Chapter 573: Ice Lake National Policy
The ancestors of the snow elves who first migrated here settled near the Ten Millenia Ice Lake.
The Ten Millenia Ice Lake stood as the largest and highest level resource point on the entire Ice Sculpture Island—without a doubt!
The exceptionally dense and uniquely concentrated ice element, combined with the temporal laws emanating from the Millenium Dragon's remains, had together forged this peerless natural wonder.
Clergymen worshiped here, constructing temples and spreading their doctrines.
Fighters hunted and populated here, for the flesh and blood of ice beasts serve as potent tonics for snow elf fighters.
Magicians established alchemy labs and mage towers, absorbing the abundant natural elements to convert them into magic power. They studied the unique ecology here, gaining knowledge. They harnessed the rich resources to build their homes.
Even before the Ice Sculpture Kingdom was founded, numerous magicians had already made their mark here.
Around the Ten Millenia Ice Lake, countless battles raged, countless schemes unfolded. Countless souls shed blood and tears, even sacrificing their lives.
Ultimately, the barbarians retreated, and the snow elves became the masters of this land.
A kingdom was founded.
From its inception, the Ice Sculpture Kingdom's royal family balanced all factions, announcing a policy for the joint development of the Ten Millenia Ice Lake.
This became national policy.
The influence of this policy had been pivotal in shaping the Ice Sculpture Kingdom into what it was today. To put it dramatically, without this policy, the Ice Sculpture Kingdom of today would not exist.
The policy stipulated that the Ten Millenia Ice Lake did not belong solely to the royal family, nor would it ever be monopolized by any powerful clan in the future.
The Ten Millenia Ice Lake belonged to everyone.
Each year, permits were issued, allowing magicians, fighters, and clergymen to establish themselves within the lake.
Naturally, magicians were the most numerous.
Conservative estimates suggested over three hundred new alchemy laboratories were established on the lake each year.
Over the Ice Sculpture Kingdom's history, these laboratories had accumulated into an immense number. The royal family could not even keep an accurate count, partly due to the lake's teeming magic beasts making comprehensive oversight difficult, and partly because numerous facilities predated the kingdom's founding.
The Ice Sculpture Kingdom's unique ice-carving techniques were the fruits of research conducted within these laboratories.
Nearly every year, these alchemy chambers and mage towers yield groundbreaking new alchemy techniques, either refined from existing knowledge or born from entirely novel innovations.
These achievements continuously propelled the Ice Sculpture Kingdom's advancements in alchemy.
Consequently, within the frost domain of alchemy today, the Ice Sculpture Kingdom stands unparalleled, surpassing even the vast Sheng Ming Empire.
"Our merchant alliance established its flagship store in the capital long ago. At our peak, we maintained branches across the major cities of the Ice Sculpture Kingdom."
“After the former president was assassinated by imperial conspirators, factions like the kingdom's Alchemy Guild seized the opportunity to attack, seizing the market share we had painstakingly built here.”
Caught between these internal and external pressures, we could no longer sustain operations. Only the flagship store in the capital clung to life."
"This alchemy chamber is a remnant of the merchant alliance's former achievements. Truthfully, securing a permit to establish an ice lake alchemy chamber here wasn't difficult."
Elder Yuan Ci explained as he piloted the submarine, slowly docking alongside a colossal ice formation.
The ice mass was at least the combined volume of three blue whales.
As they drew near, a corner of the ice underwent mechanical deformation, revealing an access passage.
Elder Yuan Ci maneuvered the submarine into the passage, entering a short underwater metal tunnel that led to the landing pod.
The exit sealed shut as the chamber drained, filling with breathable air.
The submarine's hatch then opened, and both Elder Yuan Ci and Zi Di stepped out.
They entered another metal passageway. Elder Yuan Ci led the way, explaining, “This is the ice-skating laboratory constructed by the merchant alliance.”
“Its exterior is camouflaged to resemble a giant ice block, but it's actually a gold level magic ship.”
“Unlike conventional magic ships, it lacks an internal power source. Instead, it harnesses the abundant ice elements in its surroundings through elemental density flow technology to generate propulsion.”
“This makes its disguise remarkably natural. Even drifting within an ice lake, it remains undetectable to those without specific intent.”
“Imperial spies never discovered this location.”
"The place you were trapped in earlier was the Empire's secret alchemy chamber. These chambers are fixed installations, anchored atop the millennium ice layer."
Zi Di nodded slightly. “So we're currently positioned between the millennium and century ice layers.”
Clang!
No sooner had she spoken than two metal barriers slammed down, sealing her in from both ends. The metal walls on both sides closed in, forming a prison cell.
Zi Di was momentarily startled but quickly relaxed.
This reaction from Elder Yuan Ci was one she had anticipated.
Zi Di wasn't particularly nervous.
If he had wanted her dead, he wouldn't have risked saving her in the first place.
Since he had rescued her and brought her here, his sincerity was evident.
Of course, it could also be a third party with ulterior motives.
But it didn't matter.
Bringing her here had been a significant effort; there must be a purpose.
Zi Di was safe for now, far better than hanging between life and death as before.
