Chapter 74: Exchange Competition (Part 6)

Chapter 74: Exchange Competition (Part 6)

A high-level dual-element magic of wind and ice—Blizzard, A-grade Spirit Runes.

Unlike composite magic, which creates a chain reaction by combining two types of magic, dual-element magic requires the mage to merge two or more elements into a single spell during casting. This demands higher control over the magic, but correspondingly, the magical damage is also fifty percent higher than that of composite magic.

The howling Blizzard sent the temperature in the controlled environment plummeting. The temperature instantly fell to minus 50 degrees and was still dropping.

Everything was encased in a layer of crystal-clear ice, transforming the room into a frozen wasteland—beautiful, but deadly.

Only the ground beneath Cang Cheng remained untouched by the freezing cold.

The Giant Rock Star people were in a state of shock, stunned by what was happening.

They stared in disbelief as a Blizzard erupted inside the room, their hands instantly freezing solid the moment they were exposed to the icy wind.

Their arms were cold and stiff, unable to move.

The extreme cold instantly destroyed the nerve tissue, leaving their arms frozen and unusable.

Panicking as the ice spread from their arms to the rest of their bodies, the Giant Rock Star people, in a fit of rage, swiftly severed their frozen limbs in a desperate attempt to halt the frost's advance.

"What is this? A new weapon developed by the Canglan Star Region? Why didn’t they tell us about it!"

"Despicable and cunning Canglan people!"

The momentum of the Blizzard did not decrease, nor did the speed of the frost's spread slow down.

In just two seconds, their knees, ears, toes, and parts of their abdomens were already covered with a layer of ice.

What kind of weapon could cause such devastation?!

Even the Giant Rock Star people, known for their defensive capabilities, were helpless against the catastrophic Blizzard.

Their bodies stiffened, losing control instantly, throwing them into disarray.

They had been confident that they knew every detail of the Canglan Star Region’s weapons and were facing an allegedly worthless prince. Victory seemed assured.

Yet reality dealt them a heavy blow.

What on earth is this weapon?

Why can it create such a catastrophe?

How can they deal with this ice?

What could they possibly do now?

In battle, even a moment of hesitation can lead to an irreversible situation.

Let alone the fact that the Giant Rock Star people were stunned for more than just a moment.

Within moments, two towering ice statues emerged, their intricate details almost otherworldly.

Even if the Giant Rock Star people suddenly thought of using their own energy to form an energy coat to stop the Blizzard, it was already too late.

The polar ice had already seeped into their bodies, freezing their blood, organs, and nervous systems.

Shi Ying's gaze finally landed on Cang Cheng, who was smiling brightly. The latter was composed, his pure black eyes curved like crescent moons, and his thin lips slightly upturned.

Although Cang Cheng was smiling friendly, Shi Ying felt a chill deep in his heart.

It was him... He was the one behind all of this!

All that talk about him being a useless fifth prince, just a regular guy—it was all a lie!

He was clearly a powerful and unfathomable Awakened, someone with extraordinary abilities.

Shi Ying realized the truth, but it was already too late.

In the end, his eyeballs turned to ice.

He could no longer see anything.

"Targets 1 and 2, vital signs, gone."

Cang Cheng's enhanced AI visor displayed the fate of the Giant Rock Star people.

Cang Cheng didn't actually wear the AI visor all the time in reality. Wearing it for too long made his eyes uncomfortable, leaving them red and irritated, as if he'd been crying.

"I thought they'd last longer, but the Giant Rock Star people are pretty vulnerable in a blizzard."

Cang Cheng evaluated calmly.

He rubbed his eyes and trudged through the wind and snow toward Fu Congfei.

The swirling snowstorm danced around Cang Cheng, yet it didn't dare come near him, actively making way and creating a path.

He was the sovereign of this snowstorm.

*

Host LEE: "We can see there's been some internal friction among the Canglan Star Region team. I wonder how they will handle it next?"

Chat comments (Danmaku):

"So what's the outcome? Is Wu Ling really a traitor? Are we going to lose?"

"Don't jinx it! We still have the commander!"

"The commander is still locked up in the enemy's Base 0. There's nothing he can do from there."

"Come on, Canglan Star Region, you can't lose!"

...

Host Mimi briefly described the current situation: "Canglan Star Region is now divided into three groups. Cang Cheng, Fu Congfei, and Sang Ning are defending the base. Edward, Yi Moshang, and Xing Qing are heading out to meet the enemy. Mo Yu is providing interference."

