Li Mu emerged from the Painting World Treasure Mansion and immediately carefully put the Painting World Treasure Mansion into his storage grid.
The Azure Moon True Dragon quickly walked up to Li Mu and informed him of the sudden situation.
“Master, the two thunder spiritual ships have slowed down. There’s an Evil Qi storm ahead, and it seems impassable. Also, a Void Refining Cultivator named Wan Shaoming sent me a Divine Thought, expressing his desire to meet you. I’ve told him to wait a moment, as you instructed.”
“Understood! I’ll go take a look.” Li Mu nodded knowingly and walked straight out of the Earth Element Spirit Ship’s cabin.
On the deck of the Earth Element Spirit Ship, Li Mu’s robes fluttered, and his gaze was like a torch as he looked into the distance, immediately witnessing an extremely spectacular scene.
In the distant sky, a white line appeared. That white line was like a boundary between heaven and earth, dividing the firmament into two: one side was a sky as clear blue as if washed, and the other side was a chaotic, hazy gray.
As the Earth Element Spirit Ship approached, the white line gradually expanded into a vast storm area. Gusts of wind howled, and dark clouds rolled, as if countless vengeful spirits were roaring within, causing a chilling sensation. At the center of the Evil Qi storm, lightning flashed and thunder roared, and gray clouds pressed down, forming a huge vortex that slowly rotated, devouring everything around it.
Li Mu stood on the deck, feeling the cold Qi coming from the distant storm, and couldn’t help but shiver.
The cold wind blowing over contained an extreme Yin Evil Qi. Even with his current cultivation, he felt a terrifying chill. This chill came from his Divine Soul. If he stayed in such an environment for too long, his Divine Soul would surely suffer devastating damage.
The two thunder spiritual ships on either side of the Earth Element Spirit Ship had both slowed down at this moment.
Seeing Li Mu’s figure, a moment later, a figure flew out from one of the thunder spiritual ships and landed steadily in front of him.
“Greetings, Great Master Li!” The newcomer wore a cyan Magic Robe, was burly in build, and had a resolute face. He was Wan Shaoming, the captain of the thunder spiritual ship, and also the Commander responsible for escorting Li Mu to the Extreme Northern Ice Field and the Treasure Hunting Team this time.
“Commander Wan, why is there an Evil Qi storm ahead? Is it impassable?” Li Mu looked at the rolling Evil Qi storm in the distance and asked with concern.
The journey to the Extreme Northern Ice Field was quite arduous, often encountering high-level Yao Beasts or dealing with various special situations.
Fortunately, the Earth Element Spirit Ship, as well as the two escorting thunder spiritual ships, were high-level Spirit Ships, with unparalleled speed, and with the elite Cultivator team on the thunder spiritual ships providing escort, Li Mu’s journey so far had been relatively smooth.
However, encountering an Evil Qi storm ahead was a considerable problem.
Wan Shaoming looked at Li Mu and said in a deep voice, “Great Master Li, we have already entered the hinterland of the Extreme Northern Ice Field. Encountering an Evil Qi storm is normal. Evil Qi storms are the most peculiar phenomenon on the Extreme Northern Ice Field. This Evil Qi storm is no small matter; it is a natural force between heaven and earth, containing extremely strong Evil Qi. If our Spirit Ships forcefully Transmigration, they might suffer considerable damage. Moreover, the Evil Qi in the storm also has a great impact on a Cultivator’s Divine Soul; a slight carelessness could lead to severe injury.”
Wan Shaoming paused and continued to explain to Li Mu, “The way these storms appear is extremely strange, and their whereabouts are uncertain, containing terrifying Evil Qi. Even high-level Spirit Ships and Combined Body Realm Cultivators must temporarily avoid their sharp edge. Whether we can pass depends on the scale of the storm. Generally speaking, the range of an Evil Qi storm is not very wide, and there is still a possibility of passing by detouring. But if it is a large Evil Qi storm, we can only wait for it to dissipate and cease on its own.”
Upon hearing this, Li Mu’s face darkened. The Evil Qi storm ahead stretched endlessly for unknown thousands of miles; it was definitely not a small-scale existence.
“Commander Wan, how long do we need to wait for this Evil Qi storm to cease?” Li Mu frowned tightly and asked with concern, not wanting to waste too much time because of it.
Wan Shaoming shook his head and sighed, “The cessation time of this Evil Qi storm completely depends on its scale and the consumption of its power. Sometimes it might only be a few days, but sometimes it could take several months, or even longer. All we can do now is wait, and at the same time, prepare for a detour.”
Upon hearing this, Li Mu felt a bit anxious. Time was extremely precious to him on this trip to the Extreme Northern Ice Field. According to the Time Luck Spirit Turtle’s deductions, this trip would be safe and worry-free within one Year. If it exceeded that time, his life safety would be uncertain. For some unknown reason, the Time Luck Spirit Turtle could not continue to peek into the subsequent river of destiny.
