The stone door slammed shut once everyone had entered!

Clearly, some kind of magical mechanism!

It showed that Yan Zhu must have put a great deal of thought into building this secret base.

Then the group busied themselves setting up and finding food!

Meanwhile, Long Xin, Wu Feng, and several girls from the Ice Valley Tribe of the caravan had already rushed ahead, slipping into the hot springs within the cave to enjoy a rare, luxurious soak.

As for me, Wu Yin, Yan Zhu, and the others, we settled in to wait for our late-night snacks while chatting.

"Why are you here?" Wu Yin asked. "Didn't you say last time you were heading north to strike a major deal?"

"Don't even mention it." Yan Zhu sounded rather dejected. "Something huge happened in Ice Snow City." As Yan Zhu said this, he subconsciously glanced at me. "Besides your Demon Dragon Empire on the Mafa Continent, are there people from other powers who have also arrived on the Snow Domain Continent?"

"Indeed," I thought, startled inwardly. Yan Zhu's expression seemed unusually agitated. "They are from the Holy Word Church and the Demon Luo Church, both mortal enemies of my Demon Dragon Empire."

"To be frank," Yan Zhu said in a grave tone, "my Ice Valley Clan has been at war with the White Mist Clan for a long time. Recently, warriors from the Mafa Continent appeared among the White Mist Clan's ranks. They wore armor just like yours, and their joining greatly boosted the White Mist Clan's fighting strength."

"What?" I nearly leaped up in shock.

"That is confirmed news," Yan Zhu stated. "The one who formed an alliance with the White Mist leader, Qing Hong, is named Demon Luo Yin Feng."

"Could it be that the White Mist and Demon Luo forces have allied?" Mo Hui looked solemn.

"Yes," Yan Zhu confirmed. "Not only that, but the White Mist Clan is planning to form an alliance with the Blood Mist Cold Ridge Ice forces as well; negotiations for the alliance are likely already underway."

"I never imagined Demon Luo Yin Feng would have the ability to forge an alliance with the tribes native to this continent," Mo Cha murmured, surprised.

"Since we could form an alliance with the Gray Mist Clan of the Snow Plain Tribe, it’s not surprising they can find allies on the Snow Domain Continent too," I stated gravely. "There is nothing strange about it."

"Furthermore, we learned that they seem to have reached some sort of agreement to deal with the Demon Dragon Empire," Yan Zhu said, his face tight with worry. "The Demon Luo Church is exchanging a Phoenix Heaven Set for a Spirit Pearl with the White Mist Clan."

"Demon Luo Yin Feng wants to acquire the Spirit Pearl?" Mo Hui was utterly horrified.

"The White Mist Clan is the only tribe on the continent that possesses two Spirit Pearls!" Yan Zhu stated firmly. "Their leader, Bai Feng Fei, is recognized as the continent's foremost master. If she obtains the Phoenix Heaven Set, perhaps even without the Night Luminescent Pearl, she could forcibly pass the final gate of the Heavenly Sacred Domain and obtain the Hero."

"If that truly happens, we are in serious trouble," Long Xin, who had finished bathing, returned to my side.

Although mastering the Phoenix Heaven Demon Armor, Thunder Armor, and Celestial Demon Armor requires a special power similar to the Dragon Seal, this is no difficult matter for the Holy Word Church or the Demon Luo Church.

Already the top master on the Snow Domain Continent, gaining the Phoenix Heaven Set and the Hero!

I dared not even contemplate how terrifying that level of strength would be!

Similarly, I was acutely aware that Demon Luo Yin Feng was no easy opponent either!

If he obtained the Spirit Pearl, the extent to which his power would surge was impossible to predict!

What worried me even more was the possibility of the Demon Luo, Holy Word, Cold Ice, Cold Ridge, and White Mist factions uniting!

Damn it! Exactly what I feared has come to pass! Even if I am strong, I don't know how to face such a situation!

"We must inform Yin Shuang and Sui Yun Xiang Tian," Long Xin said.

