70: Winter's Embrace
“Roar!”
Chen Mo's eyes were calm as he nodded, indicating that he understood.
He wasn't particularly flustered.
Not to mention whether this tentacled monster would come here, but most marine Extraordinary Creatures dislike land environments, which means their probability of conquering land is extremely low.
Even if they truly wanted to conquer land, by the time they reached the Great Snow Mountain, Chen Mo believed his strength would certainly have grown to a new height.
At that time, it would be uncertain who would devour whom!
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Early the next morning.
Colonel Karam arrived in the Ice Lion Territory with many people and livestock.
“Your Majesty, the committee has agreed to your trade. These three are Gluttonous Pigs.”
He pointed to three large white pigs beside him.
Aside from being a size larger than domestic pigs, these three Gluttonous Pigs weren't much different.
Chen Mo glanced at the Snow Treading Fox Leader, and Bing Li, understanding his intent, directly led the livestock Karam brought away.
“These are the people willing to live in the Ice Lion Territory, Your Majesty Lion King, please take a look.”
Chen Mo scanned the crowd, numbering nearly a thousand people.
He noticed that the number of young people was not small; most were ordinary individuals, with only 2 Awakened.
Many of the humans who chose to come here were survivors from Sunset Town, or people who had a good impression of, or even admired, the Ice Lion.
Looking at the enormous Ice Lion before them, although they were somewhat afraid, they weren't panicked.
Sensing the Lion King's scrutinizing gaze, they lowered their heads, not daring to meet his eyes.
“Roar!” (To join the Ice Lion Clan, you must first pass a test.)
With that, Chen Mo had the Snow Treading Foxes cast Ice Illusion Technique on these humans, releasing their inner fears or dark sides.
Soon, the humans on the snowy ground began to act in various ways.
Some were frenzied, some were terrified, and some wanted to attack those next to them.
Most people's expressions changed, with only a handful able to maintain clear eyes and even realize they were under an illusion.
One of them was a black-haired, black-eyed youth who looked like a person from East Xia.
Chen Mo slowly approached him. The youth awoke from the Ice Illusion Technique, and what greeted his eyes was the enormous Ice Lion King.
Instead of retreating, he knelt on one knee.
“Your Majesty Lion King.”
Chen Mo gave a look to the Ice Sky Elf beside him. The Ice Sky Elf flapped its wings, took out ice silkworm silk, and helped connect the Ice Lion King with the human before him.
“Roar?” (What is your name?)
“My name is Bai Qi, from East Xia.”
“Roar?” (Are you not afraid of me?)
“A little, but I know you won't harm me. Back in Sunset Town, you killed the Ice Armor White Rhino and saved my mother and me.”
Bai Qi spoke fluent chinese.
“Roar!” (So, you've come to repay a kindness?)
Chen Mo glanced at the youth's attribute panel; his Awakened ability was [Ice Spear Technique], and his overall combat power was 56 points.
As an Awakened with considerable strength, he could certainly stay in Winter City if he wished.
“Yes.”
The youth nodded.
“Beyond that, I want to become stronger to protect my mother and those I want to protect.”
Bai Qi slowly stated.
During the previous disaster, his father died protecting him and his mother.
Therefore, he wished to gain greater power.
He felt that pledging allegiance to the Ice Lion King was a better choice, so he came voluntarily.
“Roar!” (From now on, you will be their leader.)
Chen Mo said calmly.
He needed a 'captain-like' figure to manage all the humans.
Human minds are complex, making management too troublesome.
But if he chose a captain, he would only need to manage the 'captain'.
If the 'captain' wasn't suitable, he would replace him.
Meanwhile, the trial had concluded.
Everyone awoke from the illusion.
This 'trial' filtered out some ill-intentioned individuals, leaving over 300 people.
These would be the first humans to live in the Ice Lion Territory.
“Your Majesty Lion King, are you really not considering taking in a few more people?”
Karam sounded a bit regretful.
Over 300 people was far below his expectation.
Chen Mo didn't speak, merely giving Karam a calm glance, and the former colonel immediately fell silent.
“Then, Your Majesty Lion King, I'll be heading back.”
With his task complete, Karam felt the urge to leave.
Mainly, the pressure the Ice Lion King exerted on him was too great; even without releasing his aura, just standing before him made him feel immense stress.
After Karam left, the remaining people stayed put, uneasy. Most had their heads lowered, not daring to look directly at the Lion King, their eyes filled with confusion and apprehension.
They didn't know what fate awaited them next.
“Roar!” (Sangi, tell them about the arrangements.)
After Karam left, Chen Mo looked towards Sangi beside him.
“As you command, Your Majesty Lion King.”
Sangi bowed slightly, then walked in front of the crowd.
“Everyone, there's no need to worry. Since you've chosen to join the Ice Lion Kingdom, your safety will naturally be guaranteed. As for food and more resources, you will need to work hard to acquire them yourselves.”
Sangi slowly spoke into a megaphone.
This young warrior had matured significantly after spending some time among the Ice Lion Clan.
“Next, you will be heading to a small town. As long as you complete the corresponding work each day, you will receive food, and the food is Extraordinary Creature flesh! If your luck isn't particularly bad, becoming an Awakened is almost a certainty!”
Chen Mo did not plan to arrange these humans on the snowy mountain, but rather to settle them in Sunset Town, the closest town to the Great Snow Mountain.
He was also preparing to build farms and ranches next to Sunset Town.
After the previous invasion by the Ice Armor White Rhino, most of the town's residents had chosen to leave.
The small town was now almost a ghost town.
Some houses there were still intact, saving these people the trouble of building their own homes.
He truly was a considerate Ice Lion.
“Like me, I was once just the most ordinary communications soldier in the army. After pledging allegiance to Your Majesty Lion King over 2 months ago, I am now a High-Level Transcendent Awakened.”
He used himself as an example, beginning to paint a hopeful picture for these people.
At the same time, he also felt quite emotional.
He suddenly felt incredibly fortunate to have been captured by the Ice Lion King back then, and then, by a strange twist of fate, became the first human to follow the Lion King.
Upon hearing this, a glimmer of longing appeared in many people's eyes.
After Sangi finished speaking, Ice-Type Spiritual Energy condensed before him, and dozens of people in front of him felt a warmth spread through their bodies, filling them with strength.
[Embrace of Winter]
Enhances the cold resistance of other living beings, and slightly boosts strength and spirit.
This was the ability Sangi Awakened after his Breakthrough to High-Level Transcendent.
Due to his innate talent, and another support-type ability, he sometimes felt he was a born 'healing saint'!
After feeling the miraculous power released by Sangi, hope appeared in everyone's eyes.
Who wouldn't wish to possess Extraordinary power?