168: Chapter 168 Sending Cold Crystals? Sea Clan Comes to Freeload

Outside Black Wind Valley, the Vanguard Army camp was bustling with activity.

With the first sealing formation just broken, the players were at peak morale, clutching their newly acquired life-saving scrolls and points. Several large pots were set up in the center of the camp, where dragon meat, beast bones, and medicinal soup bubbled together, sending their fragrance wafting far and wide.

"I'm lining up for this pot first today!"

"Don't push! I just finished clearing a stronghold; I'm hungry enough to eat a whole cow!"

"Dragon Domain barbecue smells so good. No wonder the rebels haven't been finished off yet—I want to free-load three bowls of rice first!"

Just as a group of players surrounded the large pots, drooling, a moist and cool sea breeze suddenly swept in from outside the camp.

Buzz—

Ripples of light blue water patterns rippled through the air.

Qing Yu was the first to look up: "There's an outside presence."

Lin Zhe stood before his tent, his expression calm.

A second later, a team of Sea Race envoys passed through the camp gates.

Leading them was none other than the Shark-person girl, Lan Xi.

She was still dressed in her sea-blue gown, the transparent fins by her ears trembling slightly. Behind her, over a dozen Sea Race maidens carried three large chests. Chilled air billowed from the gaps in the lids; as soon as they touched the ground, a thin layer of white frost formed on the nearby earth.

The players were stunned for a moment, then they exploded with excitement.

"Sea Race envoys?"

"Holy crap, are they here to give out benefits again?"

"Stop talking, let her open the chests!"

Lan Xi walked quickly to Lin Zhe and bowed respectfully: "Mr. Lin Zhe, Her Majesty the Empress heard that you are suppressing the rebellion in the Dragon Domain and specifically ordered me to deliver a batch of deep sea cold crystals."

With that, she waved her hand.

Snap!

The chest lids all flipped open.

In an instant, a vast expanse of cold white light shone out.

Exactly three hundred deep sea cold crystals lay quietly in the chests. Each one looked like a frozen heart of the sea, with faint blue water patterns flowing inside. Players standing close felt a chill on their faces, and even the dry heat in the Dragon Domain's air was suppressed slightly.

Ao Ningshuang also took a look, her silver eyes shifting slightly: "deep sea cold crystals?"

Lan Xi nodded, her voice clear: "Indeed. These items are specifically designed to counter the burning effect of Dark Dragon Flame. Once polished into amulets and worn, they can reduce Dragon Flame damage by seventy percent."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire camp fell silent for a moment.

The next second, the players went absolutely wild.

"Seventy percent?!"

"Holy shit, isn't this a god-tier life-saving item?"

"Aren't the rebels' most sinister moves the Dragon Flame Bomb and Dark Dragon Flame!"

"The Sea Race's move this time is truly providing charcoal in the snow!"

Lan Xi continued: "Her Majesty the Empress also asked me to pass on a message. Some of the Dragon Domain rebels' hidden strongholds are connected to cold pools, underground rivers, and water veins. If they are to be cleared later, underwater operations will be unavoidable."

"Therefore, the Sea Race is giving another gift to all participating players."

She raised both hands, and the sea-light in her palms lit up simultaneously.

Buzz—

A massive azure water screen instantly spread out, directly covering the entire Vanguard Army camp before expanding in all directions.

A server-wide announcement popped up immediately after.

[Server Announcement: Sea Race Empress Empress Cang Lan supports the Dragon Domain rebellion suppression!]

[All participating players have received a permanent Underwater Breathing buff!]

[Effect: Allows for long-term free breathing in water, unaffected by oxygen deprivation!]

[Simultaneously distributing exclusive rebellion suppression materials: deep sea cold crystal ×300!]

The world channel exploded instantly.

"Permanent? It's permanent this time?"

"The Sea Race Empress is so generous!"

