Chapter 128: Chapter 127: Northern Wilderness
Following the route Xue Zhang had already arranged, Jiang Qiu found the designated stall owners to purchase his goods. The items he received were even newer than what was on display, and the price was a good thirty percent lower. Even after he turned and left, he could occasionally feel the vendors’ eyes fixed on him.
"Holy shit... isn’t that the guy from the Soldier Cultivation Academy’s Spirit Fusion Test who shattered the Test Stone?"
"Damn right. I think it really is him—the dean’s direct disciple with Ninth Rank Jade Sinews and a perfect Spirit Fusion."
"What, he bought something from you? No way! You’re telling me a punk like you gets to rub shoulders with a peerless genius like that?"
As he continued through the market, Jiang Qiu occasionally felt the intense stares of passersby, but he remained unfazed. He simply listened intently to Xue Zhang’s descriptions of the Northern Wilderness. They were similar to the rumors online, but far more vivid and detailed.
"Jiang Divine, you may have never been to the Northern Wilderness, so you might not know how harsh the environment is. Some regions are frozen solid and battered by snowstorms all year long. Plus, large numbers of Demon Beasts, and even the Demon Race, are scattered across the wilds. The Martial Arts Teams that take on missions there often suffer heavy casualties.
However, the local specialties there are truly valuable. There are Ice Crystal Fruits, which can speed up the Refinement of Spirit Charm, and bringing them back can earn you a lot of Contribution Points. Students in the Newcomer Competition often take the opportunity to gather some to bring back.
Plus, there are quite a few Secret Realms in that area with long active periods. You can always find missions to enter them, and the ruins inside yield valuable finds year after year..."
Xue Zhang spoke with confidence, his expression animated and tinged with a hint of pride as he held his head high and puffed out his chest.
"I see. But what does this thing do?"
They had reached the edge of the small market. Jiang Qiu pointed to the last picture on the list on his phone and asked his question.
It was a bronze-colored, eight-sided sphere engraved with strange, wind-like patterns. It looked extremely intricate and was labeled "Wind Summoning Ball."
He’d never seen the picture before, but the object looked a lot like one of the thank-you gifts he had received from other students, with similar patterns and appearance.
"That’s a single-use Wind Summoning Ball, a type of Hundred Machine Creation. It can release its stored Gale Spirit Charm for a short period. By summoning a powerful updraft, it can give you about ten seconds of flight."
Xue Zhang explained earnestly, "Some of the terrain in the Northern Wilderness has massive drops. Wealthy students participating in the Newcomer Competition will prepare a dozen or so of these single-use Wind Summoning Balls. They’re a bit pricey at one hundred Contribution Points each, but..."
CLICK.
A silvery-white, eight-sided sphere materialized in Jiang Qiu’s left hand. It was slightly larger than a 4x4 magic cube, just big enough to be held in one palm. Cyan and blue patterns swirled across its surface like a raging gale.
"So, is this a Wind Summoning Ball?"
HISS— Xue Zhang’s eyes widened as he sucked in a sharp breath. "A Mortal Treasure Level Hundred Machine Creation?!"
He swallowed hard and licked his dry lips. "Normally, students from the Hundred Machines Academy can only make single-use Hundred Machine Creations. Making something like this... the difficulty is comparable to crafting a Middle Level, Spirit Charm-type Su Fragrance."
"It’s reusable and can store power. The flight effect must last for at least three minutes. I can’t believe you have a treasure like this, Jiang Divine."
’How presumptuous of me. I just knew that Jiang Qiu had attended an Outer City High School back in Gao Yuan City and lived in the Shantytown. I never would have guessed he could casually pull out a Hundred Machine Creation worth at least five thousand Contribution Points.’
Xue Zhang took a deep breath. "Well, in that case, Jiang Divine, it seems you’re pretty much set. You just need to board the Hundred Machines Giant Kite in two days."
"Okay."
Jiang Qiu stared at the Wind Summoning Ball in his hand. ’I have a few more things like this in my Storage Ring. Are they all Mortal Treasure Level Hundred Machine Creations?’
’I can’t believe I’m holding something I’ve only ever heard about on the news.’
...
「Three days later.」
The Newcomer Competition participants who had received their notices gathered at the Hundred Machines Academy. On a tarmac a kilometer long and wide, dozens of gray-black Hundred Machines Giant Kites of various shapes rested.
Jiang Qiu, along with Liang Taiyue, Lin Wei, and over seven hundred other students from the Soldier Cultivation Academy, had followed An Ling to this place. Standing at the feet of a Hundred Machines Giant Kite, they looked like a tiny cluster of ants.
