Chapter 980: Northern Lands

Proofreader : Papatonks

Northern lands, the northest area among the five, had 80% of it composed of a huge sea, battered by ice and snow all year round; a world of bitter cold.

This harsh environment led to few sects or cultivating clans due to the sparse resources, including spirit mines.

What this land had that no other did, however, was the wondrous and many miraculous ingredients found behind those savage waves.

This made it all the worthwhile for humans to consider this harsh region their home, filled with the prospects of unearthing the sea's next great miracle. The results proved to be of great satisfaction to them as well, as with how rare the baubles found on the seabed were, the northern lands became the main supplier to the worlds' rarest items.

What topped them all was the North Sea Gel coming out of the watery abyss at some point and hailed as a wonder cure for anything and every known ailment. It was worth fighting and even dying for. The only problem was, a sea demon was guarding it, making getting it all the more difficult and deadly.

With this strong sea demon's sudden appearance, their access to the sea was cut off, making it dangerous to even access the usual mining or hunting fishing spots out at sea.

This spelled disaster for the northern lands, especially how barren it was to begin with. They were left to watch the glittering jewels behind a tempered glass and with a buffed guard in front of it.

For every venture into the sea would exact a terrible price whenever the sea demon appeared, making it a miracle if even a tenth survived.

For the good of all the cultivators in northern lands, Sea Bright Sect's strongest, Ouyang Lingtian, had not long ago taken the greatest treasure of northern lands, the Heaven Sealing divine sword, to challenge the savage sea demon and settle things once and for all.

The hero everyone worshiped, ended up not even able to see the sea demon's face as the demon flung him back and gravely wounded him in just one clash.

The people were already rejoicing about their returned access to wealth, but then left dumbstruck at the outcome. The sea demon was beyond anyone's comprehension, even dispensing with the strongest of the northern lands like one does a child.

The sea demon didn't even have to come out of the mist, taunting and ridiculing the insignificance of humans.

Everyone paled at its words, suddenly losing all interest in the sea's riches. Sadly, when it rains, it pours.

No one knew who the bastard was that leaked how their strongest man got hurt, but central area's Sword Star Empire heard it loud and clear, rejoicing by sending their own men over to steal their sword as thanks in the form of a team led personally by none other than Invincible Sword.

This news sent the whole land into panic and fear.

They didn't even have the chance to prepare, as three months ago, Invincible Sword's team mowed down any resistance and marched deep into the northern lands' hinterlands.

The people were now desperate as the strongest and most ruthless man in the world had barged into the heart of their home, his cold blade hanging dangerously close to their heads.

The entire northern lands was in a state of constant anxiety for another three months from the real danger Invincible Sword's team posed. Yet the strongest man did nothing outrageous and seemed to have vanished.

The unknown was far scarier now. Since they did not know where he could be hiding, in their own home no less, ready to pounce on them when they least expected.

It fell upon the cold and bitter land as another layer of ice to add to the people's misery, making them shiver without stop.

This, however, proved to be of no concern to a certain someone, not one bit.

Hu~

Zhuo Fan's breath steamed as he smiled, "Qiao'er, we're finally in northern lands. Now we just have to get to the North Sea's shore. I wonder how far it is."

"But father, why couldn't we just keep riding that big bird? It's going to take ages to reach the shore now!"

He was holding the hand of a seven-year-old adorable girl, though she was frowning at him.

Zhuo Fan sighed, "Qiao'er, you don't know human nature. Northern lands are now wound tighter than a violin, scared of their own shadow. Fear can lead to insanity, and riding the Three-headed Crow would be too eye-catching, painting a target on our backs. We have no chance fighting an angry mob on our tail and would only delay our journey. Remember this well, discretion is the better side of valor. Going in blindly will only make things worse and waste time. Especially with you kids being so fickle, we'll never hear the end of it."

Qiao'er brow shook, her confused gaze never leaving him.

Zhuo Fan shook his head with a chuckle. [I must've gotten silly. Young Sanzi has been around humans for so many years yet even he had yet to grasp the human's way of life.]

[Qiao'er just left the safety of home so how could she know the intricacies of humanity? One step at a time...]

Easing a breath, Zhuo Fan continued to hold a confused Qiao'er as he walked towards the city.

"Stop! Who are you and what is your purpose in Sea Bright City?"

They were most unwelcomed by a big guard at the gate, so deadly serious he even let his Soul Harmony Stage aura out.

By all accounts, Zhuo Fan ought to be ignored with his Radiant Stage cultivation and Qiao'er's power under tight wrap adorned with his demonic treasures. Yet for some reasons, these guards were quite earnest in their duties, not leaving anything to chance.

Or more like fear drove them up the walls so high they would jump at the slightest rustle. They were all tense that they would see even a bug as a threat in disguise.

Zhuo Fan took out a golden card from his ring, the ones only most honored clients of Serene Shores Trading could have, "I'm a merchant with my daughter, here to do business..."

"You're..."

The big guard's eyes shook in recognition, then he said to the others, "I know this man, he's from Serene Shores Trading. I will escort him to handle his business while you stay here and watch anything that moves. Make sure no spy from the central area gets in!"

The other men nodded then ignored Zhuo Fan while the big guard immediately showed the way with no more questions.

On the way, the guard spoke to Zhuo Fan, "Sir, please follow me. I shall take you to our base."

"Did you guys infiltrate this city? How come even the gate defense..." Zhuo Fan teased.

The man sighed, "Business can never break from politics. The company spread its influence to every domain and worked from the shadows just in case. But then the company's base had a major incident and all branches began to use all their assets at the young master's call, tying everyone together. I'm the lowest worker and have been told to show anyone holding that card to the base. I don't even know the other base members or other valued clients. But I'm sure someone will talk to you there."

Zhuo Fan squinted and nodded.

[Serene Shores Trading's reach really is deep in the five lands. Old Wu had been smart, already paving their escape if anything went wrong.]

[I gotta say, I won big time by using the oblivious second young master to make all of this for my personal use. With all the places in northern lands under tight guard, walking around would've been that much harder without this company's help.]

[Now I'm like a fish in water, ha-ha.]

Zhuo Fan grinned to himself...

The big man had brought them to a local store, quite rundown, lacking the glory and polish a big company should have. Zhuo Fan knew that his new contact with Serene Shores Trading was here.

The broken store was a mere front.

"Shopkeeper, you got a customer!"

Walking inside the ten square meters shop, the only display was the counter with some average goods while behind was a wall with an old door. Next to it stood a thin old man, looking washed up.

The big man gave him a look then left. The old man's eyes shone and stared at Zhuo Fan.

Grinning, Zhuo Fan pulled Qiao'er over to the old man. He sized up the two newcomers then barely spoke, "We were once as glorious as the heavens, now fallen into hell. How may we remedy our plight and once again brave the endless skies?"

"I'll carve a path through mountains of flesh and blood and lead us out the gates of hell, laughing in the face of death. Follow me and we'll fight our way back to our peak!"

"Through a sea of blood and mountain of corpses, I'll carve a path out the gates of hell, laughing in the face of death, until the day we once again grasp the heavens!" Zhuo Fan spoke slowly.

The old man nodded with a sigh, "I can only hope. Right this way, sir."

The old man opened the door behind.

"Qiao'er, wait here."

Telling his daughter to stay, Zhuo Fan entered the darkness behind the door...