After casting one last deep gaze at the dense dark clouds, and sensing the aura within that could shake all things, Chen Luo's thoughts stirred. The surrounding scenery shifted instantaneously, revealing a vast city-state covered by a luminous shield.
The city-state was entirely encased in a thick white protective barrier. Beyond it lay an immense, semi-transparent screen covering nearly a thousand square kilometers. This screen held back an endless expanse of pure white blizzard. Within the semi-transparent barrier, outside the shield-wrapped city-state, lay a land teeming with life.
Countless citizens toiled diligently on the land. Upon seeing the colossal golden pyramid suddenly appear in the sky, they joyfully waved and cheered. This was Starfire City-State, situated within the region completely engulfed by the snowstorm. Chen Luo had, at this moment, used his lord's authority to teleport directly back to his territory.
The instant Chen Luo appeared, the first to notice him was not the laborers on the ground, but a slumbering soul. A majestic voice abruptly echoed in Chen Luo's mind. The voice was not in the language of Da Yan, nor any language Chen Luo understood. Yet, the moment he heard it, Chen Luo comprehended its meaning, as if the language itself possessed inherent power.
"Human, are you ready?"
The majestic voice seemed to carry a hint of anticipation. However, Chen Luo showed no surprise at the sudden voice; instead, he silently shook his head. The owner of the voice, seemingly having asked only this question, then quietly departed.
For the past month, the scope of the snowstorm had continuously expanded. However, for Starfire City-State, protected by the semi-transparent barrier, the non-aggressive natural snowfall posed no threat. Chen Luo had been busy for two days in the imperial capital and across the nation before returning to Starfire City-State. But the moment Chen Luo teleported back into the city, this voice had sounded in his ear for the first time.
The owner of the voice asked Chen Luo the same question every time, and Chen Luo knew it was a query from that dragon. Surprisingly, despite its apparent anticipation, the dragon accepted Chen Luo's repeated refusals. On one occasion, when Chen Luo inquired about the reason, the voice remained silent for a moment before responding to Chen Luo's question:
"Human, I see no deceit in your soul. You are indeed not ready, and I desire a battle without regrets."
With each return, Chen Luo's strength had grown, yet he also truly felt a fundamental gap between himself and what were called forbidden monsters. Seeing that the Ice Dragon seemed approachable, Chen Luo had asked it many questions. But most of the time, after being refused, it would simply fall silent. In the past month, apart from the initial question, it had only answered two other inquiries.
Chen Luo: "What exactly is the gap between you and me? I feel my power has reached its limit, how can I break through? How can I kill you?!"
Facing Chen Luo's undisguised fighting spirit, the Ice Dragon was not angered. Instead, it was quite pleased that this weakling, Chen Luo, dared to fantasize about slaughtering it.
Ice Dragon: "A seed has been planted in your soul. But you have not yet found a way to make it grow. Embrace the void, listen to the world's voice, and open that door! Only then will you have the qualification to fight me to the death!"
Gazing at the seed of the domain, which was neither real nor illusory, within his sea of consciousness, Chen Luo seemed to grasp something. Besides strengthening himself, Chen Luo was also very interested in another matter:
"Besides you, there should be four other transcendent beings in this world. Why don't you go and fight them?"
This was a question Chen Luo had wanted to ask for a long time, having understood the Ice Dragon's honorable and warlike nature. Upon hearing this question, the Ice Dragon did not remain silent:
"I came by summons, I follow a supreme will, and I cannot leave this land called Da Yan."
"I can also sense the other four you speak of."
"The wielder of Gluttony's authority, the fragmented avatar of a high being, the collective will of the swarm, and finally, a negative force that even I can only vaguely perceive."
"Human, I can see your soul, which burns like a fierce flame."
"You are angry, you want to destroy all invaders. You are arrogant, you even want to save everyone."
"But unfortunately, if you cannot even defeat me, your world is destined to become the most brutal hunting ground in the next ten thousand years."
After hearing the Ice Dragon's answer, Chen Luo remained silent for a long time. Thereafter, he spent most of his time piloting the Nether Moon, frantically filling his skill library across Da Yan. And each time he returned, he would simply choose to shake his head in silence. The Ice Dragon did not mind Chen Luo's repeated refusal. For it could see clearly: this human's surface was as calm as a lake, and he treated people like a gentle breeze. But deep within his sea of consciousness, beneath that seemingly calm lake surface, a soul burning like fierce fire was raging!
Far beyond Starfire City-State, at the center of the frozen battlefield, the Ice Frost's Pride slowly closed its golden dragon eyes. A subtle curve seemed to form on its majestic dragon head, a hint of a smile.
I too anticipate,
Anticipate,
The challenge from the strongest of this world, the strongest of its race.