The instant blue light swallowed his vision, Chen Wuya felt his body grow weightless, as though he had been pulled free of the ground. Instinctively, he tightened his grip on Bai Zhi's hand, his fingertips brushing the faintly cool sweat in her palm. The Frostspine Beast's shriek cut off abruptly, and silence fell all around them.
The scene before them changed.
The crumbling ice field had vanished, replaced by a level expanse of snow. Along its edges stood two rows of Snow Demon Clan members clad in silvery-white robes. Their heads were bowed, their hands folded over their chests, their knees slightly bent, as if performing some ancient rite. Aurorae drifted slowly overhead, bathing the entire land in a ghostly blue glow.
"Did we... not leave?" Mo Feng panted. His fingers still rested on Chen Wuya's wrist, and his voice trembled slightly.
A system notification appeared:
[Warning: During the initial activation phase of the node, a "silent window" will be available. You may remain for three minutes for energy calibration.]
Chen Wuya lowered his head to look at the crystal token in his arms. The red streak across it had mostly faded, and it now resonated softly with a distant blue radiance. Before he could speak, a figure emerged from the snow ahead.
A Snow Demon who looked like a young boy approached slowly, a tiny ice crystal embedded between his brows. In his hands, he carried a thoroughly azure token. Reaching the three of them, he dropped to one knee and raised the token above his head.
"This is a Polar Passage Permit," the boy said in a clear voice. "It will protect you all the way south."
Chen Wuya reached out and accepted it. The crystal token felt warm and smooth in his hand. Snowflake patterns