Journey to Polar Day

The Polar Day is a unique phenomenon that only occurs in the Arctic.

During this period of continuous Polar Day, the sun is always high overhead, and even at midnight it is bright and sunny, just like daytime, hence the name "Polar Day".

Furthermore, some people have observed a pattern: the further north you go, the longer the Polar Day lasts. Therefore, some use this to prove that it is the five continents that revolve around the sun, not the other way around.

Based on this, it is deduced that at the northernmost point of the five continents, where there is no darkness, it is the brightest and purest place in the world, known as the Land of Eternal Day. Correspondingly, at the southernmost point of the world, there is also a Land of Eternal Night.

Of course, the Land of Eternal Day and the Land of Eternal Night are just legendary places that exist in people's imaginations; no one has ever actually seen them.

According to Chief Chen Yi's thirty years of observations, the Polar Day in the area where the Snow Mulberry Tribe is located lasts for nearly ten days.

You Su sat cross-legged in the snow hut, sensing the Mystic Qi flowing within his body. This Mystic Qi was more active than usual, seemingly also affected by the Polar Day.

He slowly exhaled, and the breath he exhaled quickly dissipated into the air without leaving a trace of white mist. He had basically mastered the method of Snow Breathing, and could maintain his breathing even in a howling blizzard.

Chief Chen Yi lifted the animal-skin curtain and walked in, his face showing a mixture of excitement and worry:

"You Su, are you ready?"

You Su nodded and got up from the warm bed made of furs; in fact, he didn't need to prepare anything at all.

The only thing he needed to prepare was the ability to survive a blizzard. His understanding of Snow Breathing had improved rapidly in the past few days, and he could breathe even with his head buried in the snow. The only factor limiting his breathing time was that his head could not withstand the extreme cold for long.

"Why must we set off when the Polar Day arrives?" You Su still asked the question that had been bothering him, even though the clan chief had already discussed it with him.

He wasn't worried about his own lack of skill; he just felt that such a significant event as relocating the entire clan was a bit too hasty for these people.

Chen Yi walked to the candle, stretched out his withered hand, and crushed the oil candle made of animal fat. The last flicker of the dying flame illuminated his weathered face, making him appear even more aged.

"Because once you lose the light in a blizzard, you're plunged into eternal darkness. In such an environment, the chances of finding your way or even surviving are extremely slim. The Polar Day, at least, allows us to face only the wind and snow, without getting stuck in such a quagmire."

You Su tightened the beast-patterned robe he was wearing, understanding dawning on him.

He stood up, stretched his limbs, and said, "Shall we set off now?"

Chen Yi glanced at the sky outside; the sun was shining brightly, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. "Yes, we're all ready. I've been waiting for this day for far too long."

A resolute glint flashed in the old man's eyes; after thirty years of waiting, this moment had finally arrived.

You Su stepped out of the snow hut, the tribe was already bustling with activity. The tribespeople were packing their belongings, preparing food, water, and essential tools. Children ran around on the snow, some shouting excitedly, others huddled nervously behind their parents.

"Grandpa Chief... where are we going?" A child even smaller than the Xiao Lu came over and tugged at the old man's trouser leg.

The old man smiled and squinted, replying, "Grandpa will take you to a place where it's not so cold. There, you can light a fire in the houses and eat meat every meal."

"Really?! That's wonderful!" the child exclaimed excitedly.

There are several children like this, who are the third generation of the Exiles. They have no idea about the sins their ancestors carried, and the adults don't seem to want them to bear too heavy a burden.

Thirty-one members of the tribe, young and old, formed this special group. Among them were elders like Chen Yi, young children like Xiao Lu, and even a pregnant woman. They were ragged and emaciated, but their eyes shone with unwavering determination.

The old man had privately told You Su that he was willing to do anything to return the Divine Radiance Stone to its original place, and then he would go to the sacred mountain to apologize and spend his life atoneing for his sins, using the names of those important figures to exchange for the sacred mountain's forgiveness for these innocent children.

You Su thought this was a feasible plan, but the prerequisite was surviving the encirclement and suppression by those powerful figures until reaching the sacred mountain.

He walked over to the Xiao Lu, where the girl was helping her mother pack her bags.

When she saw You Su approaching, she flashed a bright smile, "Great God, are we really heading south?"

