The Northern Territory.
After a month of arduous travel, Lirui'en and his companions finally returned to the outskirts of the Holy City they had longed for.
They had been away for more than half a year, and the Holy City's situation was even worse than they had imagined.
The front of winter's bitter cold had advanced to what had once been the Holy City's outskirts. The ground beneath their feet had actually been a village.
It was less than five kilometers from the Holy City.
Lirui'en gazed into the distance and saw only a world of ice and snow, where survival was difficult.
The Platinum Divine Sword he held reverently in his arms gave off a clear, hazy golden light. Beneath that light, the deep snow melted away, revealing the frozen scene within.
Houses, haystacks, wheat fields, wells, and millstones. Everything in the village was still there, only sealed in solid ice.
Their hearts were heavy. If disaster had not descended, who would have willingly left their homes behind?
"Lord Lirui'en, when we left, this place was still enveloped in divine grace. Now winter's bitter cold has swept over it, too. Who knows where the people of this village have gone?"
Behind Lirui'en, the handsome knight named Qingqiu spoke worriedly.
"Don't worry. They should have been moved to the Holy City. High Priest Vivian would never abandon a single citizen of the Holy City."
Lirui'en's heart ached as well, but he still smiled and patted the young man's shoulder before continuing.
"Lift your spirits, Qingqiu. We haven't returned empty-handed. Come, the Holy City isn't far away. With the divine sword's radiance, we will reclaim the mountains and rivers beneath the ice as soon as possible."
With that, Lirui'en took the lead, walking toward the Holy City with the others.
Before