"That question should be mine. How did you cross through that white mist, stretching tens of kilometers?" Ye Feng countered, looking puzzled.
The old man's strength wasn't that great. Beyond obstructed vision and the ease of getting lost, that area of white mist was also filled with various tricky monsters. Even without considering that Snow Ghost fellow, their group had suffered injuries on their journey...
"White mist? Tens of kilometers?"
The old man was momentarily stunned, his face filled with shock. "You... you didn't possibly cross through the death zone, did you?"
"Death zone? So the route we took was indeed unusual!"
Ling, who had participated in many expeditions before, felt that the danger level within the white mist was far beyond what she had encountered in her previous adventures...
"Hmm~ Probably!"
After some thought, Ye Feng nodded.
"You... did you encounter any monsters?"
...
More than half an hour later,
Ye Feng finally understood the situation of this old man with white hair and eyebrows.
It turned out that this old man, named Xu Wenqiang, was originally a resident of this Winter Refuge. Later, due to the changes Ye Feng had seen in the data room earlier, he was forced to leave. He never expected to be unable to return after that one departure, until today...
And this Winter Refuge, as Ye Feng had previously speculated, was indeed the Ice City that those explorers outside spoke of...
"Why... why are you telling me these secrets? We've only met a few times, haven't we?"
Ye Feng looked at him with great puzzlement. He remembered the man to be very cautious and taciturn. He hadn't gone into much detail before when mentioning the heating lamps and supply stations.
Yet, what he had just said included not only the origin of the entire Winter Refuge but also a secret underground passage that bypassed the death zone and led safely here...
Especially, the situation regarding the Eternal Frost Ice!
If this information were to be traded outside, its value would be immeasurable!
"You are different from others!"
Xu Wenqiang smiled faintly. "I've lived for over half a century. I may not have many skills, but I have some ability to read people. I can tell that you are not like those who put up a false front. You are genuinely seeking the Creation Lamp!"
"Although I don't know what the Eternal Frost Ice is used for, it's good to be able to help someone like you!"
"Besides, my knowledge of the Eternal Frost Ice's existence is only speculation!"
Xu Wenqiang added after a pause.
"Uh, okay~"
Ye Feng scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Speaking of which, that device, even though it didn't have many Arcane Yuan Coins and Arcane Origin Stones to replenish its arcane energy, how could it still emit an arcane energy track capable of long-distance deployment?"
As he spoke, Ye Feng pointed at the cylindrical object in the center.
"That device is called a Spirit Gathering Pillar. Its material is rather special; it's a kind of thing called Spirit Gathering Stone. And its structure is also very unique, capable of gathering the arcane energy scattered throughout nature!"
Xu Wenqiang looked at the location Ye Feng pointed to and replied.
"Arcane energy in nature?"
Ye Feng was very surprised and looked at Ling.
"This... I've heard elders mention before that there is indeed arcane energy everywhere in nature, but it's extremely scarce... And I've never heard of anyone being able to gather and use it..."
Ling's voice, filled with surprise, rang out. If Xu Wenqiang hadn't mentioned it, she would have almost forgotten about it.
"Is that so~"
Ye Feng nodded slightly, looking at the mysterious runes on the outer surface of the Spirit Gathering Pillar, lost in thought.
"Um... could you take us to the place you mentioned where the Eternal Frost Ice might exist?"
At this moment, Lei Jian's voice echoed.
Xu Wenqiang did not answer but instead looked at Ye Feng.
"Let's go, let's take a look!"
...
On the other side,
Beneath the Ice City, Kelleki, dressed in a tailcoat suit, the scarred muscular man carrying the Snow Ghost, and the man whose head was a pool of water were walking on a stone bridge flanked by scorching lava.
"Hey, Ice Gu Monster, how about throwing that idiot Snow Ghost into this lava? He still hasn't woken up, what a burden!"
The pool of water said sinisterly to the scarred muscular man carrying the Snow Ghost.
The scarred muscular man dared not respond and looked at Kelleki.
"Hey, Kelleki, do you really need to spray that perfume of yours? It's just us here, who are you spraying it for?!"
"Also, why did you set up traps at the entrance? Is it necessary? This place is so deserted, no birds even come here, who the—"
After speaking, Kelleki handed the large bag in his hand to the scarred big man and took the Snow Ghost from his shoulder.
Of course, Kelleki did not carry the Snow Ghost himself but placed it on the back of a monster and then walked ahead.
The scarred muscular man, carrying the large bag Kelleki had given him, quickly walked back towards the passage behind them!
...