Chapter 471: Ice Jade Palace

Chapter 471: The Ice Jade Palace

"Master, it's been a long time!"

Gu Ze heard the familiar voice and instinctively looked up.

Seeing Li Wei, he stood frozen for a long moment, disbelief flickering in his eyes.

Gu Ze had never imagined he would encounter Li Wei here.

Over half a year ago, Gu Ze had followed Bas's merchant caravan to the ice plains, returning to his former homeland.

But the place where he once lived had already vanished, buried beneath blizzards, and the surrounding villages had disappeared without a trace.

Gu Ze wandered across the ice plains, roaming everywhere, searching for remnants of his past.

He passed through many tribes and villages, later learning that there was a massive city in the far northern ice plains, where many people had gathered.

Perhaps the people from his ancestral village had moved to this City of Ice and Snow.

Thus, Gu Ze made his way to the City of Ice and Snow to search for his past.

After experiencing some twists and turns, he discovered to his surprise that his younger sister had actually become the Holy Maiden of the City of Ice and Snow.

Originally, he had wanted to write to Li Wei to share the good news about finding his sister.

Unfortunately, the City of Ice and Snow was isolated from the outside world—even the traveling merchant Bas wouldn't come to this place.

Gu Ze had no way to contact the outside world, so he remained without word.

He had originally planned to return to Maple Leaf City after a few years, when he was stronger and could safely traverse the ice plains.

He had never expected Li Wei to come here.

"Li Wei." Gu Ze called out joyfully.

Gu Sewei, upon hearing this, looked at both Li Wei and Gu Ze with astonishment.

Gu Ze had told her about Li Wei—Gu Sewei knew that Gu Ze had a brilliant disciple of whom he was extremely proud.

But according to Gu Ze's description, Li Wei had only been a first-rank mage a year ago.

How could he be this person?

This rate of strength improvement was simply absurd.

"Holy Maiden, please step behind me and be cautious of the enemy."

The leader of the Valkyries interrupted their reunion, staring sternly at Li Wei as she reminded Gu Sewei.

Hearing this, Gu Sewei finally remembered what she needed to do.

She quickly said, "Monis, don't worry. He has already agreed to meet the Queen."

Upon hearing her words, Monis did not relax her vigilance in the slightest. Her spear trembled slightly, shaking off the snowflakes that had settled on its tip.

Her sharp gaze locked onto Li Wei through the gaps in her helmet as she said coldly, "This man openly abducted the Holy Maiden within the city—he has violated the laws of the City of Ice and Snow. I will take him back to face judgment by the Queen."

Gu Sewei glanced helplessly at Monis. Her words made it clear that whether or not Li Wei was willing to see the Ice Queen was no longer the issue.

What Monis sought to uphold was the dignity of the City of Ice and Snow's laws, the majesty of the Ice Queen, and the sanctity of the Holy Maiden.

This had escalated to another level entirely.

Hearing this, Li Wei turned to look at Monis, feeling her icy, bone-piercing gaze like a cold wind.

He laughed lightly, his expression turning cold as he said, "Then try it if you dare."

Hearing this, Monis raised her long spear, pointing it at Li Wei.

She prepared to launch an attack.

Gu Sewei stepped forward, placing herself between Li Wei and Monis.

She didn't want things to become so tense.

It had taken great effort for Li Wei to agree to accompany her to meet the Queen.

Although Monis was powerful, even if she defeated Li Wei and brought him before the Queen, it wouldn't be a favorable outcome.

Because what the Queen needed was Li Wei's cooperation.

Suddenly, Monis's expression shifted slightly—she heard the Queen's voice in her ear.

A moment later, she lowered her weapon and responded in a low voice, "Understood, Your Majesty."

She cast a glance at Li Wei, tugged on the reins to turn her snow steed around, and issued an order: "Escort the Holy Maiden back to the palace."

Clatter!

The numerous Valkyries who had surrounded Li Wei obeyed the command, sheathing their weapons and dispersing to form an escort formation.

Seeing this, Gu Sewei let out a breath of relief. Though she still didn't understand why Monis had suddenly changed her mind.

Because Gu Ze was the Holy Maiden's elder brother, he wasn't obstructed by the escorting Valkyries and walked over to stand beside Li Wei and Gu Sewei.

Looking at Li Wei and Gu Sewei, he wore a strange expression. "What's going on with you two?"

Gu Ze himself was completely puzzled.

Li Wei hadn't met him upon arriving in the City of Ice and Snow—instead, he had somehow gotten acquainted with his own younger sister first.

What was going on?

Gu Sewei felt somewhat embarrassed, pushing gently on Gu Ze's back to make him turn and walk forward.

"We'll talk about it later."

Under the protection of the Valkyries, the three arrived at the Ice Jade Palace.

The Ice Jade Palace sat atop the snowy mountains of the City of Ice and Snow, quite distant from the urban area at the mountain's base.

The Valkyrie squad escorted them to the entrance of the Ice Jade Palace, where Monis dismissed the others to return to the city. She alone led Li Wei and the others into the palace.

The Ice Jade Palace resembled a massive work of art carved from blue-ice crystal.

Every corner overflowed with the craftsman's ingenuity.

Beautiful patterns and carvings were visible everywhere.

As Li Wei entered the Ice Jade Palace, he saw many crystalline trees but felt no cold.

He glanced around, seeing no signs of ordinary vegetation.

Within the Ice Jade Palace, it seemed only these ice-crystal trees and flowers existed—not traditional plants.

These crystalline trees and flowers swayed in the wind, appearing vividly lifelike.

"Master Gu Ze, please remain here."

Monis extended her hand to stop Gu Ze.

Gu Ze nodded, looking toward Li Wei and Gu Sewei as he said, "You go ahead. I'll wait for you here."

He knew that just ahead lay the audience chamber of the Ice Queen.

The Ice Queen likely had important matters to discuss with Li Wei—they weren't matters in which he should be present.

Gu Ze had only been summoned once by the Ice Queen, during his initial reunion with Gu Sewei.

He had not yet been able to glimpse the true countenance of the Ice Queen; at the time, she had stood behind a bead curtain of ice crystals, offering only the view of a blurred silhouette.

Since then, he had never laid eyes on her again.

Levi nodded. "Mm."

For reasons she could not fathom, a faint thread of nervousness wound its way through Gwith.

She feared, in part, that Levi might disappoint the Ice Queen, and feared equally that some misfortune might befall him once he stepped inside.

It was not strictly a worry for his safety, but rather the simple weight of knowing he had come solely because he trusted her; if something went amiss, the fault would be hers, a betrayal of the absolute faith he had placed in her.

Gwith took a deep, centering breath and pushed the door open to step inside.

Levi followed closely on her heels.

The moment they crossed the threshold, the door slammed shut behind them with a heavy thud.

He cast a fleeting glance backward, unbothered, before shifting his gaze forward.

The vast chamber held nothing but eight colossal pillars of ice crystal rising from the floor, terminating at the far end in a flight of smooth, ice-blue crystal steps that ascended to a crystal throne.

Upon that throne sat a lone figure.

Across the span of dozens of meters, Levi's gaze collided with that of the figure in the seat.

Each was taking the measure of the other.

Was she the Ice Queen?

Was this the individual hunted by the Church of Light?

Gwith fractured the silence, stepping forward as the heels of her shoes clicked sharply against the floor.

The sound, modest by nature, resonated with striking clarity through the cavernous, quiet hall.

It felt almost like a rhythmic tapping against Levi's own heart.