Chapter 362. Without Preparation, Guaranteed Defeat (2)

The North Sea Ice Palace was said to be in trouble due to food shortages. So why...?

When the war had begun once more, the Martial Alliance had sent a letter to the North Sea Ice Palace, requesting help.

However, they were rejected. The reply stated that the record-breaking snowfall that had started a few years ago had caused a large-scale food shortage in the north.

When Zhou Xuchuan heard the news at the time, he hadn't thought much of it.

In his previous life, the North Sea Ice Palace and the North Sea in its entirety, which belonged to the Frontier

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, had not participated in the war.

At one time, they had targeted the fertile lands of the Central Plains, but the climate and environment were not suitable for their cultivation as expected, which led them to retreat.

After that, exchanges with the Central Plains were kept to a minimum, almost cut off.

Let's read it first.

Zhou Xuchuan's eyes moved with a questioning light.

“This is..."

He frowned involuntarily. He felt more troubled than displeased.

“The North Sea Ice Palace has requested assistance," Zhuge Xiang began to explain.

"As the letter says, the North Sea Ice Palace, or rather the North Sea, is in a very bad situation. The continuous record-breaking snowfalls and cold spells that have continued for several years were exceptionally bad even for the North Sea, and they are experiencing a severe food shortage."

The people of the North Sea mainly solved their food problems by eating plants that have adapted to the extreme cold and seafood caught in the North Sea.

However, even those plants and seafood had recently become difficult to obtain and grow.

"The North Sea Ice Palace has been doing everything possible to solve the food shortage, and recently, they accidentally discovered the cause of the current abnormal climate."

"According to the letter, the cause is an artifact..."

"While exploring their palace, they discovered a legendary artifact said to bring natural disasters. It can cause snow storms and freeze not just the land, but the very air. The North Sea Ice Palace Master tried to destroy it but failed due to a lack of strength. Therefore, we request the help of the Empyrean Overlord Absolute Masters of the Martial Alliance."

Zhuge Xiang recited the contents of the letter.

“What a difficult situation."

Zhou Xuchuan looked flustered.

"Putting aside the North Sea’s crisis, the bigger problem is that the Empyrean Overlord Absolute Masters of the Martial Alliance cannot leave their posts while the war with the Dark Heavens Association is in full swing."

The reason he had been able to visit the South Sea and Hainan Island was because the war hadn't started yet.

Moreover, even though the terrible weather of the nature formation and the South Sea had blocked his way, the island itself wasn't that far from the mainland.

The North Sea, however, was a bit farther than one might think. One had to travel northeast from the Capital, passing through both the northern and central parts of the Central Plains.

“It is as you say, Sword God. Normally, we should have refused without a second thought. However..."

"If you help us with the crisis in the North Sea, our Palace will also participate in the war in the Central Plains

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and spare no expense in helping the Righteous and Evil Alliance. Moreover, the North Sea Ice Palace Master of the Six Empyrean Overlords will personally lead the palace's elite to the Central Plains. We promise this in the name of the North Sea Ice Palace and the Palace Master."

Zhou Xuchuan recited the end of the letter and folded it.

“Since they say that it wouldn't be anyone else, but their Empyrean Overlord who will personally lead the North Sea Ice Palace's elite..." Yun Guang said with a worried voice.

"I don't know how much you know about them, Sword God, but the North Sea's cultivations are generally high on average."

"It's as the Alliance Leader said. In fact, according to our records, the Central Plains

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once fought and lost against the martial artists of the North Sea Ice Palace. What was truly frightening was that those martial artists hadn't been able to exert their strengths properly due to the climate and environment of the Central Plains."

The North Sea was cold.

If one let their guard down, even for a moment, one could freeze to death.

To overcome the cold, one needed winter clothing, mental strength, and immense qi reserves. Perhaps because of this special environment, most of the people of the North Sea, even apart from the North Sea Ice Palace, were martial artists and had higher cultivations than the people of the Central Plains. However, the same environment also meant their population was small.

"The North Sea Ice Palace Master is a given, but even the elite within the Ice Palace—if they are truly elite, would hardly be affected by the climate and environment of the Central Plains. If they would give us that much aid, the Righteous and Evil Alliance would also become that much stronger in the future."

