The northern territories unfolded before Li Yu's carriage like a vast, monochromatic scroll painting. Under the pale, distant sun, the endless expanse of snow, the dark sentinels of the pine forests, and the frozen glitter of immense lakes created a landscape of stark, desolate beauty. For Li Yu, however, the true beauty lay not on the surface, but in the vibrant, hidden world of life teeming beneath the ice.
He traveled with Spine and Cyra, his two subordinates. They sat within the simple but comfortable carriage, a silent trio moving through the wilderness. Spine was an unmoving mountain of focused intent, his eyes perpetually closed in even while driving the carriage.
Cyra, ever the professional, sat alert, her sharp senses sweeping their surroundings, though there was little in this frozen land that could pose a threat to them. Their presence was a comfort, but also a constant reminder of the growing power at his command.
Both of them were in a perpetual state of passive cultivation. Simply by being in Li Yu's proximity, a steady, gentle stream of the purest, most potent life-giving energy flowed from his internal sanctuary into their bodies. It was an invisible, silent nourishment, a constant baptism in the font of his power that slowly but surely refined their cores and deepened their foundations on top of their normal cultivation.
"Stop here," Li Yu said suddenly, his voice cutting through the quiet rumble of the carriage wheels.
Spine, who was driving, brought the demonic beast pulling the carriage to a halt without a word. They were beside a vast, frozen lake, its surface a sheet of milky white ice that stretched to the distant, snow-dusted mountains.
Li Yu stepped out, Cyra following a respectful pace behind. He walked to the edge of the ice, his gaze turning inward. His spiritual sense, a boundless ocean in its own right, plunged through the thick ice and into the frigid, sunless water below. He could feel the scattered life forces, the slow, cold-blooded heartbeats of the lake's inhabitants. And then, he found it—a unique pulse of energy, a cluster of life that hummed with a crystalline, frosty essence.
He didn't need a fishing line or a net. He didn't need to lure or fight. He simply focused his will. Deep within his spiritual sea, the Koi sanctuary pulsed once, a silent, imperious summons that transcended physical distance and barriers.
Down in the dark, icy depths, a school of meter-long fish, their scales a perfect, shimmering mosaic of crystalline blue and stark white, froze in place. They were Glacial Scale Carp, proud Rank 3 Demonic Beasts, the undisputed kings of this frozen lake. But in that moment, they felt a call from the very origin of their bloodline, a command so absolute and fundamental it bypassed their minds and seized their souls. Resistance was not even a concept.
The surface of the lake remained undisturbed. Not a single crack appeared in the ice. But within Li Yu's spiritual sea, a new, vibrant school of shimmering blue carp now swam gracefully through the life-giving waters, their unique frost-attribute energy seamlessly merging with the sanctuary's ever-growing power. Another fine collection piece and future source of energy and profits.
Li Yu smiled faintly. This was true mastery.
His peaceful hunt was interrupted by the faint, shimmering glow of a communication talisman in his sleeve. He infused it with a wisp of spiritual energy, and Kui's anxious voice echoed directly in his mind.
"Master, my apologies for the intrusion. Fat Pig and I have received an imperial summons. We are to have an audience with the new Frost Empress at the capital in three days. The tone is… insistent. I fear she means to test us, and without a show of strength, we may be at a disadvantage."
Li Yu's eyes narrowed. The new serpent was finally making her move.
"Your caution is well-founded," Li Yu sent back. "A show of strength is precisely what is required. I am sending Spine and Cyra to you. They will be your escort. Their presence will be your statement."
He lowered the talisman and looked at his two companions. "Kui has been summoned by the new Empress. You are both to go to him in Border Town and accompany him to the capital. Your purpose is to protect them and to ensure the Empress understands that the Golden Shell Guild is not to be trifled with. Be seen, be felt, but do not act unless they are in mortal danger."
"Understood, Master," Cyra said with a crisp nod. Spine simply opened his eyes, the cold, abyssal light within them answer enough, and rose to his feet. Without another word, the two figures blurred, transforming into streaks of light that shot across the frozen landscape towards Border Town, their speed stunning as they had already vanished from sight.
