The dawn of the tenth day slowly sliced through the leaden night sky of the Everfrost Wasteland like a sharp blade. Tremors, like the roar of a dragon, echoed from the depths of the ice layer, as if a slumbering giant beast was about to awaken, causing a stir in everyone's hearts.
Zhao Yun stood on the ice hill, resting his sword. The Starlight falling from the tip of his Star Shattering Spear flickered, shining with a mysterious luster under the morning light. His gaze was sharp as he stared intently at the northern horizon, where waves of gold and crimson clouds surged, rolling in with overwhelming force.
"They're here."
Ross murmured softly, the string of his Emerald Bow slowly drawn taut, emitting a faint, high-pitched hum. He clearly saw the diamond insignia on the chest armor of the approaching party—a winged spear piercing the stars—it was the emblem of the "Spear of the Firmament."
Everyone's attention was drawn to the approaching figures; Nia waved enthusiastically toward them.
With a sudden gust of howling wind, four unicorns with light wings pulling a gilded chariot swept across the Blizzard like lightning, plowing trails of fire across the Icefield. The chariot landed with a crash, and the Ice Crystals that should have scattered were instantly vaporized into a thick white mist.
The Magister leading them, Lyle, descended slowly along a path of light. He wore a silver-white Mage Robe patterned with illusory, flowing nebulae. With every step, a hexagram array was branded beneath his feet, emitting a dazzling light that illuminated the surrounding darkness.
The Codex of the Stars floating in his hand turned its pages automatically, and the brilliant Starlight flowing from between the leaves illuminated half the sky.
"The temperature of the Everfrost Wasteland has dropped another ten degrees since three years ago."
Lyle's voice resonated like the collision of stars, carrying an ethereal yet authoritative quality.
"It seems the contamination of the Altar is more severe than anticipated."
He frowned slightly and looked up at the sky, as if trying to see the hidden danger behind the clouds.
The Earth Knight Rost, following closely behind, leaped off his winged horse. When he landed, his Holy Gold heavy armor struck the ice with a dull thud, causing web-like cracks to instantly spread across the ice surface. The Dawn Holy Sword on his back was wreathed in Holy Fire, and its Sword Guard was inlaid with the relics of saints.
Rost swept a disdainful glance over Zhao Yun and the others, a flicker of contempt in his eyes.
"You people, with this level of Strength, dare to explore the Black Moon Altar? Are you going there to die?"
A sound like a Silver Bell chimed from within the group. The Female Assassin Ailin, wearing a half Mithril mask, materialized from the void. Her appearance was ghostly, catching everyone off guard. Daggers danced between her fingers like butterflies, flashing with a chilling Cold Light.
"Old man, that white-robed young man's gaze is much sharper than yours."
As her Scarlet cloak swept past Zhao Yun, the Star Shattering Spear Tassel moved without wind, and in an instant, she plucked the tip of Aleia's tail fluff.
Aleia immediately bristled, glaring angrily at Ailin.
"You woman, what are you trying to do!"
Ailin merely offered a sly smile, completely unfazed by Aleia's fury.
"Quiet!"
The Dwarf Runesmith Grum struck his Battle Axe, causing the "Heart of the Mountains" Rune on the axe head to light up, emitting a powerful fluctuation of Strength. The Ice Shards condensed on his steel beard shook off as he roared.
"Something under the ice is gnawing at my Rune Barrier!"
His voice boomed like a great bell, halting the brief chaos.
As soon as the words fell, the entire Icefield suddenly bulged violently, and dozens of mounds erupted like bamboo shoots after rain.
The "Spear of the Firmament" instantly deployed its formation. The Elven God Archer Silas drew his bow like a full moon and instantly shot ten Emerald Arrows. The arrows split into a hundred streams of light in mid-air, piercing the shadowy creatures beneath the ice like meteors chasing the moon.
The pierced Ice Worms burst out with purplish-black fluid, which instantly solidified into Star Sand-like crystals upon contact with the air, shimmering with an eerie light.
"It is indeed Black Moon contamination."
Lyle's brow was tightly furrowed. The Codex of the Stars in his hand flipped rapidly to a page as he chanted under his breath.
