Chapter 44

Historically, Liu Bei spent the first half of his life drifting from place to place. This was certainly not because he lacked combat prowess, nor was it because he was naive or ignorant of strategy. Rather, he lacked the talent—people who knew how to govern a state and help his territory develop rapidly, and people with enough foresight to point him toward a long-term direction for growth.

Zhuge Liang was exactly that kind of talent, possessing both qualities. Only after gaining his assistance did Liu Bei's cause finally get on the right track. Seizing the opportunity when Cao Cao's southern campaign faltered, he turned his fortunes around in one stroke. He went on to take control of the Shu region, and despite his status as a worthless "distant relative of the former Han royal family," he surpassed countless nobles and powerful clans to become one of the three great lords who divided the world.

Sui Xiong dared not compare himself to Liu Bei, but he felt that in terms of raw power, he could hold his own, and in terms of intelligence, he was at least not a fool. Yet, after being transmigrated into this world for so many years, he had remained somewhat muddled, unsure of his future and uncertain of what he should be doing.

It wasn't until today, after meeting Snowflake—a dragon strategist with such profound vision—and having things explained to him in a unique, illustrated manner, that he felt the fog obscuring his eyes finally lift, making the path of his life clear.

Therefore, he truly admired and respected Snowflake. The fact that she was also a fan of painting, just like him, made him feel as though he had found a rare kindred spirit.

To put it in gaming terms, Lady Snowflake had instantly maxed out her "reputation" with him, with his favorability toward her soaring to at least seventy or higher.

Yet, he remained curious: he didn't look like a born hegemon whose mere aura of authority would make others bow down in submission; he lacked the immense wealth or status that would make others want to pledge their loyalty; and as for his bottomless potential—perhaps it existed, but reality wasn't a novel. Who would become someone's subordinate just because a pauper had potential?

So, why exactly did Snowflake take a fancy to him and decide to become his advisor?

"The reason is simple." The Ice Dragon, who had transformed back into the appearance of a harmless, chubby grocery store auntie, smiled. "As a dragon whose specialty is ice, aside from the dragon gods of my own kin, who could be a more suitable partner than a God of Ice?"

"Don't look at me as if I have some ability; in front of the Majesties of my own race, I am nothing. The gap in our status means I don't even have the qualifications to communicate with them as equals, let alone cooperate."

The cold air around her swirled, forming a transparent ice blackboard. White frost sketched out a small dragon with its head held high, seemingly wanting to achieve great things, only to be surrounded by several dragons radiating halos, sweating profusely, and prostrating themselves on the ground like little puppies.

"There are three deities whose primary domains are cold and ice. One is a lunatic, the next is a lunatic, and the last is still a lunatic. They are nothing more than a powerful lunatic, a weak lunatic, and an even weaker lunatic. I am not a lunatic, and I have no common language with them, so cooperation is naturally out of the question."

On the blackboard, three humanoid figures—one large and two small, their lower bodies made of ice and snow—were spewing storms everywhere, constantly brawling with each other, their madness clearly visible. The little dragon watched them from afar, a giant bead of sweat on its forehead, helplessly clutching its brow and sighing deeply.

Sui Xiong knew who she was talking about: the Goddess of the Northern Snowfields and Blizzards, alias "Empress of the North"; the God of Snowy Mountains, Avalanches, and Snow Monsters, alias "Master of the Snowy Mountains"; and the God of Glaciers and Ice Giants, alias "Lord of Glaciers." These three deities, along with the Goddess of Winter and the North Wind, "Bitter Maiden," and the God of Arctic Beasts, "Overlord of Ice and Snow," formed a pantheon known as the "Frigid Alliance." A group of lunatics who were not only evil but also chaotic in their thinking, never playing by the rules and acting with absolutely no logic, had banded together. This not only multiplied their terror, making everyone living in the North or needing to travel to the northern ice fields tremble at their names, but also gave the northern deities, led by the barbarian guardian "Elder Bear Shepherd," endless headaches.

In fact, the turnover rate for deities in the North was extremely high; every thousand years or so, a deity would be killed by the lunatics of the Frigid Alliance. If it weren't for the fact that these lunatics couldn't occupy the portfolios of goodness or order, the entire North would have long been monopolized by them.

Even so, the other deities of the North still had to remain vigilant at all times, keeping a careful watch and fleeing the moment these lunatics showed signs of attacking, lest they become the next victim.

When Sui Xiong had read the materials provided by the God of Redemption, he had thought at the time that if he were to ascend to godhood, he, who would clearly possess the "Ice" portfolio, would likely become a thorn in the side of the Frigid Alliance. To avoid being besieged and falling, he would probably need to find some allies to have a showdown with these lunatics.

"The Majesties of my own race are impossible to cooperate with, and those gods of ice and cold are also impossible to cooperate with. So, when I met a deity who possesses ice powers and, most remarkably, is actually kind and not of the chaotic alignment, I naturally thought of cooperating with Him immediately," Snowflake said with an air of inevitability.

