Chapter Summaries

Gao De and Du Wei discussed the pressure each carried before parting ways and racing toward Danton Peak’s summit. As Gao De gathered valuable magic plants, a group of Small Ice Elementals attacked him, and he killed their leader and pursued the rest, leaving one to escape.

• Gao De comforted Du Wei about his burdens, and Du Wei laughed before proposing a race to the summit; Flora joined their farewells.
• Gao De discovered two Zero Circle magic plants and one First Circle magic plant, then used Mage Hand to collect the First Circle plant after Flora warned that the Veilmist Fang could contaminate it.
• Flora alerted Gao De to five Small Ice Elementals, including a stronger leader, and Gao De opened the fight with Magic Missile Burst and Flame Arrow+.
• Gao De wounded the leader with Flame Arrow+, used Toll the Dead to interrupt its counterattack, and blinded the group with Color Spray before killing the leader with another Flame Arrow+.
• Gao De attacked the four fleeing Small Ice Elementals with Magic Missile Burst and Flame Arrow+, killing three while one escaped.

Gao De upgraded Endure Elements with a Small Ice Elemental’s Origin and continued climbing Danton Peak, relying on Flora to scout and guide him through the dangerous terrain. Flora discovered a valuable magical flower in a cave guarded by a powerful Snow Leopard-type Leyline Creature, leaving Gao De to decide whether to approach it.

• Gao De used the Small Ice Elemental’s Origin to upgrade Endure Elements into Endure Elements+, which could protect against harsh conditions beyond heat and cold.
• Gao De climbed higher on Danton Peak as worsening terrain and falling temperatures made travel more difficult, while Flora scouted ahead and helped him avoid danger.
• Gao De cast Endure Elements+ when the nighttime cold overwhelmed his resistance, and Adaptive increased his cold resistance by 14% overnight.
• Gao De continued climbing, confident that Adaptive would eventually let him catch up to Du Wei, while Flora guided him around cliffs and back toward his route.
• Flora warned Gao De that a highly valuable magical flower grew in a dark cave guarded by a dangerous Snow Leopard-type Leyline Creature.

Gao De took advantage of a Snow Leopard's absence to break into its cliffside lair and steal a rare magic plant. When he found it impossible to cut the plant free, Flora told him to bite it, and he swallowed it whole.

• Gao De learned from Flora that a lone Snow Leopard guarded a magic plant in a cave on Danton Peak and decided to steal it while the creature hunted.
• Gao De hid in the snow and waited until the Snow Leopard left its cave to hunt down the mountain.
• Gao De used the Cat Claw Spell to climb the icy cliff and enter the cave, where he found a glowing blue magic plant rooted in an unusually tough slab of ice.
• Gao De failed to cut through the ice, so Flora told him to bite the plant; he bit through its stem and swallowed the entire lotus.

After eating the magical lotus, Gao De gained controllable microscopic vision in his left eye and fled the Snow Leopard’s cave. He found his way back to the Northern Ascent Route and caught up with Du Wei, just as the Snow Leopard attacked them.

• Gao De ate the magical lotus and gained microscopic vision, which he realized could help with Rune Fabrication Technique.
• Gao De masked his scent, covered his tracks, and escaped the cave while the Snow Leopard was away hunting.
• After traveling through the night and resting, Gao De found traces of human activity and confirmed he had returned to the Northern Ascent Route.
• Gao De followed the route and caught up with Du Wei, who was cooking in an ice cave.
• The Snow Leopard burst through the snow and pounced toward Gao De and Du Wei.

Du Wei saved Gao De from a Snow Leopard, and Gao De learned that the magic plant he swallowed was Mandora’s Tears, which had granted him the Mandora Demon Eye. As Gao De and Du Wei continued climbing Danton Peak, their rivalry softened into friendship, and Du Wei shared that his family had no siblings because fidelity was a family tradition.

• Du Wei killed the Snow Leopard with three rapid spells after it caught up to Gao De, then identified it as a late second-circle Leyline Creature.
• Du Wei told Gao De that the magic plant he had swallowed was Mandora’s Tears, and Gao De revealed that he had gained the Mandora Demon Eye.
• Gao De and Du Wei shared a campfire, food, and rest, while Gao De learned that Flora had found a barley seed able to survive extreme cold.
• Du Wei and Gao De continued their climb, taking turns setting out early and sharing campsites and meals as their competition became more companionable.
• Gao De asked Du Wei about his family, and Du Wei said he had no siblings and that fidelity had long been a tradition in his family.

