The blood mist slowly dispersed before the Ice Wall.
"Merit +1."
Small text appeared silently.
Xu Yuan had no mind to look at it.
Sealed in the ice, he suddenly felt something strange.
The ice extended onward.
—It extended from the Antarctic Ice Wall, deep into the Iron Gate Universe.
And—
He could somehow "communicate" with it.
In an instant, visions flashed before Xu Yuan's eyes.
He found himself standing before a palace bathed in a hazy immortal glow.
Immortal cranes crossed the sky.
Dozens of immortal maidens, beautiful of face and graceful of bearing, descended before him and bowed as one.
"This Antarctic glacier has stood vacant for ten thousand years. At last, it has found its master."
"Divine One, please take office here and command this land of seals."
"Please!"
Flowers rained from the sky.
Immortal maidens surrounded him.
Divine beasts came and went through the Void.
The palace radiated countless rays of majestic light. They fell upon Xu Yuan, as though answering him.
Xu Yuan drew a deep breath and opened his mouth to speak.
—If this was a land of seals left by the heavenly palace of old, wouldn't it be only right for him, an Orthodox God, to command it?
But—
Something about this seemed wrong.
Xu Yuan hesitated. The maidens came forward with sweet smiles, took him by the arms, and led him toward the palace.
"Hey!"
A sudden shout brought Xu Yuan to an abrupt halt.
That voice was...
Marcelo.
Right.
He had been turned into a Doll. He must have regained consciousness by now.
Wait.
There was more.
Xu Yuan remembered!
Li Bai had specifically warned him not to take office!
Xu Yuan's mind cleared at once.
"Stop pulling me. I won't take office, and I won't command the Antarctic Ice Wall."