Chapter 581: Bassam Attacks

Chapter 581: The Arrival of Bassam

The next morning.

Li Wei stood outside the Ice Jade Palace, gazing at the increasingly fierce wind and snow below the mountain.

His heart was filled with contemplation.

Now, the Ice City existed in name only.

Fewer than a thousand survivors remained.

The Ice City had been completely frozen over, devoid of any sign of life.

Li Wei wanted to persuade Gusewei to abandon this place and move elsewhere.

The environment of the Far North Ice Plains was too harsh.

Especially after the awakening of the Ice Emperor, the severity had increased more than tenfold.

Disaster ravaged the land; even food had become scarce on the ice plains.

The remaining survivors of the Ice City barely sustained themselves on magical plants.

To change the current situation,

besides abandoning the Ice City and relocating, there was another way.

The second option was to transform the Ice City itself.

Turn it into a utopian paradise, the sole sanctuary amid this frozen wasteland.

It would be difficult to achieve.

But not impossible.

Li Wei could do it—he simply needed to expend much divine power.

He could reshape the Ice City into a place where spring reigned eternal, suitable for habitation.

However, such an act seemed to hold little meaning.

Unless he intended to live here forever, isolated from the world.

Would the residents of the Ice City accept such a secluded existence?

That concern needn’t weigh heavily.

After all, they had always lived that way before.

Though there had been slight contact with the outside world, most residents never encountered outsiders or foreign things in their lifetimes.

If their survival crisis could truly be resolved—even if it meant living in an isolated utopia—they would feel nothing but joy.

Li Wei left the choice to Gusewei.

If she desired it, he would help fulfill her wish.

Gusewei walked up behind Li Wei and asked curiously, “What are you thinking about?”

Early that morning, she had noticed Li Wei missing.

She searched the entire Ice Jade Palace before finding him standing at the entrance, staring down the mountainside.

Li Wei turned to face Gusewei and said, “Do you want to leave this place?”

Gusewei paused, puzzled. “Why are you asking me that?”

Li Wei replied, “The current state of the Ice City is no longer fit for survival. Relocating elsewhere is the best option.”

Upon hearing this, Gusewei fell silent for a moment, then sighed and said, “You know what?”

She looked at Li Wei and continued, “Ever since you left last time, I’ve regretted not going with you.”

“For twenty years, I’ve stayed here, watching how the Ice City became what it is now.”

“I constantly wonder—if I had chosen to take everyone away, would their lives have been better? Would more people have survived?”

Li Wei reached out and embraced Gusewei. “This isn’t your fault. You shouldn’t blame yourself.”

Gusewei pressed her face against his chest and said, “But I am the lord of Furleid City. I must be responsible for all my citizens.”

Li Wei replied, “Regretting the past won’t change anything. Focus on the present and future—whatever you wish to do, I’ll support you.”

Gusewei said softly, “Thank you.”

“I want to lead all those still alive out of this frozen wilderness, let them see the world beyond... But it’s too hard.”

She knew full well just how difficult it was.

Impossible, really.

Li Wei placed both hands on her shoulders and gently pushed her back so they faced each other eye to eye.

He said earnestly, “It’s simple—I can make it happen.”

Gusewei showed surprise. “How… how can you do that?”

With a casual gesture, Li Wei opened a spatial portal beside him.

On the other side lay the lush streets of Mapleleaf City.

Li Wei said, “See? Just step through this gate, and we’ll arrive directly in Mapleleaf City.”

“Mapleleaf City?” Gusewei frowned slightly.

She felt like she’d heard the name somewhere before.

A moment later, realization dawned.

Her eyes lit up with anticipation as she said, “Is this where you met my brother?”

“The place where you grew up?”

Li Wei nodded. “Yes, exactly.”

“If we go to Mapleleaf City, I’ll find a way to settle the survivors of the Ice City there.”

He wondered how Oats might react upon seeing these survivors.

Knowing Oats’ personality, he would likely be thrilled.

Currently, every survivor of the Ice City was a professional warrior.

Most were third-tier professionals, and over two hundred were fourth-tier masters or higher.

Such a massive influx of skilled warriors joining Mapleleaf City—

unless they were enemies, Oats would spare no effort to recruit them under his command.

For him, it would mean a tremendous boost in strength.

Eighteen years had passed since Oats used potential-enhancing potions to cultivate a group of devoted soldiers.

Now, those men were beginning to suffer premature aging and declining abilities.

Compared to eighteen years ago, Oats’ peak power hadn’t improved—it had actually diminished somewhat.