Chat comments (Danmaku):

"Hey, hey, what exactly happened with the communication inside Base 0 just now?"

"I want to know too!"

"We can't hear any sound from here. Can you hear it??"

"Host, give us some answers! We need to know what happened!"

...

The live stream showed only the visuals, with no audio. After Wu Ling was captured, the spectators saw the Canglan Star Region team huddling together and talking. Cang Cheng took out the Spirit Runes and a capsule, and the previously deflated team suddenly perked up.

?

What exactly did the Canglan Star Region team talk about?

How did they suddenly get so hyped up, like they were on a high or something?

It's puzzling...

The two hosts glanced at the Danmaku and expressed that they were also confused...

They didn't know what the participants had discussed either.

Host LEE didn't pay attention to the Danmaku but focused on the commentary: "We can see that Edward's team was the first to engage with the Giant Rock Star Region. Canglan Star Region 3, Giant Rock Star Region 5!

Can the Canglan Star Region come back strong in this numerically disadvantageous situation?"

"Yi Moshang initiated the attack, attacking aggressively, and amazingly held his own in a 1v3 situation. Edward pinned down two, and Xing Qing provided support. We actually managed to hold our ground!"

"Unfortunately, our weapons couldn't penetrate the Giant Rock Star Region's stone skin, and both sides reached an impasse. Without a breakthrough, the Canglan Star Region needs to push through under pressure."

"Although we don't have a big advantage, have you noticed how the participants seem totally recharged and aren't backing down at all?"

"What exactly happened just now? After such a huge betrayal, they bounced back so fast?"

"It seems that the fifth prince did something... to boost the team's morale."

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves here."

"So can the Canglan Star Region still win?"

"Let's be real, we're at a level where we're just about even with the Giant Rock Star Region. Without our general, we're nothing. I'll say it right here, unless a miracle happens, the Canglan Star Region is definitely going to lose."

...

Suddenly, Host Mimi raised her voice: "Edward's weapon energy is depleted, this is bad! Wait... Edward suddenly took out a Spirit Runes?

The ground seems to be trembling.

Wait, wait, wait... Isn't this... ANKEN's stone golem Spirit Runes?

Does our participant have ANKEN's Spirit Runes?"

Along with the host's astonished voice, a stone golem made of damp clay suddenly appeared on the screen.

It stood 2 meters tall, somewhat twisted and crooked, without facial features, far from the stone golem used by ANKEN.

But this didn't stop it from not only intimidating the Giant Rock Star people but also providing immense mental support to the Canglan Star people.

The stone golem is now the beacon of hope in all the Canglan Star Region people's hearts.

Danmaku:

"Ah!!"

"ANKEN!! It's ANKEN's Spirit Runes!!"

"Stone golem!!" "We still have a chance to win! Don't give up!!"

......

At the Exchange Competition site, Edward was sweating profusely as he controlled the twisted stone golem, feeling a bit bitter.

He had always thought that Spirit Runes were something simple, easy to use and learn. It wasn’t until he was controlling this stone golem that he realized the difficulty of manipulating Spirit Runes was comparable to piloting a Qihu-class starship.

How is this Spirit Rune so difficult to use?

But seeing the Giant Rock Star Region people looking surprised and frightened, Edward felt very smug inside.

But on the surface, he kept his cool: “This is our Canglan Star Region’s latest weapon. I think the Giant Rock Star Region should change its name, since we, the Canglan Star Region, also have giant rock people.”

Seeing the sudden appearance of their ‘close relatives,’ the Giant Rock Star people were a bit overwhelmed.

How does the Canglan Star Region have giant rock people?

Has our star region also experienced betrayal?

The stone golem and the Giant Rock Star Region people stared at each other, and for a moment, no one moved.

Seeing this, Edward frantically made eye contact with his two teammates.

Edward: 99, I’m about to lose it. This Spirit Rune is too hard to control.

Yi Moshang: Hang in there, buddy.

Edward: 99, 99!

Xing Qing took out a vial: “You two run far away. I’m going to test out the biochemical weapon given by Cang Cheng.”

Winking at her, Edward said, “Xing Qing, I love you.”

Xing Qing’s hand trembled.

Just as the Giant Rock Star people were stunned by the stone golem, the two companions from the Canglan Star Region ran far away. Wearing a gas mask, Xing Qing didn’t hesitate and threw the vial given by Cang Cheng.

