After waiting in line more than eight hours, it was finally their turn at the space gate leading to the northern cities. It was also here that Ding Hao and Uncle Tianshu finally parted ways. Tianshu wanted to go south via the space gate, and return to the Southern Wilderness.
“Lad, don’t worry. I’ll take care of your sister!” Uncle Tianshu patted his chest and gave his promise before he left.
Ding Hao nodded and gave Uncle Tianshu some of his divine herbs and treasures from the Divine Herb Garden. If Tianshu found Ding Ke’er and gave her these divine treasures, it might benefit her cultivation.
“D*mn, I thought they were for me.” Uncle Tianshu felt very disappointed.
Ding Hao smiled. “You can keep half for yourself. Anyway, once something falls into the hands of a profiteer like you, you will steal most of it, right?”
“Are you casting doubt on my integrity? I won’t have it!” Uncle Tianshu was furious.
“You mean you have integrity?” Ding Hao snorted.
“I…” Uncle Tianshu was so angry that he didn’t know what to say. He glared at Ding Hao fiercely, but in the end, could only sigh and say seriously, “Lad, the world is in chaos. It’s no laughing matter. Even the Supreme God of War is missing. You must be extra careful in the Northern Region.”
Ding Hao nodded with a smile.
He felt somewhat touched in his heart.
Uncle Tianshu had been a teacher and a friend all this time, giving him so much help. Although the two were always arguing and eyeing each other contemptuously, they were in fact birds of a feather and good pals. Tianshu was mysterious but had always accommodated Ding Hao, taking good care of him like an elderly relative.
Now that the Primitive Alliance Treaty had been dissolved, the Human Clan was facing an extremely difficult situation. Even masters at the Sage Realm might die anytime. Although neither said anything, they both knew that they might not meet each other again.
Ding Hao did not have many friends.
Tianshu was definitely the most unique and mysterious, but also the one he most trusted.
After watching Ding Hao disappear into the space gate, Tianshu mounted the big white tigress and headed for the south space gate. There were complicated expressions on his face. He sighed and whispered to himself, “Boy, troubled times are when heroes show their true nature. The younger generation is destined to lead this era. Your sister will be fine. Don’t worry and always be hopeful. Once you know everything, give those who made a mistake a chance to repent and make up!”
Ding Hao journeyed back to the Northern Region in the next two months.
Through the space gates, Ding Hao traveled from city to city and province to province, traversing many provinces and slowly approaching the north. Because of the Holy War and the general mayhem, the provinces on the Divine Central Continent were not peaceful. There were big and small-scaled wars everywhere. He was hence delayed on his journey.
During times of chaos, more people would utilize the space gates, leading to frequent congestion.
As a result, Ding Hao usually had to wait in a city for a day and a half before he could use the space gate. Although anxious, he did not do anything rash.
On this day, Ding Hao finally stepped into the space gate leading to the southernmost province of the Northern Region.
The long harsh winter was the coldest season of the year. Blizzards raged. Many terrains of the Northern Region were already deep in snow, and the place was cloaked in silvery white.
“The Northern Region, I’m back at last!”
South Province.
The southernmost province of the Northern Region was adjacent to the northernmost province of the Divine Central Continent.
Ding Hao stepped out of the space gate of the provincial capital of South Province, South City.
Although Ding Hao had left the Northern Region for only half a year, in fact nearly two years had passed because of the accelerated elapse of time in the Sacred Hall ruins.
Stepping on Northern Region soil, Ding Hao had a strange feeling in his heart.
It was like a wandering traveler finally smelling the aroma of his home soil.
The moment he arrived at South Province, Ding Hao found the Inspector of the Holy Palace of Mysterious Frost stationed in the city. He flashed his identity token as the Arbitrator and asked about the current situation of the Northern Region.
The Holy Palace of Mysterious Frost was a great Human Clan presence in the Northern Region. It dictated the fate of the Human Clan here, and the information it had was definitely the most reliable.
The Inspector did not dare to show any negligence. He quickly reported everything he knew to Ding Hao.
What he heard relieved Ding Hao somewhat.
Although the Holy War had broken out, the Northern Region was not as chaotic as the Divine Central Continent. Perhaps it was due to the divine mark of the God of War of the Northern Region, still imprinted in this region. The Demon Clan would surely be deterred to a certain extent if they knew that a God Realm master was still alive.
But of course, it was merely a little less chaotic than the Central Region.
Compared to two years ago, the land and its people had suffered quite a lot.
According to the inspector, more than 20 major cities in more than 40 provinces of the Northern Region had fallen to the Demon Clan. At least 57 sects of various sizes had been destroyed. Although the Mysterious Frost Holy Guards had wiped out dozens of Demon sects, the Human Clan had suffered more losses comparatively.
Fortunately, there was an Immortal Phoenix Palace in the Northern Region.
