177: Trekking across the Ice Plains and the Mighty City of the North

Leaving the boundaries of Starfall Pavilion, the temperature in the air began to drop noticeably. Li Ao and Medusa did not choose the costly long-distance spatial Transmigration, but instead relied on their formidable Cultivation to fly directly through the air, speeding toward the north.

The further north they went, the sparser the population became. The continuous mountain ranges below were gradually replaced by snow-covered hills and plains; rivers froze, and the land was draped in silver. The biting cold wind scraped past like a knife. Ordinary Dou King experts would likely find it difficult to endure for long in such an environment, but for Li Ao and Medusa, this chill had little effect.

Medusa's true form was the Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python, giving her extreme adaptability to the environment. As for Li Ao, faint gray-gold Qi flowed around his body, forming a natural barrier created by pure Saber Intent and Nirvana Power. This not only isolated the biting cold wind and ice but also greatly reduced the air resistance generated during flight, making his speed faster and his movement more effortless.

The two traveled in silence, yet the tacit understanding between them prevented the journey from becoming dull. Medusa occasionally pointed out certain peculiar landforms or areas of abnormal energy fluctuation below, offering her judgment based on her many years of experience, while Li Ao verified it using his own senses. This kind of interaction was both a diversion during the journey and a silent process of refining their mutual knowledge and abilities.

After flying for about ten days, the outline of a massive, majestic, and continuous mountain range, seemingly connecting heaven and earth, appeared at the edge of their vision. Above the mountain range were eternal glaciers and snowy peaks, reflecting dazzling white light under the sun. That was the natural barrier separating the Northern Territory from the central plains of the continent—the Northern Spirit Mountain Range.

According to the map, crossing the Northern Spirit Mountain Range meant entering the true territory of the Northern Region, and Tianbei City was situated on a massive ice plain a thousand miles north of the mountains.

"The energy ahead is chaotic, and the spatial structure is unstable. It seems we cannot fly directly over it," Li Ao said gravely, hovering in mid-air and looking at the core area of the mountain range, which was shrouded in distorted light and faint spatial cracks.

Medusa nodded: "The Northern Spirit Mountain Range is known as the 'Spatial Maze.' Forcing a crossing below the Dou Venerate level means certain death. Even for us, we must be careful not to be swept into unknown spatial turbulence."

The two lowered their altitude and landed on the edge of the mountain range. A massive, winding canyon passage, artificially carved out, appeared before them. At the entrance to the passage was a sizable pass, built from some kind of black megalith, radiating a solemn aura. Engraved above the pass were three imposing characters—Northern Spirit Pass.

This was one of the relatively safe routes for crossing the Northern Spirit Mountain Range, jointly guarded by representatives of several major powers from the central plains, who charged a considerable fee to travelers.

Li Ao and Medusa paid the fee and ignored the guards' astonished and respectful gazes as they stepped into the canyon passage.

The passage was exceptionally wide, enough for ten carriages to travel abreast. On both sides were thousand-foot-high, mirror-smooth ice walls, with only a sliver of daylight filtering down from above. The passage was not an easy path; sometimes they had to climb steep ice steps, and other times they had to bypass bottomless ice fissures. Furthermore, a strange cold Qi constantly seeped out from the ground and ice walls, attempting to erode one's Battle Qi and Soul.

While this environment was a test for ordinary Cultivators, for Li Ao, it was like a leisurely stroll. He even deliberately guided a trace of the strange cold Qi into his body, refining it using the nirvana star core and sensing the unique ice-attribute energy contained within. He vaguely felt that it offered a slight benefit to the "stillness" aspect of his Nirvana Power.

Medusa followed beside him, watching him occasionally stop to sense things, appearing sometimes as if he had gained sudden enlightenment. A trace of tenderness flashed across her purple eyes. She liked seeing him so focused on his own Dao.

Crossing the Northern Spirit Mountain Range took them a full three days. When they finally exited the other end of the passage and their view suddenly opened up, an endless, vast, and magnificent ice plain appeared before them.

The sky was a high, pure azure, forming a stark contrast with the boundless white snow below. A fierce wind swept snow spray across the ice plain, howling like the wails of ghosts. The natural energy here was more violent and colder than on the other side of the mountains.

"The Northern Region. We have arrived," Li Ao took a deep breath. The cold air rushed into his lungs, yet it invigorated him. He could sense that the nirvana star core within his Qi Sea seemed slightly more active in this place.

After confirming their direction, the two ascended into the air once more, flying low over the ice plain toward Tianbei City.

After flying for about half a day more, the outline of a massive city, sprawling across the ice plain like an ancient Vicious Beast, finally came clearly into view at the edge of the horizon.

