Chapter 029: Bidding Farewell to the Era of Long Johns

Desperation!

This was because, in addition to the treacherous terrain and the countless chasms and ravines, one could see from afar fierce birds with enormous wings patrolling the skies. Occasionally, strange cries and roars echoed through the air, reverberating across the mountains and forests.

“This vast expanse is called the Northern Forest. It’s a gathering place for all kinds of vicious beasts and savage birds. There are over three thousand rifts here, which are called the Northern Chasms. The deepest and most dangerous eighteen chasms are known as the Eighteen Abysses of the North,” Zha Shi explained confidently, paying no mind to Lin Zhan’s dumbfounded expression.

“The closer you get to the abyss, the more beasts gather, and the greater the danger. Of course, I won’t take you to such perilous places, so don’t be afraid.”

Lin Zhan wasn’t about to be looked down upon. He pulled his gray servant’s robe tighter around him and quickly said, “I’ve fought both the Flying Hare and the Ice Ape!”

“Haha! The baby hare and little ice ape? That’s just wild game, hardly worthy of being called savage beasts!” Zha Shi scoffed dismissively.

Lin Zhan couldn’t help but grumble inwardly. Baby hare, little ice ape—back then he had nearly been torn apart and eaten by them! How could it be as trivial as Zha Shi made it sound?

He clearly remembered that it was only because of his alchemy skills that the weapons of Qin Qingxuan and the others had gained such sharpness, allowing them to inflict harm on the hare and ape. Otherwise, they really might have perished.

But thinking about it, Lin Zhan now possessed the Windstep technique to aid his movements, his body brimming with spiritual energy, and his days filled with diligent practice of the Blazing Fist. If he faced the hare or the ape again, he could likely defeat them with a single blow.

Even Qin Qingxuan was now at least at the mid-stage of the Human Rank, her strength considerable. She probably no longer regarded the hare and the ape as insurmountable foes.

Lin Zhan rubbed his hands together, itching to land a punch or two on the arrogant Zha Shi and prove himself.

Zha Shi produced a small vial of pills, poured out two, popped one into his own mouth, and handed the other to Lin Zhan.

“Concealment Pill. This way, the beasts won’t catch our human scent.”

Lin Zhan took the pill and swallowed it as instructed. It tasted slightly bitter, but he felt no unusual effects after it went down.

A moment later, Zha Shi led Lin Zhan down the steep icy rocks. For the last dozen or so yards, they leapt down together and officially set foot in the Northern Forest.

Whoosh! It was so hot!

That was Lin Zhan’s first impression. With just one step, he had crossed from the freezing mountain, where the temperature plunged dozens of degrees below zero, into a land of blossoming spring.

When Lin Zhan began taking off his clothes, Zha Shi’s face darkened. Turning away, he shouted, “How many layers are you wearing?”

“Several! Why? It was freezing up there…” Lin Zhan was puzzled. Why was this a problem?

“Your cultivation is nearly mid-stage Human Rank Foundation Building. Do you really need to bundle up in so many layers? Just circulate your spiritual energy and you can ward off the cold! Sigh, you’re even dumber than the beasts!”

Hearing this, Lin Zhan’s cheeks flushed. He slapped his forehead and exclaimed, “Ah, why didn’t I think of that?”

He now realized that all those elegant, floating robes and skirts of the other cultivators weren’t just for show—they were using spiritual energy to keep warm, not layering themselves in countless pairs of long johns!

Shedding his extra clothes lightened his body considerably. Although he hadn’t yet had a chance to try using spiritual energy to keep warm in the Northern Forest, he resolved to do so as soon as he returned to the mountains.

Lin Zhan stowed his long underwear in his storage ring. This petty act earned another scornful glance from Zha Shi as he turned back.

“All right, all right, everything’s settled now!” Lin Zhan said cheerfully.

After spending some time together, Lin Zhan found that beneath Zha Shi’s handsome and delicate appearance lurked some peculiar quirks. After all, they were both men—was there any need to turn away just because someone was changing clothes? And why sweat the small stuff all the time? He was almost like a woman in that regard.

Reflecting on Zha Shi’s past behavior, Lin Zhan began a secret study of his companion’s character—though this was, of course, a covert observation.

After a hurried trek, the two of them slipped into a small chasm at the forest’s edge. This rift was several hundred feet deep and dozens wide, filled with gloomy plants and jagged boulders.

Already, the air was thick with the pungent, feral scent of beasts.

Zha Shi now held a silver metallic chakram in his hand, his expression turning alert.

“Stay close to me and don’t wander off. There’s an adolescent Rainbow Python here—I’m going to greet it,” Zha Shi whispered.

Greet a savage beast? Lin Zhan’s mind reeled, but he managed a faint, “Okay,” in reply.

He was in too deep to turn back now; regret was pointless. Lin Zhan steadied his nerves, letting spiritual energy circulate slowly through his body, ready to respond at any moment.

Having practiced the Blazing Fist, his fists were his main weapons, leaving him more agile without other armaments.

The Rainbow Python was said to possess the blood of a true dragon, born at the peak of the Yellow Rank—a natural-born spirit beast.

Spirit beasts and savage beasts were worlds apart. Only when a beast became a spirit beast did it gain intelligence and the possibility of communicating with humans, as well as the potential to progress far along the path of cultivation.

Lin Zhan had no idea how Zha Shi had come to know such a creature. Following him through twists and turns, sometimes climbing sheer cliffs, sometimes moving through the wooded valley floor, they finally reached a stream fringed with brilliant, exotic flowers.

Perhaps due to the oppressive aura of the Rainbow Python, they encountered no other beasts along the way.

“Little Rainbow, I brought a friend to see you…” Zha Shi called out as he stopped.

Lin Zhan muttered, “Why does this feel like visiting a sweetheart?”

“Hush, don’t speak. Little Rainbow doesn’t like strangers,” Zha Shi scolded with a glare, then called again, “Little Rainbow… Xiao Yunyun is here to see you…”

Xiao Yunyun!

Lin Zhan doubled over, clutching his belly, shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter.

So Zha Shi’s name was Xiao Yunyun!

Amused, Lin Zhan ignored the warning to keep quiet. He crept up behind Zha Shi and whispered in his ear, “Xiao Yunyun, is your Little Rainbow not home?”

Furious, Zha Shi whipped around to rebuke him—just as a foul wind whipped up ahead. Pebbles and dust of all sizes flew toward them, and caught off guard, Zha Shi toppled backward into Lin Zhan’s arms.

A gigantic head, tongue flickering scarlet, shot toward them like lightning…