Half a year later.
"Haha, Daddy, we've grown so much taller again!" Zhou Ying held Zhou Chen's hand and shook it, smiling with satisfaction. A year ago, she could only reach her father's thigh, but now she could reach his waist. Yes, she would practice boxing every day.
In comparison, Zhou Yi was a little calmer. At this time, he was still in a horse stance, staring at the empty sea outside the ship. The further north they went, the more extreme the weather became. Three and a half months of the year were midwinter, and most seabirds were no longer suitable to live in this sea. Only some cold-resistant creatures occasionally appeared, but the sea was incomparably vast. These creatures were like salt sprinkled into fresh water, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Shi Xuan half-closed his eyes and breathed in the cold, refreshing air, letting the coolness pass through his lungs and seep into his body. He felt refreshed and comfortable. Under the cold sun, the deep blue sea shimmered faintly. In the distance floated an iceberg several feet wide. The snow on it had already melted, so it looked crystal clear. As they continued north, the icebergs would get bigger and bigger.
In the year he had been on the ship, Shi Xuan had watched Zhou Yi and Zhou Ying grow up bit by bit. He deeply felt the joy of life and growth.
"Ha, it's so cold." Cao Yuanze breathed into his hands. The Fan family was reluctant to open the formation to isolate the outside world when there was no heavy snowstorm.
He Ji had already changed into a cotton robe. He smiled and said, "You're already feeling cold? How are you going to survive at the North Pole? It's like this during the hottest time there, and it's much colder most of the time. Once you leave Ice Crystal City, you'll be frozen into an ice sculpture without a coat and hat made of snow rat skin. "
"Ah? How are you going to survive then? Let's not talk about those cultivators. How are ordinary people like you, who only know some martial arts, going to make a living? "Cao Yuanze was a little frightened. Shi Xuan was also very interested in the customs of these different places, so he asked, "I heard that there are many ordinary people there."
Seeing that everyone was looking at him, He Ji straightened his back and said, "I live in the southernmost Ice Crystal City. I've never been to Ice City, Extreme Day City, and Extreme Night City further north, so I don't know how ordinary people live there. In Ice Crystal City, you can't leave the city for three months a year. It's windy, snowy, and extremely cold. Even if you wear thick clothes, you'll be buried in the snow. So these three months are the season for everyone to enjoy life. "
As far as Shi Shuan knew, there were only four big cities in the Arctic that were equipped with formations that could withstand snowstorms and bitter cold. As for the other places, there were only some small ice and snow tribes by the southernmost seaside. Among these four great cities, Extreme Day City and Extreme Night City were located within the Arctic Circle. Half of the day and half of the night, they were the outer encampments of the Guanghan Sect. It was said that their sect, the Guanghan Palace, was located on an icy peak somewhere in the Arctic Circle. Ice City and Ice Crystal City were in the east and west. Ice City was slightly closer to the north, and they were jointly controlled by a few small sects.
He Ji continued, "For the other nine months, we wear coats and hats made of snow rat fur to hunt whales. Heh, although the North Pole is so cold, there are many kinds of beasts and birds, like ice bears and snow leopards. Of course, we can only hunt ordinary beasts and first rank demonic beasts. If we're lucky, we can kill a few second rank demonic beasts. Then we'll be rich."
Zhou Chen planned to make a living in the North Pole after his children joined the sect, so he listened with great interest. But when he remembered that he didn't have any martial arts, he asked worriedly, "Is there no other way to make a living other than hunting?"
"There is. Anything that can be done in other places can be done in Ice Crystal City. Be a waiter, a shopkeeper, or even open your own shop. Besides, there are many valleys near Ice Crystal City that are as warm as spring. There are hot springs and irrigated land where rice and herbs can be grown. But it must be done within the nine months." He Ji smiled and said, "But for ordinary people, the most profitable thing is to be able to identify spiritual plants. If you can find some spiritual plants in the snowy mountains, then you'll really be able to last half a year."
"Oh, but Brother He, what's a snow rat skin?" Cao Yuanze asked with concern.
He Ji sighed and said, "Snow rats are the most common common beast in the North Pole. In most cases, they haven't even entered the first rank. It's the most affordable fur coat for ordinary people. But it's really warm. I've brought one with me. I'll show you later."
* * *
A year later, snow was falling and the wind was howling. The Fan family's fleet stopped behind an island, preparing to avoid the snowstorm before setting off.
In Shi Xuan's cabin, a few people sat around a copper pot on the table and ate with relish. There was a charcoal stove under the copper pot, giving off a scorching aura that raised the temperature of the whole room. Zhou Yi and Zhou Ying were sweating profusely and couldn't stop eating for even a moment. For them, after they started training, not only did they grow taller, but their appetite also increased. If it weren't for the Fan family's fleet bringing along enough meat, Zhou Chen being willing to spend money, and Shi Xuan occasionally catching a few big fish from the sea, they might not have been able to fill their stomachs.
He Ji ate a piece of fish and sighed. "I didn't expect Brother Shi to not only know how to fish, but also make a good pot. If you open a shop in Ice Crystal City, I guarantee you'll make a lot of money."
Shi Xuan smiled and didn't say anything. He feverishly ate, looking at the white snow outside the window. His heart was calm and happy. In this year, after witnessing the birth and death of others, Shi Xuan felt that his state of mind was becoming more and more peaceful and perfect. But as for breaking through to the Divine Soul Stage, although he had a feeling that he was close to it, he was still a little bit away. It seemed that he had to find another opportunity.
