Chapter 342: Deep Cold

Chapter 342: Deep Cold

While Lily and Bran were worrying about Xirui, Xirui was studying under the Ancient Tree Frostleaf.

The Far North was surrounded by sea on three sides. Only on the coldest days did the frozen sea connect it to other continents. Occasionally, people or beasts crossed the ice, but they never stayed for long.

Frostleaf warned Xirui that it was not safe now, so she had to learn to be patient. Especially during this period, she should not easily approach the edges of the continent. Fortunately, in this season, the cold was enough to stop most creatures from coming near here.

Xirui needed to use her time to build a closer connection with the frozen land, to make her own mana fit with the environment. When that happened, no one could easily harm her.

But Xirui asked an awkward question. Were the original masters of this place like this too? Did they die naturally, or were they killed? If they were killed, how could this method guarantee her safety?

Frostleaf was speechless for a moment, not knowing where to start.

Fourth Brother told me not to lock myself in one place. If we can’t win a fight, we can run. Then we can come back for revenge, ignoring all rules and mercy, just to make the other side know that some costs are too high for anyone to bear.

Frostleaf looked at the little girl in front of her and chuckled softly twice. “What if you can’t run away? Even running requires strength. And, do you have a better way to gain power?”

Seeing Xirui shake her head, Frostleaf continued, “Even if you don’t want to bond with this icy land, you must first get familiar with the environment here. Try to make the wind and snow here obey your commands, make them a part of your power.”

Frostleaf let out a sigh. “You always talk about your Fourth Brother. His ability is too complex and special. I have never even heard of such an ability before—the ability to build his own world. Do you know what that means? He needs to constantly fight against the surrounding environment.

Even in this dying land, it is very difficult to resist it with just one person’s tiny bit of power. That is also one reason why he is trapped in the Sea of Magic. This world is rejecting him. Sooner or later, he will compromise and try to find a middle way. Otherwise, as the Continent recovers, the pressure on him will grow bigger and bigger until he is completely suppressed in the Sea of Magic.

Your Fourth Brother’s ability made him who he is, but it also harmed him. His ability allows him to change in countless ways and adapt to many environments and pressures, but it also made him not know when to advance or retreat. Facing rejection, he kept on changing. Every time his power increased a bit, the rejection from the Continent also increased. And to fight against it, he would subconsciously look for new ways out.

Like now, what has the Fourth Brother you speak of become? I’m afraid even he himself doesn’t know. Many things are already out of control. He is just struggling to survive.”

Frostleaf knew pointing out the truth would be cruel, but she did not want Xirui to go down that hopeless path. She needed to scare the little girl first. She needed to take Xirui and wait slowly, wait for that young man to fight his way out alive, or to learn lessons from his death.

Seeing Xirui’s expression as if she was about to cry, Frostleaf felt a bit bad. So her tone softened a little. “Don’t worry too much. He is still fine for now. As for us, we should cause less trouble during this time, so he can focus on solving his own problems.”

Frostleaf sighed again. “The master of this place in the past did not die on this land. She ran outside to vent her anger, but then never returned. There are too many factors that make up power, and the environment is precisely the most important one.

When there is time, I will slowly tell you her story. We must learn from her lessons and avoid making the same mistakes. Your talent is far greater than hers. As long as you fully control this place, then no one can threaten your life in this frozen land.”

…

Many days had passed since the match in the Arena. The Giants suffered a terrible defeat and returned. Disdain followed, and Giants were equated with trash. When they wandered in the city, no one gathered to watch them anymore. People just turned their heads away with contempt.

This made them feel very lost.

Bran, who already had plans for the Giants, no longer paid attention to them. He had more important matters to handle.

Bran could feel the World’s rejection and knew he could not fight against this World. He had already compromised and had long since started implementing a new plan. That constantly expanding Mana Web was the product of compromise. He slowly seeped and blended his own mana into this World, letting it gradually spread across this land.

He had thought of it before, but he couldn’t do it. Now it was different. What difference was there between that mana and him? He and mana were one, hardly worn down by time anymore.

Time was no longer his enemy, but the best lubricant between him and the World.

All he needed was time. The Mana Web stretching out from Northland City crossed over the Eternal River to the north, continuously expanding and stretching. Today, it finally reached Bran Manor and established a faint connection with the Ancient Tree in the manor.

This made Bran heave a long sigh of relief. His manor was alive again. The Ancient Tree happily shook its crown, greeting him through the Mana Web. It complained that Bran had not come back to see him for so long, leaving an old friend here waiting to die. At the same time, it was very dissatisfied with Bran’s Mana Web. What could such a tiny bit of mana do? It could suck it all up in one breath…

This threat was very effective, scaring Bran quite a bit. To spread out the Mana Web, Bran saved mana wherever he could. Compared to the vast land underfoot, Bran’s mana was truly tiny.

He also had to guard against possible dangers, so Bran dared not pour out all his own mana. He could only be very careful and thrifty. Bran no longer planned to take this mana back. With the help of the Ancient Tree and other plants, stones, and sand, it would be permanently fixed in this land.

When his mana truly spread across the World, the World would no longer be able to reject or refuse him.