However, encountering such a large-scale natural force blocking his path, Li Mu felt a bit helpless.
Li Mu looked up into the distance, a hint of solemnity flashing in his eyes. The Evil Qi storm formed a huge white vortex, wildly pouring out Evil Qi in all directions. He released a wisp of Divine Thought, carefully probing into the outer edge of the storm, wanting to see what was inside.
However, the Evil Qi within the Evil Qi storm was too dense, almost devouring his Divine Thought. He could only barely perceive some blurry images, as if he saw a world frozen in ice.
In the entire area, whether high-level Yao Beasts or low-level Yao Beast groups, or even fish schools in the sea, once caught within it, their bodies would be frozen, and their Yao Souls would be scattered by the Evil Qi wind. Their vitality rapidly dissipated under the erosion of the Evil Qi, eventually merging into the raging storm, becoming a part of it.
Under the Evil Qi storm, everything had truly become a death zone.
Li Mu withdrew his Divine Thought, his mind couldn’t help but be shocked. The power of the Evil Qi storm far exceeded his imagination. The surging Evil Qi could freeze all life force, filling people with a deep sense of fear.
A chill couldn’t help but rise in Li Mu’s heart. The terror of the Evil Qi storm was by no means something human power could contend with. Even with his Divine Soul strength, once caught within it, he would likely end up Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering.
In his helplessness, Li Mu withdrew his Divine Thought, took a deep breath, and looked at Wan Shaoming, saying, “Commander Wan, we can only wait here for a moment, until the storm dissipates.”
“That’s all we can do!” Wan Shaoming nodded. At this moment, there was no other option but to wait.
After chatting for a while, Wan Shaoming bid farewell to Li Mu and returned to the thunder spiritual ship to arrange for his subordinates to continue closely monitoring the storm’s movements.
Li Mu remained on the deck of the Earth Element Spirit Ship, took out a pot of Spirit Tea, poured it for himself, and drank, calming his inner anxiety.
The tea fragrance wafted, a faint clear scent lingering at his nostrils, which slightly calmed Li Mu’s mind.
The distant storm was still raging, the white vortex wildly pouring out Evil Qi in the distance. Li Mu’s gaze was fixed on that raging area, quietly waiting for it to cease.
Days passed, but the Evil Qi storm remained as formidable as ever. It was like a tiger blocking the road, hindering Li Mu’s progress.
Li Mu and his group waited patiently on the outskirts of the Evil Qi storm, but they weren't idle. The Evil Qi storm froze and annihilated all life in the area, but it also nurtured various powerful Evil Qi Spirits, such as Yin Turtles, Yin Ghost Horses, Yin Illusory Evils, and so on.
These Evil Qi Spirits were all formed by the densest Evil Qi between heaven and earth, go through countless Years of precipitation and evolution, mutual devouring, and gradual condensation. Although they did not possess true life, they contained extremely powerful Yin spiritual power.
Whenever these Evil Qi Spirits were killed and dissipated, various qualities of Yin Spirit Pearls would drop, such as Evil Qi Pearls, Yin Spirit Pearls, and Extreme Yin Pearls. These Spirit Pearls were divided into different ranks according to the power and purity they contained, and they were excellent auxiliary cultivation resources in the eyes of Cultivators.
During the waiting period for the Evil Qi storm to cease, Wan Shaoming, this experienced Cultivator, began to organize the Cultivators into action. At this time, it was a great opportunity to capture Evil Qi Spirits. So, the Cultivators cleverly used the power of Formations and rallied everyone to work together to capture these spiritual objects.
The value of these Spirit Pearls was extremely high. They could not only be used to refine various powerful Magic Treasures to enhance the Cultivators’ strength, but also exchanged for various rare Materials and resources in transactions between Cultivators. For the Cultivators, this was undoubtedly a rare windfall.
Under Wan Shaoming’s leadership, the Cultivators busied themselves, setting up one exquisite Blazing Flame Grand Formation and Yin-Burning Formation after another.
To lure more Evil Qi Spirits into the Formations, some Cultivators skilled in escape techniques were specially dispatched. They cleverly used their movement techniques and skills to guide a large number of Evil Qi Spirits into the Formations.
Once the Evil Qi Spirits entered the Formation, the Cultivators immediately activated the Formation to trap them. These Evil Qi Spirits were numerous and not weak in power, but with everyone working together and the enhancement of the Formations, they were all eliminated one by one.
Three months passed, and the massive, boundless Evil Qi storm in the sky had not yet ceased.
As time passed, the Cultivators captured more and more Evil Qi Spirits, and their quality also became higher and higher. High-quality Profound Yin Pearls were just right for cultivating Yin-attributed spiritual plants, and they were excellent spiritual Materials to assist the growth of fifth-grade Illusory Yin Grass.