"Little Yi, Little Ying, where are you now?" Cao Yuanze drank the yellow wine and teased the two little fellows.
Zhou Yi was busy eating and didn't have time to pay attention to him. Only Zhou Ying smiled and said, "Hehe, my head can already touch my father's ribs." Zhou Chen was tall, so for a child less than seven years old, this height was not bad.
* * *
Half a year later.
Zhou Yi and Zhou Ying, who had grown another half a head taller, each held one of Shi Xuan's hands and said reluctantly, "Uncle Shi, don't go. Don't go. " This was the Ice Crystal City's Unfrozen Port. Other than some cultivators who didn't care much about their appearance, the people coming and going here were all wearing snow-white or silver-grey furry coats. Even many female cultivators, because they liked this snow-white coat, snow-white velvet hat and snow-white fur cloak, also got a set to wear. Even though they weren't afraid of the cold, at least they looked pure and pretty.
Shi Xuan patted their little heads and said with a smile, "Uncle Shi still has to go to Extreme Night City, so it's not good to delay on the way, lest we encounter those three months of snowstorms. In the future, if you can join the sect, we'll meet again. " For Zhou Yi and Zhou Ying, there was no need for children below the age of twelve to enter the Guang Han Sect to go to Extreme Day City or Extreme Night City. Every ten years, there would be cultivators from the Guang Han Sect coming to Ice City and Ice Crystal City to be selected.
"Ah, Mr. Shi, you are?" When Zhou Chen heard this, he was a little shocked and confused. Beside him, He Ji and Cao Yuanze were the same.
Shi Xuan said with a smile, "I am indeed a cultivator, but in the North Sea, as you know, I can't expose myself. Alright, it's a kind of fate that we can meet. These days, I's pot has good ingredients. Even if it doesn't prolong life, it can still strengthen the body. " After leaving the North Sea and arriving at Ice Crystal City, every time Shi Xuan made a pot, there would be a drop of rain.
"No wonder I feel so energetic these days." The closer Cao Yuanze got to the North Pole, the more listless he became. Because he was afraid of the cold, he kept talking about buying a snow rat fur coat when they arrived at Ice Crystal City.
He Ji also said happily, "I was wondering why it wasn't as cold as before. Thank you, Immortal Elder Shi. "
Shi Xuan waved his hand and bid farewell to the few of them. He slowly released the spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth from his body and then walked towards the main street without looking back. Fate comes and meets, fate separates. Don't worry, don't be tired.
As for Zhou Yi and Zhou Ying, Shi Xuan didn't think of giving them any more benefits. Helping them reorganize their training routines was the biggest benefit.
After entering the main street of Ice Crystal City, Shi Xuan restored his appearance as he walked. When he was crossing the North Sea, he was worried that Xue He Laozu would see his appearance and show his appearance to every patrolling disciple. Therefore, Shi Xuan adjusted his muscles and changed his appearance. Naturally, he didn't need to pretend anymore.
Ice Crystal City got its name because of the semicircular ice crystal array that enveloped the entire city. Since Shi Xuan was here to train himself, he didn't intend to take the teleportation array to Extreme Night City. At this moment, he walked out of the city gate at a moderate pace, preparing to fly to Extreme Night City and see the scenery of the North Pole.
Just as he was about to walk out of the city gate, a cultivator guarding the gate walked over and sized Shi Xuan up. Then, he said, "Dao friend, you look unfamiliar. Do you need an introduction since you just arrived at Ice Crystal City? Going out to hunt? I know a good place. "
Shi Xuan smiled and shook his head. Then, he walked out of the city gate without stopping. The cultivator guarding the gate didn't pester him and returned to his original spot with a smile.
After exiting the city gate, there was no wind or snow today. The sky was azure blue and looked leisurely and spacious. As far as the eye could see, there were white ice peaks and snow plains. Shi Xuan turned into a gust of wind and flew towards Extreme Night City while admiring the scenery.
Not long after, because Shi Xuan's spirit cultivation had improved a lot, he suddenly felt a strong killing intent locking onto him. A streak of light was rushing towards him. After calmly measuring his speed, Shi Xuan decided to turn around and face the enemy. At the very least, he had to severely injure the enemy before he had a chance to overtake him.
The streak of light behind him was a bright blood red. It was wantonly and overbearing as it flew towards Shi Xuan. Seeing Shi Xuan turn around, he released a golden bridge above his head to protect his body. He wasn't in a hurry to attack. Instead, he stopped a few dozen feet away and said leisurely, "A few years ago, Old Ancestor gave me a lesson. However, his calculations weren't very accurate. Coupled with the interference of an expert, he could only calculate that Dao Friend Shi would reach the North Pole within ten years. Initially, I thought that you would use the teleportation array to come over. Therefore, I have been guarding the teleportation array of Ice Crystal City for the past few years. However, Dao Friend Shi, you are really smart. You actually took the risk to take a boat. If it wasn't for the fact that the guards accepted my spirit stones and the aura detection jade pendant that I gave them, I would have waited for nothing. "
The person who spoke was a young Daoist who had a contradictory aura of laziness and arrogance. His face was ordinary and belonged to the type that one would forget after seeing. He was wearing an ordinary green Daoist robe. At this moment, his eyes were faintly revealing the color of blood.
