Around noon, Fang Qianyuan followed several Snowman Warriors for nearly an hour before finally reaching the center of their settlement.
It was a small town made up of igloos.
Rows of houses stood glittering and translucent, like something out of a dream. Just as the rumors said, they had been built with blocks of ice in place of bricks and stone.
This place lay in the central Snow Realm. Even in the hottest summer, the temperature was low enough to freeze water, and snow and ice were extremely difficult to melt naturally. Only certain active volcanoes and underground veins formed rivers of fire essence power. Only where that power spilled across the ice fields did meltwater appear, giving rise to rivers and lakes.
Elsewhere, beyond the reach of fire essence power, the ice could never melt easily.
The snowmen had long grown accustomed to living in such dwellings.
Fang Qianyuan looked around curiously, asking questions from time to time.
The youth named Xue Mou had already been won over by the little gifts Fang Qianyuan had brought from the outside world. Now he played with an exquisite little knife, grinning foolishly as he answered Fang Qianyuan's questions.
Before they knew it, they had reached the center of town. An enormous igloo appeared before them, clearly taller than the surrounding houses and even boasting two stories.
Only then did a trace of awe appear in Xue Mou's eyes, and he stopped.
"This is the Chief's home?" Fang Qianyuan regarded the "building" before him. Though he inwardly marveled at this tiny realm and its sparse population, his expression remained composed.
A stooped Snowman Elder came forward, followed by two Snowman Warriors who looked like guards.
"Guest from the outside world, the Chief already knows why you have come. Please follow me to