As he chanted, the meteor shower summoned in the sky descended like brilliant shooting stars, instantly vaporizing the crystals.
Lyle suddenly looked at Zhao Yun, a Star River swirling in his eyes.
"The Dragon Mark on you... interesting, it can actually resist the erosion of the Star Sand."
He had observed that when the Dragon Mark on Zhao Yun's left arm flickered, the Star Sand near Zhao Yun seemed to be "repelled," which made him very curious.
Rost cleaved through the bodies of the last few Ice Worms attempting to ambush with his Greatsword. The Holy Fire wrapped around the blade instantly burned their remains to ash, preventing even the Star Sand-like crystals from forming.
"According to intelligence, the Altar's Sacrifice has reached its final stage."
He pointed the tip of his sword toward the shadowy Fleshy Tumor in the north, his expression turning serious.
"We will rest here for one day and depart at dawn tomorrow. As for you people..."
Rost's One-Eyed gaze, beneath his faceplate, then glanced at Zhao Yun and his group.
"You'd better not go in and die."
His tone carried an air of superiority that caused some displeasure.
Lia's sword scabbard instantly frosted over. She gripped the hilt angrily, about to retort.
Zhao Yun raised a hand to stop her. The tip of the Star Shattering Spear lightly tapped the ice surface, and the Dragon Mark Azure Light shot toward the Altar along the Earth Vein.
"There are two Platinum Rank Mercenary squads thirty miles ahead; their vital energy is being absorbed by the Altar."
Ailin's Dagger suddenly pressed against Zhao Yun's throat, so fast that no one could react.
"How did little brother know..."
Her voice held a hint of mockery, but before she finished speaking, her wrist was struck down onto the ice layer by the Spear Shaft.
Ailin cried out in pain, and her Dagger clattered to the ground. She looked at Zhao Yun in surprise, a trace of admiration flashing in her eyes.
"What fast reflexes!"
"Enough!"
The Starlight erupting from the Codex of the Stars in Lyle's hand separated the two.
"You may follow us when we depart at dawn tomorrow, but we will not look after you."
He gazed deeply at the Dragon Mark swimming on Zhao Yun's left arm, his eyes filled with inquiry.
"Your Dragon Mark might prove useful."
As the golden tent of the "Spear of the Firmament" was erected on the Icefield, Aleia was aggressively gnawing on frozen meat, her tail whipping back and forth in anger.
"What does that tin can mean? Who does he think he is looking down on?"
Nia smashed the newly carved Ice Crystal figurine into pieces, and the Silver Bell rang discordantly as she stomped her foot.
"Exactly, they are bullying us too much!" she said indignantly.
"They are testing us."
Zhao Yun said while wiping his Azure Gown Sword, the blade reflecting the flickering lamplight from the golden tent.
"Rost's Holy Fire can purify the Star Sand, Grum's Runes can break the Barrier, and Lyle... " He looked up at the unusually bright North Star in the night sky, "needs someone to bear the Altar's Backlash for him."
Lia's Frost Sword Qi condensed into a warning array beneath her feet, and she frowned slightly.
"That Female Assassin, the way she looks at you is like a viper eyeing its prey."
Her tone carried a hint of worry, and her eyes revealed vigilance toward Ailin.
At midnight, a piercing crystal explosion sounded across the Icefield. As Zhao Yun threw open his tent flap, he saw Ailin's Dagger thrust into a gap in Rost's heavy armor, but it only produced a crisp sound of metal striking metal.
The Female Assassin giggled and dissolved into Black Mist. "Don't be nervous, I just wanted to see the Paladin's weak spot~"
Rost's Greatsword shattered the afterimage, and Holy Fire scorched the snow, leaving burn marks.
"Control your pet, Lyle, or I won't hesitate to kill her for you."
Lyle's indifferent reply came from the golden tent: "If she could truly kill you, it would mean you are unworthy to wield the Dawn."
Zhao Yun used the tip of his Star Shattering Spear to sweep away the floating Black Mist, thinking that the suspicion among these so-called experts might be more dangerous than the Black Moon Altar itself.
When the first ray of morning light pierced the shadow of the Fleshy Tumor, Zhao Yun's party advanced toward the Black Moon Altar, following the "Spear of the Firmament."