Proud Sword Soaring Clouds

Chapter 312: Chapter 250: Ice Crystal Celestial Silkworm

Quefeng led Ling Xiao around the dilapidated small mountain to an area behind it. The front and back of the mountain were two completely different worlds. The front was like spring all year round, with birdsong and fragrant flowers, while the back was covered in primeval Ten Thousand Year Ice that never melted. This ice had formed into all sorts of shapes—animals, plants, a whole variety of forms—that glittered with a spiritual light under the faint starlight.

’This place is a world of its own. And this scene before me is what truly fits the name Polar Ice Sea! That place behind us was just too surreal!’

"Clan Leader Quefeng, can you tell me what it is you truly seek?" The two walked in single file, and Ling Xiao spoke calmly from behind. "I believe that with your wisdom, you already knew the outcome the moment I emerged. With the Ice Sea Secret Race’s power, killing me is likely impossible, but securing a place in human territory would be a simple matter. Why insist on choosing to follow me?"

Quefeng’s old figure paused slightly. He didn’t turn around but continued walking forward, speaking as he went, "The Ice Sea Secret Race’s faith in the Great God of the Deep Sea Demon Chapter has lasted for ten thousand years. Therefore, my clansmen and I need to maintain this faith. Once that faith is lost, our very reason for existing will be gone. And you... you possess the Origin Power of the Great God of the Deep Sea Demon Chapter. As such, it’s hard to say who has assimilated whom. So, I would rather choose to continue believing in you. Because you also need... subordinates like us, don’t you?"

Ling Xiao took a deep look at Quefeng’s hunched back and said calmly, "How can I be certain that you’re telling the truth? Besides, you haven’t answered my question. The Ice Sea Secret Race’s power is astonishing. If you wanted to enter human territory, you could probably do so at any time. Why have you been willing to stay in a place like this for all these years?"

Quefeng slowly came to a halt, then turned to look at Ling Xiao. He said softly, "Don’t you find the name ’Quefeng’ to be quite strange, Master?"

Ling Xiao nodded. "It is strange. It doesn’t sound much like a human name."

"And our appearances are also quite different from humans, aren’t they?" Quefeng gave a faint, bitter smile. "It’s a rather shameful part of our history, you see. During the Ancient Era, all races lived on the same continent. Back then, there was a great deal of interaction between them. In truth, our ancestors were the... product... of an intermarriage between the Dragon Race and the Elf Race."

"..."

Ling Xiao glanced at Quefeng, speechless. ’This really isn’t something to be proud of,’ he thought. ’Intermarriage between different races, especially proud ones like the Dragon Race and the Elf Race, would be considered an unacceptable disgrace by both sides! This isn’t a secret. Many books contain records of the various races from the Ancient Era, including a number of legends. But even legends have some basis in reality. So, while I’m not an expert on the subject, I’m not completely ignorant either.’

The corner of Quefeng’s mouth twitched. He reached up and gathered his shoulder-length hair, revealing a pair of slightly pointed ears. Then, with a low roar, black scales sprouted from his exposed skin at a visible speed, rapidly covering his entire body. The transformation made Quefeng’s aged face look fierce and terrifying.

Then, the scales receded like a tide, and Quefeng’s expression calmed. A self-deprecating smile appeared on his face as he said, "Now you know why the Ice Sea Secret Clan People are in such need of faith, don’t you? We are a people with no sense of belonging! I’m not even sure if we can be considered human. Sometimes, I get this strange feeling... I think it might be more appropriate to call us Beastmen, perhaps? The Dragon Race sees us as rejects, and the Elf Race sees us as a disgrace that has tainted their pure bloodline. That’s why, way back in the Ancient Era, we were driven to this place. We’ve lived for generations in these harsh conditions. We’ve even gotten used to it!"

"Was it the Deep Sea Demon Chapter that changed your perception?" Ling Xiao asked suddenly. He was beginning to understand the meaning behind Quefeng’s devout faith in the Deep Sea Demon Chapter. ’That’s right. What the Ice Sea Secret Race needs is simply a powerful object of faith! They don’t care who they believe in!’

’In other words, whether it’s the Deep Sea Demon Chapter or me, as long as one gives the Ice Sea Secret Clan People a reason to believe, they’ll do so without hesitation!’

"The Ice Sea Secret Clan People are born with immense strength, but as you’ve seen, I have lived a long life, yet my strength is only that of a Middle-Level Sword Emperor by human standards. And I am the strongest of the Ice Sea Secret Race! So, while the Ice Sea Secret Race may seem powerful, we actually have a fatal limitation: we have no way to become stronger! Ten thousand years ago, both the Dragon Race and the Elf Race warned us not to appear in human territory, because doing so would bring shame upon them!"

Ling Xiao noticed that as Quefeng spoke this last sentence, a venomous look finally flashed in his eyes. Clearly, this was something that bothered him deeply.