The arrival of nearly a thousand professionals from the City of Ice and Snow would surely inject a powerful stimulant into the Northern Mystery Kingdom.

Gusewei nodded and said, "Very well, I shall arrange this matter immediately."

Li Wei channeled several streams of divine power into the teleportation gate before closing it.

The phantom body of "Torresta" that had once been stored within the Mage Tower of Maple Leaf City had long since dissipated, as he had burned away all his strength within the sun.

However, the Mage Tower of Maple Leaf City did not decline because of this.

For Torresta had rarely appeared before outsiders to begin with.

To others, his many years of seclusion were likely spent in closed-door cultivation, attempting to break through to legendary mage status.

All affairs of the tower had been entrusted to Luo Ta's management.

Under Luo Ta's administration, the tower operated normally.

Due to the small population, each member received resources far exceeding the previous welfare of the tower's members.

The Mage Tower of Maple Leaf City gradually developed toward becoming an elite force.

Eighteen years passed, and even without Torresta's phantom appearing at the Mage Tower of Maple Leaf City, two fourth-rank archmages now held sway there.

All were young mages who had grown up within the Mage Tower of Maple Leaf City over these years.

Luo Ta, due to his natural talent limitations, despite having access to all the tower's resources, had yet to break through the barrier to become an archmage.

To this day, he remained a third-rank mage.

Looking back to more distant times, when Luo Ta was still an apprentice mage, breaking through to formal mage status had been a luxury he could only hope for in his lifetime.

Now, being able to cultivate to the peak of third-rank mage, even if unable to breakthrough to the fourth-rank archmage realm, Luo Ta felt he could die without regret.

By now, Luo Ta was approaching eighty years old, quite advanced in age.

However, the two fourth-rank archmages within the tower held him in great respect.

Luo Ta had always been their sole teacher.

More importantly, Luo Ta possessed the Golden Grimoire of the Maple Leaf City Mage Tower.

The Golden Grimoire was an illusory creation of Li Wei's.

It allowed users to experience higher spell proficiency, saving time in spell cultivation.

This was also why the Maple Leaf City had been able to nurture two fourth-rank archmages in recent years.

With Li Wei's power now exhausted, the Golden Grimoire had disappeared as well.

However, the two fourth-rank archmages still believed the Golden Grimoire was in Luo Ta's possession.

Their kindness toward him stemmed from hoping that one day, Luo Ta would entrust them with the Golden Grimoire's safekeeping.

The spells recorded within the Golden Grimoire were those left behind by Li Wei when he broke through to sixth-rank mage.

It contained numerous spells ranging from first to sixth rank.

Especially fire spells, which were almost comprehensively covered.

Priceless. Luo Ta had not told anyone about the Golden Grimoire's disappearance.

He had once gone to seek out the "Torresta" phantom on the tower's sixth floor regarding this matter.

But he had been unable to meet the phantom.

Both the phantom and the Golden Grimoire had vanished simultaneously due to Li Wei burning away his power.

Naturally, Luo Ta could not see "Torresta," nor could he solve the mystery of why the Golden Grimoire had disappeared.

All he could do was conceal the truth.

Fortunately, all the spells within the Golden Grimoire had already been transcribed into magical books for record.

Only after losing the Golden Grimoire could mages no longer rapidly enhance their spell proficiency through reading it.

On this day.

A teleportation gate suddenly opened on the seventh floor of the Maple Leaf City Mage Tower.

Several golden lights flew out from the gate, forming a human shape.

Li Wei had already learned of the "Torresta" phantom's disappearance.

Therefore, he had sent his divine power avatar ahead to Maple Leaf City.

Preparing for the subsequent migration of survivors from the City of Ice and Snow to Maple Leaf City.

He glanced at the scenery within Maple Leaf City.

Streets bustled with people coming and going, but all carried an atmosphere of restlessness.

As if a crisis hung over everyone's heads, making people anxious and hurried.

Li Wei walked down toward the mage tower.

He had already seen the white-haired Luo Ta.

Thinking back, it had been twenty years since he last saw Luo Ta.

Twenty years ago, Luo Ta had already been the oldest and most senior apprentice mage in Maple Leaf City.

Twenty years later, Luo Ta was now white-haired, with a white beard.

He sat at the library entrance, reclining in a rocking chair, gently swaying.

Quite leisurely indeed.

Now he entrusted all tower affairs to his two archmage disciples.

He merely guarded the library door, living a relaxed and comfortable life.

However, he still missed those past days of busyness and fulfillment.

Unfortunately, they would never return.

