An Understated Dominance

When the enormous body of the Ice Turtle surfaced on the lake, the cracking of the ice rang out like thunder exploding across the snowy plains. Muddy lake water surged forth, carrying shards of ice, while the shoreline froze into a steep, jagged slope of ice. The carapace on its back gleamed with a cold bluish-gray light. Each protruding plate looked like a carefully sculpted block of icy rock, with edges sharp enough to slice the air. Its two scarlet eyes rolled, scanning the terrified crowd on the shore. When its chilling gaze fell upon  Li Guanglong , it carried an almost human-like scrutiny. “Fall back!” Wan Zhong bellowed, using his one arm to drag Li Guanglong backward. He had just endured the brutal fight with the giant crab monster and knew well the horror of these deep-sea beasts—this Ice Turtle’s sheer bulk alone dwarfed the deck of the  Stormbreaker . Jagged icicles as long as ten feet hung from its shell, proving it was no ordinary creature. The soldiers had alread...

The ice sculptures shimmered with a cold light in the biting wind, the soldiers’ twisted faces sealed inside the crystalized frost, as if still crying out from the agony of being frozen alive. Li Guanglong stared at those figures, his Adam’s apple rolling a few times as he forced down the tremor in his chest. He raised a hand to rub his still-stiff arm. The spot that had been swept by the white mist earlier was still faintly bruised with purplish-blue, the chill seeming to seep deep into his very bones. “Your Highness, that spirit deer carries a poisonous cold beyond imagination.” Wan Zhong leaned on his blade as he walked over, the wound on his lone arm having split open again from the cold. Blood seeped through the bandages, dripping scarlet dots onto the snow. He gazed toward where the deer had vanished, his eyes full of dread. “We’d best hold our camp steady for now, and not recklessly provoke the creatures of this island again.” Li Guanglong nodded silently. His earlier ...

The lead-gray clouds had barely lifted from the sails of the  Raging Wave  when shards of floating ice, carried by the waves, smashed against the hull with sharp “creak-creak” sounds. Li Guanglong gripped the rail, chilled by the sea wind, and looked ahead. The sudden outline of an island appeared before him, and a flash of ecstasy crossed his eyes. After enduring the attack of the giant crab fiend and braving the fog belt, they had finally caught sight of Penglai Island. But as the  Raging Wave  slowly approached the shore, everyone froze in shock. Unlike the ancient texts that described it as  “a land of eternal spring, with jade blossoms blooming year-round” , the island before them was buried under a thick sheet of ice. The world was pure white; even the sea wind carried a bone-piercing chill, slashing across their faces like knives. Jagged ice clung to the reefs along the shore. Waves struck them only to freeze instantly into crystalline blossoms of ice, pi...

They waited like this for three whole days and nights. On this island, day and night alternated at a strange pace --- in the daytime the sun blazed like midsummer, yet at midnight one could see snow filling the sky. The soldiers took turns keeping watch outside the courtyard fence. They watched the morning glories bloom and wither again and again, watched the basket of wild fruit inside the yard empty and fill up once more, yet never again did the child appear, nor did the so-called immortal show himself. Whispers began to spread --- some said this was nothing but an empty island, and the child was merely a spirit guarding it; some secretly threw stones into the bamboo grove, only for them to rebound off an invisible barrier and smash into their own heads, leaving them bloodied. Li Juntang never said a word. Each morning, he would tidy his battle robe, bow respectfully toward the tightly closed bamboo gate, then sit on a rock with eyes closed, as if firmly convinced someone ins...

The instant Commander Zhang was sent flying, the entire courtyard seemed to freeze. The soldiers’ weapons fell to the ground with a clang . Their pupils widened in sheer horror, and more than a few unconsciously stepped back. Ankles struck against the bamboo fence, producing faint rattling sounds, yet no one dared lower their heads to look. Li Juntang’s longsword gave a sharp hum . He gripped the hilt with all his strength to keep it from slipping free, his fingertips scraping a red line across the cold scabbard. The child’s punch had been so fast it was like a lingering afterimage. That plump little fist carried no trace of force in the air, yet when it landed on Commander Zhang’s chest, it was like a falling meteor. Li Juntang had seen with his own eyes the breastplate crumpling like paper, the brittle snap of breaking ribs mixing with the grinding scrape of bone piercing his ears. “Commander Zhang…” One of his guards, trembling, tried to step forward to help, but froze after...

Li Juntang’s expression was grim. Not daring to linger, he quickly led his men to retreat into a safer area. Only after they had distanced themselves from that sinister place did everyone finally let out a long breath of relief. As the saying goes, tug a single thread and the whole web quivers --- just one soldier touching a single flower had set off such a violent chain reaction. It was truly terrifying. At this moment, Li Juntang and his men finally understood: This dazzling, colorful scenery was in fact filled with deadly peril. “Rest here. Remain on guard at all times,” Li Juntang ordered, leaning on his sword as he caught his breath. The wound on his back was soaked with sweat, stinging so badly that his vision nearly went dark. He motioned for two personal guards to keep watch while he leaned against a tree trunk to recover. In just a few short minutes earlier, they had lost more than a dozen skilled men. The loss gnawed at his heart. The medics were busy bandagin...

Li Juntang stood at the ship’s rail, gazing at the dreamlike island before him, his very breathing becoming cautious. Sunlight filtered through the towering ancient trees, scattering mottled light across the mossy ground. The air was thick with a strange floral fragrance --- sweet as honey, yet carrying a faint, refreshing sharpness. The soldiers behind him could no longer restrain themselves. One by one, they set down their weapons and reached out to touch the hanging vines --- vines adorned with crystal-clear fruits, like clusters of purple amethysts, refracting dazzling brilliance beneath the sun. “Your Highness, look at that tree!” one of his personal guards cried out in amazement. That giant trunk was covered in spiral patterns, resembling a naturally formed staircase. Within a hollow grew luminous fungi, illuminating the surroundings as brightly as daylight. A few squirrels with wings leapt down from the treetop. Their wings, as they fluttered, scattered glittering mote...