Chapter 557: Chapter 461 Qiguang’s Initiative
In the depths of the Extreme Cold Snowfield, Earth Qi converged, and Star Power surged.
And in the center of this Star Power tide, an ice mountain rose from the ground, growing taller at a visible speed amidst the wind and snow!
Su Yuan and Shen Die restrained their auras and halted at a certain spot on the snowfield, gazing at the ice mountain surrounded by wind and snow from afar.
“The gathering of the Star Veins has begun. It seems it’s based on this ice mountain,” Shen Die said seriously.
Su Yuan nodded, “Yes, and the experts from various countries have gradually arrived.”
Although the snowy winds carrying energy fluctuations limited the vision, Su Yuan could still see many people gathering around the ice mountain through his All-Knowing Vision.
In fact, besides the experts from countries like Black Snow and Rhein, there were also many treasure hunters who had sensed the anomaly and come over.
Since the New Dust Realm appeared, in addition to national forces, many local forces like the Dragon Sect and countless independent wanderers had entered.
Now, with such an anomaly, it was highly likely that a Heavenly Treasure would appear, inevitably attracting some covetous eyes.
Shen Die asked, “What does Su Xing Lord think?”
This time to the west, only Su Yuan and Shen Die had come.
Because whether the True Vein appeared in the south or the north, defending and attacking required a large number of people.
Even if the True Vein appeared in this western location, it would mainly serve for diversion.
To ensure more manpower was left for the southern and northern sides, Shen Die proposed that they wouldn’t bring anyone to the west.
Su Yuan had no objections to this, so only the two of them came now.
Although there was no assistance, the two could move much more flexibly.
Su Yuan smiled, “No rush. I think the people from the Qiguang Holy Temple will take action first.”
“Oh? Su Xing Lord seems pretty confident that the Holy Temple Twelve Palaces will act first?”
“Though not absolutely sure, I’d say there’s a seventy to eighty percent chance.”
Su Yuan had dealt with the Holy Temple Star Envoys many times.
These people were extremely arrogant, not considering other individuals of the same level a threat.
It’s just uncertain whether the last ambush that resulted in the death of three of them would curb these Star Envoys’ behavior.
“Alright, let’s wait then,” Shen Die nodded. Since there were only the two of them, acting according to circumstances was indeed more prudent.
Time passed, and everyone waited for the Star Vein to gather and grow.
An hour, two hours… in the blink of an eye, more than half a day had passed.
The entire ice mountain already stood a thousand meters tall, and around it, the Star Power had become almost liquid, forming large dispersed ice fog under the extreme cold.
At this moment, as if reaching a limit, with a surge of extreme cold, all the spewing cold Star Power in the area suddenly retracted, flowing continuously into the ice mountain.
Before long, this retraction ceased!
As the cold Star Power was absorbed by the ice mountain, the mountain became even more crystal clear, and the surrounding wind and snow dissipated accordingly!
Suddenly, the entire area became clear, and everything could be seen clearly.
“Now it’s really lively…”
Su Yuan smiled, his silver eyes shimmering as he looked beyond the ice mountain, where Black Snow, Rhein, Wusa, and Yanluo had all gathered!
Among them, the people from Black Snow Country were the most numerous.
Three Snow Mink Guards had come, including Mu Baiying!
It was known that Mu Baiying’s reattached left arm hadn’t fully healed yet, but he still appeared here.
This showed Black Snow Country’s determination to secure the Star Veins on this snowfield!
Additionally, there were about twenty or thirty from David, nearly half their number mobilized.
The rest of the Central Guard, some Special Guards, and several experts from the military, totaling about one to two hundred people.
These weren’t ordinary Shining Star-level, but elites even among Black Snow Country’s Shining Star-level!
Besides, Rhein and Wusa each had nearly a hundred experts, led by top experts ranked in the top twenty of the Knight Alliance.
Yanluo Country, on the other hand, had fewer people, with only one of their three Special Guards present, and no more than half the numbers of Black Snow Country.
Given the icy terrain, Yanluo Country’s people, who were adept at Fire Element, found their strength significantly suppressed and thus had little intention to compete.
Moreover, for some reason, the people from Yanluo Country didn’t look well.
As various forces remained vigilant and observed each other, a series of profound oscillations suddenly emanated from within the ice mountain.
“It’s starting!” Shen Die’s voice grew solemn.
This start indicated that the forming Star Vein had stabilized and could now be extracted!
Su Yuan suddenly sensed something and looked into the distance.
“Are they coming?”
He saw several figures rapidly flying over from the northeast direction.
Leading them were a man and a woman, one with green eyes and one with heterochromatic black and white eyes.
Their unique aura and the dangerous vibes they exuded made their identities clear.
“Holy Temple Star Envoys!”
Everyone cast wary glances!
Especially the experts from the Rhein and Wusa Knights, who looked particularly grim.
“Gemini!” Rhein Knight Captain Shane frowned upon seeing Luna.
Compared to the active Sagittarius and Leo, there was far less information about Gemini.
Then, Shane’s gaze fell on Qiong Ying beside Luna.
“This Star Envoy isn’t in the intelligence of the Twelve Palace Star Envoys. Could they be a newly appointed Star Envoy?”
