Chapter 282: Saint Xi En

Unfortunately, the Ice Jade Fruit can only increase the liquid mana of ice-attribute cultivation methods.

Clearly, Gao De's 【Qingmu Changsheng Jing】 has nothing to do with ice-attribute cultivation.

Therefore, even if he waits thirty years for the Ice Jade Fruit to mature, it will be useless to him.

However, by the time thirty years have passed, he might already be at the Third Circle, Fourth Circle, or even higher, and he wouldn't care about the small amount of mana increased by the Ice Jade Fruit.

"Is there a way to force the Ice Jade Fruit to ripen?" Looking at the three flower buds that had just bloomed, Gao De suddenly thought of this and turned to look at Fu Luo La, humbly asking for advice.

Compared to the powerful effects of the Ice Jade Fruit, a thirty-year maturation period isn't actually a harsh condition—if one lacks the unique conditions of a Fourth-Rank spirit land, with Gao De's own talent as a magic user, it takes over a year to condense a single drop of liquid mana.

Condensing thirty drops of liquid mana would take over thirty years, which is even longer than the time required for the Ice Jade Fruit to mature.

But saying that is one thing; for Gao De, who hasn't even lived for thirty years in total, this time still seems far too long.

So his first reaction was to see if the growth and maturation time of the Ice Jade Fruit could be shortened.

And as it happens, Fu Luo La's abilities can support this idea of his.

"Lady Fu Luo La will ask." Upon hearing this, Fu Luo La immediately flapped her small wings and approached the Ice Jade Bingyu Wutong tree that had successfully advanced in rank.

She gently stroked the tree trunk with her hand, and after a brief communication, she received feedback from the Ice Jade Bingyu Wutong tree.

"Magic user, it can be forced to ripen, and forcing it to ripen is actually good for it; it is very willing." Fu Luo La gave a positive answer.

"What needs to be done?" Gao De felt a surge of joy in his heart, thinking to himself that it was indeed as he expected.

"Grind fire-elemental magical materials into powder, mix it with water, and spray it onto its flower buds; that will accelerate the growth of its fruits." Fu Luo La had already learned the specific method during her recent communication with the Ice Jade Bingyu Wutong.

Gao De accepted this quite well, but the others present were filled with shock upon hearing it.

Fu Luo La can not only directly observe and understand the state of magical plants, but she can even understand their corresponding habits and suitable cultivation methods.

This ability is too exaggerated.

However, once they recalled the words in the guide about "nature's spirits accompanying one's side," they gradually calmed down, feeling that perhaps it wasn't impossible to accept.

These are "nature's spirits" after all! "However, it has only just grown up and is still adapting to its new body; it needs to wait for a..." Here, Fu Luo La spoke again.

She seemed to be stumped, counting earnestly on her fingers for a long time before finally giving an answer.

"It needs fifty of these," Fu Luo La gestured with her right palm, then extended one finger, "plus one of these, and it will be able to adapt to its current body."

"Then it can be forced to ripen."

That would be two hundred and fifty-one days... Gao De nodded slightly, but his mind had drifted to other things:

【Hmm, can't be lopsided in education; well-rounded education must start from childhood. Not just magic, I also need to teach Fu Luo La how to do arithmetic.】

Hmm? Fu Luo La looked alertly at Gao De, who had returned to normal after a brief moment of daydreaming.

She frowned in surprise.

Her keen intuition made it seem as if she had just sensed some "dangerous" aura from Gao De.

It was just that this "dangerous" aura vanished in a flash, making Fu Luo La suspect she might have been hallucinating.

"Saintess, how much longer are we to be kept under house arrest like this?"

In the room, having been kept under house arrest by the Enduring Zhenbing tribe for five days and unable to do anything, Luo Yiqi was somewhat restless and couldn't help but ask.

Even though he knew Catherine couldn't give him a definite answer.

Catherine did not reply.

Her mind was currently filled with the words Elder Grant had spoken five days ago: My King is prepared to settle all conflicts with your sect.

Catherine had already confirmed that the "My King" in Elder Grant's mouth referred to Gao De.

What she wasn't sure about now was how exactly Gao De intended to settle the conflict with the Guardians of the Snowfield.

In the name of the Enduring Zhenbing tribe, to question the sect? Or was it to use the two of them as bargaining chips to threaten the sect?

No matter how much she thought about it, she could never be certain of what Gao De was thinking.

It was only now that Catherine realized that although she had been in contact with Gao De for some time, she actually didn't know much about him.

She didn't know his background, didn't know how he had suddenly become the King of the Enduring Zhenbing tribe, and even less did she know his personality and style of handling affairs.

Just as various thoughts were flashing through Catherine's mind, a knock suddenly came from the door.

Subsequently, the door was pushed open.

Gao De, the very person Catherine had been pondering, walked in, and beside him, walking in step with him, was Su Su Su Nai Fa, who carried the 【Blizzard】.

"Long time no see." Gao De's gaze swept over the two of them, and he spoke slowly.

