Another year passed, and Ning Yuhao's cultivation had reached rank 27. The benefits brought by two and a half Martial Souls and high-year Soul Rings were simply enormous, even with all the time he spent training his body. After all, he performed fifty times the Saitama Training Method every day.
In addition, spurred on by Ning Yuhao, Ning Rongrong had managed to reach rank 22. Ning Yuhao also exchanged letters frequently with Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai, helping them plan their second and third Soul Rings, completely breaking free of Martial Soul sensing.
[Father finds fault with everything I do. Even with my imperial brother helping me out, I find it all so pointless. I'm running away first, brother. I'll write again once I've settled down.] Looking at the letter Dai Mubai had sent him, Ning Yuhao couldn't help smiling helplessly.
"Xiao Hao, let's set off now." The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had spent these past few years asleep as well. Aside from the beginning, he had only woken once, when Ning Yuhao reached rank 20. Ning Yuhao understood. After all, he had become a Hundred Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast through a "great dream."
With a profound gaze, Ning Yuhao looked north and said in a low voice, "My Wicked Lord Shingan tells me that the Unseen Horizon lies there. And now, I shall seek it."
After obtaining Ning Fengzhi's permission, Ning Yuhao embarked on his journey with a Soul Tool full of supplies.
At first, Ning Yuhao traveled at a fairly leisurely pace, taking a carriage to Heaven Dou City before breaking into an all-out run. He covered two thousand li in a day and soon arrived at the border city of the Far North: Dragon City.
Dragon City was large but sparsely populated. Built from massive stones without any lavish decorations, the city had a distinctly rugged style. Ning Yuhao rested there for a night and replenished his essential supplies before setting out the following day.
Before departing, Ning Yuhao asked in his Sea of Consciousness, "Are we heading into the deepest reaches of the Far North this time?"
"The place where I used to live was in the northeast of the continent. This should be the north-central part of the continent, the northwest of the original Douluo Continent. We've only just touched the Far North," the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm explained.
"So even if it isn't the deepest part, it's close enough. These padded clothes alone probably won't be enough to withstand a place like that."
"Heh, Xiao Hao, you've never been here, but your guess is actually pretty good. Don't worry, though. I prepared everything long ago. You'll see when we get there."
Ning Yuhao said irritably, "If you've already prepared it, can't you take it out now? Why do we have to wait until we get there?"
Ning Yuhao had no desire to have the cold wind blowing and his balls trembling. The image of standing naked amid ice and snow was a little too picturesque. Even Ning Yuhao hardly dared look.
"Mm, fine." The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm still sounded rather reluctant.
Ning Yuhao could tell now. The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was doing this on purpose, hoping to see him embarrass himself.
"Take all your clothes off first." Ning Yuhao quickly stripped naked. It was still quite warm inside the hotel.
Then a faint layer of golden light slowly surged out of his head. Immediately afterward, a ball of gentle white light floated out from his chest. The white light spread through the air, growing to the same size as Ning Yuhao before settling over his body.
Ning Yuhao only felt as though a thin film had appeared over his skin, but there was no discomfort at all. In fact, even someone looking at him wouldn't be able to see it.
"This is good stuff," Ning Yuhao exclaimed in admiration.
"Of course. I'm a venerable Hundred Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. Even if I couldn't give you a Soul Bone, my whole body is full of treasures. This is the shed skin I left behind. It can ensure you won't feel cold in the Far North, and it can also conceal your presence," the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's lazy voice rang out.
Ning Yuhao put his clothes back on, then entered the Far North.
Ignoring the sign that read, "Far North, forbidden zone for humans. Soul Beasts present. Danger, danger, danger!" Ning Yuhao strode quickly into the depths of the snowfields.
The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's voice grew serious as well. "Yuhao, from now on, you must follow my instructions completely. There can't be a single slipup. Your cultivation still isn't enough here. If anything goes wrong, not only will you remain in this Far North forever, but you'll drag me down with you."
Ning Yuhao nodded. He understood that specialized matters should be left to specialists.
However, he also kept his Wicked Lord Shingan Martial Soul active, pale golden light spilling from it. Although he had yet to add any Soul Rings, his Wicked Lord Shingan could easily distinguish the strength of Soul Power when in use. In other words, he could avoid those powerful Soul Beasts in advance.
Combined with the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's spiritual power, it could be said that no Soul Beast had anywhere to hide. He avoided many Soul Beasts ahead of time. After all, he had come here alone, so avoiding combat was best.
After entering the Far North, Ning Yuhao's pace slowed considerably, and he walked for two or three days straight.
The Far North was utterly desolate, with nothing but snow and mountains of ice. Ning Yuhao even wondered whether he could find his way back on his own without the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm guiding him.
Still, this place also had scenery found nowhere else. Especially at dusk, brilliant, spreading lights drifted across the sky, exquisitely beautiful.
With his Wicked Lord Shingan active, Ning Yuhao felt wisps of energy being absorbed by his Martial Soul. It seemed to grow somewhat stronger, gradually changing from pale gold to a rich golden hue.
"How strange! I've lived so long and seen these auroras several times. Why haven't I had this kind of change?" The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was deeply puzzled.
"Brother Sky Dream, you spent at least nine hundred thousand of your million years asleep. How many times have you seen them in total? Besides, those tiny eyes of yours, hehehe..." Ning Yuhao teased.
"Well, well, you brat! Now you're even teasing me!" the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm said in feigned anger.
Ning Yuhao laughed for a while, then his bearing changed. Snowfields, auroras, a lone figure standing beneath them-the scene looked vast and desolate.
Ning Yuhao spread his arms and tilted his head back, letting his bangs fall away to reveal his right eye completely. "I am the Tyrant's Eye Wielder. Those lights must be spilling from the Unseen Horizon, so naturally, my Wicked Lord Shingan can absorb them."
His tone was deep, his voice deliberately lowered to a pitch that did not belong to someone his age.
"Xiao Hao, what is the Unseen Horizon?" The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was somewhat puzzled. He had lived in the Far North for so many years, so how had he never heard of it?
"The Unseen Horizon is the boundary of the mortal world. No one knows what lies on the other side, and that is precisely the goal I pursue as the Tyrant's Eye Wielder."
"Hiss... That's pretty cool." The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's chuunibyou voice rang out as well. "I am the Great Dream Nether Abyss Emissary, the only Hundred Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast on the Douluo Continent. Together with the Tyrant's Eye Wielder, I shall seek the truth of this world."
"Hahaha! Hahaha!" Ning Yuhao and the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, one in the outside world and one in the Sea of Consciousness, both burst into wild laughter.