Chapter 59: Ice Ghost

Although the Self‑discipline Challenge of the Lord Lion hasn't been completed yet, Chen Mo has already experienced the Lord Lion's effect in advance.

The effect is very simple and brutal.

Roughly every one square kilometer of territory grants him a strand of spiritual energy.

The larger the area he occupies, the greater the boost to his strength!

If he could occupy the whole of Africa, the massive boost from the Lord Lion would likely catapult him straight into the King Realm!

When the Frost Wolf King and other beings of the King Realm appear, if he wishes revenge, Chen Mo will simply reunite them with his own descendants! His only concern now is that other races might, like the Frost Wolf leader, hold a similar king‑blood trump card that can briefly unleash Lord‑level power.

If things get truly desperate and someone wants to go all‑out against Chen Mo, he doesn't have a second Self‑discipline Experience Card.

He cannot re‑enter the Lord Realm.

That would be trouble then.

Moreover, the odds are high; the Frost Wolf clan, the Ice Crystal Giant Python clan, and the Winter Sword‑tooth Tiger clan all possess such trump cards.

Of course, Chen Mo also has a similar trump card.

Ice Crystal Giant Python King's Blood Crystal

A crystal formed from the refined blood of the Ice Crystal Giant Python King in the King Realm; the blood contains a fragment of the king's will, and ingesting it can briefly break through to the Lord Realm, but the spirit becomes polluted.

This is the king's blood he discovered within the scales of the Ice Crystal Giant Python King's corpse.

Because of its severe side effects, he dares not use it.

Chen Mo begins to think.

He realizes—forceful assault may not be the best way to seize the entire Great Snow Mountain secret realm.

After pondering for a while, Chen Mo roughly forms a plan in his mind—

Soft persuasion plus deterrence, both applied simultaneously.

He finds the Snowstep Fox leader and asks:

"Bing Li, how are the Snowstep Fox tribe's relations with other races? Are there any races we get along with well?"

"Yes. The Ice Frost Hound, Ice Ghost, Wintergreen Wild Ox, and the Tubular Ice Silkworm all have fairly good relations with us."

The Snowstep Fox leader replies.

In the previous battle, those four races only showed up as the Ice Ghost tribe, and they merely watched the spectacle without taking any action against Chen Mo.

"I need you to win them over and have them submit to the Ice Lion tribe. I only require the spirit of the territory; they can continue living in their original snow mountains."

Chen Mo says.

Since he chose the soft‑persuasion route, he himself is not suited to appear on the front.

It would frighten those races.

And going through the Snowstep Fox tribe makes it easier for those races to believe.

"Ying!" (Lion King, rest assured, the Snowstep Fox tribe will complete the task.) Bing Li knows this is the Lion King's test for him.

This is also an opportunity for the Snowstep Fox tribe.

Since they've already boarded the Ice Lion tribe's ship, they naturally hope the vessel can be larger! ————————

That night.

Ghost Snow Mountain.

Under the moonlight, snow‑white‑furred Snowstep Foxes sprint across the snow.

When they reach the mid‑slope, clusters of blue‑glowing "ghosts" suddenly appear around them.

These "ghosts" resemble a kind of sunny‑day doll, their bodies ethereal, with countless faint blue specks swirling inside.

The Ice Ghosts quickly close in on the Snowstep Fox pack, encircling them at the center.

"Ling~"

Seeing the intruders are Snowstep Foxes, the Ice Ghosts let out a sigh of relief.

"Ying~" (Chief Ke Lan, long time no see.) Bing Li pulls out ice silkworm silk, intending to communicate mentally with the leading Ice Ghost. He comes to visit the Ice Ghost tribe this time to fulfill the task given by the Lion King.

The reason he chose the Ice Ghosts first is simply that they are relatively simple creatures, easier to deceive—sorry, easier to persuade.

"Ling~ Lingling?" (Long time no see~ I heard a Lion King has seized your original territory; he didn't bully you, did he?) the Ice Ghost leader asks concernedly.

Of course, it also wants to gather intelligence.

Earlier, the Lion King burst onto the scene, forcefully slaying the Frost Wolf leader of the Lord Realm, and all races felt an urgent sense of crisis.

Fearing the Lion King might suddenly invade their lands and start a war! The Ice Ghost tribe is no exception.

"Ying!" (No. The Lion King returned the snow mountain we lived on to us; our lives are much the same as before.)

Bing Li replies calmly.

"Ling?" (Really?)

The Ice Ghost leader clearly seems skeptical.

"Ying!" (In the previous battle, our Snowstep Fox tribe fought side‑by‑side with the Lion King and earned his trust. If you doubt it, just visit our territory and you'll see.) The Snowstep Fox leader smiles and extends the invitation.

"Ling~"

The Ice Ghost leader shakes his head repeatedly; he wouldn't dare go to the Lion King's domain.

"Ying~" (In the afternoon, the Lion King told me he will soon launch an attack on the nearby snow mountains, so the Snowstep Fox tribe should prepare for battle.) "Ying~" (That's why I came to you overnight.) "Ling!"

Hearing that, the Ice Ghost freezes in shock.

"Ling?" (Will the Lion King invade our territory?) the Ice Ghost leader asks worriedly.

The most terrifying thing is still about to happen!

"Ying Ying!" (The probability is low; I think the Lion King will first attack the races that previously provoked him.) Bing Li says.

But before the Ice Ghost leader can sigh in relief, he continues:

"Ying Ying Ying!" (But it's not certain; if the Lion King wants to advance step by step from near to far, he might attack…) Bing Li's tone is full of worry.

It is not merely a threat.

If the Lion King truly launches a war, this situation is very likely to occur.

Besides completing the Lion King's mission, it also does not want to see the Ice Nether Spirit clan annihilated.

Ling~

Hearing this, the Ice Nether Spirit leader clearly grew more flustered, their eyes showing a hint of helplessness.

Your only way out now is to find the Land Spirit. But even if you find it, you must be able to hold onto it.

Bing Li spoke.

Right after, it analyzed the two options currently facing the Ice Nether Spirit for the Ice Nether Spirit leader.

Finding the Land Spirit—likely to be seized by other races.

Not finding the Land Spirit—likely to be invaded by the Ice Lion King and other groups.

Ling? (Bing Li, the leader, what should we do now?)

Eng~ (Perhaps there is still another way—you could directly go surrender to the Lion King.) Bing Li offered a strategy.

Ling!?

The Lion King, as a newly risen superhuman, currently has not many followers and cannot possibly manage such vast territory. If you proactively submit to the Ice Lion King—I think it's quite likely you can still keep your current lands!

Ling!

Hearing this, the Ice Nether Spirit leader fell into deep thought.

As the Snow-Treading Fox leader said, their clan's combat strength is not strong; even if they find the Land Spirit, they would likely still be seized.

So—should we really proactively submit to the Ice Lion King?

(End of Chapter)