Li Mu unhesitatingly took out a large amount of Spirit Stones to acquire Extreme Yin Pearls from them. This high-quality Yin-gathering spiritual Material had an excellent auxiliary effect for cultivating Yin-attributed spiritual plants and was also an essential item for the growth of fifth-grade Illusory Yin Grass. Li Mu would spare no expense to prepare enough of this spiritual Material for unforeseen needs.
Just as everyone was busy capturing Evil Qi Spirits and exchanging various spoils of war amidst joyful laughter, the raging Evil Qi storm suddenly changed. The originally boundless and violent storm now began to rapidly contract inward, as if a mysterious force was controlling it.
“Is it finally going to end?!”
A Cultivator looked at the rapidly shrinking Evil Qi storm in the sky, a joyous smile appearing on his face. They had been waiting on the outskirts of the Evil Qi storm for a long time, and now that the storm was about to end, they could conclude this long wait and continue their journey.
“It’s finally stopping; I’m tired of killing Evil Qi!” Another Cultivator looked exhausted, but his eyes sparkled with excitement. During this period, they had continuously fought against Evil Qi Spirits. Although they had gained a lot, they also felt a bit weary.
“It’s ending already! I still wanted to gather more Yin Pearls and commission a Great Master to refine a Spirit Treasure!”
Another Cultivator said with a hint of regret. After the Evil Qi storm ended, it would be difficult to find so many Evil Qi Spirits again. This opportunity to earn Spirit Stones, once missed, would be hard to encounter again in the future.
Seeing this, Li Mu’s spirits lifted. The Evil Qi storm was finally going to stop. He had been waiting impatiently. Although he had acquired quite a few Extreme Yin Pearls, he hoped to reach his destination as soon as possible.
Time passed bit by bit, and the Evil Qi storm rapidly contracted its size at a visible speed. However, when its size shrank to one percent of its original, it suddenly stopped, as if encountering some insurmountable obstacle.
Everyone looked up and saw that the Evil Qi at the center of the storm became even denser, its color gradually changing from the original grayish-white to a deep, dark black. The howling of the Yin wind inside was like countless vengeful spirits roaring, and a terrifying aura permeated, sending shivers down one’s spine.
Wan Shaoming came to Li Mu’s side, his brows tightly furrowed, saying, “Great Master Li, judging from the situation, although the Evil Qi storm has shrunk in size, its power has become even stronger. I’m afraid it won’t stop in a short time. Why don’t we wait a little longer and see how the situation develops?”
Li Mu thought for a moment, then eagerly rejected the suggestion, proposing, “Commander Wan, we have already waited here for three months; we cannot continue to wait. This Evil Qi storm has become smaller, so we should be able to bypass it. Why not find a suitable route, detour for a distance, and continue forward?”
“Detouring might lead to unknown dangers. Although this Evil Qi storm has shrunk in size, its power should still not be underestimated. What if we encounter an accident during the detour?” Wan Shaoming hesitated for a moment, sounding a bit worried.
Li Mu frowned. Wan Shaoming’s concerns were indeed valid, but continuing to wait was not an option either. He pondered for a moment and suggested, “How about the fleet moves slowly, waits for a few days, and if there are no new changes in the situation, we will have to detour.”
Wan Shaoming nodded, agreeing with Li Mu’s decision.
Soon, the Earth Element Spirit Ship and the two thunder spiritual ships started again. They cut through the Void Realm, continuing to advance along the edge of the Evil Qi storm. The Cultivators on board were on edge, constantly watching the movements of the Evil Qi storm, not daring to relax in the slightest.
As the fleet gradually approached the edge of the storm, the surrounding aura became increasingly oppressive, and the howling of the Yin wind was like the wailing of vengeful spirits, causing heart palpitations.
Just then, Li Mu’s expression darkened, and his Divine Thought spread to the Cultivators on the two thunder spiritual ships, signaling, “Everyone, pay attention! There’s an unusual movement ahead. Prepare for defense!”
Upon hearing this, the Cultivators all stood ready, staring intently at the front of the Evil Qi storm, preparing the ship’s cannons.
Just then, from the direction of the Evil Qi storm, a huge figure suddenly rushed out. It was like a black True Dragon, charging straight towards them.
Its Dragon body, hundreds of feet long, was condensed from dense Evil Qi, appearing extraordinarily ferocious and terrifying. Its pair of dark Dragon eyes gleamed with a cold light, as if capable of freezing all life.
“It’s a Condensed Yin Dragon! The king among Evil Qi Spirits!” Wan Shaoming shouted in a deep voice, his face turning grim.
In front of this Dragon-shaped giant, the three Spirit Ships instantly became like ants.
The appearance of the Yin Dragon instantly made the entire area incredibly cold. Countless ice cones fell from the sky like rain. Those ice cones emitted a chilling aura, and once they touched a human body, they could instantly freeze it into an ice sculpture. (End of Chapter)
