A mountain!!
A massive iceberg.
Suspended in midair, this gigantic iceberg struck awe into all who laid eyes upon it, even from a distance. Its terrifying size made one's heart tremble uncontrollably. A bone-chilling cold seemed to seep out from it, making blood flow sluggish, and it felt as if one could be frozen solid at any moment.
"Floating Iceberg!!"
Yi Tianxing's eyes narrowed as he slowly uttered these words.
"The Ice Queen!!"
On the faces of Huang Chengyan and the others appeared expressions of solemnity.
Right before them was the Floating Iceberg, hanging in the air. At the very top sat a throne made entirely of ice—twisted and grim, yet eerily flawless, like a work of art. Upon this Ice Throne, the Ice Queen sat—draped in robes of frost, holding a scepter, crowned and regal.
Despite the distance, her figure was clear under some unseen divine power. She appeared both far and near, as if her presence transcended space. Even stranger was the fact that no matter where one stood, one could only see her front, never her back—an unsettling phenomenon.
"The Ice Queen has truly appeared."
"Even brought the Floating Iceberg with her… This time she intends to conquer the entire continent. Is it because Da Yi poses a real threat to her, forcing her to act personally?"
"Let's see… Ice Queen versus the Da Yi Dynasty. Who will prevail? The one who stands victorious in the end will rule this land."
The scene was also witnessed by other non-human tribes. Many, who had just begun to relocate, hesitated and stayed—fending off the beast tide while paying close attention to the unfolding war.
This battle would decide the fate of the continent and its ruler. Whoever stood atop the ashes would become the supreme hegemon.
"Issue the orders—activate all our tribe's defensive measures. If we can't hold, retreat underground. The beast tide may scour the surface, but surely it can't dig below."
Many non-human tribes were not unprepared. Aside from migration, they had hollowed out large subterranean areas, ready to retreat below when defense failed.
Yet, if the Ice Queen were to claim this land, even the underground would offer no safety. Hiding would change nothing.
But now things were different—Da Yi had risen. If it could defeat the Ice Queen, then even against this catastrophe, people would still have a fighting chance. But if the Ice Queen won, all resistance would be extinguished.
With the arrival of the Floating Iceberg and the Ice Queen, the wind and snow grew even more violent. The storm itself seemed to reflect her will—an extension of her presence.
"Da Yi Dynasty… If you are willing to submit to this Queen, I shall grant you lands to rule. But all humans within Da Yi must worship me—build temples, erect altars, and offer prayers. If you refuse… there is no need for Da Yi to exist."
Her gaze fell upon the Iron-Blood Great Wall, regarding its crimson barrier with disdain, as though it could never halt her advance. The beast tide was merely the simplest of her tools.
"The people of Da Yi, each one a dragon, stand proud and strong. We fear no ghosts, revere no gods, envy no immortals, dread no demons, and flinch not before monsters. We would rather die standing than live kneeling. You, Ice Queen, are not worthy of our submission. Da Yi fears no enemy.If it's war you want—then war it shall be!"
Yi Tianxing faced the Ice Queen directly, his voice resolute and unwavering.
Every word radiated unshakeable conviction.
Da Yi had risen from nothing—it had never been a place of soft, sheltered souls. None feared battle. In the face of life and death, only war brought hope. Those who had suffered the most, understood this best.
"War! War! War!!"
The soldiers atop the Iron-Blood Great Wall roared. Their eyes blazed with battle intent.
Da Yi's people, all dragons among men—stood proud, unyielding, unbreakable.
"Fear no ghosts, revere no gods, envy no immortals, dread no demons, flinch not before monsters. Better to die standing than to live kneeling. War! War! War!!"
Their defiant cries pierced the heavens, brimming with fighting spirit and fearless resolve. Their eyes fixed upon the Ice Queen, filled with clarity and resolve.
To bow to the Ice Queen, to worship and sacrifice daily, was unacceptable—not just for Yi Tianxing, but for the entire Da Yi Dynasty. Da Yi was no crumbling empire of old. It had no culture of groveling. Even in court, kneeling was rare—reserved only for grand sacrificial rites. Bowing was sufficient.
Kneeling as habit weakened one's spirit—it eroded one's will and cultivation. Da Yi understood this deeply.
To submit to the Ice Queen meant total spiritual surrender—complete worship. That was something Da Yi would never allow.
"So be it. Then this Queen shall grant you… eternal annihilation!!"
The Ice Queen's aura surged with a deadly chill. She was clearly dissatisfied. Since Da Yi would not submit, it would be destroyed.
Though she desired the people of Da Yi as faithful worshippers, if they would not yield, they were enemies—and enemies must die.
"Then come try it!!"
Yi Tianxing replied calmly, without a hint of fear.
On the contrary, a new thought stirred—what if they could kill the Ice Queen? If she fell, this continent would belong wholly to Da Yi, and the snow disaster would end once and for all.
"Ice Blade Storm!!"
The Ice Queen no longer hesitated. She didn't even rise from her Ice Throne. She simply raised her scepter and waved it toward the Iron-Blood Great Wall.
Wooooooo!!
A terrifying wind howled, tearing through the sky with a sharpness that pierced the ears.
Clouds of pure white gathered, swirling into a massive storm vortex. These clouds pressed low against the earth, creating suffocating pressure and an ominous gloom.
From within the vortex, countless ice blades and ice spears formed and were hurled forth in a raging blizzard, engulfing the wall in a deadly downpour.
The blades were so sharp and dense that even a Fate Map Realm cultivator would be shredded to bits.
Clang! Clang! Clang!!
Thousands of ice blades crashed into the Iron-Blood Wall, creating waves of ripples upon its surface like rain on a lake.
This attack was brutal.
Even seasoned warriors turned pale at the sight. If they had to face such an onslaught directly, they wouldn't last long—they'd be torn apart.
Fortunately, the Iron-Blood Great Wall wasn't an ordinary defense. It was a national treasure guarded by countless heroic spirits whose will could not be shaken.
The full brunt of the attack was absorbed and spread across the wall's structure. Lethal force was dispersed, meaning that only Spirit Sea Realm cultivators were still in true danger.
However, even though it held, the price was steep. The wall's blood-red glow, visible to the eye, was rapidly fading. What was once a reservoir of power that could last several days, now might not survive a single day under such assault.
The Ice Queen, fully attuned to this frigid domain, was expending minimal energy while drawing on the world itself. In a battle of attrition, no one could outlast her here.
"All soldiers, heed my command! Divine Ballistae, Runic Rifles—target the Ice Blade Storm! Fire!!"
Yang Ye frowned. Continuing like this would only lead to defeat. Without hesitation, he gave the order.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
A barrage of ballista bolts and runic bullets shot skyward like a storm of steel, colliding midair with the oncoming ice blades.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The fierce clashing filled the air with explosions. The storm of arrows and ice was so dense that aiming wasn't even necessary—they simply hit each other midflight.
This action significantly reduced the pressure on the Iron-Blood Wall.
"It's just a temporary fix… no real solution," Huang Chengyan murmured, shaking his head.