Chapter 166: Soul-Seeking Magpie

Within the Icefield Secret Realm, there were about a dozen cultivators who looked incredibly ordinary and unremarkable. They moved in groups of three or four, searching for something amidst the snowy landscape. They paid no attention to the resources around them, passing by many resource-rich areas without even a glance, solely focused on the intricate compasses they held.

These people were from the Wàn Wàn Tōng branch in Yuánlíng City, sent into various nearby secret realms to map out uncharted territories. Longtime cultivators in the realm, regardless of their cultivation level, knew of their existence. Since these mapmakers didn't compete for resources, they generally weren't bothered by other cultivators. After all, there was no conflict of interest, and everyone relied on them for accurate maps and information later on.

At this moment, one of these Wàn Wàn Tōng teams, consisting of three cultivators, had arrived near a towering snow mountain. They stopped at the foot of the mountain, serious expressions on their faces as they raised their compasses, scanning the area.

"This is it. This should be the entrance to this gray zone," said Liáng Zhònghuái, putting away his compass and pointing to a spot in the air ahead of them.

One of his companions nodded and replied, "Then let's not waste time. We should get ready to enter. Who knows if the remaining days are enough to fully map this gray zone."

In their map exploration group, areas that hadn't been fully explored were referred to as gray zones.

The three of them began setting up some specialized formations around the mountain, designed specifically for their map exploration team. Once everything was prepared, they used rock-paper-scissors to decide who would stay outside as a lookout, while the other two would venture into the unknown.

Gray zones were filled with uncertainties and dangers. While successfully mapping one could bring great rewards, it was a risky task, and surviving to enjoy the reward was no guarantee. Wàn Wàn Tōng had strict policies: if a member failed to find a gray zone after ten expeditions or avoided entering one after twenty attempts, they would be dismissed. Additionally, they would forfeit 80% of their past earnings and bonuses.

Finding this gray zone earned the trio some rewards, but it also meant they had to enter it. Unfortunately, Liáng Zhònghuái wasn't great at rock-paper-scissors, so he ended up losing, as did his companion, Yú Guāng. Their teammate Tóng Huá won and cheerfully set up a small tent while the other two got ready to explore.

Tóng Huá, looking satisfied, pulled out a flask of Wàn Wàn Tōng's signature spirit wine from his storage pouch and warmed it over a small fire, all while pretending not to notice his teammates' envious stares. "Ah, nothing like enjoying a warm drink in this snowy wilderness," he mused, half-closing his eyes in pleasure.

After his teasing, Tóng Huá became serious. "Remember, safety comes first. I'll be here waiting for your safe return."

The three of them had worked together for years and shared a strong bond. Despite the teasing, they genuinely wished for a successful mission. After reassuring their friend, Liáng Zhònghuái and Yú Guāng walked toward the spot their compasses had indicated. But just as they stepped forward, an immense force suddenly pulled them into the gray zone.

Watching from a distance, Tóng Huá frowned deeply, concerned about the formation they had set up. This formation had been distributed by their headquarters and was reportedly crafted by the top disciple of the Eighth Spiritual Sovereign. It had always worked well before, so he could only hope it would perform flawlessly again. He prayed for the mission's success and his friends' safety.

——

Meanwhile, Lin Xiao was trudging through the heavy snowfall, trying to find his way across the mountain. What made this journey particularly challenging was the constant course corrections. Every few dozen meters, Liao Pantu would stop him, claiming he had taken the wrong path and insisting he change direction. After several rounds of this, Lin Xiao couldn't help but ask, "Senior, what's going on?"

Inside the Soul-Nurturing Pendant, Liao Pantu furrowed his brows. He could sense his soul fragment was nearby, but there was no visible entrance or gateway. After contemplating for a moment, he finally said, "It seems there's a hidden space within this secret realm. My soul fragment must be inside, but the entrance isn't here."

"So what should we do now?" Lin Xiao asked.

Before he could finish his question, a translucent hand emerged from the pendant, holding an intricately carved jade magpie and passing it to him.

"Try using this," Liao Pantu instructed.

"What is it?" Lin Xiao asked, examining the delicate jade object.

"This is a Soul-Seeking Magpie. It can track down a soul fragment. If the hidden space's entrance is open, it will find it by following my soul imprint."

"With this tool, why didn't you just use it earlier to find your soul fragments? Why wait until you hear the name of a secret realm to remember?"

Liao Pantu responded grumpily, "If it were that simple, don't you think I would have done that already? The Soul-Seeking Magpie can't track souls across different spatial barriers—it only works within the same realm."

After thinking for a moment, Lin Xiao realized what Liao Pantu was getting at. "So you're hoping that even though there's a separation, the hidden space is still within the same spatial barrier, making the Soul-Seeking Magpie effective?"

Pleased that Lin Xiao had figured it out, Liao Pantu nodded with satisfaction. "Exactly. I've already placed a trace of my soul imprint inside the magpie. All you need to do is inject it with your spiritual energy and release it."

"Alright, I'll give it a try," Lin Xiao agreed.