Chapter 575: Chapter 575

The convoy sped across the snow, kicking up a rolling wave of powder, with a heavy armored vehicle leading at the front.

Old Master Si stood in the railing atop the vehicle, leaning on his cane, his expression growing darker and darker. "How many have we captured so far? Is the target hiding among the rogue Ascenders?"

"We've already screened three times, and besides, aren't you a Divination Master?"

It was a strikingly beautiful young woman speaking, her appearance seductive and bold. She wore nothing but a white evening gown, her smooth shoulders and delicate collarbones exposed. The high slit in her dress revealed long, snow-white legs, and she balanced deftly on high heels.

Her platinum blonde hair was loosely gathered, and her dainty ears bore crystal drop earrings. A glittering necklace encircled her pale neck, making her look as though she was attending a banquet, completely unfazed by the cold.

The only detail that seemed out of place was the wineglass in her hand.

Because she was drinking a local specialty beer from Peak City.

The Sea of Eternal Life was unbearably cold, requiring alcohol to stay warm. However, high-proof liquors had long been swept clean from the market. Even powerful factions like theirs were running out of supplies, resorting to drinking beer instead.

"Divination isn't omnipotent."

Old Master Si was also holding a bottle of beer, his gaze dark and heavy. Unable to suppress his irritation, he muttered, "Miss Xia, instead of wasting alcohol here, why don't you put on more clothes? Resources are incredibly scarce in the Sea of Eternal Life."

Xia Yu smiled faintly. "I can't help it. The side effects of wielding a Mythical Weapon require me to maintain elegance at all times."

Old Master Si didn't hold back his displeasure, even though she was a Twilight Candidate.

Because it was obvious she was sent by the Think Tank to keep an eye on him.

This Old Master of the Si Family, who had roamed the Dark World for decades, had never encountered such indignity.

An operation under his command had failed due to internal betrayal.

And now, he was being instructed not to harm the traitor.

Instead, he was tasked with bringing them back safely.

What sort of nonsense was this!

"Miss Xia, who exactly is Moon Princess that the Think Tank would go to such lengths to protect her?"

Old Master Si's face remained expressionless. "I don't get it. I'm supposed to capture her alive, but I can't hurt her?"

Xia Yu smiled and replied, "I don't know either. All I know is that the Think Tank wants Moon Princess returned safe and sound, without a scratch. And ideally, we should bring Lu Zijin into the You Ying Group as well. Though the initial plan failed, turning a minister to our side could add some... entertainment, don't you think?"

Si Wei'an sat further back, wrapped in a heavy coat. His body below the neck was wrapped in bandages, some of which were still faintly seeping blood—a wound even the Priests hadn't managed to fully heal.

Already mentally unstable, he could no longer suppress the murderous intent surging within him. His eyes burned with violent, frenzied emotion.

However, Old Master Si, a seasoned veteran, quickly detected something unusual.

There was likely more to the Think Tank's choice in assigning him this mission.

The Think Tank must have already caught on to the secret dealings between the Si and Jiang Families.

The Think Tank was a terrifying individual, someone no one dared to defy within the Dark World.

Nor could anyone disrupt his rules.

Rumor had it that he was the successor personally chosen by the Red King before his death.

The Think Tank had made it explicitly clear: no one was to kill Moon Princess.

Yet they had been planning, in the shadows, to break that rule.

And so, the Think Tank had subtly made things difficult for him in return.

Now, it seemed capturing Moon Princess alive without harming her was far too challenging.

The only option was to deal with Lu Zijin first.

And force the girl to compromise.

"Not only that, but now he expects me to investigate that bizarre Iceberg Ruins as well?"

Old Master Si muttered in a low voice, "This is an SS-level mission. Do you know how many people have already died?" The rıghtful source is 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝•𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾•𝘯𝘦𝘵

It had been a full week since the Sea of Eternal Life had opened, and in that time, countless Ascenders had poured in, sacrificing their lives to leave behind valuable tactical insights.

By now, they had broadly mapped out the area. The most dangerous location was undoubtedly the Kui Dragon Ancestor's Dragon Cave.

An unquestionable SSS-level challenge.

But now, just thirty kilometers ahead, there lay a mysterious Iceberg Ruins.

Rumor had it no one who entered ever came back out.

Its sheer enigma had earned it an SS-level difficulty rating.

No one knew what the Iceberg Ruins truly were, only that they rested at the very center of the Sea of Eternal Life. Additionally, it wasn't even classified as an Ancient God Clan relic but something built by humans, only adding to its eerie allure.

The rogue Ascenders they had captured were to be used as fodder for exploring these ruins.

Gu Jianlin sat within the prison cart, turning his head to look at the other side.

He caught sight of a familiar face.

"Damn it! If it weren't for Miss Moon Princess, would I even need to endure this humiliation?"

A rotund man lay sprawled in the adjacent prison cart, his scarf wrapped tightly around his face, leaving only two narrow slits visible.

He looked downright sleazy at first glance.

"Don't even start. I just got kicked in the gut," he complained.

Butcher sat nearby, drenched in blood, looking thoroughly pissed off. "When I catch those bastards later, I'm going to twist off their heads, damn it!"

"Third Master, I've found out something."

Ning Chen yawned, looking disheveled and dirt-covered, like a refugee. "Not long ago, some rogue Ascenders reportedly encountered two absurdly powerful young women. One was a Ghost Slayer, the other a Heavenly Master. According to an account, some fool tried to force himself on them, tempted by their beauty. The Ghost Slayer severed his arm, and the Heavenly Master crushed his crotch like it was nothing."