Chapter 14: Threat - Goddess Worship (Part 1)_1

The elite meeting scheduled for tonight at 12:05 will proceed as usual, and everyone is welcome to participate enthusiastically.

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Having listened to the Second Shopkeeper's account, the Ice-Snow Goddess Priestess slowly nodded, "A Demon Killer, huh? It seems that there must have been more than one person present at the time. You are smart to deduce some clues from Liao San's manner of death. Indeed, his actual cause of death was not the blast flame. Before the blast flame, his head had already been damaged by ice magic, his brain subjected to the baptism of freezing. Before the blast flame took effect, he had already died. You see, because of the freezing, his head, although slightly charred, is reasonably intact. My spiritual power probe found a very small wound, the size of a needle hole, on his head. He must have been killed by an attack similar to a needle. Besides, there's a clear presence of the Ice-Snow Goddess Stone on his head. It is apparent that this magic was disseminated through the Ice-Snow Goddess Stone. The killer mage's magic control power is extremely strong, capable of shaping ice into needle shape, and piercing through the hardest human skull. Such power requires at least the strength of a sorcerer. The fire attribute mage you saw was clearly just a decoy. Only the cooperation of two magic assassins could have produced the scene at that time. Long Zhi, gather all the ice mages in this city here immediately. Whoever has the presence of the Ice-Snow Goddess Stone on them is the killer."

Long Zhi hesitated for a moment and said, "Goddess Priestess, I believe none of my mages would be assassins, you also know, mages hold a high status on this continent, for a person of Liao San's status, it doesn't necessitate the intervention of a sorcerer level mage. The combination of two mages as assassins is obviously strange. I hope you would investigate it clearly."

The Goddess Priestess seemed to have some affection for Long Zhi, unlike the rudeness she exhibited while rebutting the Marquis. She calmly said, "Although what you say is reasonable, one can't know a person's heart just by his appearance. Bring them all here; my inspection will clear everything up. It seems that the Ice-Snow Goddess Stone has been obtained for not a short period of time, the number of ice mages is very limited, apparently, this person hiding in the shadows is not simple. Do as I said, strive to resolve everything in the shortest possible time. Meanwhile, send your other mages to guard the four gates of Bing Xue City, do you understand my meaning?"

Long Zhi respectfully nodded and said, "I will leave now." Once he finished speaking, his whole body flashed green, and when the crowd regained their senses, his body had already disappeared. A peculiar glint appeared in the Ice-Snow Goddess Priestess's eyes, who thought to herself, Long Zhi indeed lives up to his reputation as the best magical talent on the continent. With wind attribute magic reaching a meticulous level at just over fifty, with her guidance, Bing Yue Empire might produce another divine instructor, a wind Divine Instructor, in less than twenty years. But does she need to do that? The dignity of the Ice God Tower is inviolable.

...

Nian Bing was splitting firewood in the wood house. He had just answered Uncle Li's various questions, just barely passing with much difficulty. Wonderful Chef King Ming Yuan had given him quite the shock, that consummate skill is not something that could be reached by practice alone. As the Chef; of Qingfeng Pavilion; he truly lived up to his reputation. However, compared to his own imagination, he was a bit lacking since he himself could also make the same golden fragrant ring, just that his speed might be a bit slower. Although he seemed to have seen something, Xuejing seemed unaware. She probably brought him to learn from Ming Yuan how to make golden fragrant rings to compensate for the slap marking on his face.

At this thought, Nian Bing couldn't help but touch the gauze-covered face with a wry smile. The palm print was gradually subsiding, but it would probably take at least two days to heal entirely. That slap really did hurt! However, the attractiveness of Xue Jing's well-developed figure was truly enticing. How her skin felt… shaking his head forcefully, Nian Bing scolded himself for thinking of such messy thoughts. His vengeance was yet unfulfilled, the most crucial aspect for now was to gradually enhance his own strength, not to fixate his mind on this. It seemed like he couldn't go to Feng Nu's place temporarily, if she saw the palm print on his face, he didn't know what she would think. The same applied to the Mage's Guild, he would address it in a few days. Unbeknownst to him, it was precisely because of Xue Jing's slap that made him stay in the wood house quietly for three days, thereby sparing his life.