Luo Ta subconsciously touched his chest, finding it empty, and sighed inwardly.

Several years had passed in the world, yet he still couldn't figure out why the Golden Grimoire had suddenly disappeared.

After the Golden Grimoire vanished,

he had never seen the tower master again.

Luo Ta didn't know what had happened.

He only hoped the tower master was alright.

Just as everyone had once thought the tower master dead.

But the tower master had returned with overwhelming force.

To this day, all forces within Maple Leaf City still feared the lingering might of the tower master.

Daring not to underestimate the Maple Leaf City Mage Tower.

Alas, after the tower master vanished, with only those remaining in Mapleleaf City, the Mage Tower had completely fallen to second-rate status.

It was only through its past reputation and prestige that it barely maintained its current scale.

Recently, the Mages' Association had also begun talking about cutting off resources to the Mage Tower.

This troubled Luo Ta greatly.

His two disciples, both fourth-rank archmages, constantly urged him to have the tower master appear and persuade the association not to reduce their support.

All Luo Ta could do was stall for time by claiming the tower master was in seclusion.

He didn't know how much longer he could keep this up.

With his eyes closed, Luo Ta gently rocked in his chair, murmuring, "At least let me spend my final years in peace."

"So Master Luo Ta plans to enjoy a quiet retirement?"

A familiar voice reached his ears.

Startled at first, Luo Ta slowly opened his eyes, puzzled.

When he saw who stood before him, his eyes widened as deep memories surged from the recesses of his mind.

He stared in shock at the figure before him.

"Li... Li Wei!"

Gusevi relayed her future plans to Gu Ze.

Upon hearing that Li Wei had the ability to transport everyone to Mapleleaf City, Gu Ze's face lit up with joy.

"Wonderful!"

"I never want to stay here another moment," Gu Ze said with emotion.

Gusevi looked at him and asked, "Isn't Ice Jade Palace good enough?"

Gu Ze shook his head. "It's not the palace—it truly is quite nice. But this frozen wasteland isn't fit for human habitation."

"I don't want my children growing up confined within these walls, never seeing anything beyond them from birth to adulthood."

Hearing this, Gusevi nodded. "You're right."

Gu Ze replied, "I'll go make arrangements now."

Gusevi said, "Very well. Once everything is settled, I will find Li Wei."

When word spread among the camp that they could finally leave, most people were overjoyed.

Only a few felt reluctant to part.

Suddenly, a thunderclap echoed across the sky.

Boom! A deafening roar split the heavens.

Purple-black lightning tore through the air, illuminating the snow-covered land below.

A massive shadow appeared in the sky, slowly drifting toward the Ice City.

Wherever it passed, ice and frost blanketed the earth.

Gusevi gazed upward, her expression grave.

"The Ice Emperor and a minion of the Demon God—why are they here?"

Li Wei raised his head, peering thousands of miles away through the clouds to see the colossal whale above.

And atop the whale stood a lone silhouette.

Bassam, the Demon God’s servant, riding the Ice Emperor, drew near Ice Jade Palace.

"Last night, there was a demi-god level energy fluctuation detected here. How could such power suddenly manifest here?"

"Could it be that woman from the Far North Ice Plains has broken through?"

Bassam shook his head—he found that unlikely.

That woman had just ascended to legendary rank recently.

There was no way she could become a demi-god so quickly.

The reason he hadn’t acted against Ice Jade Palace yet wasn’t because he feared Gusevi—it was simply due to being too busy.

He’d had no time to deal with her.

Though Gusevi wasn’t particularly strong nor especially weak, even some of his casually dispatched legendary subordinates had been defeated by her.

He himself had never found the chance to personally handle her.

He'd been preoccupied preparing for the summoning of the Demon God.

Finally, not long ago, he succeeded.

Now that his task was complete, he finally had some free time.

After sensing the demi-god energy last night, he remembered this loose end still remained—and came straightaway.

Incidentally, he also wanted to discover who exactly had appeared behind enemy lines in the heart of the Demon Army.

Li Wei recognized Bassam immediately upon sight.

Seeing him brought back memories of the Eight-Winged Angel of Light who disappeared alongside Bassam into the chaotic vortex of space.

He wondered whether the angel had returned to the divine realm or lingered somewhere in the material world.

"Leave this to me," Li Wei told Gusevi.

As soon as he spoke, he vanished from where he stood, instantly teleporting high above the sea of clouds.

Bassam sensed the sudden emergence of a demi-god-level presence above the cloud layer. His eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a hint of danger.

"A human?"

(End of Chapter)