Swallowing the Stars: Speedrun with Card Draws, Dominating Destiny

Chapter 176 Ice Cloud Overlord

As the leader of an ordinary race under the Northern Frontier Alliance, the Ice Cloud Overlord's strength is among the mid-tier of the cosmic overlords. His true form is an ice crystal life form condensed from the cosmic source of extreme cold. At this moment, his vast divine sense, like an invisible spider web, cautiously scans this dangerous ruin.

"Clan Chief," a slightly excited mental fluctuation echoed at the core of the domain, emanating from Han Feng, a powerful Ice Cloud Clan expert at the High-Level Venerable level. His cloud-like divine body gleamed with sharp, icy light. "Adding to the wounded Steel-Maned Beast Venerable we just hunted," he continued, "we now have three demon clan Venerable corpses in our hands! And all of them are at the High-Level Venerable level! If we hunt one more, and gather four high-quality four-pattern Reversal Pills—Fourth Brother and Fifth Brother will definitely be able to break through to the High-Level Venerable realm in one fell swoop!"

His mind was filled with longing for the future.

These seven Venerable Ones have followed the Ice Cloud Overlord in countless battles for billions of years, their bond as strong as brothers. Helping a companion break through their limitations is far more significant than any personal gain; it could elevate the entire Ice Cloud Clan's strength!

However-

"Yes, the results are indeed gratifying." Another more refined and powerful spiritual wave rang out, "Rock Venerable," whose cloud-mist divine body appeared exceptionally heavy and steady.

"But—please don't forget!"

The clouds around Venerable Rock surged, like frozen glaciers colliding, emitting a chilling voice: "Such a heaven-defying pill! It can help a King break through to the Venerable realm, and even help a Venerable break through their bottleneck! In any top-tier clan, it should be a clan's most prized treasure, kept secret! Humans—"

"Why is it so 'husband-like'?!"

"Only two alien venerable corpses are needed to exchange for one?"

"These conditions are so generous—it's unsettling!"

"Why didn't they keep these precious pills and dedicate themselves to cultivating their own powerful warriors? Instead, they scattered them among billions of races throughout the primordial universe?"

These words were like pouring a bucket of ice water at absolute zero onto a burning campfire!

The joy that had been surging from the harvest froze instantly! Even the icy blue mist flowing within the domain seemed to freeze for a moment!

The excited Cold Peak Venerable's mental fluctuations noticeably dimmed, and the cloud-mist divine bodies of the other Venerables also showed unease.

Yes!

What is the rationale behind this?

Such a precious elixir is more than the human race itself needs! How could it be so easily "shared"? Moreover, the exchange conditions are incredibly cheap.

This is practically like candy being handed out on the streets of a low-level star system!

The easier a treasure is to obtain, the more deadly a trap it often hides behind it!

Just as doubts began to spread, "Buzz—!"

A deep, majestic spiritual wave, seemingly emanating from the resonance of billions of years of ancient ice, instantly enveloped the entire Ice Cloud Domain, dispelling all unease! It was the voice of the Ice Cloud Overlord!

"The rock's doubts are reasonable," the overlord's voice was like a stabilizing force, "but this matter—cannot be faked!"

The will of the Ice Cloud Overlord, like a cold probe, pierced the void and connected to the distant intelligence node of the Northern Frontier Alliance: "I have contacted the Black Feather Overlord of the Black Feather Clan and the Flame Ember Overlord of the Seven Flames Clan through special channels."

Just three days ago—

"A Blackfeather Clan hunting team successfully exchanged two complete corpses of mid-level Mechanoid Venerables at the human Fireflow Fortress exchange point for a standard 'Four-Pattern Reversal Pill'!"

The "Seven Flame Clan's Blazing Phoenix Squad" successfully exchanged a high-quality "Four-Pattern Reversal Pill" with a core fragment and some remains of a high-level insectoid Blade Nest, plus two low-level Venerable insectoids!

The Flame Overlord himself confirmed that his pills do indeed contain profound energy that helps Venerables break through—it's absolutely true!

The Ice Cloud Overlord's voice carried absolute authority: "This is a fact!"

Information confirmed!

Like throwing a huge rock into a frozen lake!

The doubts in the hearts of the Ice Cloud Clan Venerables were instantly shattered! They were replaced by a deeper shock and a sense of relief.

"Furthermore—" the Ice Cloud Overlord's voice carried a chilling, penetrating power, "the human race is by no means a fool!"

"At this moment, they are besieged by three top-tier races, their situation precarious! If they dare to use fake pills to deceive billions of races throughout the primordial universe at this critical juncture—"

"It's tantamount to digging your own grave on your already crumbling foundation!"

"At that time, the enraged backlash from all races will tear them to shreds in an instant! The human race's high command—will never dare to take such a self-destructive path!"

"Therefore—" the Venerable Rock's deep voice carried a hint of understanding, "not only must we give, but we must—give them enough!"

The atmosphere within the Ice Cloud Domain eased slightly, but the Ice Cloud Overlord's next words immediately tightened everyone's nerves again: "The only thing we need to worry about is not the authenticity of the pills—"

His swirling, icy blue mist suddenly deepened, becoming even colder, like the source of the universe's deepest chill: "It is—time!"

"Humanity has clear regulations: the corpses of alien venerables obtained through hunting must be kept relatively intact and must be transported to the designated human camp stronghold for handover within five years of the target's fall! Otherwise—"

"Corpse invalid! Redemption eligibility void!"

"This is an ironclad rule! There is absolutely no room for leniency!"

"Five years?!" Venerable Hanfeng's thoughts were filled with urgency. "The battlefield is ever-changing! Hunting, preserving, and transporting across blockades—we need to spend a lot of time on the exchange within five years!" This meant that every time they successfully hunted, they had to leave the battlefield as soon as possible and deliver the "spoils of war," which greatly limited the efficiency and safety of their hunts.

At this moment, the most senior Ice Cloud Clan Venerable, whose cloud-mist divine body possessed a deep blue hue, emitted a puzzled mental ripple: "Clan Leader—why are humans so obsessed with the freshness of corpses? Even listing it as a core condition for exchange?"

In his weathered mind, a disturbing suspicion vaguely surfaced: "Could it be—that the main ingredient they used to refine this Four-Pattern Reversal Pill—was—the corpses of these alien venerables?!"

The thought was so terrifying that even he felt a chill run down his spine!

As Venerable Cangxuan spoke, the entire Ice Cloud Domain suddenly fell into a deathly silence! Even the surging cold mist seemed to freeze!

Using the remains of a fallen alien venerable—to refine a supreme divine pill that can help one's race break through to the next level?!

This method—how bizarre! How—horrifying!

Upon closer examination—

An indescribable chill spread wildly along the core of the divine bodies of all the Ice Cloud Clan powerhouses!

The Ice Cloud Overlord's reaction was unexpectedly calm. His imposing aura even carried a hint of chilling certainty: "It's not just your speculation—"

"I believe that at this very moment, this thought is already faintly emerging in the minds of countless hunters active on the battlefield!"

"Even the high-ranking members of the three major alien races probably guessed the truth!"