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The God-Sealing Bell had issued a warning, which clearly meant that Fanming must not be far away.
Yet, this truly puzzled Wang Ba.
After all, when he had first arrived at the Path of North Sea, he had detected the presence of Fanming.
If nothing had gone wrong, Fanming should have been near Juhai Pass at that time.
But now he felt the presence of Fanming again, here.
This sensation was as if it were deliberately pursuing him.
"It seems that it was already disturbed back when I was at the Path of North Sea..."
"Could it have figured out a way to counter the God-Sealing Bell?"
Such a guess inevitably rose in Wang Ba’s heart.
If the God-Sealing Bell could sense Fanming, Fanming obviously could sense the existence of the God-Sealing Bell as well.
Chasing him despite the great distance, he had to doubt that Fanming had devised countermeasures.
His heart couldn’t help but turn vigilant.
Although Fanming was only Class IV now, including its Class V soul, its real strength should be considered formidable amongst its peers in Class IV.
It was somewhat similar to his uncle-master Shen Ying, who fought in the sea—standing one or two stages above the ordinary Fulfillment-stage Nascent Soul Cultivators.
Though not as capable as Master Yao Wudi, who could slay Immortal Ascension beings with his Nascent Soul body, clearly, Fanming was not someone they could handle.
"We must hurry to find Master’s old friend... The Ice Dao Dharma should be able to exert exceptional strength in this Northsea Continent and should not fear Fanming."
Thinking this, Wang Ba quickly gave instructions to Ying He.
Upon learning of the existence of Fanming, Ying He’s expression also became much graver.
There was no time for more words, and he immediately readjusted the Hexagram Fire Lamp.
The speed of the iron ship suddenly increased again!
Streaming light crossed the low sky at an astonishing speed.
The wind and snow that hit the iron ship melted silently away.
However, Wang Ba’s heart was growing heavier.
Because the warning sound from the God-Sealing Bell not only didn’t weaken but grew more intense instead.
"Could it be that Fanming has made a breakthrough?"
More and more seriousness weighed on Wang Ba’s heart.
Although he didn’t want to disturb, he still frequently urged Ying He:
"Enforcer Ying, Enforcer Li, faster!"
In that moment, Ying He and Li Yingfu too exerted all their abilities; aside from the Hexagram Fire Lamp, numerous Acceleration Talismans were affixed to the iron ship, trying every possible means to push the speed to its limit.
The effect was indeed significant.
What should have taken about two days, now only took a little over one day, as they traversed through the plains of snow.
Wind and snow whirled.
From afar, one could see in the horizon a tall and slender icicle piercing the sky.
It looked like a chopstick, erect between the vast snowfield and the lowered sky.
Under the slightly translucent light above the icicle, there shimmered a crystalline and somewhat blue lustre.
Mirage-like.
"That is the Northern Heavenly Pillar."
Aboard the iron ship, upon seeing the icicle, Ying He’s spirits lifted.
Li Yingfu, at the sight of the magnificent view, also couldn’t help but reveal a look of awe.
Yet Wang Ba’s mood didn’t improve from finally nearing his destination but rather grew more somber.
Because inside his Middle Dantian, the God-Sealing Bell, instead of stopping its warning, almost seemed to be jumping out.
This signified that not only had the distance between him and Fanming not lengthened, but it had also become extremely close!
"Fanming has caught up! But why can’t I sense its presence?"
Wang Ba intermittently sent his Spiritual Sense behind him.
Yet, he never saw the silhouette of Fanming swooping in.
"Where exactly could it be hiding?"
With that thought, Wang Ba once again urged:
"The two of you, we need to go even faster!"
Hearing Wang Ba’s urging, Ying He and Li Yingfu did not dare to be negligent and quickly injected their mana.
"It’s coming... getting closer and closer!"
Wang Ba dispersed his Spiritual Sense in all directions, sensing the changes within his Middle Dantian, his expression growing increasingly solemn.
It was at this moment, however, that Ying He suddenly spoke up:
"Chief Division Master, look quickly!"
Wang Ba was startled, maintaining his Spiritual Sense spread as wide as he could, while also looking in the direction Ying He pointed.
But near the Northern Heavenly Pillar, he could vaguely make out a mixture of jade green and fiery red, but couldn’t discern the specific details.
A thought struck him immediately.
"Could this be the place of the senior my master mentioned?"
Soon, as the iron ship rapidly neared its destination, the mingled jade green and fiery red entity began to come into clear view.
"A tree?"
Aboard the iron ship, the three of them were taken aback.
Wang Ba frowned slightly, seeming somewhat hesitant to confirm.
Ying He and Li Yingfu were completely in the dark, merely feeling surprised.
However, the three of them all felt the intense warmth emanating from this oddly-shaped tree with jade trunk and fiery red leaves. 𝓷ℴ𝓿𝓹𝓾𝓫.𝓬ℴ𝓶
It even scorched the surrounding ice and snow into a pool of shallow water.
Revealing the damp soil below.
"Could Master’s old friend be here?"
Another thought flashed through Wang Ba’s mind, but he didn’t have time to ponder it further.
The God-Sealing Bell in his Middle Dantian was shaking urgently, as if it had already sensed the arrival of Fanming.
Yet this God-Sealing Bell, devoid of sentience or intellect, offered no clue other than this alarm.
Wang Ba could only have Ying He swiftly land the iron ship near this bluish-green tong tree.
He sent out his Spiritual Sense briefly, but saw no trace of any Cultivators.
Not daring to delay despite his concern Fanming might attack at any moment, but still, under the protection of Ying He and Li Yingfu, he went to the bow of the ship. Holding a slight bow and with fists clasped, he addressed the surroundings in a loud voice:
"Junior Wang Ba, entrusted by my master Yao Wudi, has come to visit the senior. I earnestly request the senior to grant me an audience."
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