"Perhaps when I am old and death is at my doorstep, I will still choose to head to the divine kingdom of the Dragon Pantheon, but at least until then, a dragon that uses ice powers and a god that controls ice powers... I think we will be natural friends."

On the blackboard, the little dragon met a large jellyfish surrounded by cold wind, smiling and friendly. It jumped for joy, and the two "people" held hands and went off to play.

Sui Xiong smiled. The Floating Jellyfish extended an icy palm, and the dragon, now in human form, shook hands with it.

"You're right. Here's to a pleasant cooperation!"

"That goes without saying. We will certainly cooperate pleasantly."

...That said, substantive cooperation between the two sides had yet to begin.

On Sui Xiong's side, he needed to wait for Rod's recruitment efforts to conclude to tally how many pioneers had been recruited and how large a village needed to be established. Then, Rod would need to continue preparing supplies, while Gerald would be responsible for escorting these pioneers north, passing Dragon Roar Town and heading further north into the frigid zones where ordinary people could not survive, to build their homes under Sui Xiong's protection.

As for Snowflake, she had already dispatched Frost and Sleet to the frigid regions north of the Ash Forest to find a suitable location for reclamation. This place needed not only open terrain suitable for building a village, but also a proper water source, and nearby rocky mountains with good stone and some mineral deposits... In short, the requirements were very high. If a good location couldn't be found, it would not only double the time and effort required, but it would also become very difficult to scale up the village.

Sui Xiong could help the pioneers withstand the cold, but he couldn't help them farm, couldn't conjure drinking water in the wilderness, couldn't provide building stone, and couldn't provide profitable produce. Everything had to come from the bounty of nature.

Frost and Sleet were both dissatisfied with this task. Frost didn't want to help because he disliked Sui Xiong, and Sleet didn't want to leave because she couldn't curl up in her basement blankets to sleep. But under the authority of their sister Snowflake, the young rock dragon siblings set out reluctantly, splitting up to search for suitable reclamation sites.

"Is it really okay to send two such young children out?" Sui Xiong asked with some concern.

Although they were dragons in reality and their combat power wasn't weak, in this world filled with experts, two young, ordinary dragons couldn't be considered particularly formidable. Take Gerald, for example: one-on-two might be difficult for him, but one-on-one, the siblings would only have the choice between fleeing and dying in battle, without even a chance to take him down with them.

Compared to their slightly weak combat power, the immense value inherent in the dragons themselves became a huge threat. It was like the proverb from Earth: if a child walks through a busy market holding a precious gem, what will happen?

"You are worrying too much." Snowflake was dismissive of Sui Xiong's concerns. She drew two majestic little dragons on the ice blackboard, punching wolves and kicking skeletons, and smiled. "We dragons are meant to grow up amidst danger and tempering. Because the Ash Forest lacks resources, there aren't many magic beasts or adventurers, so it's already a safe enough training ground. As long as they don't lose their minds and cross the Desolate Mountains, they won't encounter any major danger."

"On the other hand, great Majesty Void Mask, have you forgotten something?"

"What is it?" Sui Xiong asked, startled.

"To build a territory, financial resources, material resources, and human resources are all indispensable. We aren't lacking in money, supplies can be purchased, and manpower isn't a problem—however, a territory needs at least a group of officials to manage it, and your church needs a group of clergy. As a deity, are you planning to just stay at home and wait for them to fall from the sky?"

On the ice blackboard, the fat jellyfish was fast asleep, bubbles symbolizing deep sleep floating from the corner of its mouth, its tentacles spread out like a net, waiting for gold coins, supplies, and manpower to fall from the sky. That look of irredeemable laziness made Sui Xiong want to laugh and cry at the same time.

He understood that Snowflake meant well, reminding him that he should go out and find talent. But the way she reminded him was just...

Looking at that fat-as-a-pig jellyfish on the ice blackboard, he really didn't know whether to laugh or be angry.

The personality of this Ice Dragon was nothing like the "Ice Dragons" of legend, who were supposed to be arrogant, cold, and unapproachable!

Was the legend just a case of hearsay getting it wrong? Or was this Snowflake character an anomaly?

Sui Xiong felt that when he had time, he should study biology properly—at the very least, he needed to master "Draconic Biology."

Of course, that was a matter for the future. Before that, he needed to finish building the holy land, successfully ascend to godhood, and stabilize his faith. Only after everything was properly arranged would he have the time to learn these non-urgent pieces of knowledge.

And among all the tasks, the most urgent was gathering talent—talent capable of governing a territory.

Fortunately, there was a suitable target for this, so he didn't need to run around the world like a headless fly searching aimlessly.

A few days later, Sui Xiong split off a floating jellyfish avatar. Without letting any believers accompany him, he set off toward the south alone.

His target was the "Arcane Tower Federation," the nation of magic located at the southernmost tip of the continent. The acquaintance recommended by Satan—the knight Parn, who came from a fallen noble family and had quite a bit of insight into governing territory—lived there.

Thanks to readers "Snail sa", "How many True Persons", "Memories, the shyness when just entering junior high", and "Pervert Seed-chan" for their enthusiastic tips. Everyone's support is the motivation for my updates!