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The two-and-a-half-month journey was like a long scroll slowly unfolding.
Jiang Zhen, with Lan Xi in tow, traveled north, traversing the prosperity and bustle of the Heaven Dou Plain, skimming over the vastness and desolation of the northwestern border mountains, and finally stepping into the northernmost territory of the Heaven Dou Empire—Xueling Province.
The further north you go, the lower the air temperature becomes, at a rate that is visible to the naked eye.
The vast plains were gradually replaced by hardy coniferous forests, and the howling wind began to carry icy snowflakes.
When the city, like a colossal beast crouching on a white wasteland, appeared on the horizon.
Jiang Zhen seemed to be feeling the stirrings and calls emanating from that endless ice field more and more clearly.
Dragon City .
It is a large city in Xueling Province, and also the northernmost large city in the Heaven Dou Empire, known as the "Gateway to the Far North".
Unlike the bustling and noisy southern cities, Dragon City appears desolate and hard.
The towering city walls are built of huge, dark blue rocks, weathered by time, and covered with traces of ice and snow erosion and the claws of wild beasts.
The soldiers patrolling the city gate wore thick fur-trimmed iron armor, their breath condensing into a thick white mist in the air, their sharp and wary eyes scanning everyone entering and leaving.
There weren't many pedestrians, and most of them were in a hurry, wearing bulky fur clothing, with slight marks of wind and frost on their faces, lacking the leisurely atmosphere of the South.
"Brother Zhen, it's so cold here."
Lan Xi tightened her thin blue and gold dress and subconsciously leaned closer to Jiang Zhen.
Although she was the Blue Silver Emperor and not afraid of ordinary cold, the chill permeating this place had exceeded the category of "ordinary"—it was a dry cold that seemed to penetrate one's soul power.
"Yes, we're getting close to the far north."
Jiang Zhen nodded, and the "Mysterious Water Enlightenment Technique" within his body began to circulate slightly. A gentle mist quietly spread out, enveloping the two of them and dispelling the biting cold.
"Let's go, let's find a place to eat first, and then I'll buy you some warm clothes."
Upon entering Dragon City , one finds that most of the buildings are low and sturdy, with roofs that slope dramatically to allow snow to slide off.
The streets were paved with huge stone slabs, frozen solid.
The shop signs were mostly made of iron or wood, rattling loudly in the cold wind.
The air was filled with a faint smell of pine resin, charcoal, and the pungent odor of some wild animal.
Jiang Zhen, with Lan Xi by his side, quickly found the warmest and most lively-looking tavern – "Snow Wolf Spirits".
Pushing open the heavy iron-clad wooden door, a wave of heat, a mixture of the aroma of roasted meat, the rich smell of beer, and the smell of sweat, hits you.
The tavern was filled with mercenaries, hunters, and merchants, most of them gathered around the fireplace, talking loudly about furs, herbs, and their experiences in the far north, occasionally interspersed with curses about the bad weather.
The appearance of Jiang Zhen and Lan Xi instantly attracted a lot of attention.
Their striking good looks and demeanor seemed out of place in this rugged environment.
Jiang Zhen remained calm as he led Lan Xi to a corner by the window, ignoring the probing gazes.
"Boss, the signature roast meat, stewed meat soup, and a hot milk and biscuits for her too," Jiang Zhen ordered, looking at the menu.
Soon, a large portion of food was served.
The meat of an unknown animal, roasted until charred and fragrant, and the broth, stewed until tender and steaming hot.
Lan Xi sipped her milk, curiously observing everything around her. She seemed both afraid and curious about the men who had risked their lives for blood.
"Eat up, I'll take you to buy new clothes later."
Jiang Zhen pushed the barbecue in front of her.
After a hearty meal, Jiang Zhen took Lan Xi to the largest armor shop in Dragon City – "North Wind Leather".
The shop was filled with all kinds of thick fur coats, leather pants, snow boots, gloves, and windproof cloaks made of special soul beast fur.
The shop owner was a burly middle-aged man with a ruddy complexion. When he saw Jiang Zhen and Lan Xi , his eyes lit up and he greeted them warmly.