Mo Hui and the others subconsciously nodded in agreement. Faced with such a complex situation, only strategic experts like Seth and Yin Shuang could devise a proper countermeasure.

"Since the Ice Valley Tribe and the White Mist Clan are currently fighting, why did you venture out to conduct business?" Wu Feng couldn't help but ask.

"This business is of vital importance," Yan Zhu replied. "This tobacco is intended for trade with the Celestial Demon Clan in exchange for Supreme Gems and Creation Gems."

"Celestial Demon Clan's Supreme Gems and Creation Gems?" I was greatly intrigued. "What exactly are those things?"

Yan Zhu's eyes shone brightly. "Supreme Gems and Creation Gems are essential items for forging weapons and unleashing large-scale destructive magic. A single fist-sized Supreme Gem contains magical energy almost equivalent to the tenth layer of power of a Spirit Pearl master."

"The tenth layer of power of a Spirit Pearl master?" I was nearly stunned silent.

"Yes," Yan Zhu confirmed. "Unfortunately, this power cannot be absorbed directly by the body, so it can only be accumulated and released through specially made magical cannons to achieve the purpose of killing enemies."

"The Ice Valley Clan is the people on the continent most skilled in alchemy and forging," Wu Yin explained. "The most famous of these is the incredibly powerful Crystal Magic Cannon; if hit squarely by one, even two-meter-thick heavy steel plates would be pulverized."

"Incredible," I expressed considerable surprise.

"Although the Crystal Magic Cannon is immensely powerful, the cost of firing it even once is staggeringly high," Yan Zhu said with a wry smile. "As the saying goes, when cannons roar, gold scatters. Our Ice Valley Clan has no choice but to use this tobacco to trade with the Celestial Demon Clan for Creation Gems and Supreme Gems for wartime necessities."

"I see now," I finally understood. "You've come out to buy ammunition." However, I still had a lingering question. "Are Creation Gems and Supreme Gems only possessed by the Celestial Demon Clan?"

"Essentially, yes," Yan Zhu elaborated. "Supreme Gems and Creation Gems are high-magic special crystals refined through unique forging processes." Yan Zhu continued, "But only the Celestial Demon Clan on the continent has mastered the refinement technique, which is why we have to exchange with them."

After the conversation, I finally grasped the entire sequence of events!

Of course, we held nothing back from Yan Zhu!

The enemy of one's enemy is a friend, after all!

Moreover, the Ice Valley Tribe was inherently friendly with the Gray Mist Clan!

Thus, forming an alliance seemed like a natural progression. However, Yan Zhu could not fully represent the will of the entire Ice Valley Clan! He was merely the leader of the Ice Valley Clan's merchant caravan!

A successful agreement could only be forged when people of sufficient standing—such as myself, Xiang Tian, Sui Yun, or the Ice Valley Clan's true leader—were gathered together.

But currently, neither I nor Xiang Tian Sui Yun had the luxury of time to disengage.

And the Ice Valley Clan was caught in the critical moments of war with the White Mist Clan!

"It seems the only solution is to catch up to Yue Che as quickly as possible and capture him, then the Prince can proceed to the Ice Valley," Wu Yin stated seriously.

"That is the only way," I nodded helplessly. "I just wonder how much longer it will take to catch Yue Che."

"He can't run forever," Luo Ye said grimly. "We should be able to make contact with Xiang Kong in three days."

After a period of rest, the sky had dawned bright!

Everyone geared up and set off!

"Prince, take care."

"You too."

"Big oaf, pack lighter next time, so Xue Feng doesn't tire out and get caught again," Wu Feng reminded him, not forgetting.

"Heh heh, I'll definitely pay attention next time," Yan Zhu chuckled awkwardly!

Yan Zhu's caravan continued on its journey!

And we continued to track Yue Che's whereabouts according to the original plan.

However, before parting, we had all transmitted the intention of alliance back to our headquarters. I was confident that upon receiving the news, Yin Shuang, Seth, Xiang Tian, and the others would make appropriate arrangements!