It was a majestic city built entirely from massive ice blocks and some kind of grayish-white rock. The city walls were a hundred meters high, towering and reflecting a cold, hard sheen under the sunlight. Above the city, a gigantic, pale blue energy barrier, like an inverted giant bowl, enveloped the entire city. Light shimmered on the barrier, clearly containing powerful defensive strength. Outside the barrier was ceaseless wind and snow, but inside, the scene was comparatively peaceful.

"Tianbei City... it truly lives up to its reputation," Li Ao murmured, gazing at the massive city that exuded an ancient, cold, and rugged aura. He could sense many formidable auras hidden within the city; Dou Emperors and Dou Ancestors were everywhere, and there were even a few obscure presences that made him feel a hint of threat.

"Let's go. We should first find the Mittel Family's stronghold," Medusa's cool voice sounded from beside him.

The two restrained part of their aura and descended toward the massive gate of Tianbei City like two inconspicuous streams of light.

The city gate was bustling with activity, and the flow of people entering and leaving was ceaseless. Most were mercenaries and adventurers wearing thick animal fur coats and exuding a fierce aura, carrying the strong scent of bloodlust, wind, and snow. The city guards wore uniform white runic armor, their eyes sharp as eagles, and their strength generally ranged from Great Dou Master to Dou Spirit Rank. The captain leading the squad was even a Dou King expert.

The arrival of Li Ao and Medusa did not cause much commotion, as Dou Kings and Dou Emperors were not uncommon in this major Northern Region city. However, their outstanding appearance and temperament, especially Medusa's cold and peerless beauty, still attracted many gazes. Among these looks were admiration, curiosity, and undisguised greed and scrutiny.

Li Ao's expression was calm. His Soul Power silently spread out like an invisible spiderweb, instantly grasping all movement within several hundred meters of the city gate. He "heard" some faint discussions and sensed several malicious Soul probes, but upon touching his Soul barrier, which contained Saber Intent, they all retreated as if shocked by electricity.

After paying the entrance fee, the two stepped into this majestic city of the Northern Region.

The streets inside the city were wide, paved with massive bluestone slabs, and the architecture on both sides was rugged and practical, mostly constructed from megaliths and ice blocks. Various shops lined the streets, selling Demonic Beast Materials, medicinal herbs, weapons, armor, and Northern Region specialties, and the clamor was incessant. The air was filled with a unique scent mixing ice, strong liquor, blood, and sweat, full of wildness and vigor.

Following the address provided by Ya Fei, the two walked through several bustling streets toward the trade district in the west of the city.

However, just as they were about to reach the street where the Mittel Family stronghold was located, the crowd ahead suddenly stirred and then spontaneously parted to both sides.

In the center of the street, seven or eight arrogant men in unified blue brocade robes were escorting a pale, puffy-eyed young man in luxurious clothes, who swaggered toward them. The lavishly dressed young man was toying with a jade pendant that emitted cold Qi. His gaze casually swept the sides of the street, and when his eyes passed by Li Ao and landed on Medusa, they instantly froze.

His gaze was filled with undisguised astonishment and fervent possessiveness.

Beside the lavishly dressed young man, an old man who looked like a steward had eyes sharp as knives. He first swept his gaze over Li Ao, and when he sensed the unfathomable aura, a trace of solemnity flashed in his eyes. But when he looked at Medusa and found that although her aura was cold, it did not seem to reach the Dou Venerate level (Medusa deliberately restrained it), he felt slightly reassured.

He stepped forward, cupped his hands toward Li Ao and Medusa, and spoke in a tone that sounded polite but carried a condescending air:

"You two are quite unfamiliar; are you new to Tianbei City? My Young Lord is Hong Chen, Young Lord of the Hong Family, one of Tianbei City's two great Families. Seeing this young lady's peerless grace, he feels admiration and wishes to invite the two of you to our mansion for a chat. Would you be so kind as to oblige?"

Hong Chen, the Young Lord, also walked over, fanning himself with a folding fan. His eyes were practically glued to Medusa as he chuckled: "Not bad, not bad. In all my years in Tianbei City, this is the first time I have seen such exquisite beauty. Beauty, come back to the mansion with this Young Lord, and I guarantee you will enjoy endless wealth and glory!"

Li Ao watched this scene, his eyes calm and devoid of ripples. He simply glanced indifferently at Hong Chen, then softly said to Medusa: "It seems the general atmosphere of the Northern Region is even 'warmer' than we imagined."

Medusa did not even lift her eyelids, as if the noisy people before her were merely a group of ants. Only the corner of her cold lips curved into an extremely subtle arc, yet one that was enough to make anyone familiar with her feel chilled to the bone.