A soul force at the peak of the Morning Star stage — comparable to a Radiant Moon — swept outward, sending the entire Frozen World into a frenzy.
The power of a fourth-tier being was something the vast majority of the great ice beasts could not hope to resist. When Leilin Farell's soul force rolled over them, all they could do was bury their heads low in submission, praying they would not provoke the soul force's master.
But a Morning Star's power had also awakened other presences.
Deep within a fortress built entirely of ice, the ambient cold radiation had concentrated to its absolute limit. Shimmering five-colored light flickered ceaselessly through the air.
"Alvin!"
A cool, crystalline voice rang out from the void — without a shred of magical energy attached, yet the surrounding space trembled faintly at its call.
"Your Majesty, your most loyal servant Alvin is here!"
An elderly man dressed in butler's attire stepped out of the void. His hair was combed immaculately, but an eerie crimson glow burned within his eyes. He knelt toward the source of the voice, his demeanor one of absolute reverence.
His skin was a strange, translucent white, with blue-red blood vessels visible beneath the surface.
"Did you sense it?" the woman's voice continued.
"Yes! An outsider Morning Star has entered your domain!" the old man replied respectfully. Anyone who could detect the distinctiveness of Leilin Farell's soul force had to be at least a Morning Star existence themselves.
"An outsider Morning Star! He is crucial to my 'evolution'! Go! Capture him! Bring him to me!" the woman commanded.
"Your will shall be done!" The old man accepted the order with deep reverence and withdrew.
Only when he rose to his feet could one see that his upper half was that of a human, while his lower body was composed of an eerie, scorpion-like form.
Once the butler departed, the entire frozen fortress immediately sprang to life like a roused lion.
"Go! The moment you detect any unfamiliar powerhouse, signal immediately!"
Butler Alvin stood atop the fortress's tallest tower, his voice carrying to every corner below.
Beneath his gaze, countless ice giants clad in armor, bearing round ice shields and blue lances, let out a unified roar.
Creaaak — the fortress gates swung open. Squad after squad of ice giants marched out like human patrol units, vanishing into the blizzard within minutes.
Only Alvin remained, standing alone atop the highest point of the fortress, lost in thought no one could guess.
Leilin Farell knew nothing of what had transpired here, but ever since he had released his soul force in declaration, he had been mentally prepared for consequences. Accordingly, he directed the Ice Jade Scorpion toward the nearest concentration of life signatures.
The frozen cavern previously under the Nature Alliance's control had merely been a passageway — this was the true Frozen World.
The enormous Ice Jade Scorpion charged across the ice plain with Leilin Farell seated cross-legged on its back. From time to time, he dispatched a few Shadow Servants from behind to gather fruits and plant stems and leaves.
Right now, Leilin Farell was examining an apple-like fruit, his eyes glowing with a faint light.
"Ding! Unknown fruit detected. Components recorded. Please assign a name!" the Chip reported faithfully.
"Frozen Apple! File under Frozen World — Plant Encyclopedia!" Leilin Farell declared.
"Recorded. Image and component data archived! Filed under Frozen World data — Plant category!"
"Mm." Leilin Farell nodded, looking at the apple in his hand. Its surface was coated in a layer of blue ice. He quickly used his fingernail to slice off a small piece and popped it into his mouth.
Like a sliver of ice — no, even colder than ice — an immediate chill spread through his entire body.
For an ordinary person, forget eating it — merely touching it would be enough to freeze them to death. But for Leilin Farell, with a physique exceeding one hundred points, he had already become immune to most of the Frozen World's dangers. Eating it felt to him like an ordinary person enjoying a bite of ice cream.
"Not bad! Just a bit too sweet." Leilin Farell tossed the Frozen Apple down to the Ice Jade Scorpion below with a hint of disinterest.
"Sssss!" The Ice Jade Scorpion let out an excited hiss and swallowed the Frozen Apple in a single gulp.
Ever since arriving here, it seemed to have grown considerably more energetic. Leilin Farell watched this scene with a contemplative expression.
"Judging by all those third-tier watchers and guardians in the passage before, if this Ice Jade Scorpion had come alone, it never would have made it this far…"