Chapter 716, Method to Cross the Falling Star Ice Lake

Translator: Silavin

 

Having learnt that Hou Zhiwu possessed a more comprehensive understanding of Falling Star Dust, Lu Fan decided against wasting time on his own futile attempts. Instead, he sought counsel from Hou Zhiwu regarding knowledge of Falling Star Dust, He proposed several methods he had conceived to see if they could swiftly traverse through this hazardous terrain.

 

However, each method Lu Fan presented was categorically rejected by Hou Zhiwu.

 

To cross the Falling Star Ice Lake, they could only proceed in the manner Hou Zhiwu was currently employing. They could only slowly and carefully feel their way forward. Any unconventional approaches would prove useless.

 

Lu Fan even attempted to determine whether Xing Chen could utilise her Starry Space Passage Skill to carry him across the Falling Star Ice Lake, but this too was prevented by Hou Zhiwu.

 

The Space Principles here were far too chaotic, and Skills related to space would be adversely affected.

 

Moreover, while the Falling Star Ice Lake was not particularly vast, it certainly was not small either.

 

Starry Space Passage allowed Lu Fan to travel freely between Dungeon Instances and Secret Realms, enabling him to traverse space and be teleported directly to locations several kilometres away.

 

However, the width of the Falling Star Ice Lake extended for a full hundred kilometres. A single Starry Space Passage could never span such a distance.

 

Even though Xing Chen’s Starry Space Passage had now reached Max Level, crossing the Falling Star Ice Lake would still require multiple uses of this Skill.

 

During the intervals between each activation, Xing Chen would need a foothold.

 

Yet presently, Falling Star Dust scattered throughout the Falling Star Ice Lake meant that once they emerged from the Starry Space Passage, they would inevitably encounter a Falling Star Dust.

 

This would be tantamount to stepping on a landmine, resulting in severe injury.

 

Simultaneously, due to the chaotic Spatial Principles, if Lu Fan advanced using Starry Space Passage, the exit might not lead to his intended destination.

 

The exit of Starry Space Passage might randomly appear anywhere within the Falling Star Ice Lake. This meant that with poor luck, Lu Fan might never escape the Falling Star Ice Lake using Starry Space Passage.

 

Naturally, Lu Fan could establish his Territory Transportation Array to return to Shadow Isle.

 

However, if he did so, he would have no means of crossing the Falling Star Ice Lake to reach the Frost Dragon Ruins,

 

Understanding the current situation, Lu Fan gradually realised that to traverse this place, they would have to let Hou Zhiwu slowly search for a route.

 

Although his strength was formidable, in this location, he was truly less useful than Hou Zhiwu.

 

Consequently, Lu Fan wisely ceased attempting other methods to leave this place. Instead, he utilised Dragon Language Replication to replicate Xiao Ye’s Skills, directly creating a magma orb which he placed beside Hou Zhiwu for warmth.

 

With Lu Fan and another Fire Mage simultaneously casting Skills, Hou Zhiwu recovered from the bitter cold. His speed in identifying Inert Falling Star Dust increased. He could now determine whether one was inert in less than two minutes.

 

Thus, with Hou Zhiwu’s accelerated work, the group began slowly advancing deeper into the Falling Star Ice Lake.

 

After a day and night, they had progressed approximately twenty kilometres forward.

 

While the distance was not particularly amazing, Hou Zhiwu had genuinely not slacked off. Apart from eating and drinking, he had worked diligently for almost the entire day.

 

Lu Fan used Dragon Language Replication to copy Xiao Cui’s Spring of Life, applying it to Hou Zhiwu. However, Hou Zhiwu did not have a Combat Specialised Profession. So, his Endurance and Stamina Attributes were not high in the first place.

 

After a day and night of labour, he was thoroughly exhausted and had no choice but to temporarily sleep, waiting to restore his energy before continuing their journey.

 

After all, his work demanded absolute concentration. Should any errors occur, everyone present would likely perish alongside him.

 

Lu Fan and the others accordingly rested. Since no Monsters surrounded them, there was no need to assign night watch duties. They merely required the group’s Knight to establish a Barrier Shield, encompassing everyone within it to prevent anyone from rolling into a Falling Star Dust while sleeping.

 

Lu Fan was not particularly tired, but since everyone was resting, he saw no need to remain alert. He simply went to sleep as well.

 

The group rested for approximately eight hours before gradually awakening.

 

Having restored his energy, Hou Zhiwu resumed work with a thoroughly meticulous attitude.

 

Lu Fan observed their surroundings with idle curiosity and noticed that the path they had carved on their approach was gradually being filled with new Falling Star Dust.

 

He could clearly see a bright light descending from the distant sky, resembling a vertically falling meteor.

 

Subsequently, where the light landed, a new piece of Falling Star Dust appeared.

 

As time passed, new Falling Star Dust materialised along their previously cleared route, sealing off their retreat.

 

Evidently, carving out a path was not a permanent solution. This peculiar Map Mechanics would cause new Falling Star Dust to appear on uninhabited sections of the ice lake, forming fresh new hindrances.

 

This meant that if anything untoward happened to Hou Zhiwu at this point, Lu Fan and the others would likely remain trapped on the Falling Star Ice Lake.

 

Such bizarre Map Mechanics certainly broadened Lu Fan’s perspective.

 

The subsequent journey proved tedious.

 

Essentially, no one could assist Hou Zhiwu in the slightest.

 

Even though Hou Zhiwu was not stingy in sharing his knowledge, explaining to everyone how to distinguish between Falling Star Dust and Inert Falling Star Dust, no one could identify them with complete accuracy.

 

After all, not everyone possessed Hou Zhiwu’s Skill for observing minute details. Should anyone make an error in judgement, the consequences would be catastrophic.

 

Therefore, throughout this journey, only Hou Zhiwu could labour, while the others could merely follow behind, offering encouragement.

 

Fortunately, everyone was capable of enduring this. They occasionally engaged in casual conversation without disturbing Hou Zhiwu, causing time to swiftly pass.

 

Hou Zhiwu led the group forward at a pace of nearly twenty kilometres per day, travelling for a full seven days.

 

Calculating their progress, the group had advanced at least one hundred and thirty kilometres across the Falling Star Ice Lake.

 

The width of this Falling Star Ice Lake was indeed remarkable.

 

However, on the eighth day, Lu Fan finally discovered that no more Falling Star Dust lay ahead. After proceeding several hundred metres further, everything would become clear and open.

 

“We are finally approaching the end.” Hou Zhiwu could barely conceal his exhaustion. His eyes were bloodshot, and the stubble on his face had grown noticeably thicker, making him appear as though he had not slept properly for several days.

 

Eight consecutive days of high-intensity work had truly been torturous for him.

 

Nevertheless, hope now lay ahead. In another two hours, the group would finally traverse this treacherous terrain.