Gao De pushed his cold resistance beyond its limit during a gale on Danton Peak, evolving Adaptive into Novice Ice-Blessed Body. After he and Du Wei reached the summit and shared a farewell, Du Wei used a magic ring to vanish through a magic array.

• Gao De buried himself in snow to spur Adaptive, raising his cold resistance to 99% before it stalled.
• When a gale arrived, Gao De charged into the storm while Du Wei stayed sheltered, and his cold resistance surpassed 100%.
• Adaptive evolved into Novice Ice-Blessed Body, granting Gao De increased resistance to Ice Elemental damage and immunity to negative effects from third-circle Ice Elemental spells and below.
• After the gale passed, Gao De and Du Wei continued climbing and reached Danton Peak's summit on Winter Solstice Month, day 21.
• Du Wei gave Gao De his remaining food, promised they were friends, then activated a magic ring and disappeared through a magic array.

Gao De and Flora descended Danton Peak on a makeshift ice snowboard while, in Old Frost Maw, Sunaifa Boreas led a Truefrost ritual and received a prophecy about a man who would bring spring to the Northern Territory. The chapter left the Truefrost Tribe preparing to find and follow the prophesied man.

• Gao De created an ice snowboard and poles, then skied down Danton Peak with Flora tucked into his pocket.
• The chapter described the Icekin’s decline and the Truefrost Tribe’s gathering at the restored Boreas Sanctuary.
• Sunaifa Boreas raised Blizzard and began the ritual as Truefrost hunters cut their palms and offered their blood.
• Sunaifa received a vision that someone would come from the mountain summit, awaken the earth, bring life to the Permafrost Tundra, and help True Ice rise again.
• Sunaifa told the Truefrost Tribe to believe in, welcome, and follow the man, describing his protection by ice and snow and his favor with nature.

Joey struggled to survive in a poor Northern Territory tribe, where a Snow Wolf pack attacked and demanded their food. When three Frost Snow Wolves turned on the hunters despite the tribe’s tribute, a mysterious figure arrived and blasted one wolf away, leaving Lauter alive.

• Joey shaped herbivore dung into fuel and received venison after the hunters returned with a Big-Horned Deer.
• The tribe sounded the alarm when a pack of around thirty Snow Wolves approached, and the chief ordered the hunters to offer them meat.
• Three One-Ring Frost Snow Wolves rejected the tribute and attacked Lauter and two other hunters as the tribe brought out a winter-reserve Musk Ox.
• A fiery beam struck the Frost Snow Wolf about to kill Lauter, and Lauter spotted a figure sliding down a distant slope in unusually long shoes.

Gao De joined the tribe’s battle against the Snow Wolves and used his upgraded Magic Missile Burst+ to kill two First Circle Frost Snow Wolves and drive off the third. He then raced toward the remaining fight, eager to take on more wolves.

• Lauter escaped as the chieftain ordered the hunters to hurl spears, killing several Snow Wolves but leaving the pack free to attack.
• The chieftain’s Frost Arrow barely hurt a First Circle Frost Snow Wolf, while the wolves wounded a youngster and an old man and forced the hunters to defend the tribe.
• Three First Circle Frost Snow Wolves charged Gao De, but his homing Magic Missile Burst+ struck two and severely injured them.
• Gao De fired again to finish the two injured wolves; the third fled beyond his casting range.
• Gao De called for the chieftain to leave him some wolves, then raced toward the battle and killed a Zero Circle Snow Wolf with a beam of flame.

Gao De saved the Duo'er Border Tribe from a Snow Wolf attack and was welcomed by its chieftain, Himo. After learning about the tribe and joining its feast, he sampled Ginger Wool Tea, which Flora mistakenly warned was poisonous.

• Gao De killed the attacking Zero Circle Snow Wolves with Flame Arrow+, and Himo joined him to drive off the pack.
• Gao De used Comprehend Languages to understand Himo, who thanked him for saving the Duo'er Border Tribe and invited him to stay for the night.
• Gao De introduced himself, accepted Himo's invitation, and let the tribe keep the Snow Wolf corpses except for the pelts of two First Circle Frost Snow Wolves.
• The tribe held ice burials for the seven people killed in the attack, then welcomed Gao De with a bonfire feast.
• Flora tasted Ginger Wool Tea and warned Gao De it was poisonous, but Gao De checked it with Detect Poison, drank it, and praised its flavor.

Gao De learned about the Northern Territory’s regions, tribes, and Truefrost while considering where to plant Yggdrasil and how it could help him build influence. After Chief Himo gave him a warm place to rest, Flora wondered whether her complaint about the tribe’s tea had hurt anyone’s feelings.

