After the council ended, the elders of the three factions returned to arrange their defenses.
Only Su Ming and Xuanyuan Tian Ji remained in the Commander's Residence.
Xuanyuan Tian Ji studied the map with a smile.
"Alliance Leader, after this battle, your prestige has reached its peak."
"No one among the three factions will dare harbor divided loyalties again."
"The Far North Icefield is finally secure."
Su Ming nodded slightly, but his gaze shifted farther north on the map.
There lay the Abnormal Clan's Frost Camp.
Beyond it lay the deepest reaches of the Icefield.
The Human Emperor Secret Hall was there.
"This security is only temporary."
"The Abnormal Clan suffered a crushing loss. They won't let it rest."
"It won't be long before they return in force."
Su Ming's tone was calm, without a trace of complacency.
The resurrected Great Emperors might be weakened, but they still had Black Shadow behind them, along with the Origin of the Ruins Realm.
This small victory was nowhere near enough.
He paused, then continued.
"Pass down my orders. Have every Defense Line step up construction of its formations and drill its new recruits."
"Keep provisions and pills flowing from the rear to the front."
"We need to establish a firm foothold here."
"Then we have something more important to do."
Xuanyuan Tian Ji's heart stirred.
"Alliance Leader, you mean... the Human Emperor Secret Hall deep in the Icefield?"
Su Ming nodded.
"The Blood Soul Hall's confession wasn't false."
"The palace the Human Emperor used during his northern campaign lies in the deepest reaches of the Far North Icefield."
"Its legacy and supplies are vital to us."
"Once the Defense Line is fully secure, we'll go take a look."
The candles in the Commander's Residence's Council Hall flickered in the cold wind, casting