Chapter 347 - 335: Yinfeng Realm
Chapter 347: Chapter 335: Yinfeng Realm
In less than an hour, the Spiritual Vessel arrived at Yinfeng Valley.
Beneath Yinfeng Valley lay a Tier One, mid-grade Spirit Vein, an offshoot of the main vein in Qiuyang County.
The terrain here was extremely sunken and never saw the light of day. It was shaped like a bamboo tube laid on its side—sealed in the middle with openings at both ends. The "tunnel wind" that whipped through was exceptionally fierce, giving Yinfeng Valley its name.
Several hundred years ago, a cultivator discovered an entrance to a minor world within the valley and, borrowing Yinfeng Valley’s name, called it the Yinfeng Realm.
The Yinfeng Realm produced Yinfeng Grass, which had the effect of clearing blockages and repairing meridians. However, it was difficult to cultivate in Spirit Fields, so the sect had issued this mission.
"We’ve arrived at Yinfeng Valley. I’ll lead you all inside."
The Spiritual Vessel landed smoothly. The accompanying guard leader made an announcement and led the way off the vessel.
A dozen or so cultivators were already waiting in front of the valley, preparing to take the Spiritual Vessel back to Qiuyang County.
Zhao Lin took careful note. Just as the middle-aged cultivator had said, almost all of these people’s cultivation bases were at the Late-stage of Qi Refining.
Only two were at the Middle Stage of Qi Refining, and they were local cultivators who worked in the valley.
’Looks like the ones I need to worry about aren’t the Yin Souls or Demon Beasts, but my "own people."’
Yinfeng Valley was heavily guarded. In addition to being protected by an Array, there was also a squad of guards wielding dharma treasures, led by, of all people, a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Before mastering the Qi Observation Skill, Low Tier cultivators couldn’t perceive the cultivation of higher-level cultivators. However, the very inability to see through someone’s realm spoke volumes.
Zhao Lin and Wei Shi took out their Body Stones. The guards checked to confirm they had accepted a sect mission before letting them pass.
From the outside, Yinfeng Valley didn’t look large, but the inside was extremely spacious. Many Everlasting Stones were embedded in the surrounding rock walls, illuminating the valley’s interior with a clear, bright light.
A straight path ran down the middle, flanked by Spirit Fields and cultivation farms. Due to the restrictive wards, only a shroud of white mist was visible.
The local cultivators left the group and walked into the mist, leaving only the cultivators from other counties who were here for the sect mission in the Yinfeng Realm.
A gale tore through the valley with extreme force. If one didn’t brace their feet, they would be blown away.
"This wind is insane!" a cultivator exclaimed.
"Why else do you think they call it Yinfeng Valley?" the guard leader replied with a slightly smug smile.
They continued forward and arrived deep within the valley, where an Array appeared before them.
In front of the Array stood two cultivators in red robes. One held a five-colored Array Plate, and the other a shuttle-shaped dharma treasure.
Beside them was a small Spiritual Vessel, pitch-black with pointed, upturned ends, shaped like a flying shuttle.
This type of Spiritual Vessel was called a "World Shuttle Vessel," used specifically for traversing world barriers.
Different minor worlds had barriers of varying thickness.
The Han Red Realm, where Zhao Lin was from, was vast and teeming with life, so its world barrier was extremely thick. Only cultivators of profound cultivation or large Spiritual Ships could cross it.
In contrast, the barrier of a minor world like the Yinfeng Realm was relatively weak, and a World Shuttle Vessel was sufficient to pass through.
The red-robed cultivator on the left spoke up. "The shuttle’s passage through the world barrier consumes Spirit Stones. We require a payment of three Spirit Stones or thirty Yuan Spirit Coins from each of you."
This fee was mentioned in the mission details, so no one said much, simply stepping forward one by one to pay with their Spirit Stones or Spirit Coins.
"Three Spirit Stones... you guys sure make money fast!"
The Fat Cultivator grunted twice and reluctantly took out his Spirit Stones.
The red-robed cultivator frowned slightly and continued, "The minor world’s barrier fluctuates over time. At the Hour of the Rooster, the barrier is at its weakest."