You Su patted her head and said, "Yes, let's go together."

The Xiao Lu's eyes brightened even more, and she nodded vigorously. "Yes!"

The group set off, with Chen Yi leading the way. He leaned on a wooden cane, his steps exceptionally steady. He had dreamed of this path for thirty years, and now he had finally made it.

You Su walked in the middle of the group, protected by all her clansmen in the very center.

The vast snowfield stretched as far as the eye could see, accompanied only by the howling wind and snow and the crunching sound of the snow under their feet.

After walking for about three or four hours, You Su could clearly feel that the wind and snow here were even more biting.

The chieftain stopped and pointed ahead, saying, "The edge of the blizzard is just ahead."

You Su looked in the direction Chen Yi pointed, only to see a vast expanse of white ahead, with wind and snow swirling around, making it impossible to see anything clearly.

"Everyone, stay alert! Children, hold on tight to your parents' hands!" Chen Yi shouted a reminder. "Once we enter the blizzard, make sure you stay close to me and don't get separated!"

The tribespeople nodded, even the children's expressions became serious and solemn. The children here learn Snow Breathing from birth, and they have long since integrated this special breathing method into their lives, so almost no children freeze to death outside the camp. Everyone took a deep breath, adjusted their state, and prepared to meet this challenge.

The group slowly entered the blizzard. Visibility plummeted, to the point where it was almost impossible to see one's hand in front of one's face. The wind and snow lashed against their faces, stinging like knives.

You Su circulated the Snow Breathing technique, inhaling the icy air into his body and converting it into his own energy. This cold current did not turn into heat, but rather acted like a thin film, isolating him from the erosion of the outside wind and snow. You Su felt that this concept was surprisingly similar to that of the igloo.

Moving forward here was incredibly difficult; one had to be constantly on guard against being blown away by the cold wind or having one's feet buried in the snow. You Su was very glad that he had chosen to trust the old man; otherwise, with his own abilities, it would have been almost impossible for him to get through this blizzard.

The team struggled through the blizzard, occasionally stumbling and falling, but quickly getting back up and continuing on. They supported and encouraged each other, and no one gave up.

No one knew how far they had traveled in the snowstorm, but the chieftain resolutely led the way. His explanation was that the snow mastiffs would remember the path they had taken, even in a vast expanse of white snow.

Finally, the clan chief gave the order to rest on the spot.

They set up a huge umbrella-shaped cloth and then all hid under it. This enormous umbrella was made of animal hides collected from various households and then nailed deep into the snow with special long nails to block the howling wind and snow.

"Master You Su"

The clan chief had quietly sat down beside You Su without anyone noticing. The old man's voice was soft, "If the enemy is too powerful, use the method I taught you to escape first. This blizzard is a natural barrier; they will have a hard time catching up with you."

Chen Yi's voice was torn apart by the wind and snow, You Su had to strain to hear it clearly.

You Su glanced at the elderly, women, and children in the group. They walked with faltering steps, but their eyes were firm, showing no sign of backing down. He was slightly touched and felt a mix of emotions.

"I understand," You Su replied calmly, without denying it.

His ultimate goal in helping them was to obtain a way to get through the blizzard; their journey of atonement had nothing to do with him.

The team continued onward, and in the vast blizzard, they were like a drifting leaf, small and fragile.

As the oldest member of the clan, Chen Yi always walked at the front of the group. He would occasionally look back at his clansmen to make sure no one had fallen behind.

As if noticing something, he reached out and tugged at the arm of a young man beside him. "Xiao Wu, are you cold?"

The young man called Xiao Wu rubbed his nose, which was red from the cold. "It's not cold, but the snow is so heavy that I can barely open my eyes."

Xiao Wu squinted, a thin layer of ice already forming on her eyelashes.

Xiao Wu's parents died a long time ago. They were Chen Yi's most beloved disciples, and Chen Yi also gave this beloved disciple's son special attention.

Chen Yi took out a small bag made of animal hide from his pocket and handed it to Xiao Wu, saying, "There's a flint inside. Rub it a few times and apply it to your forehead."

Xiao Wu took the small bag and smiled honestly, "Thank you, patriarch."