• Gao De shared a lavish meal with Chief Himo and asked him about the Northern Territory’s geography, people, and power structure.
• Chief Himo described the extreme cold of the eastern region, the rare Truefrost treasure, and the three major tribes: the Truefrost Tribe, Winter’s Hammer, and the Frostwolf Clan.
• Gao De decided Yggdrasil’s initial planting site needed to be uninhabited yet livable, and he considered using its transformed land to gain influence among the tribes.
• Chief Himo gave Gao De his warmest tent for the night, where Flora asked why Gao De had drunk tea he disliked and whether she had hurt anyone by criticizing it.

Chief Himo thanked Gao De for protecting the Duo'er Border Tribe by giving him three drops of First Circle Ice Marrow, which Gao De used to strengthen his Mandora Demon Eye. Gao De improved Blade Burst with Wind Spirit Moon Shadow and prepared to seek a map from a nearby tribe, but the chapter ended when an admiring boy came to his tent.

• Chief Himo gave Gao De three drops of First Circle Ice Marrow as thanks for saving the Duo'er Border Tribe.
• Gao De used one drop of Ice Marrow to enhance his Mandora Demon Eye and found it needed seventy-one more drops to reach its next stage.
• Gao De decided to seek a map from the nearest medium-sized tribe and rely on planting trees to gain influence and acquire more Ice Marrow.
• Gao De spent a Zero Circle Origin to upgrade Blade Burst, allowing him to choose a center within twenty feet.
• A boy from the Duo'er Border Tribe came to Gao De's tent after watching him with admiration at the bonfire gathering.

Joey asked Gao De to take him as a disciple, and Gao De taught him and Chieftain Himo basic cultivation methods and Freezing Ray so they could pass the knowledge on to the tribe. Gao De left the Duo'er Border Tribe for the Snover Clan in search of maps, but a beast's roar sounded nearby during his journey.

• Joey knelt before Gao De and begged him to take him along and teach him, and Chieftain Himo entered the tent after Gao De called him in.
• Gao De recited the Apprentice Guidance Method and Apprentice Meditation Art for Joey, with Chieftain Himo translating, then demonstrated Freezing Ray and allowed them to share the teachings with the tribe.
• Gao De agreed to teach Lady Flora spells, and she chose to begin with the first spell he had suggested after rejecting several others.
• Gao De left the Duo'er Border Tribe before sunrise and headed toward the Snover Clan, hoping to find more complete maps and a reindeer mount.
• Gao De traveled across the snow using Ice Skating for part of each day and walking the rest, until a savage roar sounded nearby.

Gao De met Baruk, a Snowfield Guardian, who gave him a ride toward the Snover Clan while patrolling for signs of a beast tide. When Baruk stopped to confront a hungry pack of Snowfield Hyenas threatening nearby tribes, Gao De chose to fight beside him.

• Gao De encountered Baruk riding the Ice Mane Tiger Ryan, and Flora sensed no hostility from them.
• Gao De told Baruk he belonged to The Natural Sect and had come to the Northern Territory to plant trees and seek a site near the Snover Clan.
• Baruk introduced himself as a Snowfield Guardian and explained that he was investigating signs of a possible beast tide and protecting tribes on the snowfields.
• Baruk offered Gao De a ride to the Snover Clan, and Ryan carried them swiftly across the snowfields.
• Baruk and Gao De found more than a hundred hungry Snowfield Hyenas gathered near small tribes, and Baruk decided to eliminate the threat.
• Gao De insisted on joining the fight, and Baruk agreed to fight alongside him.

Baruk and Gao De wiped out most of a Snowfield Hyena pack, then spent four days pursuing its fleeing members before heading toward the Snover Clan. Along the way, Baruk showed Gao De the Feral Ingenuity spell and offered to teach it to him.

• Baruk killed the Snowfield Hyena leader with earth and ice magic, while Gao De helped defeat another hyena with Flame Arrows.
• Baruk charged into the pack with his Frost Sword atop Ice Mane Tiger Ryan, slaughtering hyenas as Gao De used Freezing Ray+ to finish injured ones.
• The surviving Snowfield Hyenas fled, so Baruk and Gao De pursued them for four days, tracking down over thirty more before Baruk decided the rest posed little threat.
• Baruk took Gao De toward the Snover Clan, and Gao De noted that the hunt had advanced his Frost Snow Wolf essence progress to 4/7.
• At a crude cave, Baruk explained that his summoned soul body was created by the first-circle support spell Feral Ingenuity and offered to teach it to Gao De.

Baruk taught Gao De the Feral Ingenuity spell and escorted him to the Snover Clan before continuing his patrol. At the clan’s gate, Gao De learned that the Truefrost Tribe was offering a reward to anyone who could pull the Truefrost Sword from an ice platform.

