But his excellence was reflected not just in his soul power, but even more so in his conviction. He was a devoted admirer of Zhao Feng; his room was covered with portraits of Zhao Feng, and a hand-copied book of Zhao Feng's quotes sat on his bedside, which he read without fail every morning and evening.
"We aren't afraid!" the other students echoed in unison, their voices aligned and forceful.
Su Chen looked at these young people, his eyes growing slightly hot. He recalled the days when he fought side by side with Zhao Feng and Lin Mo, remembered those passionately burning years, and reminisced about the moments where they had shared life and death.
"Good." Su Chen took a deep breath. "Then, let's move out!"
Thirty-three people—Su Chen, Ares, and thirty-one young students—boarded a soul-guided flying vessel and soared toward the Extreme North.
The flying vessel raced through the sky, piercing through clouds, mountains, and forests. The students sat inside the cabin; some were inspecting their gear, some were resting with their eyes closed, and others were conversing in hushed tones. Chen Hao sat in a corner of the vessel, holding his hand-copied book of Zhao Feng's quotes, flipping through it page by page.
"Chen Hao." Su Chen walked over, sat down beside him, and asked, "Are you nervous?"
Chen Hao looked up and shook his head. "Not nervous. I'm just wondering, if Commander Zhao Feng were here, what would he do?"
Su Chen smiled. "Commander Zhao Feng? He would definitely be the first to charge right in. No matter how powerful the enemy was, he'd strike first and ask questions later."
Chen Hao paused for a moment, then laughed as well. "And what about Lord Lin Mo?"
"Lord Lin Mo?" Su Chen pondered for a moment. "He would observe the situation first, formulate a plan, and only then make his move. His style was the exact opposite of Commander Zhao Feng's—one calm and collected, the other hot-blooded—yet they coordinated flawlessly."
"And what about Lord Qian Renxue?" Chen Hao asked further.
Su Chen fell silent for a moment before replying, "Lord Qian Renxue... she would stand at the very back, watching over everyone, making sure no one fell behind. She was the gentlest person, yet also the strongest."
Chen Hao listened earnestly, then asked, "Strategist Su Chen, you fought alongside them for a century. Is there anything you wish you could say to them?"
Su Chen gazed at the drifting clouds outside the window. He remained silent for a long time before saying, "I would want to say... thank you. And... I miss you."
Just a few simple words, yet they contained the weight of a century's worth of emotion.
The flying vessel continued its journey northward. The temperature plummeted, and snowflakes began to drift past the window. They had reached the Extreme North.
The Extreme North was the northernmost region of the Douluo Continent, covered in ice and snow year-round. Temperatures dropped to dozens of degrees below zero, making it difficult for even Soul Masters to survive for extended periods. It was an unpopulated wasteland; only cold-resistant soul beasts roamed here, making it one of the most desolate places on the continent.
Choosing to establish a secret base here was indeed a clever move by the Void Cult. But no matter how clever they were, they couldn't escape the eyes of the Tian Dou Empire's intelligence department.
The flying vessel landed on the outskirts of the Extreme North. Su Chen led the students out, and a piercing, biting wind immediately assailed them. The students hastily circulated their soul power to ward off the freezing cold.
"From here on, we advance on foot." Su Chen pointed north. "Intelligence indicates that the Void Cult's base is located in the deepest reaches of the Extreme North, roughly three hundred miles from here. We must cover these three hundred miles on our own two legs."
"Why can't we use the flying vessel?" a student asked.
"Because the vessel is too large a target and easily spotted," Su Chen explained. "We need to advance covertly. We cannot let the Void Cult become aware of our arrival."
The students nodded, indicating their understanding.
The thirty-three of them stepped onto the snow and marched north. Clad in white cloaks, they blended seamlessly into the snowy landscape; without careful observation, their presence was completely undetectable.
The snow was incredibly deep, requiring immense effort for every step. Furthermore, the terrain of the Extreme North was treacherous, riddled with ice trenches, snowdrifts, and crevasses—one wrong step could send a person plunging in. Su Chen took the lead, Ares brought up the rear, and the thirty-one students marched in the middle, forming a long, drawn-out column.
After trekking for roughly four hours, the sky gradually darkened. Night fell exceptionally early in the Extreme North, and it brought a bone-chilling cold far exceeding that of the day, with temperatures plummeting to sixty or seventy degrees below zero.
"We'll make camp here for the night." Su Chen pointed to an ice cliff that blocked the wind. "We'll continue our march tomorrow."
The students began pitching tents and lighting fires to cook. Despite the harsh environment, not a single person complained; everyone quietly went about their tasks.
Chen Hao sat outside his tent, staring at the dim horizon to the north, lost in thought. Su Chen walked over and handed him a bowl of hot soup. "Drink something warm. Get your body heated up."
"Thank you, Strategist." Chen Hao took the bowl, took a sip, and asked, "Strategist, do you think we will succeed?"
Su Chen sat down beside him, gazing north as well. "I don't know. But we have to try."
"Why?" Chen Hao pressed. "The Void Cult is so powerful, and there are only thirty-three of us. What if we fail?"
Su Chen thought for a moment, then replied, "Chen Hao, do you know what Commander Zhao Feng once said? He said that whether you succeed or not isn't what matters; what matters is whether you are willing to step up. If you lack even the courage to try, you will never succeed."
Chen Hao fell silent for a moment, then nodded firmly. "I understand."
The night grew deeper, and the blizzard intensified. Outside the tents, snowflakes swirled in the wind, producing a rustling sound. Inside, the students huddled together for warmth; some had already fallen asleep, while others whispered in low tones.
Su Chen didn't sleep. He sat at the tent's entrance, staring out into the howling blizzard, his mind weighed down with countless thoughts. He thought of Zhao Feng, of Lin Mo, of Qian Renxue. He recalled the days they had fought side by side, remembered the smiles they shared, and reminisced about their final farewell.
"Strategist," Ares' voice came from behind him. "You haven't slept for a day and a night. Get some rest."
"I'm not tired," Su Chen replied.
"Rest even if you aren't." Ares walked over and forcefully draped a heavy coat over his shoulders. "We still have to march tomorrow. You can't collapse. You are their pillar of support; if you go down, what will they do?"
Su Chen looked at Ares and offered a wry smile. "Ares, since when did you become so nagging?"
"I've followed you for so long, naturally I picked it up," Ares flashed a grin, then patted Su Chen's shoulder. "Sleep. I'll keep watch."
Su Chen closed his eyes, leaned back against the tent, and quickly drifted off to sleep. He had a dream. In it, Qian Renxue, Zhao Feng, and Lin Mo stood bathed in a field of golden light, smiling warmly at him.
"Su Chen, keep walking forward," Qian Renxue said.
"Don't give up," Zhao Feng said.
"We believe in you," Lin Mo said.
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