From Yanluo Country’s side, a middle-aged David beside Wei Chi Special Guard’s expression changed. He took out a jade pendant.
The previously clear and transparent jade pendant now swirled with thick blood mist.
The middle-aged David’s expression changed dramatically. He suddenly looked up at the approaching Qiong Ying and others: “Wei Chi Special Guard, it’s them!”
Wei Chiyang’s face darkened. He growled, “So it was the Holy Temple Twelve Palace Star Envoys!”
The surrounding people also began to discuss with heavy expressions:
“So, it was the Qiguang Holy Temple Star Envoys who killed Liu Fengnian and the others!”
“Qiguang Holy Temple, their methods are as ruthless as rumored!”
“…”
At this moment, a dark-faced David spoke up, “That green-haired and green-eyed one, isn’t that Qiong Ying who disappeared a year ago?”
“Hmm?” Everyone looked at him, “Yao Fang David, what do you mean?”
Yao Fang stared at Qiong Ying in the distance and said gravely, “The green-haired Star Envoy is named Qiong Ying. They used to be transferred from Great Flame to us.
But on the way to the prison, they disappeared, while all supervisors and other prisoners were killed!”
“Such a thing happened!” Even Wei Chiyang and everyone else were shocked upon hearing this.
In the air, Qiong Ying and Luna, along with their subordinates, flew straight to the ice mountain, passing several forces.
Luna took out a crystal prism about a foot long and instructed one person beside her: “Dex, start extracting.”
“Yes!” The youth named Dex respectfully received the crystal prism. He glanced around at the vigilant experts from various countries, a hint of a wild smile on his lips.
Arriving before the ice mountain, Dex abruptly thrust the prism into the mountain.
Instantly, the secret runes engraved within the crystal lit up, and pure white Holy Light permeated into the mountain.
The ice mountain trembled. Then, the still-forming Star Vein was extracted from its base into the crystal!
“Are they starting extraction already?!”
Everyone was shocked, not expecting the Qiguang Holy Temple to act so brazenly, ignoring everyone else, making many feel uneasy.
Black Snow Country’s other Special Guard, Du Jianqing, snorted coldly, “Qiguang Twelve Palace Star Envoys are even more arrogant than I imagined!”
If it were before, Mu Baiying would have scoffed at their arrogance too!
But now, Mu Baiying looked grave, recalling a similar approach from the Qiguang Star Lord before.
Although facing hundreds of people directly seemed exaggerated, Mu Baiying couldn’t be certain that these two Qiguang Star Envoys didn’t indeed possess such strength!
On Yanluo Country’s side, Wei Chiyang’s eyes brightened, “Good, their arrogance will force everyone to take action together!”
Not just the southern alliance, but Shane from Rhein and Philips from Wusa frowned as well.
“Even if they’re Star Envoys, this is excessive…”
“Do they think we won’t act? Or do they simply not take us seriously!”
Clearly, everyone was extremely displeased with the Twelve Palaces’ audacity.
Black Snow, Yanluo, Rhein, Wusa… all sides began to make preparations.
Some scattered adventuring teams and individuals, seeing the intense scene around the ice mountain, had already retreated far away.
“Su Xing Lord was right. They acted directly,” Shen Die observed Qiong Ying and Luna extracting the Star Vein. “Also, these two seem to be Star Envoys we haven’t seen before.”
Shen Die frowned slightly. Facing such high-level opponents, especially those relying on Power of Soul, even basic intel was critical to understand their abilities.
But now, both the new Cancer and the unseen Gemini were unknown quantities.
Su Yuan said lowly, “The transported person turned into a Holy Temple Star Envoy. Indeed, the world is unpredictable.”
“Hmm? Su Xing Lord knows them?” Shen Die was surprised.
Su Yuan shook his head, “Just met them, but I don’t know their specific strength.”
Su Yuan had sensed Qiong Ying’s complexity back then, but he didn’t expect to see them now as a Twelve Palace Star Envoy…
“I see…” Shen Die nodded thoughtfully, not asking more and instead released several Purple Butterflies.
Since the blizzard had stopped, it was necessary to investigate quickly.
Before long, Shen Die said, “Nothing but some opportunists nearby. No other Star Envoys found.”
“So, Qiguang only sent these two here?”
“Seems so,” Shen Die nodded, a hint of worry in her eyes. “No idea about the other two spots.”
With seven super-strong Star Envoys and one who could predict, Aries…
Even though the Tiger Vein was too crucial for Aries to foresee its exact location, simple predictions for avoiding dangers would be easy.
Thus, having Aries might give the Twelve Star Palaces an advantage in this struggle.
Hearing this, Su Yuan calmly said, “If they indeed have such capabilities, it’s unavoidable.
Even if the Twelve Palaces have distribution advantages, the result is still uncertain.
Worrying about others is pointless. We should focus on our task.
Like capturing the Star Vein, or… killing these two!”
Shen Die was taken aback, then smiled as she looked at the calm-faced Su Yuan. “Su Xing Lord is right.”
Su Yuan smiled, then looked into the distance, “Since the Star Envoys have acted, let them test the waters. Given how prepared these forces are, they wouldn’t retreat easily just because of two Star Envoys.”
“Alright!”