341: Northern Border

"Everyone, line up!"

"After identity verification and testing, wait in the corresponding channel. Do not make loud noises and follow the border regulations!"

Before them stood a Teleportation Fortress, responsible for crossing the boundaries between regions.

Overall, it looked like a cluster of palaces, covering a vast area, yet it seemed quite small compared to the massive cyan-blue barrier behind it, shimmering with a faint light and covered in array patterns.

At the channel in front of the fortress, a woman in a short brown robe was using magic to amplify her voice and maintain order, while directing several staff members in similar attire to guide the crowd; she was clearly the foreman of this group.

While maintaining order, a man suddenly froze in place, staring blankly.

Seeing this, the woman shouting walked over quickly and slapped the back of his head.

"What are you looking at? Your eyes are popping out!"

"Can't you see how many people there are now?"

"Didn't you notice your Uncle Li is so busy he's practically smoking?"

The man turned his head and indeed saw a Yao Race Cultivator with a bird's head and a human body, so exhausted that white steam was rising from him, glaring at him angrily.

The man showed an apologetic expression, and just as he was about to apologize to the foreman, he realized she was also dazed, so he had to reach out and poke her gently.

The foreman snapped back to her senses, her cheeks reddening slightly. She coughed instinctively and then pulled a stern face again.

"I'm talking to you, didn't you hear me? Go help out!"

The man trembled and could only steal one last reluctant glance in the direction he had been looking before running off with flushed cheeks to help maintain order.

Seeing the man walk away, the foreman breathed a sigh of relief, then switched to a gentle smile and walked toward the spot they had just been staring at.

It was the steps in front of an empty room.

Sitting on the steps was a young woman in blue, holding an oil-paper umbrella.

She was incredibly beautiful with a graceful figure, and her golden eyes looked even more brilliant and noble under the shadow of the umbrella. Faint sunlight fell around her, making her look like a Fairy descending to the mortal realm.

This person was none other than Zhou Yan, using the pseudonym Kong Xuan.

[Zhou Yan - Female]

Looking at the female Cultivator approaching like a helpful older sister, Zhou Yan sighed inwardly.

Why don't I ever learn?

Could it be the influence of the mahayana edict?

People here know that lone elderly, women, and children might not be simple, yet they still can't help but show kindness; it's quite a hassle.

In the past, even with his outstanding looks, he wouldn't necessarily meet helpful people everywhere; most were actually intimidated by his Aura and didn't dare approach.

After changing into a female form, his temperament hadn't changed, but it made everyone even more enthusiastic instead.

"Miss, are you sitting here because you've run into some trouble?"

"Are you crossing the region, or waiting for someone?"

"Tsk."

"Hmm?"

The foreman seemed to hear a very faint click of the tongue, as if coming from the girl before her. But then she saw the other party's pitifully moving expression.

Yeah, I must have misheard!

Zhou Yan raised the umbrella slightly, letting the light fall gently on her face. She first looked down to the left, then quickly lifted her face to meet the foreman's gaze, though her head remained slightly tilted.

She lightly rested her chin on one hand, furrowed her brows slightly, and spoke softly.

"Am I disturbing your work, Sister?"

"I'm so sorry, I didn't know I couldn't sit here... I just wanted to sit and wait for someone. It's okay, I'll just find another spot; I can't cause trouble for you, Sister."

Zhou Yan said this, but didn't move an inch. However, the foreman didn't notice because her attention was entirely captured by the other's face.

Ah, my maiden heart!

Seeing that heart-wrenching look, the foreman didn't care about any regulations. Even if sitting here was truly forbidden, she was determined to let this girl rest properly.

The foreman quickly coughed twice more, her voice becoming exceptionally gentle.

"Ahem, don't say that, Miss. You're just resting here; how could I drive you away?"

"I just came over to see if you needed any help. After all, it's so dangerous for a beautiful young girl like you to be out alone."

Without waiting for Zhou Yan's answer, she added enthusiastically.

"But since you're just waiting for someone, then rest well here. I'll go set up a cordon right now so others won't crowd around and disturb you."

With that, the foreman turned to leave somewhat hurriedly, but after only a few steps, she couldn't help but look back once more.

