Chapter 332: Seductive Fish Sacrifice

Snowflakes drifted across the world, adorning it in a silver mantle, bringing quietude and serenity.

It seemed the mundane world's dust and clamor could hardly leave a mark on this ice-and-snow-covered realm.

The group followed the ice-armored guards. With each step, their footprints vanished instantly. Looking back abruptly, they could no longer see any traces of their journey.

After walking an unknown distance, a moderately sized black castle finally appeared at the edge of their vision, starkly contrasting with the pervasive silver-white landscape.

"Wow," Little Tuantuan piped up, "an army camp outside the city is built like a castle? Isn't that a bit extravagant? Your Ice Snow Divine Dynasty seems quite wealthy!"

Little Tuantuan's playful jab, delivered in a childish voice, hinted that in this fantasy world, she was quite the foodie and money-lover.

"Money means nothing to us," a guard replied. "Everyone living on the Ice Snow Divine Dynasty's island is born with the ability to control ice and snow. This place is isolated from the entire continent; we don't need any external intervention to obtain everything we desire. Perhaps the only external thing of value to us is the inner core you contributed."

Upon hearing this, everyone felt that Senior Xu Yang's judgment was simply divine. Had there been even a slight miscalculation, their entire journey might have been in vain.

Of course, with Xu Yang present, even without this initial gift, everyone trusted he would find other ways to successfully gain entry. For nothing he had ever set out to do had ended in failure.

As the guard captain led Xu Yang and his group to the military camp castle's entrance, many resting soldiers nearby cast curious, somewhat unwelcoming glances. It was evident they instinctively felt wary of outsiders.

"These individuals are esteemed guests of the Royal Palace; no one is to treat them with disrespect," the captain announced. "You all go out on patrol; leave the camp for them to rest temporarily. The Prince will personally come to greet them later."

"Understood!"

After the captain's words, the white-clad soldiers respectfully bowed their heads and then, without further prompting, began to leave the castle.

"I don't know why," Ling Yao mused, "but I always feel that the soldiers here lack a certain human touch. They seem more like machines existing solely for their duties. Is it truly just because we are too worldly, and they are too detached?"

Ling Yao rarely voiced her opinions proactively, but as someone from a mercenary background, she was familiar with military camp life. Soldiers in her experience ate, drank, worked, and rested together, with endless topics for conversation. Such a place should foster camaraderie, not be like this castle, which, despite its refined exterior, felt cold and hollow within.

After spending several hours there, everyone seemed affected by the slightly oppressive atmosphere.

"I say," the leader of the Five Golden Flowers suggested, "how about we go for a walk? Staying here is too oppressive; it feels cold, like being in an ice cellar!"

The leader of the Five Golden Flowers instinctively wrapped her arms around herself and edged closer to Xu Yang.

Ling Qingshu, being straightforward, heard the girls complain of cold and immediately ignited her flame power to provide warmth for everyone.

"Uh, Senior Fire God," someone chuckled, "we weren't physically cold. You really are quite direct!"

After all, in this fantasy world, she had grown up in a grassland tribe, far less cunning than children like Long Kun, who matured amidst the schemes of the Divine King's capital. Her straightforwardness was thus quite normal.

"Never mind, let's wait," Xu Yang said. "This place is a bit peculiar. Haven't you noticed how difficult it is for anything to leave a trace here? It's as if the ice and snow cover everything, allowing nothing to remain. I'm concerned that if we wander around, we'll easily get lost."

Xu Yang's words quickly drew agreement from Wushuang beside him: "Exactly. It's best not to move around aimlessly, at least until we meet the royal family. The situation is still unclear, and our presence here might not be as simple as it appears."

Everyone nodded in agreement, said no more, and, leaning on one another, soon grew drowsy, beginning to doze off in the castle's central hall.

"Everyone," the guard captain announced, re-entering the castle, "Prince Sakura's entourage has arrived."

Xu Yang and the others immediately became alert, some even eagerly stepping outside.

As they stepped outside the castle, they saw an incredibly massive white bird in the sky, slowly approaching. It carried a handsome young man in resplendent silver robes, followed by dozens of similarly well-armored personal guards.

Judging solely by their aura, the combat power of these personal guards was significantly greater than that of the captain they had just met.

Prince Sakura was the third son of the Ice Snow Divine Dynasty's King; other information about him was currently unknown.

Wushuang had only mentioned that this third prince naturally possessed a melancholic air and was highly admired throughout the Ice Snow Divine Dynasty, serving as the dream suitor for many of its young women.

After the flying bird landed, Prince Sakura stepped forward through the snow. A polite smile finally graced his melancholic face as he approached Xu Yang and his group.

"I am Sakura of the Ice Snow Divine Dynasty," he greeted. "Welcome, my friends."

"Your Highness is too kind," Xu Yang replied. "We are outsiders and wouldn't normally impose. However, we are searching for an old friend, a matter of great urgency, so please forgive our intrusion."

The prince offered a gentle smile and said, "This is not the place for conversation. Please follow me into the city, where we can speak more freely."

The moment it took flight, the bird spread its ample wings, enveloping everyone. Its inherent protective aura completely shielded them from the biting wind and snow. Even more astonishingly, the bird's natural warmth made everyone on its back feel exceptionally comfortable.

Soon, the cold and desolate sensation gradually faded, replaced by a scene of exquisite splendor and prosperity!

The vast Ice Snow City was immense, with thousands of homes brightly lit. Though still covered in ice and snow, it lacked the desolate feeling of the camp outside the city.

"Wow!" exclaimed Little Tuantuan. "So this is the true appearance of the Ice Snow Divine Dynasty! It's vastly different from the camp outside! It's much livelier in here!"

Prince Sakura chuckled, "My apologies, everyone. I should have come out to greet you immediately, but recent matters in the palace have been exceptionally demanding, causing some delay. Oh, and by the way, my father, the King, greatly appreciated the inner core you presented him. Many thanks to all of you!"

Xu Yang chuckled and shook his head. "Prince Sakura, please don't be so formal. Are we heading directly to the Royal Palace, or...?"

"First, to my residence," Prince Sakura replied. "I am commanded by my father to host you well. In three days, it will be a grand day for our Divine Dynasty, and I will personally escort you into the palace to meet my father."

"A grand day?" Xu Yang echoed.