After the Soul Refinement Sect disciples stopped and questioned them, they encountered no further trouble for the rest of the journey.
"The Northern Region is bitterly cold, and the disciples of the Soul Refinement Sect are completely different from the disciples of the Eastern Region's sects."
"The Eastern Region has a pleasant climate. When the disciples of its sects and lineages had nothing to do, they would admire the scenery within their sects, or else eat, drink, and roam about outside."
"By contrast, because of the Northern Region's harsh climate, the disciples of its sects and clans seldom ventured outside their sects."
"If they had no urgent business, they would usually choose to stay in their caves. Each of their caves had ways to keep warm, enough to meet their daily needs."
"Moreover, the Northern Region's harsh environment gave its martial artists a sense of crisis from childhood. They knew very well that cultivation was like sailing against the current—stop moving forward, and you would fall behind. That was why everyone seized every moment and used every resource to cultivate with all their might."
"That is also why, despite the Northern Region's extreme lack of resources, it has never been short of powerful experts."
After entering the Soul Refinement Sect, Lin Bai gained an entirely new understanding of the Northern Region's living conditions and its sects.
As they passed through the Soul Refinement Sect's inner-sect area, Shi Yanguang encountered several groups of martial artists conducting inspections, but he skillfully bluffed his way past them all.
Before long, the group gradually drew close to the Abyssal Fissure.
After leaving the Soul Refinement Sect's inner-sect area, they followed the narrow path between two mountains. Thick snow lay piled across the ground, as if no one had set foot there for many years.