• Baruk explained that Flora’s Heart of Nature showed Gao De was a true follower of The Natural Sect, and he agreed to help him.
• Baruk taught Gao De the Feral Ingenuity spell, whose model Gao De memorized, though he still needed a Spell Elixir to construct it.
• Gao De, Baruk, and Ryan traveled safely to the Snover Clan, where Baruk parted ways with Gao De to continue patrolling.
• Gao De joined the line at the Snover Clan’s gate and watched the guards inspect a hunter’s Snow Dog before allowing him inside.
• A Snover guard told the hunter that the Truefrost Tribe had begun a Sword in the Ice challenge, offering Ice Marrow and honored guest status to whoever pulled the Truefrost Sword from its ice platform.

Gao De entered Snover Camp, traded for materials needed to brew the Feral Ingenuity Spell Elixir, and arranged for Lana to teach him Aesir Language. He still needed Blue Butterfly Crystal Powder and a map, which he planned to seek in the Snover Clan’s shops.

• A Snover guard described the Truefrost challenge and its rewards, but Gao De decided that planting the tree mattered more than pursuing it.
• After entering the camp, Gao De realized he needed to learn Aesir Language and headed to the free barter stalls.
• Gao De exchanged Frost Snow Wolf meat for Icefang Grass and Frostface Flower, then traded a one-ring wolf pelt for two months of nightly Aesir Language lessons from Lana.
• Gao De traded an Ice Stone and portions of a frozen white fox for the final two supplementary materials for the Feral Ingenuity Spell Elixir.
• Gao De set out to search the Snover Clan’s shops for Blue Butterfly Crystal Powder and a map.

Gao De settled into Snover Camp, arranged lodging with Lana, and learned Aesir Language while searching for a map and spell materials. After obtaining Blue Butterfly Crystal Powder, he brewed a Spell Elixir, learned Feral Ingenuity, and began transforming it with the Snowfield Hyena origin.

• Gao De failed to buy a Northern Territory map from the Snover Clan but arranged for them to gather Blue Butterfly Crystal Powder.
• Gao De traded an Ice Stone with Lana for seven to ten days of lodging and meals, then used Minor Illusion to clean his tent.
• Lady Flora emerged from Gao De's pocket and complained that he had hidden her from the camp guards.
• Gao De studied Aesir Language with Lana at night while training and searching Snover Camp for a map and spell materials during the day.
• On the fourth day, Gao De bought Blue Butterfly Crystal Powder, brewed a Spell Elixir, and successfully constructed Feral Ingenuity's Spell Model.
• Gao De used the Snowfield Hyena origin to transform Feral Ingenuity into Feral Ingenuity+ (Transmutation, 1 ring).

Gao De chose to pursue the Forest Soul path by finding a place to plant trees, and Lana told him that the Northern Territory coastline had many suitable sites and scarce timber. Before he could plan how to reach the coast, a massive Snow Wolf beast tide descended on Snover Clan Camp, and Gao De urged Lana to flee.

• Gao De decided that Forest Soul offered a better long-term path than Frost Soul, despite not yet having found a place to plant trees.
• Lana explained that the Snover Clan migrated among a few fixed pastures and described the coastline, Viking Wolf Harbor, and the scarcity of Nor-cedar timber.
• Gao De realized that a coastal port site could support his tree-planting plans and potentially supply timber for another port and ships.
• Gao De noticed ripples in his cup, used his Mandala Eye to spot thousands of Snow Wolves, and recognized that a beast tide was approaching.
• Lana feared the Snover Clan would suffer heavy losses, while Gao De judged the growing tide too large to repel and told her to pack and run.

Gao De rescued Lana from the Snow Wolf attack on Snover Camp and led her toward the outskirts while the Golden-Eyed Snow Wolf fought Chief Snover. Baruk arrived to join the battle, but the alpha summoned hundreds of Snow Wolves to surround them.

• Snow Wolves overwhelmed Snover Camp in a night raid, and a Frostborn Mage saved a child from one of the predators.
• Gao De returned to Lana’s tent, killed the Snow Wolf attacking her with Flame Arrow+, and urged her to flee with him.
• Gao De used Detect Magic+ to guide Lana through the camp and blasted a gap in the ice fence so they could escape.
• Gao De saw Baruk charge into the beast tide on Ice Mane Tiger Ryan and head for the battle between Chief Snover and the Golden-Eyed Snow Wolf.
• The Golden-Eyed Snow Wolf howled for reinforcements, and hundreds of Snow Wolves surrounded Baruk and Chief Snover.