And I could no longer hold back; my legs gave out, and I collapsed onto the ground!
Yueche’s defeat caused our enemy’s morale to plummet, while our own spirits soared wildly!
Furthermore, the addition of Xingye, Xingzhan, and more than a dozen other Demon Dragon Generals drastically boosted the strength of the Snowfield Tribe’s siege army! After five days and five nights of relentless assault,
Throne City was finally taken!
However, the regretful truth was that Yueche had vanished! Not just him, but the key figures of the Frost Tribe had also disappeared as if evaporated!
It was clear that Yueche’s defeat signaled to them that Throne City could no longer be held; they had fled even before the walls were breached! This completely ruined my plan to capture Yueche and lift the Ice Gu curse from Yanluo!
Inside Throne City, in the Ice Palace Hall!
Despite capturing the throne, no trace of joy could be seen on anyone’s face!
“It’s already the twenty-fifth day,” Long Xin worried. “If we don’t catch Yueche soon, Yanluo’s condition…”
“Where on earth could Yueche have fled to?” I tried my best to remain calm, looking towards Seth.
“Perhaps Yueche fled to the Cold Ridge Tribe,” Xingye analyzed. “Since Youyue was willing to send troops to aid the Frost Tribe, the relationship between the two tribes must not be simple.”
“Impossible,” Suiyun declared firmly. “The relationship between the Cold Ridge Tribe and the Frost Tribe has always been one of mutual exploitation. After taking the throne, we learned that the only reason the Cold Ridge Tribe agreed to send aid this time was because Yueche promised them three territories north of the Great Cold Ridge Mountains in exchange. Now that the Frost Tribe is defeated, the Cold Ridge Tribe’s partially arrived reinforcements have already retreated! Their cooperative relationship is effectively over.”
“If not the Cold Ridge Tribe, then where could such a large contingent from the Frost Tribe have fled?” I knew very little about the Frost Tribe’s situation and was at a loss for analysis.
After breaching the city, we learned that even before the war began, Yueche had already relocated his important kin; most of those left in the city were merely servants and lower ranks!
“Could it be! He predicted the fall of Throne City long ago!” Long Xin exclaimed in shock.
“Yueche is old and experienced in handling affairs; moreover, in military strategy, calculating for defeat before calculating for victory is standard practice,” Seth said. “Given Yueche’s steady and cautious nature, it’s unthinkable that he wouldn't consider the safety of his people after a loss, so preemptively moving his kin is not difficult to understand.”
“But where could such a large group of people have escaped to?” I pondered.
“If I’m not mistaken, Yueche and the others have surely fled to the Frost Throne,” Suiyun stated gravely.
“The Frost Throne?” I asked curiously. “Isn’t that the Throne City of the Frost Tribe?”
“Your Highness is unaware,” Seth explained. “What is called the Frost Throne is the true origin point of the Frost Clan, and the place of their ancestors’ exile long ago. It is a terrifying world overrun by monsters, completely different from this place. The current Throne City is merely a settlement occupied by the Frost Clan three thousand years ago, named ‘Throne’ afterwards in memory of their ancestral home, not the actual Frost Throne.”
Xingye gasped in astonishment. “If that’s the case, that must be where the Frost Tribe’s Sacred Domain of Heaven is located.”
“Precisely,” Suiyun confirmed. “The Frost Throne has served as the trial ground for the Sacred Domain Warriors of the Frost Tribe through the ages. The monsters within have become their training opponents, making it fraught with danger. However, for the Frost Tribe who are familiar with the location, these terrifying creatures become the best protective barrier. Historically, the Frost Tribe was pushed to the brink of annihilation twice, both times escaping into the Frost Throne to weather the storm. It can be said that the Frost Throne is the Frost Tribe’s true main base.”
“I see now.” I became serious. “There’s no time to lose; we must pursue them immediately.”
“...” Suiyun and Seth both looked troubled.