How strange the ways of the world are; who could have imagined it? A month ago, he had been alone on the snowfield searching for a place to plant a tree, never thinking he would be tracked by these two, who forcibly struck him with ice needles of forbidden magic and brought him to Dezhen in the form of house arrest.

And now, Catherine and Luo Yiqi were being kept under house arrest here by the Enduring Zhenbing tribe because of him.

Truly, what goes around comes around.

Because Catherine was wearing a mask, her expression could not be seen, making it impossible for anyone to glimpse the emotional fluctuations in her heart.

But the expression on Luo Yiqi's face was clear at a glance.

It was a complex interweaving of emotions: confusion, doubt, worry, as well as awe and trepidation regarding Gao De's current status.

"Gao De..." Luo Yiqi opened his mouth, his voice somewhat dry, and suddenly recalling Gao De's current status, his expression changed slightly, and he added: "My lord."

Gao De waved his hand and got straight to the point: "I have come today mainly to tell you two things."

"The first thing: the Enduring Zhenbing tribe has captured the mole your sect planted in Dezhen to communicate with Tang Nade. After interrogation, we have confirmed the mastermind behind all of this."

"Who is it?!" Catherine widened her eyes and couldn't help but ask, her tone carrying a hint of urgency.

Gao De didn't keep them in suspense and gave the answer directly: "It is the Saint Xi En whom Elder Grant previously suspected."

"It really is him!!" Luo Yiqi and Catherine exchanged a glance, both seeing the disbelief and inability to accept the truth in the other's eyes.

Gao De didn't give them much time to be shocked and continued: "I was once assassinated by a Third-Circle magic user in Dezhen, and this matter was orchestrated by your Saint Xi En. That is the first point."

"Furthermore, the hunting squad of the Enduring Zhenbing tribe that captured the Dragon-Blooded Frost Lizard but was attacked and killed on their way back was also the work of Saint Xi En."

"To me, and to the Enduring Zhenbing tribe, this is an intolerable, indelible blood feud."

"Therefore, tomorrow the Enduring Zhenbing tribe will march on your sect's Icefield Temple." Gao De's words were like a bolt from the blue, leaving the two of them at a loss for what to do.

Ignoring the unease and shock in their hearts, Gao De turned his gaze to Luo Yiqi and continued: "I will let you go first."

"After you return to the Icefield Temple, help us pass on a message: your sect must either hand over Saint Xi En and all his accomplices, and we will withdraw our troops immediately upon receiving them; or wait for the Enduring Zhenbing tribe's army to arrive and we will take them ourselves."

Gao De grinned, revealing his white teeth, "This is called courtesy before force; I hope your sect can make the right choice."

The next day, the sun had not yet fully risen.

Gao De had already risen; not just him, but at this hour, most of the Enduring Zhenbing tribe had already awakened.

The cold morning air was filled with a tense and solemn atmosphere.

Because today was the day of the expedition.

Elder Grant was already waiting at the door.

Because Gao De was most familiar with Elder Grant within the Enduring Zhenbing tribe, many matters these days had been communicated directly between Elder Grant and Gao De.

"My King, your clothes are ready."

Elder Grant brought Gao De the attire prepared for him by the Enduring Zhenbing tribe.

Five days ago, someone had already measured Gao De to determine his size. However, given the craftsmanship level of the Enduring Zhenbing tribe, even with the tribe's most skilled seamstresses working "overtime," it was only today that they had managed to finish Gao De's outfit.

The Enduring Zhenbing tribe reveres the three colors of blue, white, and black.

Deep blue represents the ocean of the northern realm and the vast, boundless sky, and is also a symbol of the ice element.

Pristine silver-white is the embodiment of snow and enduring ice.

Solemn black represents nobility and fearlessness.

Naturally, as the most noble person of the Enduring Zhenbing tribe, the clothes prepared for Gao De by the tribe were also a combination of these three colors.

Although conditions in the northern realm are limited, when it comes to the "King's" attire, what the Enduring Zhenbing tribe did was not much inferior to the outside world; it was quite extraordinary.

The upper body is an exquisite short robe, primarily deep blue, with fine silver threads inlaid along the edges. The silver threads shimmer with a cold light in the dim light, like the brightest stars in the night sky.

The front of the short robe is embroidered with some delicate totem symbols using intricate silver thread.

The lower body consists of tight-fitting long trousers, with black as the main tone.

Below the knees, it gradually transitions to deep blue, and the edges of the trouser legs are also decorated with silver trim, ensuring both flexibility of movement and a noble demeanor.

The shoes are a pair of specially made black leather boots.

In addition, there is a cloak, long to the ankles, with a pure white body.

But in the center of the back, the tribe's emblem—an ice-crystal phoenix spreading its wings to fly—is embroidered with black thread, lifelike, as if such a creature truly existed in the world.

The edges of the cloak are also interwoven with complex patterns using deep blue and silver threads.

Whenever the wind blows, the cloak flutters, and that ice-crystal phoenix seems as if it could soar out at any moment.

They say clothes make the man, and it is indeed so.

After changing into this outfit, Gao De's entire temperament suddenly became much more noble, and it even carried a magnificent air.

