I Pick Up Talents on the Interstellar Battlefield Chapter 752 - 534: Revenge and the Three-Dimensional City Network (2)

"Your Highness!"

"Your Highness, are you alright?"

Unol raised a hand, his demeanor calm as he stated, "My injuries have healed."

The Eternal Ice Silkworm Tribe is naturally endowed with the world's most exceptional self-healing capabilities. Particularly when facing the precipice of death, they possess the ability to cocoon themselves for rebirth, thereby elevating their strength even further.

However, on this occasion, whether by design or by chance, Qin Tian's inflicted wounds were grave yet not life-threatening. Consequently, the cocoon served only to mend his injuries, precluding any possibility of a strength breakthrough.

Upon hearing his words, the beastmen assembled around let out sighs of relief. With their Highness safe, they had narrowly averted a significant calamity. According to the stringent rules of the Eternal Ice Silkworm Tribe, these guards would otherwise have faced only the grim alternative of death to atone for their lapse.

Amidst the throng, a wolf-headed beastman’s eyes flickered with intense indignation. He stepped forward, teeth gritted, and declared, "Your Highness, that human named Qin Tian is far too presumptuous. Should we not return to the embassy and implore Lord Moses to exert pressure upon the Human Empire to administer severe punishment upon him?"

The instant his words concluded, Unol abruptly turned his head to face the wolf-man, his gaze chillingly frigid.

Within the embassy resided other royal beastmen and individuals of core importance, aside from himself.

Should they become aware that he, a direct descendant of the Eternal Ice Silkworm Tribe, had suffered grievous injury at the hands of a non-Holy Blood human of the same cultivation tier, such news would undoubtedly reach the Beastman Empire within half a day.

At that juncture, he would not only become a subject of ridicule within his own lineage but also a veritable disgrace throughout the entire sphere of beastman royalty!

Beneath that icy glare, the wolf-headed beastman’s physique stiffened instantly. He hastily lowered his head, his breathing shallow, scarcely daring to draw air.

Unol issued a cold snort, retracting his gaze. His eyes then shifted towards the direction of Ice Extreme Pass, a profound, deeply rooted resentment swirling within them.

The searing agony from being dealt a heavy blow by Qin Tian’s strike, the profound humiliation of being cast to the ground like a mere cur – these sensations seemed branded upon his very soul. The burning sensation emanating from the sword mark etched across his chest felt as though it would never fade.

From his very inception, he had been cradled as a favored son of heaven, basking in the glow of wealth and honor, perpetually positioned above the common throng. He had never, in his existence, endured such a profound insult.

Qin Tian.

Inzaghi Luoho.

These two individuals had irrevocably been inscribed upon his personal list of those destined for death.

Yet, he resisted the temptation to be consumed entirely by vengeful fury.

Inzaghi Luoho hailed from the human Holy Blood lineage, and the planet Mingwang resided squarely within his dominion. To instigate a clash with him here would undoubtedly furnish the latter party with an abundance of resources, both overt and clandestine, to orchestrate his downfall or even ensure his complete disappearance.

Consequently, despite the immense difficulty in suppressing his hatred, he could only defer his retribution and refrain from engaging Inzaghi Luoho directly.

But Qin Tian, him he would absolutely not permit to escape!

Unol withdrew his gaze, directing it once more towards the wolf-headed beastman from earlier. He issued a cold command, "Proceed at once to seek out the nearby Snow Beast nests with all possible haste."

"Understood, Your Highness!"

The wolf-headed beastman responded with alacrity, not daring to entertain the slightest delay.

He slightly inclined his head, his nose twitching as he inhaled deeply, concentrating his scent.

Thanks to the wolf-men tribe’s exceptionally acute sense of smell, they possessed the uncanny ability to discern specific odors with remarkable precision, even when adrift amidst the fury of a blizzard.

Swiftly, a spark of resolve ignited in his eyes. He raised a hand, pointing decisively in a particular direction, and announced, "Your Highness, the scent of Snow Beasts is strong in that direction!"

"Take the lead!"

"Yes!"

The wolf-headed beastman surged forward into the tempestuous wind and snow. Unol’s wings fluttered subtly at his back as he, followed by the other beastmen, gave chase, their figures weaving across the immense, undulating snowfields, leaving in their wake a tapestry of deep and shallow footprints.

Before long, a Snow Beast lair, ingeniously concealed within a glacial ravine, materialized before their eyes.

Within this imposing canyon, a multitude of thousands of Snow Beasts had established their dominion, representing a diverse array of species.

There were the Frostmen, colossal beings standing several meters tall, sculpted entirely from compacted snow and ice; the Ice Lizards, their resilient bodies augmented by formidable Ice Armor; the Snow Lions, their magnificent manes as voluminous and white as the freshly fallen snow; and the countless swarms of Snow Bats, suspended upside down from sheer ice cliffs, their piercing screeches echoing through the air.

Yet, despite their disparate natures, these varied Snow Beasts coexisted within this sanctum in a manner that was remarkably, almost unnervingly, harmonious.

Upon detecting the intrusion of Unol’s contingent, the assembled Snow Beasts were instantly provoked. They erupted in ferocious roars and initiated an aggressive onslaught against the intruders.