"Cold Crystal Amulets plus Underwater Breathing—this wave directly fills the gaps in survival and mapping!"

"I declare that from today on, the Sea Race are our own people too!"

In the camp, the group of Vanguard Army players was howling and pushing forward.

"Miss Lan Xi, I love the Sea Race!"

"Stop loving and line up to get your Cold Crystals first!"

"I want to make two amulets, one for myself and one for my teammate!"

Qing Yu quickly had the guards take over the Cold Crystals and began distributing them based on contribution and team needs. Elven craftsmen and lifestyle players also immediately gathered around to process the amulets on-site.

One by one, the Cold Crystals were polished and embedded into leather cords and metal clasps. When the newly made amulets were worn on wrists, they immediately emitted a layer of faint blue cold light.

System prompts jumped out rapidly.

[Equipped deep sea cold crystal Amulet]

[Dark Dragon Flame Damage Reduction: 70%]

The players who had just received their amulets almost went crazy with joy.

"It's done!"

"Now I'll even dare to tank a Dragon Flame Bomb!"

"Survival rate has directly taken flight!"

Even Ao Ningshuang glanced at Lan Xi and spoke indifferently: "Empress Cang Lan's gift this time was indeed timely."

Lan Xi pursed her lips and smiled: "Her Majesty the Empress said that as long as Mr. Lin Zhe's rebellion suppression goes smoothly, the Sea Race is willing to give registered players of Falling Maple more discounts on future trades between the Sea Race and the Dragon Domain."

Lin Zhe looked at the batch of Cold Crystals and nodded slightly.

"Thank her for me."

With that, he raised his hand.

A wisp of pale green Natural Divine Power flew from his fingertips and landed directly on Lan Xi.

Buzz—

A soft green light instantly lit up around Lan Xi. Her aura visibly stabilized, and even a layer of faint natural patterns emerged on the surface of her skin.

"This is a permanent Natural Blessing," Lin Zhe said calmly. "It increases all attributes and provides extra enhancement to recovery and poison resistance."

Lan Xi was stunned for a moment, then she lowered her head in surprise: "Thank you, Mr. Lin Zhe!"

Lin Zhe added indifferently: "Additionally, when the Sea Race comes to Falling Maple to exchange for Dragon Crystals in the future, it will be at a thirty percent discount."

As soon as these words came out, Lan Xi's eyes lit up.

"Her Majesty the Empress will definitely be very happy!"

Almost simultaneously, a system prompt rang in Lin Zhe's mind.

[Ding! Detected that top-tier female NPC · Sea Race Empress Empress Cang Lan's favorability toward the host has increased to 35!]

[Seventh Bond trigger progress increased to 8%!]

Lin Zhe's eyes flickered slightly, but he said no more.

Meanwhile, the players in the camp were already completely hyped up.

"Thank you, Sea Race Empress!"

"Thank you, Boss Lin Zhe!"

"The Cold Crystal Amulets are amazing! If anyone says suppressing the rebellion is dangerous again, I'll get angry!"

The world channel was also flooding with messages.

"The Sea Race gifts Cold Crystals, and Boss Lin Zhe gives the Sea Race a thirty percent discount on Dragon Crystal exchanges—this is a win-win!"

"With permanent Underwater Breathing, I'm already looking forward to those waterfront strongholds in the Dragon Domain!"

"Say no more, I just want to crush the rebels now and exchange for more Cold Crystals for my teammates!"

The large pots in the center of the camp were still boiling.

Some players, wearing their newly acquired Cold Crystal Amulets and holding bowls of meat soup, shouted loudly at Lan Xi.

"Sea Race friends, since you're already here, come eat something with us!"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, there's no shame in free-loading a meal!"

Lan Xi was taken aback by the shouting, then she couldn't help but laugh.

Outside Black Wind Valley, the sea breeze, the aroma of meat, and the noisy chatter of players mingled together.

But deeper within the dark aura, new troubles were still waiting.