Chapter 204: North Wind Outpost Takes Shape

Staring at the ominous cave at the end of the canyon, everyone understood that a solid stronghold had to be established as soon as possible.

The area covered by a dark‑green fungal carpet was like a suppurating wound on the glacier; the Ice Wraith Guard was merely the "pus" seeping out, while the real threat still lurked deep within.

"We can't advance any further," Li Qingxuan ordered decisively. "Establish an outpost here! Boulder Engineer, find the most advantageous terrain!"

"Understood!" Boulder Stonehammer immediately led a few Dwarves to survey the terrain.

They quickly selected a high ground about three kilometers from the polluted cave.

The high ground backed against a relatively intact ice cliff, effectively blocking attacks from behind; the forward view was open, overlooking most of the Glacier Canyon, and a melting ice stream wound along the side, providing a steady water source.

"This is the spot! Everyone, move!" Boulder shouted loudly, and the Dwarves immediately sprang into action like precise machines.

Heavy mining tools struck the hard frozen soil and rock, and the clanging sounds shattered the dead silence of the ice valley.

Li Qingxuan took out several sections of City Wall, placed them on the foundation, and the Dwarves built defensive works atop the walls.

They laid out the basic defenses and began mixing the mined stone blocks with a special Dwarf adhesive to stack a sturdy City Tower.

The elves were not idle either; Xila led the hunters to set a perimeter of poisoned traps, snares, and simple warning bells around the City Wall.

The druids began communicating with the lightly polluted land, attempting to purify the immediate area and coaxing out cold‑resistant moss with a faint anti‑evil effect, which they laid inside the soon‑to‑be‑built camp; it provided a bit of life and served as a warning—when strong corrupt energy approached, the moss would wither rapidly.

The Icefield Magic Wolf Pack roamed the outskirts of the high ground; their keen scent and perception acted as living radar, and any Ice Wraith attempting to approach could not evade their surveillance.

Li Qingxuan personally took part in planning the outpost.

He suggested the Dwarves install simple devices on the defensive wall that could spray fuel, igniting at a critical moment to form a flame barrier that would suppress Ice Wraiths.

At the same time, he had the elves coat their arrows with more flammable plant oil, and ordered the Dwarf blacksmith to urgently forge a batch of heavy weapons equipped with bleeding slots and armor‑piercing spikes, specifically targeting the joints of Ice Wraiths.

Huang Rong, Chen Xiulan, and some elves took turns handling guard duty and scouting.

Huang Rong slipped several times to spots nearer the polluted cave, bringing back more detailed intelligence.

The fungal carpet around the cave was slowly expanding, the Ice Wraith Guard's patrol frequency and numbers seemed to be increasing, and she vaguely sensed a larger energy entity moving deep within the cave.

Chen Xiulan set up a temporary watchpost on the outpost's high point, using the Fortress Guard's ability to place several "eyes" along key routes, greatly extending the warning range.

Li Jing became the fastest information conduit linking the outpost with the rear Guangtan Fortress; she returned regularly, bringing back supplies and intelligence organized by Li Feifei, and relayed the front‑line developments.

In just two days, a fledgling North Wind Outpost rose from the ground.

Though crude, it featured a 12‑meter‑high City Wall with firing embrasures and simple fuel‑spray ports on top; inside were sturdy stone houses and tents enough for everyone, plus a small supply depot and an "Oasis" maintained by the druids that emitted a faint purifying glow.

The night of the third day after the outpost's establishment.

Li Qingxuan stood on the newly‑built wall's edge, gazing at the faint dark‑green glimmer deep within the Glacier Canyon, his brows tightly knit.

The Ice Wraith threat was within arm's reach, and the so‑called "Corruption Root" was like a sword hanging over the head.

The Shadow Hall's intentions remained unclear, and the two anonymous messages coiled in his mind like poisonous snakes.

At that moment, his pupils contracted slightly—not from an external threat, but because the long‑silent communication channel linked to the Shadow Hall transmitted a message again.

This time, it was not a routine message but a more vague, yet stranger transmission that appeared on his Control Panel:

"... Below the glacier, buried are not only the dead souls... but also... the old order..."

"... The glory of the New Ruler? Ha… just a False Emperor stealing authority..."

"... We... are the Orthodoxy... the true inheritors of the Former Lord's will..."

"... Cooperate... locate the 'Core'... destroy it... otherwise... all things will fall into deathly silence and... distortion..."

The messages were laced with intense resentment, unwillingness, and an almost fanatical claim of "Orthodoxy."

Terms like "New Ruler," "False Emperor," and "Former Lord's will" sent a huge shock through Li Qingxuan's mind!

He instantly recalled his own vocation—Weird Master!

Could the "New Ruler" and "False Emperor" spoken of by the Shadow Hall be their enemies?

And they, claiming to be "the Former Lord's inheritors" and "Orthodoxy"?

The speculation rang like a thunderclap in his mind.

If that were true, then the Shadow Hall's actions—driving the Corruption Tide to attack him (perhaps as a test, perhaps to eliminate potential rivals?) and now seeking cooperation against the threat beneath the glacier—would have a seemingly reasonable explanation!

They are looking for allies to fight a common, stronger enemy?

The idea is highly tempting, yet fraught with traps.

The Shadow Hall's origins are too mysterious; is their claim of "Orthodoxy" trustworthy?

Are they sincerely seeking cooperation, or planning to use him as cannon fodder against the current Weird Master?

What, then, is the "Core" beneath the glacier?

What relation does it have to the "Corruption Root"?

Information remains scant, the fog thick.

"Qingxuan, what's wrong?" Huang Rong appeared silently beside him, keenly sensing the shift in his mood.

Li Qingxuan inhaled a breath of icy air, temporarily suppressing the swirling thoughts in his mind.

He didn't fully voice his speculation, but said in a low tone, "The Shadow Hall sent another message; its content is cryptic. They seem… to want to cooperate with us."

A flash of surprise crossed Huang Rong's beautiful eyes, then she regained composure: "They were our enemies before; now they seek cooperation. Their words cannot be fully trusted."

"I understand," Li Qingxuan nodded, "but that also means the situation we face may be more complex than imagined. We must not only deal with the threat beneath the glacier, but might also get drawn into… higher‑level conflicts."

He looked toward the glacier shrouded in darkness, his gaze seeming to pierce the ice to discern the hidden truth below.

"Regardless, strengthening ourselves is fundamental. Tomorrow I plan to personally explore near that cave—to at least find out what's actually hidden inside."

Huang Rong grasped his hand, her tone firm: "I'll go with you."

At that moment, watch‑tower guard Chen Xiulan suddenly sounded an alarm: "Situation! To the southeast, a large number of creatures are rapidly approaching! Not Ice Wraiths… but… humans? And Dwarves? Quite a few!"

Li Qingxuan and Huang Rong rushed to the watchpost.

Under moonlight and the snow's reflection, a sizable force of roughly a hundred people fled in disarray toward the outpost.

Behind them, dozens of moving ice‑blue lights were faintly visible—those were the Ice Wraith Guard's ethereal Soul Fire!

The fleeing group seemed to have attracted considerable trouble.

"Prepare to receive! Open the gate!" Li Qingxuan decided on the spot.

Regardless of who the newcomer is, when confronting Ice Wraith, humans and Dwarves are temporarily on the same side.

North Wind Outpost welcomed its first batch of "guests", and also faced its first Real Combat trial since its founding.

(PS: The free version is a love‑powered giveaway; the author will be more motivated to write. If you enjoy this book, feel free to leave a review. Thank you, everyone.)