"Hmm."

Zhou Xuchuan was so troubled because he understood that.

Yun Guang added a few more words as Zhou Xuchuan's worries grew longer.

“The help of the North Sea Ice Palace is appealing, but as you said, Sword God, it is risky to leave things as they are. It is fine to refuse, so please feel free to answer honestly. I will also ask the Evil Valley Master for assistance and make an offer to the Domination God Monarch, so do not worry."

No, that won't work.

The Sword God groaned at the name, Domination God Monarch.

Right now, I'm the only Empyrean Overlord who can go to the North Sea.

Yun Guang was the Martial Alliance Leader, so he couldn't leave his position.

The Evil Valley Master couldn't go for the same reason.

The Domination God Monarch was another of his disguises, meaning that it didn't matter if he was to be sent. In the end, he had to go himself to resolve this matter.

Should I take the risk to borrow the power of the North Sea, or remain in the Central Plains and prepare for the decisive battle...

Zhou Xuchuan formed a scale in his mind and weighed the options.

After about an hour, his decision was made.

“I'll be back."

The reason the scale tipped toward the North Sea was not only because the war had temporarily slowed down, but also because the Dark Heavens Association had recently opened the Imperial Repository to strengthen their forces.

“You've made a difficult decision."

Yun Guang smiled bitterly, at a loss for words.

"Are you sure it'll be okay? The journey to the North Sea won't be easy."

“It's surprising that someone who has reached the Coruscant Realm would ask such a question, Alliance Master. Once one reaches our level, isn't Extreme Temperature Immunity a given?"

Moreover, Zhou Xuchuan had already gained the Extreme Temperature Immunity through a cheat.

“On the contrary, I should be the one asking. Will you be okay while I'm gone?" Zhou Xuchuan wiped the smile off his face and asked with a serious look.

I'll be able to receive news from the Central Plains even if I go to the North Sea, but the time difference is quite large. Responses will naturally be delayed, so if the Righteous and Evil Alliance says the situation is untenable, I won’t be able to go."

If the Martial Alliance Leader himself said that the situation was too difficult, Zhou Xuchuan would withdraw his decision. The risk was that significant.

However, the reward was also considerable, especially the fact that they would receive help directly from the North Sea Ice Palace Master.

In his previous life, many Empyrean Overlords had sacrificed themselves to deal with the monster known as the Dark Heavens Association Lord.

“Of course."

𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Yun Guang answered with a serious expression.

“I can't leave everything to you forever, can I? As the leader, as the Taiji Sword, I have my own dignity. I will protect the alliance so that you can leave and return with peace of mind, Sword God."

"I feel reassured hearing you say that, Alliance Leader. Thank you."

The Taiji Sword, Yun Guang...

Honestly, Zhou Xuchuan didn't know much about Yun Guang. Since Yun Guang was a warrior who was active at the same time as Jing Bai, Zhuge Zhonghao, and Nangong Weiwu, he was old.

Because of his age, he had returned to nature during the height of the war, meaning that he hadn't done much.

However, Zhou Xuchuan learned about Yun Guang's incredible abilities after the man took office as the Martial Alliance Leader as history changed in his current life. He thought that if the swordmaster were just a little younger, he would have been as famous as the heroes of the future.

“I don't want to interrupt the conversation between the two Absolute Masters who carry the future of the

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, but I still have something I need to say," Zhuge Xiang said with a bitter smile.

"No, no, please feel free to speak."

“Thank you. It's more of a fact than a story. A warning."

The bitter smile on Zhuge Xiang's lips disappeared.

"It might be a little strange to bring this up after the journey to the North Sea has already been decided, but all of this assumes that the abnormal weather is actually caused by the 'artifact' mentioned by the North Sea Ice Palace."

“What do you mean, Strategist? Could it be a trap?" Yun Guang asked, eyes widening.

“No. The chances of the Dark Heavens Association reaching the North Sea Ice Palace are extremely low. For a

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force that was originally trying to avoid the Emperor's eyes, interfering with the North Sea, with the Capital and the Mongol, or Tatar, which was being scrunitized by the imperial government, right in front of them, would be as burdensome as entering the Western Highlands."

