Chapter 558: The Commander’s Scheme

"What's in it for me to make a deal with you? You should be well aware that my sole purpose is the Codex. Once I have it, I can report back to the Leader and fulfill my long-cherished wish of being promoted to Protector. A deal with you offers me no advantage whatsoever."

As the female envoy finished speaking, the guard commander in front of her sneered. "It seems you've been kept in the dark all along. Do you truly believe you are the Leader's favored choice for the Protector position?"

Immediately after, the guard commander sent a mental imprint to the female envoy. This imprint contained the exact conversation he had secretly overheard between the Leader and the clan's Grand Elder.

The female envoy released this mental imprint, which materialized into a luminous soul screen before them, revealing its full contents. Only then did she realize that the Leader had consistently been using envoys to find the Codex for him. His true objective in acquiring the Codex was to cultivate the essence of "Sleeve Dimension," a powerful technique hidden within it.

As for the envoy teams tasked with retrieving the Codex, they had merely been tools, used from the very beginning. The Leader had already secretly promised the Elder Council that one of their young disciples would take over the position of Glacier Protector.

It was widely known that the Glacier Kingdom possessed a highly rigid system for acquiring power. To become stronger, one had to complete various missions, accumulate Ice Crystal resources, and then use these crystals as the sole currency to exchange for the limited top-tier Divine Essence available within the kingdom.

The female envoy was already considered exceptional among the younger generation. However, she understood that to achieve a true transformation in strength, she needed to elevate her status to gain access to more Divine Essence resources. This was why she had always traveled with her two closest companions, searching for the Codex.

Yet, she had never imagined that after all this, with the Codex finally within reach and having sacrificed one companion, her efforts would ultimately amount to nothing. It was all in vain.

"I can't believe it," she fumed. "The Leader and the Elder Council are in cahoots, stooping to such unscrupulous means just to get the Sleeve Dimension technique! If that's the case, I won't let him succeed easily. I lost a companion to obtain this Codex; there's no way I'll let him have his way!"

Seeing the female envoy's reaction, the guard commander secretly breathed a sigh of relief and smiled once more.

"Good, since you've come to terms with this, I feel relieved. As I said before, the Codex is not something you can comprehend right now. The deal I propose concerns the entire future landscape of the Glacier Kingdom. If you agree to help me, allowing me to access a portion of the Codex's power when necessary, I can not only make you the new Glacier Protector but also grant you the most exquisite... Divine Essence Crystals!"

Hearing the guard commander's offer, the female envoy did not allow herself to be swept away by the promising words. She maintained a remarkably clear and rational mind.

"Given your status, which isn't significantly higher than mine, what gives you the authority to make such a promise?" she asked.

The commander had evidently anticipated this question. With a flick of his palm, he conjured a remarkably exquisite censer-shaped artifact, interwoven with three distinct colors.

"The Three Immortals Soul-Suppressing Censer!" she exclaimed, a hint of panic in her voice. "I didn't realize you were so brazen! You dared to steal one of the Glacier Kingdom's three great divine artifacts? What exactly are you planning, young man?"

The female envoy was somewhat shaken. She instinctively sensed that the guard commander's ambition was far greater than she had imagined. As for the precise nature of his scheme, she remained completely unaware.

"You don't need to understand my methods," he replied. "You only need to remember this: the Leader and the Elder Council's intentions are now blatantly clear. If the Guard Corps and the Envoy Corps don't unite and respond soon, our status will quickly be suppressed to the lowest level! At that point, any random member of the Elder Council could possess cultivation levels equal to ours. Do you think we'd have any chance of promotion then?"

The female envoy was no fool. She understood that the pros and cons outlined by the guard commander were undeniably true. If things continued this way, the Elder Council would undoubtedly dominate the Glacier Kingdom's four Protector battle groups. At that point, neither of them would have any say. In a closed divine domain like the Glacier Kingdom, losing one's voice meant losing control over resources. Without resources, there would be no way to improve their strength, rendering all their efforts pointless.

"Tell me," she said, "how do you want me to help you?"

The guard commander burst out laughing. "I knew you were someone who understands the times."

"It's simple," he explained. "Those outsiders possess incredibly powerful inherited foundations. If we can use the formation beneath the ice lake to create trouble for them, perhaps even imprison them there permanently, and then harness the power of this Soul-Suppressing Censer, you and I could reap unimaginable rewards!"

The female envoy had actually considered this possibility herself. She had interacted with Xu Yang's team more than once, and even her close companion had fallen at Xu Yang's hands. She harbored no goodwill whatsoever towards these outsiders. However, she had been helpless against their immense power on her own. Now, with the guard commander's backing and the prospect of personal gain, the female envoy immediately became receptive.

"So, you plan to use my strength to activate the hidden formation beneath the ice lake, and then use the Three Immortals Soul-Suppressing Censer's unique ability to drain their spiritual essence and deplete their foundations?"

The guard commander nodded repeatedly, smiling. "Clever. Originally, I didn't steal this censer specifically for them. It was only when you lured them into the teleportation space that this idea came to me. After all, they are outsiders; they're completely unfamiliar with the hellish space beneath the lake. No matter how strong they are, they're bound to suffer."

"Agreeing to help you is fine," she conceded, "but you also know what lies beneath the center of that lake – it's one of the Glacier Kingdom's most crucial forbidden areas. If we activate the formation there without authorization and are discovered by the Elder Council or the Leader's personal guard, how will I explain myself?"

The guard commander tapped his chest. "Come on, have you forgotten my specialty?"

"Are you saying you'll create illusions in the central lake area?"

"Exactly. With my illusion array in place, even if they discover something, they absolutely won't be able to pinpoint our exact location for a long time. Once we've completely drained those individuals and obtained their power, we will undoubtedly surpass everyone in the Elder Council. As for the Leader, he would never easily attack both of us simultaneously, especially since the Guard Corps and the Envoy Corps are firmly under our control. And even if all else fails, the Codex in your possession will serve as our ultimate safeguard."