Chapter 192

The breakout path, every step tread upon bloodwater and mire.

The dwarves' circular formation was like a slowly moving iron fortress, war axes and heavy hammers swinging, smashing and chopping the scattered beasts that charged.

Although they were exhausted, the desire to survive and hope of rescue ignited their final fighting spirit, their roars even overwhelming the beasts' howls.

Li Qingxuan was like the tip of the sharpest spear, always charging at the forefront.

Where his figure passed, limbs flew; any sturdy monster trying to block was instantly slain, he literally carved a path through the chaotic beast horde.

The Icefield Demon Wolf King led a massive wolf pack, like a white torrent, frenziedly charging on the flanks and rear; they tore at snow mice, drove off hyenas, and with their flesh built a relatively safe barrier for the dwarf force.

Moonshadow Elder and the elf hunters constantly moved on the high ground; their arrows were like the grim reaper's roll call, precisely eliminating the greatest threats to the dwarf force—those hyenas attempting flank ambushes, or the exceptionally large Icefield Demon Wolves.

The elves' support greatly eased the pressure on the dwarves' flanks.

The rainstorm continued pouring, washing away the bloodstains on the ground, yet it could not dispel the thick smell of blood and the horrific sounds of slaughter.

This was a contest of will and survival.

The dwarves gritted their teeth, protecting the elderly and weak of their clan, tightly following that war‑god‑like figure ahead, they struggled to advance out of the valley.

Having lost many leaders and facing attacks from inside and out, the beast horde finally collapsed completely.

The remaining snow mice burrowed into crevices or fled scattered into the forests; the demon hyenas let out unwilling howls, dragging their wounded bodies away into the rain‑veiled depths, while the scattered Icefield Demon Wolves were either devoured by the Wolf King's pack or fled howling.

When the dwarf force finally broke out of the valley occupied by the beasts and stepped onto relatively safe hills, everyone was nearly exhausted.

Copperbeard Clan Chief leaned on his battle axe, gasping heavily, gazing at the road paved with blood and corpses behind him, and at his bedraggled yet mostly surviving clansmen beside him; this strong dwarf chieftain's eyes involuntarily welled up.

The demon hyenas in the valley came and went, gnawing on the carcasses of beasts that failed to escape in time.

But at this moment, no one paid attention to those; the joy of surviving the disaster and the bewilderment about the future intertwined in every dwarf's heart.

Li Qingxuan stood at the front of the troop, rain sliding down his armor, his gaze sweeping past this bloody valley toward the unknown land farther away.

"Count heads, rest here for fifteen minutes!" Li Qingxuan's voice remained steady, as if the fierce battle just fought had not drained much of his strength.

He ordered the wolves to guard the perimeter, and the elf hunters descended from the high ground to regroup.

After the roll call, the Stone Hammer Clan had over three hundred participants in this breakout—eighty‑three warriors, almost all wounded, eleven killed, the rest being elders, women, and children.

For them, who had nearly fallen into desperation, this was already a fortunate stroke amidst misfortune.

"Lord Li Qingxuan…" Copperbeard Clan Chief approached Li Qingxuan, about to perform a great salute, but Li Qingxuan held him up.

"Copperbeard Clan Chief, no need for that. Since you wish to ally, from now on we are one family." Li Qingxuan looked at him, tone sincere, "The urgent matter is to return quickly to my fortress, where there is a relatively safe environment and supplies."

After a brief rest, the troop set off again.

With the road opened on the way there and the wolves' escort, plus the main beast tide already crushed and unable to pursue, the return route, though still muddy and difficult, saw danger greatly reduced.

Li Qingxuan had the dwarven warriors in slightly better condition take turns carrying the severely wounded and those truly unable to walk, while the elf hunters and wolves handled scouting and vigilance.

Moonshadow Elder used natural magic to alleviate pain and stabilize the conditions of some severely wounded dwarves as much as possible.

Seeing that Li Qingxuan was not only powerful but also orderly in his arrangements and caring for the wounded, the last shreds of doubt and unease in the Stone Hammer Clan dwarves' hearts dissipated, replaced by deep gratitude and a sense of belonging.

After a grueling day and night of marching, on the fifth day when the second round of rainstorms persisted, this massive, peculiar force of humans, elves, dwarves, and wolves finally caught sight in the distance of the rain‑shrouded yet immensely reassuring—Guangtan Fortress and the newly built Moonlight Ring not far away.

When the guards on the fortress walls spotted this troop, they immediately sent out a signal.

Soon, Huang Rong, Li Feifei and others braved the downpour to come out; seeing Li Qingxuan unharmed and bringing back so many dwarves and a massive wolf pack, they were both astonished and delighted.

Queen Aister also arrived from the Moonlight Ring with several elf elders; seeing Moonshadow Elder and the hunters unharmed, she breathed a sigh of relief and simultaneously congratulated Li Qingxuan on successfully rescuing and bringing back the dwarf clan.

Guangtan Fortress and the Moonlight Ring immediately sprang into action, clearing space, preparing food and medicine, to settle these exhausted dwarf refugees.

Although space inside the fortress was tight, by squeezing in and with the Moonlight Ring sharing part of the burden, they managed to preliminarily settle these over three hundred people.

Copperbeard Clan Chief gazed at the sturdy walls, the orderly fortress, and beside it the elf city likewise encircled by walls and brimming with natural aura; he was deeply shaken and his resolve to follow Li Qingxuan grew even firmer.

After initially settling the dwarves, Copperbeard Clan Chief summoned all members of the Stone Hammer Clan before Li Qingxuan, the core of Guangtan Fortress and the Moonlight Ring, raised his rune war hammer, and spoke loudly and solemnly: "I, Tongxu Stonehammer, swear by the mountains and the Forge God! From today onward, the Stone Hammer Clan and all its members voluntarily relinquish independence and wholeheartedly follow Lord Li Qingxuan! His will is our direction, his enemies are our mortal foes! We shall use our skill, courage, and loyalty to forge the strongest weapons for the lord and build the most impregnable fortifications! This oath, witnessed by heaven and earth, shall be passed down through blood!"

"We swear to follow the lord unto death!" All the dwarves, young and old, excitedly raised their weapons or fists, shouting a thunderous cry.

Having found life in desperation, their loyalty to Li Qingxuan reached its peak.

Li Qingxuan stepped forward, took the symbolic war hammer offered by Copperbeard Clan Chief, lifted it overhead, and his voice rang all around: "I accept the Stone Hammer Clan's allegiance! From now on, you are an indispensable part of Guangtan Fortress! This is your new homeland! I promise to lead you, in this apocalypse, to revive the glory of dwarf forging!"

Thus, Guangtan Fortress's power underwent another massive expansion.

Possessing the jungle combat strength and long‑range scouting of the dark elves, plus the dwarves' mighty forging and melee force, together with Li Qingxuan's unfathomable personal strength and his command of the wolf pack and strange creatures, a diverse and powerful alliance embryo now stands firm in this rain‑storm‑ridden chaotic age.

However, just as Li Qingxuan was integrating the new forces and preparing to face the remaining five days of rainstorms, Li Feifei brought an unsettling message intercepted from the World Channel—far to the north, a large human encampment observed that areas once covered by glaciers, due to climate change, have begun to melt, revealing ancient relics sealed in ice for untold ages, fraught with unknown dangers… New challenges and opportunities seem to descend unnoticed.

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