260: Summoning Pool Reopens a New Chapter

Deep within the underground palace, the 3D model of the "Fentian Palace Headquarters" rotated slowly on the crystal panel. Zhuge Yuwo and Daoist Master Qingxu were arguing endlessly around the model—the former believed they should break the Formation from the "Xun Position" of the Li Fire Formation.

The flow of fire spirit energy there was the most chaotic; the latter insisted on starting from the "Kan Position," arguing that Kan belongs to water, which perfectly counters Li Fire. Both held to their own opinions, their whisk and peach wood staff almost poking into each other's faces.

Fu Hongxue leaned against the corner, wiping his blade, the edge reflecting his cold and hard profile, completely ignoring the argument nearby. Zhao Gao was counting the newly delivered Cold Ice Pills, the crisp clinking of porcelain bottles sounding like accompaniment to the argument.

Jun Xiaoyao sat on the Cold Jade Throne, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrest, his gaze falling on a new notification in the corner of the panel: [Snow Wolf Clan trade route conflict escalated, three batches of our silk have been seized].

"Zhao Gao, check the background of the Snow Wolf Clan." Jun Xiaoyao spoke calmly, interrupting Zhuge Yuwo's "Formation Scripture" and Daoist Master Qingxu's "Five Elements Theory."

Zhao Gao immediately pulled up the data panel, and the information on the Snow Wolf Clan unfolded: [Race: Snow Wolf Clan, inhabiting the Northern Ice Plains, proficient in ice-type arts, leader the Snow Azure Wolf King's Realm is Peak Heaven-Human Realm.

Under his command are three Grand Elders (Middle Celestial Realm), controlling three main trade routes between the Central and Northern Regions. Recently, due to coveting the silk business, they have frequently plundered our caravans].

"Peak Heaven-Human Realm?" Daoist Master Qingxu leaned over to take a look and clicked his tongue, saying, "It is said that this Wolf King can take human form, and its ice-type arts have frozen a Late Stage Great Grandmaster Martial Artist. It won't be easy to deal with."

Zhuge Yuwo stroked his beard: "The Snow Wolf Clan's 'Ice Plain Formation' is quite special. It uses ice shards as eyes and moonlight as a guide, doubling its power at night. We need to find a sunny noon to break it."

Jun Xiaoyao didn't respond, just looking at the summoning array in the center. After the energy accumulation just now, the light at the center of the array was brighter than before, and one could vaguely see flowing light rolling within, as if hiding some powerful character.

He raised his hand and pressed "Random Summon" on the panel. A burst of silver-white light exploded in the array, even more piercing than the blade light when Fu Hongxue appeared, carrying a chill from the Northern Region.

From within the light came a low howl like a wolf, and a figure stepped out—wearing silver-white leather armor, long hair reaching the waist, eyes a translucent ice blue, and a long blade with ice patterns hanging at the waist. It was Hu Fei from "Flying Fox of Snowy Mountain."

[Summon Successful] [Character: Hu Fei (from the "Flying Fox of Snowy Mountain" world)] [Realm: Peak Grandmaster Realm] [Martial Skill/Cultivation Technique: 1. Hu Family Blade Technique (Perfection) — The blade momentum is heavy and fierce, combining ice and snow chill, can break ice-type defenses 2. Spring Silkworm Palm Technique (Major Achievement) — The palm wind is soft but hides strength, proficient in discharging force and countering 3. Snow Mountain Internal Skill (Major Achievement) — Adapts to extremely cold environments, internal breath circulation is not affected by low temperatures] [Loyalty: 86%]

Hu Fei knelt on one knee, his voice carrying the heartiness of a Northerner: "Subordinate Hu Fei, greets the Young Lord."

Daoist Master Qingxu's eyes lit up: "An expert from the Snowy Mountain! Now we have the confidence to deal with the Snow Wolf Clan! Young Hero Hu's blade technique is famous for being formidable in snowy weather, perfectly countering those ice lumps."

Hu Fei looked up and smiled, his ice-blue eyes shining: "Snow Wolf Clan? I dealt with wolf packs when I was on the Snowy Mountain, and I know their weaknesses—there is a piece of soft flesh under the wolf fur on the lower back; when they take human form, it's three inches to the left of the waist, where the defense is weakest."

Jun Xiaoyao nodded and pulled up the trade route map: "The Snow Wolf Clan has seized three batches of our silk, and they are all hidden in the cellar of the Ice Plain post station. Hu Fei, take twenty Luowang Assassins and retrieve them tomorrow at noon. Can you do it?"

Hu Fei drew his blade, the blade reflecting a cold light: "Rest assured, Young Lord. As long as it's a road in the Northern Region, I can walk it with my eyes closed. However..." He scratched his head.

"I'm not very good at leading a team. Can Guard Fu go with me? His blade is fast, and in case we encounter opponents at the Elder level, it would be good to have support."

Fu Hongxue's hand wiping the blade paused. He looked up at Jun Xiaoyao without speaking, but his eyes carried tacit approval.