"Martial Uncle," An Ling said, "although the Newcomer Competition only involves our academy, the Body Tempering Academy, and the Spirit Control Academy, they have some incredible geniuses at the Spirit Body Martial Artist level. They have techniques you may not be familiar with, so if you’re aiming for first place, it’s best not to underestimate your opponents."
After hearing the reminder, Jiang Qiu nodded and waved goodbye to An Ling.
As he approached the boarding stairs of the Hundred Machines Giant Kite, he faintly overheard snippets of conversation from another group.
Glancing over, he saw the students from the Body Tempering Academy and the Spirit Control Academy—a mere two hundred from the former and about a hundred from the latter—standing together. They were all looking in his direction, their faces filled with curiosity and awe.
Among them, the tall figure of their leading direct disciple, Niu Yao, came into view. His expression was complex, his brow slightly furrowed.
’He’s participating in the Newcomer Competition, but in the Bright Soul Martial Artist bracket...’
’The Newcomer Competition lasts for over half a year. It’s not impossible for me to break through to the Bright Soul Realm during that time. If I’m going to compete for first place, it’ll be for first place in the Bright Soul Realm bracket.’
Jiang Qiu thought to himself, clenching his fists. He walked resolutely into the belly of the Hundred Machines Giant Kite and found a seat by the window.
BEEP.
[Year 2125, July 29, 10:55 AM]
The time glowed on his phone screen. He could be spending the next six months fighting for his life in the chaotic, perilous Northern Wilderness, where there would be plenty of opportunities to explore its Secret Realms.
Jiang Qiu casually opened his chat with Liu Zili and scrolled down. Every day, there were long paragraphs of text describing her rapid progress.
The Refining System has its own Cultivation Methods. It’s not a combat discipline and relies even more heavily on natural Talent, so her path was different from his. But from her descriptions, she was improving very quickly.
’And students on non-combat paths find it easier to reach the Bright Soul Realm...’
’I hope she’s reached the Bright Soul Realm by the time I get back.’
A slight smile touched Jiang Qiu’s lips. He sent a farewell message, then put his phone away.
Soon, the Hundred Machines Giant Kite rose into the sky. Its two gray-black wings, made of some special material, beat gently up and down. The Gale Spirit Charm channeled through the complex patterns on their surface created a storm-like thrust behind them.
VMMMM—
Amidst a chorus of gasps from inside the cabin, Jiang Qiu felt a powerful force press him back into his seat. ’This is incredibly fast.’
He turned his gaze out the window. Thick clouds were shredded by the Gale Spirit Charm and blasted away behind them. Another Hundred Machines Giant Kite, flying alongside them, slowly beat its wings.
’A colossal Hundred Machine Creation powered by special Spirit Ores. They’re mentioned on the news all the time, but riding in one for the first time feels completely different. It’s surreal...’
"Jiang Divine, there might be a large-scale Secret Realm manifesting in the Northern Wilderness. Will you be taking part in the related missions when it does?"
Lin Wei, who was sitting beside him, asked.
Jiang Qiu nodded. "I will."
...
WHOOSH—
Several hours passed. Outside the window, the thick clouds faded to gray, obscuring the sun. The mountains and plains below streamed backward, and gradually, a layer of white frost coated the land, followed by a thick blanket of snow like a winter cloak.
Ever since the reawakening of the Secret Realms, the global climate had changed drastically. The lands north of Xia Country had become a permanent snowfield. Countless species of plants and animals mutated, and the ecosystem reverted to a savage, untamed state, hence its name: the Northern Wilderness.
However, one bastion of civilization stood firm in the Northern Wilderness: a great city that had been under continuous construction for the past century—North Border City.
It was said that countless displaced members of the Human Race first gathered there, led by outlaws. Later, wave after wave of renegade Martial Artists and mercenary groups put down roots, building it into the only city north of Xia Country.
Online, it was known as the City of Chaos, and it was the destination for every Newcomer Competition.
’Another half an hour, and we should be arriving at North Border City, right?’
Jiang Qiu muttered to himself, his gaze drifting to the window.
The Hundred Machines Giant Kite’s wings sliced through a sea of gray-white clouds, obscuring the snowy mountains below. ’Looks like a storm is brewing.’
JOLT!
Suddenly, the entire Hundred Machines Giant Kite jolted violently. Cries of alarm filled the cabin. Beside him, Lin Wei shot bolt upright, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "I think I sense danger."
His Martial Arts Talent wasn’t just about superior strength or rapid training; it was this very intuition that had kept him from mistakenly leading a thousand classmates into a Secret Realm back in Kunlun City.
And right now, that intuition was screaming at him. For miles in every direction, the Heaven and Earth Spirit Charm was in turmoil. This was no simple storm...