The delegation from the Golden Shell Guild walked the echoing, ice-marbled halls of the Frost-Throne Palace with a quiet confidence that baffled the imperial guards. The two merchants, one impeccably dressed and the other overtly wealthy, seemed completely at ease. It was the two figures behind them that caused the guards' blood to run cold. The man and woman in simple traveler's clothes seemed to drink the light and sound from the hall, their mere presence a crushing weight that made it hard to breathe.
In the vast throne room, the new Frost Empress sat upon her throne of star-silver, her beauty as cold and sharp as a shard of ice. Her calculating gaze swept over the four figures, lingering for a long moment on Spine and Cyra. Her own formidable cultivation base felt like a fragile boat before the tidal wave of their power.
"Guild Master Kui," she began, her melodic voice betraying no hint of her inner shock. "Your Golden Shell Guild is becoming more of an important piece of my northern economy in a remarkably short time. Such resourcefulness and influence are assets I wish to bind to my throne. I am prepared to offer you titles, lands, and wealth beyond your dreams. Swear fealty to me, and your Guild will enjoy the full protection and patronage of the Boreal Frost Empire."
Kui offered a perfect, respectful bow. "Your Majesty's generosity is overwhelming. However, the Guild was founded on the principle of absolute neutrality. We are merchants who serve all, and therefore can be sworn to none. To do so would violate the trust of our partners across the continent. With the utmost respect, we must decline your magnificent offer."
The air in the room grew heavy. The Empress's faint smile did not waver, but her eyes became glacial. She stared at Kui, then at the two silent titans standing behind him. This was not the response of a mere merchant. This was the response of a power secure in its own strength.
"A pity," she said, her voice dangerously smooth. "But I admire conviction." She rose fluidly. "My offer stands, should you ever reconsider." She turned and swept from the room, leaving her grey-robed advisor to step forward.
"While matters of allegiance are set aside," the advisor began with a practiced smile, "Her Majesty is still keenly interested in a commercial partnership…"
As the advisor and Kui began to haggle over the price of commercial goods and resources for cultivation, the Empress stood in a private chamber, staring into a frosted crystal mirror. A figure cloaked in shadow materialized beside her.
"You should have given the signal," the shadow rasped. "The palace arrays could have trapped them. The Imperial Guard would have drowned them in blood."
"And lost half my elite forces killing two of them?" the Empress countered, her voice sharp. "Those two… they were monsters. But they are not my primary concern. They are the fangs of a beast I cannot see. I will not risk a war with their master."
"The so-called Grand Elder?" the shadow scoffed.
"Do not be a fool," the Empress snapped, her cold fury making the very air crackle. "This is the same organization whose 'Grand Elder' single-handedly annihilated the RipTide Legion. He has never shown his face since, yet he commands loyalty from warriors of that caliber. What manner of being is he? Attacking his agents without knowing the nature of their master is a gamble only an idiot would take. No. We will do business with them. We will use their resources to strengthen my empire. We will watch them, learn their secrets, and when I finally have a measure of this hidden dragon, I will decide whether to tame it… or slay it."
The outcome was relayed to Li Yu via communication talisman. Kui had said, "Master, the trade deals are signed, but the Empress's ambition is clear. Navigating the north will require not just business acumen, but a constant show of force to deter her from any rash moves. I believe a permanent guardian is necessary for our operations here."
Li Yu agreed. "Cyra will join you. Her presence will be the Guild's authority in the north. She will be your shield." He then sent a separate message to Cyra, who was already on her way back, redirecting her to join Kui's group. She wanted to be with her master but she even more wanted to be helpful to him.
Finally, he sent a message to Spine. "Return to me."
Within the hour, a streak of light descended from the sky, and Spine appeared outside the carriage. He said nothing, simply moving to the driver's seat and taking the reins as if he had never left. His expression was as stoic as ever, but Li Yu could feel the warrior's core, humming with the fresh infusion of energy he was passively absorbing. Spine didn't care for the sights or the destination. He only cared about the journey, and the silent, overwhelming power of the man he served—a power that was his only path to achieving the burning, unvoiced goal that drove him ever forward.