took the reward, thanked him repeatedly, and retreated happily.

Zhou Wannian was in no hurry to leave for the Heavenly Frost Pavilion. He sat calmly by the window, slowly finishing the pot of Blazing Fire Red Lotus Tea, watching the snow outside gradually stop, revealing the deep and azure sky unique to the North Cold Immortal Domain.

This feeling of not being hunted, having no sense of urgency, and simply enjoying the years of immortal cultivation step by step was a rare luxury for him.

Swallowing the last piece of Ice Crystal Spiritual Fruit, Zhou Wannian straightened the hem of his green robe and stood up composedly.

"Let's go and see what good things the chambers of commerce in this North Cold Immortal Domain have to offer."

He murmured to himself softly, walked slowly down the wooden stairs of the teahouse, and merged into the bustling streets of Winter City.