Chapter 693: Frozen Heart Method! (2/2, Autumn Subscription)

Dou Hongyi didn't know that Yang Diandian had already begun imagining a glorious future.

For Yang Diandian's lack of information, he could only roll his eyes in pity.

This guy spends every day scheming for power and fighting rivals, never thinking about his own lowly origins—he's lucky to even be a third-rank Blue Guard in Lanshan, yet he keeps dreaming of climbing higher; does he even deserve it!?

Even news as direct as the Imperial Decree reached him this late, proving he has no influence in Qing Cheng; his patron likely isn't powerful, or has already abandoned him as a disposable pawn.

Yet in this tiny Chunuan City, he still has the authority to challenge me—mountains are high and the emperor far away; the influence of Dou Hongyi's patron is limited here.

Not to mention… the Qing Si's power structure is far more tangled than Lanshan's; just because he learned of the Imperial Decree quickly doesn't mean he'll get substantial support.

As Dou Hongyi ignored Yang Diandian's provocation, a distant line of the Dayang Caravan Group finally came into view, approaching this way.

Dou Hongyi's eyes lit up; he immediately ignored Yang Diandian and walked toward them.

Yang Diandian paused, then narrowed his eyes.

Strange—too strange.

He glanced in the direction Dou Hongyi had run toward, and froze slightly.

"Dayang Caravan Group? Why would Dou Hongyi care so much about such a minor caravan?"

Yang Diandian looked left and right but saw nothing remarkable; still, he kept watching, thinking he'd learn something during the Martial Contest.

…

"Miss, Dou Hongyi of the Qing Si requests an audience."

The advancing carriage suddenly stopped, followed by the servant's voice.

Yang Hongxia frowned slightly; she had no ties to the Qing Si—unless it was about Night's identity…

She glanced at Night with concern, only to see he had already opened his eyes.

"Don't panic—he's one of us. Let him come to the carriage."

"Understood."

The order was given; soon, Dou Hongyi arrived beside the carriage. The curtain was pulled back, and Fang Yue smiled: "Why come now? Aren't you being too conspicuous?"

Dou Hongyi's heart jolted; he quickly bowed his head slightly.

"My Lord, the Martial Contest has drawn a massive crowd; that thing… is strange, and may appear at any moment. When will you be ready to intervene? I'll provide cover for you."

"When the time is right, I'll act. Don't get too close to me normally—risk of exposure."

"Yes!"

Dou Hongyi quickly withdrew.

Watching Dou Hongyi, one of Chunuan City's top Government officials, bowing obediently to Fang Yue, Yang Hongxia widened her eyes, clapped a hand over her mouth, utterly stunned.

Even after Dou Hongyi had walked far away, she couldn't help blurting out:

"Night, Night Lord, what is this… how could he…"

"Don't ask too much. The more you know, the more dangerous it becomes."

Fang Yue's words carried weight; Yang Hongxia fell silent, though her curious gaze kept flickering over Fang Yue.

At the Martial Contest grounds, those blocking the path confirmed the Dayang Caravan Group's identity and let them pass quickly.

The crowd was chaotic, roughly divided into two groups.

The top hundred Caravan Groups of the Tian Shang Alliance, and those ranked below hundred.

The top hundred positions in the Tian Shang Alliance received massive resource allocations and strong support—they were the Alliance's flagship groups.

Meanwhile, the higher a caravan's rank, the more resources it received—winner-takes-all.

Those ranked below hundred got far fewer resources, barely scraping by, with little chance of rising.

To turn things around, they had to win the Martial Contest every few years, defeat higher-ranked caravans, and climb into the top ranks.

Under this competitive pressure, everyone was tense and hostile.

Even Yang Hongxia, who normally avoided people and disliked such lowly socializing, now as Regimental Commander of the Dayang Caravan Group,

as its sole representative, had to step out and network with other caravan groups, building personal connections.

Yang Hongxia hated handling such matters—previously, her father and Hai Guanjia managed them; she never needed to show up.

But now, she'd lost that privilege.

A caravan group—a caravan group—is fundamentally a business consortium.

Doing business inevitably involves trading with rivals, and sometimes even depends on certain rivals releasing supply quotas.

Thus, managing personal relationships is especially critical.

Even if, after the Martial Contest, the Dayang Caravan Group rises in rank and gains vast resources, it still needs interpersonal ties to absorb those resources and turn them into true strength.

Of course, by then, merchants drawn by the scent of profit will cater to the Dayang Caravan Group—not now, when Dayang must lower itself to fit into their circle.

Fortunately, Yang Hongxia's father, the former Regimental Commander of the Dayang Caravan Group, handled personal relationships exceptionally well.

Even now, as the Dayang Caravan Group declines, many still offer help and warmly welcome Yang Hongxia.

Of course, how much of it is genuine and how much is pretense remains for Yang Hongxia to discern—on the surface, everyone is harmonious.

Some truly wish to build good relations with the new Regimental Commander and continue cooperation.

Others likely intend to swallow the Dayang Caravan Group whole.

As Yang Hongxia struggled to act like a seasoned leader and mingled with these people, Fang Yue sat inside the carriage, eyes closed, resting.

Said to be resting, he was actually reading system prompts.

"System Prompt: Congratulations, player, your internal energy has been successfully refined, impurities removed, becoming purer."

"System Prompt: Congratulations, player, your internal energy has been successfully refined…"

"System Prompt: Congratulations, player 【Yese Liming】, you have learned the Frozen Heart Method."

"System Prompt: Congratulations, player 【Yese Liming】, you have achieved progress in the Frozen Heart Method—it has risen to First Layer. Internal energy increased by 8000 points, control value increased by 3000 points, deflection value increased by 3000 points."

"Name: Frozen Heart Method."

"Grade: Rain Grade."

"Layer: First Layer."

"Requirements: 10 Comprehension, Human Realm, 10,000 Force Control, 10,000 Force Neutralization."

"Description: The Frozen Heart Method calms the mind and gathers the spirit, leading straight to the Rain Realm."

"Effect: While active, increases Force Control by 5,000 and Force Neutralization by 5,000; attacks gain the additional effect 【Ice Curse: Condensation】."

"Note: Transform into an ice block person, devoid of emotion and desire — you are the strongest!"

This was the Frozen Heart Method!

The Heart Method Lord Han had left behind!

As a core Heart Method, its effects were so powerful that they surpassed any Heart Method Fang Yue had ever known.

At the same time, its surging internal force amplification pushed Fang Yue's total internal force to an entirely different level.

The impurities left behind from cultivating several other Heart Methods earlier were, in the process of cultivating the 【Frozen Heart Method】, refined to their utmost, becoming pure — their quality improved, and they merged seamlessly with the internal force grown from cultivating the Frozen Heart Method, indistinguishable from one another.

(End of Chapter)