"Please rest for a moment. We will enter when the time is right."
Zhao Lin took advantage of the wait to eat some Spirit Rice to replenish his essence. Then, he took out a jade slip and carefully reviewed the map of the Yinfeng Realm again.
As the Hour of the Rooster arrived, the red-robed cultivator called out, "The time has come. Everyone, please board the vessel."
Once everyone was on board, the red-robed cultivator aimed the Array Plate at the Array and slowly channeled his Mana into it.
A moment later, with a loud RUMBLE, space fluctuated, and a circular, ripple-like pattern appeared out of thin air, resembling a mirror suspended in the sky.
The Water Mirror was over thirty feet in diameter. Ripples spread outward from its center, moving faster and faster.
"Hold on tight."
As his voice fell, a pale green protective shield rose around the World Shuttle Vessel.
It then shot into the air and, with a WHOOSH, plunged into the barrier...
Vortexes of qi swirled and light alternated with darkness as the Spiritual Vessel flew rapidly through the world barrier.
This wasn’t the first time Zhao Lin had crossed a world barrier, so the sight was no longer strange to him. He sat calmly on the Spiritual Vessel.
Before long, the clouds and mist dispersed, and a vast world appeared before them.
"The Yinfeng Realm has no Evil Qi, so there’s no need to worry," the red-robed cultivator said as he deactivated the Spiritual Vessel’s protective shield.
The Spiritual Vessel flew steadily on, and Zhao Lin looked around with curiosity.
Unlike Yinfeng Valley outside, there was almost no wind in the Yinfeng Realm. A quiet peace permeated everything.
Zhao Lin looked up at the sky and saw twinkling stars studding the expanse, like a shimmering ocean.
The Yinfeng Realm had no sun or moon, nor any distinction between day and night.
Visibility was low, similar to the light of dusk in the outside world.
Looking down from the Spiritual Vessel, he could see mountains and rivers, basins, hills, and plains... all crisscrossing in a complex topography.
On the ground grew ancient vines, ferns, bamboo, mushrooms, and other shade-loving plants. There were almost no tall trees.
Occasionally, one or two Demon Beasts could be spotted. Due to the lack of yang energy, these Demon Beasts were not large and had somewhat strange shapes.
"The Yinfeng Realm was only discovered in the last few hundred years, but it has likely existed for tens of thousands of years and still retains its primeval appearance," the red-robed cultivator explained tonelessly. "The Spiritual Qi here is thin. Remember to replenish your Spiritual Power with Spirit Stones in a timely manner. It is best to take one Three Yang Pill every three days."
Zhao Lin silently circulated the Spiritual Qi in his body. It flowed smoothly, without any obstruction. ’It seems the Celestial Dao of this place is quite friendly to Qi Refining Realm cultivators,’ he thought.
The Yinfeng Realm was a Low Tier world; only Qi Refining Realm cultivators could enter. If a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator were to come here, they would be heavily suppressed by the Celestial Dao.
A minor world was like a pond: small fish could swim freely, but a great fish like a whale shark would simply be beached.
"Look, there’s a Yin Soul over there."
Wei Shi nudged Zhao Lin and pointed to a spot on the ground.
Zhao Lin focused his gaze and saw a silvery-white, jellyfish-like creature floating and gliding across the ground.
With no sun, the Yinfeng Realm was a closed, dark, and damp environment. The souls of dead Demon Beasts, humans, and spiritual plants lingered, making it easy for Yin Souls to form.
For cultivators, Yin Souls had frail bodies and weak attacks. However, once they grew to a certain point, they could develop a sliver of intelligence.
Intelligent Yin Souls could create illusions and cast some Low Tier yin-aspected Magic. While getting hit by one wouldn’t be fatal, it was detrimental to one’s cultivation.
"We’ve arrived."
The Spiritual Vessel stopped on a mountain. The red-robed cultivator piloting the World Shuttle Vessel stood up, turned around, and addressed the crowd.
"This mountain is called Central Yin Mountain. It is located in the very center of the Yinfeng Realm. I wish you all a smooth and fruitful journey!"