Dragon Tribulation of All Realms

Chapter 164 Blood on Ice
Windhelm is the city of kings. In this ancient city, the noble are protected. And when Witchdust cast a soothing spell on Frigga, the daughter of a noble family, an invisible tide of magic surged through the ground and walls.

They rushed towards the magic dust, but ceased functioning the instant they touched it. The academy mark bestowed by Hera heated slightly at that moment, and a questioning nasal sound emerged from the tide of magic.

"—Hmm? It's you... Dust, don't use magic on people of noble blood indiscriminately. And don't make things so messy that no one can clean up the mess."

The voice came from Wu Enfis, the court wizard who knew Wu Chen's face. He had not been deposed; power remained in his hands. And naturally, he also controlled the ancient protective rituals of Windhelm.

He uttered a reprimand to Wu Chen that was better than nothing, but at least it made his stance clear. After this reprimand, his voice faded along with the tide of magic, and the city's anger, which had been activated, once again subsided.

This is why, even though the Nords dislike wizards, lords still appoint a court wizard to their positions. When the lord is not in the capital city, some of the city's power is held by the court wizard. And setting aside the reasons for upper-level power struggles, the true culprit behind the Blood of Ice might have been trying to frame Wuenfis for the murder precisely for this reason. Because during the intervals between the court wizard's impeachment, he would be able to wield his magic without restraint.

—It seems he's not some game designer with virtually no combat power who's just a behind-the-scenes mastermind.

The thought suddenly changed.

The door before Wu Chen had already opened. A pale, thin, sickly blonde woman, resembling a dying person, came into Wu Chen's view.

She was indeed a great beauty, but her frail appearance only accentuated her pitiful charm. Beneath her slender eyebrows were pale blue eyes, and the last trace of color seemed to be about to flow from her pale pink lips.

“Please come in, Mr. Dust.” Those beautiful eyes were calm and empty due to the spell’s effect. Wu Chen stepped inside without much ceremony—at that moment, he sensed the growing irritation and anger emanating from behind him. But he still closed the door behind him, blocking that gaze from behind.

My gaze swept across the room.

It was simpler and cleaner than expected. But the smell of medicinal fumigation permeated every corner of the air—it must have been from many different kinds of medicine, both herbs and potions. The Shattered Shield family had clearly spent a great deal of money on this woman, but in the end, they gained nothing.

Medicine was useless, and magic was useless.

Wu Chen stood there, yet he didn't sense any strange aura lingering in the room. Clearly, the arrangement only worked on Frigga.

The woman with blank stares had already spoken to him.

"You're face to face with me now, so what brings you here?"

Subjective initiative.

Humans affected by the soothing spell should not have the will to act independently—meaning that this woman named Frigga indeed had considerable potential, so much so that within seconds, she seemed to be breaking free from the spell's effects.

“I want to ask you if you have ever come into contact with a talisman. It has eight facets, is made of jade, has ebony as a ring, and has strange engravings around it.”

This is what the necromancer's amulet looks like when it's not activated. Even in this form, it's clearly a magnificent jewel of unparalleled value. Normally, it's unlikely that any woman would not remember it after handling it. Unfortunately, Wu Chen didn't immediately receive the answer he was hoping for.

“I have no recollection of it,” the eldest daughter of the Shattered Shield family replied. “I’ve never touched that amulet…what is it?”

"That's why you're so ill." Wu Chen examined Frigga's hands and feet. Even though she was weak and frail due to the evil power, he could still discern some hidden strength in her slender limbs. And indeed, there were some clearly used armors, as well as swords and spears, in this mansion.

She was a warrior—or at least she used to be.

“Someone has harmed you, and he will soon come to take your life. I have caught some of his weaknesses, and now is the time to prove them.”

Wu Chen stepped into the interior of the Frost House—the house was much larger than the game model, but the layout was roughly the same. An invisible psychic cable extended outwards with Wu Chen's steps, touching the interior. And soon, he confirmed his target: the location of a wardrobe.

"Is there a secret room in this room of yours?"

"No……"

So Wu Chen raised his hand.

The cabinet door was pried open by telepathy, and the clothes inside were removed. Subtle magical power concealed the secret behind the door. But Wu Chen simply amplified the output of his telepathic manipulation.

*Pop!* A bubble burst. The secret door behind the cabinet opened, releasing a thick, pungent stench of blood and decay. Without magical cover, even the pervasive smell of herbs in the room couldn't mask it. And behind the secret door, there were clearly large chunks of ripped bone and flesh!
a ceremony.

Long before Wuchen arrived in Windhelm, he knew that many ritual murders had occurred in the city—Toran believed that a well-hidden vampire was attempting an evil deed. At the time, Wuchen had neither the intention nor the evidence to correct his error.

but now……

Behind me, I could faintly hear the sound of retching. The sick and weak could hardly bear such a stench.

"I...I never knew..." Her bewildered voice was tinged with shock. The illusion's effects had already been broken by Frigga.

In the ritual space within the secret chamber, the jade amulet described by Wu Chen floated amidst the blood and bones.

The treasure has already been partially activated.

And next——

A soft click.

Very faint, and located in the distance. It was the sound of a window being opened, and the location was on the second floor of this courtyard.

Someone has infiltrated.

It wasn't something that would make Wu Chen slightly uncomfortable—simply ordering a group of city guards to break down the door and frame him. Instead, it clearly pointed to an assassination attempt, a surprise attack, a clandestine infiltration. Unfortunately for Wu Chen, the initiative had already fallen into his hands.

So he turned around seemingly casually.

"It seems you're not very familiar with your residence. Or rather, you're not very familiar with your entourage. The construction of this secret room was no easy feat. Perhaps you can offer me some clues?"

He looked at Frigga, at the weakened woman, and frowned. The illusion's effects had worn off, and neither of them seemed to care. A few seconds later, the woman's brow relaxed, and a name was about to escape her lips.

“Cali—”

That name will be Callisto.

The owner of the Treasure House, the true culprit of Blood on Ice. His figure descended with the speed of a bird. The sword in his hand swiftly and ruthlessly pierced towards Frigga's head!

However, Wu Chen had already raised his hand.

'Boom—'

An invisible force of thought materialized into a gigantic hand. The otherworldly mind-activated variant had its merits at this moment—the enormous, powerful hand materialized out of thin air and seized the assassin. Regardless of the special nature of the sword in his hand or what other objects he carried, his form was captured by the force of thought.

The tangible sensation of being crushed came through.

However, that faint sense of crisis was not eliminated as a result.

Wu Chen was certain that the power's hand had indeed grasped a physical object. However, another illusory shadow silently appeared behind Wu Chen!
It was Callisto again, his sword coated with deadly poison. His attack was aimed at Wu Chen, and it was just a hair's breadth away from success.

'clang--!'

The poisoned sword struck the Nord-carved armor that had materialized on Wu Chen's body. The next instant, the invisible force receded, crushing the attacker's form into a swarm of shattered bats!

This is not the power of a wizard.

This is the talent of dark and evil spirits.

The true culprit behind the 'Blood on Ice' storyline is actually a powerful vampire!
(End of this chapter)