Chapter 189

Tongxu Stonehammer's hoarse voice, filled with despair and urgency, clearly spread through the communication stone to the command room of Guangtan Fortress.

The sound of the pouring rain outside pattered loudly, adding to the sense of urgency.

"Clan Chief Tongxu, speak slowly, what exactly is the situation?" Li Qingxuan asked in a low voice, his tone calm, which also helped the dwarf clan leader on the other end of the communication calm down a bit.

"It's... it's those damned snow mice, icefield demon wolves, and packs of spotted demon hyenas!" Tongxu's voice carried uncontainable anger and resentment, "This damned rainstorm seems to have driven them mad! Food shortages have forced them to band together, besieging every shelter they can find! Our Stone Hammer Fortress is built into the mountains, originally easy to defend and hard to attack, but the rain triggered a landslide, blocking part of the outer walls and the main exit with huge boulders and earth!"

He panted heavily as he continued: "Now those beasts are blocking the outside, constantly assaulting our temporarily sealed breach! Although our dwarf warriors are brave, their numbers are far fewer than the beasts', and there are many elderly, weak, women, and children in the clan! The food stored in the fortress is already running low; if this continues…… we won't be able to hold out for more than a few days! Lord Li Qingxuan, for the sake of our past dealings, please save our Stone Hammer Clan! We are willing to pledge our allegiance to you, serve you as our lord, only asking for a way to survive!"

The situation was worse than imagined.

The natural disaster triggered a beast tide, plus geological calamity, the Stone Hammer Clan truly stood at the brink of life and death.

"How long can you still hold out?" Li Qingxuan asked quickly.

"At most…… at most three days! Our arrows and furnace fuel are almost exhausted!" Tongxu's voice was filled with despair.

"Hold on, I will get there as soon as possible." Li Qingxuan gave his promise and ended the communication.

The command room fell silent, only the rain outside continued unabated.

Everyone understood that in this rainstorm weather, a long-distance rush to rescue a besieged clan carried enormous risk.

"Qingxuan, this is too dangerous!" Li Feifei was the first to object, "The rain outside never stops, the roads are muddy and hard to travel, and we still have to face an unknown number of frenzied beast hordes! What if……"

"I know the risk." Li Qingxuan interrupted her, his gaze firm, "But the Stone Hammer Clan must be saved. The dwarves' forging skills, their knowledge of underground structures, and their overall combat strength are vital to us. Moreover, they have proactively sought help and are willing to pledge allegiance—this is an excellent opportunity to bring them fully under our banner. Giving aid in the snow is far better than adding icing on the cake."

He looked at everyone: "The defenses of the fortress and the Moonlight Ring are already perfected; as long as we rely on the fortifications, holding out through this ten‑day rainstorm is no problem. For this rescue, I will go myself."

"I'll go with you!" Huang Rong said immediately.

Li Qingxuan shook his head: "No, you need to stay behind to hold the fortress, guard against possible other threats. This rescue values quality over quantity."

He paused, then continued: "I will first go to the Moonlight Ring and explain the situation to Queen Aister."

Li Qingxuan braved the rain and quickly arrived at the Moonlight Ring.

The soft glow emanating from the Tree of Life appeared somewhat hazy in the rain curtain.

He found Queen Aister and several elders in the central Tree Palace and briefly explained the dwarves' plea for aid.

"... That's the situation. I must go rescue the Stone Hammer Clan; they are crucial to our future development." Li Qingxuan concluded.

Queen Aister pondered for a moment, a flash of realization crossing her silver eyes.

She understood Li Qingxuan's ambition and also clearly saw the value of the dwarves.

Just then, the usually steady and taciturn Moonshadow Elder stepped forward, bowed, and said: "My lord, Your Majesty. For this rescue, please allow me to lead a squad of Jungle Hunters to accompany you."

Everyone was taken aback.

The Moonshadow Elder mainly handled tribal internal affairs and druidic spells, not known for combat.

The Moonshadow Elder raised his head, his gaze firm as he looked at Li Qingxuan: "My lord, our tribe has recently affiliated, yet to achieve any merit. The dwarf clan has old ties with you; if we can save them, it will greatly benefit the alliance. Though I am not skilled in direct combat, I am versed in Natural Stealth and Tracking Technique, which can help you remain hidden in the rain and complex hill terrain, avoid unnecessary battles, and reach the core directly. At the same time, my natural magic can to some extent soothe or disperse some wild beasts whose minds have been addled by hunger, perhaps easing some pressure."

She had considered everything thoroughly.

Li Qingxuan is powerful, but the key of this mission lies in swift, covert arrival and breaking the siege, not in cutting a bloody path all the way.

The Moonshadow Elder's ability precisely compensates for that shortfall.

Queen Aister looked at Li Qingxuan, seeing him slightly nod, then said: "What the Moonshadow Elder says is reasonable. In that case, please select ten of the finest Jungle Hunters to accompany the lord, ensuring his safety and successfully rescuing the dwarf kin."

"I obey the queen's command!" the Moonshadow Elder replied solemnly.

No delay—Li Qingxuan and the Moonshadow Elder immediately began preparations.

The Moonshadow Elder swiftly picked ten agile, experienced elf hunters, equipped with longbows and poisoned daggers, skilled in stealth and jungle combat.

Li Qingxuan then returned to the fortress, bringing ample supplies and necessary gear, especially that Stealth Cloak, and also brought along the Icefield Demon Wolf King, hoping to tame some icefield demon wolves to bolster the fortress's combat strength.

Although Huang Rong and the others were worried, they also knew this was the best plan, and could only repeatedly urge him to be careful.

Amid the worried gazes of the crowd, Li Qingxuan resolutely strode out of the gate of Guangtan Fortress, his silhouette quickly disappearing into the endless rain curtain.

One hour later, a squad composed of Li Qingxuan, the Moonshadow Elder, and ten Night Elf Hunters—an elite rescue team—quietly left the Moonshadow Tribe, braving the downpour, heading roughly toward the Stone Hammer Clan's fortress, vanishing into the vast rain and mountains.

The rain was icy, the road ahead unknown.

Meanwhile, Guangtan Fortress and the Moonlight Ring would wait in the rain for their news.

The rain still poured down, visibility extremely low.

This was a race against time, a life‑or‑death struggle against natural disaster and unknown monsters.

Success would add a powerful reinforcement to Guangtan Fortress; failure would bring unthinkable consequences.

Everyone's hearts rose with their departure.

The rain curtain hung like a veil, blurring the boundaries between heaven and earth; Li Qingxuan and company pressed on through the endless rain.

The roads were mired in mud, each step requiring extra caution to avoid sinking into a mire.

The Moonshadow Elder relied on his excellent stealth and scouting ability to lead the way, occasionally sending signals to guide Li Qingxuan and the elf squad away from potentially dangerous areas.

As they ventured deeper into the mountains, the surroundings grew ever more perilous.

The rain‑softened slopes occasionally emitted rumbling sounds, as if they might collapse at any moment.

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