Chapter 151: Disturbance in the Northern Wasteland

Life in Qinghe City had been peaceful for three months.

During these three months, Su Yun did the same thing every day.

By day, he sat in the courtyard drinking tea, watching Zhao Lanxin embroider, and listening to Zhou Ruoyun tell interesting stories about the city.

At night, he would occasionally visit Liu Wugou or go to Elder Han Yue's small courtyard to drink a pot of wine.

Valley Master Su Yao was busy with Alchemy in the Western Region, Fairy Jianyun was in seclusion trying to break through to the Mid Spirit Severing Stage, and Zi Wuji was also in seclusion in the Purple Mansion.

With only him and those Foundation Establishment and Golden Core female Disciples left in Qinghe City, life was comfortable yet boring.

But he knew this comfort would not last long.

That evening, Bai Shuang returned from the Northern Wasteland.

She was the guide Su Yun had recruited in the Northern Wasteland; she was at the Early Nascent Soul Stage and knew the terrain of the Northern Wasteland like the back of her hand.

Su Yun had left her in the Northern Wasteland to keep an eye on the Thunder Beast, with instructions to send back a message every month.

She had not sent any news for two months.

When Bai Shuang landed in the courtyard, she was covered in wounds.

Her white dress was torn in several places, revealing wounds deep enough to see the bone.

Her left arm was in a sling, and her face was as pale as paper.

She stumbled over to Su Yun and knelt on one knee.

"Master, something has happened in the Northern Wasteland."

Su Yun helped her sit down and told Zhao Lanxin to go call Valley Master Su Yao.

Zhao Lanxin ran off to do so.

Valley Master Su Yao was not in Qinghe City, but her Disciples were; they quickly arrived with Medicinal Pills.

After taking the Medicinal Pill, Bai Shuang's complexion improved slightly, and she began to talk about the events in the Northern Wasteland.

"Two months ago, the Thunder Beast suddenly left the Thunder Pool. It headed north, and I didn't know where it was going."

"Your subordinate followed it for a while and discovered it was heading in the direction of the Ten Thousand Year Cold Pool."

"I did not dare to get close, so I waited on the outskirts of the Cold Pool. After waiting for three days, the Thunder Beast emerged from the Cold Pool with something in its mouth."

Bai Shuang's voice began to tremble.

"It was a bead. It was the size of a fist, blood-red all over, and it emitted a very strong aura of Evil Qi."

"I was far away, but that aura still made my whole body turn cold."

"The Thunder Beast carried the bead and headed north. I tried to follow it, but it discovered me. It swiped at me with its claw, and I was severely injured, almost dying there."

"It took me two months to recover enough to come back and report."

Su Yun was silent. A blood-red bead emitting a dense aura of Evil Qi.

He recalled the red speck that had been sealed within the Physical Body of True Monarch Bingpo.

After that red speck escaped from the iceberg, its whereabouts were unknown.

Now it seemed that it had run to the Northern Wasteland and been found by the Thunder Beast.

Bai Shuang continued, "Master, there is one more thing. After the Thunder Beast left the Thunder Pool, the Restriction on the Thunder Pool seemed to loosen."

"When I was returning, I passed by the Thunder Pool and saw the water churning, with something climbing out from inside. I didn't dare to look further and took a detour."

Su Yun asked, "What kind of thing?"

Bai Shuang shook her head. "I don't know. But its aura is very strong, stronger than the Thunder Beast."

Valley Master Su Yao arrived at this moment. She had flown back from the Western Region overnight, and her face was pale when she landed in the courtyard.

She checked Bai Shuang's injuries, and after confirming there was no life-threatening danger, she walked over to Su Yun.

"Master, the Northern Wasteland cannot wait. The Thunder Beast has left the Thunder Pool, the Thunder Pool's Restriction has loosened, and the thing in the Ten Thousand Year Cold Pool has also escaped."

"If we delay any longer, those Soul Transformation Stage Yao Beasts in the Northern Wasteland might run to the Central Region."

Su Yun nodded. He had long wanted to go to the Northern Wasteland, but he had been waiting for Fairy Jianyun and Zi Wuji to have their Breakthroughs.

But now, he could not wait.

He told Bai Shuang to go rest, and went to find Fairy Jianyun himself.