The test tube shattered, and the dark green liquid evaporated upon contact with the air, entering the skin and nervous systems of the Giant Rock Star people.

In less than a second, the once-majestic Giant Rock Star Region people stopped paying attention to the Canglan Star Region and started fighting each other.

Their minds clouded, their eyes turned red, and they made growling sounds, seemingly regressing into a beast-like state.

Even the mutated plants, as if waking from a drug-induced stupor, started swaying and fighting each other.

Xing Qing looked at the reagent next to her and tilted her head.

The effect of this medicine… doesn’t it look like something from a biohazard simulator?

Must be my imagination, right?

Danmaku:

“What’s going on here?”

“In the blink of an eye, why are the Giant Rock Star people fighting each other?”

“Xing Qing seems to have thrown something out. It’s probably some hallucinogenic reagent!”

“Is there a reagent in the Canglan Star Region that can take down a group of A-level Spirit Warriors in one second?”

"Is that so?"

"Really?"

"Is that so?"

...

Taking advantage of the confusion among the Giant Rock Star Region people, Edward and Yi Moshang took the opportunity to open fire, delivering several attacks. With a few booming shots, the Giant Rock Star Region people shattered into pieces of stone.

What had seemed like an impossible challenge just moments ago was now handled with ease.

This outcome would have been unimaginable just a few hours ago.

After finishing everything, the three smiled at each other, and the lingering gloom of the day was swept away by this small victory.

Edward: "Well done, everyone."

Just as they were about to continue reclaiming their territory, a message came through on the communicator.

"Participants from the Canglan Star Region have defected to the Giant Rock Star Region..."

"Giant Rock Star Region leader and vice-leader have been rescued."

Their expressions turned grim. "Oh no, something must have happened to Lord Cang Cheng and the others!"

Who defected? Wu Ling?

Damn it, they actually managed to release the two leaders of the Giant Rock Star Region using this method!

Can Fu Congfei and Sang Ning hold off the leaders?

Surely Lord Cang Cheng will be fine, right?

Even though Lord Cang Cheng lacked mental energy, he wasn't a liability during the Exchange Competition. In fact, thanks to the Spirit Runes and medicinal potions provided by Lord Cang Cheng, they were able to turn the tide.

We can't let anything happen to Lord Cang Cheng!

With this in mind, they hurried back to the base, fearing the worst for their teammates.

However, when they arrived at the location of Base 0, the three were dumbfounded.

The base, which had been constructed of metal blocks, was now covered in a thick layer of frost, turning the area into an instant winter scene, with biting cold.

Even the ground and plants near the base were coated in frost and snow, the cold penetrating their combat suits. The temperature here was estimated to be minus 30 degrees or even colder.

Edward opened his mouth, and the hot air he exhaled formed a white fog in the air. "Is this our base?"

The viewers watching the live stream echoed the same question.

Did the Canglan Star Region's base get frozen?

Were they looking at some kind of frozen display?

"What's going on?"

"I'd like to know that too."

"Could the Giant Rock Star people have ambushed us here?"

"Uh... confused."

Yi Moshang was dazed for a moment before realizing that the scene in front of him looked somewhat familiar.

He had once faced ANKEN's ice rune head-on. Didn't this look just like the effect of ANKEN's ice rune?

"This seems to be ANKEN's ice rune? But the power is greater than that."

Edward nodded blankly. "It is indeed the manifestation of the ice rune, but... can the ice rune do this?"

"We'll find out by going inside. Everyone, be careful."

The three channeled their energy outward, forming an energy layer to block the ultra-low temperature.

This was an advanced combat technique that only Spirit Warriors who had reached Level A could learn—energy shielding.

They carefully walked across the icy floor, entering the base's interior, where they discovered that the inside of the base looked as if it had been ravaged by a blizzard. The walls bore deep gouges from what looked like sharp weapons, and all the furniture and floors were frozen under a 30cm thick layer of ice.

The temperature inside the base was even colder than outside, so cold that even with their energy shields, the three of them shivered uncontrollably.

Danmaku:

"What a spectacular sight."

"So is this our star domain's secret tech?"

"I feel like this looks a bit like ANKEN's ice rune."

"The ice rune couldn't achieve this effect..."

"Then maybe... ANKEN's unreleased Level A Spirit Runes?"

