232: Chapter 232 Power Transition

"Holy crap, you're okay?"

Lu Cheng looked at Su Wan, who was standing at the entrance of the refining room.

Su Wan was draped in a snowfield cloak, with ice crystals clinging to the hem.

She was still holding a blue crystal dagger in her hand.

There were several frozen, dark red bloodstains on the blade.

Su Wan glanced at Lu Cheng, her voice steady.

"The moment they activated the Formation, I escaped directly."

"I just sensed danger and didn't intend to make a move in their ancestral home; I originally planned to consider things in the long run."

"But before even a day passed, you arrived."

After she finished speaking, her gaze fell upon Snow Spirit on Lu Cheng's shoulder.

Snow Spirit was gripping Lu Cheng's collar with its two little paws; seeing that Su Wan was unharmed, its tail flicked gently.

"Sister Bingbing."

Su Wan's eyes softened for a moment, and she raised her hand to gently touch Snow Spirit's head.

Snow Spirit narrowed its eyes comfortably.

Lu Cheng walked up to Su Wan and looked her over from head to toe.

"Are you badly hurt?"

"A bit drained."

Su Wan put away the dagger.

"But it's nothing."

Lu Cheng nodded.

"That's good."

Su Wan looked at him.

"What about you, though? How did you get here?"

Lu Cheng coughed.

"If I said... I heard from Aunt Mei that you were in danger, and I came specifically to save you regardless of the risks—would you believe me?"

Su Wan looked at Lu Cheng.

Her heart, which was usually calm, suddenly skipped a beat at this moment.

Su Wan looked away, her voice a little lower than before.

"Go away, I don't believe it."

"It's because of Li Chenzhou, right?"

"This guy is the only son of the Northwest Military District commander."

"And if I remember correctly, that Commander Li damaged his Foundation on the northern battlefield in his early years, and later had no more offspring."

"So he treasures this child very much."

"He's the one who sent you, right?"

Lu Cheng twitched the corner of his mouth.

He actually didn't know about this.

Mei Wushuang only said that Li Chenzhou was Commander Li's son; she didn't mention the reason behind him being an only child.

"You could say half."

Su Wan glanced at him.

"Half?"

Lu Cheng didn't continue to explain.

He took out several healing potions from his System space and walked towards the exploration team members who had just been released from the refining pods.

These people's auras were all very weak.

The blue crystal pipelines had siphoned off quite a bit of their Source Power; although it didn't hurt their lives, it was difficult for them to even stand up in the short term.

Li Chenzhou leaned against the side of the pod, his brows tightly locked, his eyelids trembling slightly.

Lu Cheng opened the potions and fed them to them one by one.

After the potions entered their bodies, their breathing gradually stabilized.

The first to wake up was a burly youth from the Military District.

He opened his eyes abruptly and instinctively reached for the weapon at his waist.

After grabbing nothing, he immediately looked up.

"Enemy attack!"

Lu Cheng pressed down on his shoulder.

"Be quiet if you're awake."

The youth was just about to resist, but the power coming from his shoulder made his expression change.

He discovered that he couldn't move at all.

Subsequently, the second and third people woke up one after another.

Seeing the surrounding environment, the expressions of the several exploration team members changed.

Someone quickly discovered that someone was missing.

"Where's Zhao Feng?"

No one answered.

The Military District youth struggled to crawl up, his voice urgent.

"Where is Zhao Feng?"

Another team member's face turned pale, and he said in a low voice:

"He stopped breathing before he was even dragged in."

The refining room quieted down.

The Military District youth's eyes turned red instantly.

"Who did this?"

He stared fiercely at Elder Luota and those members of the Council of Elders.

"Was it you?"

The faces of several Snow Rock Fortress Elders were ashen, and no one dared to speak.

The Military District youth roared, and the remaining Source Power in his body began to riot.

Just as he was about to rush up, Lu Cheng pressed a palm against his chest.

Bang.

