Making a Run for It

White afterimages whistled through the air, and streaks of Flowing Light fell from the sky.

Finally...

"I give up!"

As Xiao Han calmly finished speaking, the entire audience erupted in uproar, staring in astonishment at the composed white-clad figure in the center of the Battle Stage.

Why did he admit defeat?

A deep sense of doubt arose in everyone's hearts. Judging from Xiao Han's aura, although he seemed a little weak, he was still relatively stable overall. There was no reason why he was unable to fight anymore.

Or rather, given the opponent's overwhelming strength in crushing all the participants and dominating the field, the remaining few people are not a threat at all.

When they refocused their attention on the Battle Stage, they were all amazed and gained a clearer understanding.

Nineteen people!

In other words, including Xiao Han who has stepped down from the stage, there are only twenty contestants left standing.

There are only twenty spots available at the Heavenly Frost Ice Spring, so Xiao Han's purpose is obvious.

"Everyone else in this Ice God Ceremony is just there to make him shine!"

Someone couldn't help but sigh, and this statement was echoed by the others.

The Ice Spirit Race's geniuses, who should have been the main characters, were completely incomparable to this suddenly appearing powerhouse from a Lower Plane, and instead became stepping stones for his rise to fame.

Xiao Han has undoubtedly become a powerful figure in the Great Thousand World. When he breaks through to the legendary level of Heavenly Supreme many years later and becomes famous throughout the Great Thousand World, the Ice God Ceremony, his debut battle in the eyes of the world, will surely be remembered forever.

An hour ago, Bing Linyan and the other members of the Lin Branch were trembling with fear in the audience. Now, their eyes were red, and it seemed that hot tears were overflowing from the corners of their eyes.

Of course, this was only the case for the Lin Branch; all the other Ice Spirit Race looked at Xiao Han with disdain.

While Xiao Han's strength is widely recognized, he rose to power by stepping on the reputation of all the geniuses and experts of the Ice Spirit Race. If nothing unexpected happens, once the news of today's battle spreads, the Ice Spirit Race will surely lose face, and others will naturally not have a good impression of him.

Upon arriving at Lin Branch, Xiao Han remained expressionless amidst the jubilant crowd. Instead, he summoned Bing Linyan to a secluded location.

"I have fulfilled my promise for today and have come to bid farewell to Chief Ice."

Xiao Han's expression was solemn as he clasped his hands in a fist salute.

Farewell?

"Why Sir Xiao Han in such a hurry? It will take another three days before we can enter the Heavenly Frost Ice Spring."

Bing Linyan curiously.

The right to the Heavenly Frost Ice Spring does not belong solely to the victor; the other members of the Lin Branch also qualify.

What he cared about was that Xiao Han, who was extremely curious about the Heavenly Frost Ice Spring, had given up the opportunity to personally experience its mysteries.

"Chief Ice, I've caused quite a stir today. If I don't leave now, will I be able to leave later?"

Xiao Han said this with a slight joking tone, clearly having a deep understanding of the mess he had made.

Only after arriving at the Ice Spirit Race did he realize that, apart from the Ice Spirit Race's ancestor who was in seclusion and detached from worldly affairs, the clan leader was also Heavenly Supreme.

Although he didn't know why the other party hadn't appeared at the grand Ice God Ceremony, Xiao Han didn't have the courage to challenge a Heavenly Supreme of the Ice Spirit Race in the heart of the Ice Spirit Race.

"I have no more strength left, and I can only wish Lin Branch good luck."

"In my opinion..."

"You all can only pray for your own good fortune."

Xiao Han's tone was somewhat helpless. In his view, his acquisition of the Heavenly Frost Ice Spring was merely a forced continuation of the dying Lin Branch. Under the combined suppression of the entire Ice Spirit Race, the Lin Branch would find it difficult to hold on for long.

Hearing Xiao Han's rational, even cruel, words, Bing Linyan also snapped out of her elation at Xiao Han's victory and could only sigh with regret:

"Right now, we can only take it one step at a time."

Now that things have come to this, he has exhausted all his options. The Lin Branch exists because it is dependent on the Ice Spirit Race. Faced with the will of the entire Ice Spirit Race, it is like a lone boat in the storm, tossed about by the wind and rain.