The team continued their arduous journey through the wind and snow. The blizzard showed no signs of abating; on the contrary, it intensified. The heavy snowflakes, whipped up by the gale-force winds, were like countless tiny blades, relentlessly cutting into every inch of exposed skin.

You Su squinted, trying to make out the road ahead. The wind and snow were too heavy, and visibility was extremely low. He felt a chill running through him, but he didn't stop. He knew that if he stopped, he might never be able to stand up again.

"Sect Master... I... I can't walk anymore..." an old voice came from the back of the group.

You Su looked back and saw an elderly man lying on the snow, his face filled with exhaustion and despair.

Chen Yi immediately stopped and braved the wind and snow to walk with difficulty to the old man's side, trying to help him up.

"Old Liu, hang in there! We're almost there!" Chen Yi's voice sounded particularly weak in the wind and snow; he himself was exhausted.

Of the thirty-odd people, only Old Liu still addressed Chen Yi as Sect Master, because he was not a disciple of the Snow Mastiff Sect, but a sect elder who had accompanied Chen Yi for many years.

After a moment's hesitation, You Su walked over to the old man and reached out to check his pulse. The pulse was weak, almost imperceptible. The old man's lips were already purple from the cold, and his eyes were beginning to glaze over.

The old man said haltingly, "You all go... don't worry about me..."

Chen Yi was startled by these words. He gripped Old Liu's shoulders tightly, as if not wanting him to collapse.

"Old Liu, what nonsense are you talking about! You said back then that the Grand Elder would always stay by the Sect Master's side, and that they would go together!"

The dying old man shook his head bitterly, a hint of relief in his eyes. "I can't walk anymore... Let me... Let me stay here... You go ahead..."

"If I hadn't encouraged you back then... you wouldn't have agreed to them..." The old man's voice grew weaker and weaker, his eyelids drooping. "I... I'm sorry to you, I'm sorry to the sect..."

"No, Old Liu, you're not wrong! I'm the one who's wrong! I failed to lead the sect well!" Chen Yi's voice choked with emotion.

"No... no..."

The dying old man slipped from Chen Yi's arms and lay on the pristine white snow, gazing blankly at the swirling snowflakes in the sky.

"The snow is so white..."

Chen Yi knelt on the ground, completely closing Old Liu's half-closed eyelids. Then, he took a deep breath and said to the surrounding clansmen:

"Let's go!"

His resolute decision surprised many of his tribesmen, but no one raised any objections. Everyone knew that staying put in this blizzard was tantamount to waiting to die.

The Xiao Lu trembled as she glanced back at the old man lying in the snow, her eyes filled with sorrow. She gripped her mother's hand tightly, too afraid to look back.

The dying old man lay on the ground, and the heavy snow quickly buried him, as if covering him with a thick coffin lid. The wind and snow howled, as if bidding him farewell.

The road through the blizzard was much longer than imagined. People getting separated from the group happened from time to time. There was even a case where a child got lost in the snowstorm, and his parents rushed out of the group to search for him, only to never return.

The atmosphere within the group was somber and sorrowful.

Whenever someone fell, Chen Yi would suppress his grief and lead the remaining tribesmen to continue forward. He understood that only by reaching their destination could they bring solace to the departed tribesmen.

You Su walked in the middle of the group, silently observing everything. He saw the strength and perseverance of his people, as well as their despair and sorrow. No one came to him for help, and he couldn't save those left in the snowstorm. He had used up all the pills in his own Universe Bag, let alone share them with these mortals without cultivation.

Should those who make mistakes be forgiven? Shouldn't the ones who instigate them be the ones punished most?

You Su asked himself the question, but he had no answer.

The Polar Day made the passage of time immemorial; You Su didn't even know how many days she had been traveling through the blizzard.

Chen Yi stopped again, but did not have his people raise the huge umbrella.

Before me stood an imposing, snow-capped mountain. The wind and snow seemed to have opened a gap here, letting in a holy light. The snow-capped peak resembled a giant city wall standing between heaven and earth, faintly carrying a divine aura.

"Before this place was covered by snow, we called it Azure Mountain. In the ancient language of the Northern Ao Continent, Cang means 'sacred'."

The old man's eyes finally regained their sparkle, and he stretched out his hand:

We've arrived.

This short segment will end tomorrow; its main purpose was to provide the protagonist with a motivation to venture deeper into the Northern Ao Continent.