Three days passed by. Nian Bing functioned like an ordinary servant, chopped firewood every day. Besides chopping firewood, he returned to his room to quietly cultivate his Fire and Ice Co-origin Magic. During cultivation, the Ice-Snow Goddess Stone only absorbed the ice elements between heaven and earth, but it didn't release any ice attribute magic, so even if the Ice-Snow Goddess Priestess's ability was stronger, she couldn't possibly locate him. Nian Bing had been waiting for Ming Yuan to come find him, however, Ming Yuan never showed up. Even at mealtimes, Ming Yuan didn't dine with the other chefs anymore. Since he had watched Ming Yuan craft a golden fragrant ring with Xue Jing's help, the other chefs started to distance themselves from him. Aside from Uncle Li, hardly anybody in the kitchen initiated a conversation with him. Nian Bing, liking the peacefulness, naturally didn't greet them actively either.

Three days have passed, and the imprint of the slap on his face has finally faded. Nian Bing finished his morning work, informed Uncle Li, and then quietly slipped out of the back door of Qingfeng Pavilion.

At this time, the northern gate of Bing Xue City had been completely locked down, guarded by thousands of soldiers. The city lord, president of the Mage's Guild, and other important figures in Bing Xue City all breathed a sigh of relief. The pestilence in their hearts was finally leaving, how could they not be happy? After three days of strict searches, they found no one the Ice-Snow Goddess Sacrifice was looking for, and the two Ice Mages in the Mage's Guild had passed her spiritual scrutiny. For the sake of the normal operation of Bing Xue City, the Ice-Snow Goddess Sacrifice had to temporarily give up on her pursuit.

"Marquis. My thanks for your assistance this time. The person possessing the Ice-Snow Goddess Stone probably already left Bing Xue City. I will continue the investigation. If you come across any information, report it to the Ice God Tower immediately. Sorcerer Long Zhi, cooperate with the investigation. If a strange Ice Mage appears, you must investigate their background understand?"

The Marquis and Long Zhi both promised. Under their escort, the Ice-Snow Goddess Sacrifice left Bing Xue City. Her wide white robe sleeves slightly waved. The light from the sky dimmed, and snowflakes twirled around. The Ice-Snow Goddess Sacrifice was actually floating away on a palm-sized snowflake. The superb skill she showed took everyone's breath away.

Looking at the departing Ice-Snow Goddess Sacrifice, the Marquis couldn't help but exhale deeply. He exchanged a glance with Long Zhi and couldn't help but wryly smile, "Old Long, I'll be hosting lunch. Let's go to Qingfeng Vegetarian Restaurant. I know you prefer their food. These past few days have been stressful. I was afraid of slighting the Goddess Sacrifice!"

Long Zhi smiled slightly and said, "I should be the one to invite you, Marquis. I have been dealing with the same situation these past few days, even shortening my magic practice time. The Bamboo Green Wine at Qingfeng Vegetarian Restaurant should calm our nerves. I have spoken with Big Brother Xue. This time we will taste the Bamboo Green Wine that has been aged for thirty years. Big Brother Xue, you wouldn't mind, right?" As he spoke, Long Zhi turned to look at a middle-aged man in white who stood not far behind him. The middle-aged man looked around forty years old, with a refined appearance like a scholar. The owner of Dacheng Restaurant, dressed in a golden robe, stood next to him. At this point, hearing the Marquis and the Mage Guild President both choose Qingfeng Vegetarian Restaurant, his face turned somewhat gloomy.

The middle-aged man in white smiled with resignation and said, "You all won't let me off easily, will you? Drink then, drink. After this, there won't be any left. Brother Jin Hao, would you like to join us for a taste?"

The owner of Dacheng Restaurant responded indifferently, "Thank you, Brother Xue Yu, but I have many tasks to deal with at Dacheng Restaurant. Plus, Liao San is just newly bereaved. I will pass on this occasion and visit another day to make amends."

Xue Yu smiled gently, "Then I won't insist. Marquis, Old Long, let's go. There have been so many incidents in the past few days, even our Qingfeng Vegetarian Restaurant's business has been affected by the city being sealed. "

Reminded by Xue Yu, the Marquis slapped his forehead and exclaimed, "Look at my memory. Someone! Issue my orders immediately to lift the city's lockdown. Let's go. I want to drink more today. These past two days have completely worn me out. I'm getting old, and my health wouldn't permit this. Old Xue, you must have Wonderful Chef Wang prepare the meal himself today. His Azure Bamboo mats are exactly what I'm craving."