"Then I wish you a safe journey, Sir Xiao Han."

As he spoke, he took out a Storage Bracelet, his old face turning red. The little thing inside the bracelet would have been something he wouldn't have been proud to show off in the past.

"This is the greatest reward that Lin Branch can offer. I hope Sir Xiao Han will not find it disrespectful."

"If I, Lin Branch, survive a great calamity in the future, I will surely be richly rewarded."

Xiao Han accepted it without hesitation, and then, under Bing Linyan gaze, he transformed into a gust of wind and snow and vanished into the void. When the others anxiously searched for him, they had already lost sight of Xiao Han.

Looking back one last time at the vast, boundless world of ice and snow behind him, Xiao Han revealed a look of envy. The Ice Spirit Continent should be the continent with the most abundant ice-attribute Spiritual Energy in the entire Great Thousand World. After this parting, he wondered how long it would take to find such a good place.

"Forget it, we can always reshape another continent later."

Xiao Han carefree put everything behind him. He made up his mind that this time he must go into seclusion on the Tian Ye Continent until the moment his strength returned to its peak.

A phantom image appeared, then the physical form vanished again.

Ten days later.

Upon hearing the news of the Ice God Ceremony, the Ice Spirit Race Spirit Race Clan Leader, enraged, returned to the clan's territory with a gloomy expression.

After an emergency gathering, all three main branches and more than twenty sub-branches of the Ice Spirit Race were present.

"Excellent! You've really brought honor to our tribe!"

Although the Ice Spirit Race Clan Leader spoke with a smile, his tone and clenched teeth made everyone afraid to breathe, and the atmosphere in the hall almost froze.

Seemingly anticipating the silence of her clansmen, the Ice Spirit Race turned her gaze to the head-bowed, silent representative of the main branch, and lightly raised a finger.

"Tell me, who changed the rules of the Ice God Ceremony?"

Upon hearing this, the representative of the main branch trembled, knowing that something had to be sacrificed.

Although they dared to act so recklessly because they received some hints, can this be said openly?

As the clan leader, one can show favoritism or distance to certain clan members, but one must never allow blatant violations of the Ice Spirit Race's rules that have been passed down for countless years.

This time, it was purely because the younger generation below lost their minds and acted too arrogantly, which led to this disaster.

The Ice Spirit Race was also extremely troubled by this. Turning a one-on-one duel into a brawl was truly something these people could do.

Winning isn't honorable, the key point is...

You actually lost?!

Moreover, this action exposes the suppression of the Lin Branch to the public, which raises the question of how the world will view the Ice Spirit Race.

If that traitor from back then were to be brought back, the current Ice Spirit Race wouldn't be able to withstand it.

The "angry" Ice Spirit Race immediately enforced clan rules against the Ice Spirit Race Elder had changed the rules, declaring the matter closed.

Not only that, but he also Bing Linyan, the patriarch of the Lin Branch, explaining that he knew nothing about it. The latter was flattered and quickly said that he would follow the Clan Leader's instructions. As for what the two of them were thinking, that remains unknown.

"Rin-yan, may I ask where you Lin Branch, found that powerful expert?"

"Why not invite him to stay at the Ice Spirit Race's place for a while? It would allow me, the clan leader, to properly entertain that hero!"

After the pleasantries, the true intentions were the Dagger is Revealed. Bing Linyan's heart skipped a beat. Seeing the Ice Spirit Race's warm expression, she forced a smile and said:

"Reporting to the clan leader, Sir Xiao Han is a powerful figure from Lower Plane whom I invited through the connections of an old friend."

"Now that the agreement has been fulfilled, he said he had gained some insights and has already left, his whereabouts unknown."

"I see..."

The Ice Spirit Race responded meaningfully, sighing, "That's a pity; it's a shame we can't befriend such a remarkable person."

This sentiment truly came from the heart; an Earthly Supreme capable of taking on a hundred opponents single-handedly is undoubtedly a top-tier genius in the Great Thousand World.

"But it cannot be used by me..."

The turmoil surrounding the Ice God Ceremony subsided, the Lin Branch was temporarily spared the crisis of disbanding, and the Ice Spirit Race seemed to have returned to its former state.

However, from then on, a group of powerful Ice Spirit Race members suddenly became active in the Great Thousand World.