Chapter 1 The Blizzard

The blizzard continued, growing fiercer. The frigid north wind, which could only be described as a gale, carried goose feather-like snowflakes and swirling ice, sweeping across the snowfield. The outside world was frighteningly dark, with visibility near zero except for the immediate storm.

Frostwind City stood between heaven and earth like an isolated island about to be swallowed by cold and darkness. The city's lights appeared dim and precarious in the wild wind. These flames, representing human civilization, emitted a tiny bit of negligible warmth, guarding the city in this dark world that seemed about to freeze.

Even the thick city walls could not stop the blizzard's pervasive invasion. The wind and snow blew into the city through every crevice in the walls, gradually freezing every street in the fortress city. The soldiers standing guard uneasily watched the outside world through the observation windows. No matter how much strong liquor they drank, the thick, almost tangible ominous aura could not be dispelled from their hearts.

However, in the mountaintop inn in Frostwind City, Lya's gaze pierced through the darkness and snow. She seemed able to directly see the rising evil aura in the distance. In her line of sight, there was a clear blank area in the blizzard. Both the wind and the snow respectfully avoided her gaze.

"What's in that direction?" Hao Ren also stared in the same direction as Lya and tapped the data terminal on his shoulder.

"Comparing with the map... the Dragon Empire's capital is in that direction. Additional: High-altitude detection probes have sensed abnormal energy fluctuations within the capital at the same time. Energy readings are still rising."

"That's right, it's the reaction of the Lord of the Mad Winds. Although it's small, the level has reached 'Origin'," Lya suddenly turned her head, her eyes with a hint of pale golden light. "Right in the capital of this Dragon Empire, as we speculated. That so-called Dragon Soul Emperor is inseparable from this matter. He... um?"

Lya frowned, and at the same time, the suddenly erupting aura disappeared as silently as it had appeared.

Vivian didn't react for a moment: "The aura of the Lord of the Mad Winds... is gone?"

Hao Ren tapped the data terminal's casing, concise and to the point: "Track it."

"Already doing it... no tracking results. Detection probes have focused all sensors on the capital, but no signs of the Mad Winds have been found."

The people in the room looked at each other in confusion.

Lya turned her head to look out the window in doubt. The blizzard that had seemed to freeze the entire world had calmed down imperceptibly and gradually weakened into harmless ordinary wind and snow. The howling of the cold wind from the plains also gradually turned low and lost its intimidating power that seemed to shake people's hearts.

Lya muttered with some annoyance: "It's all this damn weather... I don't like it."

The blizzard stopped instantly, and the night became incredibly clear. Although the night sky of Lachein lacked stars, it had a gentle glow from the divine barrier spilling across the earth.

Lily let out a disappointed *aowu* and returned to the sofa, curling up her body between several warm cushions and closing her eyes to play dead.

Hao Ren glanced at Lya: "You used divine speech for this?"

"Coincidence, just a coincidence..." Lya smiled slightly awkwardly, then her expression became serious. "What just happened... what do you think?"

"It's definitely the aura of the Lord of the Mad Winds, just as we expected. This world really does retain a small portion of the Lord of the Mad Winds' power, but the sudden disappearance is a little hard to explain," Hao Ren frowned. "Could it be that there's some kind of remaining sealing system at work? The power of the Mad Winds briefly broke free and was then controlled again?"

"I don't know, but we must go to that capital," Lya said very seriously. "We'll set off early tomorrow morning, okay?"

Lily pulled her head out of the soft cushions: "What about the Charlemagne siblings?"

"Can't wait for them," Hao Ren waved his hand. "Anyway, we've already sent them to the Northern Border. They can walk the rest of the way themselves. Besides, we can go to the capital to investigate first. If we can't find a starting point, we can always come back."

Vivian nodded: "I agree. In any case, let's all rest well today and adjust our states to the best. If we really have to deal with the Lord of the Mad Winds... even if it's just dealing with a bit of residual power, we must take it with twelve million points of seriousness."

Everyone agreed with this point, so after saying goodnight to each other, Hao Ren and his party returned to their rooms to rest and recharge their batteries in preparation for the next action.

Early the next morning, Hao Ren got up and met Lily, Vivian, and Lya in the inn's lobby.

"Did everyone get enough rest last night?" Hao Ren greeted the others. "Let's eat first, then say goodbye to the Charlemagne siblings before leaving—no matter how busy we are, a little courtesy is always necessary."

Lily stretched, casually looking at the few scattered servants and maids in the inn while saying: "It's good to eat first—oh, right, Landlord, I went out for a morning run just now, and when I passed by the lord's castle, I vaguely heard people running around in a panic. Do you think something happened?"

"Something happened? What could happen?" Vivian blinked. "That Princess Constance has dragged the Northern Grand Duke to the south to fight, and I also heard that the Grand Duke's sons are stationed in the fortresses further north and aren't here, so who could be in the castle?"

Hao Ren touched his chin and guessed: "It wouldn't be that someone burned the lord's house down while making a fire at night..."

As he said this casually, the corner of his eye suddenly caught sight of Charlemagne and Aivanna's figures walking in from another door in the inn's lobby. The two siblings were walking quickly, their faces seemingly carrying a trace of worry.