……

If stone golems can appear, it makes sense that an unreleased Level A Spirit Rune could show up during the Exchange Competition!

The three quickly moved towards the area where the temperature had dropped the most. After turning a corner, they saw two 3-meter-tall ice statues standing before them.

When Yi Moshang's gaze fell on the faces of the ice statues, he instinctively adopted a combat stance. "Watch out!"

The ice statues contained the two leaders of the Giant Rock Star Region!

But upon closer inspection, he saw that the statue-leaders had lost all their initial momentum. Their noses were gone, their arms were broken, and they were frozen in the ice statues with expressions of terror.

Time had frozen them in this moment, forever.

Yi Moshang subconsciously glanced at the score update.

3000 points

1200 points

These were the two most recent points updates for the Canglan Star Region, with 3000 and 1200 points awarded for defeating the enemy leaders and vice leaders.

This also indicated that the two leaders of the Giant Rock Star Region had completely lost their combat effectiveness.

Yi Moshang let out a breath of relief but couldn't help feeling a deep sense of awe at the sight of the two ice statues.

Who would have thought that the leaders of the Giant Rock Star Region would be frozen in place, completely helpless, in such a brutal way?

The severity of this freezing cold is unimaginable!

Danmaku:

"It can actually freeze people? That's brutal."

"But that's an elite S-rank Spirit Warrior, right? Just frozen like that?"

"Our star region is mighty!"

"What a brilliant turnaround!"

"So how exactly did this happen?"

"Quick, check the points. Lord Cang Cheng's points have exceeded 10,000! It was just over 6,000 yesterday. Judging by the points, he froze those two."

"No way."

"This is impossible!"

"Are you kidding?"

……

Everyone unanimously believed that Lord Cang Cheng, known to all in the Canglan Star Region as nothing more than a pretty face with no talent, couldn't possibly have created a scene like something out of a disaster movie.

It's absolutely impossible!

And yet, the rapidly rising points—what was going on?

After walking a few more steps forward, a delicate figure dressed in thin clothing, looking fragile but standing tall, appeared before them.

Cang Cheng wore a dark combat suit, immaculately clean, with no wounds on his body.

Cang Cheng standing in the polar ice seemed like a pine tree in the snow, not the least bit disheveled even as the fierce wind raged.

"Thank goodness... Lord Cang Cheng is safe."

Edward and the others breathed a sigh of relief.

As they approached Cang Cheng, they discovered two bodies lying before him, covered in blood—Fu Congfei and Sang Ning!

Fu Congfei, covered in wounds, trembled as she held her gun, appearing gravely injured.

Sang Ning had been shot through the heart, her breathing already still.

"Sang Ning!! Fu Congfei!!"

The group rushed to their sides. Xing Qing took out an intermediate healing potion to treat Fu Congfei, but for Sang Ning… she could only shake her head helplessly.

Danmaku:

"Is this for real? Sang Ning looks like she's out of it!"

"Sang Ning's wound looks like it was caused by Fu Congfei."

"How is that possible? Aren't Sang Ning and Fu Congfei supposed to be best friends? How could they go after each other?"

"Sang Ning was known as a kind-hearted prodigy in the academy, always so gentle and approachable. How could this…"

"Wait, why is the fifth prince completely unharmed? Why are the two of them so badly injured?"

"I find it strange too. The fifth prince's situation is really out of place, don't you think?"

"Do you really think the fifth prince killed them? You're all getting carried away!"

"What exactly happened at the outpost? Why did the enemy team leader come out? One dead and one injured out of the three left to guard?"

……

The camera was too far away to catch what the participants were saying. Everyone could only guess the situation on site.

Edward's expression was grave. His hand by his side clenched and unclenched, shaking uncontrollably.

Sang Ning was both his classmate and teammate; he couldn't accept the news of her death.

"Lord Cang Cheng, what exactly happened just now?"

Cang Cheng explained that Sang Ning had betrayed them and released the team leader of the Giant Rock Star Region.

No one present could believe that Sang Ning would do such a thing, their shock evident on their faces.

How could Sang Ning possibly do something like this??

At that moment, Fu Congfei also woke up from her severe injuries. She confirmed Cang Cheng's words and then fell silent again.

Her eyes were dull, her mood low.

She was the one who had ended Sang Ning's life.

Seeing this, Edward changed the subject, "By the way… what’s with the frozen landscape here?"