Elder Yuan Ci said, "I'm sorry, but I cannot truly trust you yet. Even though you were the one attacked."
Zi Di nodded, her tone calm. “I understand.”
Elder Yuan Ci narrowed his eyes. "For now, I lean toward believing your intentions are genuine. Prove yourself going forward. A friendly warning: our next conversation will be crucial, it will determine whether you live or die."
Zi Di shrugged. "Truthfully, I need to verify your identity too. Let's use that method. It yields the most immediate results."
Though unspoken, Elder Yuan Ci raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing Zi Di once more. “You can refine a level zero Wisteria secret order too?”
Zi Di nodded. “Of course.”
Moments later, Elder Yuan Ci retrieved alchemy materials and slipped them through the metal bars into Zi Di's hands.
Before his eyes, Zi Di refined the Wisteria secret order.
The organizational structure of the Wisteria Merchant Alliance was divided into ten levels: Level ten president, level nine vice president, level eight senior elder, level seven elder... level three representatives...
On the surface, there was no such thing as level zero.
Yet in reality, the level zero Wisteria secret order existed. To forge this order, the creator had to first sign a special Wisteria Pact and had never violated it.
Elder Yuan Ci witnessed Zi Di forge a level zero Wisteria secret order before his eyes, his expression softening considerably.
“Only a trusted confidant of the President could sign the Wisteria Pact,” Elder Yuan Ci marveled. “Yet I've never seen you before, nor heard your name.”
Zi Di shrugged slightly. “Well, I am a necromancer, after all.”
Elder Yuan Ci nodded lightly, accepting Zi Di's explanation.
“Now it's my turn,” Elder Yuan Ci declared. He proceeded to personally forge a level zero Wisteria secret order in Zi Di's presence.
As the two secret orders touched, they both emitted a purple magic glow.
Initially two separate glows, they swiftly merged into one. This fusion, involving both divine spells and alchemy techniques, served as compelling proof that both Wisteria secret orders were genuine.
Witnessing this, Elder Yuan Ci exhaled in relief, his face lighting up with joy.
He laughed heartily, waved his hand, and the metal bars rose again, restoring Zi Di's freedom. “Hahaha! Looks like I bet right this time, I didn't rescue the wrong person!”
“I knew it, I'd never seen those bastards so frantic, making such a huge fuss.”
Zi Di looked at Elder Yuan Ci, her gaze softening considerably as her earlier wariness diminished.
Stepping before the elder, she introduced herself: “I am Gui Teng. I've maintained direct contact with the former President but handled no daily affairs.”
“My cultivation relies on undead resources supplied through the merchant alliance's channels, a power secretly cultivated by the former President.”
“My journey to the sea was to search for the missing Miss Zi Di.”
“Little Zi Di...” Elder Yuan Ci nodded, sighing. “I know. She has become the new President and vanished at sea several months ago.”
“I too attempted to dispatch personnel. After over a month of investigation yielding no results, I decisively called it off.”
“I suspect this was a deliberate trap set by our enemies to lure out the remnants of our Wisteria Merchant Alliance.”
“Consider this: Magician Gui Teng, you came to the sea upon receiving this news, only to be ambushed by imperial spies and nearly killed.”
Zi Di fell silent. Thoughts churned in her mind as she pondered rapidly before finally speaking: “In truth, my investigations confirm that Miss Zi Di has indeed vanished.”
"Vanished alongside her were Zhen Jin, the next head of the Bai Zhen Clan, and Fei She, a level eight elder of the Wisteria Merchant Alliance.”
Elder Yuan Ci shook his head. “Though the Bai Zhen Clan was once a great noble house in the Empire's south, it has now fallen into decline.”
“The current clan head, known as ‘Iron Knee’ and ‘The Unbowed,’ possesses only gold level cultivation. He represents the last vestiges of the Bai Zhen Clan's glory and dignity.”
“The next generation's clan head, Zhen Jin, though promoted to the Emperor's templar knight, cannot conceal his profound shortcomings, inadequate ability and a timid disposition.”
“The future of such a family is bleak. Little Zi Di's alliance with them is nothing but a desperate, misguided attempt to save a sinking ship.”
"Zhen Jin cannot serve as her protector. In fact, this maritime disaster was likely orchestrated by a major imperial faction targeting the Bai Zhen Clan. And Little Zi Di may have been caught in the crossfire."
At this point, Elder Yuan Ci sighed deeply: “Little Zi Di has fallen into a trap.”
"She voluntarily took over the position of the old President, becoming the new head of the merchant alliance. This was actually the result of the enemy deliberately letting her take the lead."
“They intended to use Zi Di as a trail to track down our remaining forces, and ultimately find what they covet most—the Wisteria Cache!”
Zi Di's heart trembled.
She had long suspected she'd fallen into a trap, so this revelation held little surprise.
Yet hearing the name “Wisteria Cache” again sent shockwaves through her heart.
The first time she'd ever heard of the Wisteria Cache was from Qing Xin. Later, she sought confirmation from Fei She, who admitted he'd only heard rumors and knew no details.