NOVPUBHowever, his purpose in coming here had nothing to do with these matters. After letting his thoughts drift for a while, he quickly gathered his focus and asked:
"Uncle Master, I wonder how Yi An has been performing these days?"
Xumi’s gaze landed on him, seeming to discern his intentions:
"Are you returning to the sect?"
Wang Ba didn’t hide his intentions and nodded:
"Master commanded me to go to Northsea Continent to learn the Ice Style, and I am about to return to the sect to take the path there."
"Northsea Continent..."
Xumi pondered for a moment before speaking, "Has the Path of North Sea opened?"
"Uncle Master knows too?"
Wang Ba was somewhat surprised.
Xumi didn’t elaborate further, simply adding:
"I once went to the North Sea to test my sword."
After thinking for a moment, he suddenly asked:
"If you have free time, could you do something for me?"
Wang Ba considered for a moment before replying:
"Please instruct me, Uncle Master."
Xumi was not bashful and from within his sleeve, a broken sword flew out.
The broken sword was that of a blade’s edge, but it was blunt and corroded, seemingly no different from a damaged sword found in the mortal world.
Wang Ba took it in hand with some confusion and looked towards Xumi:
"Uncle Master, this is..."
Xumi replied softly:
"In the southwest of Northsea Continent, there is a Sword Lodge."
"Within the Sword Lodge, there should be a person now. Go there, and simply hand over this item to this person."
"The southwest of Northsea Continent?"
Wang Ba hesitated slightly.
The place his master had arranged for him to study was at the extreme north of Northsea Continent.
The two locations were not along the same path, and if he were to go there, it would clearly require an additional trip.
Seeing the worry in his heart, Xumi spoke softly:
"This task may be done or left undone, without issue. If it is convenient for you and does not delay your business, make the trip. Perhaps, you will find an unexpected joy."
At these words, Wang Ba felt it difficult to refuse.
He immediately kept the broken sword and said gravely:
"Disciple cannot guarantee that I will have the time to go there, but if time allows, I will certainly deliver it for Uncle Master."
Xumi nodded then turned his gaze outside the thatched hut to Wang Yi’an and said:
"Yi An will stay here, and I’ll watch over him."
Wang Ba was taken aback, then nodded in agreement.
He had originally planned to take Wang Yi’an back to the sect.
However, since Xumi had actively offered for Wang Yi’an to stay, he was more than willing to go with the flow.
Being personally guided by an Immortal Ascension Venerable was a fortune many sought but could not find.
Moreover, Wang Yi’an was indeed Xumi’s disciple’s disciple—direct lineage, making it most fitting.
He suddenly remembered something and quickly said:
"Right, Master previously taught Yi An a set of Myriad Laws Sword Technique..."
Xumi gently shook his head, replying calmly:
"To master one Dharma is to master all Dharmas, there’s no hindrance."
Wang Ba immediately felt somewhat relieved.
He then looked seriously at Wang Yi’an, who was completely oblivious outside.
Worry flickered in his eyes.
Although the southern part of West Sea Country had temporarily repelled the cultivators from the Three Continents, as long as the Three Continents’ Cultivators didn’t secure a foothold, the war would not stop.
The area was still fraught with danger.
But for Sword Cultivators, this place was indeed very suitable for cultivation.
Despite his concerns, he suppressed the emotions in his heart and bowed to Xumi.
"I’m much obliged to you, Uncle Master."
Having said that, he left the thatched hut.
He paused in front of Wang Yi’an and then leapt into the air and departed.
After making brief farewells to Shen Ying and the others, he stepped onto the Teleportation Array on Fengyu Mountain that led back to the sect.
...
"The expenditure of a teleportation array that spans continents is unimaginable. To go to Northsea Continent, we can only first make use of our sect’s Linglong Ghost Market, built in the countries across Fenglin Continent, to teleport near the North Sea, and then cross the sea..."
Wuhang Mountain.
All-divisions Hall.
Wang Ba sat high in the grand hall.
Before him, an Enforcer responsible for the teleportation array respectfully said.
Wang Ba furrowed his brows slightly:
"Taking a route through Linglong Ghost Market? Which country is closest to the North Sea?"
The Enforcer of Diwu Hall hurriedly replied:
"Reporting to the Chief Division Master, Yan, former Qi, and Guangling State, these three places all border the North Sea."
"However, the Ghost Market in former Qi has been withdrawn following the invasion of the Kingdom of Immortals, now only Yan and Guangling State can serve as routes."
"Yan... Guangling State..."
Wang Ba thought for a moment before dismissing the option of Yan.
He remembered clearly being ambushed by Demonic Cultivators from Yan before; although the primitive Demonic Sect and the Wanxiang Sect are now allies against the Kingdom of Immortals.
But he had no trust whatsoever in the bottom line of these Demonic Cultivators.
"Guangling State on the other hand, might be possible..."
The Enforcer immediately said:
"If the Chief Division Master is not in a hurry, in two days, the teleportation array to Guangling State will be activated."
"In two days?"
Wang Ba contemplated briefly and then nodded in agreement.
The opening of the Path of North Sea was closely related to the warm currents passing over Northsea Continent, but usually, there was at least a year’s time available.
He was not in a rush for the moment.
After the Nascent Soul Enforcer withdrew, Wang Ba summoned another Cultivator responsible for the Ghost Market’s resource distribution and asked for scrolls and various messages about the surrounding areas of Guangling State and the Path of North Sea, which he carefully reviewed.
"Above the North Sea is the perennial extreme north current. Even with the Path open, cold currents still blow overhead, requiring protection against the cold..."
"Between Fenglin Continent and Northsea Continent lies a natural sea barrier called ’Juhai Pass’, separating the two continents..."
"Since several years ago, half of Guangling’s coastline along the North Sea has been taken over by the Cultivators from the Three Continents... Many Rogue Cultivators now stand guard along the coastal ports of Guangling, waiting for the Path to open... It is rumored that someone has seen ’ten-thousand-year Ice Spirit Marrow’ in the North Sea..."
"Since the Three Continents’ Cultivators started besieging Yan from the North Sea, now several regions in northern Yan have fallen, and it has grown larger than West Sea Country."