"You may." Jun Xiaoyao looked at Fu Hongxue, "The two of you cooperate; Hu Fei knows the path, and you provide backup—it's perfect."

Fu Hongxue nodded and sheathed the wiped blade, his movements crisp and neat.

At this moment, the panel suddenly popped up a message from the Marshal of the Unruly. In the image was a member of The Net frozen into an ice sculpture, and the voice of the Marshal of the Unruly carried anger.

"Young Lord, the Snow Wolf Clan is too arrogant! They froze our people at the entrance of the post station as 'warning signs,' and left a message saying that if we don't hand over the business rights to the silk trade by noon tomorrow, they will throw the people to the wolves!"

Hu Fei's face sank instantly, and fire burned in his ice-blue eyes: "These beasts! Young Lord, this subordinate requests to act early. Let's go and take down their Ice Plain post station tonight!"

Zhuge Yuwo said immediately: "The moonlight is bright tonight, and the Ice Plain Formation is at its most powerful; this is not appropriate. How about..." He pointed on the map, "We bypass from the geothermal fissure on the flank. The temperature is high there, and the ice-type arts will be weakened by 30%. Daoist Master Qingxu and I will draw a route map for you."

Daoist Master Qingxu also got excited: "Right! We'll also provide you with ten 'Ice-Melting Talismans.' If you encounter an ice wall, just blow it up; it's faster than Guard Fu's blade!"

Jun Xiaoyao watched the impassioned crowd and tapped his fingertips on the panel: "Tonight it is, action at the Hour of the Rat. Hu Fei leads the way, Fu Hongxue brings up the rear, take fifty people, and bring plenty of Ice-Melting Talismans and Cold Ice Pills—the Snow Wolf Clan's ice poison is powerful, don't get hit."

"Yes!" Hu Fei and Fu Hongxue responded in unison. The two looked at each other—one carrying the chill of the Snowy Mountain, the other hiding the sharpness of the blade sheath—there was an inexplicable tacit understanding between them.

Zhao Gao suddenly remembered something and hurried over: "Young Lord, just received news: there is movement at the Fentian Palace Headquarters. They seem to have sensed that we are about to act and have increased the number of guards for the Formation. The Xun Position that Mr. Zhuge previously calculated has three more guards at the Initial Heaven Human Realm."

Zhuge Yuwo immediately dragged Daoist Master Qingxu back to the model and re-deduced: "If they add people to the Xun Position, we'll go through the Li Position! Although the fire spirit energy at the Li Position is strong, I just discovered that their Formation eye wick is almost burnt out. There is a three-breath vulnerability during the wick replacement at the Hour of the Rat, enough for Guard Fu's blade to be drawn three times!"

Daoist Master Qingxu stroked his beard and agreed: "Right, right, I miscalculated the timing of the wick earlier. This is perfect; let's adjust the plan. Let Young Hero Hu go to the post station first, and you two can proceed with breaking the Formation and retrieving the silk simultaneously. Neither side will be delayed!"

The underground palace suddenly became busy again. Hu Fei and Fu Hongxue were studying the route in the corner. Hu Fei used his blade to draw the terrain of the Ice Plain on the ground, while Fu Hongxue marked the points where they might be attacked; Zhuge Yuwo and Daoist Master Qingxu were arguing around the model about the new steps to break the Formation.

The whisk and the peach wood staff occasionally bumped into each other, making a soft "pa" sound; Zhao Gao was quickly recording instructions on the side, checking the quantity of Ice-Melting Talismans, Cold Ice Pills, and spare weapons three times.

Jun Xiaoyao leaned on the Cold Jade Throne, watching the scene before him. The value of "Beyond Heaven Reputation" on the crystal panel was steadily rising, like the glaciers in the Northern Region quietly melting and flowing in the spring. It would eventually converge into an unstoppable force. He raised his hand and looked at the summoning array, where the light had dimmed a bit more.

Yet it faintly revealed signs of the next eruption—it seems that this contest with the Snow Wolf Clan will summon even more special helpers.

Hu Fei suddenly leaned over, his ice-blue eyes full of curiosity: "Young Lord, do you think the Snow Wolf Clan's silk will freeze into ice lumps? Can it still be sold if we retrieve it?"

Fu Hongxue rarely chimed in: "It's better if it's frozen. If the blade can't cut it, we'll use fire. Anyway, the people from The Net brought fire starters."

Jun Xiaoyao chuckled: "Don't burn it; that is tribute-grade cloud brocade. It would be a pity to burn it. Hu Fei, you use your Snow Mountain Internal Skill to keep the silk warm. You should be able to do that, right?"

Hu Fei patted his chest: "No problem! My Internal Skill naturally carries warmth. I'll wrap it around the silk as I go; I guarantee it will still be smooth when we return!"

Everyone laughed, and the chill of the underground palace seemed to be dispelled a bit by this laughter. Only the task countdown on the crystal panel was silently ticking, reminding them: once the Hour of the Rat arrives, it's time to set off again.