They couldn’t let everyone dwell on the sadness; the Exchange Competition wasn’t over yet, and they couldn’t afford to lose their fighting spirit.

Fu Congfei instinctively looked at Cang Cheng.

The others followed her gaze to Cang Cheng.

Cang Cheng smiled slightly, "This is a Spirit Runes tablet given to me for self-defense by Mo Yu. It's said to be made by ANKEN. I didn't know the effect would be so spectacular. But thanks to it, we were able to barely survive the Giant Rock team leader's attack."

Far away in the Giant Rock Star Region base, Mo Yu thought: Another non-existent fact added to the list.

Edward and the others felt something was off, but Cang Cheng’s explanation seemed plausible.

"In any case, we'll deal with other matters after the Exchange Competition is over. For now, we need to handle the current situation and not give up halfway."

Cang Cheng asked, "What’s happening out there?"

Yi Moshang reported, "We just encountered five members of the Giant Rock Star Region and engaged in a direct confrontation. With the help of the Spirit Runes tablet you provided and the potions, we successfully defeated them.

After that, we received news of our side's betrayal and hurried back."

After hearing Yi Moshang’s report, Cang Cheng glanced at the score update on his screen.

He suddenly narrowed his eyes, his smile curving in a way that sent a chill down one's spine.

Cang Cheng: "Did you guys get the defeat points?"

Yi Moshang, Edward, and Xing Qing exchanged wide-eyed glances.

Guilty-looking Yi Moshang: “I guess… probably?”

Lord Cang Cheng pointed at the messages constantly popping up on the communicator, “Outpost occupied, points -500,” while a “points gained” message from the Canglan Star Region appeared, showing 1200 points earned for Lord Cang Cheng defeating the deputy leader of the Giant Rock Star Region.

Obviously, the people from the Giant Rock Star Region were aggressively occupying their territory, and aside from the two leaders, there were no casualties on the side of the Giant Rock Star Region.

From this, it was clear that although Yi Moshang and the others had knocked down the five people from the Giant Rock Star Region, they hadn’t defeated them.

The Giant Rock Star people, who can regenerate from a small piece of rock, had already returned.

Edward and the others knew that due to their mistake, they had failed to reduce the numbers of the Giant Rock Star Region, which was a huge crisis for the Canglan Star Region at the moment.

The three: “We are sorry, Lord Cang Cheng.”

Even Xing Qing spoke up with a small apology.

“An apology doesn’t make up for anything,” Lord Cang Cheng pondered for a moment, “Get Wu Ling out, and prepare for the final confrontation!”

Edward hesitated, “But Wu Ling was accused of transmitting signals. I’m afraid he won’t want to fight with us.”

Lord Cang Cheng: “Just tell him that the third prince is here. Whether he chooses to perform in front of the third prince is his choice.”

With his fingertip, Lord Cang Cheng tapped the communicator. The latest message brought a faint smile to his face.

“Detected Canglan Star Region participants are at Giant Rock Star Region Base 0.”

“The leader and deputy leader of the Canglan Star Region can move freely.”

“See, the General and the third prince have been released. As long as we hold out until we rendezvous with the General, victory will be ours.”

When they heard that the General could move freely, everyone looked stunned.

What? The General?

The General can move freely now?

Who among us made it to the Giant Rock Star Region’s Base 0?

“Am I hallucinating? Is that really the General? Is he actually coming?”

Edward playfully pinched Xing Qing.

She instantly moved away.

Edward: “Is this the prince’s arrangement?”

Lord Cang Cheng nodded, “I previously sent Mo Yu to find the Giant Rock Star Region’s Base 0. I didn’t mention it before because I didn’t know if he would succeed.

Now it seems Mo Yu did not disappoint.”

Hearing this, the contestants looked at Lord Cang Cheng with gratitude and excitement.

Lord Cang Cheng was incredibly strategic. Even in the chaos of the evening, he had the foresight to send someone to find the General.

So… the General is really coming to back them up?

With the General here, there was no way they could lose!

Edward and the others instantly felt reinvigorated, full of determination.

After a grueling day of fighting, they were already exhausted, and then there was the situation with Sang Ning. Their spirits were low, and they were patching themselves together and barely holding on.

But now, hearing that Hilmeth's reinforcements were about to arrive, the weight on their hearts lifted instantly.

The night gave way to dawn.

This was why Hilmeth mattered.

A hero of the stars, a moral compass, an unmatched beacon of hope.