“It’s impossible,” Seth said, looking hesitant but forcing the words out. “To reach the Frost Throne, we must pass through the Three Mists Forest. While not as terrifying as the Frost Throne, the Mists Forest is one of the Nine Great Perilous Lands of the Snowfield Continent. It is perpetually shrouded in mist, monsters roam everywhere, and it is incredibly dangerous. No matter how large an army enters, it will be useless and only become a target for the monsters!”
“Monster attacks?” Long Xin asked curiously. “What kind of monsters are in there?”
“The Mists Forest is inhabited by vast numbers of Snowfield Savages and Snowfield Fur Men. Near the plains, there are millions of Snowfield Ice Wolf packs and Snowfield Ice Beetles. In the far north, there are even more terrifying demonic beasts. Forget our Snowfield Tribe’s army of less than a million; even if all the armies of the entire continent were amassed, rashly entering would be sending them to their deaths. For a long time, only those familiar with the area, the Frost Tribe, dared to enter and exit freely.”
“Ah, such a fearsome place,” Yin Shuang’s expression changed slightly.
“Are we just going to let them go?” Long Xin was unwilling to accept it. “We worked so hard to take Throne City, only for Yueche to slip away.”
“He won’t get away,” I continued. “Since the Mists Forest isn't suitable for a large army, we’ll dispatch a small, elite force riding Thunder Eagles for aerial tracking and pursuit. No matter what, I must have Yueche captured.”
“Still not possible,” Seth smiled wryly. “The Mists Forest is perpetually misty; you can’t see a shadow ten meters ahead. From high above, one cannot even discern direction, let alone see the ground conditions to track their movements. Moreover, Yueche himself is a super expert, and the ones retreating with him are all elite generals of the Frost Tribe. Tracking such a group is incredibly difficult.”
“Damn it, this way won't work, that way won't work—is there any way left?” Even my composure was beginning to fray! But then I remembered that Long Xin and the others still held a map; I quickly asked, “Right, does the map you seized show the route to the Frost Throne?”
“No,” Xingye replied helplessly. “The map we took from the Frost Tribe only records the layout of the maze inside the Flying Fire Meteor, the Frost Tribe’s exclusive Sacred Domain of Heaven. Only once we enter the Flying Fire Meteor can the map we hold be of use. Before that, this map offers us absolutely no help!”
“...” Long Xin murmured. “Is there truly no other way?”
“The only immediate recourse is to first reach the Mists Forest and find some clues,” Seth analyzed. “Once we find a few clues, there’s a chance to track their trail.”
“Clues, tracking.” My eyes lit up. “If high altitude is out, we track from the ground.”
“That’s right! The Big Guy is an expert at tracking and pursuit! With him, as long as we find some clues, we can definitely find them,” Long Xin exclaimed happily.
“Indeed, with the Big Guy along, they won’t escape,” I also recalled the Big Guy’s astonishing tracking ability. “Heaven never seals off all exits.”
“It seems there is still a chance,” Suiyun was greatly relieved. “In that case, let’s prepare quickly.”
Everyone’s spirits lifted involuntarily!
“The number of people for this operation must be small and elite,” Seth stated seriously. “Preferably no more than ten.”
Since the principle is that quality trumps quantity, Seth’s suggestion perfectly matched my thoughts!
After thorough discussion!
The ten-person strike team to pursue Yueche was finalized:
They were: Myself, Sui Feng, Chen Guang, Chen Yu, Long Fei, Long Xiang, Long Xin, Mo Hui, and Mo Cha.
Originally, Xingye, Xingzhan, and Yin Shuang also wanted to join, but considering the alliance between the Demon Dragon Empire and the Snowfield Tribe, someone had to remain to manage the overall situation, forcing them to stay behind!
Furthermore, Yin Shuang had another equally critical mission: to find a way to establish the Thousand-Mile Sound Transmission between the Demon Dragon Empire and us in the Snowfield Continent and set up a spatial relay station. This meant Yin Shuang was tied down!
