Traveling back to ancient times to get rich

Chapter 369 Aurora Borealis

A group of twelve people, traveling in a grand procession, rode their carriages northward at breakneck speed. The sound of hooves echoed across the vast, boundless land, like a symphony of pursuing the unknown. They continued northward relentlessly, and as their journey progressed, the surrounding scenery became increasingly desolate, and the temperature plummeted. Gradually, they arrived at the far north, a place that seemed to be near the edge of the world, where the chill of the icy ocean filled the air.

Everyone had already donned their thickest clothes, but even so, the chill still seeped in like a ghost through the gaps, making them shiver uncontrollably. So they quickly put on their thickest coats, hats, and boots. Two locals, familiar with the land, stepped forward, their expressions both concerned and professional, and gave each person a small amount of supplies. After all, in the unpredictable Arctic, traveling light was sometimes more important. Then, the people on either side led away some of the local, robust dogs. These dogs, covered in thick fur and with bright, piercing eyes, were clearly well-adapted to the extreme cold. Ye Qingchen recognized these dogs as ancestors of modern huskies and Samoyeds. They had prepared a dog sled, sturdily constructed and covered with thick animal hides, to make their companions a little more comfortable and to allow them to experience this unique way of traveling in the Arctic.

Ye Qingchen and Gu Mochen stood to the side, their eyes filled with vigilance and worry. They knew that in such a dangerous place, safety was paramount. They exchanged a glance, their minds in sync, and ultimately decided to hide all the remaining supplies in that mysterious space. This space was Ye Qingchen's secret treasure; seemingly invisible, it possessed enormous capacity. Hiding the supplies inside would not only ensure their safety but also make future retrieval much easier, since in this icy wasteland, every single item could be a matter of life and death.

It was already July in the lunar calendar, the height of summer when the sun blazed down and the heat was unbearable in other parts of the world. But here, it felt like another world. The weather was nearing its peak, yet the temperature hovered just below zero. The dogs pulled the sled with great energy, while three ladies sat on it, bundled up tightly, only their curious eyes peeking out as they surveyed the strange, unfamiliar landscape. The sled glided swiftly across the snow, making a soft, creaking sound. The others followed at a leisurely pace, their steps steady, each person immersed in the unique atmosphere. A few light snowflakes drifted lazily in the sky, small and delicate like goose feathers, falling gently and blending seamlessly with the endless white surroundings. The whole scene was exceptionally romantic, as if time itself had stood still.

Looking around, it was already very far north, with igloos everywhere. These uniquely shaped, hemispherical igloos were specially built by fishermen for fishing here. They looked like white mushrooms scattered across the icy landscape. Although the inside of the igloos was cold, they effectively protected them from the fierce winds outside. However, at this moment, they were empty. Perhaps the fishermen had not yet returned from fishing, or perhaps they had gone elsewhere to stay temporarily. Ye Qingchen quietly watched all this, a strange impulse rising within her. Not wanting to disturb anyone, she quietly used her ability to absorb a portion of the surrounding environment into her spatial dimension. With her movement, the space seemed to open up like an invisible maw, swallowing up the surrounding ice, snow, cold air, and the unique Arctic atmosphere. At the same time, several polar bears were wandering nearby. Their massive bodies and white fur shimmered in the sunlight as they slowly searched for food. Several seagulls soared freely in the sky, their sharp cries piercing the silent air. Before the animals could even react, they were unwittingly swept into Ye Qingchen's space along with their surroundings. They would likely never find their way back, forced to begin a new life in that mysterious space. Ye Qingchen's space was like a small world, connected to the climate of the Arctic Ocean, with icy seawater also incorporated into it. Sea turtles, sea lions, fish, and other marine life had all unknowingly become part of this space.

There was almost no land here; as far as the eye could see, it was all ice formed from frozen seawater. These ice formations were of various shapes, some resembling towering mountains, others like winding dragons. Much of the ice had already melted into seawater, which shimmered under the sunlight. Groups of animals bred, ate, and played here. Ye Qingchen, with her keen eyesight, quickly spotted several whales. The whales swam slowly in the water, their massive bodies like submarines. She observed them closely and noticed two whales, one large and one small, inseparable, seemingly a mother and child. A thought struck Ye Qingchen; she felt this mother and child whale were quite special, so she decided to release them into the vast ocean within her spatial dimension. Actually, there might already be whales in her spatial dimension, but she always hoped to collect more different species to make her space more diverse and vibrant.

Ye Qingchen crouched down, carefully examining the Arctic Ocean. Although much of the surrounding area was frozen, the seawater was not bound by the frigid cold, continuing its tireless flow. The flowing water carried chunks of ice, which floated and weaved across the surface like small boats. The ice chunks collided with each other, producing a crisp sound that created a unique melody in the silent Arctic world. Ye Qingchen reached out, wanting to touch the icy water, but the moment she touched it, a bone-chilling cold instantly spread throughout her body, and she quickly withdrew her hand.

A while later, a strange light suddenly appeared in the sky. At first, it was just a faint ray of light, but then it grew brighter and more abundant, gradually weaving into a magnificent curtain of light. Ye Qingchen looked closely and was surprised to find that it was the aurora borealis. Everyone else was also stunned by this sudden and magical light. For a moment, everyone stopped in their tracks, staring blankly at the sky. The two locals had seen the aurora before, and in their understanding, its appearance always meant the descent of gods. So, without hesitation, they immediately knelt down, their faces full of awe. At the same time, they urgently reminded the other four people who had come with them. As for their masters, Ye Qingchen and the others, they didn't dare to remind them, because in their hearts, these masters were of extraordinary status and perhaps didn't fear gods at all.

In fact, when Ye Qingchen saw everyone kneeling before the light, she guessed they thought it was some kind of divine miracle. A faint smile appeared on her lips, but she didn't reveal it. She felt it was acceptable to let everyone maintain this sense of awe. At this moment, she preferred to immerse herself in the beauty of the aurora. The aurora borealis has a rich variety of forms, endlessly changing. Arc-shaped auroras usually appear as one or more arc-shaped bright bands parallel to the horizon, quietly stretching across the sky like exquisite arcs drawn by nature's brush, appearing extremely stable, as if they were guardians of the sky. Band-shaped auroras, on the other hand, resemble bands of light of varying widths spanning the sky, their colors vibrant—red like fire, green like a carpet, blue like the sea—interweaving and merging, constantly flashing and changing, like a grand feast of light and shadow. The curtain-like aurora resembled a giant vertical curtain hanging in the sky, sometimes gently swaying, sometimes rapidly changing or flashing, as if the gods of the sky were displaying their magical power, leaving the onlookers breathless. The radial aurora, on the other hand, radiated rays of light from a single point outwards, those rays like sharp swords piercing the dark night sky, incredibly powerful, seemingly illuminating the entire world. It was an indescribable awe, truly the most beautiful sight in the world. Ye Qingchen was deeply captivated by this beauty. Taking advantage of everyone's inattention, she quietly took out her camera. She would take photos, wanting to capture every wonderful moment; then she would start recording video, hoping to fully record the beauty and ever-changing aurora. She knew that such a beautiful sight might only be seen a few times in a lifetime, and she was determined to preserve it.

Under the aurora borealis, the shadows of the crowd stretched long. Some remained kneeling on the ground, praying devoutly; others stood still, their eyes filled with awe and wonder; Ye Qingchen, meanwhile, focused intently on recording everything. Time seemed to freeze at that moment, the entire Arctic world enveloped in the aurora, becoming dreamlike and ethereal, like a fairyland.