Elder Grant couldn't help but have his eyes light up.

"My King, this outfit really suits you."

Gao De smiled slightly.

After five days, he had developed enough immunity to the "flattery" of others.

However, Fu Luo La's fiery gaze made Gao De feel somewhat restless.

He knew that Fu Luo La definitely wanted a new outfit as well.

"Let's go." Prepared, Gao De walked out of the room and headed toward the square where the Sword in the Ice challenge had once been held.

Elder Grant hurried to follow.

At this moment, in the square.

Five thousand powerful ice-descendant magic users had already put on their usual hunting attire and were lined up in neat rows, quietly waiting for the arrival of Gao De and Su Su Su Nai Fa.

A full five thousand ice-descendant magic users, with the lowest strength being at the First-Circle level.

At least in the northern realm, there are only three tribes—the Enduring Zhenbing tribe, the Frost Wolf Clan, and the Hammer of Winter—that can produce such power.

Amidst everyone's waiting, the figures of Gao De and Su Su Su Nai Fa appeared at the other end of the square together.

The two walked side by side, their steps in unison.

At this moment, Gao De no longer had even a fraction of the down-and-out appearance of the outsider who had just arrived in Dezhen; that magnificent attire, which no more than five people in the entire northern realm would wear, gave his entire temperament a brand-new look.

Of course, that was secondary.

The most important thing was the sword of enduring ice he held in his hand: 【North Wind】.

He and Su Su Su Nai Fa, one carrying an ice bow on their back and the other holding the sword of enduring ice, walked onto the high platform under the gaze of everyone.

The atmosphere at the scene was solemn and grave.

Stepping onto the high platform, Su Su Su Nai Fa did not speak either, merely taking out the 【Blizzard】 from her back and holding it high.

Gao De likewise used his right hand to hold 【North Wind】 high.

After a few seconds of silence at the scene, it was instantly ignited.

"War Mother—My King—"

"War Mother—My King—"

"War Mother—My King—"

The sound, like a landslide and a tsunami, merged into one.

Behind them, the tribal flag of the Enduring Zhenbing tribe instantly shot into the sky, fluttering high! Half an hour later, the five-thousand-strong ice-descendant magic user army of the Enduring Zhenbing tribe set off, sweeping toward the direction of the Icefield Temple with incomparable momentum.

They did not hide their movements; such a large commotion could not be hidden anyway.

Watching the army of the Enduring Zhenbing tribe depart, those outsiders in Dezhen who had received the news all felt their heads spinning.

What is this for? In the northern realm, they hadn't seen such a large-scale expedition in who knows how long.

The news that the Enduring Zhenbing tribe had welcomed a new King had already spread over the past few days under Su Su Su Nai Fa's instruction.

At least in Dezhen, everyone knew that in the prophecy left by the former War Mother of the Enduring Zhenbing tribe, Oretia, the person who would bring the hope of revival had appeared and ascended to the throne of the Enduring Zhenbing tribe.

It was just that they never imagined that the first thing this person in the prophecy would do after becoming the new King of the Enduring Zhenbing tribe would be to lead troops on an expedition? Is this the hope of revival, or a disaster for the northern realm? After the ice-descendant army of the Enduring Zhenbing tribe left Dezhen, they headed toward the Icefield Temple.

Because the ice-descendants in the tribe hunt outside all year round, they can be said to be familiar with marching on snow, and they all have mastered travel magic similar to 【Ice Walking】.

So even with such a large team, and relying purely on their feet to travel, they still covered over seventy kilometers in a single day.

However, compared to Luo Yiqi, whom Gao De let go last night, this was nothing.

The moment he gained his freedom, he didn't dare to delay for even a second, leaving Dezhen overnight and rushing back to the Icefield Temple without stopping, not even daring to rest for too long.

Although the Guardians of the Snowfield are the oldest and most powerful sect in the northern realm, they are definitely no match for the Enduring Zhenbing tribe.

To avoid this unwinnable war, Luo Yiqi knew he had to rush back to headquarters in the shortest possible time.

Only then, after reporting the specific situation clearly and conveying Gao De's thoughts, would there be enough time for the sect to reach a resolution internally.

In his heart, he was certainly inclined to purge the sect and hand over Saint Xi En.

But Luo Yiqi also knew that things certainly wouldn't be that simple.

Because Saint Xi En's status and position were simply too high; he was one of the three giants of the sect.

And on the other side, Chief Ximo was often not at headquarters.

This meant that at headquarters, there was only Archbishop Lu En, who was equal in status to Saint Xi En.

And in a one-on-one situation, what would happen was still unknown.

If they really fought internally first, Saint Xi En was a hunter by origin, most skilled in combat, and had also practiced powerful forbidden necromantic magic; Archbishop Lu En was really no match for Saint Xi En.

At the thought of this, Luo Yiqi felt his vision go dark, feeling extremely desperate.

But no matter what, he had to rush back first.

No matter what, he could not let the sect and the Enduring Zhenbing tribe fight.

Otherwise, the Guardians of the Snowfield might be wiped out in this battle, and their long history would directly become a thing of the past.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 283 =====