Additionally, Throne City had just been captured, and many matters required handling, which kept Seth from leaving!
One final point: with Seth, Yin Shuang, Xingye, Xingzhan, and the others holding the rear, we could pursue Yueche and his group with peace of mind!
Of course, besides hunting Yueche, this pursuit carried another crucial objective: to infiltrate the Sacred Domain of Heaven within the Frost Throne and locate the hero hidden inside! This was, ultimately, the reason we had journeyed thousands of miles to the Snowfield Continent! Coincidentally, both matters were deeply connected to Yueche; perhaps this was fate’s arrangement. Without Yueche’s defeat this time, finding the ruins of the Ancient Frost Throne would not have been so straightforward. Now, we could follow him directly into the Frost Throne!
However, another significant problem presented itself. While we didn't know the situation inside the Mists Forest, it was certain that this tracking operation wouldn't capture Yueche quickly. Before that, could Yanluo truly hold on until we returned to Throne City? This was actually what worried me most—time! I needed more time, but Yanluo couldn't wait!
Everyone in the hall was at a loss; problems piled up.
“I think I have a potentially viable plan,” Yin Shuang suddenly exclaimed joyfully after deep thought.
“What plan?” Everyone’s spirits were instantly lifted.
“Does everyone remember how Youyue was resurrected immediately after being killed?” Yin Shuang asked.
“You mean the Resurrection Ring?” My eyes also lit up.
“Exactly, the Resurrection Ring,” Yin Shuang confirmed. “With the Resurrection Ring, even if you can’t rush back in time, as long as you preserve Yanluo’s body using the Ice Sealing method, you can resurrect her later with the ring, and then lift the Ice Gu curse to save her.”
“Ah!” Everyone was astonished, but upon careful consideration, Yin Shuang’s proposal wasn't entirely unreasonable.
“At this point, we have no choice but to take the risk.” If I could avoid it, I truly wouldn't gamble, but we had no other options now. Yet, the difficulty remained: “Youyue has grievances with us; he won't hand over the Resurrection Ring easily.”
“Father, please don’t worry,” Xingye and Xingzhan showed complex expressions. “We’ll handle Youyue. We will definitely find a way to get the Resurrection Ring.”
Strange—the look on Xingye and Xingzhan’s faces seemed unusual. “Have you dealt with Youyue before?”
“You could say that,” Xingye and Xingzhan ground their teeth. “That fellow owes us a debt that needs settling. This time, we’ll settle old scores and new ones together.”
“...” For both Xingzhan and Xingye to be so agitated, Youyue must have a considerable feud with them. “In any case, you must be careful; that person is not easy to deal with.”
“Your Highness, rest assured,” Suiyun replied. “Our Snowfield Tribe will certainly help Xingye and the others seize the Resurrection Ring, no matter what.”
“Thank you, Great Chieftain,” I said seriously.
“Your Highness is too polite,” Suiyun responded. “Since we are allies, we must offer our full support.”
“For safety and to prevent the Ice Gu in Yanluo’s body from spreading, I think it’s best to seal her body in ice immediately!” Suixin suggested from the side.
The Ice Sealing method is equivalent to modern cryopreservation, which can prevent the body from decaying due to the complete loss of life force.
Inside the Cold Moon Hall of the Ice Palace!
Yanluo’s perfect figure, clad in a flowing light blue robe, lay supine on the cold jade bed in the hall! The sky-blue robe only accentuated her snow-white skin and breathtaking beauty! Her eyes were peacefully closed, and a faint, almost imperceptible smile touched her lips, as if she were a goddess lost in a beautiful dream! Yet, her chest registered no breath or pulse, indicating her life force was at its end!