His entire body was pressed back to its original position, his back hitting the edge of the pod.

"I said."

"Quiet."

The Military District youth gritted his teeth and looked at Lu Cheng.

"We lost someone!"

Lu Cheng looked at him, his tone very cold.

"That's why you should keep your life now even more."

"If you rush over to throw your life away, can you bring him back to life?"

The Military District youth's chest heaved, and finally, he clenched his fists tightly and didn't move again.

Li Chenzhou also woke up.

After opening his eyes, the first thing he did was look around.

Seeing Su Wan, seeing Lu Cheng, and then seeing the team members lying to the side, his face became increasingly ugly.

"Lu Cheng?"

Obviously, he recognized Lu Cheng.

It wasn't just him; the few students and young Martial Artists from the Military District present all recognized Lu Cheng.

Since the Youth Exchange Tournament, few in the Dragon younger generation hadn't heard this name.

Lu Cheng swept his gaze over everyone.

"Everyone listen to my command now."

Li Chenzhou propped himself up against the pod and stood up.

His body was still very weak, but there was the toughness of a Military District Martial Artist in his eyes.

"By what right?"

Lu Cheng looked at him.

"By the fact that I just released you from the refining pods."

Li Chenzhou's expression darkened slightly.

"I can thank you for the rescue, but matters here involve the Northwest Military District; I have a responsibility to take charge of the team."

Lu Cheng walked up to him.

"What qualifications do you have to be unconvinced?"

Li Chenzhou's eyes narrowed.

Lu Cheng's voice was not raised, but it made the entire refining room go quiet.

"You were sent into a low-danger rift and got the team trapped here."

"One team member died."

"The others were locked into refining pods and almost drained into Warm Stones."

"Now I even have to come and save you."

"If you want to take charge of the team, first prove that you can still make correct Judgments."

Li Chenzhou fell silent.

He did not refute.

Lu Cheng's words were harsh, but not a single one was a false accusation against him.

He bore responsibility for the failure of this mission.

Even if the rift situation was incorrect, even if Snow Rock Fortress had set a trap in secret, as the core of the team, he had indeed failed to lead the people out.

Li Chenzhou took a deep breath and said in a low voice:

"I will follow your command."

Lu Cheng withdrew his gaze and turned to look at Elder Luota and several core Elders.

"We lost someone here."

"You must also pay an equal price."

The Snow Rock Fortress Elders in the refining room all lowered their heads.

Lu Cheng continued:

"I do not kill unrelated people."

"And I will not drag the entire fortress down to be buried with you."

"Those who knew about this, participated in this, or tacitly approved of this, step out yourselves."

"I will give you time now to arrange your final affairs."

"Don't think about escaping."

"Unless you don't need this fortress anymore."

Elder Luota closed her eyes.

The lights from deep within the Council of Elders reflected on her aged face, making her look even more exhausted.

After a long time, she spoke slowly.

"When I did this, I had already thought about this day."

"Give me one day."

"I will hand over the responsibilities of the Council of Elders, and I will also give Snow Rock Fortress an explanation."

She looked up at Lu Cheng.

"Please."

Lu Cheng looked at her.

Elder Luota did not beg for mercy.

She only asked for time, asking to be able to arrange the future path for Snow Rock Fortress.

Lu Cheng nodded.

"One day."

Elder Luota bowed deeply to him.

"Thank you."

...

When everyone left the refining room, the area outside the Council of Elders was already crowded with people.

The tremors from underground just now, the news that the Frost Guards had been destroyed, and the rumors that outsiders were being refined had all spread throughout the fortress.

The residents stood in the cold wind, their expressions filled with shock and suspicion.

Some looked at Lu Cheng, their eyes full of fear.

Some saw the exploration team members being helped out and their faces turned pale.

Still others looked at Elder Luota, seemingly hoping she would step out to explain.

Luota did not speak.

She simply leaned on her cane, walking step by step back to the highest seat of the Council of Elders.

