North County, Julu Pass.

As the year-end approached, the northern snow arrived earlier.

Several tiny figures stood on the towering city wall, with snowflakes drifting from the sky, blanketing everything in a soft white veil.

"Wei Qing, go back and rest, cough cough, I'll wait here."

"Lin Jingxuan, with your nagging style, you should be the one to go back and rest."

"I'm just mentally exhausted, I can recover, better than some people missing an arm."

"Hey? Want to spar?"

"..."

Wei Qing's initially stirred battle spirit suddenly turned bleak again.

Lin Jingxuan also fell silent along.

"In the past, when we studied under the teacher, he always came and separated us, then hit you once, and hit me twice."

But now, that person is no longer here.

"According to the teacher's legacy, the North County area is already covered by thousands of special arrays extracted from ancient sites, they have combined into a grand array helping us block three tests from the Longevity Company."

"The situation with Can Shang Company has been properly handled, their communication network cut off completely, but with our current technology, we cannot manage to reactivate those wartime devices."

"The Insect Race and Old Covenant have vanished after that battle, and will not appear again for the time being."

"The Imperial side is still restrained by the Insect Race, and vice versa."

The situation has stabilized again.

Lin Jingxuan wasn't good at expressing himself, he could only convey the positive side of the stability, and change the topic with Wei Qing.

"Is there still no word on Old Jiu?"

"Only know he escaped the encirclement of three Tier Nine boundaries and is now being chased by Longevity and Can Shang Companies."

"What happens next? Was he caught?"

"There's no follow-up, our communication network is completely stopped now, other information is unknown."

"Let Old Ba investigate it, their information channels are supposed to be the best."

"If such matters require eighth war zone action, we would have been removed by the Imperial long ago, eliminating future problems."

As they talked, a vague shadow gradually appeared, revealing the form of "Void".

Before Wei Qing could speak, "Void" said: "They have already arrived at Julu Pass."

As soon as his words fell, several figures appeared on the distant snowy path.

Han Zhan, Xia Youwei, Li Lingzhen, Gongyang Jin.

All present, they successfully evaded pursuit and reached North County, triumphantly reuniting with the Great Xia survivors.

Seeing each familiar figure, the next moment, Wei Qing and Lin Jingxuan appeared before them.

After a long journey, evading pursuit, and living in anxiety, the fatigue was written on Han Zhan and the others' faces.

Upon seeing Wei Qing with only one arm left, Han Zhan paused slightly.

"Master brother…"

"You brat, what's with that look? Even like this, I can still beat five of you, believe it or not!"

Wei Qing cursed and raised his hand as if to hit Han Zhan but, seeing him, reluctantly put it down.

"Let's go, into the city."

"You've successfully escaped, and the teacher's final goal has been achieved, there are no more regrets."

"What about the other senior brothers?" Han Zhan suddenly asked.

Wei Qing paused as he turned.

Lin Jingxuan adjusted his glasses and said, "Old San went mad, Old Si is busy running around within North County, Old Wu's war zone, the Fifth War Zone, has been taken over by Can Shang Company, Old Liu and Old Qi, along with their healing Spirit Contract Masters, have been taken by Longevity Company."

"As for Old Ba, he's here, but you can't see him."

Healing Spirit Contract Masters are strategic assets; their importance is self-evident.

That's why only the five, six, and seven war zones are preserved the best.

They lack battle power and cannot escape, readily being controlled by Longevity and Can Shang Companies, but fortunately their lives are not threatened.

Han Zhan nodded and fell silent.

Without Li Shutong, their sky fell, everyone grew so much overnight, matured.

No anger, no unwillingness, maybe just buried like the endless snow, deep in the heart.

Entering North County.

Han Zhan and the others felt the snowstorm above their heads had lessened.

"It's the Four Seasons Spring Array, the Ancient Array obtained by the teacher."

"Such arrays are scattered across North County, numbering over a thousand, and continue to increase."

"Fourth brother Shen Zheqi?" Upon hearing news related to the relic, Han Zhan's mind flashed with a person's image and name.

Lin Jingxuan nodded.

"Indeed, Old Si reached here first through connected special relics. Within the teacher's legacy, he's mainly responsible for activating, maintaining, and inscribing arrays. It's their new task within the Fourth War Zone."

"The teacher really left no stone unturned, even planned our way out." Han Zhan lamented.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing these words, Wei Qing and Lin Jingxuan instinctively exchanged a glance.

"Not entirely." Lin Jingxuan's next words surprised Han Zhan greatly. "The teacher didn't plan how you'd escape, so he left each of us a note to move north, except for you."

"He wasn't certain you could escape from three Tier Nine boundaries, the first task he left for Wei Qing, Old Ba, and me was striving to rescue you."

"This..."

Han Zhan didn't know what to say.

Upon thought, it seemed true.

Li Shutong injected Void Origin into his body, predicting he wouldn't be killed, but not necessarily escape.

If it weren't for later variables, he would likely leave with the Shang family, becoming a consort.

Just then, Wei Qing patted his shoulder and added, "Gotta say, you kid are something, from the first glance at Qingteng Academy, I knew you'd be a formidable person!"

"Escaping from three Tier Nine boundaries saved us a major problem."

"But how did you escape?"

Upon Wei Qing's inquiry, Han Zhan recounted Gongyang Jin's Sword Skill Jade Shattering, taking on three foes, allowing him to use Void Black Hole, and the space transfer process.

"Now, Xiao Jin's cultivation realm has dropped to Tier Five, my escape is at least ninety percent credited to her."

After enduring hardships together, their feelings quickly deepened, changing how Han Zhan addressed Gongyang Jin.

Gongyang Jin's hand was held by Li Lingzhen and Xia Youwei, the three shared good rapport.

"Previously as Tier Nine, she was Gongyang Jin senior, now after dropping realm, left with Tier Five strength, she's called Xiao Jin."

Gongyang Jin's "plaintive" voice stirred up the rather somber atmosphere.

Han Zhan awkwardly scratched his head.

"Don't underestimate yourself, or belittle your worth. Being able to possess a Tier Nine contracted spirit, itself is an amazing feat." Lin Jingxuan suddenly pointed to faraway Great Xia survivors arriving upon hearing the news.

"Look at them, they're here to see you specially upon hearing you arrived at North County, your admirers."

"Joining forces with the Great Xia War God, as his youngest student, twice turning the tide, aiding the teacher to comprehend breakthrough limits, defeating strong foes. Escaping alive from three Tier Nine powerhouses."

"With such achievements, you are no longer an ordinary person."

"We've all aged, Great Xia now needs a new 'belief'."

Lin Jingxuan's words made Han Zhan suddenly lift his head, looking at the excited people, feeling their unyielding and tenacious gazes, expecting him to say something.

So being a Chess Player, is like this?

Teacher.

Han Zhan felt touched, he simply raised his hand suddenly.

No sentimentality, no encouragement, no impassioned speech.

"Just a little frost, that's all."

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