In the past two years, the Immortal Phoenix Palace, led by the Great Phoenix Saint, had risen to power in the most remote Snow Province and quickly became a force to contend with among the millions of Demons in the Northern Region. It was already challenging the Demon God Palace, the most powerful Demon faction of the Northern Region.
The Great Phoenix Saint had extraordinary strength. She once killed ten Great Saints of the Demon Clan who were antagonistic to her palace in one battle, establishing her unshakable status as an absolute master among the Demon Clan. The Immortal Phoenix Palace’s power grew wildly, and it was now another sacred ground of the Demon Clan in the Northern Region.
For the Human Clan, the rise of another powerful Demon force was undoubtedly bad news.
However, the Immortal Phoenix Palace was different from the other sacred Demon factions.
Since its rise, the Immortal Phoenix Palace had almost never invaded Human cities. The Demon Clan masters of the Immortal Phoenix Palace were relatively kinder to the Human Clan.
Even more unexpected for many Humans was the fact that the Holy Virgin of the Immortal Phoenix Palace was a real woman from the Human Clan. Although she was said to be half-Demon genetically, this new female master called Phoenix had always been respectful of the Human Clan.
Restrained by the Immortal Phoenix Palace, the Demon Clan of the Northern Region was not as aggressive as that on the Central Mainland. Humans were relatively better off here.
“But the Demon God Palace, the holy headquarters of the Demon Clan in the Northern Region, has already announced a coming conference in Snow Province, asking for the Human Clan’s participation. They will discuss the amendment of the Primitive Alliance Treaty, and demarcate the new relations between the Human Clan and the Demon Clan…” The Inspector of South Province said gravely, “The coming conference is an important one. It will determine the fate of the Human Clan in the Northern Region. I think the Demon Clan wants to test our combat capability at this conference. They especially want to know if the God of War of Mysterious Frost is as badly injured as rumored. They must be up to no good again.”
Ding Hao nodded.
He thought of even more.
“Why did the Demon God Palace choose to hold the conference in Snow Province?”
“There are dozens of provinces in the Northern Region. There is no lack of vast and beautiful provinces or strategic locations with rich resources. Snow Province is remotely located, an insignificant province with a hostile natural environment. Yet they chose to hold the conference here. It is a little strange.”
“Are they after the purple Dragon Qi and the mysterious crystal mine in the Great Abyss at the back mountain of the Swordsmanship-seeking Sect?”
Ding Hao immediately thought of this.
Things were definitely not as simple as they seemed.
The Alliance Conference would be held in Snow Province. At that time, all the forces would gather, and it would be a great opportunity for many sects. The super forces of the Human and the Demon Clans would definitely bully the local sects of Snow Province. Even the Swordsmanship-seeking Sect was weak and vulnerable in face of these foreign superpowers.
These local sects might end up being destroyed.
Once the two Clans fell out at the conference, there would surely be a bloodbath in Snow Province.
Then, all the local sects in Snow Province would be exterminated.
“When will the Conference start?” Ding remembered something and asked with a changed expression on his face.
The Inspector said respectfully, “The Demon God Palace had sent out invitation letters three months ago. They agreed to hold the Alliance Conference at Mirror Lake in Snow Province of the Northern Region 15 days later.”
“15 days later?” Ding Hao was relieved.
It was not too late.
“Your Excellency, are you going to Mirror Lake?” The Inspector was observing Ding Hao, and knew his identity and background. He knew Ding Hao was a disciple of the Swordsmanship-seeking Sect in Snow Province, and could guess his thoughts.
Ding Hao nodded.
“Don’t worry, Your Excellency. I’ll make arrangements at the space gate. You will definitely reach Snow Province in 10 days. You won’t be delayed,” the Inspector said with certainty in his voice.
“Thank you very much, Brother Cai.” Ding Hao felt a little relieved.
The family name of the Inspector was Cai, and his full name was Cai Jing. He was an expert at the peak of the Martial Emperor Realm. The South Province was a small province of the Northern Region, so the Inspector wasn’t the most powerful in strength. As the spokesperson of the Holy Palace of Mysterious Frost, however, he had great authority. It was better for him to make arrangements at the space gate, so Ding Hao would not need to wait in the line again.
“Your Excellency, it’s my honor to be able to serve you.”
Cai Jing turned around and left with a smile.
Now that the world was in chaos, he would have more options getting in the good books of an Arbitrator. Ding Hao might even save his life at some crucial moment.
Snow Province, Northern Region.
Each year, for more than six months, the northernmost part of the Land of Infinity would be covered with thick snow. It was now deep winter in this vast terrain.
Snow Province was the smallest of the many dozen provinces of the Northern Region.
It was also the province with the weakest Human Clan strength.
Snow Province used to be a remote region far removed from the cares of the outside world. Except for small trading caravans, few people from the other provinces would visit this almost forgotten place. With scarce resources and a harsh environment, there was nothing here to attract the Northern Region’s orthodox martial arts sects.
Yet right now, Snow Province was the center of attention of countless Human and Demon Clan experts in the Northern Region.