The rest of the Council of Elders immediately took action.

They arranged for Lu Cheng, Su Wan, Li Chenzhou, and the other survivors to be placed in the best guest rooms in the Central District.

The guest rooms were built next to the Central High Tower.

The rooms were covered with thick animal furs, and the Warm Stones on the walls were all lit up.

Blue crystal lamps hung from the ceilings, emitting a steady light.

Hot water, dried meat, medicinal soup, and clean clothes were quickly sent in.

Several exploration team members sat silently in the room.

No one was in the mood to eat.

A team that had lost someone found it very difficult to return to normal immediately.

Lu Cheng placed Snow Spirit on the table.

Snow Spirit walked to a plate of roasted meat, first glancing at Lu Cheng.

Lu Cheng nodded.

Only then did it start to eat in small bites.

After all the trouble along the way, the little one was hungry too.

Li Chenzhou stood in the center of the room and bowed his head to Lu Cheng.

"Thank you for saving us."

"I will report the matter of Zhao Feng truthfully to the Military District."

"I will also bear this responsibility."

Lu Cheng glanced at him.

"The fact that you can say that means you are still salvageable."

Li Chenzhou looked up.

"What should we do now?"

The other team members also looked over.

Lu Cheng sat by the table, his fingers tapping gently on the rim of the cup.

"Wait and see."

Li Chenzhou frowned.

"We aren't leaving?"

"Where would we go?"

Lu Cheng asked in return.

"There is a Cold Raid tomorrow outside."

"The situation at the snowfield border is unclear."

"How long can a group of people who just had their Source Power siphoned off last if you walk out there?"

Li Chenzhou was silent.

Lu Cheng continued:

"At least we have a place to stay for now."

"After tomorrow, we can consider the next step."

Su Wan nodded gently.

"I agree."

"After I escaped, I originally wanted to find an opportunity to find out the routes between Snow Rock Fortress and other fortresses."

"Leaving rashly before the Cold Raid is very risky."

Li Chenzhou looked at Su Wan.

"You know about the Cold Raid?"

Su Wan said:

"It was mentioned when people from the Frost Bone Fortress came earlier."

"When the Cold Raid comes, the variants on the snowfield will hide underground, and the storms will block all roads."

"Without a fixed shelter, even someone in the Hua Hai Realm would be slowly worn to death."

Someone in the team's expression changed.

Li Chenzhou finally nodded.

"I'll listen to you."

Lu Cheng looked at everyone.

"Recover first."

"Take turns keeping watch at night."

"Even if we have a place to stay, it doesn't mean it's safe here."

Everyone had no objections.

...

At dusk, news came from the Council of Elders.

Luota stepped down from her duties as the Chief Elder of the Council of Elders.

Yi Ning succeeded as the interim Chief Elder.

The Council of Elders passed it unanimously.

When the news reached the guest rooms, everyone was stunned.

Li Chenzhou frowned.

"So fast?"

Lu Cheng looked out the window.

The Central High Tower in the Central District had already lit up with a stronger blue light.

There were many people gathered on the streets.

They looked toward the direction of the Council of Elders, their eyes complex.

For Snow Rock Fortress, this was a sudden power transition.

Luota had managed the Council of Elders for many years.

She had done many wrong things, but she had indeed protected the fortress.

Now that she was stepping down and being replaced by the newly awakened Yi Ning, this was very sudden for everyone.

But Yi Ning had enough prestige, and she had once been the fortress's strongest hunter; in this world, strength was always the most important thing.

When the Cold Raid was imminent, the fortress needed someone who could be accepted by the people to step forward.

Yi Ning was a good choice.

After nightfall, the sound of the wind outside grew heavier.

The guest room door was knocked on gently.

Lu Cheng opened the door.

Yi Ning stood outside the door.

She had already changed into the dark blue robe of the Council of Elders, the gem on her forehead had been reinforced, and the blue patterns extended down along her cheeks, making her look more steady than she had during the day.

