88 The Icy Wild Winds

As Yun and Long Wuying carefully traversed the frozen cliffs, thousands of meters high, they had to continuously consume their Qi to keep their bodies warm. As a Fire element cultivator this was slightly easier for Yun, but the fell winds still drove icy cold air straight through their fur and their clothing. After close to three hours of travel they were forced to stop and seek shelter, which Yun had to provide using her elemental energies.

They spent nearly two weeks just traveling through the icy wastes high up on the mountain-sides, resting every few hours to replenish themselves. Thankfully for both of them they were in possession of spatial storage artifacts that could hold provisions, and they had plentiful water resources available thanks to the snow and ice encasing these mountains. Each day they were only able to travel during sunlight hours, as the nights were so cold that even Yun would struggle to survive more than an hour outside without the heat of the twin suns to reduce the chill.

After the two weeks of travel, and a great deal of disorientation brought about by their rapid ascent of a few kilometers, they finally managed to travel far enough from the core of the mountain range that the temperature began to rise. Each day they were able to travel farther than the last, finally able to continue throughout the day without rest. Behind them were icy wastes where the majority of the heat from the subsurface volcanic activity of the Cradle were not present.

Many of these high mountains were frozen solid from half way to the peak, but they also created a barrier to the strong and cold winds from the Ice Wastes to the north, east, and south of the Cradle. The extreme cold air trapped in the mountains also created bizarre weather patterns near them, frequently causing rain or small tornadoes to crop up rapidly, but just as rapidly dissipate. All of this contributed to why these mountains were called the Wild Wind Mountains, and also explained why there were almost no villages or towns at the foot of these mountains until you reached the river, where the border of the mountains was not able to maintain this environment.

Leaving the heights of the mountainsides, Yun and Wuying began to traverse the valleys and once again acclimated themselves to a normal density of breathable air. Someday, they thought, we will be strong enough that this won't affect our bodies. In the Xiantian realm the Neidan would instead have opened up in to it's own complete world, supporting all sorts of plant life around the Neidan Tree that grew out of the seed they were still nourishing.

With the support of this inner world they would always have their own supply of breathable air that would recycle itself back within their own inner world, eliminating the need to rely on the external environment to sustain their bodies. At this time they would also be able to nourish their bodies with the nutrients found in their inner worlds, which were in turn nourished by the Heavenly Qi they absorbed into the space. Xiantian level cultivators were known as the true lords of creation, but no Lynhär had any records of anyone reaching such a height. Only idealistic young cultivators still believed that the fabled Xiantian realm was obtainable.

Instead, most cultivators became obsessed with the limits of the Houtian realm, which was the Large Realm after the Body Forging Realm that Yun and Wuying were currently in. Yun was currently in the fourth rank of Body Forging, the Body Tempering phase. She would next move through Blood Condensation, Tendon Forging, Bone Forging, Marrow Forging, and finally Qi Imbuing—where she would finally convert her current Neidan into the Seed that would be nourished and grow during the Houtian realm.

The Houtian realm, on the other hand, was a fairly simple realm in terms of ranks, but contained some of the most astounding growth. Beginning with the Houtian Awakening realm, also called Sapling Awakening, the cultivator would feed the new Neidan Seed with Qi to begin its growth, cracking the shell they had created. Next they would progress smoothly into the Houtian Foundation, or Sapling Foundation, realm. In this realm they would encourage the roots of their Neidan Seed to grow and secure the foundation of the Inner World it lived in.

Once the foundation was fully established the attention had to be focused elsewhere. The next phase of Houtian was preparing the mortal body to transform, and began with the Spirit Transformation stage. Following the transformation of the spirit were at least three stages of Mortal Rebirth—in which the body is literally broken down into the smallest components before being rebuilt with the aid of Heavenly Qi—and up to six Mortal Rebirths. This was the end of Houtian, and the height of power in this world. The greatest Lynhär warriors were Fifth Stage Mortal Rebirth, and were capable from the fourth stage of supporting their bodily functions entirely off Heavenly Qi.

Yun realized after a few moments that she had begun daydreaming and shook her head to clear it. She knew this was likely induced by the rapid change in environmental conditions from descending the mountain too rapidly, and turned to check on Wuying as well, verifying that he was not doing the same.

The tale of her ancestor that the Hermit had told her showed her that her family had, at least once, contained skill enough to reach the heights of power at a young age. With talent on that level, wouldn't it be possible to ascend beyond this world's limits and reach Xiantian?

What sort of legend would that create?

Not only would that be the greatest power in this world, it would be able to end the conflict between the Volvaka and the Lynhär completely with the wave of a hand. Crushing mountains, destroying entire continents easily. This must be the ultimate peak of the martial artist path. Opening their own complete pocket dimension within the body, capable of defying the Heavenly Laws and flying effortlessly through the air. Nothing could be greater than this power.

Yun once again broke out of her daydream, but this time it was not by choice. She suddenly jerked to a stop as her foot broke off a stone from the ledge they were walking on and she nearly plummeted with it. Wuying was currently holding her up by the back of her garment, lifting her up with some effort and placing her on stable footing.

Both of them collapsed against the wall, sitting down and resting.

"Yun, are you alright? How could you be clumsy enough to nearly topple like that?"

"Sorry Wuying, maybe we should rest a bit after all. The adjustment from the high altitudes is not going so well for this Yun, distractions are taking over my thoughts."

Wuying worriedly looked at Yun's slightly glazed expression before he sighed and dragged her back a dozen meters to where the cliff wall had a much larger flat space for them to rest safely.