They also saw Hao Ren and his party and quickened their pace towards this direction. Charlemagne was about to speak, but Hao Ren spoke first: "Ah, perfect timing, I was just wondering where to find you—we have some urgent matters to attend to, so we have to take our leave."

But Charlemagne couldn't help but speak the next second after Hao Ren spoke: "There's an emergency, the Northern Border Legion has a problem at the front lines, Grand Duke Owen last night... ah? Did you just say you were leaving?"

The scene was a bit awkward for a moment.

Hao Ren coughed twice: "Uh... ahem, it's not important, you go first. There's a problem on the front lines?"

Charlemagne calmed himself and scanned the surrounding lobby, confirming that all the waiters and maids were consciously standing at a distance, then lowered his voice and said: "I just received the news—Princess Constance and Grand Duke Owen's allied forces were ambushed on the southern front, Grand Duke Owen was seriously injured, and was sent back to the castle overnight by teleportation array..."

The Northern Border Legion suffered heavy losses in the south? Could it be that the rebel army led by Princess Constance was defeated by the Black Sword Knights?

Hao Ren and others looked stunned. This news was indeed unexpected. They knew that the Black Sword Knights and the Imperial Legion were powerful, and that Princess Constance would face great pressure, but they didn't expect that the situation would take such a sharp turn after only half a month of fighting.

Aivanna noticed the expressions on Hao Ren's party's faces and quickly explained a few more sentences: "Don't worry, the allied forces haven't been defeated, they've just suffered a heavy blow. The most important thing is that the commander almost died in battle, which is the biggest loss."

Vivian felt that the development of the matter was unreasonable: "That's not right... As far as I know, the Northern Border Legion and several Imperial Legions have already fought several major battles since the start of the war. Both sides have suffered losses, but they are basically evenly matched—how could the Northern Border Legion suddenly suffer heavy losses, and even the commander almost got killed?"

Hao Ren nodded to show that he had the same question. He still remembered the deeds that Kaym had told him. That Grand Duke Owen was a real tough guy who could tear apart Gorgon demons with his bare hands after getting drunk—what kind of concept is that? This means that the tough guy Grand Duke tore apart a starfighter with his bare hands! Such a tough guy almost died in battle, did that Dragon Soul Emperor personally lead the troops?

"We're not sure about this," Charlemagne frowned. "The news was told to me by Kaym. It's still in the confidential stage and shouldn't be announced to the public for the time being. But I heard a saying that a Black Sword Knight squad launched a sneak attack at night. They were originally discovered by patrolling Broken Sword Knights, but they suddenly burst out with monstrous power and broke through the guards..."

"Monstrous power?" Hao Ren's eyes instantly became serious. "Wait, you said it was a sneak attack in the middle of the night... around what time?"

Charlemagne spread his hands: "I don't know about that. In fact, this news itself was heard by chance, and the credibility..."

"The credibility is very high, trust me, really high," Vivian interrupted Charlemagne's words. She was quite knowledgeable and knew that the reason why these two siblings were willing to share this information with their party was not only because of the trust established along the way, but also because they had something to ask for. "You're telling us these things, if I'm not mistaken... you want to ask us to go and meet that Grand Duke Owen together, right?"

Since that Grand Duke was urgently teleported back to the castle for treatment last night, he must still be in Frostwind City now, and the Charlemagne siblings rushed to say these things early in the morning, mostly to ask Hao Ren and his party to meet that Grand Duke.

"That's right," Charlemagne nodded. "Grand Duke Owen regained consciousness in the morning and received Kaym, and then learned about our affairs from Kaym. The Grand Duke intends to meet us—and if you agree, he also hopes to meet you."

"He's also interested in us?" Hao Ren raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Why?"

"Because he heard about your ability to come and go freely in the Black Pine Forest, and your deeds of easily defeating the Gorgon Lord," Aivanna said. "And I think the Grand Duke should also be very interested in an organization of the hidden 'World Tree Temple' itself."

Charlemagne looked at Hao Ren, his eyes with exploration: "Regarding some habits of hidden organizations, we still know a little bit, so this matter still depends on your wishes. You just said that you have important things waiting to be done, so..."

Hao Ren suddenly nodded, understanding why Charlemagne would tell him so much. It turned out that he was worried that his party would leave on their own without clarifying the matter—after all, in the impression of ordinary people, all secret societies, hidden temples, and mysterious organizations like to take the route of coming and going without a trace. When dealing with them, as long as there is a sentence that is not explained clearly, the reclusive experts have already disappeared thousands of miles away, and the next time they show up, they may be in the credits...

In fact, what he was worried about was not wrong, after all, Hao Ren was really planning to leave—if it weren't for these sudden news.

Hao Ren and Vivian looked at each other, and the two reached a tacit understanding in a look.

That Northern Grand Duke had face-to-face contact with the Black Sword Knights who "turned into monsters" and survived—if those Black Sword Knights were also related to the power of the Mad Winds, then the Northern Grand Duke Owen would be the most precious "first party."

So Hao Ren showed a smile and nodded slightly to Charlemagne and Aivanna: "We would be happy to meet that Grand Duke."