The Frostmen unleashed volleys of massive snowballs; the Ice Lizards discharged razor-sharp ice spikes; the Snow Lions launched themselves forward with predatory leaps and bites; and the Snow Bats descended in dense, overwhelming formations, culminating in a scene of chaotic and terrifying ferocity.

Unol, however, remained remarkably composed. With a mere flick of his fingertips, countless threads of ice-blue silk erupted forth.

Some of these silken strands coalesced into an impenetrable net, effectively neutralizing the Snow Beasts’ initial assault. Others, behaving like swift and deadly venomous serpents, unerringly found their mark, piercing precisely into the very bodies of individual Snow Beasts.

Then, the icy wings adorning his back beat with great force, dispersing countless minute particles resembling pollen that silently drifted towards each Snow Beast.

This was a signature ability of the Eternal Ice Silkworm Tribe—the Mind-Numbing Ice Powder. Once it entered a creature's body, it could effectively paralyze their will, seize control of their mind, and transform them into completely subservient puppets.

For beings associated with ice and snow, its impact was amplified twofold.

The moment the powder permeated their systems, the previously rampaging Snow Beasts abruptly faltered. The ferocious gleam in their eyes swiftly dimmed, replaced by sheer confusion. Subsequently, they slowly lowered their heads, their limbs weakening as they crouched submissively upon the ground, emitting faint whimpers.

"Go, assault all nearby human settlements, and lay waste to everything destructible."

Unol’s command was delivered with chilling indifference.

The Snow Beasts, now prostrate on the ground, let out a unified, low roar. In the ensuing moment, they rose and charged out of the canyon, utilizing their innate sensitivity to the snowy terrain to pinpoint human scents and signs of life.

Observing the receding figures of the Snow Beasts, Unol spoke with cold resolve, "Qin Tian, this is merely the prelude. Your territory will be reduced to ashes."

"Next target."

He turned his gaze towards the wolf-headed beastman standing nearby.

The wolf-headed beastman did not dare to delay, bowing his head once more to meticulously sift through the scents carried by the wind and snow, soon identifying a new direction.

"Your Highness, fifty miles to the northeast, there lies another, even larger, gathering of Snow Beasts!"

"Lead the way!"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

The wolf-man took the lead once more, with Unol and the other beastmen rapidly advancing towards their newly identified objective.

...

Within the study of the Ice Extreme Pass manor, Qin Tian stood before a desk entirely covered with layers of ice-blue silken threads.

These threads were remnants, scattered across the ground after his confrontation with Unol.

At the outset of their clash, all the silk Unol deployed was severed by Qin Tian's Black Frost Blade, resulting in its widespread dispersal.

Following the battle, Unol had fled, gravely wounded and beyond self-care, naturally having no capacity to return and tidy up, thus leaving these valuable materials conveniently for Qin Tian's acquisition.

Although the Black Frost Blade had sliced through these threads as easily as paper, the actual tensile strength of this ice silk was astonishingly high. Qin Tian picked up a single strand between his fingers, applying a light tug; the silk remained taut like a drawn bowstring, showing no indication of yielding.

Had his Black Frost Blade not evolved into a Lifebound Divine Weapon, he might not have been capable of severing the silk.

The sheer volume of silk was substantial. According to Qin Tian's strategic planning, if he could enlist a premier artifact refining master to design and process it, crafting it into lightweight yet resilient soft armor, he could produce at least several dozen sets.

Furthermore, with additional nurturing and fortification using the power of his [Soldier Immortal], the defensive capabilities of this ice silk soft armor would be exceedingly difficult to penetrate, even against a full-force assault from a Seventh Tier Holy Blood entity.

Initially, he had considered requesting assistance from Taoist Duobao of the Mythical Society. However, upon reflection, the Mythical Society only convened quarterly. Sending the silk there and awaiting Taoist Duobao's crafting and return would necessitate a minimum of half a year, a timeframe far too extended.

Considering his current position on Mingwang Planet, situated in close proximity to the Empire's central Royal Star, a nexus brimming with exceptional talents, there was no necessity to seek out Taoist Duobao specifically for this endeavor.

"Thinking back, perhaps I shouldn't have concluded the battle so swiftly."

Qin Tian lifted a strand of silk, caressing its cool, smooth texture between his digits, a subtle note of regret coloring his tone.

If granted a second chance, he would have engaged Unol for hundreds of rounds, deliberately avoiding a swift, decisive blow. Instead, he would have maintained a measured rhythm, refraining from excessive exertion, until the ice silkworm was utterly depleted of its strength and incapable of producing further silk before ceasing the engagement.

Such a prime opportunity for 'material acquisition' had been squandered by him—a true pity.

Buzz~

At that precise moment, his smart bracelet emitted a vibration, signifying an incoming message.

Qin Tian accessed it, a knowing smile immediately gracing his features.

"I had a feeling you wouldn't let this matter rest so easily."

Qin Tian chuckled faintly, "Excellent timing. This will allow me to test the efficacy of my newly constructed three-dimensional city network in a practical engagement."