"True."

“So the letter from the North Sea Ice Palace shouldn't be a trap. No, what I'm worried about is if their 'guess' is wrong."

“Hmm."

Zhou Xuchuan and Yun Guang both looked confused, their mouths slightly open.

"This situation concerns the fate of the North Sea Ice Palace, and since they’ve staked their name on it, I’m sure they confirmed it several times. Still, there’s no absolute guarantee."

“What should we do if the abnormal weather continues despite completing the request?" Yun Guang asked on Zhou Xuchuan's behalf.

“The women of the Ice Palace are as proud as the Sichuan Tang Family, so you don’t need to worry about that. Since they have made this promise in their name, they’ll honor it. However, if they ask for more help or time, you must refuse without hesitation. What you should do, Sword God, is to destroy the artifact and then mobilize the strength of the North Sea Ice Palace."

“Understood."

***

Zhou Xuchuan's journey to the North Sea was classified as top secret. If word got out that the hero of the Righteous Faction and the greatest force of the Righteous Sect—the Sword God—had left the Central Plains, it would cause serious trouble.

The morale of the Allied Forces could drop due to anxiety, and the Dark Heavens Association might exploit the gap.

Even that information was limited to the elders, the upper leadership of the Martial Alliance.

"The Western Highlands, the Southern Jungles, Hainan Island, and now the North Sea... there's nowhere I'm not being sent. Just what sort of suffering is this?!"

Zhou Xuchuan prepared for the journey, lamenting the hardships that lay ahead.

The top priority was making arrangements for any possible complications during his absence.

"Little Ghost, tell all the Valley of Phantoms branches to follow the orders of the Head Merchant of the Gold Will Merchants, Li Yicai, and the Mechanism Dragon, Zhuge Shengji, while I am away in the North Sea."

"Understood."

He considered delegating them to Zhuge Xiang, but decided against it. The Martial Alliance had been on the verge of splitting up because of a group with a dirty secret like the Black Shadow Division, so entrusting the Valley of Phantoms to him was out of the question.

Moreover, since most of the Phantoms were currently in charge of setting up mechanisms or transporting and escorting supplies for the Gold Will Merchants anyway, the number of Phantoms who could be mobilized for Martial Alliance work was extremely limited.

In addition, Elder Wu Qu and the Head Merchant will handle everything else... I should tell the Xia Wu Sect Master and the Evil Valley Master that I have some circumstances and can't respond for the time being, too.

Since the matter was important, Zhou Xuchuan called the Phantoms separately instead of a homing pigeon or a messenger hawk to deliver the message.

He had asked the Xia Wu Sect Master separately for help in controlling the information so any news about the Righteous and Evil Alliance wouldn't leak out.

If they were to cooperate with the Beggar Gang, they would be able to hide the fact that he was leaving the Central Plains as well.

As for companions... Should I just take Little Ghost?

He didn't plan on staying in the North Sea for long. The more companions he brought, the more burdensome the journey would become.

Still, he didn't plan on going alone. In case he didn't have enough hands, he had to take someone with him.

Little Ghost was a master of lightness arts and had enough qi reserves to follow after him, so she was a good choice.

Hmm, wait. If we're considering someone who doesn't lack qi reserves... good.

He thought of the group he left behind because of the White Horse Gang's purge.

It's a shame I can't take the Flame Point Spear.

The Flame Point Spear, an artifact that spat out flames when one imbued it with one's qi, would have been a great help if he could have taken it to the North Sea.

However, since Gan Yezi was using it to refine the Black Iron Armor, it was a bit awkward to bring it.

The Flame Point Spear would be helpful, but it wasn't absolutely necessary, so he decided to just leave it behind.

"This damned snow has just started to melt, but to think I have to go all the way to the North Sea to go look at some more. Ha. This is my fate."

Zhou Xuchuan sighed and grumbled.

"They say that there are a lot of elixirs buried in the snow in the North Sea... I should at least bring some of those back with me. Otherwise, it won't be worth it."