Quefeng continued, "Ten thousand years have passed, and the Ancient Era has long since ended. The former glory of the Dragon Race and the Elf Race has long been buried in the dust of history. So, even if we were to appear in human territory now, I believe no one would recognize our origins, let alone bring shame to their people!"

"The Deep Sea Demon Chapter... what level of Magical Beast was it, exactly?"

Ling Xiao asked faintly, which was also his way of announcing to Quefeng that the Deep Sea Demon Chapter was dead.

The expression on Quefeng’s face stiffened slightly. Then he said, "The God... its Magical Power was extremely strong. Even the Dragon Race and the Elf Race, who are masters of wielding elemental power, were not necessarily stronger than the Great God of the Deep Sea Demon Chapter in that regard. I believe the God’s abilities had completely surpassed the scope of a ninth-rank Magical Beast. I’m certain that if the God had possessed a physical body, you would not have been its match."

Ling Xiao smiled faintly. "The result is that it’s dead, and I’m still alive. And, I obtained most of its power!"

"And so, the Ice Sea Secret Clan People choose to believe in you," Quefeng said with a smile. "Moreover, although the Ice Sea Secret Clan People did not inherit the Dragon and Elf Races’ control over the elements, we did inherit their powerful perception. I, Quefeng, believe that you are an extraordinary person!"

Ling Xiao shook his head and said no more. ’Perception is undoubtedly a real thing, but whether Quefeng is telling the truth no longer matters. At the very least, I now understand what the Ice Sea Secret Clan People are seeking—what it is they hope to obtain!’

’What everyone in the Ice Sea Secret Race wants most is probably to gain the acknowledgment and acceptance of others! Whether they’re seen as human or as another race, what matters is that humanity can at least accept them!’

’That’s why Quefeng hoped to follow the Great God of the Deep Sea Demon Chapter, sweep through the human world, and elevate the Ice Sea Secret Race to a status equal to or even higher than humanity. Then, they would never have to worry about ’losing face’ ever again.’

’A bit of an overreach.’ That was Ling Xiao’s assessment of Clan Leader Quefeng after figuring everything out. ’Still, I have to admit, if the Deep Sea Demon Chapter had truly succeeded in ravaging human lands, the only way to deal with it probably would have been for the Holy Sanctuary Gate to open and for someone from within to emerge. The power available in the human world, even including the hidden clans and sects, likely wouldn’t have been enough to defeat the Deep Sea Demon Chapter!’

Ling Xiao let out a soft sigh of relief. The hopes of the Ice Sea Secret Clan People were, in the end, quite simple. Compared to the hidden clans who coveted his sword techniques, Cultivation Technique, Alchemy, and background, the Ice Sea Secret Clan People were almost naively charming. They possessed great power, yet lacked the courage to even enter human territory and carve out a place for themselves. It seemed this sense of inferiority had, over generations, been engraved into their very bloodline.

"This is where we raise our silkworms! About ten years ago, it was that Adventurer’s father who traded for a Silk Net from us. In truth, that net was spun by our worst Ice Silkworms. To us, it was a piece of trash." A hint of pride appeared on Quefeng’s face as he said, "The Ice Sea Secret Clan People do have our own special skills, after all!"

Ling Xiao followed Quefeng’s finger and saw, inside an immense ice cave, countless silkworms that were crystal clear and emitted a faint blue glow. They weren’t large, only about the size of a finger, but there were thousands upon thousands of these Ice Silkworms clinging to the inside of the ice cave, glittering like a sky full of stars—a truly beautiful sight.

Ling Xiao frowned slightly. ’However, these aren’t Ice Crystal Celestial Silkworms,’ he thought, then asked, "Are these the best Ice Silkworms you have?"

Quefeng shook his head. "Over there are their King and Queen. Those are the truly supreme-grade Ice Silkworms!"

With that, he led Ling Xiao deeper into the ice cave.

If one didn’t look closely, the Ice Silkworms around them seemed like unmoving ice sculptures. Ling Xiao suddenly asked, "These little things... if they were brought to human lands where the climate is warm, it would be impossible to raise them, right?"

Quefeng smiled faintly. "There’s something you may not know, Master. The Ice Sea Secret Race has another skill: creating cold!"

"Your strength? Is it related to these Ice Silkworms?" Ling Xiao asked calmly.

Quefeng’s body stiffened. He was silent for a moment before replying, "Yes, my Master."

Upon hearing this, a satisfied smile appeared on Ling Xiao’s face. He was confident that he understood the uses of the Ice Silkworms far better than the Ice Sea Secret Clan People did; his question to Quefeng had been merely a test of his loyalty.

"Master, they are right there. The King and Queen of the Ice Silkworms."

Quefeng said, pointing toward two deep-blue, palm-sized Ice Silkworms on a massive ice pillar deep inside the cave.

’These are the real Ice Crystal Celestial Silkworms!’ A smile spread across Ling Xiao’s face.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!