Only, there were still tears in her eyes.

"Mr. Lu Cheng."

"Elder Luota has left."

The room quieted down.

Yi Ning held a black wooden box in her hands.

"This is what she told me to give to you."

Lu Cheng took the wooden box.

There were two things inside the box.

The first was a roll of animal skin map.

The second was a blue gem the size of a thumb.

That gem was purer than ordinary Warm Stones, with tiny specks of light flowing slowly inside.

Lu Cheng picked up the map and unfolded it.

He couldn't understand the text and markings on it.

Su Wan walked over and took a look at the map.

"I recognize some of it."

Lu Cheng looked at her.

Su Wan explained:

"The race in this snowfield is called the Snowfield Race."

"They rely on the gems on their foreheads to store energy and resist the cold."

"Different patterns represent different clans."

"Blue patterns are common in Snow Rock Fortress, white patterns are common in Frost Bone Fortress, and gray patterns are for mining area drifters and wasteland hunters."

She pointed to several markings on the edge of the map.

"This records the forces within two hundred kilometers around."

"Snow Rock Fortress."

"Frost Bone Fortress."

"Ash Mine."

"Northern Old City."

"Wind-Crying Canyon."

"And several places marked as forbidden zones."

Li Chenzhou walked closer.

"Is there a rift exit?"

Su Wan continued to look.

"It doesn't directly say 'exit'."

"But it mentions a rumor here."

She pointed to an area on the northern end of the map circled by heavy symbols.

"The ruins of the Eternal Frozen Royal Court."

"Rumor has it that it was once the residence of the old king of the Snowfield Race."

"After the Divine Punishment, the Royal Court sank underground."

"Every time before spatial fluctuations appear, blue aurora appears in the direction of the Royal Court."

"Luota marked this path, presumably wanting to tell us that the clue to leaving here is over there."

Lu Cheng looked at the blue gem.

"What about this?"

Su Wan picked it up and looked at it for a moment.

"This should be a relic of the Snowfield Race."

"There is an ancient vow seal on it."

"The person holding it can open access controls in some ancient ruins of the Snowfield Race."

Yi Ning added softly:

"Elder Luota said it is called the Snow Vow Stone."

"It is the longest-preserved relic of Snow Rock Fortress."

"Past Chief Elders only use it during crises where the fortress is on the verge of destruction."

Lu Cheng looked at the Snow Vow Stone.

Luota giving him this thing had a very clear meaning.

She used her own life to repay the deceased of the exploration team, and also used her final power to leave a way for Snow Rock Fortress to survive.

If Lu Cheng could find a way to leave, perhaps he could also find a way for Snow Rock Fortress to escape the Cold Raid.

Of course, this was just her final gamble.

Yi Ning lowered her head.

"I know you are anxious to find the way back."

"However, tomorrow is the Cold Raid."

"For safety, it is better to stay here."

"The Cold Raid will last all night."

"After the wind stops the day after tomorrow, I will personally take you to the outskirts of the Northern Old City."

"There is an ancient path there that leads to the Eternal Frozen Royal Court."

Li Chenzhou looked at Lu Cheng.

Su Wan also looked at him.

Lu Cheng put away the map and the Snow Vow Stone.

"Stay in Snow Rock Fortress for tomorrow first."

"Everyone recover your state."

"Set off the day after tomorrow."

Yi Ning breathed a sigh of relief.

"I will arrange for heating and guards."

"In addition, Elder Luota has already issued an order."

"Those who participated in the refining of outsiders will all face Judgment after the Cold Raid ends."

Lu Cheng nodded.

"You are the Chief Elder now."

"Handle this matter yourself."

Yi Ning's eyes were slightly red.

"I will handle it well."

After she left, the room became quiet again.

The sound of the wind came through the thick walls.

Snow Spirit lay by the window, watching the increasingly dark street outside, its eyes involuntarily dazed...