Chapter 329
Chapter 329
Chapter 329
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 329 – Governor Lan Qi’s Northern Abyss Challenge
Northern Border Province.
Bandera City was a high-altitude city-state, surrounded by towering mountains and jagged cliffs. In this frigid land, the eternal snow and icy wind shaped Bandera’s unique atmosphere.
On the snowfields a few hundred meters south of the city, snowflakes swirled down from the pale sky, settling either onto the ground or disappearing into bottomless ravines.
A sleigh, pulled by massive black demonic foxes, left a distinct trail across the silent snowy plain.
It stopped beside a frozen lake, whose surface gleamed like flawless white jade, reflecting the pale sky. Several towering trees stood at the lakeside, their branches heavy with snow.
Two figures leapt down from the sleigh.
“Judging by the timing, the investigation team should have set out much earlier than us.If they took a similar route, we should’ve seen some trace of their return by now.”
Lan Qi instructed Cat Boss to store away the portable, high-durability sleigh, then gazed toward the distant city.
In the blizzard, Bandera City stood like a massive gray sculpture carved into the snowfields, unyielding. Snowflakes struck its towering, steel-like walls but could never turn them white.
The city’s spires and towers pierced the sky, their yellow lights glimmering faintly through the storm — proclaiming the city’s resilience, its hardships, and its glory.
For days, only small fortress towns and villages dotted their path. Geographically, they had already entered the Northern Border Province.
Lan Qi and Sid had been stopping at towns whenever possible to rest at night. When no settlement could be found, they camped in the wilderness. Seeing such a large city should have been a relief — but the atmosphere here was even more oppressive than in Helrom, the imperial capital.
Standing far from the city, Lan Qi could already hear the imperial military’s orchestral music drifting from within.Through the snowstorm, the distant melody sounded unnervingly clear.
The symphony was similar to the magical rail station music in Helrom, but on closer listening, it was full of altered tones.
The grand melody never softened or grew peaceful — it carried deeper, heavier emotions: glory, betrayal, decisive battle, and sacrifice.
To avoid unnecessary trouble, Lan Qi dismissed the demonic foxes and prepared to approach the city on foot with Sid.
Entering Bandera City required not only a pass but also strict identity checks.
The city’s magical barriers were tight — one could learn nothing of what was inside from outside its walls.
“Sid, you must be ready to protect me at any moment.”
Lan Qi had a strong feeling that once they crossed the city gates, something completely unpredictable could happen the very next second.
This might be his first true Abyssal Battle since arriving in the Northern Continent, after following the empire’s scattered strange events and clues all the way here.
“I’m ready,” Sid replied calmly.“As long as I’m alive, you won’t die.”
Sid hadn’t told Lan Qi much, but she had specifically prepared protective spells for her vulnerable companion.
Lan Qi nodded.
Though he had constantly challenged realms far above his own, this leap was unlike the others — the difficulty was overwhelming.
If measured in levels:the Infernal Corridor Academy was roughly a Level 45 dungeon,the Banquet of the Fallen Saints was about Level 55,but the Northern Border Front ahead might as well be Level 89.
The investigation team, led by Major General Fanreku — a group in the 70+ level range — had very likely met with disaster.
Lan Qi now stood closer than ever to uncovering the greatest conspiracy hidden in the northern reaches of the Protos Empire. The only person who could unravel the fog of conflict between the empire and the northern nations was Rocky McCarthy.
Even the enemy masterminds behind this war could not have foreseen that the Holy Tyrant Church’s Saint had been brought here by a Governor.This ally — at least Level 85 or higher — was Lan Qi’s greatest trump card.
Sid glanced at Lan Qi’s expression, then looked toward the foreboding city.
“You seem more relaxed than I expected. Got some secret trump card?”
She asked with a playful smile.
Though she had never seen Lan Qi fight, Sid was certain that her Saint was no pushover.
Confidence — or the lack of it — was written plainly on a person’s demeanor.
“I just hope I won’t have to use it.”
Lan Qi’s emerald eyes were full of thought, as if forever weighing right and wrong.
Even though his heart was as calm and clear as a lake’s surface, faint ripples spread endlessly across it.
“After knowing you for so long, I still don’t know what your combat class is.”
Sid suddenly realized she had been so focused on Lan Qi’s brilliance that she had overlooked this most basic detail.But even if he were nothing but an artist, she would still be satisfied with him.
By her guess, Lan Qi’s physical aptitude was completely opposite hers — but complementary.
He would make a good healer or support class.
Or perhaps a magic tank — he naturally attracted attention without even casting spells, born to draw aggro.
As long as he was nurtured properly, he would be quite useful to her.
“I am a Sealer.”
Lan Qi answered frankly.
“Huh?”
Sid frowned.
Her Saint — a Sealer?Of all classes, her most hated class!
She had never imagined she would one day take a Sealer as her Saint.
Even the Holy Tyrant clergy would doubt their doctrine if they learned that their Saint shared the same profession as the Dread Bishop.
But after thinking a moment, Sid found the idea strangely charming.If this rare, gloomy class was on her side, it felt… adorable.
“Makes me want to train you to Tier 6 as fast as possible and have you duel the Dread Saint.”
Sid accepted the revelation with surprising ease.
“Don’t get me wrong — I’m not one of those dark, twisted Sealers from the Dread Bishop’s line.All of my sealing arts are warm and radiant.They were born for love and peace.”
Lan Qi said with certainty.
“Never heard of a Sealer like that.”
Sid looked puzzled, but didn’t press the matter further.Her Saint hardly ever needed to fight anyway.
She had never even seen him under attack — he never ran around, never rushed.When he targeted an enemy, he would simply walk forward, calmly, gracefully.
Other people tried hard to act cool — Lan Qi simply was cool.
And that was exactly what Sid liked about him.
The distant, solemn military music finished its current movement — like snowflakes falling gently onto the frozen continent.Then a new movement began, the music turning tense and violent.Metal clashed, fire and smoke filled the air — it was as if they stood at the eternal battlefield between demons and men.
“Shall we go?”
Sid stretched her limbs, signaling she was ready.
“Let’s go.”
Through the wind and snow, Lan Qi stepped toward the fortress city at the northern front.