Fairy Jianyun was still in seclusion; Su Yun did not disturb her, only standing outside the door for a while.

He could sense that Fairy Jianyun's aura had reached the Peak of the Initial Stage of Soul Transformation, and she was only one step away from the Middle Stage.

But no one knew when that final step would be taken.

He went to find Zi Wuji again. Zi Wuji was in seclusion in the Purple Mansion; he sent a message for him to exit seclusion as soon as possible.

Zi Wuji replied, asking for another month. Su Yun did not rush him.

He returned to the courtyard and sat by the stone table. Zhao Lanxin walked over carrying a bowl of soup and placed it in front of him.

She gestured, asking him if he was leaving. Su Yun said yes.

Zhao Lanxin lowered her head, her fingers clutching the corner of her clothes. After a while, she looked up and gestured, asking if he could take her with him.

Su Yun shook his head. "The Northern Wasteland is too dangerous. You stay here and wait for me to return."

Zhao Lanxin's eyes turned red, but she did not cry. She nodded, ran into the room, took out a newly made belt, and tied it for him.

She kept her head down, her fingers steady as she tied the belt, then smoothed his lapels. She looked up and smiled at him.

"Husband must come back."

Su Yun lowered his head and kissed her on the forehead. "I promise."

He stood up and went to find Valley Master Su Yao. She was in the Pill Refining Room tidying up, packing Medicinal Pills, Spiritual Plants, and Magical Artifacts one by one into her Storage Ring.

Seeing Su Yun enter, she stopped what she was doing.

"Master, I will go to the Northern Wasteland with you."

Su Yun shook his head. "You stay. Qinghe City and the Tianxuan Sect need you to watch over them. Fairy Jianyun and Zi Wuji are still in seclusion, and Bai Shuang is injured; you are the only one who can fight."

Valley Master Su Yao opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but ultimately nodded. "Who is Master taking with him?"

Su Yun thought for a moment. "Bai Shuang. She is a guide and knows the roads of the Northern Wasteland well. I will also take a few Nascent Soul Stage female cultivators to help on the way. That will be enough."

Valley Master Su Yao took out a dozen jade bottles from her Storage Ring and handed them to him. "Ten Soul Transformation Stage Pills. Five bottles of healing pills. Three bottles of antidote pills. Master, take these to use on the road."

Su Yun took them and put them away.

Early the next morning, Su Yun left Qinghe City with Bai Shuang and twenty Nascent Soul Stage female cultivators, flying toward the Northern Wasteland.

Zhao Lanxin stood at the city gate, clutching an unfinished belt in her hand.

She did not cry; she just stood there, watching quietly.

Zhou Ruoyun stood beside her, tugging on her sleeve, tears falling drop by drop.

Liu Wugou stood in the crowd, her eyes red, but she did not say anything.

Elder Han Yue stood at the very back, her expression calm.

Su Yun looked back and smiled at Zhao Lanxin. The little girl blushed and lowered her head.

He withdrew his gaze and increased his speed.

Flying for seven days, they crossed the Cangwu Mountain Range and passed through the Sunset Plains.

On the eighth day, the gray-white land of the Northern Wasteland appeared in their field of vision.

Su Yun landed in the small town on the border of the Northern Wasteland; when he came last time, there were still a few hunters here.

Now the small town was empty, with not a single person around.

The doors and windows of the houses were shattered, and some broken Magical Artifacts and beast bones were scattered on the ground.

Bai Shuang squatted down, picked up a piece of broken bone, and looked at it. "It has been dead for some time. It should have been killed when the Thunder Beast passed by."

Su Yun nodded, did not linger, and continued flying north.

When flying over the Yao Beast Forest, the forest was quiet, and there was not a single Yao Beast.

Those Yao Beasts had either run away or died.

When flying over the ice plains, the cracks on the ice surface were much more numerous than last time, and several patches of ice had collapsed, revealing the dark blue lake water underneath.

The lake water was churning, as if something was about to rush out from below.

Bai Shuang's face turned pale. "Master, the Restriction of the Thunder Pool has loosened; the entire Northern Wasteland is changing."

Su Yun increased his speed. After flying for another day, they arrived at the Thunder Pool.