Bei Ming City.
As a medium-sized city in the northwest of the Tian Hun Empire, this city was already very close to the Extreme North, and to its west lay the endless sea. If one continued northward beyond the sea territory, that vast and boundless region was the Ice Sea.
Although the sea surface didn't freeze, the temperature was extremely low. Therefore, floating ice always drifted on the surface, and even icebergs would appear.
It was precisely because of this reason, combined with the sparser population in the north compared to the south, that the Tian Hun Empire didn't normally station too many troops here—only a battalion of about a thousand soldiers responsible for the security of Bei Ming City and some surrounding small cities.
However, times were different now.
Due to the evil soul masters running rampant in the Ice Sea, Bei Ming City near the Ice Sea was in a state of panic. Many common people directly moved out of the city, continuously heading inland. This caused the already economically underdeveloped Bei Ming City to suffer severe damage!
For a time, the court and countryside were shaken!
This led to large-scale troops being dispatched here, including powerhouses at the Titled Douluo level. Their purpose was to guard against those madmen from the Holy Spirit Church, who after killing sea soul beasts to the point of frenzy, might run onto land to kill as well, creating boundless slaughter within the empire's territory.
"Lockdown has already been completed."
One hundred milesoutside Bei Ming City, three figures suddenly stepped out from a black hole, then quietly stood on a small hill, gazing at the white city shrouded in snow and ice in the distance.
Under the swirling snow, combined with the large number of troops stationed inside and outside the city... one had to admit, there was an atmosphere of solemn killing intent.
"After all, no amount of lockdown is too much for these cancerous tumors. If they break into the country, it's the common people who will suffer."
Gu Tianchen glanced at Bei Ming City, then turned his gaze toward the vast and boundless sea, asking, "How are we going to find people in the North Sea later? If we search blindly, it would be no different than fishing for a needle in the ocean."
"Did you forget?"
Chen Junting's eyes showed amusement as he took out a token.
Instantly, Gu Tianchen reacted. Then he embarrassedly patted his forehead, indicating he had remembered.
After all, since obtaining the identity token, besides using it to prove his identity, he had never used it. So after forgetting that the token could detect locations, he said no more.
As for why Chen Junting's group of three were here...
Actually, their actions had been applied for and approved by Ning Bowen, the Sect Master of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
After all, with such a major incident in the Ice Sea, the probability of Huo Yuhao and Zhi Yong being caught up in it was extremely high. If something happened to them, the blow to the sect and its people would be enormous. So just in case, they needed reinforcements.
For this, Chen Junting was the first to propose a rescue application.
Ning Tian needless to say, naturally followed closely behind.
Initially, Ning Bowen and the others still disagreed. But when Chen Junting, with Ning Tian's cooperation, demonstrated his strength and overpowered the three Elders present, they no longer had any reason to refuse and had to agree.
Because in their words, Chen Junting's strength already stood at the pinnacle level on the continent. As long as he didn't encounter a Limit Douluo powerhouse, if not victory, at least escaping unscathed would be no problem.
If he really encountered one...
Then the one to worry about would be that Limit Douluo. After all, Di Tian's scale was still in Chen Junting's hands.
However, Chen Junting and Ning Tian, out of caution and just in case, also brought Gu Tianchen along before leaving.
With him present, defense and escape would be no problem.
Afterward, the three who worried that delay might bring change rushed and hurried, spending less than a day to arrive outside Bei Ming City.
"Let's not enter the city, head directly out to sea."
At this moment, Chen Junting made up his mind.
Having Gu Tianchen bring them down the hill to the seaside, he then took out a "model" from his storage soul tool. After injecting soul power into it, this "model" instantly transformed into a stream of flowing light that floated up, landing on the sea surface and growing with the wind.
In the blink of an eye, this special "model" had already become a real, twelve-meter-long small boat.
Crystal clear throughout, as if carved from colorless crystal, its surface carried a faint white halo. Landing in the sea, it actually didn't make a single sound, its overall streamlined shape.
At first glance, it actually resembled a soul beast similar to an orca.
And this was Xuan Ziwen's new masterpiece—a small boat-type soul tool integrating diving and long-distance voyage. The design concept referenced sea soul beasts of the great ocean, ensuring fast underwater speed.
Since it would be perfect for going out to sea to find people, before leaving, Chen Junting had asked Xuan Ziwen for it.
The hull was milky white throughout, as if carved from jade.
As Chen Junting came before the boat and knocked on its upper hatch, the originally sealed hatch instantly opened, revealing the interior layout. Everything looked incredibly complex.
For a moment, even Gu Tianchen's scalp went slightly numb.
Even Ning Tian couldn't help but hesitate at this moment—could it be that they were supposed to manually pilot this boat? They really couldn't do that!
However, Chen Junting gestured toward the two.
"What are you waiting for? Get in."
Having spoken, he floated down, landing in the boat. The hull didn't shake because of his landing—it was very stable.
Seeing this, Ning Tian and Gu Tianchen also entered one after another.
Then, they saw Chen Junting take out his own identity token and insert it into a slot inside the cabin.
Instantly, the cabin abruptly brightened.
Clearly, this soul tool had been activated.
Without a word, Chen Junting raised his hand and pressed on the fist-sized crystal ball in front, injecting a stream of soul power. The hatch instantly closed, completely isolating the outside air and sound.
Half of the boat's volume also submerged into the sea, allowing one to look down and clearly see the strange underwater world below.
Simultaneously, a light screen also appeared.
Within it, two small dots were continuously glowing.
One red, one green, at different positions on the light screen.
With a peripheral glance, Ning Tian and Gu Tianchen distinguished that the green dot's location was where they currently were.
If that was the case, then that red dot...
"Preparing to depart."
Chen Junting's flat tone carried some excitement, as if the crystal ball-style helm before his eyes was some great feast.
Instantly, a sense of foreboding enveloped the hearts of Ning Tian and Gu Tianchen.
Driven by soul power, the boat rapidly sank, submerging into the great sea. Then in the next second, whoosh—
Before Ning Tian and Gu Tianchen could react, the boat shot out at maximum speed through the seawater!
Like an orca, cutting through the waves!
"Woohoo—"
An excited shout echoed within the cabin. Only to be greeted with, "Brother Junting (Lao Chen)! Slow down!"
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