She happened to see Zhou Yan nod gently and whisper.

"Thank you, Sister."

The voice was soft, but as a Cultivator, the foreman's hearing was sharp enough to catch it. Her face instantly turned beet red, and she gritted her teeth.

"Hiss—ah!"

She quickly turned her head back, clenched her fists, and took a deep breath toward the sky to steady her mind. Then she walked away briskly, even more eager to get the cordon.

As she left, her hand unconsciously pressed against her chest.

Is this an angel descending by my side?

Sure enough, good things will happen to those who live hard and strive for progress every day!

Today is another day full of Origin Qi!

"Sigh, finally fooled her into leaving."

Zhou Yan immediately dropped the act, leaning back on the steps behind him with limbs sprawled.

"Tsk tsk, truly superficial."

"No wonder those mighty experts love playing female characters; this way of easily charming both men and women to gain favor is truly simple and crude."

"Speaking of which, if immortals play female characters to collect faith, does that count as the earliest form of forming a girl group to gain fans?"

In the eyes of others, Zhou Yan was still holding the oil-paper umbrella, sitting quietly alone, like a peaceful and beautiful painting.

In reality, he was crossing his legs, hands propped behind him on the stone steps, in a relaxed and unrestrained posture.

All of this was because Zhou Yan had deployed the Six Desires Heaven, laying down a layer of filter around himself that even ordinary Nascent Soul Cultivators would find hard to see through.

Under the blessing of this filter, she appeared even more beautiful and holy. Some had even secretly recorded her image, viewing her as an idol, and planned to recommend her to the Butian Pavilion upon their return to be included in the Goddess List.

If they knew their idol was actually like this in private, they would probably be devastated, not to mention that this idol was actually a man.

Zhou Yan leaned against the stone steps, waiting for Zhang Wei and his group to arrive. With nothing to do, he looked toward the endless barrier again.

"So why is it?"

"Clearly there are no barriers in the Northern Abyss, yet such things are set up between the Four Regions."

"And it's not even hard to cross, so what's the point of setting it up?"

"But if I'd known Zhang Wei and the others would be this slow, I shouldn't have teleported directly to the border; I should have waited until they all arrived before teleporting here."

"Hmm?"

While bored, Zhou Yan suddenly felt a familiar presence.

She suddenly sat up straight to look.

Oh, isn't this my Brother Long?

Looking at Long Tianxing, he seemed to have just arrived as well.

This left Zhou Yan somewhat puzzled.

I set out late enough as it is, so how did he only just arrive? Aren't protagonists supposed to set out early and then arrive last after going through hardships?

How is he even later than me?

Long Tianxing walked through the crowd, occasionally garnering surprised looks from the female Cultivators nearby.

Looking at the long queue before him, he couldn't help but frown.

"How long is this queue going to take?"

While looking around from the end of the line, he suddenly noticed a beautiful and moving woman sitting on the steps beside the queue. In front of her was a cordon made of magic, making her look even more special and eye-catching.

Long Tianxing was not one to be obsessed with beauty; although her looks were on par with his, it wasn't enough for him to be bewitched by a mere pink skull.

It was just those eyes... why did they look so familiar? This look, this temperament, always made him feel a sense of déjà vu.

A flash of inspiration struck his Sea of Consciousness, and he soon realized.

This woman looks so much like Zhou Yan!

Except Zhou Yan's eyes are dark gold, while hers are bright gold.

There are many people with different eye and hair colors on this continent, and many with golden pupils.

But Long Tianxing had an inexplicable intuition that she was related to Zhou Yan, and this thought piqued his curiosity.

So he decided to take the most direct approach and go straight up to ask her what her relationship with Zhou Yan was.

He could have set out early, but upon learning that Zhou Yan hadn't made a move, he had been waiting for him in the sect. He planned to set out at the same time as him to be at the same starting point, wanting to have a fair competition with this rival on another level.

However, along the way, he hadn't encountered Zhou Yan at all, but instead saw this woman who bore some resemblance to him, naturally sparking his curiosity.

Zhou Yan's eyes widened, and he quickly sat up straight, his face filling with alarm.

"Oh no, why is he coming toward me?"