An uncontrollable wave of anxiety and sorrow washed over me! If I couldn’t find Yueche, if I couldn’t obtain the Resurrection Ring! The beautiful woman before me might never wake up again! Thinking of this, I suppressed the turmoil in my heart and instinctively tightened my grip on the hilt of the Dragon Shadow Sword. No matter what, I will find Yueche; I will revive you, wait for me.
Dong! Dong!
A long, echoing bell sounded from outside the hall!
Suixin and Yin Shuang looked toward me instinctively.
“Go. I will watch over Yanluo,” Yin Shuang said.
“En.” I nodded slightly, then turned and stepped out of the hall!
In the square before the hall doors, everyone looked solemn! They stood next to their Ice Wolf mounts, unique to the Snowfield Continent, looking toward me! The Big Guy’s massive form stood as solid as a rock. Upon seeing me emerge, it let out only a soft growl. Its two large eyes gazed blankly towards the hall. It clearly understood that Yanluo inside the hall had reached the end of her life! Over twenty-five years, the Big Guy had forged a deep bond with Yanluo, Yin Shuang, Long Xin, Xingye, and Xingzhan, transforming from the arrogant, solitary Beast King he once was!
“Big Guy, she will be fine, as long as we catch Yueche,” was all I could do, patting its head.
“Roar!” As if understanding my meaning! The Big Guy roared toward the sky, then adjusted its stance!
I leaped up, settling into the saddle on the Big Guy’s back!
“Warriors! Depart!” I commanded, then squeezed my legs!
The Big Guy let out a long cry! It shot out like an arrow into the distance! Behind me, Long Xin, Sui Feng, Long Xiang, Chen Guang, Mo Hui, and the others followed on their mounts! The ten riders surged out of the Ice Palace like the wind, embarking on the journey to track Yueche!
Seven days later, we finally discovered unusual clues near the edge of the Mists Forest!
It was a very small village, with a couple of dozen huts arranged haphazardly! But now, it was a scene of utter devastation, strewn with vast amounts of bloodstains and the fragmented bodies of villagers—not a single one was intact!
“These were gnawed by Ice Wolves,” Sui Feng’s eyes twitched slightly.
“All the edible grain inside the houses is gone too,” Long Xiang reported, emerging from a villager’s home with a helpless expression.
“It must be Yueche and his group,” Suiyun snarled. “When Throne City fell, they left in a hurry and didn't bring much food. Upon arriving here, their wolf mounts were starving, so they attacked the villagers, and the villagers' grain was stolen by them.”
“They are worse than beasts,” Long Xin agreed, her face grim.
“It seems Yueche and his group were truly cornered, daring to kill the Mist People,” Chen Guang worried.
The Mist People are a peculiar race living around the Mists Forest. Legend holds that every member of this tribe, regardless of age or gender, is fierce and skilled in battle! Normally, no one dared to provoke these savage minorities easily!
The scene clearly showed signs of a fierce battle! There were traces everywhere from magical explosions and the residual shockwaves of colliding fighting energy! According to Mo Hui’s analysis, the fight must have occurred two days prior!
The Big Guy pressed its nose to the ground, sniffing repeatedly, then seemed to confirm something, carrying me swiftly toward the mountain woods in the north! Hopefully, they hadn't run too far!
Guided by the Big Guy, we finally plunged into this astonishingly vast forest! The Mists Forest is perpetually covered in fog, but here, located on the outer edge, the mist was not dense, so our vision was unaffected!
After tracking relentlessly for a long time, just as everyone was considering a short rest! The Big Guy suddenly stopped dead and let out a long howl toward the sky!
Subconsciously looking up, we saw! A huge expanse of grey clouds was sweeping toward us in unison! Faintly visible were several pillar-like objects rapidly darting through the clouds! Following this came bursts of muffled booming sounds—but it wasn't thunder! It sounded like the howling of the wind! The temperature in the air instantly plummeted to its lowest point!
“Bad news! It’s a blizzard!” Sui Feng’s face turned green. “Quick, find a spot sheltered from the wind to hide!”