"Young master, young lady, are you heading north? Take a look at our newly arrived snow fox fur cloaks—warm and lightweight! And these bear fur boots—you won't have to worry about your feet getting cold even in deep snow!"
Jiang Zhen didn't say much, but directly picked out a white fur coat of the right size with a thick fur lining, a pair of matching leather pants, a pair of snow boots that were extremely warm, and a mink hat with ear flaps for Lan Xi .
She also chose a dark blue winter outfit that prioritized ease of movement but was equally warm, along with a large windproof cape.
When it came time to pay, the price quoted by the shopkeeper would have made ordinary mercenaries gasp, but Jiang Zhen didn't even blink and directly took out the corresponding gold soul coins from his storage ring to pay the bill.
The boss's smile immediately became even brighter.
Wearing thick new clothes, Lan Xi 's little face was covered by the fluffy brim of a hat, revealing only her pair of big, bright blue eyes, making her look even cuter.
She curiously stomped on her soft snow boots, seemingly quite pleased with the warmth.
Next, Jiang Zhen did not choose to stay in a crowded hotel, but instead rented a detached stone house with a small courtyard in a relatively quiet area of the city.
The stone walls were thick and solid, and the stove was complete. Although simple, it was enough to keep out the wind and keep warm, and it was also more private.
"Let's stay here for now."
Jiang Zhen said this to Lan Xi , and at the same time took out brand new bedding from his storage ring and laid it out.
"I need to adjust my mindset so I can break through level 40 in the next couple of days."
Over the next two days, light snowflakes drifted down over Dragon City .
The small stone house was warm and cozy. Jiang Zhen spent most of his time meditating cross-legged, adjusting his state to its most perfect peak.
He could feel that the barrier at level thirty-nine was already as thin as paper, and his soul power was overflowing, just one final step away from success.
In his mind, the call from the far north became clearer, as if it resonated with his soul power.
Lan Xi stayed obediently to the side, sometimes meditating like Jiang Zhen, sometimes looking curiously at the snow-covered world outside through the frost-covered window, or playing with some trinkets that Jiang Zhen had bought for her.
A few days later, in the early morning, the first rays of dawn shone through the icy window, illuminating the room.
Jiang Zhen, who was meditating cross-legged, pushed the "Mysterious Water Enlightenment Technique" to its limit. His soul power flowed like a hundred rivers into the sea, launching a final and most turbulent attack on the already loosened bottleneck!
"Buzz—"
An invisible energy fluctuation suddenly spread outwards from Jiang Zhen.
Inside the cabin, the temperature plummeted instantly! The unfinished water in the cup on the table visibly condensed into a layer of frost, and the frost flowers on the window quickly thickened and spread, making a soft "crackling" sound.
Countless tiny, shimmering, ice-blue energy particles, smaller than dust particles, were drawn to him. As if summoned by a king, they joyfully swirled and danced around him, eventually merging into his body.
A faint blue halo emanated from Jiang Zhen's body, no longer as gentle as flowing water, but with a crystal-clear texture, as if his whole being was transforming into an ice sculpture.
The two strands of sky-blue hair on his forehead, naturally resembling dragon horns, moved without wind, radiating an even more dazzling luster, while the deep blue highlights on the inner side flowed with a radiance like liquid, cold marrow.
Most peculiarly, the faint vertical line between his eyebrows had now clearly emerged, slightly warm, like an eye about to awaken, greedily absorbing the pure ice-attribute energy in the surrounding space.
In his spiritual world, there was no longer a vast and boundless ocean, but a desolate snowfield frozen for thousands of miles.
Extreme cold, absolute silence, the eternal feeling of everything frozen... all kinds of "ice" flooded his senses like shattered streams of light.
There were no obstacles; everything fell into place naturally.
The barrier between levels thirty-nine and forty, under the impact of this extreme chill from both inside and outside, melted, disintegrated, and vanished silently, like remnants of ice in spring.
A new soul power, far stronger and purer than before, and carrying a hint of chilling coldness, surged through all his meridians like a thawing glacier, eventually flowing into the ocean of soul power, causing its size to explode and its texture to become more condensed and cold.
Level 40!
...
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